By the end of the week I could barely think using my own brain. Constantly working, never taking a break. The lead up to kids going back to school is always stupidly busy but it needs to be done, we've been given a massive amount of funding and we have to use it wisely.

I don't even really remember getting home most nights, or eating because I have been so exhausted that the first thing I want to do is fall face first into my bed and get as much sleep as I can.

But tonight is a Friday and even though I'm home a little earlier than usual, I'm dead because I feel overworked. It's hard because I love my job, I love working with kids and helping them find their futures but sometimes it's not enough when I feel like this.

Charity work is hard, especially when the whole thing is severely underfunded and understaffed.

As I push my way into the foyer of my apartment building, my eyes fall upon Alex who is standing by his postal locker. He's trying to juggle three parcels between his hands, along with a water bottle and his backpack slung over his shoulder.

"Fucking thing," he curses and I find myself smiling at the sight of him.

Even his expression as it's crushed into annoyance, I've never seen him like this but it's damn right adorable. I haven't seen him since we kissed, that feels like a lifetime ago now but due to work, any social life has been off limits. With everyone.

"Need some help with that?"

Alex whips his head over his shoulder at my voice, eyes snapping to mine. For a moment he seems stunned but then I offer him a smile as I step closer. "Yeah," he rasps, like he's seen a ghost. "Thanks."

I lean my arm forward and take the top two parcels between my hands, his grey eyes are still watching me like a hawk. Then those pink lips part and I take one glance at them to be instantly reminded of the other day.

Those lips that felt as soft as I thought they'd be.

"How have you been?" I ask as Alex shuts his locker and we proceed to the stairs.

He clears his throat quietly. "So-so."

I frown at him. "So-so? What's been going on?"

"Nothing," Alex shakes. "Weeks just been a bit boring, that's all."

Inside I'm wincing. I remember our texts from the other night. He thought I was avoiding him because of our kiss but in fact I wanted to see him, my job says otherwise.

"I'm sorry that I've not been around more," I admit as we reach our floor. "This time of year is just ridiculous. I've not seen anyone but my bed."

Alex offers me an understanding smile. "It's okay," he shakes off. "I've been busy sorting out Liam's memorial anyway."

My eyebrows shoot up. "You've been going back there?"

He nods. "Yeah. I'm trying to fix it. It won't look like how it did but I want to do something for him. Some people have already come by to leave flowers and notes again, it's been nice to read them over"

"I'm sorry I haven't been there for you," I admit and walk towards Alex's door.

Alex turns to me again and his lips form a small smile. "It's fine, River. Honestly. If anything it was nice to do it myself, I know he's not buried there or anything but sometimes I'd go down there and re-decorate and speak to him. I might sound crazy but it calmed me, like it was just us again."

I find myself studying him as he speaks, I suck in a slow breath and nod. "I'm glad you could find peace in it." I say, still feeling guilty that he's been going alone.

He might not have wanted me there but sometimes it's nice to have the offer if he was having a bad day. I curse myself in my mind. I should have been there for him more. I should have.

"Hey," Alex leans forward to cup my shoulder, dipping his head to analyse my eyes. "It doesn't matter," he mumbles as if he could read my mind, or maybe he's just really good at reading expressions. "You've supported me so much since I met you. You've done so much for me and if I needed you, I know you would have been there for me in a heartbeat."

I'm nodding because he's right. No matter how tired or grumpy I felt.

Alex digs out his keys and pushes into his apartment, I carry his parcels into the living space as he turns on the light. "On the table is fine," he says pointing to the wooden coffee table.

I do as he says and then I push my hands into my pockets. "Have you heard any more about the investigation?"

He shrugs off his jacket and slings it over the back of the sofa, his eyes find mine and they glimmer with doubt. "No," he shakes his head. "Not yet. Something happened and I have to know what happened. He must have fallen out with someone, someone had it out for him. The same people that probably trashed his memorial. Something doesn't add up and I want to know what happened."

"I haven't heard anything," I admit, which is true.

Everyone at work has been too focused on the projects ahead, no one has had time to gossip.

Alex sighs loudly. "It makes me feel sick sometimes. Not only am I still grieving him but then to learn that someone killed him on purpose? It just doesn't make sense to me."

My eyes glance over his body. "Have you been eating?"

He chews on his lip. "Trying to."

I frown at his response. "Sleeping?"

