Dixison: Roommates

Daybreak

Reader's POV

Dixie had walked Addison upstairs, not missing Charli's skeptical eyes as the pair walked shoulder-to-shoulder through the living room.

Addison sniffled and wiped her eyes, flopping down onto the bed, thoughts spinning in her head as the room spun around her.

Dixie laid out pajamas, saying, "Put these on,"  before retreating to Charli's room to retrieve her own.

When she came back, Addison was dead asleep, curled up under the covers.

Dixie sighed, laying down on the opposite side of the mattress. She watched Addison's chest fall up and down as she relaxed into the bed that she had missed so much.

Dixie's POV

I opened my eyes to the familiar sight of pale walls and a white fan whirring on the ceiling. 

I was lying on my back, with Addison lying on her stomach next to me. I looked at her blonde hair draping over the pillowcase, brushing my shoulder.

My eyes traveled to the bend of her back, sleep shirt riding up and exposing sun-kissed skin. I let my mind wander, remembering all the times my fingers had traced over that exact spot, running softly up and down her spine.

I swallowed thickly, trying to block out the memories of her eyelashes closing over deep brown eyes, chin tilted up towards mine.

I sat up in bed, pulling my arms from under the sheets to stretch. My fingers tugged, pulling free from a warm grasp.

When she stirred, I realized my mistake—we had been holding hands in our sleep again. 

She rolled onto her back, closed eyes squeezing tightly as she yawned, mouth dropping open to reveal brilliantly white teeth.

When she rolled onto her side, her arm dropped down against mine, her startled eyes opening to look at me.

"Dixie?"  she whispered, voice hoarse from dehydration.

I melted at her wide eyes, gazing up at me in wonderment. 

"Yes," I smiled in spite of myself. 

Her eyes fell closed once more, and she frowned. "I don't feel well."

"It's probably the half bottle of vodka you drank last night," I chuckled, tucking her tangled hair behind her ear. I couldn't help myself—it felt normal—to be here with her, to touch her with gentle hands.

She grimaced, eyebrows furrowing together on her forehead. 

"I'll bring you some Advil."

In the Kitchen

"Where were you last night? Why didn't you come back to my room?" Charli's accusing tone brought me out of my blonde-haired daydream as I filled a glass with ice.

"I didn't realize I had to report my whereabouts to you,"  I huffed, rolling my eyes.

"You spent the night in Addison's room."

"It's technically still my room, too, isn't it?"

"I wouldn't know, since you've been constantly avoiding it for the past week."

I ignored her snappy comment, not in the mood to endure yet another lecture from my little sister.

"And I thought you were avoiding it for a reason. You're going to get hurt again."

"It was one night, Charli, and she needed me."

"I just think—"

"I'm being careful, okay?" I lied, "I know there's no future. And I'm not going to let myself get hurt," I turned on my heel, exiting the kitchen.

"You better be telling the truth, Dixie Jane!!" she called loudly after me, watching me bound up the stairs.

Back in Addison's (and Dixie's) Room

Addison's POV

My head was killing me. I turned off the bathroom faucet, patting my face dry with a towel. Washing my face was always the first step in curing my hangvoer.

I sighed, pulling the door closed behind me as I walked down the hallway back to my room. 

I vaguely remembered my conversation with Dixie the night before, and the gaps in my memory left me feeling anxious, unsure of what I had said.

My heart stopped in my chest as I walked through the doorway of my room.

Dixie was standing over my desk, fingers holding the golden locket open in her palm.

I stood silently as she stared into the photo, seemingly lost in thought as she gazed at the piece of jewelry. 

"No one's ever given me anything as beautiful,"  I said quietly after a long moment of watching, interrupting her trance. 

"Oh—" she turned to face me, eyes wide, like a deer in headlights. "I, um, brought you some Advil."

The necklace slid from her hand, dropping down onto the desk. She walked towards me, pulling two tablets from the pocket of her sweatshirt. 

"Thank you,"  I smiled, her eyes meeting mine.

She returned my smile, cheeks tinted a light pink.

A silence overcame the room as I washed down the pills with the glass of water. She looked around awkwardly, and I could feel the shift that had happened between us.

"I guess I should go, then," she tried to laugh, unsuccessfully trying to break the unpleasant tension.

She took a step forward, heading towards the door.

I reached out, catching her wrist as she passed me.

Her eyes shot down, staring at our conjoined limbs. 

"Um,"  I stuttered, caught off guard by my own pursuit. I dropped her hand, letting it fall awkwardly to her side.

"Maybe we could hang out later," I said, the want in my voice loud and clear.

"Yeah,"  she said slowly, looking at me, "Maybe."

And she walked out the door, leaving my heart pounding in my chest. Maybe.