"it's in the little actions"

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

"C'mon Blake, let loose a little, come with us tonight," Luke pleads for the sixth time today.

Weirdly enough I actually consider going to this party, something I rarely do. Parties are definitely not my scene considering I hate most people and I don't drink alcohol, both of which make a party, a party.

I rinse off my plate in the sink and place it in the dishwasher, standing up I look over at my friend who looks desperate as can be. "There is literally zero appeal to me, why would I ever agree?"

"I bet I can change your mind." Mason walks into the kitchen joining our conversation.

What an eavesdropper.

"Oh, here we go," I roll my eyes. "What do you have for me, Young?"

"Daisy was texting with Delaney earlier today and she's going tonight."

Huh, Laney at a party? I'm hesitant to even believe Mason but when he confirms she was convicted to go by the rest of the girls I can picture it. As much as Laney hates crowds and would probably rather study on a Friday night, she loves her friends even more.

"I assume Theo's now going if Aspen is too," I mutter. I guess if everyone is going, I might as well tag along.

Mason nods his head and I warily agree to going out tonight.

I am definitely going to regret this.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

We arrive at the party and I already want to ditch this plan. Luke and Owen run in, probably to find alcohol, and Mason and Daisy follow hand in hand.

"Jesus Christ, how did I get roped into this again?" I mutter, turning to Theo who looks almost as miserable as me.

"You didn't, bud, you agreed." He gives me a pat on the back. "Because you're whipped."

I narrow my eyes at him and slap him in the chest. Tough talk for a kid living in denial over his feelings for a curly haired blonde. "I am not whipped."

"Whatever you say, darling," Theo sings the nickname Laney dubbed for me, but before I can hit him again — this time much harder — he jogs into the house, leaving me alone. I take a deep breath, letting the cold fresh air invade my nostrils, and I savour it knowing that a bunch of young adults in a small house is going to reek of sweat and booze.

I groan to myself as I make my way into my own personal hell, with my eyes peeled for a certain 5'3" brunette.

I take in my surroundings, watching a bunch of horny college kids grind on each other to music that will most definitely burst someone's eardrums by the end of the night. It's a typical party with the expected cheap alcohol, cup pong, couples making out in various corners, and frat boys doing dumb shit.

As I walk further into the room I spot Mason and Daisy, red solo cups in hand, as they chat with Beth and Harper. Aspen and Theo are playing Luke and Owen in a game of ping pong, the four of them laughing animatedly as they chug the contents of each cup.

The annoyance pumping through my veins immediately washes away when I spot the one person who could make something this horrible, worth it.

I walk over to her, managing to dodge all the chaos that is drunk people, and I give a friendly nod to both Jemma and Chase who see me first. Laney with her back to me still doesn't notice until I place my hand on her lower back. She flinches under my touch, unsure who it is. "Laney, it's me," my words assure her and she relaxes into my touch.

"Oh, hi darling," she beams up at me. "I did not expect you to be here." Her words are slightly slurred and I can smell the alcohol on her breath.

I absentmindedly tuck her hair behind her ear as I bend down to speak into her ear, trying to battle the insane noise this party is producing. "I could say the same about yourself."

Laney giggles to herself which causes her to stumble a little but I secure her, wrapping an arm tightly around her waist. "Dell's a lightweight," Chase informs me as he eyes his sister. "A lightweight who's had more alcohol than her system can handle," Jemma continues to explain Laney's drunken state.

Jemma's eyes scan the rest of the group across the room. "Chase and I are going to head over to the rest of the group, we want to say hi to everyone else, can you watch her for us?"

The two of them walk away, "don't let her drink anymore, please," Jemma mutters to me so Laney doesn't hear.

Laney gasps at her best friend's words. "I am not a baby, I don't not need someone to watch me."

I just chuckle at her and nod my head at Jemma, letting her know I've got Laney. "Sure thing."

"Thanks, man, I appreciate it." Chase sends me a grateful smile as he throws his arm over Jemma and leads the two of them over to the kitchen.

God, something is definitely going on between those two.

"Whoops! My cup is empty." Laney raises the red piece of plastic in the air and frowns. Looking for more alcohol, she begins to walk away from me but I quickly reach for her hand, pulling her into my chest. "Why don't we go get some air instead," I suggest, trying to limit how sick she's going to feel tomorrow.

"Ugh! You're such a buzzkill." She pokes me in the chest. "Oh wow!" Her hands linger on me as she drags her fingers across my stomach. "A buzzkill with abs."

