Silently Falling (ORIGINAL): Chapter Twenty Nine

A soft snore sounds out and I slowly wake up, my eyes lidded with sleep. I feel a weight draped around me, and when I look down I see a toned arm securely around my waist. A small smile fills my lips and I turn in the muscular arms, careful not to wake West.

Last night actually happened.

I smile softly when I see him sleeping soundly. His lips are slightly puckered, his hair an absolute mess atop his head, and his breaths are blowing warm air onto the pillow. I lift my hand to trace his jawline, appreciating the details that line his skin. Such as the faded scar just beneath his ear, or the single dimple that rests on his cheek. My hand trails his cheek, his nose, his eyes, and an unconscious smile lifts his lips.

I chuckle quietly and lean forward, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. His eyes flutter open as I pull away, and as they focus in on me his small smile widens and his arm pulls me closer.

"This is a sight I don't mind waking up to," he hums. He lifts his arm to brush some hair from my face and places it back around my waist.

Now for the moment of truth; can I still talk?

"Good morning." I say quietly, relief flooding through me as I hear my voice sound out.

"How's your throat feel?" He asks softly.

I swallow and sigh, "Still gravely, but it's not too bad."

He nods slightly, and then he smirks. "Well, it looks like you finally got me in bed. Dreams really do come true."

I grin at him. "More like nightmares"

He leans forward and his lips brush mine, sending a thousand shocks spreading across them. "Do you normally kiss so passionately in nightmares?" He asks, making my cheeks heat up.

"Shut up," I say, pushing him slightly away.

He chuckles and his arm around my waist tightens to pull me closer. "I never said I didn't like it."

I continue to blush and bury my face in the pillow.

Last night was definitely something to remember. I got my voice back, told West my story, and then he admitted that he's falling for me and we kissed. Between finally talking again and kissing West, I'm not sure which comes out on top.

I lift my head from my pillow when I no longer feel West's arm draped around me or his weight on the mattress. I watch as he stretches his arms over his head, and the movement sends his shirt up just enough to reveal his v-line. He runs his fingers through his hair and yawns, stretching again so that his muscles flex.

I have to bite my lip to prevent my smile when I think about the fact those arms were wrapped around me last night.

"Must I tell you yet again to take a picture?" He smirks, catching my obvious staring.

"I don't want to break my camera," I retort, causing him to laugh.

I chuckle along with him and sit up, running my fingers through my tangled hair. I check my phone to see a few texts from Toby letting me know he and Alyse came home, and a bolt of worry passes through me.

"How am I supposed to tell Toby I got my voice back?" I freak out. "What if he's hurt I didn't say my first words to him?"

West glances at me and shakes his head. "Don't be ridiculous."

"What if I'm not?" I ask worriedly, swallowing nervously.

He's been waiting for me to gain my voice back ever since I lost it. He's been my number one supporter, and I'm sure he wanted my first words to be to him.

West shrugs. "Then he's going to disown you, throw you out on the streets, and then adopt a new sister."

I scowl at him. "Not funny."

He laughs and shakes his head at me. "See? It's ridiculous to even think. You know he's going to be nothing but happy."

I sigh and nod, he's right. But I can't help but worry, so much has happened within this three day weekend and I'm having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around it all.

"How am I supposed to tell him about...this?" I ask, gesturing between the two of us. "I mean, what exactly is this?" My words come out quiet and sheepish, and West smiles.

He walks towards me, placing his hands on both sides of me while I stay seated on the edge of my bed. His breath fans across my face as he talks, and I find myself wondering how the hell it still smells so minty after a full night of sleep.

"Well I'm no expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure when two people kiss they are either friends with benefits or they're dating." He starts, his eyes staying glued to my own. "And if we were friends with benefits then that would mean you could date other people, and I'd rather not watch the girl I'm falling for go around kissing other guys. Plus I kinda asked you out last night and I'm pretty sure that kiss meant yes."

I smile and take a second long glance down at his lips. "That about sums it up, huh?"

He chuckles and sends me a crooked smile. "Yeah I'd say so."

Holy shit.

I'm dating West Love.

Holy shit.

"Now let's form a plan as to how to tell your brother," he says as he stands up straight, a mischievous glint to his eye.

I raise and brow and smirk; this should be interesting.

OoO

"Alright, ready?" West asks, standing with me outside my brothers door with his phone in his hand, opened up to the video icon.

I nod, "I was born ready."

He smirks and opens the door. "After you, darling."

I have to bite back my laugh. "Thank you, sweetie."

He grins at me, and the movement makes his eyes crinkle as he chuckles silently. He gestures for me to head into the room, and I take a deep breath.

