Here's a really quick update because I felt bad that I wasn't writing one for this even though I already was for a different story because FUCK my brain is ADHD prone.

Also, I wrote this while listening to 24 hours by Shawn Mendes and I hope you all enjoy okay bye~!

P.S Honestly. This is basically a song fic update but fuck it lol

J: Let me know when you're out of your meeting. I want to talk about something that's been nagging at me. Meet me at my place? It's nothing to worry about, just so you know.

"'Cause all it'd take is twenty-four hours. Sign the check and the place is ours. It's a little soon but I wanna come home to you." I sang softly to myself as I played the same few notes on my keyboard over and over again. I goofy smile taking over my face as I imagined Claire's reaction to the short melody.

Only a little bit until then anyway. Way less than twenty-four hours.

I chuckled at myself before continuing with the song. "All it'd take is twenty-four hours. We could dance, you could throw the flowers. It's a little soon but I wanna come home to you." I brought up my other hand to continue a small bridge to see if I could add to it. I stopped myself as I heard the familiar ding of my phone. I picked it up from where it was sitting on the music sheet stand and saw that Claire had texted me.

C: Got out of my boring meeting. On my way over.

I smiled at the message as I rose from my seat to set up the piano sitting downstairs.

Time to throw caution to the wind, Lake.

"What do you think he wants to take to you about?" I gave Darci a small shrug as we walked toward where we had parked together.

"Honestly, I have no clue. I know it's nothing bad though. He's been in too good of a mood for a guy that just got out of a hospital a month ago." Darci just laughed a little at me as she nudged me with her elbow.

"Do you think he might have some plans then? Something serious." I rolled my eyes at my friend before nudging her back.

"You gossip with Mary too much."

"Hey! You never know. Near-death experiences like that can cause someone to start thinking more about stuff like that. I'm a lot more sensical than Mary in the fact that I don't think the boy will kneel before you anytime soon, but I don't doubt that he might be thinking of something else."

"What do you think it's about then?"

"Moving in together." I just smiled at the idea as Darci just laughed at my reaction. "Seems you're more than just alright with the idea."

"As you said, near-death experiences can cause someone to think. It's not like we don't spend almost every hour we have with one another. It would defiantly make it a lot easier with this new film we got me signed up for today."

"So you wouldn't be opposed to it?" She gave me a curious look as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her brown purse now hanging off her elbow as it tapped against her matching pants suit.

"Why would I be? Jim and I have been nearly living together even before we started dating. I already have a room filled with some of my stuff at his place and he has one at mine. All we would need to figure out is who's place we would be selling and stuff like that. We haven't been ones to overthink our relationship together anyway. We've always been just Claire and Jim, ya know?" I gave a small shrug as I slipped my hand into my jacket to grab out my keys. "Even if we did, everything just feels right with us right now. Why not try and see?"

"What was it that you told me when I moved in with Toby after we graduated? Only fools go rushing in?" I giggled at her as she nudged me with her elbow once more.

"To quote you in reply, then I'm one hell of a fool." Darci just smiled at me as we reached my car that carpooled in.

"Let's get me home then so you can have your moment with your boyfriend." I smiled at her words as I unlocked the doors and hopped in without a second thought.

I paced a little by my piano in my living room as I kept tapping the melody I wrote on the sides of my thighs.

Maybe this is way too soon instead of just a little? Maybe she'll say no?

I shook my head a little as I tried to get rid of the negative thoughts within my head.

Quit overthinking, jackass.

For once one that wrote about how he doesn't overthink when it comes to you and Claire, you're not sticking with your words at the moment. You need to get your shit together.

I heard the front door opening as I felt my anxiety peak once more.

Just a little bit of Deja Vu, huh?

I felt myself smile as I saw Claire enter the doorway and shrug off her purple and black blazer she was wearing.

"Sorry that I'm a little late. Darci and I drove to the meeting together so I had to drop her off before I got here." She draped her jacket over the couch before making her way toward me. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

"Not at all." I smiled even more as I noted the happy look on the actress's face. "I'm guessing you were able to make a deal with that new movie you were asked to audition for?"

"Yup! I meet my co-actress for the film the day after tomorrow so we could have a read through together."

