Kahoot x Reader

Chapter 28

Three days after Camille was found, Phoenix and Bay were okay again. (Why? Well, that's for you and your imagination to speculate on, dear reader,  because all of this author's creative energy was used up finishing this.)

It's after school, and they're walking home together as usual. Now that they're on normal terms again, Phoenix is freaking out, because that means he can finally ask her out properly. He shoves his shaking hands into his pockets and turns to face her.

"Bay?"

"Hmm?"

"I uh- I was wondering if you'd like to go on a date? With me?" he asks. No taking back the words now. Their eyes lock, and it's impossible to read Bay's expression.

"Wait, really? You're serious?"

Phoenix gives a small nod.

"Oh, wow. Yes." The smile on her face blooms. "Yes yes yes, I'd love to!"

It's like a weight is lifted from his shoulders. Phoenix lets out a breath he knew he was holding, because who doesn't know when they're holding their own breath? His previous nerves don't match the amount of happiness he feels right now - they're not even comparable. It's like walking on a cloud and flying and being the sun all at once.

"That's good. That's really good." He laughs, too giddy not to. "If you said no, then this would've been so awkward."

"Yeeaaahhh. So, where are we going?"

"Oh. I actually didn't get that far," he says, scratching the back of his neck. They're silent for a beat.

"We could head back to my house?" Bay suggests.

"That's not much of a date now, is it?"

"Hey! It so is, it's a called a...a home date! That's what it's called, a home date."

Phoenix grins. "I'm only kidding. Your place is fine."

Bay topples down on her bed once they enter her room. It's changed since Phoenix has last seen it. For once, her bed is made, its checkered duvet rumpling as she gets comfortable, and a few new trinkets line her dresser, such as a handful of crystals, a packet of red lollipops, and scattered polaroids. But what draws his eyes the most are the thick black bars that encase her window. No more sneaking himself in after hours, he supposes.

The bed creeks as Bay gets up. She reaches out for him, a shy smile on her lips, and her touch is soft, her hands smooth, gently pulling him by the wrist to her bed. They settle down side-by-side. Bay talks to him and he listens, her idle babble colouring the air. Her words are mostly empty, just for fun, but they fill each other up like if they would just try hard enough, if someone would just listen, they could mean something, and reveal secrets longtime tucked away.

Bay mentions music. They get on the subject of favourite songs, so she retrieves her phone from her pocket, ignoring the cracked screen as she searches through her playlists to find the best ones. There. She taps it, and a soft melodic voice intwined with ukulele fills the room. They listen.

pretty girl

you're warm as the sun

pretty girl

you're burning your lungs

don't hurt yourself anymore

pretty boy

you're sad and alone

pretty boy

you're heart's overgrown

i'll pull you to the shore

After a few songs, Phoenix show's Bay some of his favourites, too. She's heard them all before, played in his car on the way to school, speakers vibrating, or hummed quietly under his breath as he walks. Most of them she's heard in his earphones when they share. She smiles as he plays a recurring one. Even after years, he still listens to it.

they left us alone

the kids in the dark

to burn out forever

or light up a spark

we come together

state of the art

we'll never surrender

the kids in the dark

the kids in the dark

Eventually, they both close their eyes. In the room it's calm. Phoenix's heart doesn't feel so heavy, lightened by Bay's warm presence at his side, the slight dip in the mattress assuring him that she's here, and that she's here to stay. The last song ends and Bay shuts her phone off. They lay there in silence. It's not an uncomfortable kind of silence, like something is tearing apart the air, but rather it's as if it's purely them, with no need for words to bridge the gap between them because there simply is no gap. Phoenix feels sleep tugging at his mind, so he lets himself drift off. Just a little bit.

"I remember," Bay says softly, eyes still closed.

"Hmm?"

"I remember, what you said. When you held me on the floor." Phoenix's head jerks up, sleepy haze forgotten, his heart now pumping like it doesn't how. He remembers, too. The chilly breeze cutting through the window, the adrenaline fogging his thoughts, the halo of red surrounding Bay's head like a death sentence. The three words spoken for what he thought might be the last and only time. I love you.

Bay turns over to face him. Like this, she looks small, face open and arms around herself, her hoodie swallowing her whole, not at all like the girl whose voice bounces off walls and draws eyes to her.

"Did you mean it?"

There's not an ounce of hesitation in Phoenix's voice, though he does swallow first. "Yes."

"Me, too. I love you, too."

"You do?" Phoenix is incredulous, his eyebrows raised as high as his voice.

Bay nods and lifts her lips with a smile, full of warmth, and Phoenix gladly returns it. He reaches for her and wraps her in his arms. He can feel her heat through her sweater, and he holds her tight, her back against his chest, like a precious gift that he cherishes deeply. When was the last time he had said those three words? To anybody? He can't recall, so he whispers them again and again in her ear, heady on the fact that he can, and that it's safe, and that Bay feels the same way.

"Why?" Bay replies, softly. "Can you tell me why?"

"I...you just-" Phoenix closes his eyes. "You make me feel better. About life. About things that are going on."

The emotions in Bay's chest swell like a balloon.

"Would you like to know why I love you?"

"Sure." Phoenix feels Bay's hand squeeze his.

"You're just so good. You make people laugh so easily, and you're cool...and you have this air of mystery to you, and sometimes," she pauses, "sometimes, it seems like you're more than human. Like you're not real. Like you matter more than me, or anyone else."

"No." His voice rings out so clearly, so adamant, that Bay can't help but turn in his arms to face him.

"Listen, you cut me and I bleed, same as you. We're both human. Nothing more, nothing less." Phoenix brushes her hair back. "Love should never have comparisons. If you truly love someone, with a pure and authentic kind of love, then... you shouldn't be envious, or compare yourself, or whatever. Love is a type of appreciation."

Bay reaches up and cusps his hand, still in her hair.

"In that case, I appreciate you very much, starlight."

"I appreciate you too, sunshine."

***

Bay curses her creaky bed.

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(The songs mentioned in this chapter are Pretty Ones by Laureli and Kids in The Dark by All Time Low)