Xavier
The look on her face is comical.
She's way too shy to continue resting on me after Daniel walked in, and honestly, I do not love it. The space where her head was is suddenly too light.
Daniel doesn't really pay attention to us and focuses on the phone in his hand. I take in a small breath before leaning closer to her. "Should we go upstairs?" I whisper into her ear loud enough for her to turn her head to meet my gaze.
Blue eyes widen at my words, and I swear she looks adorable when flushed. I think of rephrasing my statement but don't even get the chance to because she gives me a shy nod in response. I'm on my feet almost instantly and stretch my hand out for her. Hesitantly, she slips her hand into my palm and I gently pull her up to her feet.
With her hand in mine we make our way up the stairs. With each step I can hear her heart beating louder. Feeling a lot more pressure on my hand than earlier I start to think that she didn't understand what I meant downstairs.
By the time we reach the landing and don't walk any further, I turn and there she is – wide-eyed.
Oh.
Wait did she think....?
At the realization that my words were interpreted wrongly a laugh almost escapes my mouth and I barely manage to hold it back.
"What?" I lean in; close enough to tease her, "you thought we were going to my room?"
Her face gives her away instantly.
Laughing, I gently pull her towards the couch in the upstairs living room.
"I noticed how tired you were and how you were too shy to rest your head with Daniel there so" – I drag her gently to one of the couches and sink into it tapping the spot next me – "I brought you here to finish off what you started" I finish off with a grin still tapping the spot next to me.
She blinks at my words, seemingly processing what I just said. Her lips part like she's about to say something but no sooner she shuts her mouth close and takes her seat next to me. She curls her leg on the couch and slowly brings her head back to its previous position – on top my lap.
I smile at the scene before me. Shaking my head, I bring my hands back to her hair again before stroking it at its previous pace. We stay like that for a while before the silence is filled with faint snores.
–
Glancing down, I can't help but smile at the sight before me; she's fallen asleep
"Dude can you borrow me your charger?!"
Daniel yells the words from downstairs. She stirs in her sleep and I use my hand to calm her down.
Footsteps coming up the steps are heard and I will most definitely kill him if he wakes her up with his talking.
"Can't find mine, so could" –
I raise my hand to cut him off. His voice is annoyingly loud this evening. I toss him the charger from where I'm sitting at.
"Go back", I mouth the words and point at the stairs he just came up from.
I turn my attention back to Sofia – who has been sleeping for more than an hour – and soothe her enough to release her furrowed brow.
Glancing at the time I realize how late it's gotten.
She'd probably feel more comfortable in a bed and out of the clothes she's wearing.
That outfit
I should probably wake her up but the sight of her peaceful state makes me rethink my decision. She has an arm resting on my leg, as if to make sure I'm still there.
I have to wake her up.
Gently placing my hand on her shoulder, I give it a light tap – a small one, just enough to wake her up. Her eyes flutter open blinking to adjust to the light.
"Hey wake up", my voice barely above a whisper. She slowly lifts her head from my lap and rubs her eyes. My legs ache at the sudden emptiness.
"What time is it?"
"11:30" I say, my hand at the small of her back trying to help balance her as she sits up.
"Shit. How long was I out for?" she asks yawning
I shrug, "About two hours", my voice sounds casual even though I am anything but.
The last two hours were like heaven to me. The feel of her head against my lap, every subtle movement she made, it's all been memorized.
She playfully shoves my arm away from her back. "And you couldn't wake me?"
She doesn't even give me time to protest because she stands to her feet preparing to go downstairs. I'm about to ask why but she beats me to it with an answer.
"I left my bag with all my clothes downstairs" with that she's walking lazily down the steps.
Gosh she needs to sleep.
She's out of the shower relatively quick already putting on her pajamas. I glance up from where I'm sitting on the bed and instantly regret it.
She's using a towel to dry her hair humming softly and care free, while I'm the one who suddenly can't breathe. When she turns to drop the towel in the laundry basket I nearly drop my phone instead.
She's wearing spaghetti – strapped night shirt that hangs loosely on her frame, threatening to fall off with one wrong move.
And for shorts?
Dear god!
The shorts she's wearing will be the death of me – tonight at least. They ride low as she bends to drop the towel and I try my hardest possible best to look away, stare at anything – the ceiling, door handle, my damn phone – but her.
"Could you please not do that?"
Her question catches me by surprise pulling me away from my thoughts. I hadn't even noticed she's turned back around.
Seeing my confused expression she continues. "Staring," she reaches an arm out to cover herself, "it's not something I'm fond of"
Shit. I made her feel uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry," I let out a low ragged breath, trying to frame my next words and not make things worse, "I" –
"It's not your fault so why are you apologizing." The words barely leave my mouth before she cuts me off. The bed sinks in a little as she takes a seat next to me.
"I don't actually need my glasses." Her tone is intriguingly serious
"What?" I can't help my mouth from falling open at the sudden shift in conversation. She goes on shaking her head slightly as a response to my question.
"I never needed glasses to help with my sight", there's a sad smile on her face. "I needed them to help with my eyes".
Her words are a puzzle. My mind is reeling trying to decipher the meaning behind those words and how they relate. My questions are left unsaid as I listen intently to the rest of her words.
"My glasses are a way of hiding my eyes, a way of keeping others from staring into mine." There's more to this. Something happened to trigger this. I can feel it in my gut.
"Earlier today, when you took them off that was the first time I stared directly into someone's eyes without the protection of my glasses and not feel scared." her eyes meet mine and there's a smile on her face. "You made me feel safe, safer than I've felt in a year." Her fingers find my cheeks gently stroking them.
"So don't ever feel like I'm uncomfortable under your gaze", there's a certain fire in her eyes as she speaks setting her deep blue ocean ablaze, "you're the only one I want to look at without my glasses. The only one I can talk to without pulling my hair down. The only one whose arms I found comfort in".
She pauses, her voice softening "Don't ever think you make me uncomfortable again when you're the only person that I feel safe with"
I'm left speechless. She just poured her heart out to me. She just shared a part of herself that not many people know. She just... trusted me with it.
I reach out and place my hands over hers – that are still on my face.
For a while I just stare at her unsure of what to say. I can see the fire in her eyes slowly dying down.
"I will never stop making you feel that way" I whisper "never"
The smile on her face is even brighter than before, highlighting the glow of her skin under the lamp.
"Come on", I nudge to the bed we're currently sitting atop, "let's get you to bed".
I stand to my feet, releasing my bed from my crushing weight and gently lay her down from where she is sitting. The bed envelopes her as she relaxes her full weight across it. Just as I'm about to drape the covers over her, small hands wrap around mine.
"Stay", her eyes plead.
"Are you sure?"
"More than sure" that one look of assurance is all I need to roll over next to her. My hands find the curve of her hips under the sheets and I relish the feeling of how perfect it felt. How perfect this feels. How perfect she is. And just like that I pull my hands away, almost as quickly as I found them.
I roll over so my back faces hers intending to give her some space. But no sooner I feel movement behind me and an arm wrapping around my waist pulling me closer.
I smile as she snuggles her head against my back.
Soon her breathing evens out; she's asleep.