by Rua Hasan
Tyler lifted an eyebrow.
But I had to do this. He needed me and I had to help.
“Maybe you can-well, I don't know but I was thinking …”
“Yeah?”
“You can sleep in my place tonight.” He rushed over to where I was sitting and kneeled down, looking at me.
“Really? Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“For sure?”
I nodded my head. “I don't mind. I just want to help.” I shrugged.
Tyler placed his arm under my armpits and lifted me up, twirling me around.
“What the—”
“Thank you! thank you!” he shouted and placed me back onto the ground. I felt my head become dizzy for a bit as the world twirled around me
“Woah.”
“Oops. Sorry.”
“Idiot.”
Tyler pulled me to his couch and sat on it, pulling me to his lap.
“I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I promise I'll make it up to you.”
“You know it wasn't your fault.”
“Um, Tyler?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I ask you a question but you don't have to answer it if you don't want to.”
“Sure, go on.” He lifted his chin off my shoulder and slowly wrapped his arms around my stomach, encaging me.
“Since Paul is actually your father, does that make Dan your brother?”
“No.” He chuckled which kind of caught me off guard.
“Dan isn't Paul's son … Thank god.”
“Then how are you two related?”
“His mother is Paul's and Thomas's sister.”
“Oh.”
Well that made sense. But why does Dan hate Tyler?
“Dan and I, used to be close. He was the brother I never had.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but that all changed when my fath-shit, I mean my uncle Thomas died.” His voice was filled with anger and I'm not sure why he was mad. Whether it was because of him talking about Dan or because he accidentally almost called Thomas his father.
“Dan's father and Thomas worked together. They were both partners at work. One day Dan's father would drive the truck and the other Thomas did.” He explained.
“But damnit! My uncle just had to be driving it that day! Dan still holds a grudge that day. He thinks that my 'father' was the one who not only killed your parents but also his dad. F*ck.” He cursed.
“Oh gosh I'm so sorry.”
He shook his head. “No, baby I'm so sorry.”
“But it wasn't your fault that Thomas went to work drunk. Dan shouldn't have blamed you.”
“His grief took over,” he mumbled, still kissing my neck.
“Stop,” I whispered once he kissed my soft spot. I could feel his lips twitch upwards against my skin.
“Stop what?”
“That! Stop that!”
“You mean, this?”
“Tyler you better stop or else.”
“Or else, what?”
“Or else, you won’t be sleeping in my house tonight. I'll kick you out to sleep with the dogs.”
“Is that all you got?”
“I will shave off all your hair when you’re sleeping, take a picture of you and sent it to the military telling them that you want to be part of it.”
“Really?”
“Really!”
“That's nice but I can't leave.”
“Why?”
“Because if I do then I won't be able to do this.” He kissed my neck once again and I smacked him on the head.
“You don't take any of my threats seriously do you?”
“Nope.” I pulled away and looked at my phone to see that it was getting late.
“Crystal?”
Sh*t. He used my real name. This mustn't be good. “What's wrong?”
“There's something I have to ask you.”
“And what's that?”
He let out a cough and a shaky breath before turning me around so that I was standing on my feet, looking down at him. “I was going to ask you this on our date because I wanted it to be special but as you see, that didn't work so I might as well do it now.”
“Do what?”
“Ask you.”
“Ask me what?”
“Crystal. Will you be my girlfriend?”
Chapter 43
It just hit me by surprise. I knew that he had a thing for me ever since that kiss but I was too afraid to admit it. Could I be ready to have a–boyfriend? I bit my lips nervously as I looked at the ground. Tyler held my hand and stared at me nervously as if he thought I was going to reject him.
“Crystal, be my girlfriend.”
Ok. Now he isn't asking anymore.
“Um...” Sh*t. What the hell am I supposed to say?
“W-well uh …” I saw Tyler's eyes flooded disappointment. His face turned serious as his jaw tightened.
“Okay well you see—”
“I get it. That answer is ‘no’. Fine whatever.”
“I'm just going to go—AH!” Tyler shouted in surprise when I ran toward him and jumped on his back like a monkey.
“What the f—”
“SHUT THE HELL UP AND LET ME SPEAK!” I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.
“You piece of shit! Why didn't you let me speak, huh?”
“Ouch!”
“You ask me out and then walk away? Hasn't your momma ever taught you some manners.”
“Get off me, you monkey!” he shouted as he continued to twirl around.
“Not until you stop moving.” He stood still with his feet glued on the floor.
“I wonder what I see in a monkey like you.”
“You were saying?”
“Ow-uh-will you be my monkey girlfriend?”
“Excuse me?”
“Fine, will you be mine?”
“Hm... well it depends. Does that include you giving me foot massages when I'm done running?” He nodded his head.
“Will you buy me chocolate whenever I'm craving?” He nodded his head once again.
“Will you cuddle with me when I'm watching titanic?”
“Well about that... Can it be the walking dead?
“Fine but only if you get me a jar of Nutella.”
“Deal.” He nodded his head
“Deal.” I said kissing his cheek.
