DON’T STOP (Lila and Darrell) novel Chapter 82

hapter 82

brain kept falling outside, steady and soothing, drumming against the windows li

de The living room was dim, only the soft blue fieker from the muted 2V lighting our fear an the couch, knees drawn up, hoodie sleeves fogged over her hands, taring at the screen withone other end, close enough to feel the warmth coming off her, but not close enough to crived her

d been like this for almost an hour. Not touching. Not talking, Just breathing in the same spree

couldn’t stay quiet anymore.

torned her head slowly. Her eyes were red-rimmed, lashes still damp from earlier tears. She looked small water be nket, fragile in a way that made my chest ache.

need to say something.” I said, my voice low. “I know tonight isn’t the time. I know you’re hurting o tinch von a be cathe. But if I don’t say it now, I might never get the chance.”

he didn’t speak. Just watched me-waiting, guarded.

ubbed my palms on my thighs and took a slow breath.

like you. More than like you. I’ve fallen for you-deep, stupid, can’t-think-straight deep It started a something ter nething physical, something I could control. But somewhere along the way it changed. You changed it. Then var mins sight back when you wanted to give up. The way you laughed that one time in the car when my engine wouldn’t

you held on to me tonight like I was the only thing keeping you from falling apart.

oked down at my hands for a second, then back at her.

now I messed up. I know I pushed too hard, took too much, made you feel like you were just something we

I did that. I hate that I made you doubt yourself. But I’m not that guy anymore, not with you. I wont is de beeTEAKDO be here. Not for sex, not for control, not for anything except you. If you’ll let me try”

stared at me for a long moment. Tears welled up again, but they didn’t fall right away. Her lige partiet tum bent), the lowed.

ike you too,” she whispered. The words came out shaky, almost surprised, like she was hearing them the due fins the self. “I’ve liked you for a while. Even when I hated it. Even when I told myself it was wrong will will be pur but know how to let myself feel it without breaking. Didn’t Lara tell you? I saw you both acting duifish suster

nice stretched between us, and then I nodded quietly.

o she moved slowly, like she was afraid of shattering something. She slid closer across the couch. I then ter hathea

pped her face with both hands, thumbs brushing the tears from her cheeks. Her skun

crying. I leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away.

I kiss you?” I asked quietly.

odded small and certain.

ips met softly at first tentatively and carefully, like we were both testing if it was

faintly of salt from her tears. Then deeper. Slower. Our tongues brusted gently, at aporte de

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Chapter 82

between us. She leaned into the, fingers curling into my hoodie, pulling me closer. I kissed her like she ing precious, like I was afraid she’d disappear if I moved ten fast.

When we finally parted, foreheads resting together, breathing hard, I whispered against her lips:

“Let me stay tonight. Just to hold you. No pressure. No expectations. Just.. let me be here.”

She nodded against my shoulder.

We moved to her bedroom in silence. She climbed under the covers first-hoodie still on, leggings still on. I slid in behind her, fully clothed except for kicking off my shoes. I wrapped my arm around her waist, chest pressing to her back. She fit against me perfectly-small, warm, and real.

I felt her exhale long and shaky, like she’d been holding her breath for weeks.

I kissed the back of her neck once and softly.

“Goodnight, Bella.”

“Goodnight,” she whispered.

The rain kept falling outside, steady and soothing.

Her breathing slowed against my chest deeply and even.

My heartbeat thumped against her back strongly and steadily.

We eventually slept soundly, our arms around each other.

***

A week had passed since the burial. Seven long, quiet days filled with rain, late-night talks, and Bella slowly piecing herself back together. We were back on campus now. Classes had resumed as if nothing had happened, even though everything had changed.

I was walking across the quad toward my 10 a.m. lecture when I saw Bella.

She was running, actually running, straight toward me. Her backpack bounced against her back. Her hair flew behind her. A huge smile lit up her face for the first time in what felt like forever. My heart did a hard flip in my chest.

Before I could say anything, she launched herself at me.

Γ ́

1 caught her mid-air. My arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her so her feet left the ground. She laughed, bright, real and breathless. Her legs wrapped around my hips. Her arms tightened around my neck. I held her close. One hand supported her under her thighs. The other rested across her back to steady her so she would not fall.

“Bella” I said. My voice was low and amused. “People are watching.”

And they were. Students walking by slowed down. Heads turned. Phones were already out, snapping photos and recording videos. Whispers spread. A few people laughed. A couple whistled. We stood right in the middle of the main path, completely exposed

She did not care

She pulled back just enough to look at me. Her eyes sparkled. Her cheeks flushed from running.

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Chapter 82

Chiess what?” she said. She grinned so wide it made my cheat ache in the best way.

I raised an eyebrow and kept holding her up. “What?”

She laughed lightly and teased me. “No, guess.”

I pretended to think. My lips twitched. “You won a prize?”

She burst out laughing again. Her head tipped back. The sound was pure and free. “No! I got my overall results. In the final year, everything is calculated. My GPA is 4.78. One of the highest in my class Top three, Darrell. Top three!”

Pride hit me like a wave. It was warm and overwhelming. I pulled her in tighter. One hand slid up to cradle the back of her head. My fingers threaded through her hair.

“I am so proud of you,” I said against her ear. “I am really, really proud. And I know your from would be so proud too.” Her arms tightened around my neck. She sniffed once. She buried her face in my shoulder and hugged me harder, as if she were trying to squeeze all the happiness and grief into one embrace.

I patted her hair down gently and smoothed the strands that had gotten messy from running. “You did it, Bella. You really did it.”

She nodded against me. Her voice was muffled. “I did.”

We stayed like that. She stayed wrapped around me. My arms held her steady. The crowd around us grew. More phones came out. More whispers spread. Someone even cheered quietly. But none of it mattered.

I did not care who was watching.

She did not care either.

For the first time in weeks, we were just happy. Together. In the middle of everything.

I set her down slowly but kept my arms around her waist. She stayed close. Her hands rested on my chest. She looked up at me with that smile I had not seen in so long.

“Congratulations,” I said again. My thumb brushed her cheek.

She leaned up on her toes and kissed me. It was quick and soft, right there in front of everyone.

The quad erupted with quiet cheers, a few “awwws,” and “ewwws”, more photos and videos.

We ignored it all.

T

I hugged her again. My chin rested on top of her head. I breathed her in.

She was okay.

We were okay.

And right now, that was everything.