stars, corpse husband

eighteen

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 !

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

     As Nova pulled her car into one of the parking spots lining the street in front of Corpse's apartment complex, her stomach erupted with butterflies and her mind reeled with nervousness. Many fears circulated her brain: what if he's a murder? What if he hates how I act in person? What if he changed his mind about meeting me? Her thoughts became too much to handle, so she sat in her car in silence for a few minutes before she was finally able to force herself to text Corpse saying she was at his apartment complex. With an affirmative text from Corpse saying he would be down to fetch her in a second, Nova's thoughts went back to running around her skull. At some point, the dark-haired girl couldn't make out a cohesive thought; her mind was going too fast. 

     However, her jumbled thoughts dissipated as soon as she saw a tall figure dressed in all black from the corner of her eye. Nova kept her eyes trained on the steering wheel of her car for a second before she turned her attention to the passenger seat, where her purse and phone laid. Nova grabbed the two items and got out of her car. She locked her car by pressing the button to do so on her key fob. 

     Nova's eyes immediately met Corpse's when she turned around. Her face immediately broke out into a smile as she briskly walked toward the masked man who held open the front door to the apartment complex. 

     "Hi Corpse," Nova said softly, not wanting to be overheard by a stranger that might expose him. 

     Although Nova couldn't see his smile due to the mask covering his face, she could see the crinkles forming at the corner of his eyes. "Hi Nova."

     "Can I hug you?" Nova asked sweetly, wanting to make sure he was comfortable with physical contact before subjecting him to it.

     "Yes," Corpse replied. 

     Nova lurched forward and swung her thin arms around his neck. Immediately, his body responded and two arms wrapped around her waist. Nova breathed in his scent, which smelled like his cologne—was that bergamont and leather?—and hair product—probably something he used for his curly hair. The dark-haired girl let go of Corpse after a few seconds of holding their embrace. As she took in the slight part of his face she could see, Nova noticed his skin was flushed. Nova felt her cheeks burning, so she cast her eyes downward to look at the concrete sidewalk.

     Corpse cleared his throat. "So, um, do you wanna head up to my apartment?"

     "Yeah," Nova said breathlessly, looking up to him again. 

     Corpse nodded and gestured for Nova to go inside the lobby. Nova took a few apprehensive steps forward, and as soon as she walked in she could feel the cool air coming from the AC. Corpse went into the lobby after her, letting the door close after them. He slipped by the small girl to walk in front of her. 

     Nova followed him to one of the three elevators. Corpse pressed on the button with an arrow pointing up and the two waited in comfortable silence until the elevator door opened. They stepped inside and Corpse pressed the button that corresponded with his floor number. 

     A few seconds later, the elevator dinged and the doors opened. The two adults stepped out into the hallway. Nova followed Corpse until they reached a wooden door, and when Corpse took out his key she figured out the room belonged to him. As soon as the deep-voiced man got the door unlocked and opened it, they stepped inside. 

     Corpse slipped off the black mask adorning his face. Nova tried not to stare—she didn't want to make a big deal out of his revealing his face—but Corpse couldn't help but notice the starry look Nova got when she saw him.

     "I guess my face doesn't look half bad then, huh?" Corpse joked, letting out a soft chuckle.

     "No, definitely not," Nova answered simply, her eyes darting across his face with no shame after Corpse revealed that he knew she was staring. "You're beautiful."

     "You are too," Corpse said, staring at her as well. Then, he took a step forward and looked down on her. "And pretty short."

     "Hey!" Nova said, swatting his bicep playfully.

     "Sorry." Corpse put his hands up in surrender. "Your legs looked long in your pictures."

     "The work of angles," Nova sighed out, wishing she was taller. "So, where can I put my purse?"

     "Oh, you can put it over here," Corpse said, leading the dark-haired girl to his large kitchen, where an island sat in the middle. Pushed under the ledge of the island were a couple bar stools. Nova pulled one out and sat her purse in it. "Now, I already picked out a movie and I hope you'll like it."

     "What did ya choose?" Nova asked as they made their way to the couches that sat around a large flat-screen TV. 

     "The classic: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Corpse answered while both of them sat on the couch and got comfortable. Corpse turned on the TV and turned on the movie.

     "Shit." Nova shifted. "I hope you don't mind if I grab onto you a little bit. I've watched so many horror movies but I still get scared shitless every single time."

     "Nah, I don't mind," Corpse stated.

     And, as soon as the beginning voiceover was over and a decayed dead body showed up, Nova slithered her arms to wrap around one of Corpse's. Corpse's eyes darted over to her for a second and he sent a small smile before turning his attention back on the movie. Nova kept her eyes on him for a few more seconds before looking back at the scary movie.