Your bed was a lot warmer than what you were used to. In the in between of being asleep and waking up, you felt something behind you and something slung over you. When you finally woke up, an arm was draped over your hips, and resting on your inner thigh of your leg closest to the mattress. When you turned to see Heat sleeping behind you, memories of the night before came flooding back!

Oh God! I fell asleep and he stayed here.

He was still in a deep sleep, looking very comfortable where he was. Slowly and carefully, you removed his arm from around you and quickly looked at your phone, it showed 5:30am. You got up and went to the kitchen, the first thing you did was make coffee, and then started breakfast, he'd eaten most of the steak and veggie stew he'd made the night before with you eating the rest. You had pancake mix and went with that.

At 6:30am Heat came rushing out into the kitchen his face confused.

"Morning. I made pancakes, I was just about to get you up. Also coffee is done." You were trying to be casual about this whole thing. You weren't sure if Heat usually spent the night at other girls places but didn't want to ask.

"I spent the night?"

"Evidently. I'm sorry I fell asleep, you're my guest. I probably made you feel awkward."

"Ah no...but uh I'm gonna have to skip the pancakes, but I'll have a cup of coffee black please."

You poured him a cup of coffee, you'd already eaten and had your cup for the morning so you gave him the rest.

"Shit Wire and me got called in for a shift today. You mind coming by later tonight so we can record the song?"

"Sure. I'll bring the painting too."

"I appreciate that." He quickly drank his coffee and then went home. But not before giving you a kiss on the cheek and saying "see you later."

Ugh...he was confusing you. He didn't seem to have a girlfriend and judging by what happened at the grocery store it also appeared that he got around.

You tried calling Perona, but it went straight to voicemail. You left a message asking her to call you back, you were restless and confused. Usually you would have work to keep your mind busy but Benn started your vacation early.

I'll just go and hang out for a bit. It would be nice to see Nami too.

You never imagined that you would actually miss being around the beautiful ginger but here you were missing her and wanting to talk to her. Thinking she might have some experience in this area.

After showering, making sure you had your bag and your tablet, you made your way to the bookstore. The weather was perfect, the wind was somewhat chilly since it was almost October, but you still loved it. You didn't rush yourself and just enjoyed the fresh air.

When you got to the store, you parked your bike and locked it, before you could even walk in you heard a voice that pissed you off.

"Look who we have here. It's my least favorite person." Diamanté sauntered towards you. You chose not to engage and continued to walk to the front door. "I haven't seen anything new on Alabaster from you. Doffy likes to make sure we keep an eye on our previous assets you know."

Ignore. Ignore. Ignore.

"Hey I'm talking to you!" You heard his footsteps edge closer.

"She's clearly ignoring you dude: fuck off!" You turned just in time to see Diamanté getting hit with a book, a heavy one at that. You turned to the person who threw it.

"Hey nice arm Nami." You were very much impressed.

"Hehehe thanks. This asshole bugging you?"

"Yeah. I actually have a restraining order on him. You mind calling the cops?"

At the mention of police the lanky man quickly turned to leave. Not even bothering to look back.

"Are you okay Y/N? He didn't hurt you right?"

"No. Just would leave me alone. How's everything here?"

"Good, busy but busy is good right?"

"Indeed. You okay? After what happened?"

"God I should be asking you that question!" She then hugged you, so tight you had to tap her arms to breathe. "I am so very sorry Y/N! I'm so happy you came by! And I'm glad you answered my text! By the way who was that?"

I can't even tell her who he really is....damn NDA

"He uh, he used to stalk me."

"What the fuck?! Seriously why?"

"Never got a reason for that."

Liar

"Ugh some people are just disgusting!"

You felt an immense weight lifted off your shoulders, talking to someone really helped.

"Thanks for the rescue."

"Don't even worry about it." She brings you into her side and squeezes you, you allowed it feeling immense comfort from it. "By the way why are you here? You bored?" She giggled.

