The girl smiled warmly, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment as his fingers brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the gentle touch sending a small, unexpected shiver down her spine. She let out a soft laugh, her voice light and teasing. "I mean, I’ll invite you over, but if you just start following me around, I can’t help but get a little nervous," she chuckled, her words carrying a hint of playfulness. Stalker boy, she thought again, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips, though it was more amusement than anything else. She couldn’t quite place it, but there was something about him that made her trust him more than she thought possible.

After all, the night before had been a mess—she’d been angry, maybe even a little reckless. And yet, he had been there, quietly taking control of the situation. He’d made sure she got home safely, tucked her into bed, and then left without any hint of crossing a line. It was rare. So many people would’ve tried something—anything, really—when she was that vulnerable. She shuddered at the thought, her stomach twisting with a sense of unease. She quickly tried to push the thought out of her mind. It was... not a nice one, and she wasn’t about to let it ruin the moment.

Her smile faded slightly as he spoke about his parents, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. She furrowed her brows in quiet concern. "So they do this to you a lot?" she asked softly, her voice gentle but full of care, as if she truly wanted to understand. Her gaze softened, and her lips parted as she tried to find the right words, but then she shook her head slightly, not wanting to dwell on the negativity.

She tilted her head, her lips curling into a playful grin as she tried to lighten the mood. "Tell you what," she said, her voice bright with the suggestion. "I’ll order some food tonight, and we can eat together." There was an undeniable warmth in her tone, a subtle kindness that made her words feel genuine. "I don’t want you eating alone. It just... seems really sad," she added, her voice dipping into a softer, more sincere note. She glanced at him for a moment, her expression full of unspoken empathy, as if she wanted to offer him some kind of comfort that his family clearly hadn’t. The idea of him being alone—especially over something as simple as dinner—struck her as wrong, and she wasn’t about to let him sit through it in silence.

Caleb smiled softly at her, listening to her thoughts as well as her voice and chcukled slightly when she called him a stalker, the reaction slipping past his lips. Caleb nodded when she asked about the reoccuring theme of leaving him home. "They're counting down the days till I move out." He said simply, looking down. His smile returned when she offered to get him food and stay with him. He nodded again, looking at her. "Thanks" He said softly

She raised an eyebrow when she heard his chuckle, her expression shifting to one of genuine curiosity. What’s so funny? she wondered, the question slipping from her lips almost instinctively. "What?" she asked with a soft laugh, her eyes searching his face for some clue as to what had caused his amusement. As far as she was aware, she hadn’t said anything particularly funny, but there was something about his smile, that hint of warmth in his eyes, that made her feel like she had missed something.

A grin tugged at the corners of her lips as she leaned back slightly, her head cocking to one side. "Oh? Are you planning on leaving soon then?" she asked, her voice light and teasing, but there was an underlying curiosity there too, her mind turning over the possibility of him leaving. The thought of him walking away made her feel a little... uneasy, though she couldn’t place exactly why. She gently bumped his side with her shoulder, the small contact warm and familiar, but she didn’t pull away, instead staying lightly pressed against his shoulder, a quiet comfort in the proximity.

"You should come stay with me," she chuckled softly, her tone playful and teasing, though there was a flicker of sincerity beneath the jest. She really didn’t want him spending Christmas alone, and the thought of him being by himself during the holidays tugged at something inside her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t right, and if there was any way she could fix it, she would. Maybe she could convince her family to let him at least join them for Christmas dinner or something. It was the least she could do, after all. She couldn’t bear the idea of him being alone during a time meant for family and togetherness.

She nodded lightly when he thanked her, offering another quick, bright grin in return, though her mind was still on the thought of Christmas. "What do you want?" she asked lightly, pulling up the pizza menu on her phone with a quick swipe. The menu was already open in front of her, the options laid out, but she was still distracted by the warmth of his presence beside her.

Caleb shook his head. "Nothing." He smiled when she asked about him leaving. "As soon as I can. Though, being alone and moving out aren't very different with the way i've grown up." He explained, warmth radiating down his arm as she leaned against him. "I'm not picky." He said when she asked about his pizza choice. He couldn't help the grin that stretched across his face as her mental voice kept going back to him.

