The Write Match // Bill Hader

Six

I wake up feeling much better than yesterday and I know it's because I slept an hour later than normal today, and I woke up on my own, next to Bill. He's lying on his side, his cheek nestled into the pillow, and his mouth open just the slightest.

I get out of bed, trying my hardest not to wake him as I open my door to go to my bathroom.

"What are you doing?" He asks, his voice rough with sleep and I jump.

"You scared me. I'm trying to go to the bathroom, what are you doing?" I fight back, and he props himself up on his elbows, staring at me as I walk back to the bed.

"Nothing. Just wondering why you tried to sneak out of your own bed." His voice is pointed.

"I wasn't trying to sneak away. I just didn't want to wake you." I tell him truthfully. "What?" I ask, and his smile grows.

"I'm not going to ask because I know who you are." I roll my eyes.

"You may as well, you know I love saying no." I tell him.

"Let's go out after work tonight." My face falls into a scowl, but he maintains the same smile.

"What makes you think I would say yes to that? I'm not going anywhere with you." I argue back, going to my closet to get my outfit ready for the day.

"I just thought maybe you would. Well, if I make you go out with me, you can't say no." He boasts. He's cute in the morning, his hair is curly and pointing in every which way.

"You can't make me to do anything." I don't look at him.

"Meredith, I'm not asking for anything besides some time out of the studio or either one of our apartments. I want you to come with me. I won't even tell you how beautiful you are if that makes you happy." His voice lightens up, and my chest is warm. My heart is telling me to say yes, but my head says absolutely not.

"I can't go out with you tonight. Everyone at work will know something is going on and you'll be seen with a woman in New York City. I don't even want to think about what will be said about me. My apologies, but I don't want that." He sits up.

"That's not going to happen. Don't ask me why, you just have to trust me. No one will know." He defends and I stare at him blankly.

"Can't you go out with John, or Fred, or Seth?" I ask, laying the clothes on my bed.

"I could, but I want to spend time with you. I don't know you that well." He argues back, and I wave my hand.

"You don't know me that well? The fact that you're sitting in my bed right now at seven in the morning with hardly any clothes on makes that statement invalid." I say, and he groans.

"You're killing me, Meredith. Will it kill you to say yes to one thing? It's not every day you get to go to dinner with me." He shrugs.

"That's not helping your case at all, and I've had dinner with plenty of my coworkers before, so you're not special. I just think going out together is a bad idea." I say, and he stands up, stopping me from going to the bathroom.

"It would be nothing more than two people spending time with each other. I won't even consider you my friend after today if you say yes." He argues, and I realize just how persistent he is.

"So, if I say no, that means we're friends?" I ask, and he thinks.

"I think so, yeah." He shrugs.

"Fine. I'll do it, I'll go to dinner with you tonight, nothing more. Don't try to change my mind, it won't work." I point my finger at him, and he smiles, proud of himself. My face drops when I hear my phone ring. "You don't say a word, don't even come near me. Promise?" I ask, and he smiles.