My Brother's Best Friend Is The One For Me

Waking Up With Liam Again. Nightmares

Chapter 29. Cassidy

I woke up the next morning in Liam's arms. There we're tear stains on his cheeks, and I could feel the stiffness in mine from my own tears.

I looked over him to the clock and saw that it was already eleven twenty-five in the morning.

I could smell something from downstairs, but I didn't want to leave my big brother's arms. Maybe now things would be different between us. You know, now that Sophia is gone.

Not that I'd ever say this to Liam, but I could not be happier she is gone.

Reluctantly, I slipped out from underneath his grasp. He stirred for a second, but he eventually settled back down on his side, hands tucked under his head.

I smiled. He looked so peaceful asleep. Awake he was always too worried about other stuff. Maybe he won't be so much anymore.

I made my way downstairs and saw a mop of curly hair standing over the stove.

I leaned up against the counter top and watched as he worked over the pan in front of him. I waited patiently for him to turn around and see me.

As he turned around and saw me, he jumped and let out a small scream.

"Oh geez..." he said with a sigh, "You scared the hell out of me."

I laughed. "Sorry," I replied with a smile.

He made an unsure face and said, "I don't believe you... But I'll let it slide this time, Miss Payne."

"That Mrs. Brown Payne to you, sir," I replied.

He ditched the disapproving look and laughed with me.

"Whatever you say, princess."

"Thank you," I smiled.

He smiled goofily in response.

"What?" I asked.

He shook his head looked to the ground.

"Come on," I pushed.

"Alright, alright," he caved, "I'm glad to see you smiling again is all..."

I sighed and said, "I'm glad to be smiling again..."

He rested his hands on the counter and leaned in slightly, putting all of his weight on it.

"Come here," he said.

I made my way around the obstacle and crashed into him once again. It was different this time though. It was more of an affectionate gesture, not really a comforting hug like the last few times.

"You know how much I care about you, right?" he asked.

I lifted my head to face him and replied, "No," curiously, "How much?"

He chuckled and pecked me on the cheek.

"That's not very much," I said.

He moved across my lips, brushing them lightly with his, but planted another soft kiss on my other cheek.

"Now you're just teasing me," I whispered.

He rested his forehead on mine, looking me dead in the eyes. His precious green jewels boring holes into mine. They intensely looked at my face as if never wanting to miss not even the slightest movement.

Then, all of a sudden, green eyes became hazel. His curls became straight, and I was no longer the one he was staring at. He was looking at some red head with the perfect figure, way too much makeup, and way too little clothing. He was no longer Harry, but he was Aaron.

He slowly leaned in to kiss her, and I screamed, "No!" a little too loudly, and through myself back.

I hit the counter, and felt his arms wrapped around me.

"Cassidy. What? What is it what's wrong?" he asked frantically.

Only then did I realize it wasn't Aaron. It was never Aaron. It was Harry trying to kiss me, and something about it triggered a nightmare in mind.

I was breathing heavily. My eyes were squeezed shut, very tightly. I slid down the counter, and hugged my knees.

His hands were immediately on my face, trying to calm me down.

"What is it?" he asked, "What did I do?"

I shook my head and replied, "No, no. It wasn't you. It was me. I... I just. I don't know if I'm ready yet."

"Oh..." he said, disappointedly. "You could've just stopped me instead of screaming in my face," he added bitterly.

I opened my eyes to see his hurt expression. I almost cried for him.

"I better get back to breakfast," he said, drearily.

Before he could, I grabbed his wrist, pulling him back into me.

"Help me," I asked, "Please."

His eyebrows furrowed, but he nodded and did anyway.

As he stood me up on my feet again, I wrapped my arms around his neck, confusing him further.

'Come one, Cass. Just do it,' my mind told me, 'Kiss him, and it will all be over. Just kiss him.'

His grip loosened, but I held on tighter and stopped his arm from sliding off my back.

"Cass," he said, "What are you doing?"

"Look, it just scares me is all. I've only ever done this with one other person. Evidently, he doesn't care anymore. I don't want that to be you. I want to kiss you," I said.

"That's not me Cassidy. If you want to kiss me, then just do it. I'm not the one stopping you. You know I won't ever do that to you, and I don't know why you think I would. Please, just kiss me. I, I..."

"You what, Harry?" I asked.

His eyes shut tightly for a moment, but then opened brighter and greener than ever.

"I'm crazy about you, Cassidy. I'm falling in love with you," he replied.

I didn't have time to respond before his lips met mine and my entire body electrified with his touch. As we kissed, nothing else into my mind other than the fact that he just practically told me he loved me. Did I love him? I hope he didn't expect an answer right away.

Much too soon, he broke apart. With a slight crazed look in his eyes, he smiled at me. I couldn't help but smile back.

That was Harry, always making me smile.

"So that's how much you care about me?" I said jokingly.

He chuckled and replied, "Oh no, Cassy. Much, much more. I can assure you twice as much as anyone in this world could care about someone."

"Not including me, of course," I said.

"Even you," he replied.

I rolled my eyes, but kept quiet anyway.

If only he knew how much I care about him. If only he knew...