THEO JAMES IMAGINES;

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—

I sit down after my presentation and smile in response to the applause. The professor regains position in front of the class and gives my presentation a few pointers before asking the following student to go ahead and begin theirs.

I stare at my watch. A half hour to go.

Usually, I'm more focused in class but I skipped breakfast this morning so I could work on my presentation, and now I'm hungry.

The bell rings just as I finish putting my things into my bag. I head out the building and walk to my dorm, where my roommate seems to be waking up.

"A little early to be taking naps." I say.

"Naps? This is me waking up for the first time today. Good morning." Zoe yawns, pushing the sheets aside and climbing out of bed.

"A little late to be saying that." I laugh.

"I live a very unorthodox lifestyle." She retorts. "But come watch the game with me. I think it started already. Some other school is here."

"What school?" I ask as she disappears into the washroom.

"I don't know, but I do know the boys are hot." She says over the sound of running water.

I'm not sure it's something worth my while. I'm not a big sports fan. I tell Zoe I'll meet her back at the dorm in twenty minutes or so because I haven't eaten lunch.

After another two minutes of attempted persuasion, I give in. Zoe is my closest friend here. It's thanks to her that I've come out of my shell a little more. Keeping her company at a game is the least I can do.

The field is packed. There are people all over the place and it takes us some time to find seats. Zoe is right. The game has already begun. I don't understand much about soccer but I do understand one thing; the players are in great shape.

I don't pay much attention to the game. I'm much more interested in the crowd around me. Even after a year, I still don't recognize the people that attend this school. I mean, I recognize a few but that's it.

High school wasn't a very good time for me. I allowed people to walk all over me and treat me like nothing. Zoe doesn't know half of it. I decided not to tell her about all that. Best to be left in the past.

A whistle blows and the crowd gasps. Someone has been injured, but just enough to get a penalty kick and not enough to be taken out of the game.

But it's not the concept that intrigues me. It's the player. That back. That body. It's familiar. The players disperse and go stand where they're supposed to. That profile. It's... It's you.

I stand. You're too far. But I don't need to see your face to notice your walk. I'd notice that walk anywhere. I used to see it all the time in gym class, and in the hallway.

"I didn't know you were a fan." Zoe says.

I sit back down, deep in thought. The butterflies in my stomach assure me it's you.

You make both penalty kicks.

Zoe stays behind, she knows someone on the team and wants to congratulate him on the game despite the loss. I, on the other hand, need to see you. So I follow your team in the parking lot, where your bus is parked. You haven't seen me yet.

But it doesn't take long. You're talking to a teammate but I soon have your full attention and you excuse yourself.

"Hey." You breathe out. Almost like it's surreal seeing me here.

You look more mature.

I suppose you could say the same about me.

"Hi."

This is so odd. I didn't think I'd ever see you again. The last time I did, we were both graduating high school and now we're in different colleges.

I don't hate you despite all you did to me. I should but I could never.

"How are you? I feel like I haven't seen you in ages?"

"I'm alright. I can't believe you're here. I didn't know you went to school just a few miles from here."

You nod. "I've been here before. I didn't know you went here."

How could you? You didn't speak to me at all those last days.

You have to leave soon but before you do, you ask me if I'd like to go out for coffee the next day. I agree.

I'm super nervous. I don't know why you wanna see me. After how things ended, I was sure you hated me.

But I walk into the campus café nonetheless. You're already there. You get up when you see me and I'm surprised when you pull me in for a hug.

"It's good to see you." You confess.

"I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

There's a silence. You look down at your cup of coffee and shake your head. "I'm sorry."

It takes me aback. In all the time I've known you, you've never apologized to me. You apologized on the behalf of your girlfriend and you were sorry I broke my nose.

But you've never uttered those two words and meant them the way you did right now.

"It's in the past. We were both young."

"That's not an excuse. You didn't deserve any of it."

You seem sincere and I feel a big weight lift off my shoulders. I didn't realize I needed to hear those words until now.

"Can I ask you something?" I ask.

"Sure."

A waiter comes over and asks me what I'd like to order. Just a coffee, I tell him.

"Did you ever like me?"

You look surprised. I don't blame you. This is something I wouldn't have asked you a year ago. I've become bolder and less afraid.

"You remember that first day in the cafeteria?"

Yes, I do. You sat next to me but didn't say a word.

"Yeah."

"I was being a whimp. I wanted to talk to you but I didn't want people seeing me talk to you." He begins. My coffee arrives and I thank the boy. "It's terrible, I know. So I eased into it. I sat next to you but didn't talk to you, and when I asked you out, people began talking. Not to my face but I knew, and so I chickened out."

