"...alright, onto the list it goes then." Stu agreed, jotting down my latest name suggestion.
He peered curiously over the small notepad, as I couldn't help but snicker at my current realization. "...alright, what's so funny?"
"Nothin…." I lied, snickering still as I waited for him to notice it himself.
"Liar." He chuckled. "Come on, tell me."
"If you haven't noticed it yourself yet, I can't help you."
"Billy come onnnnn." He whined. "I've had a hard night, I wanna laugh too."
"Make me feel bad, why don't ya?" I pretended to pout.
"You should feel bad, it's your fault I couldn't sleep."
"Then I'll make it up to you." I laughed. "Anyway, you put that down on the wrong list."
He looked genuinely confused. "Come on, what are you talking about?"
"The list, Babe." I snickered. "...you jotted it down on the list for our new apartment."
"Billy, what the hell are you- " He started to ask before looking at it himself.
"Goddamnit." He chuckled. "Leave me alone, I said I was tired, alright." He whined at that last part.
"You're the one who beat it out of me." I reminded him. "...and in all fairness, we do intend to bring her with us, do we not?" I snickered.
"You're such an asshole." He laughed. "You could've just told me to begin with."
"More fun this way." I laughed.
"It's more fun." He mocked. "..and how is that a defense when the name isn't set in stone?"
"Because it could become set in stone." I pointed out.
"Right, and if it doesn't? What use do we have for an unused name at our new place?"
I placed my hand dramatically over my chest for added effect. "...so it can live on in our hearts."
"Very fun- fuck!" He hissed, cutting himself off as he winced suddenly. "Mmnph."
"You okay?"
"Yeah." He exhaled. "I'm fine. I told you, it's just braxton hicks."
"You're sure? You've done that a few times now."
"Gee, Billy. I hadn't noticed." He scoffed, visibly irritated with me.
"Sorry. I just meant I was concerned because of it, is all."
He rolled his eyes. "Well, you don't have to concern yourself with every little noise I make, Billy."
I sighed. "Well, what do you expect me to think when you keep doing it?"
"I don't know, Billy. This isn't fun for me either, you know!" He snapped. 'You think I kept doing it because it felt good?!" He muttered something else under his breath as he moved to pull himself up off the bed.
"Well wait, at least let me give you a han- " I started to offer as he waved me off, getting himself onto his feet.
"I got it! I wouldn't wanna trouble you any further."
"Babe, you know its not a- Hey, where you going?"
He just shut the door behind him without a further response.
"Babe?!" When I still didn't get a response, I just sighed as I got up to go after him.
I came downstairs to find him standing at one of the kitchen counters, appearing as though he were looking for something.
I sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. Okay? That's not at all how I meant it."
"No, it never is. Is it?" He muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"What do you want from me, Billy?" He sighed, not answering my question.
"Just to help…" I made my way over to him. "...alright? I do know this hasn't been fun or even easy for you."
"I know, Billy…." He sighed. "I know, you just overreact to everything. It's exhausting."
"Again, I'm sorry…."
He just shrugged.
"I am…" I sighed. "I am, just tell me what you want me to do."
"I don't know, Billy…."
"Come onn….surely, there's something I can do to make it a little better."
He swatted at me as I moved to slip my arms around him. "Don't touch me."
I put my hands up as I started to back away. "Sorry."
"Look, just leave me alone for a while, alright?"
I nodded.
He started to make his way to the living room. "I just need some space."
"Of course...you want me to bring you something before I go?"
But he was already gone.
I just sighed as I went back up to the bedroom. Nice going, Billy.
"It's not as if she were a maniac, a raving thing. She just goes...a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes." Norman Bates's words echoed from the TV screen as I glanced at a nearby clock.
My dad should be getting off work soon….which meant soon I'd have to come up with something to explain away...well, the obvious.
I sighed.
No use getting yourself so worked up over it, Billy.
How could I not though?
Maaann, I really fucked up this time.
A soft, yet seemingly sudden, knock interrupted my train of thought before I could debate with myself further.
Shit….
"Yeah?"
I jumped, more than I meant to allow myself, when I heard the door open, but started to relax a little when I saw it was just Stu.
"Sorry…..you busy?"
"It's okay." I chuckled a little, searching for the pause button on the remote. "..I just thought you were my dad for a sec, is all."
He glanced down and smirked just a little. "What gave me away?"
I chuckled a little at the joke, hoping this meant he was in a better mood now.
He didn't say anything else, just crossed the room to come sit down next to me on the bed, resting his head on my shoulder as he nuzzled closer to me.
I couldn't help but grin a little. "What's this for? Hmm?" He let me gently slip his hand into mine so I could lift it up to kiss it. "...thought you were mad at me."
"I got lonely after a while….." He said softly.
"I see…" I glanced back up at the screen briefly before redirecting my attention back to him. "Hmm….you know, I can turn this off if you want...If you wanna talk or maybe watch something else, orr….." I shrugged slightly. "...somethin."
He whimpered suddenly, reaching for a new ache...apparently in his neck this time, that was distracting him.
I decided against asking the obvious this time. "I can get that for you, if you want." I offered. "...assuming I'm allowed to touch you again."
"Pleeaase?" He whined. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be.." I spoke gently, moving my hands up to where he'd indicated. "...anything to make it better, remember?"
He tried not to let on that he was smiling at that. "...I don't deserve you."
"Yeah, you're right." I chuckled softly. "...you deserve better."
"Not what I meant."
"Still true." I insisted.
"It's not, but I'm too tired to argue anymore."
"I'll take that as a win." I whispered.
"I hate you sometimes." He teased.
"Too bad." I snickered, sneaking a kiss a little higher up on his neck. "..I'm afraid you're stuck with me."
He shook his head. "You're terrible, you know that?"
"Yeeeahh, but that's why you only hate me sometimes, isn't it?"
"Regrettably." He chuckled. "Soo regrettably."
"Still a win." I whispered.