The Assistant (Bill Hader x Reader)

Chapter 3 - Souvenirs

I feel confused, I don't know if it's from the injury or the kiss. Bill is still silent as we arrive back to his house and he comes around to help me out of the car. My vision is blurry and I stumble slightly which causes him to fully swoop me up and carry me inside. No matter how silent he is I still feel so close to him. I lose focus looking at his lips and wishing he would kiss me again. He lays me down on the kitchen counter and leaves the room.

I mumble while reaching out to him, "Where are you going?" I get no response.

He rushes back and places my first aid kit next to my head and rummages around the container. I look up at it and push his hand out of the way, finding the gauze myself, and handing it to him. He grins for a second before attending to my wound. I wince in pain and for the first time since the kiss he speaks sarcastically, "Don't be a baby."

When he's done he helps me sit up on the counter. He looks deep into my eyes again and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. I wait in painful silence inching towards him in hopes he'll grab my face and kiss me with the same force as before. He takes a deep breath and turns away walking out of the room. I slouch in disappointment and hop off of the counter, grabbing my first aid kit, and heading to my room.

I stay in my room for the rest of day without any word from him. I work on some short stories in my office and occassionally take a glance up to Bill's window but he's nowhere to be seen. I get so carried away that when I finally look at the time I rush myself to feed Samara, put on a tank top and pajama shorts, and get in bed. I hesitate before turning the light off looking at the to-do list that was supposed to be completed today. Nothing included Bill, I wonder why he even came with me. I set it on the nightstand and jolt when I hear the front door slam. I rush to the office and look up at Bill's room. He's pacing back and forth and talking to himself.

I tiptoe out of my room and up the stairs but I still can't make out the words he's saying. I hesitate for a moment trying to decide whether to go all in or to stay back. I ultimately back away and start to go back down the stairs. Before I can make it to the first floor Bill rushes out of his room and grabs my arm turning me around. I gasp, "What do you want?"

"We need to talk," he states blatantly tightening his grip.

I scoff and try to pull away with no success, "You haven't seemed interested in talking to me all day." He pulls me up the stairs with him, "Hey, stop. I don't want to talk." I feel like for my independence I should want to stay away but all I've wanted is to talk to him all day. 

He leads me to a room right down the hall from his bedroom. Before opening the door he turns to me with a look of sincerity, "When I open this door I need you to understand what you see here stays here." I start to feel sick to my stomach but I nod willingly.

He opens the door slowly and turns the lights on to show a small room with a single bookcase against the far wall. The bookcase is full of small objects. Some perfume bottles, some hair clips, some articles of clothing. All of them labelled with a different name. I look down to the bottom to see my own name and a tube of lipstick I hadn't even noticed went missing.

I start to laugh out of anger, "So you kiss them all?"

He rushes towards me, "God, no!" He reaches his arms out but I back away, "Y/n, I never kissed any of them. I don't know why I kissed you!"

I cover my face in embarrassment. How could I be so naive to think he might actually like me, "So you had sex with all of them and then stole a keepsake to remember it by!?" I push him out of nowhere.

He puts his hands up blocking me from pushing him again, "No! - well, some yes. But that's not the point these are just souvenirs."

"So I'm a souvenir to you!" I scream at him and this time aim for a punch in his chest. He grabs my hand quickly and locks me into a hug. I squirm to be released but have no luck.

He squeezes me tighter, "I took a souvenir because I thought you would be like every other assistant. But you're different and I can't explain why. I trust you and I wanted to be completely honest with you about myself." I calm down as he speaks more. My breath begins to slow and he pets my hair, "I think I care about you."

He lets go of me but I stay close. After a short moment and walk over to grab my lipstick and begin to head out of the room. Before leaving I pause to look at Bill, "I'll see you in the morning boss."  I leave him alone in the dimly lit room and go back downstairs to get in bed. All I can think about is him saying he cares about me. I should be creeped out but something is holding me back.

I wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and waffles. Bill is in a chair by my bedside asleep and the breakfast in bed tray is now on my nightstand with coffee, waffles, fruit, and note reading "I'm Sorry." I sit up in bed and clear my throat awakening him from his slumber. He looks so cute when he's groggy. 

"Hey you," he smiles, "good morning."

I hold a smile back and furrow my brow in hopes of appearing as hard to apologize to, "So you watched me sleep?" I can't help but chuckle slightly which makes him laugh as well. 

He leans over and steals a piece of fruit off of my plate, "We've got a big day today."

"Oh?" I question, mouth half full with waffles.

"We've got a plane to catch," he speaks nonchalantly but I widen my eyes, "I'm hosting Saturday Night Live tomorrow. Pack a bag, we're leaving in an hour."