..

The sun shined bright, even through closed eyes. A chill danced across Dray's exposed skin, waking up her mind a little more. She laid her hands above her head and stretched through her toes. A low guttural noise escaped her and her limbs fell lax against the bed. She pulled the sheet under her chin to cozy back up in the covers.

Her breath hitched in her throat. She didn't sleep with a sheet.

Dray sprung up with wide eyes. A quick scan of the room almost ended in whiplash. The bedroom looked plain with different colored wood furnishes.

Suddenly, a warm feeling washed over her. This mismatched furniture in a small room reminded her of home—past and present. She remember now and recalled falling asleep during the movie at Wells' place.

Her face scrunched up. Hopefully, she didn't drool.

A deep breath in and out led Dray to a new discovery. Something smelt awfully good.

Dray pulled back the blankets and slowly got out of the bed. She made it as best as she could and awkwardly patted the covers once finished. She felt unsure about staying the night in a man's bed who may or may not be riding into something more than just friend territory.

Her cheeks puffed out with air and she let it out in a noisy exhale. She threw her hair up in a messy bun, using the hair tie that dug into her wrist during the night. Nodding her head and mentally forcing herself to be prepared even if she had to fake it, she finally stepped out of the room.

The sounds of metal clinking together drew her to the kitchen and she found Wells with his back to her. She hoped he cooked bacon. A sassy comment on the tip of her tongue fell flat when her eyes found the makeshift bed on the couch.

Her head tipped back. "You should've left me on the couch, Wells. It's your house," she walked closer, peering around him, "and your bed," she added as an afterthought.

A pancake flipped high in the air and landed back in the middle of the pan. Wells winked over his shoulder. "Now, what kind of man would I be if I did that?"

Dray rolled her eyes and smiled. "Thank you," she said and moved to the breakfast bar. She sat in front of one of two place settings.

Wells slid some pancakes and bacon on her plate. "You're welcome, Dray."

The sweet, sweet smell of food overcame the tender moment and Dray became very aware of just how hungry she was. Her stomach growled to confirm it. "What time is it?" She scooped a bite of pancake into her mouth after slathering it in butter and maple syrup.

"Just after nine," Wells said. "You didn't have anything to do this morning, I hope." He raised his eyebrows and sat down with his own full plate.

Dray shook her head and swallowed. "Not really and wow, these are good." Her face brightened and she threw more bites in her mouth.

"Good and thank you. It's my mother's recipe." He smiled, looking down at his plate.

Sensing the sincerity of the moment, Dray tried swallowing the pound of food in her mouth to say something, but only managed a chubby cheek closed mouth smile.

Wells responded with a grin.

She coughed once the food went down, slightly choking, and dropped her fork, letting it clatter against the plate and ruin the moment. She scrunched her nose. Had she always been this weird with men?

Probably.

"So, what is on the agenda for today?" she asked to open up the conversation she actually wanted to have. She wanted to start investigating, but eagerness didn't seem like the right attitude for this situation.

Wells placed down his fork to wipe his face with a napkin. "We could explore and find more places for you to take pictures or hang out downtown? Suppose to be really nice out today."

Her mouth drew into a straight line and she threw caution out the window. "Let's go investigate."

His smile curled up on one side of his mouth. "I figured." He took a sip of milk before digging back into his food. "We can go over to my cousin's place," he said after taking a small bite. "My aunt and uncle kept her condo to rent out, but haven't been able to empty it out yet."

Dray played with a piece of bacon before tearing it apart and placing a strip in her mouth. Her heart dropped a little. Despite her excitement, she kept reminding herself this was as much a murder case as it was a mystery.

She nodded in agreement, stuffing the last of the food in her mouth rather than letting more words come out. They finished breakfast in silence, but fortunately it graduated to a comfortable, normal kind of silence.

After Dray cleaned her plate and emptied her glass, she walked to sink and washed her dishes. "So, I should probably go home and get ready, then."

Wells reached around her to put his own plate under the running water. "Thanks," he whispered in her ear.

She scoffed at his sly move to get out of cleaning. She also avoided his gaze and concentrated on the soapy water, quickly scrubbing the dishes. She felt Wells back away and probably leave the kitchen. Flicking water off her hands, she dried the dishware in a towel before setting everything on the counter.

"Okay!" She yelled, rounding the counter and swinging her bag over her shoulder. "Be back soon!"

Wells sat on the couch with a relaxed grin.

Dray raced out the door with a red face. Slamming the door behind her, she realized it probably didn't block out her embarrassed whine she instantly let out on the steps.

She looked up to the sky on her walk back home. She couldn't believe she ran out of his house. Actually, she could, but she didn't want to. Dray honestly thought her game would have improved a little by now, but it had been awhile.

"Hey, stranger!"

Her head snapped back down to see a much more pleasant Middleton in her path. "Hey, Peter." Stopping in front of him on the sidewalk, she smiled. "How are you?"

His grin stretched ear to ear. "Great! I'm doing really well and I see you are, too," he mused, darting his eyes back and forth between Wells' house and Dray.

She sighed. "Wells is my friend. I think I'm allowed to visit," she said and crossed her arms tight over her chest.

"Hey, hey," Peter waved his hands, "I'm not my brother, okay? You do you and you do Wells, yeah?"

A little tension broke in Dray's stance and she threw her face into her palm. "Oh my gosh." She literally just got rid of the warm sensation in her face.

Peter laughed loudly and gently knocked her shoulder. "I like Wells. He's a cool guy."

She peeked through her fingers and upon seeing his causal smile, dropped her hand. "Thanks, Peter." Her thanks was less than enthusiastic, but she was grateful for his unbiased ways.

His smile softened. "I promise not everyone sees Wells as a bad guy. Gossip in a small town—powerful and Porter likes to amp it up. He's got nothing better do." His wide grin returned and he scrunched his nose. "He's not cool."

This time, Dray laughed. "I'm glad we're friends, Peter," she said, "and I'd love to chat more, but I've got to go home and get ready."

"Oh, date time!" Peter stepped back. "I get it. No worries."

"Wait, no," she started, but he had already shouted goodbye, practically running away and leaving a once again flustered Dray behind. The air left her chest through her nose and she continued on home, shaking her head.

She really did need to get ready.

After quick rinsing down in the shower and brushing her teeth, Dray put on some clean clothes. She had just laced up her sneakers when the rev of an engine erupted outside. Grabbing her essentials she had tossed on the floor by the front door, Dray left, locking her door on the way out.

"Oh, that's a motorcycle." She stopped short on the top step.

Wells parked in front on her house on the street. His helmet cradled in his lap and he stared at her with a smirk. "It is."

Dray nodded to herself the whole way down to him. "Oh my," she whispered, taking the extra helmet he held out for her. She slid it over her long hair. A mantra of just do, don't think repeated in her head as she climbed over the seat and locked her hands around his torso. Tight.

He tugged on his own helmet and revved the engine again. "You ready?"

"No," she said immediately and tightened her grip. She could feel Wells laugh, but the sound of the bike overpowered everything and before she could register what was happening, the wind tangled in her hair. She shoved her helmet clad face in his back and closed her eyes.

..

[EDITED OCTOBER 9, 2021]

Is that some trust I see forming over here? :)

Thanks for reading!  I hit 100 reads today! Woo!

Drop a line down below, yeah? 

Also, how about a quick shout out to arc-eol? Thanks for making feel like my story is worthwhile! :)