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Chapter Five - Snuggles

My day had been pretty bland compared to the excitement with the boys yesterday. I had sunbathed outside for a few hours but then retreated to the shelter of the house as the heat became too much. I was mooching in front of the TV, but had left the French doors open so the fresh air could come in.

Jace walked smoothly into my living room and plonked down next to me.

"What are we watching?" He yawned.

I blinked at him. "Um . . . I was watching old re-runs of Friends."

"Cool. Uhg. I want to sleep some more." He muttered head falling and then jerking up, in that way you do when you cant keep your eyes open.

I let out a single laugh at him. "Go back to sleep then. I don't know how you can be tired though its 3 in the afternoon."

"I was out late last night." He grunted at me.

Doing what? Who was he with? The guys? Or a girl maybe? I felt a pang in my chest but rubbed it away. What was that?

"Out with a girl?" I asked him, unable to stop the words from pouring out, attempting innuendo but getting more of a nervous note.

He swung his head towards me looking confused and annoyed. "No. Family stuff." He muttered. He turned away and grunted putting his head on the back of the settee.

We sunk into silence and after a while his breath evened out and I could tell he was asleep. I glanced at him from time to time but soon I just focussed back on my programs. I felt his head fall onto my shoulder and I stiffened. I looked at him but was he was out; he must have slipped in his sleep. I was about to move out of his way but he started to slip more and landed on my lap.

I completely tensed up this time and my hands fluttered in the air unsure. Minutes ticked by but he just lay there, and eventually I placed my hands down, one on his shoulder and one on the side of the chair. He smelled good, his hair looked silky soft and, from the stray wet stands, I could tell he'd showered recently.

Before I understood what I was doing my hands were in his hair brushing and stroking his thick stands. He moaned. I froze. Then his breathing evened out and I continued to play. How could a boy have such soft hair? It wasn't fair. Mine was always flying everywhere so I always kept it up, tied away.

I wasn't looking at his head, but more of an absent minded brushing weaving my fingers, as I watched the screen. My own eyes were starting to glaze over and droop, caught up in the serenity of the moment.

But then his phone rang. He didn't move from my lap, but simply put his hand into his back pocket and placed his phone to his ear.

"Yeah?" His voice was scratchy and deep with sleep. "No, I'm at May's house." He paused listening to the voice on the other side of the phone. "We're watching TV." Pause. "No, you can't come." Pause. "Fine." Pause. "Okay" stretching the word out. "I said it's fine didn't I? The back doors open." He mumbled the last part. He turned his head in my lap so he was looking up at me. "May, sorry, I didn't ask you. Is it ok if the others come over?" He asked innocent not seeming to notice our positions. He didn't ask to come over, but maybe it was different since he lived right next door. When he turned one of my hands had ended up on his cheek and the other was resting on his neck. I felt them begin to sweat in my nervousness. Maybe he hadn't noticed them, not fully awake yet.

I snatched them away holding them up in a surrendering pose. "Sorry!" I exclaimed.

He looked puzzled and took one of my hands placing it back on his head. "You can stroke my hair anytime you want." He looked too serious. "It feels nice." He added further pushing his point.

He had known I was stoking him? How long had he been awake? My face glowed in mortification, eyes widening.

"Sorry." I half whispered, half stuttered.

He grunted and sat up. "May. Don't think so much." He reached out and stroked my cheek lightly with the pad of his thumb. He opened his mouth, but then stopped.

The others could be heard chatting loudly as the came towards us. I turned towards the sound and Jace's hand slipped off my face. He smiled tightly at me. I felt bad but knew we couldn't talk about whatever had just happened in front of the Nate and Deacon. Not that I particularly wanted that awkward conversation.

Nate's head popped into view a massive grin on his face. "We want to show her the tree house."

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THOUGHTS???

#TEAMNATE??

#TEAMJACE??

#TEAMDEACON??