IDIOT AND THE BEAST

CHAPTER 67 — I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU

[ZACH]

I convince Dani to stay over for the day.

He has raised an eyebrow quizzically when I first asked him to stay over, instead of driving back to his house. And before he'd even delivered his reply to that, I already knew was is going to be a teasing one — the light twitch at the corner of his lips, the unmistakable glint in his brown eyes.

"Can't get enough of me, can you?"

"Never," I reply, without missing a beat.

"Let me just text Valerie first"

I thought that he'd say no, make some kind of excuse and leave, but he doesn't.

There is definitely something different with Dani. He looks the same, he talks the same, he even behaves the same, but still he is different.

He is more open now.

He is more himself.

I'm happy, he told me the previous day and honestly, he is — even a blind person can see it. And seeing him happy, it only makes me all the more happier.

As long as I've known him, I have never seen him once being this playful, teasing, and just himself. Even when he is with Valerie, he will be on guarded behaviour. But seeing him finally being able to be himself with no doubt, I can't be any gladder for him.

We fall asleep in the living room, neither of us wanting to move. It is comfortable there anyway.

I was awoken by the sudden jolt of thunder. I turn to see if Dani had woken up as well, but he only stirs for a bit, before resuming his sleep.

I can't quite go back to sleep though. I hear the rain platter outside — it seems like it is pouring. I pull the covers up to my chin, shivering lightly, it is really cold, but as soon as I do it is tugged lightly from beside me.

We are sharing the same covers — me and Dani. I could have brought another blanket, but again we are technically on a picnic, although we are inside the house. If we'd been in an actual picnic and only brought one blanket, we would have to share anyway, wouldn't we?

Dan had rolled his eyes at me, and even gotten up to go get a blanket himself, but I hadn't let him — he had no choice but to give in, because honestly it was freezing even though I'd set the heater to the maximum setting.

I sneak a hand out of the warm cocoon of the blanket and reach for my phone — it has just turned 4. Sighing to myself, I place the device back on the floor and turn around so that I am facing him. It is still dark, but we've let the spherical bundle of fairy lights on — it's the moon now, I'd told him. For stars, I'd actually purchased glowing stickers and stuck them to the ceiling, so we are all set.

"Creep," I hear Dan whisper not long after.

Momentarily startled by him, I flinch back. And then when I move closer to him to inspect further if it is actually him or just a figment of my imagination. He jerks his head back when the space between us diminishes, blinking his eyes open.

"What are you doing?" his voice comes out throaty.

"I thought you were asleep!"

He winces, "Too early, too loud," he scrunches his eyes shut for a moment.

"I'm sorry," I make sure to whisper now, "I thought you were asleep," I exclaim once again, but this time in a hushed tone.

"I was. Thunder," he mumbles.