𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ━━ 𝘨𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘱 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭

𝟬𝟮𝟰. without the benefits

【 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ━━ 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 】

𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿, too be or not too be
𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 - 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆.
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HEARING THE OBNOXIOUS LOUD ring of my phone, I groan. Taking it from my nightstand, picking up without checking the caller idea, "Hello?" I ask, "Good morning," a family voice greets, "and can you talk? Like really talk?" Tom asks.

Rubbing my eyes I hum, "Uhm, yeah. Just, my dad is here." I inform the boy, "He is?" he asks surprised, "He made his way over." I nod, even though he can't see that.

After a silent he takes a deep breath, "It can wait." he says softly, "You sure?" I question, "Yeah, I'm going to Chuck this afternoon." he tells me, "Why do I have the feeling that's not all?" I ask him.

"My father is marrying Lily." he blurts out. Making me sit up, "Serena's mom?" I ask for clarification, "Yeah." he confirms, "Are we mad? Or are we happy?" I ask him, "We are confused." he informs me. Laying back, "She's nice." I try.

Hearing him chuckle softly I can already imagine the forced smile, "I know, but I don't want her to replace my mom." he replies, "No one is replacing your mother." I deny, "She might. Lily's different than any other woman my father has been with."

"She might be something real." he admits. Biting my lip I look up my ceiling, "Is that so bad?" I ask, "I don't know." he trails off. Letting my lip go, "Isn't it good to have a female in your life?" I offer.

"You are here." Thomas replies.

Making me raise my brows, "Did you just compare me to your mother?" I tease, amused, "No." he says quickly, "I did. But I didn't mean it like that. Just- I-" he stutters.

Making me laugh softly, "I'm just messing with you, Thomas." I smile. Hearing him take a deep breath. The smile doesn't leave, "Happy early New Years, Val."

"You too."

"I still have your present at my place."

"What?" I ask confused, "I didn't get you anything." I realise, sitting up, "Doesn't matter." he denies. Hearing a knock, I look up, "I can bring it." Tom offers, "Okay." I nod, "See you in a bit." he says, ending the call.

Smiling softly at the woman standing by the door, she further opens the door, "Good morning, Miss Valerie. There is a boy for you." Dorota informs me.

"Good morning, I will be down in a minute." I step out of bed. Quickly getting dressed, I shake my hair out. Before running down the stairs, "Hey." I smile.

"Hey." William smiles back, "Come up!" I wave. Holding out a bag for me, my brows furrow, "It's a Christmas present. Don't worry, I kept a budget." he reassures.

Taking it, I hold out his. Sitting on my bed, we both open the present. Revealing Jude the Obscure one of Thomas Hardy masterpieces, "Open it." I encourage. Doing so, another one of the man's masterpieces is revealed The Return of the Native.

"Great minds think alike." he hums, "'Why is it that a woman can see from a distance what a man cannot see close?'" quoting the book I just gifted him.

"Read it before?" I ask. Where he nods at, "Read it?" he asks back, "You can never have too much Hardy." I shrug, "True." he hums in agreement.

An uncharacteristic silence falling between the two, "Want to read the first chapter?" I offer. Where he nods to, both opening the book. As I start the book, the oldest Humphrey glances at the girl seated closely.

An unexpected turn of events, we started to lean in. When the door opens, I push the boy off the bed. Earning a groan from him, "Tom?" I ask. Said boy having seen the scene, "Did I interrupt?" he questions.

"No." we say in unison. Nodding he places the box down, "The present." he informs me. As William sits down on my bed, the youngest Bass leaves, "You give each other presents?" the boy questions.

"We're friends." I nod, smacking my lips together. Where he raises a brow at, "I have seen Gossip Girl, you two aren't just friends." he denies. Shifting my gaze to him, "I never said we were just friends. I said we are friends." I stand up, "Besides what's going on between Tom and I, is between Tom and I."

"I didn't mean to intrude." he says slowly. Where I shake my head at, "It's just complicated." I sigh. As he stands up, "Hey, I get it." he tells me. Wrapping his arms around me, "Just tell me when you're good and ready."

"I will." I nod. Looking up at him, he leans closer. Looking down he rests his forehead on mine, "I want to say I'm ready. But I'm not ready for you, yet."