Challenge :A.C.M:

18.

A/N: I've updated this story so much in the past few days, omg... But it's just like I'm oozing ideas for this. Check out my where are they now? Story. I'll post soon

:austin:

I walk into Griffins room, seeing her pacing back and forth "What's wrong Baby Bean?" I ask, and she stops, glaring at me.

"What did I say about those nicknames?"

"Well, I don't remember anything being said about that one" I tap my chin "But you're my little Baby Bean" I coo, and she rolls her eyes, fighting off a smile "So, why'd you ask me to come over? I have practice in half an hour"

"I won't take long" She shakes her head "I just need you to sit down" She points to her bed and I nod, sitting on the edge "Close your eyes, and if you open them I swear I'll blindfold you"

"You're so kinky, it's so hot" I state dramatically after closing my eyes and I can picture her rolling her eyes at me while shaking her head "What are you going to do?"

"Remember when we were at the beach, and you wanted to see what it felt when you touched me?" She asks, and I nod.

"Well, we're doing that, but in reverse" She says "Keep your eyes closed" She demands, and there's a short period of time with no movement, or sound from her, until I feel her fingers touch the skin of my cheeks. She traces my cheekbones, across my nose to the other one. She then trails her fingers down my arms, goosebumps raising as she does so. She traces the palm of my hand, before taking a deep breath, sliding her fingers through mine. I lick my lips as she makes no movement to pull her hand away, instead she uses her other hand, bringing her thumb up to my mouth, tracing my bottom lip.

I feel like the wind had been knocked out of me at her gentle touches. But I become even more surprised when she cups my cheek, bringing her lips to press against mine. My stomach does flips as she moves her lips slowly, cautiously against mine. She pulls away quickly, taking a step back, her hand falling from mine.

"I still don't know how I feel about that" She mumbles.

"How did all of that feel?" I ask, opening my eyes to see her looking at me already.

"I don't know" She shrugs, shaking her head "I can't explain it" She steps towards me again "But you're supposed to answer that question"

"Let me put it this way, if it were the only thing I could feel for the rest of my life, I'd never complain" I admit.

"You're too cheesy" She rolls her eyes, but a small smile plays on her lips. She looks down at her hands as she brings them to rest on my face, her thumb moving back and forth on my cheek bones "I don't tell you this often, or at all even," She starts "But I really like you" She whispers, and without thinking about it, I kiss the palm of her hand "And with everything I do, I have your best interest in mind. You may not get what that means yet, but you will" She tells me, and I look at her in confusion.

"What do you mean?" I ask, but she only shakes her head. I stand up from her bed, and smile down at her. She hooks her fingers in the belt loop of my jeans, something I started doing to her whenever I had wanted to hold her hand, but couldn't "Do you have to leave now?"

"Yeah" I nod "I have to pick up Alex on the way to practice" I sigh "You can come if you'd like"

"No thanks" She shakes her head "I'll see you later though" She smiles.

"We can binge watch Are You The One? tonight, the new season starts tomorrow" I suggest "And if you want, you can stay over..." I add quietly.

"When do you get back from practice?"

"Around 7"

"I'll be over you house at 7:30" She tells me, and I grin.

"I'll see you later Baby Bean" I smirk and she groans.

"Stop you little shit"'

"So you can call me a shit, but I can't call you Baby Bean?" I scoff, and she laughs.

"No, Baby Bean is weird"

"Whatever you Brat" I tease and her jaw drops.

"I am not a brat!"

"It's either that or Baby Bean, you choose" I wink, walking out of her room.

***

"Come watch Are You The One? with me" I smile as she walks through the door to my living room, a drink in her hand.

"Can you like, lay a pillow down" She points to my lap and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.

"Why?"

"I don't feel like being poked in the ear by your boner" She snorts and I laughs placing a pillow in my lap. She lays her head down and struggles to reach for the blanket, so I grab it and pulling it over her "Thank you" She bites her lip. I just smile in response, turning my attention to the TV, turning on the first episode of Are You The One?. My fingers twirl her hair, absentmindedly, tugging lightly every once in a while.

"Stop playing with my hair" She mumbles and I immediately pull my hand away. But she puts my hand back in her hair, rubbing her hand on the blanket.

"What-"

"You didn't fight me on it" She frowns "I expected you to say no then I'd let you keep doing it"

"You're something else" I chuckle. I continue to run my fingers through her hair, and soon she falls asleep. Being too lazy to get up and go to bed, I just lean further into the couch, falling asleep as well. I wake up to the sound of my front door opening, my mom stumbling through the door.

"Austin" She slurs in surprise "Why aren't you in bed?" She asks before she sees Griffin "Who is that?"

"Don't worry about it" I pick up Griffin, carrying her up to my room and laying her down in my bed. She stirs in her sleep, a groan leaving her mouth as she rubs her hands along her arms and legs vigorously. She soon stops, snuggling further into my bed which makes me smile. I pull the blanket over her, and walk out of the room, grabbing my moms arm.

"Let's go to bed mom" I sigh, leading her up to her room. She lays down in her bed, and pulls the blanket over her body.

"You're a good son" She pats my arm.

"Thanks" I roll my eyes, walking out of her room and shutting the door behind me. I walk back into my room and climb into my bed beside Griffin, falling asleep to the sound of her slow breaths.