???? ???? ?

"Why is your hair always such a mess?" Faye asks me as we lie on the couch, watching a movie. My attention was hardly on the movie anyway, what with Faye's half-naked body on top of mine. I rest my arms comfortably around her small body and think about her question.

"I'm not really sure, I guess it's naturally like that, but I also don't style it. I hate having product in my hair." I scrunch my nose up in distaste. My hair is wavy and likes to do its own thing, so I don't bother with spending time styling it.

"Why do you ever straighten your hair? I happen to like it this way," I say, twirling a loose curl around my finger. She shrugs. "I don't know, I guess it's easier. Most girls have straight hair, and it's just easier to manage. Especially for dance. I leave it like this all the time in the summer though," She reasons.

"It really does suit you." I smile, wishing I could see her face. Faye reads my mind and turns to face me, putting us chest to chest and I can feel her breasts through the thin fabric of my shirt as she presses against me.

Her eyes look big and innocent as she looks up at me from underneath her eyelashes, and I can see that she's fighting a smile. She pushes up and kisses me softly, trying to pull away after but I press her closer, pulling her leg over my hip. She moans as I bite her lip and I smile into the kiss.

I love everything about this girl. I just hope that she doesn't get scared off by how serious I am about her. It's nearly impossible for me to take this slowly when all I want to do is claim her as mine, and announce it to everyone. Faye's body language tells me that she wants this, everything she does seems to be to get me closer to her, but I can't read her mind, and that's what I need.

To know.

But for now, these sweet kisses without promise will have to do. I'll take Faye in whatever way she'll have me. I savor every moment we touch, every moment we spend together in case one day she wakes up next to me and realizes that I'm not what she needs, but all I can do for now is try to be what she wants.

Faye breathes in through her nose deeply and softly breaks apart from the kiss, only to yawn. I chuckle at her face as she tries to hide it embarrassedly. "Am I boring you?" I ask teasingly and she pouts, putting her hands against her cheeks as she peers down at me. Still straddling me, I sit up with Faye and stand while holding her to me.

She doesn't hesitate to wrap her legs and arms around me like a monkey and I carry her up the stairs. "Up to bed we go," I say quietly as she rests her head against my shoulder. I feel her breathing steady and try not to jostle her around much as I walk. Laying down in the bed with her still attached to me, I pull the blankets over the two of us, easily drifting to sleep with my girl in my arms.

The next day, Faye and I lazed about the house and swam when we felt like it, but it didn't last long and eventually, we had to get back to life.

The short time away was amazing, but as we leave, our bubble is popped and the upcoming event is weighing heavily on both of our minds. Not having talked about it since I found out, Faye had been ignoring the fact that her father's wedding is tomorrow, and we are only making a short stop at home before we go straight there.

Faye's father and brother still live in her old hometown, and Faye seems more than reluctant to go back. She's been withdrawn since I loaded everything into the car, zoning out while looking at the lake.

"Oh, sorry I didn't help," she says when she sees that I've done all the work, but I don't mind. She has enough mental burdens to carry, I can carry the tangible ones. Neither of us says a word as I open the passenger side door for Faye and climb into the driver's side myself. Faye immediately presses play on the stereo, signaling that she isn't ready to talk yet, and I give her time to think while I plan out every possible scenario in my head.

Faye could hate her dad's wife, in which case we would get in the car and leave.

Faye could get in a fight with her dad, in which case we would get in the car and leave.

Faye could take her anger out on me, in which case...

I can't torture myself this way. I refuse to show up to this wedding and wait for something bad to happen; that's a disaster waiting to happen. Faye and I will enjoy the wedding because we'll be together, and nothing else will matter. Faye will get to see her brother and her dad, and possibly run into some old friends.

This will be good for her.

"I'm sorry." The volume for the stereo is turned down and my thoughts scatter. Turning my head slightly to watch Faye curiously, her lips are pursed and she looks like she's deep in thought.

"I just don't know how to deal with it yet, but I keep telling myself that you'll be there, and that calms me down." She smiles and my heart palpitates. Just knowing that I'll be there with her, for her, is enough to give her some comfort. At that thought, I feel ready to take on anything, including a little dysfunctional wedding.

"We're going to get all dressed up, nice and fancy," I smirk at her and she bites her lip, staring at me with a grin. "We're going to dance until we can't, and then..." I trail off with a cheeky smile.

"And then what?" Faye demands.

"And then...we'll go to bed." I bite my lip to stifle a laugh. Faye groans and rolls her eyes but I see her smile show through. "I didn't say we'd be sleeping though."