Seeing the Thing

Chapter 10

"Morning," you hear a gruff voice say and your eyes widen when you look up, seeing Tom's face squished into the pillow, his arm around your middle, yours were squeezed between the two of you.

"Hi," you squeak, brain running through the events of the night before.

"You look like you needed sleep but I wasn't sure when your first class was, it's only eight now so you can go back to sleep if you wa-,"

"Did you say something last night?"

"What?"

"I was falling asleep, and you were saying something, or at least I thought you said something but maybe I wa-,"

He cuts you off with a quick kiss, morning breath and all.

Your nose wrinkles slightly and he laughs, "yes, I uh, I did."

"Oh, for real?"

"I mean, did you really think I hated you?"

"No I just,"

"I did hate you for a while, always felt like you were stealing my best friend from me-,"

"He's my best friend too."

"I know but he was my best friend first-,"

"Does that really matter?"

"I just mean that-,"

"I need to get to class," you cut him off, you don't want to hear about how Harrison was his friend first and that you stole him or some stupid territorial shit boys went through. You also wanted to get to the bottom of what his "I like you" meant. You figured beneath the gloomy anger in his eyes and the hostility when you were around other people that he didn't hate you. You knew from the way his neck would stretch so your lips fit perfectly with his that he didn't hate you. You knew from the way his fingers ran along your collarbone and he asked you questions to keep your mind off of your panicked thoughts that he didn't hate you. You just wish you had the guts to ask him how much he liked you.

"Yeah, me too," Tom nods, sitting up slightly. He chuckled and you looked to see your hand still curled around his shirt.

"Sorry bout that," you let go of his shirt and he shrugs.

"Didn't mind."

"Alright, get lost, needa get to class."

You watch as Tom gets up. You look down and see his clothes on your body.

"Here I can-,"

"It's fine, as much as I want you to get naked right now it'll make us both late for class. Just give them back at some point, or keep them, whatever."

"Ok, I uh, yeah," you reply before he gives you a small smile and is gone.

Keep them.

They were comfortable, cozy, you wanted to stay in them as you grabbed Ben and Jerry's and watched Netflix in bed, but instead you had your psychology of childhood class at 9:45.

After class you took your coffee to the quad and sat with Gianna underneath a huge oak tree.

"Everything good?" She watches as you bury your head in your hands.

"I uh, might've fucked up."

"What did you and Tom do?"

"Hey! Why's it gotta be about that?"

"Because, you uh, confirmed it stupid, you get all defensive when I'm right about something."

"Shush, yes, okay, I may have fucked up there."