fourtythree
Aaliyah's POV
The next two weeks slip into something dangerously perfect.
Not dramatic.
Not chaotic.
Not painful.
Just soft.
Warm.
Our version of normal in the cutest, stupidest, most heart-melting way.
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1. Morning Coffee Dates (aka: Leo Spoils Me O'Clock)
Every other morning, Leo waits outside my building with a coffee.
Not just any coffee.
My coffee.
Blended.
Sweet.
Extra caramel.
Practically dessert.
He hands it to me with this sleepy half-smile like it's our secret.
"You spoil me," I tell him.
He shrugs, but his ears go pink.
"You deserve it."
I melt every damn time.
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2. Grocery Store Chaos (he pushes the cart and I terrorize him)
We go grocery shopping together on Saturday.
Leo pushes the cart like a husband.
One hand on the bar, the other resting casually on my lower back.
I toss unnecessary snacks in.
He sighs dramatically.
"You don't need this."
"Yes I do."
"You're not even gonna eat it."
"Watch me."
He puts them back.
I put them back in.
He gives up eventually—
but not before taking pictures of me dancing in the aisle.
"Delete that," I say.
"No," he answers, smirking.
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3. Study Dates Where We Don't Study At All
We set up in the library with laptops and iced drinks.
We end up:
· sharing one headphone
· whisper-laughing at TikToks
· him tracing circles on my thigh
· me playing with his chain
· distracting each other every three minutes
We get zero work done.
But honestly?
Worth it.
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4. Hoodies. Hoodies Everywhere.
I've stolen three of his hoodies.
Not on purpose.
I just walk out wearing one and he lets me.
"That one was my favorite," he mutters.
I blink innocently.
"You want it back?"
"No," he grumbles. "Looks better on you."
I kiss him for that one.
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5. Cooking Together
One night, we decide to cook dinner.
Meaning: I cook, he stands behind me with his arms around my waist, occasionally kissing my shoulder.
"Leo, I need to stir this."
"You can stir it while being loved," he mumbles against my neck.
I sigh.
"I'm going to burn something."
"Leo."
"Sorry."
He's not sorry.
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6. Couch Cuddles + Movie Nights + His Heart Beating Under My Ear
My favorite nights.
Lights low.
Blanket warm.
His body a furnace.
I curl into him, head on his chest, his fingers running through my hair in slow, absent movements.
Sometimes we talk.
Sometimes we nap.
Sometimes we just breathe.
But one night, half-asleep, he murmurs:
"You feel like home."
I pretend I didn't hear it.
But I did.
And I haven't stopped thinking about it.
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7. Walks Around Campus Holding Hands Like We're in a Romance Movie
He holds my hand everywhere.
Firm, warm, steady.
Every time someone passes us, he does this subtle thumb rub across the back of my hand.
Like a silent reminder.
Like, she's mine.
Like, I'm hers.
Like, this is real.
Sometimes he kisses my temple in public.
Which should be illegal.
Because it turns my bones to soup.
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8. The Sleepover That Accidentally Turns Into Four Days
I stay over one night.
Then another.
Then another.
His toothbrush mysteriously appears in a new holder beside mine.
One of my hair bonnets is now on his nightstand.
He stops pretending any of this is temporary.
One morning, he wakes up, sees me wearing his shirt again, and whispers:
"I could get used to this."
I bury my face in his chest so he won't see me grin like an idiot.
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9. TikTok Couple Moment (uninvited, chaotic, perfect)
Zaria forces us into a couples TikTok.
I'm embarrassed.
Leo is suspiciously good at it.
Zaria squeals, "OMG he's like boyfriend material or whatever."
Leo wraps an arm around my waist and kisses my cheek dead-center on camera.
I go red.
The video gets 20k views.
We both pretend not to care.
We both care.
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10. His Room Slowly Becoming Half Mine
He buys:
· a pink blanket
· makeup wipes
· my favorite snacks
· a satin pillowcase
· a little spot on his dresser for my jewelry
· and leaves a drawer empty with a quiet, "For you... if you want."
I nearly cry.
I kiss him instead.
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I'm sitting on his couch with my legs over his lap, his hand on my thigh, his lips brushing my temple, and I think:
This is what real feels like.
This is what soft feels like.
This is what safe feels like.
This is what we're becoming.
And when he looks at me:
I know the truth.