Safe Haven

9

ISABELLA

"come on, try again"

He blinked a couple of times before calming his breathing. I almost laughed at how comically he was acting but he looked so serious. I feel like if I laughed he would cry and die of embarrassment. Not that I would mind that though.

"Hi, I'm Shawn" his dimples showed when he smiled. "Can you please move?"

I grinned widely and pinched his cheeks. We're at my place and he didn't have classes today. I told him that I would be teaching him about his school activities but I figured that we could slip in some social lessons. Not that I know much but his stuttering needs to be fixed.

"Can w-we take a break M-Miss—"

"ah, ah" I tutted. "I told you not to call me that anymore right?"

He nodded and I can't help but sigh. If Simon would see us now, he would say that we're like a mother hen and baby chick. I guess I do look a bit snobby so I would understand his first few mistakes of calling me Miss but come on, he slept here already.

"Are you perhaps not comfortable with me?"

He looked up and shook his head. "it's not that, i-it's just.."

"Just what?"

"You're my first friend"

"Oh" did I sound disappointed? "well as your friend, wouldn't it be the norm to just be comfortable with each other?"

He didn't say anything. I guess he isn't really the sociable one.

"Well how about this, we use nicknames?"

"W-What?"

"Nicknames, for example, I'll call you Shawnie" He looked at me. "Cringe, I know but I'll be working on that"

He hummed and seemed to be thinking of a nickname, I'm just hoping that he won't make something as embarrassing as the one I did for him. Simon would tease the hell out of me if he ever heard Shawn call me—

"Bella"

"What?"

"Bella" he repeated. "It's from your name and it m-means pretty"

I shrugged and smiled. "Alright, Bella it is"

He smiled brightly and I averted my gaze. This boy is too bright for my lightly dimmed room, he could literally light up the whole street because of his smile. I wonder how he don't have any friends though, he seems nice.

"How's your bruises?" I asked. "And is it just me or you have more?"

He hid his arm a bit and squeezed it. "N-No, they're healing fine"

"Okay" I dropped the subject. He didn't seem ready to talk about it yet. "Are you going to study now?"

"Yeah" he pulled out his book and notebook from his bag. "C-Can I just ask you about something if i-it's too hard?"

"Sure, whatever" I stood up and sat down in front of my computer. "just make sure to make your presence known, I'll be playing for a while"

"I'll make us some snacks"

He walked to the kitchen and roamed around, probably to cook something. He seemed to be really comfortable in the house. Like it's his home and I don't mind another human staying here like this, Simon is great too of course but this seemed better.

**

"Fuck" I muttered.

I removed my headset and was about to grab a cookie that Shawn placed beside me earlier when I realized that they're all out. Cara nuzzled my feet and I glanced at the clock, it was already 5pm. I looked back at Shawn only to find him dozing off on top of his papers.