"Why don't we go to your house instead?!"

In front of your porch, you wiggle your body unwillingly like a child—not wanting to face your dad after the stunt he pulled this morning. Watching you, seemingly in patience, Tyler slowly exhales—before tilting his head and jostling your head in annoyance.

"You really want me to die, huh?"

Shaking his hands out of your head, you retort, "Listen! He never wanted to meet my dates either way—and from my past experiences—"

"Well I'm not them, babygirl," Tyler interjects smoothly, a disgusting smirk plays on his lips as he bounces his eyebrows suggestively.

Receiving major ick vibes, you give him the side eye, squinting your eyes before mumbling, "Damn, that's cringe. Even for you."

Completely ignoring your disgusted expression, Cavill continues bouncing his eyebrows proudly—but in a blink, he suddenly switches into a serious manner. Straightening his posture, he lifted his head slightly upward, gaze becoming more intense—piercing through you with a sense of purpose.

"What makes one a gentleman is bringing his date safe and sound to her daddy's doorstep. So just—let me have this moment of testosteroneness for a Goddamn minute, won't cha?"

Tyler's sudden passive aggressive maturity makes you pout-nodding. Sensing your once judgmental perception of him on the way turning into something, he rolls his eyes. "We'll go home and knock on that door. End of discussion." Tyler arrests firmly, placing a reassuring hand behind your waist as he guides you toward the steps.

"Wow. How did you become such a green flag?"

Pursing his lips in enjoyable pride, he boasts, "Didn't someone keep showing me her fanfic references?" At his unexpected outburst, you laugh out loud, contagiously making him chuckle as well.

You both stand on the porch—yet, Tyler seems momentarily hesitant, his gaze shifts between you—and the front door. His hand poised to knock.. only to retract it at the last moment. He turns back to you, and as his eyes meet yours, a soft.. gentle smile graces his lips. Reluctantly, he reaches out his hand towards you.. to land it softly on your head.

Ugh, am I really enjoying getting patted in the head? Moreover—by the Tyler. Cavill?! Are you fucking serious Emilia Winters?! Wait but—is he.. a little bit trembling?

You can't help but notice his slight nervousness—but hell—you couldn't dare to assume that it's nervousness. His fingers brush through your hair with delicate tenderness, sending shivers down your spine—ah, probably cos it's a little bit colder than usual tonight. But then, cutting through your thoughts like a gentle breeze, he softly smiles.

"Thank you, Emilia Winters."

Even just hearing this type of voice coming from him makes your heart skip a beat. You try so hard to settle them as you take a shaky inhale—before mustering the courage to ask,

"For what?"

Now you watch his smile grow bigger as his gaze shifts to your head—probably for hiding his.. yes—his nervousness. Until he exhales an 'as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders' exhale.. and meets your eyes directly.

"For giving me faith in forever."

...

What does he mean? Faith.. in.. forever? Does that mean we're.. forever—well, yeah, but what kind of forever though—the best friend forever kind of forever? Or—

He plants a gentle kiss on your cheek—and you freeze. It was brief, but despite the heat now sinking your face, the warmth of his lips lingers. It will probably linger forever—

"Bestfriends?"

Oh.

It's a simple phrase. A normal chant. One you've uttered countless times before. But this time.. it feels..

Different.

Why does this one feel different, though? Why does this feel like.. an emphasis. Like he's making sure of something. Why does this feel like the end of something—knock it off, Em. This is just a dare date. He won't consider this 'happened'. And for fucks sake, you have a boyfriend Goddammit! Dominic Hunt. Dominic—Hunt—Dominic.. Hunt..

...

Can't lie. It caught me off guard..

But.. all this? The fact that I had the best date—well but—it probably because he already knows me too well, though. We've known each other since we're babies for God's sake. So.. yeah. The fact that I had the best date of my life doesn't change the fact that I'm just his bestfriend—

"Forever."

You force a big smile back at him as you wrap his pinkie over yours. For a moment, he observes you—his smile faltering ever so slightly. Before with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, he brutally ruffles your head! Growling in annoyance—not sure if it's because of the ruffling or.. just this fucking moment—you pout to his grinning self. Before you can protest further, he swiftly circles his arms around you and gives you a tight squeeze. And with a smile still on his face, he finally knocks on the door.

"Hello my darlings! My my, you both look so cute! How's the date?!" your mom opens the door with an enthusiastic greeting, eyes sparkling with excitement.

You, feeling embarrassed, interject with a protest, "Mommmm,"

"You have the best daughter Mrs. Winters~" Tyler chimes in teasingly. His playful remark sends a flutter of butterflies dancing in your stomach despite your rolling eyes.

Your mom beams with pride. "Tyty? You've grown up well, huh?"

