Dare to Fall

Chapter XXX

He leaned forward, not breaking eye contact, and we stared into each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity. There was something captivating about his gaze, perhaps the way it sparkled with a mixture of mischief and something deeper. I could sense his happiness, though he always masked it beneath a façade of bravado, playing the role of the rebellious playboy. But beneath that surface, I caught glimpses of a different side—one that was considerate, almost tender.

It was as if his eyes were a window to his soul, revealing a depth of emotion he rarely expressed through words. I could see it; he cared—deeply—even if he pretended otherwise. In those moments, it felt like his eyes were speaking louder than any reckless comment or playful smirk he ever made.

"I can't stop looking at how beautiful you look every time I see you," he said, his voice low and sincere. Those words sent a flutter through my stomach and raced my heart.

"Can you just stay still and let me just..." he continued, leaning in closer, and my breath hitched in my throat. I froze, caught in the electric moment between us. Our lips were just inches apart, and I could see him licking his own lips, his gaze locked on mine.

Before I could process the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind, Amelia's voice broke the spell. "Ugh, what are you guys doing?" she asked, her tone both playful and accusatory. I jolted upright, startled, and shot a quick glance at her, trying to regain my composure.

"Oh, uh... He was just... uh... blowing something off from my eye," I stammered, and Amelia raised an eyebrow, placing her hands on her hips.

"Sure," she replied, a smirk creeping across her face. "By the way, we're heading to bed now, so you two need to lock up before you sleep," she added, her tone suggesting she knew exactly what had just transpired.

"Sure," I said, nodding as Amelia retreated back into the beach house. I turned to Cayden, who had returned to a casual pose, as if nothing had happened.

***

Once inside the beach house, I noticed the others were already fast asleep. I wandered into the kitchen, craving a late-night snack, and settled on some popcorn as I prepared to binge-watch horror movies on Netflix before drifting off to sleep.

Cayden joined me on the couch, grabbing the remote from my hand. "I'll choose the movie," he declared, and I shrugged, grabbing a handful of popcorn.

We settled in to watch The Babadook. I had never watched a horror movie with anyone before, especially not at 2:35 AM in a dimly lit living room. It was a mix of cozy and unsettling—especially with Cayden's commentary.

"Ugh, this movie is boring," he said, tossing back a handful of popcorn. "It's not even scary enough to qualify as horror." His dissection of the film was relentless, as he criticized the actors and their performances.

I covered my eyes with the popcorn bowl during the jump scares, and when he grabbed the bowl from me, I resorted to hiding behind a blanket.

After the movie ended—leaving me too scared to move—I turned to Cayden, pleading, "Just come with me to the bathroom. You don't have to go in, just stand outside."

"Well, I can assist you and watch you pee," he winked, his smirk making me roll my eyes.

"Never mind, I'll just go by myself," I decided, leaving the safety of the living room for the eerie silence of the hallway. My mind spiraled with all the horror tropes I had just watched, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as I pushed open the bathroom door.

After doing my business, I approached the sink to wash my hands, when suddenly, Cayden appeared in the reflection behind me. "Boo!" he exclaimed, making me jump and drop the soap. I spun around, punching him lightly in the chest.