𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 | 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚

chapter seventeen

✴︎°༄

"SWEET PEA?" KIARA mumbled, confused.

She squinted and looked around her. It was dark outside, but her clock had been turned so she couldn't see the time. She was in bed and Sweet Pea was asleep beside her. She peeked under the blankets to see he was only wearing boxers. A strange feeling ran through her as a terrible thought entered her head. She gasped with disgust, pushing the thought away.

"I trust him, and I love him. He'd never hurt me," She whispered to herself. She lightly kissed his tattoo before slipping out of bed. She tiptoed to the bathroom and checked herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were slightly red and puffy. She did her business then hurried back. Sweet Pea was awake and getting out of bed.

"Oh my god," He mumbled. "I thought you left or something. How're you feeling?"

"Strange? I don't know, I feel weird."

"What do you mean?"

"When I woke up next to you, not remembering getting into bed, I thought-" She sighed and looked up at his calm, loving eyes.

"What?" He whispered.

"I thought you r-r- I can't even say it!" She burst into tears. "I'm so, so sorry!"

"Wait, you thought I- hurt you?" He asked, tears welling up in his eyes. She nodded.

"I don't know why the thought came to me, I always feel so fucking safe with you! Please, please don't be mad! I understand if you are, but please, don't leave me! I can't be alone!"

"Hey, hey, hey!" He exclaimed and held her face in his hands. "Look at me," She did as he said. "I'm not going to leave you. I love you more than anything."

"I wish I could let that word escape my lips, but I feel the same way about you."

***

"Kiara, I really don't think you should go back so soon," Sweet Pea said. She had no intention of staying home while Sweet Pea went to Riverdale High for the first time. What if a fight broke out? What if the Bulldogs ganged up and hurt him?

"Sweets, I can't stay home," She smiled. "Besides, what better time to go back then when half of Southside High is transferring in? No one will even realize it's my first day!"

"And your dad is okay with this?" He asked, still not convinced it was a good idea.

"Yeah, he said he has to go into work all day today, so he didn't want me staying home anyway. He was gonna drop me off at Pop's but I convinced him otherwise."

"Okay, but I'm staying with you the whole day, no exceptions," He smiled.

"Bathroom?"

"One exception."