I barge in only to stop in my tracks when I see Alyse laying in my brothers bed. Her head rests on his bare chest with her hands resting atop it, and he has his arms wrapped firmly around her, and the both of them are wearing small smiles. I turn to West, for a second re-thinking our decision.

"They look so comfortable," I sign to avoid waking them.

"Even better," he winks, gesturing for me to go ahead.

I pout, but nonetheless I turn back to the sleeping couple.

Oh well, they have their whole lives together to snuggle in bed.

I walk all the way up to his bed, avoiding the spots of his floor I know make the loudest creaks. "Toby, wake up." I say as I reach him.

When neither him nor Alyse move, I look back at West awkwardly. He gestures for me to continue, his phone up and recording.

"Toby! Alyse!" I say, a bit louder this time. "Wake up!" I exclaim in almost a holler, refraining from shaking them.

Now I get a reaction from the both of them and Toby groans. "Raine, be quiet. I'm trying to sleep." He mumbles, turning away from me.

"Do you have to be so loud? Go back to bed." Alyse mutters, burying her face further into his chest.

I smirk and shake my head; I think they're missing something here.

Just a few seconds later I see Toby's body tense and he slowly sits up, snapping his head to me. Alyse does as well, blinking at me wide eyed.

"Did you just...?"

"She just..." Alyse trails off, the two of them staring at me in utter confusion.

"Talked?" I finish for them. I smile proudly, "Yes, I did."

They both stare at me for a few more seconds, eyes wide and unbelieving. Then Toby finally comprehends what just happened and shoots out of his bed. He attempts to pull me in for a hug, but I squeal and run behind West.

He's naked.

I just saw my brother naked.

And West got it all on video.

Toby furrows his brow together and then looks down at his lack of clothing and his face pales.

"Shit," he exclaims, fumbling to cover himself with the blanket.

I bury my face in the back of West's shirt while he laughs his ass off.

"That went better than expected," he comments through his laughter, stopping the recording.

"I mean, it's a sight I don't mind seeing." Alyse pipes up.

I pull on West's shirt, trying to back out of the room with him as my shield. He complies with my tugging and backs of the room, waving to my brother.

"Sorry about that," he says, still chuckling. He closes the door once we fully exit and turns to me. "Well, that went well."

"How did that go well? I just saw my brother naked!" I exclaim, trying not to gag.

Oh my god, I saw it.

He laughs and puts his arms around me while I bury my face in his chest. "I'm going to have to flush my eyes out with bleach," I mutter.

West chuckles and looks down at me, "I think you're being a little dramatic."

"You didn't just see your brother naked." I deadpan.

He smirks, "I know someone I wouldn't mind seeing naked."

I gap at him and he starts laughing as I pull away and storm downstairs. Pervert.

"Come on Sunshine, I was kidding!" He calls, following after me.

I turn to him with my arms crossed, "You're such a perv."

He smiles, "Maybe, but at least I'm your perv."

I snort and shake my head at him, walking into the kitchen to make lunch.

"What do you want?" I ask, opening the fridge. "I can make sandwiches, sandwiches, and...oh!" I perk up. "I can also make sandwiches!" I say, scowling at the fridge.

"Sandwiches it is," he decides with a small laugh, standing next to me.

I start to get everything out and make the sandwiches at the counter. I lift my hand and reach for the mayonnaise, only to come up empty. I confusedly glance around the counter to find it and realize I forgot to grab it from the fridge, and no sandwich is complete without a little bit of Duke's Mayo spread on the bun. As I turn back to get it, I find myself trapped by West; but he's the one person I don't mind being trapped by.

I lean back against the counter and he places his hands on both sides of me. "You always make me food when I'm here," he observes.

I shrug and my eyes divert to his lips for a second. "That's because you're always hungry when you're here."

"I want to make you dinner. Come over tonight, it can be our first official date." He says, and I smirk.

"Do delinquents even know how to cook?" I ask, causing him to blush.

"Yes. They do." He mutters.

"Mac and cheese maybe." I smirk.

He drops his head, "You are impossible." He says, looking up at me with his head hung.

I laugh lightly and I see how his eyes light up, which causes my heart to flutter.

"I'll take that as a compliment." I say.

He smiles and leans forward to kiss me, moving his lips softly against my own. Every brush of his lips on mine sends my heart into overdrive and I lift my hand to rest on the base of his neck.

"It's hard to believe that three months ago I was sitting in a jail cell, and now I'm here with you." He murmurs softly when we pull apart.

I let my fingers play with the hair on the base of his neck and I smile softly. "It's hard to believe two months ago I was terrified to meet you, and now I'm standing here kissing you. And talking."

He smirks, "I can't even imagine how next year's going to go."

"As long as you don't get my baby sister pregnant, I don't care how it goes." Toby says, scaring me half to death. "I don't want to be an uncle quite yet."