The girl looked up at him, her face lighting up with a goofy grin as he claimed there was nothing going on. She rolled her eyes playfully, but it was all in good fun, the amusement dancing in her gaze. You can definitely read my mind, she thought, a small laugh bubbling up inside her. The thought made her grin even more.

"No, you chuckled at something—what was it?" she asked, her tone light and playful, a teasing edge in her voice as she leaned in closer. Without warning, she lightly poked between his ribs, her fingers quick and mischievous as she tried to tickle him. A soft laugh escaped her as she pulled back slightly, still smiling. "I’m not going to let up, so you have to tell me!" she mused, her voice almost sing-song, as if daring him to resist.

Her playful expression faltered slightly when he mentioned his parents again. The words seemed to hang in the air, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness for him. It sounded so... lonely. The fact that it was all the same for him—the moving out, the being left alone, all just blending together in a quiet, isolating routine. She found herself frowning, her concern slipping through her teasing facade. "Has it always been like this?" she asked softly, her voice carrying a quiet empathy. If it had been this way since he was young, no wonder he was so quiet and reserved. It was just the life he had known, the reality he had grown up with.

She leaned back slightly, her brow furrowing as she gave him a thoughtful look. "Well, where are you gonna move to? Away from here, I assume?" she asked lightly, trying to sound casual, but she couldn’t help the slight edge of curiosity in her voice. It would have been a big change for her... but he seemed so ready for it.

Her attention shifted briefly to her phone as she glanced down at the menu, and then she leaned in again, holding it up for him to see. "You pick something," she chirped, her voice light and inviting, a playful glint still in her eyes. She was still keen to keep the mood light, even as the conversation took a more serious turn. It was her way of offering him some small comfort, as if to remind him that, despite everything, they could still enjoy these little moments together.

"I just thought of something." He half-lied, smiling at her. He gently pushed her with his shoulder. Caleb just silently nodded when she asked if it had always been this way. "I'm gonna definitely move outta here, but probably somewhere for college and get a job." He admitted. At the mention of food, he shook his head. "I'm terrible at making a decision" He admitted, a smirk playing on the edge of his lips

"Just....something I heard a while ago." He said, dodging her question in full. "Get a buisness degree." He said simply, smiling at her. When she pushed him, he grinned and chuckled softly. He looked in her eyes and blindly picked something, tapping on it to add to their order. "There. I picked something." He stated, pressing her hand playfully down

The woman cocked her head at him, her expression playful but tinged with a hint of frustration as she realized she wasn’t getting much out of him. She let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes with a smile. "Fine, whatever," she said with a light laugh, though her tone made it clear she was just messing around. It was all part of the fun. "A business degree," she mused, her voice softening as she considered the idea, her curiosity piqued.

She looked him up and down thoughtfully, her eyes scanning him with a more appraising look as she tried to picture him in a different light. After a moment, she nodded slowly, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, I can see you in a suit," she mused, her voice laced with a playful admiration. She really could. Her mind ran wild for a moment, imagining him in a sharp suit, looking every bit the professional. Yeah, he'd look good in a suit, she thought with a quiet smile. The thought was almost enough to make her lose track of the conversation, her eyes lingering on him for just a moment too long.

Then, as if catching herself, she locked eyes with him, her face lighting up with brightness and playfulness. There was a mischievous glint in her gaze, as if she were daring him to react.

Morgan glanced back down at her phone, raising an eyebrow at him with a laugh. "Four cheese? Good choice," she commented with a grin, her voice playful, clearly amused by the simplicity of the decision - or, the randomness of the decision. She reached over and patted his chest gently, letting her hand rest there for a second as she allowed him to sit back up. The light touch was almost casual, but it was the kind of small moment that held a sense of ease between them.

Caleb's eyes slightly lit up on their own accord when she thought of him in a suit. He chuckled, locking eyes with her, causing his smile to become a grin. "Yeah, I put a lot of thought into that choice" he joked, feeling her hand on his chest. He felt like she wasn't the kind of person who would make fun of him or hurt him. He felt the walls he'd worked so hard to keep up slowly crumble away, bit by bit. He placed his hand on hers, a friendly gesture that he wished could be more. He realized it would be a little before the walls would entirely fall, and hoped she was patient enough to wait for him. He found himself wondering what life would be like with her by his side, supportive along with fun and happy.