A Summer Fling (Aris x Reader AU)

41) What's Mine is Ours

“So you think you really will have to cut her off too?”she asked softly.

“Yeah. It's looking like a two for one,”I sighed, picking at the corner of the blanket. The realization somehow felt brand new, as though I was just now figuring out that she for some reason thought she needed him. Then again, maybe they really are just two pees in a pod. He’s the bully, and she's the enabler who never lets him face reality.

It's more complicated than that though. Unfortunately.

Collapsing on my back, I stared at the ceiling fan, watching it go around and around and around. What an easy life that must be. The same routine, the same thing, no complicated emotions. I wish I was lucky enough to be a ceiling fan.

“You both ready for bed?”

“Yes ma'am.”
“Yep.”

I could feel her suspicious look that seemed to know absolutely everything. Secrets are a privilege here, and I haven't figured out how to earn them yet.

“No funny business tonight. Ya’ll got some walking to do tomorrow,”she reminded us.

“I know.”
“I’m ready.”

“Alright. Get some sleep then,”she instructed, hitting the lights and plunging us into darkness.

“Can you shut the door?”she asked, sitting up from beside me.

“‘Course. I’ll see ya’ in the morning.”

“Goodnight,”I finally chipped in, still keeping an eye on that stupid ceiling fan. The blades swung slightly, as though they were waiting to cause an accident of some kind.

Maybe being a ceiling fan wouldn't be cool.

“Come on, I have cartoons,”she ordered, pulling the blankets over her. With a complaining groan, I did the same, sliding into the sheets and laying on the pillow that was already lulling me to sleep.

Going to sleep on my own means thinking. I’m pretty sure she knows that already.

“You’ve claimed my hoodie now?”

“Huh? Oh,”she hummed, looking at the blue fabric that was glued to her. Her nose scrunched up when she realized, a quirk she must have picked up during my years away. “I didn't even notice. You can-”
“You should keep it.”

She froze with the apparel already halfway up her torso, balled up in her hands as she sat up. Meeting my eyes, she held it out in a silent ‘are you sure’ motion.

“I like it better on you,”I promised, flipping the hood over her eyes.

“I like the way it's yours though. It smells like you,”she admitted, tugging it back so she could see me.

“I don't have a smell?”

“Mhm. It's sort of industrial, like a lack of sunlight. And nighttime grass. The damp kind that soaks your sneakers.”

“That sounds so unappealing though? Do I really smell like that?”I dared to ask. Pulling my shirt over my nose, I tried to see for myself if she was right, but it was the same nothing smell all clothes have. Unless that's because this is my nightshirt, so I’m not wearing it in weird industrial places?

“It’s not in a bad way. It's like those cold buildings that are freakily spotless but there's no sign of cleaning supplies. And wet grass.”

“That’s specific. It could be worse I guess. Just wasn't my first answer.”

She shrugged as she finally laid beside me. When I turned on my back, my arm outstretched, she rested her head on my chest, close to my heart. With the tablet that had seen better days on the blankets, she pressed play before putting her hand under her head. The other found mine, her fingers brushing over my skin. Keeping my palm flat, I let her fidget with me, her fingertips pushing into my skin as she traced the lines of my hand.