.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

xxii. love like a child

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THERE WAS SOMETHING SO ODD ABOUT LOVE. April grew up surrounded by it. Ever since she was young, her mother and father would find ways to display it. She grew up seeing kind love in her father's eyes as he stares at her mother and jokes which only they would understand.

April fell into love easily, feeling as if there was no need to fear it. She was in love with the idea of love. There was something so captivating about it. Her father, Cain Ambrose knew of this and he knew that April's expectation of love was unrealistic in away. She loved recklessly and trusted others too quickly, April was warm and bright and loving in a world which was far too cruel.

Everyone was aware of the love April radiated, everyone was aware of her desire to fall into it. The notion of love in April's head would likely get her hurt if it hasn't already, though. Holly would say she couldn't differentiate admiration and true feelings.

However, there was something so perfect about Bill Denbrough. In her eyes and her families. They fit so well together, complimenting each other's strengths and weaknesses. They were just so perfect for each other.

April spent her days leading up to this summer daydreaming about fairytales and true love. It was the ideal she had familiarized herself with from early childhood. From the beginning, meeting him was like one. A real, true fairytale during these dark times.

Her mind was occupied as she laid on her belly, her legs pointed upwards towards the ceiling as her cheeks rest in her hands. She hummed a quiet tune to herself, unsure of what it was as she stared at Bill who sat at his desk, drawing.

It's been a few days since he came to her house. A few days since the group disbanded. A few days since he confessed to her and she did the same. Since then, they'd become inseparable. Bill at April's house and April at Bill's. Today was one of the few days wheres they spent it at his. After all, the halls of the Denbrough house was filled with empty emotions and despair from the loss of the youngest child.

Having her there made it more bearable to Bill. Feeling more at ease than he's felt since last October. April's presence wouldn't fix the quiet halls but it would make it just a bit more better. And, Bill was grateful for that.

Comfortable silence washed over the room, April's humming coming to a stop as she rolls onto her back and stares at his ceiling. Her body sprawled across his bed, she begins to count the glow-in-the-dark stars plastered to his ceiling.

Hearing her rustling in his bed, Bill turns his head curiously and smiles softly at her, standing up from his desk and abandoning the drawing her started as he walks over to the bed and sits down in the edge. "W-What are you t-t-thinking?" He asks curiously, looking down at her face, brushing away hair from her eyes gently.

She turns her face to him, grabbing his hand and pulling him to lie down next to her. "Nothing, really," She responds, looking at his face and smiling. "Just... Things," She goes on.

He quirks an eyebrow, grabbing her hand and intertwining their fingers. "W-What t-type of t-t-things?" He prods, poking her cheek with his free hand.

Despite their confession, they weren't sure what they sure. All they knew was that they were happy with what they were right now and that was more than enough. They both threw away the expectations of becoming boyfriend and girlfriend and remained the same as before. Friends. But, that didn't stop Bill from holding her hand at any open chance or April from taking naps with her head laid on his chest during the middle of the day.

"This Summer, mostly," She mumbles, playing with his fingers. "We weren't even friends before it," She goes on, looking at him with a shy smile. "You're my favourite person, you know?" She smiles again, lips curving as her eyes sparkle.

She was so pretty. His stomach did flips just by looking at her, she filled him with so much joy and he couldn't even fathom the fact that she felt the same. It was insane. He couldn't believe she could ever feel the same towards him. She was perfect with her dazzling eyes and sparkling smile, her soft voice and gentle demeanor. He couldn't imagine life without her now that he's got her and that's just the small impact she had on him. There was so, so much more he could go on about.

He nods, a grin on his face as he moves closer towards her. "Y-You're m-my favourite, t-too," He says, watching as she blushes softly at his response, her eyes moving towards the ceiling.

Something about with him made her comfortable and shy all at the same time. She'd never felt so at home with someone. Just being near him filled her with so much joy. "I'm glad I met you," She mumbles, turning her head to look at him again, gripping his hand tighter and looking into his eyes.

"I f-feel like I've known y-you forever," He starts, nodding at her statement and rubbing circles on her hand. "W-Well, I mean... I h-have. B-But, we o-only just got close," He rambles.

They grew up together. They both grew up in Derry and there was only one elementary so it was a-given that they would. They just never grew close until now. He found himself regretting that nearly almost everyday since. Bill recalled the days where she would spend her time alone and it made his heart hurt knowing that he could've stopped her loneliness sooner.

"I get what you mean," April responds, pulling her hand from his and running her fingers through his hair, messing it up with a soft giggle. "Doesn't matter, though. We're together now. That's what matters, yeah?" She goes on, twirling her finger around a strand of his hair.

She was right, Bill thought. He never could've thought that he'd ever have her. April Ambrose. The last time they talked before this year was probably in sixth grade, that was the last time they ever had any classes together. He remembered when they were younger she'd always have her hair in pigtails, much like the day he went to apologize to her.

