Night terrors (Hiatus)

6.5

~Two Weeks Ago~

CRUNCH
...
...
CRUNCH
...
...
CRU-

"Would you stop eating so obnoxiously."

Ten froze with the half eaten chip in his mouth. He sat in the kitchen, his legs dangling over the counter and his eyes fixed on the hunched figure of Dong Sicheng.

Sichengs' head rest in his hands, his eyes fixed on the floor and his brain fixated on his predicament.

CRUNCH

Ten tossed aside the empty chip bag and braved stepping within proximity of the sour aura his younger friend projected.

"I have no intentions of repeating myself..."

"Oh, yes you do."

"You're right! You're innn looovvvvvvvveeee!" Ten laughed, falling onto the couch and slapping a hand on Sicheng's back.

"And if I am...?" Sicheng's voice was strained as if it was painful for him to choke out the words and even bear the thought.

"Look, it could be worse! I mean, it could be like back then... It could be-"

"Don't even say his name. I might puke if I hear it." Tens cheerfulness dimmed, almost regretting bringing up the sensitive subject. If anything could make Sicheng's usual disgruntled mood worse it was always talking about him.

"I think things could definitely be worse." Ten stood, glancing down at his friend, "I know you think it's wrong, and maybe it is... but who fucking cares. No one's going to stop you - I sure as hell won't."

As Ten exited the room he heard his friends voice and he smiled at the slightest note of happiness that welled under the tenseness.

"Oh my god... I'm in love with a human?"

~

The girl in front of me is a stranger. There was no light in her eyes. Her usual liveliness was replaced with emptiness. She did not speak as we walked to her house, and though I wanted to say something, I could think of nothing to fill the silence.

I noticed her shaky knees and when I offered she refused to be carried. So we walked at the only pace she could keep: a tortoise. After about 5 minutes of that I heard her gasp as they finally gave out on her and right as she began to fall, I scooped her up and held her against my chest. I could hear her heart rate spike just like it did every time we had physical contact, and mine matched it's pace.

"Please put me down." She whispered, but I shook my head.

"You'll just hurt yourself if you keep trying to walk on your own."

"What do you care."

She didn't sound snarky or angry, just cold, and I think that was worse than anything. My breathe caught in my throat and the mixture of sadness and annoyance mixed within me to form an uneasiness that made my skin itch. I stopped walking and looked down at her, she wouldn't make eye contact, instead staring down at the sidewalk. Sighing in frustration I picked up my pace but instead of continuing the route to her home I turned, a new destination in mind.

So we ended up at the lookout above the local park. I set Y/N down on the bench and took the spot next to her. She continued to avoid eye contact with me, choosing to observe the bushes to her right.

"Y/N."

Nothing.

"Y/N, look at me."

Her stubbornness was admirable but I was sick of it. I grabbed her hand, careful not to hurt her and tugged on it.

"Please, look at me." I whispered, my voice sounded so sad. Before it would have made me sick that I came across as weak, but I'm a little desperate right now. And it's time to acknowledge the source of her pain.

Me.

"I'm not going to leave." I finally caught her eye. "That nightmare was just a nightmare, nothing more." My thumb ran over the back of her hand, and my mind and heart were racing each other to make a decision on what to say next.

"I have no intention of leaving anytime soon, so you're gonna have to deal with me a while longer because... I like you."

Our words echoed around us as they combined. I slowly watched the color return to her face as she blushed and her eyes cleared from their fog. I saw as the brightness returned and memorized the moment as I pulled her into me for our first kiss.

I wished this moment could have lasted forever...