AN: FIRST OF ALL! THIS CHAPTER AND A FEW OF MY DRAFTS WERE DELETED! I'M SO HAPPY I SAVE MY STORIES IN GOOGLE DOCS. SO I WILL TRY AND GET BACK ON TRACK ASAP! Chapter 8. DAMN. I'm so proud of myself for staying with this story. I thought I'd be writing the "Important Authors Note" by now, stating why I'm not writing anymore but NO! So, sit back (or stand), and enjoy (or don't, it's ok to hate), this eighth chapter of Us! *also, please note there WILL be a make-out scene... I'm excited to write it* (is that weird... yeah probably)
_____________________
I awoke at six thirty the next morning. I was still wrapped in Millard's arms and I didn't want to move. But still, I pulled away and walked quietly back to my room. My bed was still neatly made and when I climbed back under the covers, it was cold. My bed seemed more uninviting then usual. I wanted to go back to Millard's room, but I also wanted to live. So instead, I let myself slowly drift back to sleep.
A couple of hours later, there was a knock on my door. I ask who it is, my voice muffled by the pillow my face was buried in.
"Millard." Came his voice from the other side of the door.
"It's open," I said. I hear the door open and close again, but I kept my head in my pillow.
"Good morning Y/n." He said. I felt the weight on my bed shift when he sat down.
"Morning," I mumbled.
"Are you ok?" He asked.
"Tired," I said.
"What time did you leave?"
"6:30," I said. "Slept that crap after that."
"I woke up at 7 because I was freezing." He said. I felt his body shift and I could tell he was laying next to me. I opened one eye and peeked out from under my arm.
"Comfortable?" I asked, laughing a little.
"Yeah, definitely. Your bed seems softer than mine." He said, not moving.
"I thought the same thing," I said, lifting my face out of my pillow and turning to him.
"I might sleep here tonight, you can take my bed." He said jokingly.
"Now hold on. You think that because your bed isn't soft, you can just take mine?" I ask playfully.
"Well, yes. That would be nice." He said, playing along.
"So you're going to take my bed and leave me to suffer on your rock like bed?" I flung my arm over my forehead dramatically. "I thought you loved me," I asked, being completely overdramatic. He continued to play along.
"I do, my lady, but alas, neither of us should have to suffer on that bed. It's too unforgiving, for, even the worst of criminals would get better sleeping conditions."
"Mr. Nullings." I said sitting up, "Are you requesting to sleep in my bed with me?" I asked, sounding appalled. He hurried and stood up, bowing.
"My bad, malady, I have neglected to formally address you." He straightened himself out and held out his hand. "Miss Williams, your bed is extremely comfortable and soft. I'd be ever so delighted if you, just for one night, allowed me to stay with you." Suddenly, I burst out into a fit of laughter. Millard then followed, causing both of us to fall back onto my bed, laughing hysterically. Once we both settled down, I answered him.
"Just because of that little show, yes, you may spend the night in here," I said smiling. He grabbed my hand and sat up I sat up too and faced him. He began leaning in, but I put my finger to his lips to stop him.
"Before we do anything of the sorts, I'd like to request a bit of dental hygiene first," I said laughing. He laughed too and pulled back.
"That's a great idea." He said standing up.
"I'll take a rain check for later. I think breakfast is ready." I said smiling.
"I suppose." He said grabbing my hand. We headed downstairs, hand in hand, completely forgetting about "keeping quiet" when we walked into the dining room. It took a few seconds before I realized why everyone was quietly looking at us. I looked down and realized I was still gripping his hand. I quickly release his hand and hurried to my seat.
I ate quickly and quietly. The children kept glancing over to Millard and I. I kept my head down but still noticed the whispers and giggles. I caught my name a few times, along with Millard's. My bird this was embarrassing.
The murmurs didn't stop at all. Over the next few days, I caught several of the children together, whispering something that involved both Millard and I. Millard never ended up staying in my room. We were both being spied on. Even though they didn't want us to notice, it was clear. I'd walk out of my room and a small head would pull back through the doorway. I'd try sneaking into Millard's room and someone would retreat to the nearest room. Eventually, I gave up and just marched right into his room.
"Millard this is ridiculous," I said walking into his room and sitting on his bed. He was laying down and writing. He closed his notebook and sat up.
"What is ridiculous?" He asked.
"We haven't talked in two days due to the fact that everyone saw us together. They know. There's no way to undo it. We need to just face it. It's so incredibly hard to not talk to you." I leaned closer to him "and we both know at least two of the others are outside the door. So I'm going to keep quiet. But, I was actually looking forward to the other night."