He laughs softly, shaking his head in disbelief. April. He loves her and she loves him. Everything about her had him convinced that she was an angel sent from above. She understood, she listened. He loved her for so many reasons, he was positive that there wasn't enough words in the English language to describe how much he did. Maybe, he should try to write about it.

"You're r-right," He mumbles, his mind wandering over to he bracelet he plucked off the ground when she ripped it off. "Oh. I-I have... Y-Your bracelet," He stumbles over his words, sitting up for a moment and reaching over to his nightstand. He sees it, somewhat untied, the ends looking disheveled. He picks it up, turning to April who also sat up now, looking at him curiously. He holds it out to her. "I was g-gonna try t-to fix i-it but... I-I f-figured I'd make it w-worse," He explains, looking down at the bracelet with a pathetic look on his face.

Some type of a half smile and look of disappointment, it made April giggle softly — reaching for the bracelet and picking it up from his hand. "I can teach you," She mumbles, bringing her hand up to his face and poking his cheek with a lovey smile on her face.

Bill mirrors the same smile, feeling the urge to lean into her and press his chapped lips against hers. He wondered if the lipglosses she uses to gloss her lips were flavoured, the thought making his cheeks burn before he shakes it away. "S-Sure," He nods, noticing the way her eyes light up in excitement before she practically tumbles off his bed in a gleeful manner, rushing towards her backpack which sat on the floor near his bedroom door and coming back to the bed with it.

"Okay!" She starts, her entire mood lifted at the thought of being able to show him. Billy, her Billy, her most favourite thing to do. Besides, being with him, of course! It was silly when you really think about it. She was beaming over teaching a boy how to make friendship bracelets — but, she couldn't help it. She felt as if it proved that he cares. "I have different colours," She goes on, unzipping her bag and pulling out a multitude of colours.

Bill watches in amusement, feeling his heart glow as she fumbles around on his bed, finding a comfortable position before looking up to him. "I'll show you how to do a diamond one. It's pretty simple," She says, fiddling with pieces of the string before handing them to him and going to get herself the same amount.

He almost couldn't help it. He really couldn't. Even if he tried. He couldn't help it when she sat there, the sun spilling from his window and onto her, illuminating her blue eyes. He couldn't help it when everything she did, everything she said, and all the faces she made made his head spin. Mumbling out quietly as he watches her focus, making sure each of the strings she gathers is at equal lengths. "Y-You're so p-pretty, Sunshine,".

That startled her. It shouldn't have, but it did. It wasn't his first time calling her pretty, no. He said it that one time he picked her up from her house. It caused her cheeks to heat up and heart begin to race. This time was no different. Her cheeks going scarlet as she looks away shyly, her hands fumbling with the strings she held.

She was so utterly whipped for him. Anything he said made her stomach do flips. All she ever felt with him was butterflies. Suppose, she was an addict in that sense. Feeling herself go breathless at his words before she looks back at him, part of her hair covering her face — she thanked it, feeling the need to hide.

Slowly, he lifts his hand to her face, brushing the hair from it and gently twirling a strand of her soft curls around his finger and letting it unravel before doing it again. "You are," He says, focusing on her hair — too shy to meet eyes with her.

Her bottom lips pouts out in admiration as she looks at him through her eyelashes. Dropping the string in her hand and reaching out for his hand which was wound in her hair and taking it, intertwining their fingers once again. The sleeves of the dark blue sweatshirt she wore covering part of her hand because it was so oversized. It was his sweatshirt, after all.

He had let her slip it on earlier that day because he noticed how she shivered in her pink tank top, pulling his blanket over her shoulders. She did look awfully cute in his clothes was his first thought when he saw her. It was true. She looked so cozy, all swaddled up in big sleeves and soft fabric.

"I love you," April whispers, voice meek and soft, too frightened to say it any louder because it made it seem more real than it already was. Even though she knew the feelings were reciprocated, it didn't make saying it aloud any less scary.

Bill nods, rubbing circles on her thumb. "I love y-you too," He responds, using his free hand to poke her cheek softly with a teasing smile. "Pretty girl,".

She scrunches up her nose in an attempt to hide the dopey smile that formed on her lips. "Be quiet," She giggles, rolling her eyes despite loving the sound of his voice.

Grabbing at his free hand that went to poke her cheek again, she intertwined their fingers on that hand too. Bill laughs, getting an idea before falling back into the bed, pulling her down with him, having her head land against his chest with a gentle thump.

"Bill!" April exclaims, her cheek pressed against his chest before she lifts her head and looks to his face, trying to roll away.

Bill shakes his head, laughing at her shocked reaction before snaking his arms around her waist and hugging her to his chest. "You're n-not moving," He teases, pressing his lips to the top of her head, leaving his face buried in her hair.

