A Car Ride Home

F E E L

P r e v i o u s l y

Al held her through it all. Together they sat on the couch. Al tucked her head under his chin with her legs curled up, and just held her. Eventually the tears stopped and the soft sounds of sleep emitted from Lilly. Al didn't know if he she should stay on the couch, or put her to bed, but one thing was clear; he didn't want to leave her.

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Lilly had never felt so whole waking up. She snuggled closer into the warm solid figure beside her, and breathed in the smell of pine. When she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Al. She was snuggling with Al. His arm is draped behind her has a barrier for her neck, and his his head is leaning onto the arm of the couch. He is still very much asleep. He has never been alseep when I'm awake, Lilly realized. I wonder how long it's been since he just slept in. She didn't want to wake him, and was afraid moving would do that, so instead she watched the way he easily breathed in and out, having peace in his dreams. His lashes leaving a light shadow. His face looks so much healthier than the first time she saw him. He has light stubble along his face and neck. His hair has gotten a bit shaggy, but it looks really good on him. 

He is a handsome man, but he is so much more than that. He is kind, strong, funny. She could go on and on. After years of focusing on work or school, someone had done it. Someone had wiggled their way past Lilly's many walls guarding her heart, and that terrified her. 

"Good morning, Angel," Al whispered, breaking the calm silence. Lilly had grown use to Al calling her that every now and then, but that didn't mean the nam affected her any less. Heat rushed to her cheeks.

When she didn't say anything in return, Al turned to her, only to find flushed cheeks of Lilly. He was about to comment on it, when he smelt something burning. "Oh, crap!" He exclaimed, trying to carefully climb over Lilly has he rushed to the oven, which was still on. Inside was a very black very charcoaled  lasagna. He had complete forgotten. He had never burned a dish before in his whole life.

Lilly watched has Al stood over the burnt dish scratching his head, and laughed. "I think it's safe to say, its done," she continued.

Al just smiled, and came up with a wicked idea, "Yep, and the first bite is for you," he stated, pulling a cutting knife out of the wood block and carving out a piece. "Come on. I want you to taste," he smiled.

 "Sorry, but that fire starter is not getting passed these lips," she announced, but then he took a step forward with the bite. "Oh, no," she called, before running down the hall with a chuckling Al following her. She reached her bedroom door, and tried to turn and close it, but she was too late. Al's foot was already in place to stop the door from closing, and she yelped laughter emitting from her.

Al walked into the room, and found a giggling Lilly standing in the middle of her bed with a pillow high above her head, ready to fire. "Come at me," she called, trying to sound deadly, but her smile was too wide to achieve such a feat.

"For burnt Lasagna!" Al cried, running towards Lilly, who started swinging the pillow. Lilly kept hitting the pillow against Al's back, but it did nothing. She ended up on her back with Al leaning over her, the burnt piece in his hand. "Lilly, do you accept your fate?" He asked, smirking.

"Never," she laughed.

"Do you have any last words before you consume this?" Al continued.

Lilly struggled, and called, "Freedom!" Al knew the reference well, from Brave Heart, and lost his composure. She did it perfectly, and he had not been expecting it. He let out a roar of laughter, and Lilly escaped easily.  Al's laughing settled, and he looked over at the grinning Lilly, who had already thrown away the piece from Al's clutches.

He gazed at her, and the thoughts he had been fighting, since the moment he heard her little speech in her car, came to the surface. He didn't realize he had been staring for far too long.

Al eyes held emotions that she didn't know if she was ready for, just yet. He hadn't said anything and the longer he gave her that look the harder it would be for her to deny him, and in turn herself. "Al," Lilly stuttered, trying to force him back to her. 

"Lilly," his deep voice spoke her name, and as though she was the sun and the moon. 

Al watched Lilly's features carefully, as he slowly moved towards. He knew he was being selfish, but he couldn't take it. He wanted to be with her. He was through with being her roommate. He saw the way her brows came together in confusion, but it wasn't confusion at all.

Lilly didn't dare move as Al came closer. She felt his warmth, the same solid comfort that held her last night and this morning, and she didn't want him to stop. She wanted to feel safe, supported. She wanted to feel loved, and complete. She was done letting life happen around her. She wanted to feel. 

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T o   b e   c o n t i n u e d . . .