"We should make this a thing," mused Karmin as she jumped onto the empty benches in Central Park.

"What thing?" Maddox asked with his head covered by his hoodie as he followed her.

"This," she waved at the dark sky. "The night before we're in any life-risking danger, we should hang out. I feel more at ease."

"This better be the last time we're at risk for our possible demise," he retorted, kicking a few pebbles out of the way. "Besides, we can just stick to final exams and other normal people stresses."

Karmin balanced on the edge of the bench, sighing. Maddox was able to book a fight soon after their moment in his room yesterday that was on replay in her mind. She was scheduled for tomorrow, and she hadn't bothered asking or researching her opponent. It wouldn't matter anyway.

Like every other night before her potential death, she couldn't sleep, and Maddox had an inkling. That was why he showed up without so much of a call, asking her to get in his car. Karmin didn't object. She didn't want to, so there they were, skipping around Central Park. And by skipping, it meant Karmin was the one jumping around. Maddox was more or less watching her in amusement.

Central Park was filled with a couple of late-night stragglers, whether they were coming back from work or having an existential crisis. Lush green trees drew shadows on the ground, and the water in the pond was still. On the outer corners sat skyscrapers with the only clue of life inside were the lights shining through the blinds.

"Damn, that reminds me I got a Health Sciences final coming up. Are you free in three weeks?" Karmin wondered as she landed on the ground gently.

"For you? I'm always free," Maddox said so softly, she almost didn't catch it.

A grin rose at her lips. "Don't get all soft on me," she teased, smacking him in the arm.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer, only to poke his knuckles into her head, giving her a noogie. "Fuck you," he murmured.

Karmin laughed, swatting his arms away. "You're messing up my hair!" she exclaimed, attempting to sound serious, but failing with the chuckles escaping her lips.

"What? You got a hot date after this?" Maddox smirked as he let her go to see the bird's nest that was now her hair.

"I could always call the pineapple guy," she hummed. "What was his name again? David? I bet he would love to go out with me."

"Can you ask him where he gets his shirts from? So, I can burn the place down," Maddox remarked with an unbecoming arrogant look on his face.

"Those shirts are a travesty to the human eye," Karmin said thoughtfully. "And you don't care if I call David up right now?"

"Well, he wasn't the one you were making out with in his bedroom yesterday," he muttered under his breath.

Karmin gasped, pushing him playfully only for him to laugh deeply. "I see we're getting a little cocky."

Maddox shrugged, a shy smile taking its rightful place on his lips.

"You're... different," she said, eyeing him adoringly.

"Not different," he shook his head. "Just comfortable."

Just comfortable. That's all I could ever ask from him.

Karmin bit her lip from smiling brightly as she slipped her hands into his unusually warm ones. He interlaced them, glancing down at her with a soft smile. She unwillingly shivered, and whether it was from the cold or the look in his eyes, she didn't know.

"I told you to wear something warm, but you never listen to me," Maddox commented, peering at her dress.

"You could just give me your hoodie," she said with a sheepish grin.

Maddox narrowed his eyes at her, his gaze trailing over every inch of her face. But in the end, he exhaled sharply, taking off his hoodie. "I'm going to buy you a shit load of pants," he muttered.

Her lips quirked up as she raised her arms for him to slip the warm hoodie onto her. The material reached mid-thigh and looked bulky on her, but she loved it. She loved how it smelled like him.

"I have pants," she retorted.

"Then why don't you wear them," he questioned, grabbing the back of the top to put the hood on her head.

"They're somewhere in the back of my closet."

"Next thing we're doing is rearranging your closet," Maddox said with an amused look as he pulled the strings of the hoodie and tightened them around her face. "Because you're gonna be a mess in the winter."

"I have stockings," she said, slapping his hands as he tied the string together. "Stop that."

One side of his mouth lifted, a victorious glint in his eyes. "There, now you're all warm," he remarked patting the top of her head.

Karmin blew a piece of hair away from her face, glaring at him. "I look like a marshmallow," she hissed.

"A cute marshmallow. Actually, more like an angry marshmallow," he corrected, lowering his lips to hers.

And just like that, her anger was gone. His lips were warm and soft against the cool spring wind. Goosebumps rose on her skin, and she could bet it wasn't from the cold. Her insides melted in happiness when he pulled away from the fleeting kiss with an indescribable look.

He stepped away from her, nudging his head towards the parking lot. "Let's get out of here before I get sick."

"But I don't want to go home yet," she called out after his retreating figure.

"Who said you're going home?"

***

"I'm freaking out," whispered Karmin as Maddox slowly opened the door to his house, ushering her in.

"Everyone is dead asleep, don't worry," he reassured quietly as he grabbed his hand and led her upstairs. "Besides, my Mom is on a night shift, and my grandmas can't hear shit."

The stairs creaked slightly with their weight as they tiptoed to his room. Her heart beat against her ribcage rapidly with the idea one of his sisters might catch him. It was going to be difficult explaining what she was doing, sneaking into Maddox's bedroom.

He gently swung open the door, and the two of them shuffled inside with him with Maddox closing it behind him. The room was flooded with darkness as he quickly turned on the lamp.

"Isn't it suspicious that your lamp is on?" she wondered as she sat on the edge of his bed. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do. The last time she was in here, she was sitting on his desk with his mouth on hers.

That was a great day.

"It's pretty normal for me. I'm always reading in the middle of the night," shrugged Maddox as he went over to his bookshelf.

Karmin hummed, her eyes following his every move. "So, what do you wanna do now?" she asked awkwardly.

Maddox didn't respond, but instead, grabbed a book and held it up for her to see. His eyes twinkled in amusement and curiosity, awaiting her reaction.

She smiled, laughing softly at the Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone cover. "You want to read?"

"You did say you would read if I read it out loud for you. Let me be your personal audible app," Maddox remarked with a goofy grin as he walked over to her.

"I did say that, didn't I?" she mused. "Let's do it."

His grin grew as he took a seat on his bed, leaning back against the headrest. Karmin slowly scrambled to his side, situating herself in between his legs with her back against his stomach. He tensed up just for a bit, only for him to wrap his arms around her, holding the book out in front.

Maddox's embrace was safe and comforting. He rested his head on top of Karmin's, her hair tickling his chin. His arms were like cages that would protect her from the world, and although she didn't need his protection, it was a blessing to know it was there.

"Chapter 1," he announced in a hushed voice.

Karmin rolled her eyes lovingly, turning her head to steal a kiss. His lips immediately reacted to hers with one of his hands coming up to her face. She bit his lip teasingly, and he moved in deeper, but she broke the kiss before it could go further with a smug smile.

"Uh-uh, we have to read," she sang, nestling her back in his arms.

He groaned in frustration. "I hate you," Maddox sighed.

"No, you don't," she said confidently.

And in the dark, inviting night with her body flushed against his, he came to one conclusion.

"No, I don't."

***

Author's Note:

Heyyyy!

I am finally getting a better handle on school and have had the chance to write a bit! I'm just happy I can finish this book within the next few weeks! Only 6 chapters left to go!

I hope you guys like their late night escapades! I feel like it's kind of their thing!

Until next time - m.k.t