“So, is it a yes?”
“No, I'm going to steal all your money and move to Australia.”
“Ha-ha very funny. Who knew my girlfriend has a sense of humor.” I smirked at him and leaned over to his ear.
“Tyler?”
“Hm?” I played with his hair and kissed the spot behind his ear.
“You better hide your damn wallet!” I jumped off his back and started running towards his bed with his credit card in my hand. I laughed out loud as I waved it in the air.
“What the—”
“How the hell won’t you not get robbed when you're so careless?” I asked between laughter. I ran around his bed when I noticed him approaching me. I was about to run towards another direction but the door slightly opened and it caught my eyes. Tyler caught me and threw me on his bed. I tried to get up but he just crawled over me, pinning me with both hands. I chuckled as I handed him his credit card.
“That was too easy.”
“Yeah, only because you were on my back like a monkey.” he rolled his eyes as he stuffed it back into his wallet.
“Will you stop calling me that. I'd prefer the silly nickname Gem over that anytime.”
“You do?”
“Well, would you like me to call you golden or Mr. Gorilla?”
“Okay, you have a point.”
“Why do you call me Gem?”
“Hm … Let's save that for another time, shall we?”
He smashed his lips onto mine and I gladly accepted his warmth, wrapping my arms around his neck. I took a chunk of his hair in my hands and gave it a slight pull. He groan
ed in satisfaction and bit my bottom lip, asking for entrance. But before I could give it to him, we heard a knock on the door.
“Tyler.”
“Yeah?” His lips made their way down my neck.
“Someone's at the door.”
“Ignore it.”
“Tyler!”
“Fine!” He got up and marched towards his door, yanking it open.
“What the hell do you wa—”
Smack!
“Don't you dare talk to your momma like that! I taught you better than that young man.” Emma hissed. I got off the bed and walked towards the door to see Tyler running the back of his neck.
“Sorry, Mom.” He raised his hands up in surrender. Emma looked at me with concern in her eyes.
“I wanted to check up on you. I know your mad at me and I get it but I had no—”
“I'm not mad, Mom. I understand what you had to do. I'm just a little—well you know … disappointed.”
I walked over to him and took a hold of his hand.
“Thank you dear for helping him.”
I shook my head. “I did nothing.”
“Mom, I'm going to spend the night at my girlfriend’s house.”
I sent him a glare but he was looking at Emma. Her face flashed a look of surprise before speaking.
“Girlfriend?” Her eyes flickered on our hands. Just when I thought she was about to pass out, she started jumping around and screaming happily.
I shoved my elbow in his rib cage, grabbing his attention.
“What?”
My eyes I pointed at his mother.
“Oh, yeah, about that. My mom always had her eyes on you.” he shrugged. “You can say that her ship has just sailed.”
“Oh.”
Emma then stopped acting like a teenage girl on her sweet sixteen who just met Justin Bieber and whipped her head towards us. “Wait a minute!”
“Did you say spend the night at her place? Oh, hell no! I am not becoming a granny too soon. I'm still young.”
My face went completely red.
“Mom you're forty-five. Your hair is as white as a cows m—OW!”
He rubbed the back of his head where Emma just smacked him. “That's child abuse.”
“You're eighteen. Why are you still living in my place, huh? You should move out and FYI, I'm thirty-six, not forty-five!”
“Emma I hope you don't mind but Tyler just wa—”
“Oh, I don't mind at all sweetie as long as you use protection.”
Oh, goodness.
“Mom, I need space and I need time to think. That’s the reason why I can't sleep here tonight.” Emma suddenly went serious.
“I understand. I just don't want you to be upset.”
“I'm fine as long as she's with me.”
“Of course. Just grab a few pairs of clothes before you leave … and maybe a box of condoms but that's none of my business.” She rushed the last part before running down the hallway and into a room. I heard Tyler chuckle before bending over to kiss my cheek.
“Could you wait in the living room while I go grab my things?” Nodding my head, I made my way down the stairs and sat on a couch. The TV was on and 21 jump street was playing so I decided to just relax and watch a bit while I waited. Suddenly I felt my phone vibrate and saw a text from Matt.
'Sup, Clare-bear. Just wanted to tell ya that theirs a party happening tomorrow at Dan's place. You have to come.'
I lifted an eyebrow and thought about it. Was it a good idea? What if Tyler would get mad? I wouldn't want to get involved in his relationship between him and his cousin but then again it was just a party. A bunch of people were going to be there and maybes I won't bump into him? But even if I did, it's not like something was going to happen. The tension was between Tyler and Dan not me and Dan.
'Uh, idk. I'll think about it.'
I then turned off my phone when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Tyler was holding a backpack which looked full and walked towards me. He pulled me towards his chest and took a hold of my face between the palm of his hands and kissed my forehead.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded my head. “Yeah.”
He looked at me for a second before lifting an eyebrow. “What's wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
He gave me a pointed look which just made me sigh out loud.
“Fine, Matt just texted me. He says that there's a party tomorrow night at Dan's place... He wants me to go.”
“Sure, why don't you?”