I didn't say anything. I never thought you'd be the type to get pressured. People admired you and respected you. They didn't pressure you.

"But to answer your question, I did. I liked you." You say. "And I acted like an asshole. I wanted to prove to my friends that I didn't like you so I hurt you. That essay was a sham. All made up. I wasn't failing and I didn't need help. I'm so sorry."

You're being honest and I appreciate it but all this talk reminds me of those days and how unhappy I was. How vulnerable I allowed myself to be and just how much I liked you and wanted to be with you. Even when you hurt me, I wanted to be with you.

I sip my coffee to give myself time to sort my thoughts. "I forgive you."

Just like that it's all forgiven. Yes, I've changed. I'm more grown and less naïve but the words just tumble out of my mouth. And I mean all three of them.

You stare at me for a moment and for a second, I remember the you that came over to my house that morning after the hospital. How concerned and apologetic you were.

"I wanna make it up to you. Let me make it up to you. Every single day this month, I will come by and take you out, and I will redeem myself." You smile.

I blush and dip my head. "You don't have to."

"I want to. You're... You're so beautiful and it sucks I haven't gotten to tell you that before, but all of that is changing. Give me a month to tell you everything I've ever been afraid of telling you. Let me make it up to you?"

I nod my head, you smile, and we drink our coffee in silence.

A month passes and things couldn't be better. You take me out every other day and show me a side of you I never got to witness in high school. You invite me over to your school and introduce me to your friends. I recognize a few old faces but I don't care because you tighten your arm around me and kiss me in front of everyone.

TITLE: Surprise? REQUESTED BY:  No one CHARACTERS: THEO JAMES, Y/N EXCERPT: “But I guess we weren’t as careful as we thought. So now, while he’s at work, I’m waiting for a little stick to tell me if my life is about to change. “

I don’t think I’ve been this nervous before. As I sit on the bathroom floor, waiting for my phone to beep, I think about how I got here. Theo and I have always been careful, especially since I am finishing up school, and he’s getting adjusted to his new job. But I guess we weren’t as careful as we thought. So now, while he’s at work, I’m waiting for a little stick to tell me if my life is about to change.

           After what feels like hours, but is only minutes, my phone goes off, and I’m forced to look at the life changing stick. I force myself to my feet and walk to the bathroom counter. One deep breath later, I pick up the stick, open my eyes and look down. The little positive sign is looking right back at me and the tears fall out of my eyes before I collapse back onto the floor.

           I don’t know how long I sit on the floor before I hear the front door open and Theo call out for me. I quickly wipe the tears off my eyes before hiding the test in the back of the drawer. I open the door and walk downstairs to meet Theo.

           I walk into the kitchen and see Theo getting a drink. He turns his head and looks over at me. “Hey beautiful.”

           As he walks closer, his smile disappears. “Babe, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve been crying?”

           He pulls me into his arms and I almost start crying again. “I’m fine. I just uh…watched a movie when I got home from class and it made me cry.”

           He looks down at me, and I can tell he doesn’t believe me. “Oh okay. Well I’m gonna go get washed up and changed, and then we can cook dinner together.”

           He leans down to kiss me softly before disappearing upstairs. As I sit on the counter, I know I have to tell him. I mean, he’s gonna find out eventually.

           I’m so lost in thought that I don’t even hear Theo come down the stairs until he’s right in front of me, holding the test.

           “What the hell is this?” Theo isn’t a big yeller, but when he’s mad, well, don’t get in his way.

           “Where did you find that?” I couldn’t look him in the eye, so I just stare at my feet.

           “I couldn’t find the brush, so I opened the drawer and sticking out, or should I say hiding in the back was this. Now tell me, what the hell is it!”

           I take a deep breath, before looking up in his eyes. I don’t think I have ever seen him this mad before. “It’s, it’s, it’s a pregnancy test Theo.”

           “Clearly, but why is there a positive pregnancy test hiding in our bathroom? We agreed having kids wouldn’t come for years.” He looks me in the eye waiting for an answer.

           “I know we did, but I don’t know. I guess something happened.” I look up at his face hoping he believes me, but the anger on his face is clear evidence that he doesn’t. “I didn’t plan for this Theo. It was just as much of a surprise to me as it was to you.”

           He throws the test on the floor before turning around and heading back upstairs. “Where are you going?” I yell after him, before walking to the steps.

           A few minutes later he runs down with a bag before brushing past me. “I’m staying at Jack’s tonight. I don’t even think I can look at you right now. “

           I move to get in front of him before he walks at the door. “Babe we have to talk about this.”

           “No we don’t. We both already know I don’t want this. So get out of my way.” I move aside so he can leave and I stand in the window watching him get in his car and drive away.

