𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 || baxter radic (discontinued)

20.

𝒋𝒐𝒔𝒉'𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒗

I haven't packed a single thing into my suitcase. I've been begging Stella to let me for the past three hours, but instead she's meticulously putting things neatly into my suitcase. It's honestly kind of heartwarming to watch. She cares so much about everything that she does. She puts her all into even brushing her teeth. She makes a game out of it. God, why is she so perfect.

"You should bring this." She holds up a shirt that I haven't worn in months. Mostly because it's spent half the time at Stella's house on her body. But my suitcase can barely fit anything else in it. If anything she should shove it in hers. But I don't argue that with her. No way I'm forcing myself into a war with invisible daggers.

"Okay Buttercup." I agree as she neatly already has the shirt tucked into my bag. I don't think I have one piece of clothing left in my closet and I have no idea how she's made it all fit. She was a master at everything. Literally, everything. Biggest one being a pain in my ass, but I digress.

"Can you check over the list to make sure I didn't miss anything?" She hands me a notebook with everything I could need in a damn apocalypse. Each little bullet marked with a check if it's packed. Nothing is missed. But that's just the suitcase. She's got a whole other list for my carry on.

"You're cute." I smile at her as I move to sit behind her to rub her shoulders. She leans into it, dipping her head forward in pleasure.

"Thank you." She mumbles under her breath. It's clear she's had a long day. We were leaving tomorrow and she's packed her whole life up three days ago. I'm a procrastinator. I can't help it. I would have just thrown stuff into my suitcase and dealt with the consequences later. She deserved a good payment after doing all this work for me.

"Mom's making us a good meal." She drops her head back against the bed, nearly whacking me in the crotch. I quickly catch her head before it hits, sliding back before letting her head fall against the bed. "Hello." I chuckle.

"I'm going to miss family dinners." She groans and pouts her lips. Which I lean over and plant a kiss to her lips to combat the issue she's facing.

"We get family dinners with your family now." I chuckle, running my thumb along her cheek.

"That means eating out every night." She sticks her tongue out and makes an icky noise. "I hate eating out."

"You're so particular." I bop her nose. "Well, we can cook together then. I've learned all the tricks from my Momma." I smile at her. Honestly, thinking about cooking a meal with her sounds nice. Yeah, it might suck, but I wouldn't mind spending more time with her—connecting with her.

"I'd like that." She smiles as she zips up both my suitcase and carry on. "Is it almost dinner time? I'm starving."

I call out to my mom who comes strolling into my room. Of course I could have walked to ask her, but leaving my girl, that is something I didn't want to do. I'm attached, sue me.

"What's up?" She pokes her head in my door. I question about dinner which thankfully is done. If it would have been any longer I might have had to deal with a hangry Stella. No one wants that, not even her.

She savors every bite of my mom's cooking. She literally takes what feels like hours to down the contents. She taking the smallest bites ever and I swear it makes me want to force it into her. But I refrain, getting lost in conversation with my parents.

Despite being exhausted, Stella doesn't sleep. She tosses and turns all night, which keeps me up. By the time we make it to the airport we're two exhausted people ready to actually die. Having to navigate flying for the next day wasn't something either of us wanted to do, but we had to. Thankfully, we get some sleep on the plane, but it's not without baby screams that we try to drown out with music. We watch a movie together, which Stella hates but I love. Very typical. When she's tired she nitpicks everything. So that's what I was dealing with.

She only eats snacks she's brought onto the plane. She doesn't actually put any real substance into her body. She actually almost gags as she watches me eat the airplane food. My little drama queen.

After too long spent flying in a hunk of metal floating in the air, we finally make it to the place she calls home. Well, almost home. We still have a way too long car drive, which I end up sleeping through. And when I wake, Stella is asleep in my lap as well.  At least I wasn't the only one exhausted. Though, I really wish she would wake because the anxiety is starting to fill me. They had ordered a driver to pick us up from the airport so I have still yet to meet the family.

"Buttercup." I shake her, and she shoots up startled by the action. "I think we're here."

She looks out the window before looking back at me. "Definitely here." I look out the window myself before pushing the door open and filing out of the car. It's not what I expect, though I wasn't really sure what I expected.

"Stella!" A voice I've heard on speaker quite a few times fills my ears as I turn to see my girlfriend being swept up into someone else's arms. Honestly at this point, take her I need to adjust to this new environment. This was all a lot to take in. "Introduce me." The girl's excitement is evident but I was drained and not in the mood for it.

"This is Josh. Josh this is Joey. Do not call her Josephine she will attempt to bite your head off." Stella warns. Note taken. Even though I loved to push buttons I wasn't sure if I wanted to risk losing my head for a joke.

"That's right!" She holds her hand out to shake, but I only get pulled into the tightest squeeze I think I've ever experienced in my life. "Hurt my best friend and your dick I'll be chopped off in your sleep." She whispers so Stella can't hear. But I'm sure she knows exactly what her best friend's got on her mind.

"Duly noted." I nod my head as I peal myself from her body. I'm then greeted by her parents. It goes much smoother. There are no threats, just warm smiles and welcomes as they help us inside.

"You can stay with Stella or in a guest room. Whatever you prefer we don't mind." They point in different directions as they name out the options. "Just let us know and we can move your things there. You deserve to rest for the day." They smile and take off deeper into the house.

Stella gives me a half ass tour before ending us at her room. The house is definitely big, too many rooms for not many people. But it wasn't anything fancy. It wasn't like the mansions you see all the big stars in. It fit the style of Stella. Big ego, but not big style. I kind of loved it. It made the house feel more homey. There weren't stark white walls everywhere with a lacking sense of lived in. This house has definitely been lived in. It definitely had character. And I could definitely get used to living here for the next month.