THE INEVITABLE │ t.h

THIRTEEN

Venus sighed, pressing her lips into a flat line as she stepped back from her vanity, examining herself in the mirror. She felt and looked cleaner and more relaxed, her face no longer missing her signature natural makeup look. But she still sported light grey joggers and a baggy black sweatshirt. She finally left her room after several overly critical glances at herself, her hands stuffed in her pants pockets as she approached Tom.

His busy fingers froze, his eyes glancing up to meet hers. Venus saw him take in a shaky breath and release it calmly while presenting a nervous smile. "You look better," he chuckles, obviously teasing. He actually thought to himself how she could still look so beautiful while hungover when he first saw her earlier this morning.

"Wow, thanks," she laughs, sensing his joking demeanor, taking a seat beside him at the table, "you're so sweet."

"I'm almost done," he informs, turning his attention back to his laptop, his fingers continuing to type at the speed of lightning.

"Really?" Venus questions, resting her head in the palm of her hand as her elbow jutted into the table. "You don't have to rush," she adds, "I can easily wait for you to finish at your own pace."

"They were simple tasks and assignments," he shrugs. It only took him five minutes to finish and send it off, slamming the lid of his laptop shut once all was said and done. He laughed as Venus sprang to life; she had fallen asleep where she currently sat. "You should get some sleep."

"Sleep is for losers," she mumbles, standing. "I have company."

"I can leave if you want to-"

"Shut up, Tom," she chuckles, plopping onto the couch. "Is it okay if we watch some movies? I'm in the mood." Tom grins, nodding. He falls beside her on the couch, keeping his distance. He still didn't know where she stood on their friendship and all, wanting to respect her boundaries.

He couldn't help but watch her hunt for something good to watch, a spark of admiration and adoration in his eyes. He was snapped out of his loving gaze when Venus turned her head to face him.

"This one?" she questioned, pointing the remote at the TV. Tom averted his eyes to the screen, gulping down his embarrassment. He nods after reading the title three times, trying to get over the fact that she blatantly caught him staring in a not-so-friendly way. But she didn't tease him for it — instead she curled into the end of the couch, pressing her back against the armrest, her toes almost touching Tom's thigh. He chuckles, glancing back over at her as she moved a pillow behind her back.

He grabs her ankles, pulling her so that she was laid out on the couch, her legs hung over his lap. He quickly threw the blanket from behind his head on the back of the couch over her lower half, smiling over at her as she just stared at him in shock.

"Tom-"

"If your eyes feel heavy, feel free to drift off," he speaks. "I really don't mind." Venus grins, readjusting her body to a more comfortable position. She knew she was going to fall asleep, and wasn't in the mood to argue with him when he was clearly right.

"Don't steal anything," she grumbles, pulling the hood of her sweatshirt over her head so it wasn't in the way and putting a kink in her neck.

"No promises," Tom teases before the movie starts. Within five minutes, Venus was fast asleep, and Tom found himself watching To All the Boys I've Loved Before alone, which he seriously didn't mind. He was just happy Venus was getting some much needed rest.

➴⋆➶

"I actually fell asleep," she whimpers after her eyes fluttered open to find Tom in the same position she'd last seen him, scrolling through his phone this time instead of staring over at the TV. His head turns to her, laughing.

"You needed it," he responds.

"How long was I out?" she questions, sitting up and stretching out her body.

"Well I watched that movie you picked out," he responds, "then I finished a movie I chose... and I've been sat here on my phone for about fifteen minutes; so nearly four hours?" Venus's eyes widen.

"Why didn't you leave?" she quizzes.

"I didn't want to scare you when you woke up and found I was gone," he answered. "Aaaand I would've done the same thing at my house — having your company, even if you're sleeping, is definitely the better option." Venus blushed, keeping her eyes away from Tom's. "Okay, feel free to say no, but Evelyn would be mad at me if I didn't ask — would you like to come with me to pick her up in about two hours from school?"

Venus smiles, nodding as she looked up at him. "What should we do until then?" she questions.

"I have no idea," he softly chuckles. "What are you in the mood for?" Venus twists her mouth to the side, putting on a thinking pose.

"I've been craving chocolate chip cookies for weeks but never got around to making them because I'm a lazy bitch," she starts, Tom laughing, "so can we make some?"

"You got everything we're gonna need?" Tom questions, Venus nodding giddily. "Then I don't see why not."

"Yes!" she cheers, jumping off the couch and racing over to the kitchen. Tom laughs once more, following her at his own pace.