Smile - CrankGameplays

15. Breathe

"You cheated!"

Ethan dropped the controller and threw his arms up into the air, applauding himself. He bounced off the couch and performed the dorkiest dance, rubbing it in Reese's face that she lost her third race in a row.

Reese crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head, "I can't believe this."

"Believe what?" Ethan smirked, "That you're just not good enough to beat me?"

Reese blinked and pointed to the screen, "You got fifth."

His cheeks reddened, "Better than eleventh."

She grinned over at him, standing up herself and stretching. "I'm getting a lot better. Come on, admit it!"

The blue boy bit his lip back and simpered, "Hmm, are you? I really haven't noticed."

She playfully punched his shoulder and turned away, "Do you think my clothes are done drying?"

Ethan's blue orbs traveled down her body, "We can go check?"

"Mmhmm," she hummed back, trotting towards the back and over to the garage.

When she came to Ethan's place, she stood in the doorway shivering and drenched in rainwater. Her teeth began chattering as she started to strip off her sopping wet hoodie and remove the long sleeve underneath, leaving her in a black camisole that was very damp.

So Ethan offered up one of his hoodies and asked if she wanted to wash her clothes and although she hesitated for a moment, she ended up accepting his gesture with a smile.

And Ethan had to admit, he liked seeing her in his clothes.

Reese headed into the garage and propped open the dryer that was still running. She rummaged her hands through the small pile of clothes and pulled out each article, examining them all.

"Still wet."

Ethan gazed longingly at her. What he wouldn't do to just set her on the dryer and-

"Probably about twenty more minutes." She sighed, shutting the door and pressing the dial in. "You think you can entertain me for twenty more minutes?"

Ethan's thoughts were interrupted and was thankful they were, this seriously wasn't the time. 

"I think I can make that happen."

"Yeah?" she giggled, both of them returning back to the living room where Mario Kart was still running and playing its normal tune.

"You hungry?"

Reese narrowed her light brown eyes, "Do you even have to ask?"

He nodded his head, "Pizza Rolls? Hotdogs? Spaghetti?"

"While those all sound extremely tempting, I'm kind of in the mood for some macaroni and cheese? Do you have some?"

Ethan propped open the cupboards, fishing through numerous bags and containers. "I hope boxed mac and cheese is okay with you?"

"More than okay!"

As the two began to cook in the tiny kitchen, Ethan began to drift a little away from reality. He could damn well get used to this, loving the picture of her prancing around in her fuzzy socks as she slid from side to side and danced to an invisible beat.

How she seemed so happy whenever she was around him. Whether it was from the video games or from the playful banter.

He enjoyed seeing her so... bright.

"Too much milk!" Reese yelped as she grabbed the carton of milk from his grasp, "Don't you read directions?"

Ethan laughed, "I guesstimate." 

"Now our mac is going to be runny!" she giggled, "Why are you so difficult?"

The blue boy lifted a bushy eyebrow as he dipped the fork into the pot and began stirring the ingredients, "Why are you so uptight?"

Reese laughed, "I am not uptight!"

"I don't know..." Ethan beamed, "You seem a little uptight to me..."

"Rude!" she exclaimed as she flicked him on the forehead.

Ethan continued to stir the pot of macaroni while he continued to laugh. He wanted this moment to last forever like he's said before with the other moments they've shared. Everything felt too real, too pure.

"I'm so hungry..." she growled out, her eyes fixed on the bowl of cheesy noodles. "Even if they are runny."

"And you say I'm difficult." Ethan snorted, passing her a bowl.

She shrugged and trudged over to the dining table, "Are we sitting here?"

Ethan shook his head, "What are we? Fifty?" he tipped his head over to the couch, "Go sit over there."

"So bossy," she jeered, looking over her shoulder and chuckling. "What now?"

"Eat and I'll put on a movie."

The two got comfortable on opposite sides of the couch and sunk into the cushions. A string of clear Christmas lights hung over the wall by the mounted TV, reflecting a warm glow that calmed both of them. The movie playing only as simple background noise as they didn't pay much attention to the action.

Ethan fetched some blankets from his room and sprawled them on the sofa, letting her cozy up into the fleece. Her empty bowl sat on the coffee table as she leaned her head into the armrest, eyes half-lidded. She attempted to take it to the sink and wash it but the blue boy told her that he would do it later.

The sound of the drizzling rain softly pattered on the rooftop and a soporific sensation coursed through him. It was almost as if the sound of mother nature was louder than the movie as his attention began to focus on the pelting of the raindrops.

He watched her curl into a little ball, the blanket pressed up against her cheeks as she finally shut her eyes.

The sight let alone killed him. He wanted to nestle up beside her and let her head rest on his shoulder until it lost its circulation. He wanted to run his fingers through her knotted hair and whisper those soft nothings.

But it was all just a fantasy and something he could only wish for. For now.

By the time Ethan opened his eyes again, he noticed it was startlingly dark. He shifted a little on the couch, the movie now rolling its credits. He emerged out of the covers and saw Reese, lips slightly parted as she released low breaths.

A foot grazed up against his leg as he watched her own legs roam down his calf. A chill was sent up his spine as the fabric to her fuzzy socks caressed him.

She was completely knocked out, fallen into a deep slumber. Even if he had homework to do and knew it would be in his best interest to start his assignments, he knew that he wouldn't be able to concentrate with her faintly snoring next to him.

So he snuggled back into the comfortable position he was in before and closed his eyes, this time dragging his own leg up against hers as she responded with a slight kick.

The feelings he felt was ineffable, almost heavenly. Because they hit him all at once and sometimes he didn't think he was awake. It sometimes felt too good to be real but every now and then he would open his eyes and see her laying there, erasing any doubt he had seconds before.

And that's really all he could ask for at this point.

God, he had to tell her.

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I'm sorry for such a delay in posts. Finals week is next week for me and I haven't begun studying. WOOOOO!

Don't procrastinate like I do... study!!!

- domducky :')