Nothing in Between, Always a Team
For entertainment only! :P
CHAPTER 10
Shifting to get more comfortable Daniel felt a weight on his chest and when he opened his eyes to see why, he sees that Betty is asleep against him, her arms around his torso and her head against his chest.
He smiled, remembering that they'd fallen asleep after watching movies. They'd had such a fun time eating, talking and laughing about everything. He loved how much of a great time he could have with her, even when they were simply sitting around and being together.
He had found her absolutely adorable when they were watching Finding Dory. It always made him smile to see Betty's sweetness, her genuine and heartfelt happiness over the smallest of things. He would never admit it to her, but he secretly enjoyed watching those Disney movies, because he loved seeing her so happy.
She looked so relaxed and angelic now. She was really beautiful. How could she ever think she wasn't? Her smile alone was the most beautiful he'd ever seen.
He couldn't deny how...at peace he felt with her asleep so close to him. Each time he looked at Betty he felt a happiness surge through him that was unmistakable, inexplicable, almost.
He couldn't quite define the kind of relationship he had with Betty. Of course they were best friends, but there was always...more.
He felt a fondness for her that he'd never felt for anyone else. He had always done whatever he could to make her smile, make her proud of him, make her feel as though he was always there for her. He knew he messed up frequently, but she was always there, still his friend, through everything.
To say he was thankful was an understatement. He knew he didn't always deserve her friendship, her goodness, but he would always be extremely thankful that she was there... here.
He realized he'd been staring at her, how sweet she looked and memorizing the features of her face, her soft skin, the curve of her smile, her lovely, tempting lips.
He shook his head, shifting slightly. He shouldn't be thinking that. He glanced to the clock seeing that it was nearly 2:30 in the morning. He let out a sigh. He felt Betty shift against him. She tilted her head back, her eyes opening sleepily "Daniel?" she mumbled
"Betty...sorry if I woke you"
When Betty met Daniel's blue eyes, her heart started racing, realizing just how close she was to Daniel, she was nearly sleeping on him! She slid her arms from around him and sat up "Um...sorry, Daniel. I didn't realize I was um...sleeping on...um, against you." She blushed.
He smirked "We've fallen asleep watching movies plenty of times before, Betty."
She bit her lip, realizing that was true, but it felt entirely different now. Mostly because she was sure she was falling in love with him. She nodded in agreement "That's true, I guess. Um...would you rather go sleep in your bed?"
He smirked "You want to sleep in my bed?"
Her eyes grew wide "What? Nooo!" she blushed brightly and he couldn't help his grin "Daniel!" she giggled "I meant YOU! I can sleep here. I don't want you to be uncomfortable."
He smiled, shrugged "I'm fine sleeping here actually, but if you want me gone, I can go to my room" he said as he started to get up, but was surprised when Betty grabbed his hand "Wait! Um..." her cheeks were entirely rosy and he couldn't help his smile.
"If you want to um...stay...uh...I um...I don't mind" she was completely embarrassed. She bit her lip looking up at him in thought. What was she thinking? She shook her head "Actually, never mind, you should go to your room. There's not really much space here. We'd just end up on top of each other" She shut her eyes, realizing how stupid she sounded!
He smirked, his eyebrow rose, finding her completely adorable as she struggled with where she wanted him to sleep "Really?"
She bit her lip, nodding. He watched for a second, wondering if Betty liked sleeping next to him. He couldn't help his grin, which resulted in her to blush brighter and her to say "Daniel! Stop making fun of me!"
He smirked "Was I doing that?"
She pouted, seeing his smile growing by the second " YES!"
He laughed "I can't help it! You're so adorable when you're mortified!"
She blushed brightly "Daniel!"
He grinned "It's true! Ok, fine! Well, I guess...good night, then, Betty!"
She bit her lip as she watched him retreat to his bedroom. She let out a breath and when he was gone she sighed letting herself fall back on the couch her head in the cushion "Ugh! You're such a dummy, Betty!" she mumbled to herself, feeling so embarrassed at how stupid she was before.
After a minute, she picked her head up and sighed. She couldn't help it; she really liked sleeping next to Daniel. She had felt so...comfortable. It felt nice to have him so close to her. Her arms wrapped around his torso, and her head against his chest, his charming scent enveloping her, seeing his amazing blue eyes when she opened hers. She bit her lip; she really needed to stop.