“Really? You don't mind?” I
“I'm not the one holding the grudge.”
“True.”
“But I'm coming with you.”
“Yeah, of course. You wouldn't want your drunk girlfriend to be swept away by some handsome jock.”
“Not funny.”
“Oh, it is.” I turned on the lights, ignoring Tyler's threats to kill any handsome jock who comes my way. Rolling my eyes, I decided to sit down in the living room before making my way upstairs to sleep. “Would you like something to drink?” I asked as I walked into the kitchen and grabbed two cups.
“Water is fine.”
After filling in two glasses of water, I handed one over to Tyler who just sat on my couch watching me. I sat next to him and looked down at my cup. I leaned over and rested on his chest, looking over at the now turned on TV.
“Do you think this will work out?” I asked. “I mean, us?” Tyler wrapped his arms around me.
“Of course it will. I know it will.”
“Besides we made a deal. You can't leave me now.”
“That's not how relationships work.”
“I don't care how they work. You're mine.”
“Okay, Mr. Caveman.”
I rolled my eyes before yawning. “Come on. Let's go to bed.”
He held my hand and we walked upstairs into my room and into my closet. I took a hold of a pair of shorts and a large T-shirt that Tyler gave me.
“I'll change in the bathroom. You can change here,” I said.
He opened his bag and took out a pair of boxers. Five minutes later, I had all my makeup removed and changed into comfortable clothes. Finally! I walked out of the bathroom and noticed Tyler placing his bag in my closet. Ignoring the urges to stare at his muscular bare back, I got under the covers and turned off the light coming from my lamp. Tyler then crawled in with me and pulled me to his chest.
“This is a dream come true,” he mumbled.
“Huh?”
“Nothing. Just go to sleep.”
“Hm.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Gem.”
Chapter 44
I woke up to hear Tyler mumbling in their sleep. Twitching my nose as I tried to ignore it, I turned around and tried to pull away but he pulled me back towards his chest. Shifting to make myself comfortable, I sighed as I felt my body go numb. But then suddenly I heard a sound which made the person behind me growl quietly and shove their face into my neck. I opened one eye but Immediately closed it when I was met with the shiny bright light of the sun shining through my window. Letting out a grumble, I cursed myself because I didn't close the curtains last night.
I simply turned around and shoved my face into his chest, keeping the light away from my face. I felt his arms around me tightened. It was quiet for another couple of seconds before it went on once again. I groaned as I forced my eyes to open once again and was met with a bare chest. Lifting an eyebrow, I looked up to see a sleeping Tyler next to me.
I was about to close my eyes when I heard the doorbell rang. How could someone had the nerves to ruin my slumber?
I pulled away slowly, trying not to wake Tyler up but I guess he had other ideas in mind because he pulled me back and threw one leg over my hip. Really? Letting out a huff, I tried to move his leg off of me quietly but that didn't seem to work because he wouldn't budge. I then placed my hands on his chest and pushed him away with all my might. Letting out a breath of
relief when I was able to create some kind of distance between us, I was about to get up when his arms wrapped around my waist.
Again? How the hell is he doing all this in his sleep?
Tyler grumbled a couple of words which were unclear and hid his face in my neck. Now yes this was pretty comfortable and I wished I could stay like this all day but someone was ringing on my doorstep and wouldn't leave me alone if I didn't answer. But no, Tyler was too clingy. Was he always like this in his sleep? If I didn't know better, I would have thought that he just liked to cuddle.
Maybe I should get him a teddy bear to fix that problem.
“Tyler.” I hissed pulling away.
I pushed Tyler off of the damn bed.
Hearing a thud, I was expecting Tyler to get off the floor confused, asking me why his head hurt badly. But after a while of silence, I lifted my eyebrow and crawled to the edge of the bed only to see Tyler snoring on the floor.
What the hell? How was he not affected by that?
Deciding to ignore my attempts to wake him up, I rubbed my eyes so that I could wake up and walked out if my room. I was cursing in my head as I walked down the stairs. Whoever was trying to disturb me and my beauty sleep was going to get a piece of my mind. Once I was in front of my front door, I yanked the door open in a rough matter.
“Why the hell are you waking me up so early in the morning!” I yelled crankily at Matt.
He lifted an eyebrow and looked at the time in his wrist watch while his other hand was holding a white bag.
“It's 12 PM.”
“Still you're disturbing my peaceful sleep you a**hole. Now tell me what do you want?”
“Well, I'm glad you are all sunshine and gummy bears this morning.”
“Just spill.”
Matt them raised his arms up in surrender. “Okay, sleeping beauty.” He handed me over the white bag. “Here take this.”
“What's in it?” I asked, taking a hold of it.
“I told you yesterday that you better come to the party tonight and knowing you, you will come up with some silly excuse of you not having the appropriate outfit. So, Jasmine picked out an outfit for you.”
“Why are you so persistent in me coming?” I asked, looking into the bag to see a short jean skirt and a black crop top. I had to say that Jasmine's taste in clothes were good. I bet I'd look nice in them.