           I don’t know how, but somehow I ended up lying on the couch, with my hand on my stomach. “I’m so sorry little one. I didn’t think he would react this way. But mommy loves you, and I’m hoping daddy comes around to loving you too.” I wipe the remaining tears from my eyes before closing them.

           I next thing I know is I am being shaken awake. “Babe, hey wake up.” I look up and see Theo sitting on the edge of the couch with his hand on my side.

           “What time is it?” I slowly sit up, wiping my eyes awake, looking around for the clock.

           “It’s about 9:30.” He looks down at me smiling a little.

           “I thought you left for the night?” I say. I hear him sigh before running his hand through his hair.

           “I did. But I only got up the street before I realized how much of an ass I was being.” He sighs and grabs my hand before continuing. “I just, I wasn’t expecting to find the test and when I did, I don’t know. I just don’t know if I’m gonna be a good dad.”

           I look at him, before turning to face him. “Theo, look I was gonna tell you tonight. I just didn’t know how. I knew we didn’t want to have kids anytime soon because of everything going on.” I lift his chin so he is staring at me before I continue. “But babe, you are gonna be an amazing father. I know we’re young and it’s totally not the ideal situation, but I know we are going to love this child.”

           He smiles at me before leaning in to kiss me, resting his hand on my stomach as he does. “I know I said before I didn’t want this.” I nod my head and wait for him to continue. “Well that was a lie. I didn’t know I wanted this until I realized this baby is a product of our love. A little bit of you mixed in with a little bit of me. I don’t know if we are gonna be the perfect parents, but I know that there is no one else in the world I want this with more than you. “

           He wipes the tears from my eyes before pulling me into a hug. I rest my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. “I love you Theo. Thank you for coming back.”

           “He kisses me, hard. “No matter what baby, I will always come back. There is nothing I regret more than walking out that door tonight. But I promise you, from now on; it will be you, and me forever. I’m not leaving you, and I will never leave our baby. “

Y/N POV

Thunderstorms, they suck. Especially when your roommate is out of town and you’re stuck home alone. This is my current situation.

            It’s dumb, I know, but I’ve been scared of storms since I was a little girl. I think it’s the loud noise and the dark. And it really doesn’t help that my power just went out, so I can’t watch something to distract myself.

            I lay in bed for what feels like hours, but is really only 10 minutes, before sighing and sitting up. I look to my left and spot my cellphone. I reach out, before stopping myself from picking it up. However, before I can lie back down, there’s a loud boom and I quickly pick up my phone to call my boyfriend.

            The phone rings twice before Theo answers. “Babe?” he asks, and I can immediately tell I woke him up.

            “I’m sorry Theo,” I say. “I didn’t think you would be asleep.”

            He laughs before saying; “You didn’t think I would be asleep at 2:15am? “

            I pull my phone back and see the time. “I had no idea how late it was.” I pause for a moment. “Forget I called, go back to sleep and ill talk to you tomorrow.”             Before I can hang up, he stops me. “Y/N, what’s going on? You wouldn’t call me this late, if something weren’t wrong. “

            I sigh, but before I can answer, there’s another crack of lightening and I scream, and drop my phone. As I pick it back up, I can here Theo laughing. “Haha, laugh it up.”

            “I’m sorry babe, I know how scared you are.” He pauses for a moment. “I’ll be right over.”

            “Theo, you don’t have to.” I start to say, but Theo cuts me off.

            “Isn’t that why you called? So I could come over? I know Megan is out of town.”

            “I guess, but it seems silly.”

            “Baby, it’s not silly, and I’ll be right over. I love you.”             “I love you too.”

            I make my way to the living room, so I can let Theo in, right as he gets here. Before I know it, there’s a knock on my door, and I open it, to find a very wet Theo.

            “Have you ever heard of an umbrella?” I ask as I let him in.

            “Yes, but I recall letting my girlfriend borrow it and not getting it back.”

            I feel the blush growing on my face. “Oops.” I grab his arm, and lead him into my room before helping him strip out of his wet clothes, leaving him in just his sweats.

            “I didn’t think this is what you had in mind, I would have been over sooner.” He teased.

            I punched him in the shoulder. “You’re a jerk.”

            He laughed, before pulling me into a hug. “You know I’m just teasing. I think it’s cute that you still get scared.”

            All I could do was bury my face in his shoulder, breathing in his scent that always made me feel safe and protected.

            He squeezes me tight, before pulling back. “Let’s go lay down.”

            He grabs my hand, and drags me to bed. He lies down, and pulls me right onto his chest. “This is my favorite spot.” I say softly.

            He chuckles. “I know. It’s mine too. I love having you in my arms.”

            I cuddle closer to him, and give his chest a soft kiss. “I love you Theo James. Thank you so much for coming.”