"I was too, but they were watching us like hawks. I wasn't going to walk into your room before bed and not walk out till the next morning. We would've been dead!" He said, keeping his voice down too.
"All I'm trying to say is that one way or another, they were going to find out. Better sooner than later I suppose." I said.
"Yes, I suppose. But it's was still quite awkward..." he said.
"I agree. That was the quietest breakfast I've been to in the past 8 years of living in this house." I said. He nodded, and I smiled. "You know....."
"What?" He asked. I lowered my voice.
"I think you still owe me something... I'm sure you gave me a rain check...." I said smiling. "But I think I lost the slip..."
"Hm... I might be able to make an adjustment..." he said, pulling me closer. I smiled as his lips slowly pressed against mine. I grabbed the back of his neck, slowly making my way to his hair. He grabbed me by the hips and pulled me as close as possible. The tip of his tongue brushed my lips. I smiled softly and opened my mouth ever so slightly.
After a few minutes, we pulled apart. He brushed a strand of hair out of my face. My face felt hot, and it was most likely a deep, crimson color. We sat in silence for awhile. When heard whispers and giggles coming from outside the door, I felt my face drain of all color.
"M-Millard.... you don't think they...." I trailed off when a soft knock came from the door.
"Who the hell is it?" Millard asked.
"Millard, no need to be so harsh," I said quietly.
"Well, they're most likely eavesdropping. I'll be harsh all I want." He whispered back.
"We were just wondering" Olive began before she was overcome by a laughing fit.
"My bird" I muttered, burying my face into Millard's chest. "Here it comes."
"We were just wondering how long you two were planning on snogging before you came out." Finished Claire. But not long after she finished, her laughs joined Olives.
"I knew they were going to say something like that. And they said it so loudly too..." I kept my head buried his chest. Suddenly, Emma's voice interrupted the giggle fit outside the door.
"Would you two leave them alone? Why must you bother them?"
"Because they were SNOGGGGGINGGGG" they dragged the word out in a loud, clear tone. "We saw them." There was a pound in the door. "Maybe you should try the lock"
"Oh run along you two. No business being such little spies." She said. Their footsteps sounded as they made their way back downstairs.
"Everyone in the house must've heard those two," I said, keeping my face in Millard's chest. "If the bird heard their racket, we are dead. So so dead."
"No, we aren't. You know, Fiona and Hugh are ALWAYS hiding out in Hugh's room, devouring one another's faces. We are doing no harm compared to them." He said, laughing slightly. I smiled and stood up.
"I'm going to my room," I said. He nodded and picked up his notebook as I walked out.
I walked out of his room and was headed to mine when someone yanked me back. I was dragged to Emma's room and she sat me on her bed.
"Emma, you really should just call my name. You ways do something so elaborate." I said, looking at her.
"Sorry, but I must know, was what Olive and Claire saying true?!" She sounded overly excited to hear.
"N-no... it wasn't." I already had my hand in my pocket when I sat down, but I could still feel it trembling.
"Then why did they say they saw you?" She asked.
"Because they are trying to make a scene," I said.
"Then take your hand out of your pocket and tell me it is not true." She said sternly. I stayed quiet. She pulled my hand out of my pocket and looked at it. Then she looked at me. "Y/n Williams, were you snogging with Millard?"
"No," I said. My hand began trembling slightly. I closed my eyes and threw my head back. "My bird. I fucking hate that."
"So you were!" She said. Then she contorted her face into a sour look. "Y/n Williams. You were snogging with Millard!" She said it in a disgusted tone. I could tell she was just joking around, so I smiled slightly. "Admit it." She said smiling. "You were snogging with Millard." I nodded and she laughed.
We talked for almost another hour before I went back to my room. Damn was she talkative. She just didn't want to stop. But eventually, I told her I was tired and she let me go. I skipped supper that night. It would've been too awkward. So I said I didn't feel too well and I stayed upstairs writing my story. In the past eight years, I've gotten up to ten notebooks. They were carefully laid under my bed on the bed spring. It was sort of in a geometric pattern. They were laying however they fit. Numbered. Some were battered and torn, others were shiny and new. I was ashamed of all the writing I had. It annoyed me so much. But nonetheless, each night I opened up a notebook and wrote.
___________________
Hey guys. Longest chapter (so far) in my book. 1892 words long. I'm especially proud of the make-out scene in this chapter. I thought it was going to turn out terrible. But I ended up liking it a lot! I hope you did too!
Very Peculiarly Yours,
Mrs. Nullings