FALLING AROUND YOU ➵ DANIEL SEAVEY ➵ SEQUEL

30 ➵ The Next Step

"This was the year I didn't see coming—the one that shook me out of complacency. I fell in love with midnight conversations, lost patience for small talk. Chased away the cobwebs that I let linger far too long. I told the moon I was sorry—now's my time in the sun."
_

Daniel told me to sleep on the idea. His body was next to mine, so close I could feel his breathe on the back of my neck. I've slept in a bed with Daniel countless times, but this was different, more than different. Everything about this moment was too intimate. His hands around my waist, his head resting on mine, our scents soon mixing together. I could see the rest of my life in this position, but his question still startled me more than I care to admit.

Slowly, I pulled his arm away, snuggling him up with a pillow instead. I didn't think he noticed, however, being as he was incredibly exhausted from the start. I grabbed a rubber band from the nightstand next to me, annoyed that we were out of hair ties, sticking to something that would create tangles in my hair later. My hair was in a loose, low ponytail, strands behind my ears still.

My steps were cold and concise. The wooden floorboards gave my body the kind of burn that only cool air could give, making me shiver as I made my way to the balcony. I grabbed a small cardigan from the chair in the corner before quietly opening the small glass door, unwilling to wake up Daniel. I needed a fresh space to clear my thoughts, as they were more chaotic than I originally noticed. I was still barefoot when reaching the outdoors, but my legs were use to the air by the time I stepped out.

Though, I wrapped the cardigan around me a little tighter. It was colder at this time of night, especially because we were on the lake. I looked to the horizon, nothing but a trees and the stars were in view. There was splashes from the lake and a few faint voices that were almost inaudible if I wasn't paying too much attention. It worried me that people were still out at this time of the night, but I realized it was probably just a few teenagers taking a late night dive in the water.

I felt old, not from the viewpoints of gaining maturity and adulated responsibilities, but my youth being slowly taken away.

I wasn't a teenager anymore, soon being twenty one myself. My teen years were far behind me, and it was frankly daunting to think about. There was a whole other reality waiting for me back in LA, one I wasn't sure if I could even partake in after Charlie's death. I've built a life in London, one that I'm not sure if I could turn away from so easily. I haven't been there in months, but it is as close to home as I could decipher any more.

"Can't sleep?" the boy rested his arms on my hips, face in my shoulder, still half asleep. I tried looked to my side, seeing his eyes were still closed, but his grip was still strong. Daniel was worried in the sea of exhaustion.

I rested my head on him, putting my hands on top of his own. "Too much on my mind," I shrugged.

"You're thinking of my offer, aren't you." Daniel gripped me tighter, pulling me into a hug. My back was on his chest and his hands were wrapped around my torso. It was a feeling I couldn't quite describe, more warm and comforting, as if I was on fire but never getting burned.

My body turned around, pulling his hands in mine. Instead of his warm embrace, the small of my back touched the cold rails of the balcony. I stared at Daniel. He was smiling, a bit small, but it was still noticeable. He wanted us to take the next step, a big step, but he wanted it, craved it. It was as if this step would stabilize our relationship, put security in it. It was reassuring to him, but to me, not so much.

Daniel Seavey had a rare heart, something I've never seen in another human being, nothing to even compare it to. He gave people hope, made people feel wanted. His family, his friends, his fans. Daniel made people feel seen, as if he sees their purpose. He's seen me when I was in the shadows of others, seen me when others have taken my place. His heart belonged to me, and mine belonged to him.