Track Nine
Your POV
Daniela: Hey, I'm outside
You were waiting for that text, preparing yourself not to be nervous, but now seeing it.
..you're ready to shit your pants. You couldn't figure out why this girl made you so anxious.
Of course, it was because she's made you feel things you haven't felt in a long time.
But were you nervous because you're scared of yourself or her if this doesn't go well?
You finally got out of your thoughts when you remembered that you had a girl willing to get to know you better waiting downstairs. As you come out of your apartment elevator, there you see Daniela waiting, looking comfortable, no makeup, sweats, and all...still looking gorgeous as ever.
"Hey, finally, I thought I would have to go to every floor looking for your apartment," she said
"I'm sorry, I got a little distracted...but come on, let's go upstairs, then I can show you around?
"I'd love that," she responded.
You guys walk back to the elevator together, going up being the most awkward experience, making you wish you could've lived on any other floor to get out any faster.
Finally reaching your floor, you walk her to your door, "Mi casa su casa," you say.
"Mmm, let me find out if you know some Spanish y/n,"she responds.
"ehhh un poquito," you say, laughing a little.
You would think I knew more after taking it multiple times through middle school and high school.
..But that's the New York school system for you. "
You continue to show her around, your bedroom, your little gaming room set up, and a little home studio you had when you wanted to explore other things in music, just more privately. "Wanna sit, maybe in the living room?" "yeah of course," she responds
You guys settle, too far from each other but not too close either. You both kind of sit there not knowing what to say for a minute... "You watch anime?" you say to kind of help. "Not exactly always wanted to get into it, didn't know what to start with."
Now that caught your attention, "mmm, how about Death Note.
..I think it would be a great starter for you, mind if I put it on?
"you finish. "Of course, I'm sure it's good, it's a recommendation from you.
" You feel a little flutter in your stomach, that little comment making you feel good.
" Cool, Cool...you want water or anything?
" you say, " yeah waters good". "Okay, got it, and hey pay attention im telling you the show is good," pointing a finger at her jokingly.
"Okay, okay I will," she puts her hands up jokingly.
Walking towards your kitchen, you took a deep breath.
Telling yourself to calm down, get comfortable, stop acting like this is a life-or-death situation.
We're just gonna talk and chill out, it's gonna be okay", you try to convince yourself.
After you feel a little better, you walk back, giving her the water right back to your spot from before.
You both then watch the show together, answering the many questions she has throughout it.
But still wondering how to start this "talk".
"Y/N I can feel you thinking from over here... what's wrong?" she says
The anime keeps playing in the background, completely forgotten now.
She pulls back just enough to look at you, eyes searching your face. "Sorry," she murmurs, breath uneven. "I just—you were kind of going on a tangent. I could tell you were nervous and a lot was going through your head and a kiss felt like a way to calm you down..."
"Don't," you say softly, surprising yourself with how steady your voice sounds. "Don't apologize." The silence that follows isn't awkward. It's heavy. Charged. The kind that presses into your chest and demands honesty.
"You've been in my head," you admit, finally saying the thing you've been circling around for the longest. "And I hate that I tried to pretend you weren't." Daniela's shoulders relax a little at that, like she's been holding something in too.
"You keep pulling away," she says. Not accusing.
Just real. "And I didn't know if it was because you didn't want me. .. or because you wanted me too much."
That hits harder than you expect.
You exhale slowly, rubbing a hand over your face. "I don't really fall easily due to certain reasons," you say. "And when I feel it slipping, I back off. That's just how I survive."
She nods, eyes soft. "I figured." "But with you," you continue, meeting her gaze again, "everything feels closer. Faster. And I don't know how to deal or what to do with that."
Daniela shifts closer, not touching yet, just closing the space. "You don't have to know right now," she says quietly. "I just needed to know I wasn't imagining it." You look at her then. No walls. No protective mode. Just you.
"You weren't."
That's all it takes.
She kisses you again, this time without hesitation.
Crawling into your lap. Deeper. Hungrier.
You respond immediately, hand sliding to her waist, pulling her closer until the space between you disappears completely.
It's messy and real and nothing like the controlled distance you've been clinging to.
For a moment, you let yourself forget every reason you shouldn't.
When you finally break apart, foreheads resting together, both of you breathing a little too fast, you laugh quietly, almost in disbelief. "Well," Daniela murmurs, smiling softly. "That answered something."
You huff a breath. "Yeah. It did." You look behind you a little, realizing the death note is still on the tv. "You know, not saying I'm not enjoying what we have going on right now, but you're missing one of the best parts right now."
She hits your shoulder. " Are you serious y/n" she chuckles. "Listen, I love having a beautiful woman on my lap making out with me right now, but come onnnn I told you to pay attention," you say, laughing. "Well, you're a big distraction, Kaylan. It's not my fault." She responds, crossing her arms.
"Woahhh middle name... seriously, Daniela.
I'm hurt. "Wait, go back to that part about me being a distraction.
..cause that just means you think I'm hot.
"Oh shut up," she says, shifting to lie on your chest. You then get a little bit of courage after the laughter dies down.
"It's pretty late... Do you wanna stay the night?
You could take my bed, and I'll sleep on my couch.
I wouldn't want my beloved guest to be uncomfortable. "
"Yeah, why not.. But I don't have any clothes or anything.
"Don't worry I've got a lot of clothes for you.
" You then lead her to your bedroom, giving her one of your many Knicks shirts and a pair of boxers.
"The showers are right there to the left, towels and everything are in there for you.
..uh does get a little cold in here sometimes, but turning on the heat is too much for me, so if you want, grab a hoodie, just not my Sp5der hoodies.
..'' You say side-eyeing her. "But let me go, please enjoy the lovely water, okay. " You say walking out of the room.
Daniela's POV
"Ughhhh, they're so mmm omg," she thinks.
She then looks around your room a little more before getting in the shower.
Seeing the many different photos of your mom and siblings.
A photo of friends that she remembers you mentioning, you guys all met in high school and are still friends to this day.
Those being the main people you speak to every day, distance is the only thing in the way of hangouts.
Then she looks at the many sneakers you have realized this collection has been building for a while.
Eventually, she gets in the shower, and after getting out, she looks in your closet. She remembers you saying none of your Sp5der hoodies. "Hmmmm, but this blue one is too nice not to take...welp, they'll be okay," shrugging her shoulders.
Walking out back to the living room, you look back hearing her footsteps.
"Daniela...I know I just said out of the thousands of hoodies I have to not take my Sp5der hoodies.
" "and you still do..." You say. Daniela crawls into your lap, "and what are you gonna do about it?
" tilting her head. "Nothing," you say in a low tone.
" Exactly," she says, kissing you on the cheek. Now let's get back to the show.
No one's POV
As the show continues, you turn to look and see Daniela fall asleep after a while. That is well expected after a long day, so you decide to carry her to your room. As you lay her down and get ready to go back to the couch, she grabs your wrist.
"Stay. Please," in a sleepy voice
You contemplated it but eventually gave in, letting her get comfortable on you pulling the cover over both of you. You eventually doze off as well.
You don't define anything tonight. You don't promise what comes next.
But for the first time, you stop running.
And that feels like the most dangerous and honest thing you've done in a long time.