"Again, trying to."

My stomach clenches painfully and I wish there was something—anything—that I could do to take away his pain, his anxiety, all of it. I know how he feels, he can't do anything and it makes him feel useless.

It's a strange emotion because it eats you alive until you're going out of your mind.

"You want to order a takeaway and come to mine?" I suggest.

Alex glances at me from across the room. "Are you sure? You're probably tired after this week, you don't have to."

"I want to spend time with you Alex," I speak with honesty. I've wanted to see him this whole week but not be absolute shit company from how exhausted I've been. But today is different, I know I don't have work tomorrow and being with him makes things feel better. They always do.

He takes two steps forward and stands a couple inches from me, I stare into his soft eyes and I almost melt. Those eyes that held me captive remind me of when he took the courage to lean forward and kiss me, so full of light and life. I'll think about that kiss for the rest of my life.

And I want to see his eyes like that all the time. Bright.

"I missed you."

Alex's heart thumps in his throat, lips parting with shock. "I missed you too," he breathes. "So much."

My shoulders relax an inch, glad things feel like they're back to the way they were despite being apart for almost five days.

I lean forward and wrap my arms around Alex's shoulder, he buries his head into my neck and inhales deeply. "I've been at work all day," I murmur into the top of his head. "I wouldn't inhale too heavily."

Alex laughs and it vibrates my chest. "Me too," he says. "But you still smell nice. I probably smell like hamburgers and mayonnaise."

It's my turn to chuckle and I clutch him tighter. Pressing my hand to his back and tucking him under my chin protectively. Oh God. Who knew hugs felt this fucking good?

"What shall we order?" I ask, reluctantly pulling away from him.

Alex hums as he straightens out his shirt. "Indian?"

My eyes open with thick hunger. "Sounds good to me. Can we get naan?"

"Of course," he nods. "But we also have to get some parathas."

"Some what?"

Alex's mouth stretches into a wide grin. "Oh River, you have not lived. They're delicious if you like flaky style flatbread."

I tilt my head. "Sounds interesting but good at the same time."

"Let me get dressed and we can head over to yours? Unless you want to stay here."

My head shakes. "Might as well stay here."

Alex smiles at me again. "You can pick the movie."

"Fine by me," I throw my hands up in defence. Alex nods and turns around, walking towards what I presume is his bedroom. The shower then turns on and I perch down on the sofa, taking off my jacket.

My eyes wander from the TV that is on but only showing the Netflix sign to the site of Alex's bedroom door. He's naked and showering and why can I not think about anything else but that?

Fuck. River. I curse myself. Stop being such a prude.

Soon he exits his bedroom with flustered pink skin and fluffy towel dried hair, along with new comfy clothes. When I'm already watching him, his eyes sparkle. "Hi," he laughs awkwardly.

"Hi," I smile as he sits down beside me and grabs his phone.

The last time we sat on this sofa. The last time we sat on this sofa.

I shake these thoughts from my head and clear my throat. Alex's eyes are already scanning his screen. "Do you know any good Indian take-away places here?"

My lips slant from side to side. "No but we can try them out? Go for the best reviews."

"Of course."

We order what we want and I pick the movie. Nothing special, just an action. I don't really want to watch it anyway. I want to spend time with Alex, it's like I've been deprived of him all week.

I twist myself on the sofa, resting my elbow on the back and glance at him.

"You sure you're okay?"

Alex glances from the screen and turns to me. "Hmm?"

"I said, are you sure you're okay?"

His eyes flick between mine slowly and then he nods with a silent confirmation. "You've been doing so well, you know that? I hope you've been recognising your efforts and achievements. You deserve to be proud of yourself for everything that you've gone through and come out the other side."

Alex is still silent and I feel my throat clench.

"I know I keep preaching about this to you, about you—to you. But you deserve to hear it, you deserve to know that you can get through this. No matter what." I say before pushing my head into my fist.

"I know, River," he whispers. "I like the constant reminder. At least someone can preach for me."

"I'll always preach for you."

Alex smiles back at me with a new sparkle of light in his eyes. "Tell me something funny," he orders.

"What?"

He shuffles his legs closer to himself, eyes wide with interest. "I don't know, something from your childhood or something from when you went to uni. Tell me something funny."

I glance up at the ceiling. "Alright," I pass a small laugh. "Let me think."

