This is a short little update. Next chapter will be regular word count.
Congrats to all of us for surviving the finale!
Ty sees this going one of two ways: Tandy will either get super creeped out, or she'll laugh at him. Both those scenarios are better than her retreating back into herself, so it's worth a shot. He opens the door to his bedroom with a dramatic flair and gestures for Tandy to follow him. She circles around the room, eyes skimming over everything.
"What, no Playboy posters?"
Ty shakes his head. "What is with you and porn today?"
She chuckles. "What did you wanna show me?"
Tyrone grins. "Close your eyes."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. Close your damn eyes."
With a sigh, Tandy spreads out on top of his bed like a starfish and closes her eyes. Ty gets on his knees and pulls the shoe box out of its hiding place.
"Hold out your hand. No peeking."
She does as she's told. He can practically see the sarcastic comment she's holding back. The playful quirk of her eyebrow furrows into confusion when he places the ballet slipper in her hand. She runs her thumb across the soft texture, then sits bolt upright.
"Is this –?"
"Yeah."
Her fingers drift over the laces. Ty settles beside her, their shoulders touching.
"My head's spinning." She says breathlessly.
"Yeah, Tan, I think you sat up too fast."
"No." She nudges him. "Well, yeah, but that's not what I mean. You kept it all this time?" He nods. "But you didn't even know me."
Ty shrugs and prays to God she doesn't see the blush warming his cheeks. No way in hell is he admitting that he dreamed of an angel frantically pulling him ashore and leaving behind her ballet slipper.
"I figure… maybe it can help you feel safe, like my brother's hoodie did."
It's not a question, but his voice carries the words uncertainly. Tandy stares at the shoe like it's a memory, then looks up and studies him just as intently. Ty can count on his hands the number of times she's looked this unguarded. It dawns on him then: what she's giving up, what Billy's hoodie meant to her.
"I'm sorry, Tandy." And he is; for all of it, for everything she's been through.
Tandy shakes her head, the corner of her mouth tilting upward. "Stop apologizing, Ty. I told you I understand." She laughs a little to herself. "Although I will say, being on your mom's bad side isn't a lot of fun."
"You're not on her bad side. Tonight's just been really emotional."
Tandy seems to accept that. She leans forward and shoves the point shoe onto her foot, her pinky toe sticking out the side. She wiggles it for effect, making Ty laugh. Crazy white girl.
She lets the laughter sit between them for a second before admitting, "I saw your mom's hopes, I think, while I was passed out."
Ty's stunned until he thinks it through. "She was taking care of you before Dr. Burk showed up. Must have happened then."
Tandy nods, smiling. "I saw you graduate college. Saw you get married." She nudges him. "You look good with facial hair, by the way." Ty snorts and ducks his head. Tandy plucks the shoe from her foot and gives him an earnest look. "Ty, I know she puts a lot of pressure on you, but she really does just want you to be happy."
His smile falls a little bit – not completely, but it's weighted, now. In truth, he already knows that. Deep down, he knows his parents have always wished the same thing for him and Billy: happiness, security, a good life. Should be a simple dream, but the reality of being a black family in America makes that dream feel more out of reach every day.
Ty clears his throat, his chest suddenly tight. Tandy reaches for him almost reflexively.
"Ty, I…" but she snaps her hand away when their energies meet.
Another simple thing I can't have, he thinks bitterly. Tandy presses her lips together, thinking hard before she scrambles off the bed and makes a beeline for his closet.
He stutters. "Um, what are you doing?"
"Give me a second." She says over her shoulder, rooting through the hangars until she finds his St. Sebastian sweat shirt. She tosses it behind her before ducking down to search through the trunk on the floor.
"Tandy." He groans, peeling himself off the bed and picking up his hoodie.
"Relax, choir boy. I have an idea."
He doesn't tell her that's exactly what he's afraid of. She bounces over to him with a pair of gloves and a scarf in hand.
"You cold?" he mutters, looking between that and the sweat shirt.
"Shut up." She tosses the gloves to him and begins wrapping the scarf around her face.
The motion must be tugging on her shoulder because her expression is hitched with discomfort.
"Tandy," Ty starts, dropping whatever game they're playing.
"Shut up." She grabs the shirt from him and pulls it over her head. "Give me the gloves." Her voice is muffled by the scarf. He stares at her warily as she puts the gloves on and stands back, arms outstretched. Besides her eyes, she's completely covered from the waist up.
Finally Tyrone gets it and the laugh that escapes him rattles his entire chest.
Tandy motions with her hands. "Come here."
"No way."
"You know you wanna."
"You look terrifying."
Tandy huffs and drops her arms. "Alright, you asked for it."
She leaps at him, locking her arms around his neck and Ty barely has the brain power to grab her by the waist and keep them both from tumbling to the floor. His laugh this time is breathless, a little bewildered. Tandy nuzzles his shoulder like they've done this a hundred times, somehow finding the best way to fit herself against him. It's still awkward. She's up on her toes and practically swimming in his oversized hoodie, but at the same time it's perfect.
Ty would probably pick her up off her feet, spin her around just to mess with her. But she's concussed and he doesn't want to joke right now. He just rests his head against hers and breathes in. They do it in unison and he wonders if divine pairings are always so in sync.
He really has no idea how long they stay like that until someone clears their throat and they both jump. Otis is leaning against the door frame, one eyebrow nearly at his hairline.
"I don't wanna know." He holds up his hand as Ty and Tandy both try to explain. "No, I mean I really don't wanna know. It's getting late. Today's been too long as it is, and Tyrone you've got practice tomorrow." His eyes dart between the two of them, lingering on Tandy's get up before he shakes his head and leaves.
Tandy yanks the scarf down and Ty suspects the redness of her face is from more than just heat. "Well your parents officially despise me."
"Nah, I think they're kind of fascinated by you." He pulls her gloves off. "Like you're an alien species."
"Oh great." She tosses the scarf at his face and he catches it easily.
She side steps him, grabbing the ballet shoe off his bed.
"Um, aren't you forgetting something?" He says.
She stuffs the shoe into the sweatshirt pocket and flips up the hood. "Nope."
"Are you for real, right now?"
"Good night, Tyrone." She says without looking back and he can feel the smirk in her voice.
Ty bites his lip, staring at the doorway another second before collapsing into bed, grinning up at the ceiling until he falls asleep.