I can't help but grin at how freely drunk Laney talks. With her hand still in mine, I pull her behind me, taking her outside.

As I make my way to the front door, I grab a water bottle from the cooler on the ground and the two of us take a seat on the lawn.

"Drink." I offer the water in my hand to her.

Luckily, she doesn't protest as she twists off the cap and starts to chug the cold liquid.

After she downs half the bottle I look at her, trying to gauge how drunk she really is. "Have I told you how hot you are?" Laney taps my nose with her pointer finger as she slurs her words. Well, that answers my question; she is still drunk, very drunk.

"I tried this fun drink tonight!" she perks up, licking her lips at the memory.

Her actions immediately draw my view to them and I have a hard time looking away. But she's drunk and I don't even feel good looking at her knowing she's not in her right mind.

"How come you didn't drink, darling?"

"I don't drink."

"Not ever?" Her eyes are wide.

I shake my head.

Not since mom. She was killed by a drunk driver and from that moment I promised myself I would never be close to that situation. I swore off drinking, making sure I would never get behind the wheel intoxicated while also providing a DD for the boys to make sure they're safe too.

I notice her shivering and take off my hoodie, pulling it over her head and helping her arms through.

Laney's eyes look heavy as they fall closed and she blinks them back open. I manage to drag her back into the house with me as I let the group know I'm taking her home. The girls give Laney a hug goodbye and Chase thanks me once more for making sure she's safe.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

By the time I get Laney into the car, she's basically passed out and I hope her sleep sobers her up. It's a quick drive before we're back at Laney's house. I reach over to the passenger seat and stroke her hair, trying to wake her up. She just stirs under my touch and I decide to just pick her up. Carrying her in bridal style, I take the extra key Jemma handed me and unlock the door.

Luckily, Laney's eyes flutter open as she senses where she is, and the two of us make our way into the bathroom. She puts the toiler cover down and takes a seat as I put some toothpaste on her toothbrush. "Here, sweetheart," I offer it to her.

Laney takes it into her hand and sleepily begins brushing her teeth. She spits the toothpaste into the sink as I hold her hair back, not wanting it to fall into it.

"Can you wash my face for me?" She hands me a bottle of face wash and I struggle to know what to do with it.

How does one wash someone else's face? But I force myself to figure it out, if she wants my help on something, I'll do just that.

I poor some of the soap onto my hands and get it foamy with the water. I gently distribute it into her skin, and she almost moans from my touch, leaning into my fingers.

As she changes upstairs in her room, I search for some ibuprofen downstairs in the kitchen. God knows she's going to need it tomorrow morning.

Finally, she finishes getting ready and I lead her into her bedroom. The room somehow matches her perfectly in every way. The white walls are decorated with pictures of her family and friends, and her soft bed sheets are a light shade of blue, a colour I always find she's wearing.

"Are you gonna leave?" her face turns into a pout as she asks me.

"I was planning on staying until the rest of the girls get back, just to make sure you're alright," I explain. "But I can leave if you'd rather that."

She quickly shakes her head at the idea of my departure. "Stay, please."

I take a seat on the chair across the room, not wanting to overstep considering she's still under the influence. At some point I doze off, despite the extremely uncomfortable position I'm in, trying to fit my 6-foot frame into a small desk chair.

I startle awake a while later when I feel a small hand tap me on the shoulder. Opening my eyes, allowing them to adjust to the dark and register what I'm looking at, I see Laney.

"Are you alright?" I quickly sit up. "Are you sick?"

"No, no." She shakes her head and my heartbeat calms, "I just- I'm cold, can you sleep with me?"

I hesitate, not wanting to take advantage of the effects of the alcohol. "I'm sober if that's what you're wondering about." She smooths out the wrinkle in my forehead from my concerned look as she answers my unspoken thoughts. I check the time on the small clock hanging above her desk. 4:00 AM, enough time for the alcohol to be gone from her system, and I agree.

I climb into her bed and pull the covers over the two of us. Laney immediately nuzzles her head into the crook of my neck and I wrap my arms around her shivering body. She sighs, feeling the heat radiating from my body and she tangles her legs with mine. My heart swells with bliss and the urge to protect this sleeping girl takes over my every thought.

The two of us drift off once more, this time much more comfortable for me.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

A little bit longer of a chapter for you guys because the last one was pretty short. Hopefully this chapter wasn't too boring for you all. I know not much happened but I thought it was heart warming and I feel like this book needs a few more sweet moments with them.

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Stay safe and healthy everyone <3