The flight back home wasn't as bad as going in. Maybe because I knew what to expect, or it might've been because I was so tired. Lilly sang me a song - at my request - and it worked like a lullaby, before it was even half over my eyelids were drooping. She ran her hands through my hair, tickling my nose with a few strands.

"You're making me sleepy."

"Why don't you sleep then and I'll wake you when we get there."

"I don't want to," I stretched like a cat, rubbing my eyes. "If I do I wont sleep tonight."

"What are you going to do then?"

"Contemplate the meaning of life," I teased, and she replied with absolute seriousness.

"It's forty-two."

"You've read A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?" I was surprised, I didn't know she liked that sort of thing.

"Is that what it's from? My brother used to say it all the time. He'd think he was so smart too." She smiled wryly.

"He had good taste," I grinned, and she shook her head with a laugh.

"He definitely didn't, not when it came to clothes anyway. You should see the hideous jumper he bought me for my birthday one year."

"I'm sure it's not that bad."

"It's the most disgusting shade of green you've ever seen in your life and it's covered in tiny balls of colour, which are apparently flower buds."

"Oh," I chuckled, "it is that bad."

"Exactly," she grinned.

"I would've loved to meet him."

"He'd have liked you," she smiled, "he'd have questioned you about everything. He liked intelligent people."

"Are you saying I'm smart?"

"Of course you are, you just act stupid mostly," she teased. My mouth fell open.

"Excuse me? I do not act stupid!"

"Yes you do," she giggled.

"I'm offended," I turned as far away from her as the seat would allow.

"You're a big baby too," she smirked, "I'm probably more grown up than you."

"I'm only like that around you," I admitted, no longer joking, "you make me feel younger. More carefree."

She touched my cheek, her thumb caressing my skin. I turned back to her, staring into her beautiful blue eyes, which were full of happy sparkle.

I love you.

I heard the words in my head but Lilly hadn't said anything, her mouth hadn't moved. I considered the possibility she had used her 'powers' but quickly dismissed it. She'd promised she wouldn't and I believed her. It was just my imagination. The words still filled me with such happiness that I'd have to spend some time later thinking about it. Or perhaps a lot.

"I'm glad." She spoke. Her lips moved. No weirdness in my head this time. I was being ridiculous, my stupid brain making me hear the words I longed for her to say.

Longed for her to say? I wasn't, I didn't. We'd only been dating a few months. I wasn't longing for her to say anything. What the hell was wrong with me today? It must be my lack of sleep. I was going crazy because I was so tired.

Thing is I wasn't even that tired any more.

Fuck, stop!

"What are you thinking about?" Lilly asked.

"How much I adore those beautiful eyes," I covered my long silence. She blushed making me instantly forget everything going on in my head and smile. I brushed her hair out of her eyes and stroked her brow with my thumb. "You're so cute."

"I'm actually extremely sexy," she said with a wink.

"That too," I agreed and she grinned like an idiot.

"Flatterer," she laughed.

"I can't help it when you're so perfect," I said smoothly, and she shook her head no with a smile.

"You know how to butter me up, but it's not going to work."

"What isn't?" I was confused, did I have an ulterior-motive that I wasn't even aware of?

"Getting me to have sex with you here." She looked so proud, like she'd really caught me out, that I couldn't help but laugh.

"What made you think I was doing that?" I asked.

"You aren't?" The tiniest circles of pink formed on her cheeks.

"Is it working?" I countered and the circles blossomed into a painful blush.

"Yes," she whispered shyly.

My eyes widened and my pulse automatically increased. I expressed a low moan at the throbbing heat between my thighs which has her gorgeous blue eyes fixed on me in awe.

"We can't," I whispered, my words croaky and hoarse. "Not here."

"I don't care." It was a bluff, of course she cared. Lilly, the girl who was embarrassed when I tried to compliment her, would absolutely care if we were to make love on an aeroplane.

"I do," I didn't want to cause an argument by offending her. I wasn't sure if saying what I was thinking would actually be taken the wrong way but I didn't want to risk it. "Let's just sit and talk, or we could sleep if you're tired."

"Sleep," my girlfriend replied, her voice small with disappointment.

"I'm sorry babe," I felt a little bad for her but knew this was the better thing to do. She would've been so embarrassed when we were caught. And if she was touching me we would be caught for sure.

