Page 58 of The List of Things

Bellamy turns toward me, and I use both of my arms to reach up and hook around the back of his neck. The skin is stiff around my new tattoo but I ignore the uncomfortable feeling. I stand on my tip toes, and I ignore every warning in my head to back away.

For the first time since we’ve been doing this, I make the move. I kiss him. I do it softly. I brush my lips against his, barely able to reach them in the first place. I had told myself a hug wasn’t enough when we were in the shop, it didn’t feel personal enough. Now that my lips are on his, and there’s still an excessive amount of pressure built up in my chest I don’t think this is enough either. I don’t understand the feeling inside of me. I don’t know if I like it either.

It only takes him a second to relax his body, giving me better access to his lips, making it far easier for me to kiss him. His hands rest on my hips now, his back now pressed to the door of his Jeep as I press all of my weight into him. The kiss takes over my mind, swarming me with so many thoughts I’d never speak out loud that I make myself pull away. My calves burn as I stand back on the ground, and not on my toes. Bellamy follows me down, stealing another kiss from my lips before turning back to the car and opening the door.

He doesn’t ask about the kiss. I know it was out of character for me. I’ve never kissed him, only let him kiss me. I’ve never been the one to make a move on Bellamy, but I couldn’t hold myself back. Now he’s silent. He just lets me in the car and gets in on his side.

I have no idea if we’re heading back to my apartment. I have no idea if we’re heading to do something else on the list… I have no idea if we’re doing something completely random. I do know that whatever we do, I’d like to spend the rest of my day with Bellamy Archer.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

HEAVEN BY NIALL HORAN

We went out to lunch,and ever since I kissed Bellamy he seems to be off. Maybe distracted is a better word? He’s been checking his phone, and acting like he’s somewhere else mentally. Part of me is telling myself I’m reading into it way too much, but the other part of me. The insecure part of me tells me I did something completely wrong. Maybe he really doesn’t like his tattoo? Or I’m a bad kisser.. Or maybe he just doesn’t feel as into this as he did before? He pulls back up to my apartment complex, so I turn to him over the center console.

“Hey, Bell...”

He looks away from his phone to look at me, his features strong, and his eyes light, “What’s up?”

“Did something happen? Or did I do something wrong? Because if you hate the tattoo... I’m sorry, I thought-”

“What are you talking about?” He drops his phone instantly in his lap, focusing fully on me now.

“I don’t know. After we left the tattoo shop you seemed like you were upset, or distracted,” I tell him. “I was just making sure I didn’t do anything... Or that you still wanted to do this because you’re always telling me if I want to stop that we can, but the same goes for you. If you don’t want to finish the list we don’t have to. I mean you don’t need me to-”

“Respectfully... Stop talking,” He interrupts me, and I shut my mouth right away. “You’re cute when you get all worked up... I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. First of all, you’ve never kissed me before, and it made me feel good because it makes me know that you feel comfortable with me. Second of all, I have been distracted... Let’s just go upstairs and I’ll explain.”

He nods his head and gets out of the car. He walks to my side, opening the door for me. He takes me by the hips and helps me from the Jeep.

I don’t say anything but I feel somewhat relieved at his words and his confession about me kissing him first. Part of me is still anxious at the thought of Bellamy waiting to tell me the rest until we get upstairs. There are words left unsaid but I don’t know what they are so I wait nervously, and- my eyes catch Lawson, and Griffin walking from the front doors of my apartment building, and confusion hits me like a wave.

“Bellamy, why are your roommates walking out of my apartment right now?” The two of them don’t see us, but I’m positive it’s them.

“Because they can’t do anything right,” He doesn’t say anything to them, they don’t even notice the two of us as they leave.

Bellamy doesn’t say another word as he leads the two of us up the stairs and to my door. He kicks my doormat to the side and picks up a key that I had never put there. I furrow my brows and press my lips together.

“How did you… I’ve never put a key under my doormat before.”

“Well I might have stolen your key when you were sleeping, and put it there before we left... And told my friends to put it there for us when we got back.”

I shouldn’t be mad, right? I mean there’s a reason for this I assume, but still.

“Invasive! Why were your friends inside my apartment?” I throw my hands up, and he doesn’t react to my initial annoyance, he just unlocks my door and opens it.

He holds the door open, and my jaw drops. This must have been what he was distracted by. It has to be. I would be distracted if I was going to set something like this up.

“I don’t know if you remember... But I have a list to complete,” His words are like white noise as I walk into my apartment which looks like it was transformed into a flower shop.

Okay, that’s a bit dramatic... But really, there are bouquets of yellow and white daisies everywhere. It smells wonderful too. They’re on the tables, dining table, and the coffee table. They’re on the island in the kitchen too. I’ve never been particular about the type of flowers I like. Daffodils have been something I think of because of Big Fish. But daisies, all the daisies surrounding me make me feel more than that movie ever did.

“The list said the prettiest bouquet. Singular,” My eyes are still on the flowers around us, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to look anywhere else.

“Well, we’ve already realized I have selective hearing, and I couldn’t pick just one. This is better anyway.”

I just stare. I don’t know what’s happening but I feel an overwhelming sense again. The pressure inside my chest builds, and I push back the initial want to start crying. It’s just flowers… This really does look like a scene from a cheesy romance movie.

I always feel like I’m in a movie when I’m with him, and I know that’s the goal. But damn he’s… He’s going above and beyond, and I knew that before right now but he really is…He’s doing everything I wrote but somehow making it better. It’s hard to comprehend someone caring enough to make this silly list happen.

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