It was intoxicating, really. She smelt of strawberries and vanilla and Bill swore he'd never get tired of anything about her. There was nothing to ever get tired of. Nothing to complain about, nothing to wish for. He had her and he loved her and she loved him back.

April squirms for a moment, finding a comfortable position, her legs to the side of him and her head on his chest, listening to the soft thud of his heart in his chest. "I was gonna show you how to make a bracelet," She pouts though, she wasn't exactly upset with the situation she was in now. Either or was fine. She was mostly just saying so because she wanted to hear what he'd say.

Shaking his head, face still buried in her hair, arms wrapped around her waist, he murmurs in response. It was muffled but she was still able to make it out. "Later. I-I'm sleepy,". He wasn't really. He just wanted an excuse to hold her like this for as long as possible.

Exhaling loudly in a laugh, April lifts her head from his chest, pressing her lips to his cheek before pulling away and laying her head back down. Her cheeks burning up at the realization of what she had done. He had always kissed her forehead, her cheek, her nose. She never did it because she was far too shy!

She attempts to play it off, feeling flustered as she responds. "Liar," She says, already knowing he's just looking to hold her — she hopes the blush that crept onto her cheeks began to fade as she listens to the sound of his heart beating.

Bill smiles into her hair. The feeling of her lips on his cheek catching him by surprise and he could practically feel the heat of the blush on her cheeks emanating off her. He doesn't bother saying anything, though. Deciding to spare the sputtered words and shy giggles on her end. He kisses the top of her head once again. "I love you, Sunshine," He repeats, loving the sound of those words on tongue.

Despite it being his second time saying it that day, April still felt that familiar flutter in her belly. Her cheeks burning even darker as she bites her lip shyly. "Quiet," She giggles, shaking her head.

"It's true! You're s-so pretty. Perfect. You're p-perfect, Sunshine. I love you so much," He goes on again. He's far too caught up in the moment, feeling the soft tufts of her hair against his skin, the feeling of her steady breathing on his chest and the way her fingers tapped against his arm.

April hadn't even noticed too. Her eyes glossing over at his words. He thought she was... He thought... He thought she was perfect! Her! April Ambrose! He really thought that. It made tears well up in her eyes in adoration, her heart swelling, and hands beginning to shake. She knew he loved her but hearing him say those words... It made it just feel... So much more real.

"Billy," She says, voice soft and wavering. She didn't know how to respond. It just made her so happy. Happier than she's ever been. "You're making me shy," She goes on, unsure what else to say as she nuzzles herself closer to him than she already was. If that's even possible.

He laughs softly, his hands unwrapping from around her and cupping her cheeks, lifting her face so that he can look at her, taking in her features entirely. His stomach fluttering at the sight of her bright eyes staring into his. Leaning in, he places his lips against her forehead, leaving a tender kiss before pulling away and quickly kissing her cheeks afterward. "Don't b-be shy," He says, laying her head back to his chest as she shivers, chills going across her body as he wraps his arms back around her.

"I can't help it, silly," April sighs in an airy voice, her head lolling on his chest before she shuts her eyes, feeling them get heavy. "You're making me sleepy too," She adds, shifting her body which lay on the bed closer to his side.

It was no surprise she was beginning to get tired. She'd been at his house since noon. It was five now. The long hours mixed with his soft bed and warm arms around her was a recipe for a sleepy April, having already nuzzled up to his side with satisfied grin.

She loved every minute of this, being with him. It made her feel so safe. So happy. So at ease. She'd stay like this forever if she could. Bill adjusts his arms around her, pulling closer and smiling. "Go sleep t-then," He mumbles, playing with her hair absentmindedly and feeling his heart swell for the millionth time that day.

She nods. Looking to him once more through half-lidded eyes and a tired smile, she presses her lips to the corner of his mouth softly — not bothering to let her actions register before her head falls back into his chest and her eyes shut. "Wake me you when my parents get here?" She asks, voice muffled against his chest.

"Of course. But, that's i-if I d-don't fall a-asleep myself," He laughs, feeling April's cheeks lift in a smile — a small exhale escaping her.

"Sleepover," She responds jokingly, laughing along with him before she shuts her eyes again, allowing herself to be lulled to sleep of the thought of all the good things which happened this summer because whenever she was with him, it was like all the bad went away in the world.

He stayed awake for fifteen minutes after she stumbled into sleep, listening to her soft breathing fill the room, rubbing her back comfortingly as he slowly feels his eyes get heavy too. And, soon, like her, he's whisked off to a dreamland where nothing ever ailed him. If only that were truly the case.

a/n: i feel like this is really repetitive throughout & theres a lot of spelling errors but it's three am & im simply not tryna look it over so enjoy 🤗