She sat back up and glanced around the apartment. It was really lovely. She wondered if he lived here with his... 'wife'. She frowned. Daniel really had a wife? She sighed.
She needed to stop.
When Daniel walked into his room he let out a breath. Man, he couldn't lie; he really wanted to stay sleeping next to Betty, with her lying against him, her arms around him, her head against his chest. He shook his head; he knew he shouldn't think all that. She was his best friend. He couldn't help but smirk when she had said they'd just end up 'on top of each other'. Maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
He sighed and threw himself on his bed. It was entirely too big to sleep in by himself, he thought.
He smiled; he wouldn't have minded if she slept in his bed, traces of her lovely scent in his covers, waking up to see her smile. He shook his head. He really needed to stop thinking about Betty. She was his friend. A really special friend he couldn't imagine a life without.
About an hour later, when Daniel was finally able to doze off, he heard a soft knock on his door before it opened a crack. He saw Betty peek in, and he smiled "Betty?"
Her eyes grew "Daniel! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to wake you up! Go back to sleep!" she started to close the door, but he sat up "Wait! Betty!"
The door opened again, this time a little more. He could see her in the door way, a blanket wrapped around her. "What's up?" he asked. "Is everything ok?"
He could see her biting her lip from the small amount of light filtering in the room from the wide window. "Um...I'm so sorry, it's just... could I maybe...um...sleep in here?" she asked softly, "It's freezing in the living room." She said as she wrapped the blanket she had around her more tightly.
He couldn't suppress his smile "Uh...of course, Betty."
He could see a small smile cross her face before she walked over. He grinned "So, you wanted to sleep in my bed after all?" he teased. She blushed and smacked his arm when she got close enough "Shut up! Seriously, it's freezing! I tried to fall asleep, but I felt so cold." she got in under the covers and pulled them up around her. He chuckled "God, you are so cute!"
He knew she was blushing; he didn't even have to see her to know. She was so damn cute. He loved making her blush. He shifted on his side to look to her "It really is freezing. I don't know why but the living room feels 10 degrees colder. When I was playing video games with DJ, I had to get a jacket because it felt so cold."
She shifted on her side, "thanks for letting me sleep in here. I'm sorry."
"Betty, you don't have to be sorry. Besides, this bed is more than big enough for the two of us."
"Well, thanks..." she whispered. "Good night, Daniel."
"Good night, Betty. Sweet dreams" He said in a low voice. He knew he shouldn't think it, but he would gladly be the blanket, if he could be wrapped around her. He always loved her hugs, and giving her hugs. He let out a sigh before he shifted on his other side, his back to her. He needed sleep.
Several hours later, Betty felt the light filter through the window. She was surprised when she opened her eyes to find Daniel's face inches from hers, her hands on his chest and waist, and his arms tightly wrapped around her. She felt butterflies, her heart started to skip. How did they end up sleeping like that?
She bit her lip as she took him in. He looked so cute, his hair was a bit mussed from sleep; he looked sweet sleeping.
As much as she wanted to stay wrapped in his arms, his warmth around her, and see his eyes when he opened them, she knew she needed to get out bed before he woke up.
Now, how was she going to do that when his arms were so firmly wrapped around her?
She placed her hand on his arm lightly; luckily he didn't wake. She trailed her hand softly down his arm reaching his hand, and gently lifting it from around her waist. She slipped out from his grasp, quietly.
She let out a breath when she got up. Suddenly, his voice came out soft and she felt her heart jump. "Bettyy..." his eyes were still closed. His voice gave her tingles.
She started walking away, when she heard "hmm...come back to bed" he mumbled sleepily.
She bit her lip, blushing. Did he know that they had been sleeping so closely? She quickly left his room before he woke up. When she stepped into the living room, she decided to go make some coffee. She felt butterflies, still.
She opened the fridge and pulled out two cups of yogurt and some fruit, and found a bag of bagels. She quickly prepared breakfast for them and set it on the kitchen table. As soon as she was done she went over to her bag and figured she'd get dressed.
Daniel stretched as he opened his eyes; he shifted on his side and his eyes grew wide. Wait! Where was Betty? Had she not slept here? Did he dream it all? He could have sworn he remembered her wrapped around him as they were sleeping, and felt her soft hands trail down his arms giving him the nicest sensation of warmth throughout his body.
