It's a Jungle, Baby

Heartbeats

It's a cold day in late November. We had all had thanksgiving together as a family (with complaints from all of our families). Queenie cooked, I tried to help but I just ended up getting told to watch football with the boys. We ate at our apartment, sprawled from the table to the couches and every where in between. It was fun and we all laughed and got to pick on each other. We even went to the park and tried to play touch football, that was a fun experience. Queenie put a stop to it when it hit her how rough we get getting, touch football turned into a full contact bloodbath. Chelsea had grounded us for the rest of the day.

It's almost December, the air has started to bite with cold vengeance from the north. It's about five o'clock in the morning. I lay awake beside Duff who's still asleep, his arms are wraps tightly around me, keeping me warm. He's always worried that I'm getting sick because I'm always cold. I'm just always cold.

I feel Duff's soft breathe on my neck, he's dead asleep. I roll over to face him. Even asleep he's perfect. I wonder what on earth I did to deserve someone like him. I snake my arms around his neck gently, careful not to wake him. I gently brush my lips against his.

"I love you." I whisper.

"I love you to." He says and opens one of his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." I admit, he kisses my lips in acceptance.

Duff rolls on his back and I kiss his collarbone. I lay my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"What are you doing?" He wonders running his hand through my hair.

"Listening to your heart." I say and I feel him kiss my hair.

"Listen carefully. It beats only for you." Duff tells me and I run my hand on his chest. "Get some sleep, baby."

I go to move off him but one again he wraps his hands around me, locking me into his sleeping position. I feel safe when Duff wraps me in his arms, he says when I'm having a nightmare he'll do this and I'll calm down. I could believe it, this calms me down when I'm wide awake, I assume it has the same effect while I sleep. It might work better while my brain is running wild, I feel Duff's arms around me and my subconscious knows I'm safe because Duff won't let anything hurt me. I rest my head on his chest and fall asleep listening to his heartbeat. The heart that beats only for me.

I got back from mailing Ruby's birthday present so a weird sight, an empty apartment. Normally, it's filled with rockstars or soccer players of some sort. It could be worse considering Queenie and I always forget to lock the door.

I lay on the couch and grab The Shinning. I know that there's a movie that goes with it but somethings are just better written and it kinda scares the hell out of you when you're imagining everything. The door opens and I jump off the couch and onto the floor.

Duff walks in and laughs at the fact that I'm looking over the couch at him. I sit back up on the couch and put my book on the coffee table. He walks over to the couch and lays on top of me, putting his head on my chest and wrapping his arms around my waist. Duff's listening to my heartbeat. I run my hands up and down his back.

"Listen carefully, it only beats for you." I tell him and his grip tightens around my waist.

"Did you eat anything today?" He wonders.

"Yeah." I say.

"Are you lying to me?" Duff wonders.

"Why would I lie to you?" I wonder.

"You're right." He admits. "Did you mail Ruby's birthday gift?"

"Yeah, I just got back." I say and kiss his head. "I love you."

"Mm, I love you to, baby." Duff says like he's falling asleep.

"Are you falling asleep?" I wonder but he doesn't answer, that's an answer enough. "Sweet dreams, baby."

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Sorry for the short chapter, I just really liked this part.