2. Eating That Pizza...Together

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Fin: Jul 9, 2020

"We've got a million spare rooms, so you can pick any one to sleep in. All of them are cleaned and dusted weekly by our housekeeper, so it should be fine. I recommend this room. It's the biggest one." He opens the door to a spacious room. "The bathroom even has a Jacuzzi if you're feeling it."

"I'm just staying for one night, I don't need a hotel, thanks," I tell him, even as I stare all around the room. The walls are painted an electric blue, with curtains over the windows in a darker shade of blue. Everything is just various shades of blue, from the computer desk to the queen- sized bed and blanket itself. The room is so beautifully decorated, I can't bring myself to leave it. "I...I guess I'll just stay here then."

He laughs at me. "Great. All the soaps and shampoos are in the shower. I'll go find some clothes for you and you can take a shower in the meantime." He leaves the room, most likely looking for said clothes.

I sit down tentatively on the side of the bed. Is this really okay? I feel so out of place in this giant blue-themed room, so far from my apartment that's probably smaller than the size of this bedroom. Plus, even if he seemed okay in high school, what if he was secretly a criminal?

I walk over to the window and lift aside the thick curtain. I shake my head. It's too late now. In this blizzard, I couldn't get home if I tried. Praying to all the gods I know of, I hope I won't die tonight. I'll remember to lock the door.

When I get out of the shower, an oversize gray hoodie and matching sweatpants are already sitting on the bed. Good thing I locked the door to the bathroom. It was the first hot shower I took in two years and I took longer in there than I meant to.

After putting on the clothes and drying my hair with my towel, I go look for Shaun. I find the spiral staircase we took to get to the bedrooms and head down it.

"Hey Shaun, do you recognize me?" I ask him when I find him. He's sitting on the couch in the living room, holding a slice of pizza to his mouth. I stand at the edge of the spiral staircase.

"Yeah...? Bailey, pizza delivery girl, decided to crash at my place for the night?"

"I meant from before this. Before pizza delivery. Do you know me from somewhere?" I raise my eyebrow at him. He hesitates, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Uhm, no I don't think so?" he says. "Why? Do you recognize me?"

"I'm pretty sure I know you," I wag my index finger towards him. "We went to the same high school. Donovan High School? My friend back then had a huge crush on you. I remember telling her how she was so silly for crushing on someone instead of studying to get into college."

"I did go to Donovan, but don't remember you, sorry. I never dated anyone in high school either."

"Pft, it's fine. I didn't ask if you dated, but alright." I take a seat on the other couch.

He offers me the pizza box. "I'm not hungry, thanks." Just then, my stomach grumbles loudly. I sigh, rolling my eyes at my traitorous stomach. Gregory's Pizza Place was known for being the best pizza in the East coast and I hadn't eaten since breakfast this morning.

"Not hungry, eh?" He wiggles his eyebrows at me.

"Shut up dude." I reach over and grab a slice of pizza. I look at Shaun, debating for a split second if I should be eating like a lady.

Oh, what the hell, I'll probably never see him again after this anyway. I shove the pizza into my mouth.

"Take it easy, pizza's not going anywhere," he laughs, watching me inhale slice after slice.

-----

"Ugh, I'm so full," I exclaim, clutching my stomach as I lean back into the couch, grateful for the giant hoodie hiding my currently protruding stomach. I was wrong before. This couch is incredibly comfortable.

Shaun raises one eyebrow at me. "Really? Because I'm still hungry. I distinctly remember a certain someone saying she wasn't hungry."

"Well, I lied. Obviously. How are you still hungry, we had two boxes of pizza."

"Yeah, of which you ate most of!"

I think back to about 15 minutes ago, cocking my head to the side. I wanted to smack myself for letting him distract me with pizza. Well, if he really wanted to kill me, he probably wouldn't have fed me all that first, right?

"Oh. Oops. Sorry. You offered."

He cracks a smile. "I'm joking, it's fine."

We kind of just sit there for a while, neither of us saying anything. Shaun closes his eyes after a few seconds. I take the time to finally take a good look at the person I decided to trust for the night. His black hair reached about to his ears, with a few strands in front touching his eyes. I could tell he had broad shoulders underneath the hoodie he was wearing now. His long legs splayed out in front of him as he slouched backwards into the couch. He really was totally my type, before I decided that I had no time to date.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." He says, with a slight smile on his face. His eyes are still closed.

"What are you, like a walking cliché?" I snort at him. "I'm trying to figure out if you look like someone I can trust." I continue to observe his expression, wondering if it'll change after that.

It doesn't.

After a while, I feel myself drifting off as my eyes begin to flutter shut.

I don't know how long I slept for, but I wake up to Shaun lightly shaking my shoulders. He asks me with a curious look, "Did I pass?"

Well, shit, I fell asleep at a stranger's house. "Pass what?"

"Your exam. Do I look like someone you can trust?"

I've probably been here for a few hours, sitting on his couch, feeling completely relaxed for the first time in years. Plus, I'm still alive right?

"I mean. I guess so..." I say slowly.

He beams at me. "Great, now that that's settled," his whole expression turns wolfish and he smirks at me as he gets closer, "Let's get down to business."

Fuck.

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