Day 10: One Wearing the Other's Jacket

Title: Safe

Chimney and Maddie walked out of the movie theater, and it was a little after midnight. They had been there for over five hours because they had decided to watch two movies.

As soon as Maddie walked out, the wind and the chilly air hit her body. She began to shiver a little, and she immediately regretted that she didn't bring a jacket. She didn't think she needed one. She always underestimated LA's weather.

"Are you cold?" Chimney asked.

Maddie shrugged. "Yeah, a little," she answered honestly.

He stopped walking and began to take his tannish, brown jacket off.

She shook her head. "No. I'm not taking your jacket."

"I'm not gonna stand here and let you be cold," he said as he tried to hand it to her.

"What about you? Won't you get cold, too?" She asked.

"I'll be fine. Maddie, please take it," he said.

Maddie glanced at the jacket before she looked at Chimney. He gave her a small smile as she grabbed it and put it on. She sighed as the warmth of the jacket touched her cold arms.

"Wow," she heard Chimney say under his breath.

"What?" Maddie asked.

She quickly realized that Chimney hadn't meant for her to hear that because he shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground.

"Uh, it's nothing," he said. "We should get going."

Maddie nodded and they began to walk again. She tried to figure out why he had said that. It didn't sound like a bad "wow"; in fact, it sounded like he was pleased, especially because of the way he had looked at her.

There were a few groups of people scattered around the sidewalk. Some of them were cheering and others were laughing very loudly. Maddie couldn't help but notice the way Chimney moved closer to her and placed his hand on the small of her back.

And then farther down the sidewalk, there were a few men who were passing around what she thought was alcohol. Maddie felt Chimney's whole arm wrap around her waist and he pulled her as close as she could get to him.

She loved how he had pulled her close to him to make sure nothing was going to happen to her. She appreciated that so much.

Once they had moved past the men on the sidewalk, Chimney's hand left her waist, and he placed it on the small of her back again.

They made it to Chimney's car a few minutes later. He pulled out his keys and unlocked it before he opened the passenger door for Maddie. She got in, and Chimney closed the door for her. Once he was in, he put on his seatbelt and Maddie put hers on too. Before, Chimney could start the car, she put her hand on his to stop him.

"Thanks for that back there," she said softly as she moved her hand away.

Chimney smiled. "You don't have to thank me. I just didn't want you to get cold."

Maddie shook her head.

"Thank you for that too, but that's not what I'm talking about. I was referring to what you did when we walked past those people."

"I just wanted to make sure no one was gonna try anything. I always want to keep you safe," he said before he avoided her gaze and started the car.

Maddie's mouth fell open, but she immediately closed it.

He wanted to keep her safe, and that was exactly how he made her feel.

"Do you want the heat on?" Chimney asked before Maddie even got a chance to speak.

"Umm, yeah," she answered and he turned it on.

Chimney began to drive, and they were going to be at Maddie's apartment in no time; she only lived about five minutes away. She was so surprised that there was barely any traffic. It was hell trying to go anywhere during the day.

The faint smell of cologne hit her nose, and she was sure it was coming from his jacket. The heat was blowing it around the car, and that was all Maddie could smell. It definitely wasn't helping her think clearly, especially when she realized she was going to smell just like Chimney after she was going to give it back to him.

They arrived to her apartment complex, and Chimney parked out in front.

Maddie looked over at Chimney and he was tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. She suddenly got the urge to tell him what was really on her mind, and she didn't know why. Maddie decided that she was just going to blame his jacket, his cologne, and the way Chimney looked in his black polo.

"Thank you," Maddie began. She knew she had probably said that too much, but she truly felt like she needed to tell him a million times over.

Chimney looked over at her, and he was confused.

"Thank you for everything you do for me," she said.

"Maddie, you don't have to thank me."

"No, I do. You don't have to hang out with me or spend your money on me, or sit through hours of movies for me just because I haven't seen them, or stay with me and comfort me just to make sure I'm okay… and there's so many other things you do for me, like letting me borrow your jacket or keeping me safe… you don't have to do any of it, but you do it all anyway because you're kind… and you're so good to me all the time. You said you always want to keep me safe, and you do, in so many different ways. The truth is, Chim, I feel so safe when I'm with you, and I haven't felt like that with anyone in a long time… so thank you so much for everything you do."

Maddie's heart was beating so hard as she looked over at Chimney. He looked at her for a second before he got out of the car and rushed to her side. He opened the door and Maddie quickly took her seatbelt off.

He grabbed her hand as she was getting out of the car, and then, he pulled her into a big hug.

"Maddie," he whispered.

And that was all he said. He just continued to hold her tight.

And Maddie was completely fine with that.

Chimney didn't even have to say anything else. She already knew how he felt about her, and the way he had said her name only showed his feelings even more.

They stayed like that for a few minutes until Chimney finally pulled away.

"I'll walk you to your door," he said.

Maddie nodded and they began to walk. When they made it to her door, she began to take his jacket off, but he stopped her before she could.

"Keep it. You might get cold."

Maddie's brows raised. "But I have my own."

Chimney smiled. "I know, but keep this one."

"Chim, are you serious?"

"Yeah."

"But this is your favorite. Won't you miss it?"

Chimney laughed nervously and ran his thumb across her hand. "No. Goodnight, Maddie."

She smiled. "Goodnight, Chim."

"Are you sure you don't want this back?" She asked.

"I'm sure. Besides, it looks a lot better on you anyway," he said before he walked away.

Maddie smiled as she unlocked her door. Once she was inside, she rested her back and head against the door. Her cheeks felt hot, and she didn't even need a mirror to know she was blushing.

Now, she knew why Chimney had said "wow" earlier; he liked the way she looked in his jacket.

Maddie didn't realize how tired she was until she took her shoes off. She walked straight upstairs and laid on her bed. She didn't realize that she hadn't taken Chimney's jacket off until a little bit later when she was half asleep. And she definitely wasn't going to get up.

Maddie just decided to keep it on. After all, it was definitely going to keep her warm.

And it was like she had a piece of Chimney there with her.