Chapter 24: Stories (Alexander's POV)

I groaned, tossing and turning in bed. 

"Alexander, I swear to god, if you don't stop moving around, I will throw you out of here," she huffed, turning around to face me. "What? What is it? Why are you restless?" 

"I don't know." I rubbed my eyes. "I'm just..." I grabbed a pillow, yelling into it. 

"Jesus Christ, what is wrong with you?" 

I looked over at her, seeing her on her back as she propped herself up on her elbows. "I'm agitated." 

"About what?" 

"I don't know!" I kicked the covers off. I climbed out of bed, standing in front of the huge glass window, pushing the curtains open. I heard her sigh before she got out of bed and stood beside me, both of us watching the moon glimmer in the reflection of the lake. 

"What's wrong?" she asked. "Are you hungry?" 

"No." 

"Thirsty?" 

"No." 

"Do you feel sick?" 

"No." 

"Then what's wrong? We just had a wedding reception and dinner that lasted five whole hours. Aren't you tired?" 

"I am! But I'm too agitated to sleep." 

She ran a hand through her hair. "Okay, what are you agitated about?" 

"I don't know, Aria." 

"Okay, okay." She put her hands up in surrender. "Whatever it is, you can figure it out and worry about it later. I'm really tired, can we please just go to sleep?" 

"You can. I'll try keeping it down." 

She sighed, sitting on the couch. "I don't know what you think of me, but I cannot go to sleep knowing you're going through the roof about something. Regardless of what it is. And anyhow, you keeping it down doesn't really mean much. I'm a light sleeper, I'll wake up if I hear you breathing too loud." 

I stared at her. 

"Let's just go to sleep, please?" 

"I can't," I repeated. "I just have a restless, bad feeling." 

"About something or someone specific?" 

"No. I don't know," I huffed. 

"You don't know because you keep thinking about it. Just let it go. It'll come to you when it has to. You were drunk earlier, maybe the alcohol wasn't right." 

"The alcohol was fine. And I was drunk earlier, it's worn off now. I didn't go off the hinges." 

She sighed again, standing back up. "Not sleeping won't do you any good. At least lay down." 

"If I lay down I'll keep tossing and turning as I had been." 

"What do you want me to do? Sing you a lullaby?" she deadpanned. 

"You're really not funny." 

"Look, I..." she huffed. "Okay, how about you just talk to me about it? Maybe you'll be able to figure out what's bothering you." 

"I can't explain it." 

"Just throw words out. I'll put them together, come on," she nodded. I looked at her quizzically. "Just say random words. Look here." She grabbed the notepad from the drawer in the nightstand and flicked the lamp on. "I'll make a note of them and we'll find the common denominator. Or something. Come on." 

"Are you getting so bothered because I won't let you sleep?" 

"Yes. But also because I'm getting worried now. I can't understand what's bothering you and that means I can't help." 

"And why do you want to help?" 

She frowned. "Just because I have a thing against you doesn't mean we have to be hostile towards each other at all times. I don't detest you with my soul. I still... care, I guess," she mumbled. "And if I don't help you, then who will? I'm your wife now, you can count on me." 

"You're out for me but I can count on you? Right," I scoffed. 

"I'm out for you. But that doesn't mean I won't be here for you. I'm here to get on your nerves, yes. But I'm still here for you. You can count on me. I married you, that means I'll always choose you, okay? If you're ever in a problem and I can help, I'll be there. I'm just trying to do that." She put the notepad and pen away and closed the drawer, standing up. "Do you need anything? Anything that can make you sleepy? Maybe it'll help." 

"I don't sleep that often." 

"Insomnia?" 

I nodded. 

"You don't take sleeping pills or anything to help you?" 

"It's not that bad. Just some nights, I... I feel restless and frustrated like this. I don't have any prescribed medication for it," I explained. 

"You're not agitated about something that's about to happen, are you? Because we're here for three days." 

"That's not it," I clicked my tongue. 

She folded her arms across her chest, watching me. "Maybe you just need a good cuddle, I don't know," she shrugged. 

"What?" I frowned at her. 

"It could make you sleepy and you might even forget about whatever dark cloud is looming over you and keeping you up." 

"And who is going to cuddle me? That pillow?" 

