Stay With Me

3

Vanessa listened as Hellhammer and Necro questioned Dead, asking how he had suddenly gotten a girlfriend in just one day. She was thankful that he didn't tell them about her being from the future; that wasn't something she was ready to deal with just yet. As Dead talked, their false backstory being that they had been childhood friends, Euronymous simply continued to glare at Dead from his seat on the front steps. Dead hardly seemed to take notice as he focused on talking with the other's, his arm still wrapped protectively around Vanessa's side.

Taking the opportunity she leaned against him, breathing him in. His hair brushed against her cheek as a cool breeze passed over them, his scent filling her nose with something similar to the modern day shampoos men washed with along with a smell that was all his own. It wasn't as though she hadn't been with other men before, she'd had her fair share of boyfriends in her twenty-one years, but there was something about Dead that was different from the people she had dated in the past. Maybe it was the simplicity of the time period she now found herself in. Whatever the case, she couldn't resist moving closer to him.

~

Dead held back another smile as he felt Vanessa push herself closer to him, his arm holding her tighter as he talked to Necro.

"So how come you've never mentioned her before?" questioned Hellhammer. "She's definitely something to brag about, Pelle."

Dead simply shrugged. "I guess I just didn't want to get teased or anything. She's special."

Looking at her as he said it, he knew that they would never realize just how literal he meant that last statement.

Necro grinned, patting the vocalist on the shoulder. "Good for you, Pelle. How about we get something to eat? I'm sure your friend must be hungry."

Not wanting to argue, Dead followed the two inside with Vanessa still beside him. Euronymous came behind them not much longer, walking over to the fridge to grab a cold Cola.

"I'll have lunch ready in twenty so why don't you show Vanessa around, Pelle," suggested Necro as he began pulling various ingredients out of the fridge.

Taking hold of her hand, Dead led Vanessa to his bedroom. She stood in the doorway as the familiar room was now in front of her. Visions of her nightmares flooded her mind as she looked at the mattress on the floor where she had been seeing Dead every night. Her heart sped up as she took a step inside, the smell of death quickly filling her nose and causing her to take a step back with her hand over her nose. It was almost common knowledge that Dead had always kept dead animals for shows to feel more like a corpse, but she had never expected the smell would be so strong.

Laughing at her reaction, Dead pulled her so her back was against his chest. "I guess the smell got to you. Sorry about that."

Vanessa tried to laugh along with him, but the image of him lying on the mattress covered in blood wouldn't leave her mind.

Dead's smile quickly fell as he felt her tremble in his arms, the realization hitting him hard as he looked at where she was staring. Turning her in his arms he pulled her into a tight hug, stroking her hair slowly as she began to cry onto his chest. After a moment he pulled away from her, walking her over to the mattress and pulling her down onto his lap as he sat down. It took a few minutes until Vanessa managed to catch her breath and calm down, her fingers finding their way into Dead's blond hair.

"I don't want the nightmares to become real," she choked out. "I don't want to lose you. I don't know how to explain it, but I know we're meant to be together. We may have just met but I know I love you and don't want to lose you."

Dead held her head against his chest. "I won't go anywhere as long as I've got you by my side."

Looking up at him, his blue eyes piercing into hers, Vanessa could feel the heat rise to her face as his fingers moved under her chin. Her eyes darted downwards looking at his lips as he moved closer to her, wondering if they were as soft as they looked. As their eyes closed and their lips met, she could have sworn the world around them disappeared as his lips moved slowly against hers before pulling away all too suddenly. Dead smiled as he opened his eyes to see that hers were still closed. Once her eyes opened, she smiled down at the floor.

Dead broke the silence. "I hope that was alright. I've never kissed anyone before."

"So... I was your first kiss?"

"Yes. I hope you'll also be my last as well."

"I hope so too, Pelle."

Just as they were about to lean in for another kiss, Euronymous called for them outside the door.

"Food's done!" he shouted.

Dead nudged her up, following close behind her.

"If you'd like," he started, "maybe we could go for a walk and get to know each other better since we're going to be dating now."

Vanessa nodded in agreement. "I'd like that."