CLOUDS ✓

𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐓𝐖𝐎

      It was just after sunrise when Steve woke her. They had stopped at some random hotel last night to get some sleep before continuing their trip the next morning. With some drive-through breakfast from McDonald's, they made their way towards the highway. "You wanna listen to some music?" He didn't answer, he just kept driving as if she hadn't said anything. 

      "Steve." She nudged him in the shoulder. "Hm? Oh, yeah, sure." Irritated, she turned on the radio and connected her phone. 

      Bella had noticed his change of behavior first thing in the morning. He wasn't his usual self, always talking and being funny with her. Instead, he was very quiet and seemed deep in thought. What she didn't know though, was the reason behind all this. When Steve woke up, he found himself in a very close position to her. She was all cuddled up in his arms, their legs were intertwined, and all he could smell was the flowery scent of her hair. It was hard for him to let go at that moment because let's face it, he didn't want to. He actually let himself think they were a couple for a minute. That's where his mind wandered off to all morning.

      "Seriously, what's up with you? You've been acting all weird." Her voice was filled with concern, she was genuinely worried. He sighed. "I didn't sleep well," he simply responded. He took a left turn and sped up, shifting into fourth gear. "Are you sure?" Steve simply nodded and kept staring at the road. Bella frowned and pressed her lips together as she turned to look outside the window. Why was he lying? 

      She took out her phone and put on the 40s' playlist from yesterday. Maybe that'll cheer him up, she thought. It did. His lips curled up in a slight smile as he started to hum along. 

      The first two hours passed, and they still didn't talk. Just when they stopped for gas. He simply asked her if she wanted anything and she said some chocolate would be nice. It was fine for Bella, she had turned her windowpane down and leaned out of it to watch the clouds while eating the chocolate bar Steve had bought for her. Steve didn't mind either, he was busy thinking about this morning anyway. He couldn't help but think that he owed her an explanation. They usually told each other everything, so why not this? He was torn, just thinking about him telling her made him anxious. She'd surely ask questions. Oh, screw it, he thought.

      They approached a red light. Clearing his throat, he looked at her. Her head jerked towards him, a questioning look on her face. When she met his gaze, her eyebrows shot up. "Yes?" Was she mad? "I'm sorry," he finally said. The light went green, and he continued his drive. "About what?" Bella slid back into the car and closed her window. "Lying." She nodded. "It's okay," she said with a smile. So she wasn't mad, he thought. Good. "You clearly didn't want to tell me, that's okay you know." With a smile, she started playing with the end of her braided hair. "No, that's the thing. I want to tell ya. It's just... weird." He shot her a glance before turning back to look at the road. "O-kay? You know, you can tell me anything, right?" He nodded and sighed. "Yeah, I know." He rang with himself. This really wasn't even that bad, why'd he make such a big deal out of this?

      "You don't have to tell me, Steve." She smiled at him. "I feel like I do, though," he mumbled. His cheeks warmed up a bit, and Bella noticed the rosy tone on them. My god, she thought. That looked adorable. "Fine, then what is it? Did I do something? Oh god, I didn't snore, did I?" He chuckled as her face now went beat red in embarrassment. "No," he then said. "You didn't snore." Relieved, she put her cold hands up to cool off her cheeks. "Thank god," she mumbled under her breath. 

      "We just woke up kinda... cuddling." He cleared his throat again and went to look at anything but her. "Oh." She didn't expect that. She thought, maybe she had talked in her sleep or something. But they just cuddled. Was it so bad to cuddle with her? Pressing her lips together, she averted her eyes. "Yeah," Steve said quietly. "Oh," she whispered to herself. 

      The song changed. With the tunes of 'My Girl' by The Temptations, they drove down the road. Steve couldn't help but smile at the lyrics. Oh, to imagine she was his girl. Without even noticing,  he began to sing along. It was a 60s' song, but ever since Sam made him listen to Marvin Gaye, he really enjoyed the music of the 60s' and 70s'. 

     Bella smiled as she heard the song. Oh, to be his girl. She put her arms to rest on the windowsill as she looked up into the sky imagining, what it would be like to date him. She'd imagine him taking her on picnic dates in the park or driving on his motorcycle together. Or him bringing her flowers every time he went on another mission, so she'd have something to think of him when he wasn't there with her. She sighed. If only he'd like her the way she did.

      "Hey, wanna play song guessing again?" 

      Ripping her out of thought, she nodded. "Let's get something to eat first, though. I'm starving." Said and done, about half an hour later, the car was parked in the parking lot of a diner. While Bella went to the restroom, Steve ordered them some shakes and fries. He had seen this in a movie he'd seen with Bella and thought this was the perfect moment to try it out. 

      With a huge smile on her face, she dipped the fry into her shake. Steve had made a great choice. "So," she began after swallowing her food. "Do you plan on driving the whole four days? Ya know, I have a license, too." He chuckled. "You do? How come I've never seen you drive?" She shrugged. "Because every time we hang out, we're already at the place." Dipping her next fry in Steve's shake, she looked at him. "Plus, you would never let me drive your motorcycle anyway, so I never asked." He opened his mouth but closed it again when Bella put her fry in his mouth. She chuckled at his reaction. "Please?" He rolled his eyes and swallowed the food.

      "Fine, you can drive."

      That statement lasted for about ten minutes. After she had run two red lights in a row, convinced she'd make it, he made her pull over. "Remind me to never let ya drive again," he said as they switched seats. Pouting, she let herself fall into the passenger's seat, not even bothering to put the seatbelt on. Steve sighed and reached over. Holding her breath, she watched as he took the seatbelt and put it on her. He was so close to her she could count the green specks in his eyes. Gulping, he moved back in his seat and started the engine. 

      "So, how about that game?"

      Steve was still terrible at it. After several hours of playing, he got one song. One! He had taken a whole of five minutes and several tips from Bella to guess it, too. "I'm telling Sam!" She laughed. "Oh, don't you dare!" She shook her head. "Don't threaten me, Steven. What are ya gonna do if I tell'em? Lecture me?" He grinned. "I got some dirt on ya too, Isabella!" She chuckled. "Like what?" He didn't even think for a second before he answered. "Like that one time, you hacked into Friday's system and-" He was cut short by Bella, who now threw her hands up in surrender. "Okay! Okay, you win! I won't snitch on ya."

      Taking a right turn, they were now on a country road. Big trees left and right, they continued their drive towards Delacroix, Lousiana. Both of them in their thought again and how much they wished for the other to be theirs.