Alex studies me whilst I think and I can't hold back a smile, I close my eyes for a brief second and think back to school, when I was younger. I know I used to be a menace but my childhood was also a tough time so remembering the better times is always a nice thought.

"Okay, well one time when me and Daisy were in secondary school," I start and re-adjust myself on the sofa, Alex shuffles closer slowly. "I went into tutor and I remember sitting there thinking that my shirt was ridiculously tight, it honestly hurt to even breathe."

I watch as Alex frowns at my words. "When I looked down underneath my blazer all of the buttons had gaps between the holes, massive gaps from how much it didn't even fit me. That's when I realised, I was wearing one of Daisy's shirts to school."

Alex's mouth stretches into a laugh. "But don't men and women's shirt buttons have different sides?"

My hands raise to swipe away his comment. "I wasn't the brightest child." I admit.

"I doubt that. Then what happened?"

"I started to panic," I say with a smile. "Took off my blazer and ran to my form tutor, explained the situation. Just as one of the buttons decides to pop off the shirt and hit her directly in the eye. Oh my God, I've never been so mortified."

Alex's expression widens, eyebrows raising. "I should have seen it coming."

"She didn't," I mutter under my breath. "Then when I turned around to face the rest of my tutor with half of my buttons now missing, gaping. I was known as the boy who wore their sister's shirt to school. And trust me, it was the lamest thing anyone could have done in year nine."

"Aw River," he tilts his head. "At least you provided them with some entertainment."

I open my mouth to exhale a slow breath. "True."

My eyes stare down at the coffee table, remembering that I had to go home to get a new one. They rung my dad. He was furious at me. He took it out on me. He took it out on Daisy. I remember screaming at him to stop because it wasn't her fault.

I never hated him more than that moment in time.

Coward. Absolute coward.

Alex's arm nudges mine and brings me out of my dark trance, he's watching me but he doesn't say anything. The doorbell rings and Alex's eyes widen. "Thank God, I'm so hungry."

"Mmm," I nod. "Me too."

We eat our Indian take-away whilst we watch the movie that I picked, even though we don't really watch it and we talk instead. This is a night that I really needed, despite how exhausted I am.

Being with Alex makes it worth it.

When the take-away boxes are empty and the movie is almost over, I decide to call it a night because I can barely keep my eyes open, let alone function any part of my brain right now.

"Let me know how much I owe you," I say as I approach his door.

Alex shakes his head. "You don't owe me anything."

I stand there and fixate on his soft eyes. "It was probably a lot, I want to pay."

"And I don't want you too."

I huff out a breath and step into the hall. "Well thank you, next time it's on me."

Alex shrugs simply. "Sure but I don't mind. I enjoyed your company tonight, it's exactly what I needed for the end of this week."

"Me too," I agree.

For a moment I don't do anything but stare back at him, Alex waits patiently for me to shut the door but I don't move, I linger for a few moments more. Then my eyes flick from his gaze down to his lips.

I suck in a breath and lean forward, gently brushing my lips over his. My stomach tenses at the action, surprised with myself that I initiated it. I've wanted to kiss him again all night but I know we have to take things slow to get it right.

Alex shudders when our mouths touch but then he smiles as I pull back. Short and sweet, as much as I can give right now.

"We should go out soon," I comment as I shove my hands into my pockets.

His brows crease gently, he sways from foot to foot. His hands together in front of him, now twiddling his thumbs. "Like," he starts and then clears his throat. "Like a date?"

I shrug. "We don't have to put a label on it but I'd like to go out with you."

Alex flashes me a grin, that smile that could make me feel better any day of the week. One second with him makes all my problems seem to go away. Proof that I need him in my life, I've always needed him in my life.

"I'd love that." He catches his breath. "A lot."

So will I.

❖ ❖ ❖

Read the rest of the story and bonus chapters over on Patreon. You can also read the first 8 chapters of Luca's story on Patreon too!

www.patreon.com/dreammcatcher
Link is also in bio!

Author's Note

Hello my loves, what did you think of this cute chapter?👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼

Ughhhh, why are they so damn adorable? And that little kiss. I AM IN LOVE.😭❤️😩🥹🥰🫶

I love how River reassures Alex, so damn healthy

If you enjoyed, don't forget to vote. It makes my day!⭐️

Love Savanna x

Insta: SavRose.x
Patreon: dreammcatcher
Tik Tok: SavannaWritess