Channing entered her apartment complex and walked up the stairs. She didn't bother turning on the light. She knew her way in the darkness and she just wanted to remain unseen to anyone who might end up being out this late. She stopped a couple of steps before she reached her door. Someone was sitting up against it. She slowly continued and noticed it was Roman sitting there with his head leaned back against the door. He heard her footsteps and opened his eyes to look at her through the darkness.
"Hi," he said.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm waiting for you," he said.
"Why?" She asked.
"You've been asking me that question a lot lately. It hurts to know you don't want me to care about you anymore," he said.
"It's not that I don't want you to. It's just hard to accept that you do," she said.
He stood up and dusted himself off. He hit the light switch and looked at his wrist watch.
"I've only been here half an hour. You left the party early," he said.
"Crying in the bathroom eventually got boring," she shrugged. "Mind moving aside?"
He moved aside so she could unlock the door. She opened it and stepped inside. He kept standing outside, waiting for an invitation. She turned and looked at him.
"Are you coming in or staying out there to scare my neighbors?" She asked.
He twisted a smile and stepped inside. Nothing had changed inside the walls. She might play a part when she was with the others but inside this apartment the real Channing was still living.
"It looks just like I remember," he said.
"I keep myself locked away in here. It's not like any of them have any interest in visiting anyway," she said.
"They've always been self-absorbed. It was easy to see back then, and it's still easy to see now," he said.
She threw her keys in a bowl in the hall and stepped out of her shoes. He quickly kicked his sneakers off as well.
"Why were you crying in the bathroom?" He asked.
"Because I hate my life. I hate what I've become. I suck Dean's dick to feel less lonely, for fuck sake!" She raised her voice. "You came back and reminded me of why I refuse to look at myself in the mirror. It felt safe being someone else and not feeling anything real. It's all so fake. I'm fucking fake and I hate myself."
"Channing," he whispered.
"Let's leave it, Roman," she sighed. "Want me to put some coffee over?"
"I wanna be with you," he said.
She stared at him in disbelief. He grabbed her and pulled her out in the bathroom. He placed her in front of the mirror while standing behind her.
"Look at yourself," he said.
"Don't do this," she said.
"Look at yourself, Channing!" He said firmly. "I wish you could see what I'm seeing. You're the most wonderful person I've ever met. You were so easy to fall in love with."
"What?" She asked.
"I'm in love with you. I always have been. Not a day goes by where I don't regret leaving you here. I should have asked you to come with me but I was so scared you would turn me down. I couldn't face that rejection. I didn't want to know for sure if there wasn't a chance with you so I kept it bottled up inside," he said. "Will you come with me this time, Channing?"
"You don't mean that," she said.
He spun her around and placed his hands on her face. He kissed her and pushed her up against the wall. He broke the kiss and kept eye contact with her.
"I love you. I've never loved anyone the way I love you but I was too scared to tell you," he said. "So let me ask you one more time. Will you come with me?"
"Yes," she said.
He smiled and kissed her again. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. He broke the kiss and saw the tears slowly running down her cheeks. He dried them with his fingers but felt his own eyes get wet too. There was so much going on inside both of them. Their tears were a mix of joy and sadness.
"I've never loved anyone the way I love you either," she said.
"That's good to hear," he laughed.
"I kept hanging out with them because I knew you would be there. I fell in love with you the first time I met you. You were so sweet. You walked right over to me and started talking, and before I knew it, you had dragged me with you to a party that night. I was so scared but I felt safe with you. When you left, I wanted to stop seeing them but I have no one else here. I don't know how to make new friendships, and I kept hanging on to the hope that you would return one day. When you finally did, I wasn't prepared. Everything I had tried building up came crumbling down. You forced me to face myself again. I like myself around you, Roman. I like the person I am with you. I can be myself with you," she said.
More tears fell down his own cheeks. He loved hearing those words.
"I like the person you are around me too," he chuckled. "I fucking love who you are."
He kissed her again and moved her away from the wall. He backed her into the bedroom and tumbled down on the bed with her. He placed himself on top of her, kissing her and roaming his hands through her hair. He wanted to take his sweet time with her and not rush it. As far as he was concerned, they had the rest of their lives together. He didn't have any doubt in his mind about that.
"Wanna stay the night?" She asked.
"I would be very offended if you kick me out," he chuckled.
She giggled and tightened her arms around him.
"Guess you're mine now," she said.
"Guess I am," he said. "How about we pack your things tomorrow and start moving you out of here?"
"Sounds like a great plan," she said.
"But first," he said.
"First what?" She asked.
He smirked at her and pushed himself down her body slowly.
"First I'm gonna show you exactly how you deserve to be pleasured," he said. "Tonight is all about you and I'm not stopping until you beg me to."