Right There || Dylan O'Brien

chapter thirty-eight; stay

As much as she wanted to she couldn't concentrate on what was happening on the big screen. All she could think of how warm her hand was underneath his, or how he would chuckle dumbly when a funny thing was said in the movie. It felt good, it all felt so good to be around him, so safe while she was still so afraid she was going to lose him anytime soon.

By the third time glancing at him, she wished she hadn't because he caught her. Her cheeks flushed pink a millisecond and she was so glad it was so dark around them, so he couldn't notice it and all she did was sent him a small smile.

And that was enough, because he returned one and focused his eyes back at the movie.

Did she have to talk to him about it, about how she felt, what she wanted them to be? She wanted to be his girlfriend, she wanted him to be her boyfriend. But she also wanted to stay like this.

But then again, his parents and sister already thought they were dating. And he decided not to say anything about it, neither did she. It was like it was alright they thought they were, like it didn't bother them at all because the talk would happen eventually.

They made out for goodness' sake, they kissed, they had those weird talks about feelings, they flirted, she stayed over at his apartment-... not that that included as being a couple, they hadn't even slept next to each other. However, it wasn't like it wouldn't happen the next time she would stay over at his.

And they had already had that talk before they had kissed;  she wasn't just a flirt to him, they were Dylan and Clara. And his feelings for her had to have changed in those weeks, right?

Only if she would ask, she would get the answer.

Sighing, she turned her head back at him with a frown. But he was watching this movie, she couldn't just ask him to come to talk to her, could she?

"Something wrong?" Crystal leaned over to normally talk to her, just so she could her each other over the noise. Clara placed her hand on her chest, obviously she had to startle by something like that. She collected herself quickly, shrugging her shoulders. "Tell me."

"I need to talk to him, but I'm afraid I'll disturb him. We're not a movie theatre to talk, are we?"

A wide grin came onto her face and she nodded to the large doors, gesturing it was alright to go talk to him. "Go pretend you have to go to the restroom, or something. I'll make sure he'll go after you. It'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, there's nothing to worry about. It's just a movie."

Clara nodded and was about to stand up, that was before she felt a hand around her wrist. It was Dylan, sending her a questioned look. "I've to go to the restroom. I'll be right back-..."

"No, wait. I can walk you."

Crystal watched her stand up, quickly but carefully making her way to the large doors, leaving the hall and Dylan sitting there all speechless. He looked at her, doing some weird hand gestures as if he wanted to tell her something. "Go after her, Dyl. Go talk to her."

"What?"

"I thought you understood girls."

"There's no way of me figuring her out in two months."

A deep breath left her mouth as glared at him, pointing the way she had used to leave the hall. He listened to her, thank God, and he clumsily stepped the feet, almost tripping over them.

Clara was sitting one of the sofas that were standing in the middle of long room when he walked through the large doors. She was playing with her hands, feet moving up and down on the ground and she looked up when he sat down next to her.

"Restroom, really? I thought you were smarter."

"What's that supposed to mean? Crystal told me to pretend to go-... I don't like lying," she watched him take her cold and sweaty hands in his, pressing his lips on them. "I'm sorry I lied. I hate lying, it always makes me feel so guilty."

"What do you do when you feel guilty?"

"I talk about it."

"Does that mean you'll tell me the truth why you're here?"

She nodded awkwardly, and avoided his gaze to look at their hands. It was a kind of funny sight; his hands were so big, her hands were so small. Above of that, his were always so warm, hers were cold most of the time. She wondered why.

"Do you want me to leave you alone?"

Her eyes grew wide as she quickly turned back to him. It was then, by hearing the words that he said, that she came to held his hands tighter, afraid he would actually go away, leave her here all alone with her thoughts. "No, no, stay. Don't leave."

"Okay," he let go so he could wrap his arm around her waist, pull her closer to him. He gently kissed her temple, his forehead leaning against the side of her head for a second. "I won't leave you. I promise."

"Don't promise things you know you can't keep."

"Stop it," he told her, he actually sounded like he wanted to start an argument just to prove her wrong, prove her that he would stay. Right there by her side. "Now tell me what's wrong. I want to know what's on your mind."

She sighed as he caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. It calmed her a little, she could concentrate on something else that the thoughts, they only worried her even more what his reaction would be. "I ehm, I walked to talk to you about us. I mean, it's like-... Your parents believe we are dating, along with your sister. I didn't say anything to them, it just didn't bother me for the slightest bit aside from that it's a kind of a lie-..."

"I don't see it as a lie."

"Then how do you see it?"

"I'm not sure."

She sighed dramatically.

He chuckled as tugged a strand of hair behind her hear, before cupping her face into his hand. Leaning in, their lips touched but weren't pressed up on one another yet. She smiled, nodding and he kissed her softly.

"But we both know now it's not a lie anymore."