youd barely even shifted when you felt billies side of the bed get lighter. your eyes stayed shut, pretending to still sleep but your heart knew better. she hadnt touched you once all night

you waited just in case she might come back but when the quiet sound of the bathroom faucet started followed by the soft clink of her toothbrush hitting the counter, you slowly sat up

the air in the room was cool on your skin as you swung your legs off the bed and padded toward the bathroom, barefoot, still in the little shorts and bra youd slept in. your chest tightened slightly with every step, remembering how she didnt even look at you when you came to bed last night

the argument hadnt been anything explosive. there was no yelling or door slamming. it was just that sharp quiet that cuts deeper than any scream. you teased her too far in front of your friends. something you said about her never finishing anything she starts was meant as a joke but it landed wrong. you saw it in her eyes even as she laughed along but by the time you realized, she already shut herself off

you pushed the bathroom door open slowly. she was standing at the sink, her hair falling forward a little as she brushed her teeth, not even glancing at you in the mirror

"hey" you said softly

she didnt stop brushing. she didnt even answer. she just kept looking at the sink like it had something interesting to say

you stepped up behind her, wrapping your arms gently around her waist. she tensed at first, just for a breath but didnt move away. that was something

you leaned in and kissed her shoulder and murmured into her skin with your lips brushing over the curve of it “im sorry about last night. i wasnt thinking. i thought i was being funny but i get it now. i hurt you”

still nothing. just the sound of brushing

you pressed your cheek against her back, harder this time “can you stop freezing me out though? please? talk to me baby. i miss you and youre right here”

finally she spit into the sink, rinsed her mouth, and set her toothbrush down. you watched her in the mirror with your arms still around her. she met your eyes through the glass and for a second she looked like she might say nothing but then she sighed, reaching up to rest one of her hands over yours where it was curled around her stomach

“i didnt like how you said it” she said quietly “and not just in front of people. it made me feel small”

“i know” you whispered, tightening your arms around her “youre not small. youre one of the biggest, brightest things in my life. i swear.”

she looked at you again in the mirror, softer this time. her lips twitched like they wanted to smile but werent quite ready

“so stop saying dumb stuff” she muttered, turning slightly in your arms and resting her forehead against yours

you nodded, nose brushing hers “i promise i will. or at least ill check myself before i open my big dumb mouth”

that made her actually laugh and then she finally kissed you. it was slow and lazy like she didnt want to be mad anymore and like she missed you too

“i still might make you suffer a little” she teased, pulling out her phone to snap a picture of the two of you, her arm wrapped around your bare waist now

“you already have” you grinned, resting your chin on her shoulder “i slept alone in a bed you were in”