AT A STAGNANT PACE, THEIR
FACES SEPARATED, EYES
REMAINING LOCKED.

"Woah," Corpse breathed out, his hands still comfortable on her hip bones.

Eden blushed wildly, grinning at him. It was almost two A.M.

"Thanks for asking. Most guys don't do that anymore," she teased, stroking his cheek with her thumb. His fingers went numb at her touch.

A low chuckle left his swollen lips. "It should be normalized, don't praise me, princess," he sighed.

She hummed at the nickname, wanting to press their lips together again just from the way it rolled off of his tongue—like it was meant to be there.

"We gotta get home, yeah?" His sentence tore her out of zoning out, bringing her back to reality.

Her eyes batted, "Really? But I've had so much fun."

"Sleep over then. Get even with me."

The suggestion brought a smirk to her lips, and she tilted her head to the side to consider the offer. Her weight still rested comfortably in his lap.

"I will, but I'm gonna want a shower first."

"All good with me." Corpse's hair was drying with the night breeze, but the atmosphere was only growing colder. Stars burned, the celestial beings lighting up the corners of the sky.

After a few more minutes of conversation, they grabbed their things and hopped into the car. The heat cranked up, and they drove all the way to his apartment.

"yellow is the color of her eyes" played while she fumbled with the hand of his that wasn't driving, picking at the nail polish before it got the chance to flake off.

Her eyes would innocently watch him from the side as he drove along, growing off the happiness that radiated off of him. It seemed like the most joyful he had been in a while.

"Your hair is very curly when it dries, isn't it?" she questioned during the time the city grew closer and closer.

"Yeah, I got really curly hair. Yours is straight, hm?" he replied, glimpsing over at her. Instead of answering, she just nodded, wrapping the extra jacket from his trunk tighter around her body.

Finally, they pulled into a parking lot, quick to head up to his apartment. Once they entered, he turned the heat up temporarily and let her shower. She had to admit, his apartment was much cleaner than she could've imagined. It was spacious, and in their part of town, that meant he was decently wealthy.

She wore her extra pair of clothes she packed when she got out, walking out into his living room and passing him; he was showering directly after her.
Noticing there was a record player under the TV, Eden curiously pranced over, grabbing the first one she saw to start it.

After she finally figured out how to work it, the beginning notes of a song she had never heard played. It sounded way too energetic for the mood, though the starting lyric began as she stopped it. Whoever was singing it had an awfully deep voice, almost like the man she was staying with.

Knowing he was probably going to be out of the shower in a few minutes, she dimmed the lights and grabbed the pre-rolled blunt out of her bag, leaving one for Corpse as well. The window by his couch opened, and as soon the joint was lit, its aroma flowed out into the night.

Only a few seconds later, the man came out in a large hoodie and some loose boxers, fluffy socks on his feet. He realized what she was doing, ruffling his hair and walking over.

He sat next to her on the sectional couch, grabbing the weed from hand. It burned when he breathed it the first time, but it quickly became much more natural. The smoke leaving his lips brought her attention to his mouth, enjoying the way his throat looked when he tilted his head up to exhale.

"You're watching me," he mocked her words from earlier in the night. It was almost 3:30 in the morning.

"You got a problem with it? Because I don't know think you do." The cockiness in her response came as no surprise, only making both of them blush under the dull lights.

"We gotta get some sleep, Eden," he ushered her after moments of giggling like fools. Her eyes were now tinted crimson, hinting at the state of her sobriety.

"Sing to me," she demanded, watching while he threw out the remains of their smoke session.

"I don't sing." Immediately after he spoke, he chuckled, knowing full and well it was a lie.

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Corpse walked over, pressing a button on the side of the couch that turned it into a pull out bed. The shift of cushion under Eden along with her tripping made her go crazy, falling on her side from laughing so hard. He joined her, helping to move her belongings off the couch so she could sleep.

The awfully short pajama shorts and old sweatshirt had made the spot underneath her warm, meaning she would fall asleep fast and quick.

"Corpse, c'mere," she whispered, realizing it was time to sleep. He walked over, using his arms to prop his body up while he leaned over the make-shift bed.

"Goodnight kiss!" she mumbled, not giving him time to respond before dragging his head towards hers. Both of their faces heated up from the action, and he nearly folded over from the adrenaline.

The very second they disconnected, he ached for her once more; but the sight of her body falling back to give into the exhaustion was a sign that he was just as tired.

He stumbled back to his king bed, turning on the fan for white noise while he drifted to bed. Regretfully, guilt filled him, knowing there were so many things he had yet to tell her. A prayer was all he could rely on for her taking it well. Otherwise he didn't know what'd he do with himself.