He sighed. He got up, and went to take a shower and get changed.
When Betty finished getting dressed she walked back over placing her bag by the couch and slipped out her phone. When she had, her eyes grew wide when she noticed something peeking out from Daniel's laptop bag. That something was the magazine that had the story about them.
She knew she shouldn't but she slipped it out, wondering why Daniel had it. Did he read it? Did he want to read it? What did he think of it? She felt her heart race all over again. She'd never had something said or written about them make her feel so flustered, but something about the words enthralled her.
She bit her lip, glancing in the direction of his bedroom. She started to open it to the pages about them, but when he walked in, she dropped it on the table and walked in his direction hoping he didn't notice. His eyes grew bright "Wow Betty! You look so pretty!"
She blushed glancing down at herself and looked back to him with a smile, thinking he looked pretty wow himself, this morning. He looked so charming. He was wearing a black button up, with the sleeves rolled up, matching black pants, and a red tie loosely hanging around his neck. She was sure he smelled equally charming.
"Thanks Daniel" she whispered, feeling dazed.
Daniel found himself unable to move. She looked so damn beautiful. "You're like sunshine, Betty" he said feeling a little embarrassed to say, but when she smiled brightly he felt his heart jump in his chest and felt his own smile spreading.
"Aw thank you, Daniel. I really wanted to wear something with color. Nearly everything in my closet is black. It was depressing me!" she stated, causing him to laugh "Well, I love that color on you. You look gorgeous!" he stated, resulting in her to blush.
She was wearing this stunning orange dress that flared around her. She was practically glowing. The color was so great with her skin. The soft skin he remembered touching his. He cleared his throat nervously at his thoughts. "Uh...so, did I dream this or did you actually sleep in my bed last night?" he asked curiously, wondering if he had just dreamt it all up.
She bit her lip, a blush creeping across her cheeks "Um...I did. It was freezing."
He smiled "It's no wonder I woke up, I was missing your warmth."
Her eyes grew wide. She felt shivers. "Um..."
He looked away nervously, but she walked up to him and said "I made us both breakfast" she said with a smile. He smiled and looked to the kitchen "Wow, that's great! It looks wonderful!" he said as he noticed all of the food and coffee on the table.
They walked over to the table, both taking a seat. He picked up his cup of coffee and took a drink. His eyes grew bright "Wow, this tastes amazing!"
She nodded, after taking a sip from her cup "Mhm! It's hazelnut coffee"
He nodded and took another drink before reaching for a bagel. Betty watched him, trying not to smile, but he was cute. His gaze lifted to her and he winked at her. She laughed "Daniel!"
He shrugged "What? I love it when you look at me"
Her eyes grew in surprise, but she bit her lip, trying to fight back a smile. He grinned "I especially love it when I can make you blush!"
She blushed brighter "Daniel! Stop!" she looked away, her cheeks were rosy, that smile of hers was practically sparkling, her eyes shining. He cleared his throat realizing he was staring at her again. "So, have any plans for the day?"
She shrugged as she reached for some fruit "I don't know. Work, I guess. I think I have a presentation today. I'm not prepared at all for it!"
"I'm sure you'll figure something out. You always do."
She smiled "Thanks, but seriously I'm failing at my dream job. I don't even know what's going on."
He nodded in understanding "Yah, I had a meeting yesterday and I didn't even understand half of what was discussed."
She frowned "I miss Marc and Amanda...as crazy as that is. As much as I love having my space, I miss having Amanda coming into my room in the middle of the night to cuddle with me and Marc barging in like it's his place."
He nodded, chuckling "Me too, actually. Marc is on vacation with Cliff. He's actually Creative Director now. I haven't heard about Mandy. I think Wilhelmina said something about her styling or something for Paris one time, but that's the most I know."
Daniel noticed Betty was staring off into space "Betty?"
"Hmm" she replied distantly. "Betty!"
She snapped back "huh?"
"Are you ok?"
She nodded "Yah"
"What were you thinking about?"
She sighed "I don't know. I guess I just wonder if we're going to be in this time forever."
He shrugged "I don't know, Betty. I can't even explain this at all, but all I know is you and I at least have each other. As long as you are here, I can make the most of it."
She smiled "That's true. We are a great team"
He nodded with a grin "the best"