            His hold on me tightens, as he leans down and kisses the top of my head. “I love you to Y/N. I’m glad you get scared at storms, and call me to come save the day.”

            “You always make me feel safe.” I tell him, “In your arms, I know that everything will be okay. No matter what.”

            He lifts my chin, and gives me a soft kiss. “I’m so glad baby. Now close your eyes. I’ll be here to fight off your bad dreams.”

—

His fingers are running through my curly hair, the simple gesture almost throwing me off, interrupting my train of thoughts. We’re up early for a Friday morning and with a simple flick of my head, I read 5 on the digital clock.

"Yes. Have them deliver the folder before I get there, please." I instruct my assistant over the phone, my fingers absentmindedly playing with Theo’s.

This call is the reason why I’m up at this ungodly hour, and I assume my ringtone enventually disturbed Theo from his sleep and so he joined me.

”Thank you, Mia.” I end the call and put away my cellphone, shifting around to face Theo; his face slack with fatigue. “You need sleep.”

He shrugs. “I’m fine.” The living room is still pretty dark and not because the blinds are drawned but because the sun hasn’t come up yet. The two bicycles outside in our balcony are masked by the drapes and are casting weird shadows on our bodies. They seem like tattoos on Theo’s chest.

"Are you sure?" A tentative smile appears on my face.

He nods. I smile endearingly at him and press myself against him, his naked skin warm against mine. Despite having the heat on in the apartment, during winter our apartment could very well be the North Pole.

"I don’t feel like going to work today," he admits. "I just wanna hang out here with you."

Suddenly, I long for that, as well. The thought of getting off this couch and having to get ready for work sounds exhausting, and what appeases is the desire to sit here with my boyfriend. “Me neither.”

There’s a comfortable silence between us. It’s also soothing to sit in the quiet and not have to worry about anything for a while. Just a small while.

"Let’s not."

"Let’s not what? Go to work?"

"Yeah." He says it with the outmost calmness. I have to stare at him, really stare at him for a moment, and when he doesn’t bust out laughing or snort, I shrug.

"Sure." I agree.

"Really? You don’t mind missing a day of work." Theo asks me, a raised brow. He doesn’t believe me. I don’t blame him. I’m what you may call a workaholic. But nothing extreme, I swear.

“‘Course not.” I answer.

"You’re missing work today?"

“‘Course.”

"Alright." He settles more comfortably into the couch and stretches his arm over my shoulders.

"I can chill.” I tell myself. “Let’s just chill today.”

"Alright." Theo sings sarcastically. He leans his head toward mine and kisses my cheek, slightly rubbing his nose against my cheekbone.

"Mock me all you want, James." I push him off slightly but quickly cling back to him. "But I can so chill. It’s not hard... I'm chilling." I reach for the blanket neatly folded on the far side of the couch and wrap it around us.

Theo seems to doubt my statement but he doesn't comment on it.

Once the blanket is over us, I lean back into the couch and test out this whole "chilling out" thing. Theo gives me side-eyed glances here and there, thinking I wouldn't notice, but I remain placid; the silence is unnerving, and whereas I'm usually used to chaos, it's so quiet, I can hear myself and Theo breathe.

"Should we watch something?" I start to fumble with the hem of the blanket, my fingers pale against the dark texture.

Theo snorts. "Infomercials and outdated re-runs are on right now, but sounds like fun, huh?"

I hit his chest, feeling the slight rise and fall of it as he laughs silently, and roll my eyes. "You seem to be the expert. What should we do, then?"

"You mean besides going back to bed?" He thinks for a moment then shrugs. "Nothing."

The answer is simple, to the point, but it doesn't satisfy me. "Nothing? You just wanna sit here all day?"

"Yes!" Theo's incredulous, and if the smile on his face is correct, seems about two seconds away from erupting in laughter. "One would think this is good. A free pass at being lazy."

"But I'm not a lazy person." I object.

"Neither am I, but today, yes we are." He flings one side of the blanket to the side and disappears around a corner to the kitchen. It's five minutes later when he comes back, two mugs in hands.

"What a sweetheart." I coo and reach over as he extends his arm. The couch dips as he sits down and I have to hold my mug up to keep it from spilling over. "Thank you." I take a sip of coffee.

"Small things like this," he starts. "And before you know it, it'll be five in the evening."

A feeling of gratitude washes over me; his need to look after me, his constant reminder of his love for me, the little things he does for me, like get me coffee, fake call-in sick for me, take me out to dinner, etc. All those things are endless, timeless, effortless.

I grab his mug and put it down on the table alongside mine and hug closer to him. "You're right. This feels good. I should call-in sick more often."