Savin' Me ⚣ ✓

XIX.

Killian's POV
I laid awake staring at the ceiling for what felt like ages.

Sleep didn't find me at all tonight and it was already starting to lighten up outside. I heard my phone vibrate on my nightstand. It was an incoming text from James.

I almost fell off my damn bed trying to read it. Did you sleep well? He asked.

I replied moments later. I've been up all night. I could practically hear him chuckling on the other end.

That makes two of us. After the night Sarah and I had, I decided to take the day off. Would you like to do something together? I bit my lip, trying to figure out whether I had made any plans today. Nothing came to mind.

How about the science museum? I texted back a few moments later.

It didn't take long before I received another reply. Sounds good. I'll pick you up around noon. Try and sleep a little.

I sent him a smiley emoji before setting my phone back on the night stand. I ended up getting about an hour of sleep before I called it quits.

-

"Hair up, Killian, I'm telling ya!" Rosie called from somewhere in my bedroom as she was no doubt ripping my closet to shreds.

"I don't want to wear my hair back!" I replied, but ended up grabbing a hair tie from her makeup bag anyways.

After repeatedly telling Rosie this wasn't a date,

She was treating it like it was definitely a date.

I now had about 15 minutes before James would be here and I was still in the joggers from last night. "Here!" Rosie exclaimed finally, pulling out the Nike tracksuit Sarah had bought for me. The bottom was some nice black and white design, while the top complimented the bottom with the same design.

There was an inner lining that helped with warmth, along with the zip up neckline and attached hoodie Incase it rained.

At this point, I didn't have time to get picky as I started throwing the clothes on.

-
James's POV
I checked my hair in the rear view mirror for the thousandth time. Did it look alright?

James, I thought to myself, get a fucking grip.

I could see Sarah's apartment nearing the end of the street. I couldn't help feeling nervous as I pulled my car up front.

My phone vibrated. It was a text from Killian. Just let me know when you're here.

I replied back. I'm outside whenever you're ready.

He must have been waiting in the lobby because it wasn't even a full minute later, when I saw Killian walk out through the front door. I couldn't peel my eyes away from him.

Just when I thought he couldn't ever look any better, his man bun proved me so fucking wrong. He was in a full track suit that looked fantastic on his slim build. We made eye contact as he opened up the car door and slid in.

I leaned in instantly, closing the distance between us with a kiss. I must have caught him off guard because it took a few seconds before he reacted to the kiss. I pulled away seconds later.

"Hi."

"Hi." He smiled up at me. It made my stomach flip.

"Science museum?" I asked.

"Science museum." He confirmed.

And we were off.

I couldn't help but notice the dramatic farewell Rosie was giving us from the entrance doors of the apartment.

-

"Can we do the planetarium showing?" Killian asked. I stared at him for the nine billionth time today because
1.) He had a permanent smile plastered on his face as he dragged me through all the many different types of exhibitions.

2.) He looked fucking incredibly and I was torn between seeing him geek out about nerdy shit or just taking him home so I could have him all to myself.

"Yeah for sure." I nodded.

"I promise this will be the last thing." He replied. I gave him a chuckle before sneaking a quick kiss on the side of his temple.

"I don't mind one bit." Was all I said.

As we neared the room to take seats, Killian began explaining to me why he knew this place like the back of his hand. His father used to bring him here when he was first adopted. He pointed out all the things that had changed over the years, and the things that remained the same.

I loved hearing him talk about his childhood, but there was still a darker part he hadn't told me about.

Who gave him those burn marks?

Was it his real father? I couldn't believe that to be true. The way he spoke of him... the only resentment he had towards his father was the fact that he left Killian to experience this monstrous world alone.

It still also pegged the question of what happened to his mother then. And what happened to the O'Hara's.

But those questions were for a different day, I decided, as I followed him into the dark auditorium.

-

I sat there with my hand in Killian's as we listened to the narrator describe the different constellations and their locations in the sky. Killian was so engrossed and fascinated, I couldn't help but look at him instead of the stars.

And it was at this moment I realized, I could get used to this.

Used to this feeling of him being here with me.

Used to how well his hand fit in mine.

I knew I'd soon have to face a few things that were inevitable... like the fact that he was only visiting, and he had a whole other life at a university.

The fact that I had never once had any type of gay relationship before.

The fact that he had never once had any kind of relationship.

And the fact that he had skeletons in his closet that kept him awake at night. Skeletons that tormented him from a childhood I couldn't even begin to piece together.

But all that didn't matter right now. What mattered was that Killian was grinning like a fool as the narrator showed us the location of the Big Dipper in the sky.

The rest was semantics.