Page 90 of Shifted

Poke.

He looked to the spot where my finger jabbed him and then back to be frustrated as I smiled, “Hope?” He repeats once more.

Poke.

He sat up in the bed, more annoyed as I sucked in my lips, trying not to laugh at his face because I was driving him insane. But I found it almost too amusing.

“What the hell is up with you?” I shrugged, and his eyes moved to the clock. “Hope, it’s three in the morning,” he whined, wanting to sleep.

“Oh, I know.” The first words leave my mouth as I nod my head. Glaring at me, he moves to lay back down in the bed, adjusting to fall back to sleep until…

Poke.

“Hope.” His voice emphasized his growing annoyance, but I couldn’t help but laugh this time at him.

“What?” I blanketed myself in the sheets before he could scold me further.

“I’m starting to get mad.” This time, as he spoke, his voice was grumpier than before.

“But-”

“I just need to know why you keep poking me?” He looked at me seriously this time, and I just continued to smile at him, “Hope, Princess, you are acting like a child.” Frowning, I stole a pillow and covered my face with it. But within seconds, it’s pulled away from me to reveal my grin, “Okay, what is up with you?” I couldn’t stop smiling as he got more-grumpy.

“This isn’t funny. I'm losing sleep, and we’ll need it for this week.” Biting my lip, I moved my fingers to run through his brown hair, “Hope.”

“You know what I could really go for right now?” I nagged, causing him to roll his eyes again in annoyance. He pulled up the covers and stared at me.

“Hope,” He warns.

“Some chocolate milk,” I professed, snuggling into his arms as the smirk consumed my face. I buried myself into his chest, but he pulled away to look at me.

“Hope?” This time, as he says my name for the millionth time, the grumpiness had faded, and it was replaced with pure joy.

“Will you go get me some chocolate milk?” He chuckles slightly and his hand snakes around my stomach as a smile grows against his lips. “Yeah, I’ll go get you some chocolate milk.” A kiss is planted against my forehead, and he slips out from the covers, tucking me back in.

“I love you,” He promises.

“Mmm, you’re okay,” I tease, “but I guess I love you too.”

We’d always be Angel and Amartolos to each other in secret code, but Hope, and Theo to everyone else. Maybe I would always be the one he wants to kill, but only because, as his wife, I might drive him a little insane. But he’s dealt with me for years now, and I couldn’t wait to have the rest of them all as his wife. Even if sometimes we might want to kill each other.

I wouldn't change a thing.

THE END

BONUS CHAPTER

Hope Taylor

I never expected college to be this hard or rather lonely. I couldn’t call it home sickness, I never really had a home. I guess I missed the Jones, but they were only thirty minutes away. I couldn’t go back to visit until Thanksgiving. It wouldn’t be right and probably too soon. I wanted Maria and our movie nights back and Bella sitting at the edge of my bed crying over some boy. But it felt weird that I hadn’t seen her in a few weeks after seeing her every day.

She’s secretly dating Grayson, and I know her brother Theo would lose his absolute mind. I wondered how he was doing, or rather what, in the same city somewhere roaming around. Bella was in Chicago, and so was Grayson coincidentally, but sometimes I believe he followed her there.

There's a knocking on the door that distracts me, and it leaves me more confused. I had no friends here and I’d mostly just been tucked away in my room after classes. I was almost too afraid to socialize, which was unlike me. I just knew that it wouldn’t be the same. What they say is the truth; nothing truly ever stays the same. Even the oldest of friendships can end at any moment, or someone dies, or a perfect relationship isn’t as good as it was. But change is a part of life, and we have no choice but to accept it.

I lifted myself off my lofted bed and dragged my feet towards the door. Looking through the peephole, I saw the girl who lived a few doors down from me. So, as I stood confused, I decided to open the door. She stood in a blue sundress, ready for today, as her dark braids fell perfectly intact. She was beautiful, and I, on the other hand, looked like an absolute sloth.

“Hope!” She says in an excited tone for some unknown reason. We hadn’t really spoken until now, and she was awfully chipper. I had half a clue why she’d be here, yet here I was entertaining her conversation.

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