ROGER [Wattpad Version]

T W E N T Y - F O U R

I was floating, wafting through the air with him. His energy guided me more than his hands; his kisses spoke louder than his voice. I listened to every word, every whisper. Sighs that said I love you, kisses that screamed don't let go. Together, we were detached from the pain of our reality, and allowed our bodies to sink into memories we created for each other.

I was wrong to think we'd wasted time in this digital world. But how could I have known that it was what we'd needed in the end? Roger may have taught me to jump, to run, to shoot... but he also taught me to open my heart and let the words sink in. Our training wasn't for the war outside; it was for the war inside ourselves.

As our fourth night drifted into the next morning, I wanted Roger to pull back time. Laid out on the bed with him, I gripped the sheets and pleaded that he'd turn back the clock, at least another hour, but that was well out of his control. He could change the weather, the environment, and craft rooms just for us. Yet, in the end, time slipped away from our fingers.

And I refused to move.

"We've got to get up," Roger whispered as the digital sun bled in through our window's curtain.

"Do we?" I pressed my cheek against his bare chest and took in his scent. It was sweet, like the blankets we laid in. "Can't we just lay here and wait it out?"

"No," Roger chuckled, "I agreed to do something while in here."

"You did," I said, pulling him back down as he tried to sit up. "I can run, jump—"

He pressed a finger to my lip. "Don't say shoot." He grinned. "You're not there yet..."

I wasn't, but I didn't care to be. Douglas had said I wasn't going to be on the front lines; I wouldn't be the one wielding a gun. This training, this unnecessary bootcamp, was just in case. And after what just happened, what we'd just spent the night saying to each other, I only had one ending in order—us and the rest of the world. No bloodshed. No violence.

Roger moved his finger from my bottom lip and leaned down to kiss me. He lingered there, breath brushing against mine as we both exhaled. When he moved to climb out of the bed, I grabbed his hand. "I think you agreed to do other things in here, too..."

He stopped and turned back to look at me.

"Matthews knew how you felt, too, right? Everyone did." I glanced around the room. "This was your one chance."

The corner of his lip twitched up. "Do you think I'd convinced everyone to give you basic training so I could tell you how I feel?"

"I mean...." I squeezed his hand.

"No, Clara." He came back beside me, legs pulling at the blankets. I was left in just my tank and shorts, cold, but when his body pressed against my side, I was warm again. "I didn't choose this. If it were up to me, I'd never agreed to put you in here."

I searched his eyes as the sun changed position in the sky, basking light on the side of his face. "But you..."

"No." He shook his head and pulled me close, silencing me. "I've told you before, this is bigger than just you and me. I did as I was told, for the sake of everyone out there."

Roger's hand held mine and our fingers pressed between each other's. Pulling my wrist up to his face, he kissed the inside of my arm softly—one, two, three—and let the trail of kisses continue until my arm was around his neck, his nose brushing against mine.

"I never said a word to anyone," he said and closed his eyes. "I guess my actions spoke louder."

"But, Xerses said—"