Dating the Dead • lrh

20. 'please stay'

Shelby was literally rolling on the floor, laughing.

After my failed attempt at breaking into her window, she had to convince her guard on duty to let me off the hook. If it hadn't been for the commotion I was making at her front door, she wouldn't get off the couch where she was watching a movie.

"Are you done?" I watched her curled up on the floor. I quickly got my phone out and took a photo. "You can stop now, you had your moment."

Shelby plopped down on the couch next to me, gasping for air. "I... just... I just... couldn't believe... you'd try to..." she laughed between words.

"I just wanted to surprise you," I muttered.

She tried to subdue her laugh, wiping the corners of her eyes. "I was more surprised Charlie did not tackle you to the ground."

My eyes widened and she burst out laughing. She looked like she's going to laugh all morning so I stood up to leave. "Well, I guess I should get going."

She stopped me by the hand. "Please... stay." Even as she said it, she couldn't help but laugh. "Just... give me...a minute."

A minute has passed and she was still laughing. I gave her a hard stare and my lips quirked up in a grin.

"If you don't stop, I'll make you."

It was her turn to widen her eyes as she registered what I just said.

"You-you wouldn't," she said weakly. In the pale light from the television, I couldn't tell if her face paled or blushed. Either way, she stopped laughing altogether.

Thank god!

"The next time you laugh, I'll really kiss you," I whispered, relaxing myself on the couch as I found the remote and pressed play.

Shelby was watching Enchanted. I have not seen this movie in a long time. Five seconds after I pressed play, she stood up and straddled over my thighs, her face inching closer to mine.

I closed my eyes in anticipation and all I could hear was not the noise of the TV but my heart pounding. Her lips hovered over my ear.

"And why would the Luke Hemmings want to kiss the infamous school freak?" She whispered. Her breath against my skin made the hairs at the back of my neck stand up.

I opened my eyes to see her studying my face even though it's dark. As I struggled to find the words, she smiled sadly at me and brought her lips to my cheek. My eyes shut at the contact and I breathed her in. She smelled faintly of vanilla and strawberry.

"I understand," her voice was barely a whisper but I heard it. She stood up and grabbed the box of pizza I brought. "I'm gonna reheat this."

I don't know what exactly happened but I could still feel her weight as if she never left and the blood pounding in my ears as the TV sang, "That's how you know you're in love."

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