Until Then. // denis shapovalov - sascha zverev

1.2 - i can take her

Alex's POV

We end up playing Mario Kart for about an hour more before all of us need to turn in for an early night because of our matches tomorrow.

"Night, Dom, See you tomorrow!" We all as we leave his room.

"I can walk Willa back," Denis immediately says after the door closes.

Willa looks between Denis and me but doesn't say anything.

"No, I can take her," I respond, beginning to walk, lighting pushing her in front of me.

"Nah man, I got it," Denis says, stopping me.

"I can walk myself back," Willow insists as she steps away from the both of us.

"I took you out today, so I should conclude the day with you," Denis answers as he walks over to her.

"Seriously?" I say, following him over to Willow. "I've got it."

"Why?" Denis asks.

This kid was really starting to annoy me.

"Because I have to talk to her," I glare down at him.

Denis glares back at me as he asks Willow, "What do you want, Willa?"

I hate when he says her name with his mouth.

"Um," Willow hums. "I would really like to talk to Alex, but I had such a fun evening with you Denis... Promise to come find me after your match tomorrow? We can watch Dom's together," She suggests.

I hate that she made plans with him for tomorrow, but all I can focus on his her choosing me over Denis. I let out my happiness with a scoff.

Denis gives me a quick glare but backs off and turns to Willow with a smile, "Of course, Willa. I'll find you tomorrow." He goes over to give her a huge and whispers, "Goodnight."

I roll my eyes as he waves goodbye to her and heads to his room. What is Shapo's deal? I think to myself but before I can get angry, I look at Willow.

"Ready?" She asks.

I nod.

We walk to the elevator as she asks, "So what was that about?"

"What do you mean?" I respond while hitting the 'down' button.

"Why did you two want to walk me back so badly? I can do it myself, you know? It's just a floor down." She shrugs. A piece of her hair falls in front of her face.

"I know," I say, holding myself back from moving the piece of hair behind her ear. "I just wanted to talk with you."

"I've wanted to talk to you all day, but you ignored me," Willow frowns. "But now you want to talk?"

"I know, Willow, I know." I respond. "I just wanted to talk to Dom before talking to you about it... I wanted to get to the bottom of things with him, first."

"But why couldn't you let me explain it to you? Why did you go to Dom?" She asks as she starts to play with her hands.

"Willow," I sigh. "I've only known you for a day or so... I had to go to someone I've known for a while and who I know I can trust, too. I just felt like if I went to you first, we'd just end up in a fight. I needed reassurance first to calm down before I wanted to talk to you about it."

The elevator door dings and it opens for us to talk in.

"I get that, Alex," Willow agrees. "I just hope you know the truth, that nothing is going on between Dom and me."

"Yeah, yeah I know that now," I smile, melting into her pleading stare. I put my arm around her and pull her in for a hug.

The elevator dings to arrival too soon and I follow her out and to her room.

"Do you want to just come in and lay with me until I fall asleep?" She asks me when we reach her room. She bites her lip in worry.

"Of course," I smile. "I'd like that."

She opens the door and I follow her into her room. It smells cool, and fresh. She doesn't turn on her lights, so I follow her through the darkness to her bed. Her room is smaller than the players' rooms, but for some reason, it feels more homey than all of ours, even with the same furniture.

She crawls onto her bed, under her sheets, and I follow in behind her, but lay over her sheets. Curling into an egg position, she finds a comfortable position to use my lap as her pillow, and I reach my hand over to wrap around her, while using my other hand to slowly play with her hair, finally putting that one stand of hair from earlier, behind her ear.

Her breathing is slow and steady. And, even with almost half her body on my lap, I still barely even feel her weight.

I sit in silence, scared to move any part of me to not wake her up. Even after I know she's fallen asleep, I stay right next to her.