The Story of Us

25 - Shiro

[Shiro]

I'm lying on my bed, one arm resting behind my head and one across chest, holding my phone. My shirt rides up to expose the lower part of my torso, allowing a strip of cool air to brush over it. Or, it would. But Adam's head is currently residing on it. His hair tickles me slightly, causing me to let out a breathy laugh whenever Adam moves.

"Shiro," Adam murmurs. I look at him, craning my neck so I can see him.

"Yeah?"

"I...thanks. For everything. Really, I-it means a lot." He turns on his side, pressing his ear to my stomach, and places an arm under me.

"Of course, babe. I want you to be happy. That's all I've wanted for a long time," I say, running my fingers through his pretty brown hair.

"I mean, how long have we been together?" I add with a small laugh.

"Like three and a half years. The best three and a half years,"

I sit up, slowly as not to make Adam's head slam onto my lap. He looks up at me with his forest green eyes, his perfect smile. I love looking at him. I could do it all day. But, one must talk to other humans to be considered "functional."

"You were a mess when you tried to ask me out," he continues.

"C'mon, I wasn't that bad!" I laugh.

Adam sits up and fixes me with a serious look. "Takashi, babe. You had index cards with a script written out. A script that I didn't have. You were a bit more than a mess,"

"Well...you said yes. Also, could you blame me? You were the cutest, handsomest, hottest guy in the school and I was a lowly freshman. I had braces, Adam. Plus, a lot of unchecked anxiety. It's your fault for being so attractive, honestly,"

Adam laughs. "Well, thank the lord you did have a script. It gave you some of your...innocent charm. Well, until I got to know you and realized how hot you were. You know, since you insisted on wearing patterned sweater vests until the very end of sophomore year. God, you were such a little nerd. But, I saw you over the summer when you were in a swimsuit and I have to say, you were a snacc™ and you only got better,"

As he speaks, my face grows more and more red. It goes from a delightful pink, to an embarrassed red, to a flustered magenta. "Th-thanks," I mumble out, giggling breathily. My face falls when I remember that he won't think that now, not after he sees all my new scars. It's hideous.

Adam's gaze softens. "Hey," he says gently. I look at him and force a smile, though that's never worked on him. "You know I've seen them, right?"

I freeze, my breath catching. "Y-you have?" I squeak. I feel anxiety flare up in my chest, and I feel like I'm about to cry or something. I really don't want to cry.

Adam nods and turns so he's sitting in my lap, rather than next to me. "Yeah, the day you got out of the hospital. Remember? And a couple nights ago when we finally got to have sex for the first time since you got out of the hospital. And I know you've stopped. You shouldn't feel self conscious. You should feel proud for overcoming that. And until you do, I'll be proud twice as much for you;. Okay?"

I shudder out a breath, taking a shaky inhale. "Mmhmm," I hum out, higher pitched than usual. I reach a hand out and trace along the angles of the face of the handsome boy in front of me. His mouth tugs up into a smile.

"Takashi," he whispers, "can you tell me a story?"

My heart leaps into my chest at this. I lie back, resting my head in the pillows. Adam moves so he's cuddling me, using me as a body pillow. I wrap an arm around him. I already know what I want to tell him.