45 hours

Literally Falling

Dean listened to us, he has all the microwave popcorn out on the counter and is nuking them one by one. I know there are crisps somewhere on the top shelf next to the microwave, so I climb the counter and pray I don't fall. I find a big bag of sour creme and onion crisps and one with bbq flavour. Pouting, I carefully drop the bags onto the counter, I was hoping to find salt and vinegar crisps up here.

I'm trying to not fall when I actually slip off the counter and for a millisecond I think it's all over. Dean's arms catch me, like he was anticipating my fall. "I knew you'd fall for me sooner or later." His voice in my ear sounds amused, and I hate that I'm beyond relieved that he caught me.
Trying to tell my heart to calm down I turn to snark. "Yes, because the only thing that can explain this situation is me having a concussion..."
Dean dips me and leans down towards me, I grab his arms to not hit the floor. "I think you need to practice the cuteness that needs to happen over the coming week." I hear the dare in his voice.
Trusting him not to drop me, I let my hands travel up his arms and thread my fingers through the hair at the back of his neck. "You want cute?" I pull his face closer to mine. "You want sweet?" Our mouths are a whisper apart. I allow our lips to touch. Dean pulls us to standing and closer together. The kiss builds into a make out session. The beep of the microwave has us pulling apart, faces flushed and hearts beating.
"That wasn't cute, or sweet." His voice is deeper than usual and I like the look in his eyes; the one telling me that I have him wrapped around my finger, if only for the moment.
"Don't worry Dean, I'll hold your hand and smile sweetly when we're at school." I go grab the bags of crisps and move towards the living room.
"And when we're not?"
I hope I manage to hide my smile before I turn around. "Let's not complicate things, yeah?" Dean just looks at me, I can't really read his face. With a shrug I go to join my brother. I wish my insides were as calm as I pretend to be.

Soulless is a gore fest of a film, with jump scares and crazy people. I find myself scooting lower and lower on the sofa, the blanket hiding more and more of my face. Luke loves films like these almost as much as he loves those dumb action movies, me though, not so much.
"That was awesome." Luke scrolls through Netflix, looking for another film.
"Nothing scary Luke. That was above my limit." I'm still hiding in my blanket.
"You fucking wuss..." Luke's scrolling through the horror film section.
"Nah man, let's watch something fun." Dean has been moving closer to me all through the film and I've acted like I've not noticed. As he pretends to make himself more comfortable, he casually bumps into me. "I'm sor..." I shake my head and make my way under his arm. Luke's going to be a butt and I don't want to sit here all alone, scared to bits.
"Yeah! Look! They have The Lighthouse." He clicks on the film and yet another scary movie starts.
"I should have hidden that remote again." I speak quietly enough for Luke not to hear me.
I feel Dean chuckling as he pulls me closer. "But then I wouldn't have the privilege to keep you safe."
"Don't get used to it. It's only for a week."
"Fucking best week of my life." His whisper makes me feel things I can't put into words and I decide I don't like them.

The Lighthouse is more of a ghost story and even though there are jump scares, I don't feel as terrified as I did from Soulless. Stifling a yawn I bury myself deeper into my blanket and consequently closer to Dean. When the film ends I have to untangle myself from boy and blanket both, and I shiver from the lack of toasty warmth.
"One more?" Luke seems to not need sleep tonight.
I stand up and put my hands on my hips. "Only if it's not a scary one." He rolls his eyes, but nods and goes looking in the action movie section.
"Independence Day!" Dean sits up straight. "Man, we have to watch that one!" He looks at me and I shrug. I don't care.
"You guys go right ahead and start it, I'll be right back."

After a bathroom break I decide to get a hoodie from my room. It's not that I mind snuggling up to Dean, it's that I DON'T mind, not at all. I need to keep a clear head and a lot of distance to make it through this week. I'm checking an Insta story as I slowly make my way down the stairs and to the living room.
"...crush of yours has been a thing forever, but are you sure this is a good idea?" Luke's voice has me stopping.
"I know, man. How did she even say yes?" Dean huffs a laugh. "I think this is what I need though. To get it out of my system."
"Yeah. You sure? I mean, you've tried everything else."
There's a deep sigh from Dean. "Worst case scenario I'll just have to live with it. After graduation we're not going to see much of each other anyway. I guess." The sofa makes a noise as if someone is getting up. Quickly I sneak a couple of steps up the stairs and make sure I make noises coming down. Someone shushes the other.

"Lily?" Luke's voice sounds a little worried.
I try to make it look like I'm engrossed by my phone. "Yeah?" I don't look up.
"You want to grab some water for us?"
"Grab your own fucking water, Luke. Last time I looked I wasn't your slave." I'm still pretend scrolling through Insta.
"I thought you'd want to be nice to your boyfriend?" I look at Dean, who's looking both amused and worried.
"I believe Dean can get his own fucking water too. Yeah?" Dean shrugs his shoulders. "And, just a heads up Dean. I'm posting that pic Luke took. In case Crystal is stalking me." I do as I say. "And I'm captioning it with 'about time' and tagging you. You're okay with that?"
"Uhm, yeah. Sure. That's cool." I think there's a slight red tint to his cheeks.
"Great." I sit down on the sofa again. None of them make a move to start the film. "Are we watching this or nah?" Luke scrambles to press play and Dean sinks back, not sitting as close as he did before.

It's almost three in the morning when we're done watching Independence Day. I'm yawning my way through the final battle and I'm fighting to keep my eyes open.
"Come on Lily, let's get you to bed." Dean's voice makes me realise I've nearly fallen asleep.
"I can do it myself." But I only half heartedly try to shrug his hands off me.
Dean sighs. "I know you can, but just let me help you this once." Luke is nowhere to be seen and the house lies in darkness as we make our way up the stairs. My mind sees strange shadows and creepy things everywhere and I find myself grabbing Dean's hand.
Something makes the floor creek and I jump. "Fuck. I hate scary films..."
"Then why watch them?"
"Luke will never let me hear the end of it if I refuse. And this way I get to force him to watch the really mushy romantic films I like." Dean moves towards my room, but I pull him to the bathroom instead. "No, you're stuck with me until we've brushed our teeth. I'm not leaving my room once I get there."
"And if I have to take a piss?"
"I'll cover my ears and close my eyes until you're done."
"And if you have to take a piss?"
"Same." I close the bathroom door behind us. "Unless you're into that stuff..." Wiggling my eyebrows at him, I grab my toothbrush and toothpaste.
"You're insane."
"You love it." My words are muffled by my toothbrush. The look he gives me seems full of something I should be able to understand, but I turn to rinse my mouth out instead.

The door to Luke's room is ajar and I can hear him snoring. He never had any trouble falling asleep, never mind what he watched or whatever else that happened during the day. My mind is groggy and my thoughts sluggish. "I wish Allie was here."
"Yeah?" Dean walks me to my door.
"Then I could toss her to the monsters under my bed." I hear him chuckling softly. "Now I have to convince myself it's all in my mind. Although, I'm half asleep already..."
"Want me to tuck you in?" I squint at him. There's no grin, no leer. "How about a goodnight kiss?"
"There's no one to convince here."
"I disagree." His eyes take me in, and I feel naked even though I'm in a hoodie. "Goodnight Lily." As he turns to leave, my body moves to him and I place a soft kiss on his cheek. Dean freezes.
"I might not hate you, but you're a fucking idiot." With that I close the door.