Frozen Heart

Chapter 8 ~ "I Really Need Some Extra Practice"

Nik

I was on top of the damn world, after last night I felt like I could deal with absolutely any challenge life wanted to throw at me. I had Grace and she wanted me, the way I was, cracks and all. 

No girl had ever tried so hard to make me happy, to get me to be honest with her. I was barely used to girls just being my friends, having that person to call when it felt like the world could crumble down around you. That was Grace, totally amazing in all of these different ways.

I squint my eyes open after one of the most restful nights of sleep I've ever had, trying to reach out to my nightstand. But I stop when I realize two things, none of the things on the nightstand were mine, and that I couldn't reach it because someone was laying on my arm. 

I open my eyes fully and look around the room, I was still at Grace's. I look beside me and sure enough she was here, tucked in right next to me. I start to worry if anyone had noticed I was missing, I may go out to anywhere I want for all hours of the night, but I never usually stayed over on school nights.

But at the same time I felt happy. I felt a sense of accomplishment about the fact that I'd actually slept next to her all night. I told her last night that I never could, but she was different. I didn't hate myself when we were together, I actually felt like the best version of me. I'd never spent time in a bed with a girl where it didn't immediately lead to sex.

I felt the need to have her close all the time, this friend stuff sucked but I knew she was the sort of girl that wanted to take things slow. And after almost three and a half years of fast, maybe slow was good.

I look around her room and I can't help but think it seems strange. It doesn't really feel lived in the way other peoples' rooms do, but I suppose she's only been here for six weeks. I look around at her pictures of her family and her bookcase that's absolutely packed. I noticed what looked like a record player on the shelf on the other side of her room. Most girls who owned those thought they were special or different, but hers looked old and I didn't see any records with it. That told me right then that it was here for a different reason.

I needed to leave and get home to get changed. I missed the gym this morning and I knew that somebody was probably wondering where I was. I don't know what prompts me to do it but I lean over and kiss the top of her head, sliding my arm out from under her. She stirs slightly and turns to look at me, squinting her eyes open.

"What are you doing here?" She asks with a small laugh.

"I fell asleep here." I mumble and she sits up, stretching out. 

"Well I'm glad my room had space for a queen bed." She says and I chuckle. I reach under me, feeling a pillow dig into my side but instead I pull out a bear. It was old, that type of bear someone owned for their whole life. It was light brown and fluffy, it was actually pretty cute.

"I didn't know we were having a threesome." I laugh and her cheeks turn red. "Who's this?" I ask and she rolls her eyes, taking the bear in her hands.

"This is bear-bear." She mumbles. "He's been my bear since my dad started going on peace missions. He gave him to me when I was nine, said to hug it when I missed him." She says and I feel my heart turn soft. That was the cutest thing I'd ever heard.

"Well then I'm sorry I crushed him all night." I tell her with a laugh and she smiles. 

"It'll all good." She assures me, putting him on her nightstand. "It's pretty embarrassing isn't it? I don't know anyone who still has their stuffed animals." 

"Well he's all special and everything." I say with a shrug. "It's not that weird, I hooked up with a girl once who had an ant farm." I tell her and then want to kick myself for just saying that.