First Choice (Sam Wilkinson/Nash Grier)

Chapter 17

"Nash, wake up." I nudged his shoulder, waking him from his deep sleep with a start. He gasped and sat straight up, arms tightening around me, pulling me to his chest. He glanced around before remembering where he was and relaxing. "S-sorry. I forgot I was here." He said with a nervous laugh.

I giggled and reached up, ruffling his hair. "It's fine. But we were asleep for a while and I didn't know if you had to go home at a certain time or if you were planning on spending the night." He shook his head, "Nope. My dad and stepmom don't care as long as I check in, does your mom care if I spend the night here?" He asked, and I was suddenly aware of the way his thumb was rubbing circles against my palm. It was so simple yet so warm.

"Um, I know she won't cause Sam sleeps over all the time." I averted my eyes to the screen to see the disc menu playing over and over again. I chewed on my lip as I waited for him to make up some excuse why he had to go home, but one never came.

It was must have been extremely awkward for him to learn about how a guy was always sleeping at my house, because I knew that Nash liked me. "Oh, I would have guessed so. You guys have been best friends for how long?" He asked. Did he not care or was he playing it cool? "Uh, since we were like 8 I think." I gazed up at the ceiling trying to think of the first time I met Sam. "I'm not sure to be honest." I added.

"Oh, that's a long ass time." He laughed. "Yeah, pretty much as long as I can remember." I smiled as I blushed to myself. I watched as Nash furrowed his eyebrows and shifted so that he could wiggled out from under me and stand before his features softened again. He maneuvered me off of him so smoothly that I had no idea he wasn't under me until he stood in front of me.

The couch didn't feel so comfy anymore and I felt exposed without Nash's long arms wrapped around me. "Yeah, I don't know. Maybe I should go home just in case my stepmom gets pissed." He mumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "What?"

What did you think would happen?

"I should go." He half smiled, grabbing his phone off of the living room table. "Wait. I-" I couldn't stop myself when he turned to walk towards the door and I reached out and grabbed his hand. It was unfamiliar making the first move with him, with anyone for that matter. This was completely new territory for me, I'd never been in mutual "Like" with someone before.

You're being desperate.

Am I?

Nash stopped mid step and turned looking at my hand desperately wrapped around three of his fingers. "Jasmine, I don't think I can." I recoiled from him, dropping my hand. The way he said it, like he wasn't talking about just spending the night at my house. "Why?" I choked, feeling tears begin to burn my eyes. Was Nash just a Sam 2.0? Pulling and pulling on the rope until I'd finally pull back a little on my end, and then he'd decide he didn't want me and let the rope go and I'd fall back in the mud once again.

One fucking day? One day is really all it took to form unrealistic expectations about him and get attached? You always tell yourself that no one could possibly want you, and then you let yourself believe the complete opposite. You always do this! Just face the truth that they just give you enough affection to hook you and then they love to watch you wriggle and squirm as you desperately try to get more. If you keep this up it'll end up being just like your relationship with Sam. You'll let your feelings begin to go away, and then he'll pull you right back in again. Over and over and over.

I was stupid and naïve, but would Nash really take advantage of me? Was it just a game to him, the deal sweetened because he knew that this was all new to me and he could take all my firsts from me? I shook my head as he turned around completely and stared at me, "Jasmine, I'll stay if you want me to. Just tell me you want me to stay and I will." He said, the desperation in his eyes as he searched mine didn't match the calm voice he used to ask me.

"Nash I'm afraid." I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat and blinking rapidly as I felt the water pooled at my lashes go away. "Of what?" he asked, taking a step towards me but I pressed my hand flat against his chest when he tried to take another. "Is this about Sam?" He asked. I sheepishly nodded my head. "I see the way he treats you. Like you're just there for him to play with when he's bored." He huffed, his chest rising and falling rapidly under my hand.

I flinched at his harsh words, sucking my bottom lip into my mouth and biting down on it harshly. "Nash please don't talk about Sam to me. You don't know anything about him and me." I defended our relationship- our friendship- I reminded myself.

"That's because you won't tell me anything. We've been really good friends for about 2 and a half months now and all I know is that you met in the 4th grade or something. Every time I try and bring it up you shut me down or change the subject." It was true. I couldn't deny that I didn't want to talk to anyone about Sam and I because I knew would they would say. But it was different now, right. Id finally told myself that enough was enough and I'd let go of Sam, so why did it hurt when someone else implied that I should.

It's only been ONE fucking day.

Oh, right.

Did I really think that just because I said I was going to get over Sam, it would happen instantly?

"I'd never treat you like that. He doesn't know what he has, how lucky he is." He mumbled as he rakes his fingers through his hair.

"Nash can we please drop this please, I don't want to talk about it." I asked. He looked down knowingly and nodded. We stood for a few seconds in awkward silence.

"If that offer is still on the table," I paused taking a deep breath, "Nash please stay with me." I begged. When I raised my eyes from the floor to his face he wore a crooked grin and nodded. "I'll always stay as long as you want me to." He breathed, grabbing my wrist and decreasing the distance between us by pulling me into a hug.

He wrapped his long arms around me and I was enveloped in warmth. I wrapped my arms around his torso and nuzzled my head against him. "You know you give the best hugs, right?" He murmured, voice muffled because my ear was pressed to his chest. I could hear the soft beat of his heart and it made me feel loved, especially as I hummed in response, pressing my body into his, and his heartbeat raced.

"Let's go to bed." Nash said as he pulled away. "We slept all day!" I laughed. He shook his head and led me back into the living room. "But I could sleep all day forever if you cuddled me." He smirked at me as he laid down and motioned for me to join him. "Get over her, darlin'!" he said in a thick southern accent making me blush.

"Get up first you dork!" I whacked him on the arm as he stood up, confused. I pulled the back of the couch and it unfolded into a futon. "Ah." Nash nodded and laid down again. I walked back to the hallway closet and grabbed another blanket and three more pillows for us. I arranged them around Nash as he smiled as me stupidly and blinked his eyes rapidly pretending to be a girl.

I finally gave up after Nash wiggled his head over the pillow I was fixing deciding it would be fine as I laid down on my stomach beside him on the edge that was against the wall. "And we'd better get a lot of sleep because Matt just texted that a bus will be picking us up at noon and we've got to pack before then so I'll have to get up early and go to my house." He informed me as he scooted closer and I turned onto my side as he went to spoon me.

"Goodnight." I sighed. I heard him yawn behind me before he answered, "Night Jasmine."

"Tired already?" I joked, shaking my head. But I didn't mind, I was content to lie awake in his arms as he softly snored into my ear.