Tonight The World Dies

Chapter 20: Avery

A finger ran lethargically across my forearm. I turned my head, meeting with the warm, chocolatey brown gaze that belonged to Brian. He smiled up at me, leaning on his side in our bed, his sun-kissed skin glistening in the morning light as it shone in through our window. 

"It really is nice to be home." Brian commented before leaning forward to lightly plant a kiss on my lips. "And it's really nice to back in bed with you." He smiled before sealing the gap between our lips once again, causing butterflies to nervously flutter around in my stomach. I knew each time I kissed him, it could be my last. Despite having been home for a few days, I still hadn't told him. For some reason I was finding it extremely difficult to form the words to tell him: I'd had plenty of opportunities, but each time the thought even crossed my mind, my heart dropped into my stomach and my mouth became as dry as a desert.

"I was thinking," Brian began, pulling me away from my thoughts, "that we should go on a date tonight."

"A date?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow sceptically.

"Well, I was thinking about what you'd said the other day, and I thought, why don't we go on an official first date?" Brian suggested. I continued to look at him sceptically, silently questioning if Brian had finally lost his marbles.

"And what? We'd pretend as if we haven't been dating each other for the past eight years?" I asked.

"Exactly." Brian agreed. "You know, begin with the basics: my name is Brian Haner Jr. I'm a Cancer, enjoy long walks on the beach and frisky women."

"You're quoting Supernatural at me now?" I asked, laughing a little.

"Oh, so you're a fan too?" Brian smiled cheekily, turning to look me in the eye. The sun was shining in through the window at just the right angle to catch the mischievous glint hovering around in his dark irises.

"You're such an idiot." I giggled, playfully punching Brian in the arm as he leant over to kiss me one more time. "So," I began, gently running my fingers up Brian's muscular, tattooed arm before meeting with his soft gaze, "if our, original, first date, had been when you said it was, why didn't you just ask me out?" I asked curiously.

"Honestly?"

"Honestly." I said, looking up into his eyes.

"I was too afraid of you rejecting me." Brian answered causing the both of us to laugh at how ridiculous that actually seemed now, considering the circumstances.

The room fell into a peaceful silence for a moment before Brian's phone vibrated as a text came through. He leant over and picked it up, reading the message before letting out a frustrated sigh.

"I think we're gonna have to take a rain check on our date." Brian said regretfully. "Zacky wants everyone to meet at this restaurant outside of town tonight so he can introduce Tegan to everyone."

"I'm sure we can put our first date aside for that." I pointed out, leaning over to slide my arm between Brian's as he began to type out his reply.

"I suppose." Brian agreed reluctantly as he pressed the send button. He chucked his phone lazily across the bed before dragging his hands through his straggly dark brown hair. "We'll just have to make up for it later." Brian added, a titillating look appearing in his eyes.

I gave Brian a stern look. "Well, I don't know about you but I certainly wouldn't do that on a first date." I countered, desperately trying to suppress the urge to smile.

"Ah well, it's not our first date...yet." Brian replied cooly.

"Gosh, well, I certainly ain't sleeping with you until after I've got to know you." I continued to tease.