When we reach Christian's room, he turns around to look at me and smiles as he says, "That wasn't so bad."

I just ignore his comment, and my cheeks are burning as I collapse onto his bed where I proceed to bury my face in his pillow. I hear Christian laugh at me, and the bed dips as he sits down. His hands rubs my back as he asks, "Beau, why are you hiding? It really wasn't that bad . . ."

Yeah, not bad for you . . . I think, and then I groan as I turn my face out of the pillows.

"It was embarrassing," I mumble.

Christian chuckles and leans closer as he carefully pushes my hair out of my face, and he softly says, "Beau, it really was fine. My parents like you, you don't need to be so nervous." Christian reassures as he gently caresses my cheek.

I sigh, and furrow my brow as I think, How can I not be nervous? You're too good and way out of my league, and I'm afraid you'll realize that and leave me. I'm nothing special . . .

"Hey, Beau, what's wrong?" Christian softly asks as he gently turns my face to meet his gaze.

I bite my bottom lip, but I can still feel it wobble as my insecurities come crashing down on me. My eyes begin to blur, and I have to quickly blink the tears back, but Christian notices the sheen in my eyes and gently takes my face into his hands as he says, "Beau, please, tell me what's wrong?"

I inhale a shakily breath and say, "I'm afriad this is a dream, and when I wake up you'll be gone. You're so nice to me and—-"

"Beau, stop!" Christian says as he firmly takes my chin into his hand, and makes me meet his eyes. I can see panic reflecting back at me from Christian's gaze, and I think, I'm scaring him . . . He inhales a deep breath before saying, "This is not a dream, and I won't leave you. I like you, I thought you knew that?"

"I-I do, I'm just . . . I'm just afriad. You're out of my league, Christian, and I'm scared you'll realize that and leave me . . ." I whisper as I pull his blanket close to my chest and bury my face.

Christian sighs and gently pulls the blanket away as he breathes, "Beau, since when do you think I care about any of that? I like you, I like you a lot and I want to be with you. So please, don't let your fear pull us apart? I want you, just you . . ." Christian whispers as he gently touches my cheek, and then he watches my face as he hesitantly pulls me forward. He hugs me close and soothingly rubs my back as he says, "I'm not going anywhere...."

I'm hesitant to accept his hug, as my mind races with very possible bad ending, but he's right. I shouldn't let my insecurities take over when I've already come so far. I don't want to ruin the progress I've made because I'm afraid, and in my heart I know my true feelings. It's just hard for me to shut out my brain. It's always there to tell me I'm not good enough, and over the years I've come to believe it to be true. But Christian's kindness and attentive nature has been pulling me from my hole, and I can't let it break back open beneath me.

I reach deep within me to gather my strength, and then I slowly hug Christian back as I whisper, "You'll probably have to reassure me again...."

Christian sighs as he hugs me closer, and softly breathes, "I'll reassure you everyday if I have to, because I refuse to lose you, Beau."

I sigh softly, and a smile tugs at my lips as I whisper, "I never want to lose you . . ."

"You won't. I'm yours, Beau," Christian breathes as he slowly threads his fingers through my hair. I sigh at the sensation of his fingers gliding through my hair; it feels so incredibly nice and relaxing, and then with a soft sigh I lean back onto his bed.

I close my eyes briefly in content, and when I open them I can see Christian watching me. I smile up at him and hold my hand out, beckoning him towards me. He scoots closer and slowly laces our fingers together as he gently settles into the empty space beside me, and my body instinctively gravitates toward him. I lay my head on his chest and lightly place my arm over his stomach, while he soothingly strokes that hand and continues to comb his fingers through my hair.

I love our contentment and comfortability. Never in a million years could I have imagined myself so at ease laying in someone's arms, and it's like a heavy weight lifting off my chest. I snuggle closer into Christian's side, and aimlessly trace my fingers over the graphics on his T-shirt while my eyes roam his room.

