18. VERY FIRST KISS

I look at girl snuggled to my chest in astonishment after she completes her story. I have no words to describe the emotions that I am feeling but I can point a few like frustration, sadness, anger, shock and pride.

My heart feels as if someone has carved a hole in my chest and is twisting it.

I want to say so much to her but the first words that comes stumbling out of my mouth are, "I am so proud of you."

She looks at me with her tears stained face and shock written all over her face, "I am proud of you." I repeat.

"So fucking proud! You know why? Because you endured all that yet you are here right now and living every day with that beautiful smile on your face. You make pain look beautiful, Eliza. I am so sorry that it happened to you but on the other hand, it made you stronger. You can face your demons, stand up for yourself and those you love and you have begun to carry pepper spray in your bag." I add.

She chuckles at the last part and I shrug with a lazy smile on my face, "You know I have always wanted you to carry that." I say.

She looks incredulously at me and scoffs, "Yeah, when we were in primary school." She replies.

I shrug again, "I don't care. Anyways, I am sorry that I couldn't be there for you." I spoke in a grave voice.

She sighs and shakes her head, "I didn't want you to leave everything there for me. I get mad sometimes but it's never at you, it's at the situation and I won't lie, I really wish you were here throughout."

I glance at the wall behind her for a second before looking back at her, "I would leave everything for you over and over and I would do it with a fucking smile on my face and in a beat of my heart, you get it? You don't have to worry about me because you end up putting yourself in some trouble and then I have to worry twice more about you." I speak in a way one speaks to a child to make them understand something.

She scowls at me as she replies, "Don't speak to me like that."

"Like what?" I raise a brow knowing fully well what she means.

"Like I am some child who can't comprehend anything." She answers.

I chuckle and kiss her forehead, "That's 'cause you are. You are my baby. And I promise that I will always be here for you till the moment I take my last breath." I tell her with a smile.

Did that sound like a confession?

I hope it didn't.

That's now how I want it.

She's looking at me in awe when I snap fingers in front of her face, "Come on, let's get your face washed then you'll leave your sanctuary." I say pointing to the room.

She nods and gets off of my lap to go to bathroom while I fall back on her bead and exhale loudly.

I was beyond exhausted and this isn't how I expected my day to turn out. I get up from the bed and walk to bathroom, the door was already open and Eliza was staring at reflection in the mirror with her hands resting on the marble counter. Her hair were now tied in a loose, messy bun.

I walk behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, "What's wrong?" I ask.

Her eyes meets mine through the mirror and she flashes me a small smile, "I'm really tired and I'm glad in a way that this burden is off my chest." She tells leaning her back against my chest.

I say nothing and grab her wrist bringing it to my lips and kissing the back of her hand. Her face turns a light shade of pink and she looks away from me. I drag her out of the bathroom and then we go downstairs towards the living room where her parents are sitting.

"About fucking time!" Elijah huffs and gets up to hug Eliza who quickly leaves my hand and embraces her brother back.

"Thank you, Nick." Adam and Savannah express their gratitude.

"It's not a problem at all. I should probably leave now, mom and dad must be worried." I say.

"I talked to Ezra, told him that you are here." Elijah informs.

"Thanks, man but I should still leave. It's pretty late and tomorrow's a school day." I state.

"NO! Stay." Eliza exclaims all of a sudden leaving everybody in the room in shock.

"No, Liza. I'll see you, tomorrow?" I speak quietly turning to her.

"No." she mumbles with a frown.

I sigh and look at her parents and brother before kissing her forehead and walking out to my car. Grabbing my cell phone from the backseat, I switch it on and leave a quick text in the family group telling them about my stay.

When I walk back inside, Eliza is standing with her arms crossed on her chest and an adorable pout sitting on her lips. However when she sees me, that pout turns into a full blown smile, "You didn't leave?" she asks with wide eyes.

I shake my head, "I can't say no to you, can I?" I reply.

"No." she says with sass.

