#differentkindofwar

"You look lost, Mister."

SLEEP — A DRABBLE OF MY CHARACTER SNUGGLING IN BED WITH YOURS.

  For one, single evening, things felt like they used to. Or as close to it as it had been in a long time.

  They sat around watching TV all night, but instead of curling up against him or in his lap, she leaned against the armrest of his couch. As far away from him as possible. It was hard enough being in his apartment. If she got hit with Scarecrow’s Fear Toxin right then, she was sure she would hallucinate cuddling with him.

  Ironic now.

  At some point in the evening, she had fallen asleep, curled up at her end of the couch, and he had tossed a blanket over her and retreated to his own room. All without managing to wake her up. Typical Ben. The only reason she had even woken up was because the dog had nuzzled under her arm and was licking the palm of her hand. He probably smelled the residue of pizza from the night before.

  Turning over and staring at the ceiling for a few moments, she tossed around the pro’s and con’s of staying where she was. Should she go home? If he woke up and she was still crashed on his couch, would he kick her out or let her sleep while he wandered down to his shop? 

  Instead of marching to the door, like she should have, her feet carried her down the hall and toward his room. The whole time, chewing her lip and holding the blanket around her shoulders so tight her fingers might fall off. The dog was, of course, following closely at her heels, trying to catch the edge of the blanket.

  And with way too many thoughts about what she was doing, she quietly — or quiet for Stephanie, anyway — climbed into bed behind him. It smelled like him and that sprung a leak in her eyes, remembering how many times she had shared this space with him. Especially the first time she so much as stepped foot in his room. 

  He had carried her into the room, lips locked, his arms firmly wrapped around her. They had argued about Beth and Adrian until they couldn’t argue anymore. She was sure he was going to tell her he hated her for telling Adrian she kissed him and he would never forgive her for having a jealous temper tantrum over his relationship with Beth. 

  But no, he didn’t, he got over it almost as soon as they kissed and things spiraled out of control faster than Stephanie was able to get her mind around. She fell hard and fast for him. 

  Now, pressing close to him, her arm wrapped around him and her cheek pressed against his shoulder, she could see he was very much the same Ben she loved. Right down to the way he smelled and the way his shoulders arched when he curled up in bed. 

  This was a bad idea. A horrible one. And Stephanie’s heart was practically beating out of her chest, wondering if he would wake to this and kick her out of his apartment. 

SEND ME ⊕ FOR A PRO AND CON LIST ABOUT OUR CHARACTERS SLEEPING TOGETHER

Pro: 

I kinda still lo-like you.

You're Ben. 

You're amazing.

And wonderful.

And I guess out of the bedroom you're okay too. 

Con:

You're Ben.

Awkward.

So awkward. 

So, so awkward.

Again?

You’d probably make yourself sick.