Look Closer | Mavi | Dreamingletters & LittleCarokind

13. Big Firsts

Mitch's P.O.V.

Avi was looking at me expectantly, but I have no idea what to say. The hard part about our whole situation is him turning to me to know what to do. Somehow my past experience with guys makes me more knowledgeable about innocent flirting? Well then my goal is to get us evenly on the same step of this staircase Avi has materialized from a metaphor.

After a little bit too long of a pause, I finally realize that I should speak up. "Want to try cuddling again?" I propose boldly.

Avi looks a little baffled before replying "in here? There isn't much space." I gave him a pouty look and he continued. "I guess we could give it a try, let me just grab a blanket so we can nap." I giggled at this, finding it adorable that such a burly man wanted to grab a blanket in order to sleep; as if he hasn't slept in public countless times.

"I'll be here." I candidly reply.

He exits the room and I can hear him having brief, idle conversations with Scott, Kirstie and the likes. I hear him tell them that we were just in here trying to wake up, with little success. Likely he's trying to hint at us potentially falling asleep, giving us an excuse to be caught sleeping on top of each other in here. Wow, I forgot how elaborate you had to be when you're in the closet. Not that I'm assuming Avi isn't straight, but I guess he's in the experimenting closet, which is even scarier sometimes.

"I got one" he exclaimed, trying to break the inevitable awkward silence upon his return. We sit very close to each other, sharing the blanket. Since we're sitting, I casually slide down so that I can rest my head on his chest. He glances down at me when I'm done getting comfortable and flashes me a warm smile. I love his smile. I return a cheek lifting grin and shift my head back to a neutral position. Even though we're in silence, the physical contact is exchanging a million stories. I can tell that he's tired and wants to sleep from the small lift of his chest as he breathes. I can sense how comfortable he is by the occasional stroke of his thumb on my hand. Though there's nothing between us officially, this feels as if we've been through a lot together, and we're calming down after all of our excitement.

"What are you thinking about?" I ask him, too relaxed to raise my voice past a whisper.

"My brain is going crazy right now, actually. I can't decide what I'm feeling at the moment, I'm frantically trying to remember the choreography for tomorrow, and I'm a little overtired so I'm just a little loopy. You?" He casually returns after dropping that distress signal.

"I'm just trying to keep my emotions towards you in check. Sometimes I'm wanting to make a big move, others I'm trying to forget that I even like you that way because I'm scared that you won't like me." We both exchange concerned glances toward the other.

"I don't want you to worry about us, Mitch. Even if I don't develop more feelings for you, I'll always love you as a friend. I'd be an idiot to give up such an amazing person".

"You are too sweet, have I told you that before?" He gave me a nod that could only say 'a few times'. "I want you to take your time. Let me add to your analogy. You're like a senior trying to climb stairs. I'm helping you up, but if you have too hard of a time, I'm willing to help you get back to the bottom and try again later, or take an elevator if you have to." That wasn't the sexiest way to add to the analogy, but I think it got the point across. "Oh, and don't worry too much about the choreo, the fans think it's cute when you mess up." I do too, but he doesn't need to know that.

"That makes me feel a little better at least" he concludes. "Want to 'accidentally' drift off, or go get some coffee with me?"

"Considering that I really don't want to get up right now, let's 'fall asleep'" I reply.