"That's amazing!" She smiled up toward me as I took her hands into mine. "It's the one about the teenage witch, right? Basically like a Sabrina spin-off but with trolls, right?" I chuckled a little before continuing. "You and these witch roles. I'll get confused at some point."

"I'm surprised you haven't yet, honestly." We shared a small laugh as I felt her toy softly with my hands. "But enough about me." She dropped her hands from mine before giving me a nearly blinding smile. "You wanted to talk about something?"

"Yeah. I have a song I want you to hear first though." I moved to sit down on the piano bench beside me before she took the small space beside me.

"Are you going to tell me anything about it first?" I gave her a nervous smile before lifting the piano key cover.

"It's nothing bad if you're worried."

"I would have been worried if you just randomly called me." My anxiety eased a little as I heard her giggle beside me. "Whisp me away, Piano Man." I laughed a little as I started playing the main intro of the song.

"All it'd take is twenty-four hours. Sign the check and the place is ours. It's a little soon but I wanna come home to you." I gave her a hesitant glance to see she was just smiling toward me. I felt a blush take over my face as I brought my eyes back to the piano keys. "I don't know how this will go. I promise that I'll love you so. I'll bet it all on me and you. I'll bet it all, you're bulletproof." I shot Claire a smirk at the end of that line as she just glared at me in return. I gave her a small chuckle in return before bringing my attention back to the music. "Let's throw away our backup plans, and people might not understand. Who cares about if they approve? I'd face them all to be with you." I smiled as I brought my eyes back toward her. "All it'd take is twenty-four hours. Sign the check and the place is ours. It's a little soon but I wanna come home to you." I felt my voice softened as I saw tears welling up in the corner of her eyes. I could tell though that she was smiling up toward me as if I was giving her the world within that moment. "All it'd take is twenty-four hours. We could dance, you could throw the flowers. It's a little soon but I wanna come home to you." I found my hands leaving the piano as I had a sudden urge to wrap the slightly younger girl into my arms. She didn't seem to mind though as she wrapped her arms around my neck without a second thought when my hands left the piano keys.

Seems she knows what you were asking of her, huh?

I smiled at the thought as I tightened my arms around her.

"I guess you got the idea, huh?" I felt her head nod against my shoulder as a small chuckle came out of me.

"You always have to have some kind of beautiful fucking song that gets me all fucked up and emotional, don't you?" I couldn't help but laugh wholeheartedly as she pulled back for a moment to wipe a tear away from underneath her right eye. "This is not a laughing matter, Lake. You've pulled this shit on me since my sixteen birthday." I just smiled at her as my hands found their way to her sides.

"That wasn't even the whole song, Claire."

"I'll hear you singing it around the house at some point." I gave her a wide-eyed look as she just smiled at me. "What? Did you think I was going to say no or something?"

"Honestly? Yeah. I did." She just shook her head at me a little as her hands moved to cup both sides of my face.

"It might take a little longer than twenty-four hours, but we already have a key to each other's houses and like a fourth of our stuff at each other's places too. It makes sense for this to be the next step." I smiled at her as her thumbs rubbed gently on my cheeks. "Even then, I didn't give a single shit if anyone else thinks it's too soon for us. We never care for what others thought of us anyway."

"I knew I loved you for a reason." She let out a hearty felt laugh before bringing her forehead against mine.

"I love you too, Jim." I smiled at her words before our lips met. My heart fluttering within my chest for nearly the millionth time since we started dating.

Yeah, everything will take a few more than twenty-four hours like I want it to be.

I reached up and cupped Claire's right cheek as we deepened our kiss. Her hands going into my hair as we pulled each other closer.

But nothing could ruin a moment like this for me.

Absolutely nothing.

I smiled as I combed my fingers through Claire's hair. Her head was laid upon my chest as I felt her breath brushing gently against my bare chest. I knew it was way too late for me to be laying here with sleep illuding me so easily, but I didn't mind it as I had such a beautiful sight sleeping on top of my chest.

I promise I mean every word.

I felt my smile widening as I leaned my head up to place a small kiss on the top of her head.

I'll paint the world that you deserve. Every color you'd imagine.

I laid my head back down as I closed my eyes gently. My arms now dropping from where they were so that they were tightly holding the sleeping woman against me. Sleep taking me blissfully as the last line I wrote in the stanza ringing through my mind.

And I can't wait for it happen.