Following the Rules

Chapter 39

I was rinsing off the butter and salt residue of the popcorn bowl when Sawyer and Kaylee started arguing again. As if the whole pumpkin disaster wasn't enough to give me a heart attack. Less than an hour ago they'd childishly started throwing popcorn at each other, that was after the whole competition to see who was better at throwing the seeds into whose mouth. Now it appeared they were fighting over the blanket, pulling it back and forth until Kaylee suddenly let go. Sawyer went sailing onto the floor, barely missing the coffee table.

"Stai cercando di uccidermi?!" Sawyer said in Italien, the words rushing out so quickly I couldn't begin to imagine where one word started and the other ended.

Translation: Are you trying to kill me?!

"I'm guessing that means I can have the blanket?" Kaylee asked with mock innocence.

"Sei fottutamente pazza!" He said as he pulled himself to his feet.

Translation: You're fucking crazy!

He frowned deeply at her, crossing his arms over his chest.

I started to wonder if she'd done it this time, if all that play fighting was real now.

"L'unico modo per farti sorridere ć attraversoil mio dolore. Ho avuto la sensazione che tu fossi un Dominatrice." He said. There was a firm but warm look in his eyes. His voice was even more difficult to decipher, it was frustrated, maybe even irritated, but softer in the beginning.

Translation: The only way to make you smile is through my pain. I had a feeling you were a Dominatrix.

"Don't yell at me in languages I don't understand!" Kaylee growled.

He grinned smugly, leaning over her with his arms crossed. "Tesoro."

She let out a gurgled scream of frustration as I turned and walked back into the living room cautiously. Anywhere these two were quickly turned into a war zone lately. Before I could blink, something else would start.

"It's past midnight, we should all get some sleep." I suggested. I silently sent up a prayer to whoever was listening, crossing my fingers in the hope that I wouldn't have to clean up any more messes before getting a good nights sleep. I'd been up early for my classes and had to make a quick stop at daddy's work, now it was late and I really just wanted to sleep.

Sawyer smiled sweetly at me. "Whatever you want, babe."

That darned word again. I guess I shouldn't be so disappointed, he was putting in effort, if not in words, he showed them with his actions. Those roses were a very nice surprise. The pancakes covered in fruit were very thoughtful. I just had to remind myself that he wasn't use to this whole couple thing.

"Good night Kay." I said softly, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. She scrunched up her face and looked at me like I'd just smeared something down her forehead.

Sawyer laughed quietly behind me, then pressed a teasing kiss to her cheek. She glared daggers at both of us as we took a step back, her brown eyes promising murder.

"What the fuck was that?" She asked harshly.

"Good night Kaylee," I said grabbing Sawyer's hand and rushing for the bed room before another arguement could break out. Sometimes I forgot how much she hated being mothered. Part of me always took on that role around her because I knew how her real mother treated her before she died. Maybe I was trying to make up for what she never had, I don't know.

"This whole sleeping arrangement," Sawyer said gesturing between us and the bed. "If I'm going to be staying in here regularly, some of this pink has to go."

I tried not to express the way my heart was lurching out of my chest. He couldn't have known how important each and every thing in my room was. Everything had a story, a purpose. It was mine and I held all of my things very dearly. But maybe I wasn't being fair, after all, this wasn't just my room anymore. This wasn't just my house. We were suppose to be sharing everything.

I nodded slowly, twisting my hands together at the thought of letting anything go. "Okay.. yes, that's good. Rules, that's what we should have. If we're going to be living together, we should have rules. Every couple has them."

I looked around, then remembered the large marker board I used for a calender. Sawyer watched me dig it out of my walk in closet and set it up near the window on the other side of the room. I grabbed my pink and red marker, taking the former and giving him the latter.

Rules.

Yes, this is what we need.

No sleeping with other girls. I wrote in the top corner of the board. Chewing my bottom lip, I looked to him for confirmation.

He nodded, un-capping the red marker. No sexual surprises. He wrote below the first rule. "I'd rather not have your tongue in my ear again, or be in any similar situation."

My face turned bright red. The blush spread to my throat and down my neck. He was right though, we needed to talk about those sort of things before either of us just went ahead and did them. No drinking before six p.m. I added.

"Ahh--"

"Don't be silly, this is reasonable."

He sighed, nodded and quickly added another. Nothing too lovey dovey.

My brows crinkled at the last rule. I suppose not all guys were comfortable with expressing themselves.

"What else?" He asked.

"We can think of more as we go along." I suggested. I gathered my pajamas and walked to the ensuite bathroom. "You can get dressed in the closet, I'll be out in a moment."

I changed in the bathroom, brushed my teeth and washed my face, then returned to the bedroom. To my horror, Sawyer was standing there in his underwear, pulling back the comforter on the bed. I let out a quiet scream, quickly covering my eyes.

"What?" He asked in alarm.

"New rule!" I said rushing over to the marker board, my eyes still mostly covered. "Wear pajamas to bed."

"Okay, I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault.." I said nervously. "I think.. I think we're just too nervous around each other. Everything is still new."

"I have no problem with taking things slow." He assured. "Hell, I'm good with snails pace."

"No.. I want to get over this, I think.. Well maybe we should kiss some more." I said bashfully as I approached. "I think that would help."