It's messy as usual, and the walls are splashed with his personality. My eyes slowly drift over the music posters, consisting of The Rolling Stones and the more recent duo of Twenty One Pilots. I've never actually heard music by The Rolling Stones, but JoAnna and Megan really like T.O.P as they call Twenty One Pilots, so I know some of their songs. My eyes slowly continue to take in the room, and I'm looking at all the things Christian has stuffed inside his closet; like clothing on hangers and the dirty piles stuffed in the corners, the blankets stuffed on the top shelf with more clothing either too small or unwanted, and in all of that mess I see a black box that catches my eye.

I immediately recognize the box to be battleship, a game I use to play with my mom nearly everyday back in elementary school. I haven't thought of that game in forever, and with the sudden desire to play, I carefully climb out from beneath Christian's arm.

"What are you doing?" he asks while I step in front of his closet and stretch out to reach the box. But it's buried beneath so many heavy blankets, and when I put my strength behind it to pull it out, I seem to forget a little thing called gravity. I gasp as I manage to extract the game, and at the same time I cause a precarious pile of blankets and old clothing to fall down with it.

"Oh my god, Beau, watch out!" Christian cries as he jumps off his bed and pulls me out of the way just in time for everything to fall.

I cringe at the mess and bite my bottom lip, and shyly glance up at Christian as I murmur,
"That-That was an accident."

Christian just stares at the pile for a moment before laughing, and then he jokingly asks, "Do you want to build a fort?"

A smile cracks across my face and I laugh too, and then Christian just grabs the blankets and tosses them back onto the shelf before adding the clothes. When everything is more or less back in order, he glances down at me and smiles as he says, "There, good as new."

I just giggle and grab Christian's hand as I lead him to the middle of his floor, I crouch down and clear away a space for us to sit before opening the box. "Do you want the blue one, or the red one?" I ask.

"Red will do," Christian replies.

I grin. "Perfect, I was going to fight you if you chose blue," I admit with a laugh.

Christian laughs too and teasingly says, "Actually, I choose blue."

I feel my cheeks redden and I playfully shove his shoulder as I laugh and say, "No take backs!"

Christian sighs. "Darn."

I giggle at him as I hand over his board, and then I grab mine before hoping back onto the bed. I grab his pillows and build a wall between us as I say, "Can I go first since I almost died under an avalanche of blankets?"

"You're so dramatic," Christian laughs.

I just grin and say, "Chop chop, I'm excited to win this."

"Who says you'll be winning?" Christian asks with a grin.

"I say."

Christian chuckles. "Ooh, do I smell a challenge?"

I bite my bottom lip and my cheeks pinken, and then feeling courageous, I lean across the pillow barrier and slyly respond, "Bring it on."

Christian laughs and leans forward too as he says, "Oh, it's on."

My grin widens, and my cheeks begin to hurt. I quickly peck Christian's lips before saying, "Okay, loser has to . . ." I trail off as I glance around the room, and then my eyes land on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich sitting on Christian's bedside table. "Loser has to eat that!" I say as I point at the sandwich.

Christian follows my finger and purses his lips as he cries, "Beau, that's two days old!"

I grin. "Even better."

Christian rolls his eyes and chuckles. "Okay, and for the winner . . ." Christian trails off as he thinks, and then his eyes light up as he says, "A kiss and—-"

"Woo woo, you don't get two," I cry.

Christian hushes me and says, "Well, I want two! First, a kiss; and second, lessons on how to ride my motorcycle."

My jaw drops and I nearly jump to my feet as I cry, "What!? No no. No! That thing is . . ."

"What I choose for the winner," Christian cuts in.

I purse my lips, and then suddenly I'm diving over the pillow barrier and pouncing onto Christian's lap, I nearly knock him off the bed as I poke his chest and say, "Fine, but if I die, I'm going to haunt you day and night!"

Christian laughs and grabs my wrists as he pushes me off him, and pins me down onto the bed. I gasp as he grins at me cheekily, and quickly kisses my mouth before he says, "Fine by me."

I purse my lips at him, and wiggle out from beneath his grip before climbing back over the barrier as I say, "Okay, let's start the game then."

Word count: 1,718

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A/N: Hello, lovelies! Who do you think will win the game? Or will one of them create a distraction? Hmm? 🤔

I guess we'll just have to see what happens next.... 😁

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Have a wonderful day/night!

Love from,
BunnyBaekkiee ❤️