. . .

Morning came, although in actuality, it was one in the afternoon. The two had clearly needed sleep, and a Saturday was the best day to sleep in on. Eden woke up first, figuring she would do the same he did when he was over at her house. She searched around, managing to find ingredients for pancakes.

Along the way, she also found a speaker, and connected it to her phone. To really wake herself up, she decided on disco music. "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," Whitney Houston's iconic song, cheered against the sound of sizzling breakfast.

After making four, the freshly woken boy wafted out of his room. His hair and hoodie were distraught after a night of hard sleep, his hands rubbing his eyes while light stumbled in from the open windows. He had never seen his abode so lively.

Her hips swayed with the beat of the next song, and she saw him walk into the room in the corner of her eye.

"Morning, babe," she beamed at him, flipping the sloppy pancake onto the opposite side. They were awfully fluffy, though.

A bashful grin busted out onto his face, and he walked over admiring her work for the meal.

"You didn't have to do all this." Dear Christ, she thought, his morning voice never fails.

"You did this exact thing at my place. I'm repaying the favor. Now grab a plate, I'm hungry."

Knowing she wasn't one to mess with, he grabbed his share of the food and sat at one of the stools at his countertop. The song ended, and the next one began. Eden gasped, instantly recognizing the beats of "Mamma Mia," from the original soundtrack.

Finishing making the last of the pancakes, she put the pan in the sink and used the spatula as her microphone, dancing around the kitchen while Corpse snickered with amusement.

Between every verse, she'd stuff a pancake in her mouth, not stopping until the song was finished. The sparkles in his eyes kept her motivated; she knew she was bringing a good show.

Keeping a Mamma Mia theme, the original soundtrack version of "Voulez-Vous" started.

"Oh, this one is my favorite!"

She went into the living room, remembering part of a dance she had learned for a high school play before she dropped out. Corpse spun his chair around to watch her, following every movement she made. He found her confidence incredibly attractive, not to mention the fact that she was actually a good dancer.

It was longer than the previous song, so she finished her pancakes in the large instrumental chunks of the song, running back and forth between the kitchen and the open area.

Finally the song finished. She only had remembered a few moves from the choreography, yet it was enough to get a round of applause out of the brunette in front of her.

"Did you learn a dance or something?!" he inquired.

Out of breath, she nodded. "High school, it was before I dropped out."

He nodded. The speaker continued to play more music, but she turned it down so she could wash her dish and talk to him. His frame came up behind hers, their hands touching multiple time while arguing over who got the water from the sink.

His marble countertops were freezing compared to the touch of his affectionate fingertips. She leaned on him so her head was on his chest after they had completely rinsed off their plates.

He kissed the crown of her head then watched while she turned around, her hands on his sides. Before he could react she was forcing him to dance with the beat of "Jump in the Line."

Eden had first heard the song on Just Dance, and she had loved it ever since. Although the buff man in front of her was rather stiff, he did try his best to meet her rhythmic movements.

Their dance party came to an end, and she packed up her stuff, fixing up the couch while they watched Coraline up on the TV. The movie was a childhood favorite for her, and she found out it was one of his preferred choices as well.

However, she had agreed to meet with a friend at 3:30 in the afternoon, and that time was approaching far too quickly. So, with sadness in her heart, she let him drive her home.

The same disco music playlist played, and Corpse pulled up along side her apartment, despair and dread to leave her once again. His attachment to her was something he had been forced to get used to rather quickly; though he did come to terms with it just as fast.

The music turned down and he pulled over, the book store that identified itself as her home right next to them.

"I think a third date should be in order, don't you? Only maybe this time we won't spontaneously spend the night at each other's houses," she said, a smug smile on her face as she grabbed her bag.

He learned forward, his elbow on the center compartment.

"I guess I could make time in my schedule for that."

Leaning in one last time for a week or so, they kissed. Sparks flashed in her brain and she moved her hand to feel the smooth skin of his neck. Her pointer finger traced his jawline, and his gripped her arm, almost silently asking her to stay with him.

However, both of their eyes flit open and she winked at him, booping his nose once then hopping out.

With a certain look in his eyes, he watched her figure disappear, enjoying a last view of her.

Next time, he told himself.

Next time I'll tell her my secret.

. . .

THIS WAS MY FAV CHAPTER SO FAR!!
maybe it's because i'm obsessed with
mamma mia but at this point who isn't
tbh 😻😻😻

make sure to drink water, do some
homework, and keep track of the most
important things in your life. you should
come first<3

if you need anything (including a friend to
talk to) i'm always here!! love you babes!!