"Restless...but I was actually hoping we could talk...I need some uh, guy advice."

"Oooooo!!!! How about we go to lunch? It'll be about an hour before my lunch break."

"Okay. My treat."

"Awe! You're the best!"

I only offered cause if you pay you'll want me to pay you back with interest.

An hour later you went to the cafe closest to the bookstore. Your ordered a veggie sandwich, with balsamic dressing, and Nami ordered a fried duck flatbread with an orange glaze. You both got sweet tea pitcher and two glasses. After enjoying your food for a few minutes Nami placed her hands under her chin, and smiled her Cheshire Cat grin.

"Sooo. Talk girlfriend!"

"So uh, you know Heat?" She nodded her head her smile getting bigger. "Ahem well...he's been acting all flirty being really nice, and he's kissed me more than once and like passionately...an last night he spent the night, but nothing happened. I'm helping him record some songs that he's been writing for A Pirates True Deisres, and I was so inspired I painted something for him, and I've never done anything like that before! Hell I've never kissed anyone before!! Had a boyfriend or anything. But I feel like he likes me, but at the same time he's not really trying to connect with me! I'm so confused and yet all I want to do is kiss him again because it feels really good!"

You plopped on the table and groaned.

"Oh wow...that's uh a lot of information."

"Sorry...I've never had this problem before and you were the only other person I could think of besides my best friend. I know we're not friends but I figured we liked each other well enough for you to be okay with me complaining a little bit."

It got quiet on Nani's side of the table when you looked at her she had a look on her face that you couldn't describe.

"Y/N, I would like to be your friend. That's why I always invited you to hang out, and was always hoping we could get closer. I honestly thought you didn't care about me, but when you protected me from Bellamy, I know that wasn't the case."

You never would've wanted to see Nami hurt. While she could be a bit materialistic and a tad shallow, she was a kind person you saw it when she talked about it her friends and whenever young kids came into the store.

"I'm sorry Nami. I can a bitch sometimes. I'm not much of a people person but I've never disliked you. I've always enjoyed your company."

"We all can trust me...so friends?" She held out her hand but you stood and hugged her.

"Friends." She hugged back.

She squealed and brought you into a hug. You hugged back. When your food came you both enjoyed the meal before she decided to talk again.

"So now that we're friends I can give you advice."

"You were going to charge me for it before weren't you?"

"I think that you should keep doing what you're doing. Everyone starts relationships differently and if what you said is true that he doesn't usually hang around girls more than once, then the fact that he's still talking to you and not going all the way with you proves he thinks of you more than a casual hookup."

"I guess."

Ping

Heat: hey I'll pick you up on my way home. See you in a few hours 😘

Nami looked over the table and made a ooh-la-la sound. You blushed and quickly answered back.

You: see you then 🫶

"Okay when you two become official you owe me another lunch."

You flushed at what she said. Your phone rang and it was Perona.

"Hey Perona!"

"I'm sorry this is Perona's personal assistant. She asked me to call and see what you needed."

The woman didn't sound happy at all: in fact she sounded annoyed.

"Perona hates it when people touch her things Miss, I doubt she allowed you to touch her phone without permission put me on speaker so I know she's there."

There was only silence on the other line.

"I'm aware that Perona had a work phone, but I'm pretty sure I suggested to her she got her own personal cell that no one was allowed to touch. The fact that you hacked into her phone means that you breached that contract and she has legal grounds to quit."

More silence. You heard some background noise, like there were multiple people in the room. You became aware when Perona walked in to find people in her room with her personal phone there was a lot of shouting. Then the line dropped. But not before you heard Perona scream.

"Oh my God! What's this!"

Sorry this chapter wasn't as long!!!! I've been feeling the groove with this story and I will update until it subsides or until I finish the story.

Next chapter could be here today or tomorrow but we'll see.

Stay safe and healthy!!!!!