Chapter 21: What part are you sorry for?

The figure outside my window still hung from the tree obviously trying to find balance on it.

I rushed over to the other end of my room and grabbed my baseball bat by the corner. When I approached the window again. He or it was already tapping gently on the window like those monsters that needed an invitation to attack you.

Open the window and throw him or it off with a bat – that was the plan.

My heart was pounding so fast I could swear it left my body for a split second.

My hands were already on the window lock ready to initiate my plan when the moonlight caught a glimpse of the creature that chose to terrorize me ij the middle of the night.

An immediate gasp escaped my lips.

“Klaus?” I said secretly praying that I was imagining things but he looked up completely and his e ture features came into view.

You've got to be fucking kidding me. It was him.

I froze for a second and I promise in that second I didn't think of a thousand possibilities and reasons why Nicolas Hayes was hanging on a tree right outside my bedroom window.

And I also definitely did not mentally scan myself and cursed myself for looking like shit because it's not everyday the coolest guy in your school and the gym you're heavily crushing on and apparently the guy you're supposed to kiss in front of the entire school shows up by your fucking bedroom window.

So it's not my fault I look like shit , right.

On impulse, I slid open the window and stuck my head out.

“You could get arrested” were the first words I blurted out and he laughed.

“For what?”

“you're hanging from a tree right outside my window”

“And?”

“You’re attempting to break into my room …. that's illegal”

“I texted”

“And that's supposed to be an excuse for breaking in?”

“Climb,” he corrected casually. “Breaking in sounds aggressive.”

Of course.

“What do you want?” I said raising a brow “don't tell me you're here because I missed posture lessons and training”

“that might just be it”

“Really ?”

“You're not going to find out if you let me freeze to death out here”

I scoffed and moved three inches behind. Klaus flew in like robin hood, shook his head and ran a hand through his damp hair.

That was so fucking hot. But I didn’t ogle or droll – I did it mentally.

He finally got his stance and stared at me “hey”

Something felt different about him. Not his dressing. Not the fact that he got ten times hotter than the last time we spoke and definitely not the smell of perfume.

It was something less physical and more… internal.

Like his sharp pointy edges had curved just a little bit.

I rolled my eyes and folded my arms. “What happened? You had a fight with your inseparable other?”

“Wait what?”

“I genuinely thought you guys came as a package deal or wait” I said eyes wide in sarcasm “are you doing the deception alone this time”

My face dropped and I went to sit on my bed.

“I'm sorry Tessa” His voice was soft.

The tingles didn't rush through me like they always did whenever he was around, this time they moved… softer

As though there was a certain degree of intentionality in his tone only my body could respond to.

I turned around half expecting to see a smug look on his face or that bastardly smirk tha always found its way on his goddamn beautiful face but they weren't there.

My heart stopped.

Did Nicholas Hayes just sincerely apologise to me?

I stood up and walked towards him. I stood right in front of him and stared into his eyes.

“What exactly are you sorry for?” I whispered “the part where you didn't tell me about Ethan?” He remained quiet holding my gaze “the part where you spent weeks confusing the shit out of me?”

I moved a step closer.

“Or is it the part where you suddenly pretended like I didn't exist”

I let out a small laugh. “This one is my personal favourite, are you sorry for allowing me to make a fool out of myself for weeks. Believing in something that clearly didn't exist and still feeding on that one thing till it felt real and the poof” I paused “it's fucking gone”

“So which is Nicolas Hayes?” I tilted my head to the side “what part are the sorry for”

“The part where I didn't tell you that you started to mean something to me” he spoke.

My heart dropped. It felt like all the armour I'd worn for battle had been shattered by a single blow.

“The part where I couldn't look at you and not imagine you in my arms” he continued “the part that I got so fucking scared that you began to matter so much I couldn't dream of a reality without you” he moved another inch closer “the part where the thought of loosing you felt like a literal strike in my heart”

I tried to speak but my vocal cords resisted speech so I just watched.

“And most of all” he said taking a step closer “I'm sorry it took so long to do this”

My breath caught in my throat.

He leaned in, his hand brushed against mine a d the other found its way under my chin. He gently lifted my chiandmd my eyes fell shut.

I could feel his breath on Mine and his hair strands gentle touches.

And then–

Pressed his lips on mine. Not rushed. Not desperate.

It was rather slow, soft , gentle and most of all careful – exactly how I'd imagine it to be.

My heart pounded so loud I was certain he could hear it. Just as I thought it couldn't get better, I felt his hand slowly crawl up to my waist and he pulled me closer.

I let out a small very embarrassing gasp but he didn't stop. Not like I needed him to.

I felt an electric circuit shock in my brains.

Someone fucking pinch me because I absolutely must be dreaming.

Is Nicolas Hayes really kissing me right fucking now?