Chapter 47: Lover Boy

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Romeo's POV~

It was the next day, after school.  Both Orion and I entered the apartment and abandoned our bags, just as we usually did, by the sofa.  He hadn't been very talkative on the walk home so I wrapped my arms around his waist before he could step foot in the kitchen.  His body tensed beneath his hoodie but he didn't pull away.  The whole of our home was quiet save for the sounds of our breath.

"Rion... can we cuddle before you start on dinner?" I pleaded softly.  Anything to make him more comfortable.

He relaxed in my hold and turned around so he could return the embrace.  His lips brushed my forehead, stirring up the butterflies that flittered to life in the pit of my stomach.  "Sure thing, babe."

Not wanting to persue a tedious argument, I let the name slide and led him back to the bedroom.  We removed our hoodies and got settled into the warmth of the duvet.  I wrapped my arms around his middle once more and laid my head on his chest.  Orion held me closer, an arm around my shoulders and his free hand nesting in my hair.

We laid together in silence for a few long moments.   I listened to his heart beat, noting the tempo of his breathing.  The fidgeting of his fingers with my hair was lazy and I could feel him twist and spin different locks together before letting them fall back over my ear.

Finally, his voice was the one to break the soundless room.  "You want to know what Tessy and I did yesterday, don't you."  It was a statement, not a question.

Knowing I wasn't exactly subtle with my worries, I nodded.

He sighed, chest rising and falling slowly.  "We snuck into our parents' house.  Neither of us could really find much evidence against them in the short time we were there, but we... we think they might be responsible for the accident."

I frowned.  Accident?  "The one that hit you on your way home?"

He nodded and I shifted to look at him. 

"How did they know where we live?  We just moved, recently; how come they know...?"

Orion just shook his head, eyes watching the ceiling.  There was still a fresh scar on his face from the event which made my stomach queasy.  "I don't know.  Before we could figure out, they came home early and we had to leave."

I laid my head back down, snuggling closer.  "Well... if it is them, then we'll make sure they get what they deserve."

"Yup..." His voice sounded nervous but I dared not question further.  Orion was uncomfortable enough as it was and I didn't want to increase his stress levels.  If he could respect my boundaries then I could do the same.  So long as he told me eventually.

"I don't want there to be any secrets between us."  His voice echoed in my head.  Is it still a secret if not told until one is most comfortable to share?  Yeah...  But is it worth waiting out so as not to break down?  Maybe...

... Maybe I should tell him.  About everything.  All the thoughts and worries and depression.  He deserves to know and it would only be harmful to hold it back any longer. 

But not right now.  He needs to destress first and I don't want to get in the way of that.  He deserves that much.

Orion moved beneath me, sitting up.  The force of his motions made me roll off and I stared up at him quizically.  He met my gaze with reluctance, red eyes soft but somewhat cold.  "I'm gonna make dinner.  Cooking always makes me feel better."

Searching his face, I nodded, and he left the room.

~

After dinner - which was French toast, by the way - we were bundled up together on the couch.  I had my head on his shoulder and we were watching Shrek.  The plan was to watch all four in one sitting.  Orion seemed a lot less tense than before, laughing at the stupid jokes in the movie that we'd both seen and laughed at maybe a hundred times before.  Nostalgia could be fun, sometimes, and the movies would probably never cease to amuse.

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