Her parents already gave me permission when I looked at them earlier so who was I to say no to my bambi?

She grabs my hand and starts to walk in the direction of the stairs. I shake my head at her extremely bold actions today and shout 'goodnight' over my shoulder to her folks who were laughing in amusement.

"Elijah will you please bring Nick some clothes?" she asks as we reach the last stair.

"I'm heading out with Ezra and a few other friends. You can grab whatever you want." He replies and we hear the front door close a few moments later.

She opens the door to her bedroom and spins around excitedly, "You wait here and I'll bring you some clothes." She says and walks out.

I was staring at the place where she was standing just a second ago when her head poked in from the door again making me frown in confusion, "Be back in a minute!" she chirps with a grin leaving me dumbfounded.

She's awfully happy today given the events that had occurred not too long ago. Not that I don't enjoy seeing this side of her but it's a rare occurrence. She looks like a child in a candy store.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting her to ask me to stay that, too, in front of her parents. I mean, I am elated to sleep beside her but I was taking baby steps just for her sake. If it were up to me, she wouldn't leave my side even for a second but I didn't want her to think that I am too clingy.

God, I sound whipped.

She comes back with a white tee and grey sweatpants in her hands and pushes them in front of my face, "There, you can use the bathroom."

I nod my head and take the clothes before disappearing in the bathroom. There was an extra toothbrush already placed on the counter for me.

Did she plan it?

Shrugging it off, I brush my teeth and wash my face before folding my clothes and walking out of the washroom. I place them on the armchair and turn around to find her coming out of the closet room.

She is dressed in a one off shoulder white shirt with 'Beautiful' printed on it in black ink and pink and white striped shorts that had a small black bow in the front.

"Nick, did you know that Finn is taking Lilly to meet his parents this weekend?" she asks coming to stand in front of me.

"Yeah, he told me today in school." I reply snapping out of my daze.

"It's the first time she will be meeting his parents as his girlfriend." She tells with wide eyes and I see excitement and happiness shining in her grey orbs.

"I am aware of that." I say with a small smile.

She frowns lightly, "Are you not happy?" she asks narrowing her eyes.

"Of course, I am." I state truthfully.

"Then why do you sound like a zombie?" she chuckles.

Music to my ears.

"Nothing, baby. I am just tired, is all." I tell her and circle my arms around her waist pulling her closer.

Her hands come to rest on my chest as she nods, "Oh." She mumbles.

"But never for you." I announce and kiss her forehead.

She blushes and smile shyly before hiding her face in my chest. I chuckle and bring her closer, "Let's talk about something else?" I ask.

"Like what?" she counter questions.

We walk to the bed before getting under the comforter and she scoots closer to me. I, easily, pick her up and make her sit on my lap as her hands fists the neck of my shirt.

"Like how I stole your first kiss today. With your consent, might I add." I grin.

Her eyes widened and her neck turns pink, "N-no." she stutters.

"No? What? Are you implying that it wasn't your first kiss?" I question glaring playfully at her.

Her mouth opens and closes like a fish before she answers, "Yes."

"Yes?" I ask with a scoff.

"Yes." She replies sounding more confident.

"Really, Liza? Who kissed you first and when?" I inquire.

"Uh, you remember when we were in first standard and we had a sleepover at one of our classmate's house, Emily?" I nod my head at her question and she continues, "And we played truth and dare and when I chose dare, Emily dared me to kiss Josh, the nerdy kid?" she pauses and looks at me to make sure I was listening and I nodded once again.

"Yeah, so they turned off the lights and Josh was sitting next to me so I kissed him. And it makes him my first kiss, not you!" she exclaims bashfully.

I roll my lips in my mouth to stop myself from laughing and hum in response. She frowns and swats at my chest, "What?" she pouts.

"Did you really think I would let anyone else kiss you?" I smirk in amusement.

Her lips part slowly and her face morphs into shock and confusion, "What did you do?"

I shrug before answering, "Nothing other than pushing him away and stealing your very first kiss."