Tuesday, September 8th
James' POV:
It's time to work on the project, this week's theme, it's favorite non-Disney movies. I'm at her front door now with my favorite movie, Die Hard. She lets me in and she already has pizza on the table. I ask "How's the lip doing?" She says "A lot better, see look" as she pouts her lip for me to see it better. "Ah yes, its healing well." It takes everything in me not to grab her face and kiss her.
Once we settle in the family room, she starts to say "About the rumors," I cut her off, grab her hand and say "I promise you, I don't believe them. there are two sides to every story. I get that you're not ready to share your side, but I want to be perfectly clear that I will be here when you are ready to let me in" as the movie starts. She says "Thank you" and squeezes my hand and slips her hand out of mine.
During the movie, I sneak little glances here and there at her to gauge her reaction. She looks entertained.
After the movie, I help her clean up. She asks if I need a ride home; and I say "Dawson's gonna pick me up, but thank you. Same time on Thursday?" She says "Yupp, have a goodnight."
Thursday, September 10th
Marisa's POV:
During school, I got a text from James asking what I want from chipotle from dinner tonight.
After my run, I'm trying to pick my favorite non Disney movie. I think I'm gonna pick A Walk to Remember.
When I go over, he asks "what movie did you pick?" "Now don't laugh, but it's A Walk to Remember." I look down, scratch the back of my neck and say "I can't laugh at you when I actually love that movie." "Oh really? It must be Ally and Lucy's doing, am I right?" "Oh definitely, but I'm always down to watch it."
James' POV:
We settle down in the basement, during this movie, we do homework because we both know this movie well.
When I get confused about something in anatomy, I say "hey Marisa, does that offer to help with homework still stand?" "Of course, you stuck on anatomy?" I nod my head yes.
She scoots over next to me and I get a whiff of her hair which smells like vanilla; well that's my new favorite scent. I can't help, but stare at her trying to memorize every detail of her face. The long lashes, those piercing blue eye, and those pouty pink lips that I've thought about on mine many times.
I'm too busy staring at her to notice that she's explaining the anatomy homework to me. I shake out of my zoning out to say "wait sorry, can you repeat that?" I missed all of that." She laughs and says "sure"
I actually listen to her this time because I need this to finish my homework. In the middle of doing what she explained to me, she brings her homework to stay next to me just in case I need more help.
A little while later, I feel a light weight on my shoulder. When I look over, I see that Marisa has fallen asleep on my shoulder. She must be tired so I let her sleep, plus it's the least I could do since she feeds me.
At some point, she starts moving since she looks uncomfortable. I hesitate to put my arm around her, but I want her to be comfortable, so I do it anyway; she snuggles into me which I have to remember to breath when she does that.
I start to get sleepy, so I let myself lean my head against hers to drift off to sleep.
I am woken up by the shutter of a iPhone camera. I feel a weight on my shoulder, I look down and remember that Marisa is in my arms.
I look up because I feel a presence in the room and it's Dawson staring at us smiling. He says "Bro, you comfy? Because you look like it." "Shut it, get out so I can wake her up since it's late and she's got to get home, but can you send me that photo whenever you get the chance?" Dawson laughs and says "Sure"
Marisa's POV:
I'm woken up by someone shaking me lightly. I open my eyes slowly, and feel a weight over my shoulder. I realize I'm at James' house all cuddled up to him. I pull back as quick as possible and say "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep. I should get going, thank you for dinner." He tries to apologize, but I basically flys out of his room. I make my way downstairs to say goodbye to his family.
James' POV:
Again, I'm left wondering if she's ok. How does this keep happening? My phone buzzes taking me out of my thoughts. I hope it's a text from Marisa, but it's the picture of us asleep from Dawson. We look so good together.
Marisa's POV:
When I get home, I have to calm myself down. Even though it was only cuddling, I haven't been that intimate with someone since May, and that wasn't be choice. I thought that I wasn't comfortable with it, but honestly it was the best sleep I've had in a while. I was more shocked that it happened than anything else, hence why I left so fast.
He makes me so comfortable and I've only know him for a little over a week. How is this even possible? I wanna let him in, I wanna tell him my story, but I don't even know if I can say it out loud without having a panic attack. How can someone be so patient and understanding? How determined is he?
I'm just trying to make his social life easier by not interacting with him at school, but he's stubborn and talks to me all the time. I'm working with my therapist every Monday, Wednesday. She thinks I should let him in, and she's giving me more techniques to cope. I'm grateful for them.
Friday, September 11th
Marisa's POV:
Dinner with the Kingsley's goes off without a hitch. Ally, and Lucy drag me down to the basement to watch a movie. Half way through the movie, James walks down and asks "Marisa, can I borrow you for a sec?" I get up to follow him into the other room.
He looks guilty and says "I'm so sorry that I made you uncomfortable, I didn't mean to." I cut him off "James, it's honestly fine, I overreacted, I should be apologizing for running out on you multiple times." "Well you forgave me, so I forgive you." "Ok, good" I go back to watching the movie.
When it's time to leave, James doesn't know what to do, he probably doesn't want to freak me out again so he awkwardly sticks out his hand for a hand shake. I roll my eyes, push his hand away, and pull him into a hug. He's stunned for a little bit, then he wraps his arms around me. His height makes my head tuck into his neck making it more intimate.
We hold the hug a little longer than we should. Clearly neither one of us wants to pull away/leave. When we pull away, we stare into each other's eyes and Something shifts in our relationship in this moment, and I can't put my finger on it.
But it's broken up by Lucy, who wants a hug too. After the hugs, I leave with my parents for home, trying to figure out what just happened.