I quickly remove my hand and use it to urgently shove West away from me. He grumbles and moves to stand next to me, the transition allowing me to see Toby leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

Shit. He doesn't know about us yet.

"So when did this happen?" He asks, gesturing between the two of us.

I gulp and feel blood pool to my cheeks, making them heat up to the temperature of the sun.

Hey at least now West's nickname for me makes sense.

"Last night." West says, snapping me from my humorous thoughts and back to the embarrassing situation in front of me. "We opened up to one another, and I admitted my feelings and asked her to be my girlfriend." He smiles down at me and I bite my lip, nodding my agreement.

My brother continues to give West a hard stare and then looks at me. "If he ever does anything to hurt you, let me know and I will cut his dick off and feed it to him."

West tenses beside, "I'm not going to hurt her. I wouldn't do that."

Toby shrugs, "You had better hope not. For your sake."

I, however, smile up at West and rest my head on his shoulder. He glances down at me as I do and winds his arm around me, kissing my temple with a light brush of his lips.

"I'm gonna go take a shower, and if y'all are gonna be all over one another please don't do it where I can see." Toby says, turning and walking away.

I groan and move so that I can bury my face in West's chest.

This day has just been full of embarrassing moments.

West simply chuckles and places his hands on my hips. "Why are you so embarrassed? Do you not want people to know we're together?" He asks, raising a brow at me as I look up at him.

"I don't want my brother seeing us make out, no." I say.

He smirks, "Not into PDA, Sunshine?"

I'm about to respond, but my stomach growls and answers for me.

"Oh yeah..." I mutter, looking over at the ingredients spread out on the counter. "I forgot about my sandwich. Someone got in my way." I say, shooting him a look.

He sends me a wink. "You didn't seem too bothered by it earlier."

I blush and flip him the bird as I go back to making my lunch.

"I would love to stay and chat, or just keep kissing you, but I need to go get ready for our dinner date." He says, pushing off of the counter. He stands in front of me and gives me a sweet, small kiss.

"I'll see you tonight." He says, smiling gently at me.

I sheepishly nod. "See you tonight."

He leaves and I hear the front door shut behind him. Then his engine roars to life in the driveway and I listen as he drives away.

So that just happened.

Even a kiss as small as that one left me with butterflies in my stomach.

I finish my sandwich and put everything away, digging into my food not a second later. West and I had breakfast this morning before I barged into my brothers room, but that was a few hours ago and I'm absolutely starved.

"Where's my sandwich?" Alyse asks, walking into the room.

I glance up from the counter and smile, "Non-existent."

She shakes her head in disbelief. "So I wasn't dreaming earlier. You actually spoke."

I smile proudly and give a large nod. "It's hard to believe, I know."

"How did it happen?" She asks, leaning forward on the counter.

"I wanted to tell West my story." I say, "And with him there...I was able to talk."

"Well, you sound amazing." She admits, grinning at me.

I chuckle, "I didn't sound so amazing last night." Then I pause and remember this morning's events. "About last night, what time did you and Toby get home? And how come you weren't occupying the guest bedroom this morning?"

Alyse blushes and shrugs, turning around. She goes to the fridge and gets out her own ingredients for a sandwich.

"You know not answering me just makes me even more suspicious, right?" I ask, smirking at her back.

She turns around, "What about you? Toby came upstairs grumbling about seeing you and West down here being awfully friendly."

I shake my head and grin. "Nope. You answer me first."

"No, you." She says stubbornly, crossing her arms.

I raise a brow, "Are we really going to do this? I spent three years in silence, I can keep quiet and wait for you to talk."

She deflates and glares at me for a second or two before she speaks up. "Well, the two of us were naked in bed together this morning. I assume you don't want the horny details." She says, making me cringe.

"Now that I think about it, let's just skip past your night and go to mine." I say, causing her to laugh.

"This is so weird," she says.

I cock my head, "What is?"

"You talking. I keep looking at your hands ready to read what you have to sign." She admits.

I smile, "It's definitely going to take some getting used to."

"But about last night, I assume West took the news fairly well?" She asks, coming to sit next to me with her sandwich in hand.

I think back to our conversation and grin as I remember his confession. "Definitely."

I can feel Alyse's inquisitive gaze on me and I shyly look over at her. She has her eyes narrowed and a sly smile on her face.

"I'm not the only one who got some action last night, am I?"

If I had been drinking anything, this would be the perfect moment for me to spit take.

"All we did was kiss!" I exclaim at her, wide eyed.

She smirks, "I know, I just had to figure out how to get you to admit that."

I pout, "You tricked me."

She finishes her sandwich and throws her trash away, "All is fair in love and war." She winks before leaving.