laying in pope’s bed feels like the coziest, safest place in the world. the room is dimly lit, with a few stray beams of moonlight slipping through the blinds. his arms are around you, and it’s a bit awkward at first. pope’s not exactly used to this level of closeness, and he’s fidgeting, trying to find a comfortable position that doesn’t make him feel overly conscious of every single movement.

after a few minutes, though, he starts to relax, and you feel his arms naturally settle around you, a soft sigh escaping his lips. he's still a little stiff, though, so you take the lead, gently resting your head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"is this okay?" he asks, his voice a soft whisper, a bit nervous but also incredibly sweet. he's worried about doing something wrong or making you uncomfortable, and the fact that he’s so considerate just makes you fall for him a little harder.

you smile, snuggling closer. "perfect."

you talk quietly for a while, about random things, funny stories from the week, things you both want to do this summer, dreams that feel far off but are fun to imagine together. pope’s voice is soft, and he stumbles a little over his words, but he’s slowly loosening up. you even catch him laughing under his breath when you bring up something silly, the sound vibrating through his chest.