"No, me. If you want to, I'm not forcing anything." She put her hands up in surrender again. 

"Why did you even think of this?" 

She sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I went through a lot with my aunt and my parents leaving me. And sometimes, I would get nightmares about it. Whenever I would stay over at Riya's or at... my ex... whatever. Point is, whenever I would get restless or scared, they would just be there. Riya would share the bed with me and he would... just hold me." 

"So?" 

"So it makes you feel safer. More secure. And you forget about whatever is worrying or bothering you. And then you can sleep peacefully. It's just a suggestion." 

I eyed her warily. I couldn't tell how genuine she was being. Or maybe I was overthinking it. 

"Do you want me to find some bedtime stories or something? Like..." She looked at me incredulously. 

"Stories?" 

"I have one," she nodded. "The Adventurous Tales of Azura's Thief!" she exclaimed enthusiastically before rolling her eyes. "I'm joking but come on, seriously. I'm very tired. Just lay down for my sake, please?" 

I huffed, going back and lying down. She closed the curtain and then lay down on her side. 

"Is there something you ever did with your ex-girlfriend? Something she used to do that put you to sleep?" 

"No," I huffed. It's true. Because I never actually got to spend an entire night with her. Either she would rush back or me. 

"All right. But do you trust me?" 

"Absolutely not," I replied, shaking my head. 

She rolled her eyes, lying on her side and facing me before grabbing my arm and pulling me onto my side as well, facing her. "Come closer." 

"No." 

"I don't bite, I promise. Come closer," she laughed. 

I stubbornly inched closer to her. 

"Close your eyes," she whispered. And I did. "Keep them closed. And just... trust me, okay? Don't overreact." I felt her grabbing my wrist and lifting my hand, dropping it at her waist before she moved in closer. 

"What are you-" 

"Shh! Stay quiet," she hissed. 

I sighed in defeat, letting her continue. I felt her hand sliding into my hair, scratching soothingly. 

"Just try sleeping. And pretend this didn't happen when you wake up, got it?" 

"Fine, whatever." I didn't think too much of it. I know we were cuddling, but I just kept telling myself that she was trying to help me sleep, that's all. I don't know how much I believed it, but it's what I told myself. "I'm still thinking about-" 

She cut me off, "Well don't," she said warningly. "Don't. Happy thoughts, come on," she instructed. 

I opened my eyes, looking at her. "Are you joking?" 

"No, I'm not. Think of anything but negative things. I'm about to give up." 

"Fine," I huffed, closing my eyes. I didn't think of any one thing specifically. Just happy memories that I had. I made up some scenarios in my head. I let myself think for a moment that our marriage could turn out to be normal. That we could end up loving each other. But her intentions were quick to bring me out of that thought and correct my mistake. 

I started counting from one. Old is gold. It's a technique everybody talks about. It never really works, you just get distracted and start thinking about something else. I opened one eye, taking a peek at her. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was even now. I opened both my eyes, staring down at her. 

Wow, she's really close right now. 

"Stop staring and go to sleep, Alex," she mumbled. 

How did she know? 

"I'm very good at reading minds," she sighed, shifting closer to me and putting her arm around my torso. "Even with my eyes closed. Even half-asleep," she mumbled. 

We're absolutely cuddling right now. Her face is in my chest, my chin is on her head, we have our arms around each other. She put her leg over mine drowsily too. 

After fifteen minutes, I whispered. "Aria?" 

She shuffled but didn't wake up. 

I looked down at her, brushing her hair out of her face. I let out a soft chuckle. "You actually look cute when you're sleeping," I whispered more so to myself. 

"Thanks, now shut up and go to sleep." 

I froze. 

She groaned but didn't bother looking up at me. "Do you have any idea how cold my feet get at night?" she asked. 

"What?" 

She moved her legs around and to get comfortable, I had to put mine over hers. "Go to sleep, Alex. If you don't you'll have nightmares about me kissing you," she chuckled softly. 

That's not a nightmare. 

I sighed, closing my eyes and getting lost in thought again. The last thought I remember was: 

This is crazy. That we're cuddling and I don't hate it.

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Chapter 24

I'll let you know in advance, the next chapter may get a little dark with aria talking about her abuse. so TW.

next chapter: hurt