Laughter [Garrett Watts x OFC]

[Hey, Hot Pants]

Garrett and I had been "not dating" for a little over a month and things were going really we'll. We'd spent almost everyday together and even planned a Halloween Party. The others didn't get as into it as we did, but they still came, as did a few others. Everyone I'd been introduced to had been more than welcoming to me and I was finally feeling 100% happy. Until the fire, that is.

Just after the first week of November, the Woolsey Fire began, almost immediately after we'd finished helping Shane and Ryland move. I - alongside Shane and Rylan - was forced to evacuate due to the location of the fire. Morgan had already moved into her apartment at Shane's studio and had invited me to crash there with the other two, but it was already cramped enough without adding me to the mix.

"I have too many things that I don't need. Why do I have all of this shit," I complained as I packed up what I wanted to take with me to the hotel. "There are people who have nothing and I have all this junk I don't even use. Know when I last used this yoga stuff? Never. I bought it with the intention of using it when I moved out here and none of it has left my closet. I'm so wasteful." I kicked the mat and leaned back against the wall, groaning.

"We both know that isn't true," Garrett said as he wrapped me in a hug.

"Then why do I feel like it is?"

"Because you're stressed. It won't last forever." He rubbed my back as I took a few breaths.

"This sucks. I thought California was supposed to be sunshine and happiness."

"It is most of the time, which makes things like this suck even more. Times like this are when you have to be thankful for the people around you."

"The universe knows I'm thankful for you." I rose to my tiptoes and gave him a small kiss. "I don't know how I'd be right now without you and the gang."

"The gang makes it sound like we solve crimes. Like the Scooby gang," Garrett mused. I started cracking up at how innocent he was and thought about how lucky I was to have him in my life.

I'd been in the hotel for a week as the fire made its way through, destroying some buildings and leaving others unscathed randomly. Even though I'd told my landlord to call me immediately if anything happened, I still checked the news when I woke up and before I went to sleep to see if it had reached my home. It seemed to calm my nerves, but it never quite rid me of the anxiety.

I got the call at 3:30 in the morning. It wasn't from my landlord, but from one of my neighbors. We'd exchanged numbers when we got the evacuation notice just in case something happened. And fuck did something happen.

It was gone, the entire building. The fire had reached the complex and it had fallen in on itself due to the blaze. My heart sank to my ass and my hands were shaking so much that I could barely call Garrett. I knew he'd be up.

"Hey, hot pants! What's shakin'," he asked, sounding the complete opposite of how I felt.

"Garrett-," my voice broke and I started crying unexpectedly. I'd packed everything that was important to me and I knew there was a chance the fire would hit, but I wasn't expecting to feel so overwhelmed.

"What's wrong? Where are you?" He instantly went into Protector Mode.

"The fire-," I sobbed.

"I'm heading to the hotel right now. Hang tight, sweetheart."

Even during the middle of a panic attack, I couldn't help but feel lucky to have Garrett in my life. The fact that he was willing to drop everything without me even needing to ask meant the world to me. It was something I hadn't experienced from others in my life.

As I waited for Garrett to arrive, I tried to calm myself down. By the time I heard Garrett open the door, I'd stopped crying, but still felt like I was hyperventilating. He threw the key I'd given him on the dresser and immediately climbed into bed next to me and pulled me into him.

"Try and match my breaths," he said as he stroked my hair. I did my best to focus on the rise and fall of his chest and eventually succeeded. Garrett didn't press me to speak right away. Instead, he just held me and rested his head on top of mine.

"Thank you," I finally spoke. "I appreciate you coming here so late."

"Of course, Elle. I wouldn't let you be alone right now."

"I don't know what I'm gonna do."

"I do. You're going to remember that you've got a buttload of money you never use and we're going to find you somewhere great to live. We can make sure it has a theater room like you said you've always wanted, and if it doesn't, we'll make one. And you can finally get a pet! I'll even help you pick and name it."

He continued to go on and on about the type of house I'd like and I was taken aback by how much he actually knew about me. As he talked, I thought about all the things I knew about him and surprised myself with what all I'd picked up in just a few months. My heart suddenly started racing again, and it wasn't because I'd lost my apartment.

I was falling in love with this giant who had rushed to my side to hold me close and giggle to himself while he mused about different cat names.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Filler chapter, but it's been way too long since I've posted. I needed something to push me back into this because Garrett is incredible and the world doesn't deserve him.