Vault

Forty-Two

"No, you're not allowed to leave," Karl whined.

"Well I'm not going to for a few more hours, but I do have to leave tonight," I laughed.

"No," Karl whined more as he laid down on his bed, trapping me beneath him.

"I have to go back. I work tomorrow and I have to get ready for classes to start on Wednesday," I reminded Karl, "if I could stay, I would."

"Can't you go back in the morning instead?" Karl asked.

"No, I didn't bring anything to wear to work tomorrow, I'm sorry."

"Fine, then you can't leave this bed until the moment you're leaving so I can have every second with you," Karl huffed.

I laughed as he moved around to lay between my legs, resting his head on my stomach and hugging his arms tightly around my waist. Karl wiggled around a little, really nesting his head into my stomach.

"You can't leave if I don't let you out of my grip," Karl teased.

"I don't have to leave yet," I laughed, "just eventually."

"No, you're my girlfriend now, you're not allowed to leave."

"Who would've thought that saying yes to being your girlfriend would turn you into even more of a simp," I teased.

"Hey, I'm allowed to simp over you," Karl insisted, "so hush and let me."

"Being my boyfriend makes you sassy," I laughed.

"You called me your boyfriend," Karl smiled.

"Because you are my boyfriend," I smiled, "and I was joking with the simp stuff. I love the way you treat me."

"Good, because I don't plan to change how I treat you."

Karl cuddled back into his position on my stomach and turned on his TV. We spent a few hours watching Codename: Kids Next Door, just cuddling together in his bed. I started to sing along with the theme song as yet another episode started. I hadn't realized Karl had fallen asleep until he wasn't singing along with me. I stopped running my fingers through his hair for a moment to take a picture of how we were laying together.

What an adorable man, who I happen to love so much. I just wish I knew how to tell him.

I went back to running my hands through his hair and smiled at the very cute way his lips had slightly parted while light snores fell from his lips. He's just such a gift to mankind. Okay maybe that would seem like it's a little far to the average person, but it's true.

"Karl," I whispered, "are you actually sleeping?"

No answer.

"Baby," I whispered, "I'm glad you're sleeping because I want to tell you something but I'm too scared. You better not wake up."

Still no answer, thank god.

"Baby, I love you," I whispered, "and because I could tell you while you're sleeping it won't be so scary to tell you for real later. It'll be my little secret."

I giggled as I grabbed my phone and quickly tweeted out the picture I took, tagging him in it. Now he won't see it at least until he wakes up and by then it would have been seen by enough people that he can't ask me to take it down. I like the picture.

I watched a few more episodes with Karl asleep on my stomach and Oscar cuddled up next to me on Karl's bed. This is a life I could see for me for the future. I wish there was something I could do for him to show him how much I love him without saying it to him. It's just too soon, and I don't want to freak him out.