Things Get Too Close (TF)

Brian quickly pulled away from Juliet's lips, "What are you doing?" Juliet let out a low hum, pushing back against his lips. The teen let out a weak exhale, tentatively starting to return the kiss. Then, Juliet felt his hands on her shoulders, physically pushing her away, "Wait, no...Juliet, no." Brian denied; the very words looked like they physically hurt for him to say.

"It's okay; I'm not going to do that again. I wouldn't blame you again, I...I can't; I'd feel too awful." Juliet swiftly reassured, but as she pushed back in, she found Brian's hold keeping her back, "Don't act like you don't want this."

Brian sighed in defeat, shaking his head, "What I want and what we're gonna do aren't the same thing,"

"What are you talking about?"

"We can't do this again."

Juliet finally pulled away, sitting up straight and glaring at the teen, "Oh what, got what you wanted the first time, and now you're satisfied? Why have to deal with the same girl twice, right?!"

"No, that's not what I'm saying." Brian's tone was sharp and firm.

"God, why did I let myself fall for this stupid shit? I should have fucking known better." Juliet jumped up, but Brian caught her by the wrist.

"Will you stop!" Juliet looked back at the blonde; she had seldom heard him ever raise his voice before. "For fuck sake, Juliet. Our fucking without thinking got us into this mess in the first place. Now that we just got it settled, you think I want that to happen again?!"Juliet yanked her hand free from his grasp, yet something inside her told her not to leave. So instead, the brunette merely took a step back, crossing her arms, silently staring back at Brian. "Look, it's not that I don't want to; believe me, Juliet, I could never have thought of a reason to tell you no until this very exact second. I'm saying no because all that this will do is make you hate me and yourself more."

"I...I don't need you to look out for me, Brian."

Brian's lips tightened, and a wave of what Juliet could only recognize as disappointment washed over his face. "Julie, you can be mad at me for this if you want, but I'm not gonna make an even worse mistake than I already have. I fucked up that night at the lodge, let my dick think for me, but I'm not letting it happen again. You came here to talk to me, and I won't take advantage of that. You already said you were confused; you said that, not me. "

Juliet diverted her gaze, taking an inching step back, "So...So what? Why should you care about that? I'll figure it out. Did you consider that maybe I just wanted to feel better?"

"Juliet, if there is one thing I know better than anyone else, doing that isn't about to make you feel better. It'd just make it all a hell of a lot worse."

An awkward silence lingered between the two for close to a minute; Juliet couldn't find the strength to even look at Brian, feeling more than embarrassed while the blonde's gaze didn't break off her. As much as Juliet hated to admit it, Brian was right about...well, everything right now. It made sense, he had already lived the life of an asshole, and now with her mind relaxing, she couldn't believe she had just tried to jump him again. Why did she keep doing that?

Juliet reached a hand up, tucking some of her raven hair behind her ear, "I -- I think I should go." Her cheeks were flush, and her eyes stayed on the floor as she spoke, "Thanks for talking to me, and...fuck -- Sorry about whatever the hell this just was..."

"Julie, wait," Brian stood up and, with two quick steps, caught the girl from rushing off, "I wasn't trying to turn you away just now. I don't want you to go, and I don't feel weird about it. Maybe a little let down that I had this realization. Last month I would have given anything to have you in my room for ten minutes." Brian lightly joked.

Juliet cocked her head, her eyes narrowed in frustrated confusion, "What are you trying to say, Brian? I really don't need mixed messages right now; I'm confused enough as it is!"

"That's my point!" Brian warmly smiled back, "I want you to stay, Julie. I think -- Hell, fuck it. -- Straight up, I know I have feelings for you. I don't want to think I don't. I only want us to slow down and see what happens."

"Brian..." Juliet winced, "I told you, you and me --"

"Can't happen, I know, I know. I'm not trying to push it, but all I'm saying is.." Brian glanced at his bed and then back to Julie, "If you were willing to fuck me again a few minutes ago, would it really be so bad if we just spent some time watching some tv together?" Juliet suddenly felt a twist in her stomach, and her heart was beating a little faster, "Come on. You've been having just as shitty of a time as I've been having. You got nowhere else to be tonight. Why not hang out? Hmm? What's the harm?"

Juliet's lips rolled in as she nervously chewed on them, "I...I guess so..." Brian clapped his hands, quickly grabbing his remote and lowering the television again, "But this is only because I still feel bad," Brian let out a chuckle and nodded, "And only for a little while! Like one movie, max."

"Absolutely, one movie, and then you can go home, and we put all this behind us." Juliet hesitated for just a moment and then kicked off her shoes, following Brian onto the bed.

One movie turned into two and then into three. Before Juliet knew it, it was already pushing past three in the morning, and she still found herself in bed with Brian White. True to his word, Brian hadn't made a single move on her in all the hours, and that was both surprising and frustrating for the brunette. She knew he wanted to; there was no denying it, but he didn't act on his impulses as she expected. Brian was acting like someone else, someone like...well, someone like Kenny if she really had to make a comparison. And as much as that didn't make sense and went against everything she knew about him, it had genuinely brought her a lot of comfort during the last few hours.

So much so that by the time the second movie was midway through, Juliet had slid down on the bed and found her head on Brian's shoulder. Not long after that, his arm was around her, resting over her waist. And then, it was **** that she also slid her arm over his toned stomach. Movie three was spent utterly snugged with the man she was supposed to hate yet couldn't seem to anymore.

Lifting her eyes, she found Brian's drifting shut, "Are you falling asleep?"

"Trying not to," Brian murmured back, "But it's late, Julie..."

"Yeah, it really is...sorry,"

"It's cool," Brian yawned, his eyes fully shutting, "You don't have to go...you can stay here if you want."

"Yeah?"

"Of course. I'd never send you away."

"I think I'm really starting to understand that."

Brian's lips curled into a small smile at the response, but it wasn't even another minute before Juliet heard his breathing steady. The softest of snores left his nose. Juliet reached down, pulling the blanket up over both their bodies, and she rested her head back down on his shoulder, shutting her eyes as well. A wave of peace and contentment overcame her; for the briefest of moments, she wasn't with Brian White; she was just with a guy that made her feel safe and comforted. Someone she wanted to stay with and see again...and again, and again. He'd never send me away; he means that I can tell. He really likes me... Juliet smiled at the thought.

Then at once, the brunette's blue eyes sprang open, her heart slammed hard in her chest, and a dose of reality hit her like an oncoming truck. What the fuck am I thinking?! Brian White?! Brian Fucking White?! No! Juliet shook Brian's arm off her body and, with care not to wake him, slid her way out of bed. I can't fucking like him. No way. Not this guy. Brian is -- I don't give a fuck if he looks like he's changed. A tiger doesn't change its stripes! I need to get out of here! I need to clear my fucking head! I need -- I just need to fucking leave right now. Juliet snatched her shoes off the floor and sprinted out, leaving Brian fast asleep in his bed, none the wiser.