"Nah, it's okay, I'm being unreasonable." With that her smile was back and I breathed a sigh of relief. I hated when she was upset. "Do you want to sleep?"

I shrugged, "not bothered."

She pulled me to her and buried my head into her chest. I was surprised but sure as hell not complaining.

"I'm kind of tired," she admitted, whilst running her fingertips through my hair.

"I'm not," I replied. My breath tickled her skin and she pulled away giggling and curling in on herself slightly. I brushed back what hair had fallen in front of her shimmering blue eyes with a few soft caresses of her cheek.

"You get some rest then baby, I'll watch you or something."

"Creep," she laughed, then opened her arms. I pulled her towards me and wrapped mine around her. It was a little awkward and uncomfortable in the aeroplane seats but she liked sleeping in my arms and I can't say I didn't feel the same way. Her gentle breathing, how peaceful, how stunning she looked when she was asleep, the warmth of her body pressed against mine. Everything about it was amazing.

Damn, this girl had turned me into a sap.

"Goodnight baby," I whispered once she was breathing heavily.

I stroked the top of her head and let myself be consumed by my thoughts.

I didn't love her. I would convince myself of that. It was way too soon and I never fell for the women I dated. I liked her a lot, more than I had with anyone else but it wasn't love. I was mistaken. I was only feeling like this because these feelings were so intense. I wasn't sure if they would fade. I doubted it. All they'd done in the time I'd known her is grow. Reason said they would continue this way. I wasn't sure whether to be excited or terrified.

***

We landed an hour later. I had a headache and was in an awful mood because of it. Not to mention the things which had occupied my mind weren't making me anymore cheerful.

Lilly had woken up just before we had to get off the plane and now walked beside me towards the luggage pickup area. We didn't talk. She had only just woken so wasn't ready to have a full blown conversation yet, at least not anything past 'coffee?' and 'yes please'. I wouldn't have spoken even if she had consumed three cups of coffee. If I did I'd snap her head off and I did not enjoy relieving my foul mood on others. I could deal with it internally.

We reached baggage claim and waited beside the conveyer belt which displayed on screens that it was for our flight.

We collected our suitcases then started towards the exit. The other members of Lilly's family seemed to detect my current temper and stayed well away. About halfway through the airport Lilly fell behind. I payed it no mind at first, thinking she was tired and lagging due to that. After a few seconds passed and I'd traveled about ten paces away from her she called after me. I ground my teeth together as I turned, trying to find the steel somewhere to keep myself under control.

"Do you have a tissue?" Lilly asked her voice turning that nasally way it goes when your nose is blocked.

I nearly lost it then, nearly yelled at her for holding us up. For stopping me from getting home and enjoying a nice long shower before some pizza and my bed. It was becoming apparent that air travel did not agree with me. Somehow I kept myself together and curtly handed one over.

She'd had her hands over her nose before that but had to move one to take the tissue and when she did I caught a glimpse of red.

"Nosebleed?" I asked, suddenly far more concerned than a common nose bleed could warrant.

She nodded, "I've never had one before."

I pulled her to me and parted her hands, cleaning her up then giving her another tissue to hold under her nose.

"It due to changes in the atmosphere," I started, then launched into a full explanation of how the altitude had affect her nasal passageway.

She watched me with a grin on her face. When my lecture/joyous rant ended I smiled back and whispered, "what?"

"You're adorable like that."

"Like what?" I pretended to start sulking. "I'm always adorable."

"You went all teacher on me, reminds me of the good old days."

"Yeah, yeah," I rolled my eyes. My patience had worn thin and I now all I could think about was getting out of here. "Come on we're got to go."

I grabbed her hand and dragged her behind me to the exit.

She went home with her parents, at my request. I liked spending time with her but I'd been spending all my time with her recently. I still needed to be able to relax and be alone for a while. Plus I wasn't in the mood to keep her entertained tonight, if you catch my meaning.

My mood had been slightly improved with my rant and talking to my girlfriend but it still wasn't anywhere near my usual calm. Another reason I hadn't wanted Lilly home with me, it would've just ended in fighting.

My dark mood only darkened when I pulled up outside my bungalow. The door hadn't been closed properly and was hanging open, swinging slightly in the breeze.

I became enraged and threw open the car door and stormed towards my house.

What the fuck had Caitlin done now!?