The three of you giggle like you're in some kind of a reunion—but beneath the laughter, there's a sense of anxiety lingering in the cold air. Something feels amiss, or rather, someone. You shift your eyes to your still beaming mom, hoping for an explanation. Out of curiosity, Cavill finally addresses the elephant in the room, "Oh Mrs. Winters, where's Mr—"

"Where's that brat Tyler?! Is he here yet?!"

Panic sets in as you all freeze. You notice Tyler tensing—pursing his lips, beads of sweat start forming on the temple of his head. Sensing danger, you snap your head to your mom for SOS. However, your mom keeps smiling, unbothered.

"Don't worry, I locked him in the bedroom," she admits casually, earning a mix of laughter and incredulous looks from you.

"God, Mom, you're so cruel," you exclaim, shaking your head in amused disbelief.

"Just don't want to ruin my daughter and son's date~"

With a mischievous grin, Janet drags the three of you to a tight embrace. From under the hug, you watch your mom grinning happily. However.. your own expression quickly shifts to one of a concern as your gaze shifts to Tyler.

Face stricken with utter fear, Tyler mumbles something under his breath—as if chanting a mantra of sorts. Watching him in confusion, you knit your eyebrows to ask, "Uh.. Ty are you okay—"

That's when you hear a low growl, followed by an unmistakable sound of someone clearing their throat. Tyler closes his eyes in resignation as a sense of dread creeps over you. The three of you slowly break away from the hug.. and you see your dad emerging from behind your mom like a thick-sentinel.

"Hooowwww?!"

With a shriek fit for a horror movie, Janet's voice echoes through the room as she stares in absolute horror at her husband—as if she just witnessed a scene straight out of a nightmare.

"You left the key on the keyhole, lady. That's funny but thanks for that," John wearily explains—but then, his gaze shifts from your mom.. to you.. then slowly.. to Ty.

For a moment you watch as he squints his eyes—before the boss demands,

"You. Come with me."

Gulping hard, Tyler walks towards your dad as if his soul has been stolen by a Dementor. With a dark smile, your dad places his hand on Tyler's shoulder—squeezing it until Tyler cringes. John switches his gaze to you to command, "You. Go upstairs."

"W—wait—I thought—what're you going to do to him?!" you stammer—but before you can get an answer, the big force already drags Tyler away into the darkness..

Peeking through his window, you spot Tyler already engrossed in playing his Playstation on his dark gray shag rug. Exhaling softly, you slide open the window—causing him to startle at first—to quickly soften once he sees that it's you.

"Oh, hi Winny!" he shouts before returning his attention to the game as if nothing had happened. With a strange expression on your face, you hesitantly climb in his room.. and walk slowly over to him. Finally sitting beside him, you watch him in suspicion. Anxious thoughts swirl in your mind.

"So.. did he do anything.. to you..?"

Turning his head upon hearing your anxious voice, Tyler stares at you for a moment—before bursting into laughter. "Hey, don't worry—I told you he just told me a couple of things," he reassures you with a grin.

"And you're not gonna tell me?"

"Why don't you stop worrying and join," Tyler suggests—taking another black graffitied controller and place it in front of you—nodding, motioning for you to take it. Conflicted, you hesitate before finally taking the controller—weighing them in your hands.

Feeling all the worry huddled in your throat, you explode, "I'm so worried, you idiot!" instinctively throwing the controller in front of you—

"Spare the console, you brat! I bought these LeBrons with my own allowance! And show some kindness to Ellie by not letting her get killed here?"

Reluctant—you reclaim the controller and resume playing, all the while stealing glances at him in sus. Yet, he keeps his eyes fixed on the screen, remaining silent. Exhaling in surrender, you attempt to concentrate on Ellie aiding George—eliminating the zombies. As you immerse yourself in the storyline.. a sense of déjà vu washes over you until suddenly.. realization hit you.

"Didn't you play this one before? Ugh, what's with you and your never-ending loop of repeated—you know.. when I think about it—you're kinda similar with my dad—"

"Just.. want to put my mind off things."

His stare turns empty before quickly regaining his composure. You pause the game—prompting him to exhale heavily as he throws his head back, gazing at the corner of the room. When he darts his eyes to give you a side glance, you lean your head closer under his chin—close to his large Adam's apple. Squinting your eyes, you blurt out, "See? I knew he said something weird."

Quickly darting his eyes back to the screen, he presses play to continue the game—ignoring you. Annoyed by his dismissing behavior, you retreat back to your seat—still, continuing the game—well, since the choice is either comply or get scolded. As you guide Ellie in terminating all the zombies invading the forest—you rack your brain, trying to think of a way to get him to open up.

"You know, Taylor texted me this morning and I'll tell you if—"

"I know you're trying to make a bet by making me tell you, but it's not gonna happen, Winters—"

"Dom broke up with me."

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Cecylia Costania @rcpcswrites

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The song that matches this Chapter's vibe:

https://youtu.be/54wX7AvU0_8