Morgan smiled lightly when she saw the way he seemed to light up. Good, she thought to herself, feeling a warmth spread inside her. At least he was comfortable enough to smile and laugh with her. That was really all she wanted from him right now—a sign that he was starting to ease up, even just a little. She leaned against him once they had settled, a comfortable stillness settling between them, her body pressed gently against his. She let the quiet linger as she added a few more things to their order—some sides, ice cream, drinks, all of it. Her fingers danced over the screen of her phone, mindlessly choosing the things she liked best, but it felt easy. Relaxed.

"Yeah, well, it’s one of my favorites, so it works pretty well," she hummed lightly, glancing at him with a grin that showed off her teeth, clearly enjoying the moment. She couldn’t help it—something about the way he seemed more at ease made her happy. She felt the connection, small but undeniable.

As she sat there, her hand absentmindedly found his back, and she began to run her fingers up and down it in a light, soothing motion, almost without thinking. Her attention drifted back to her phone, her focus on confirming the order, but her touch stayed soft against his skin, the rhythm almost comforting.

After a moment, she shrugged gently and ordered everything for a couple of hours' time. "We can get a movie or something on and have a feast," she chirped lightly, her voice full of warmth and playfulness. She had this sense of ease now, the kind that came from being in the company of someone who was finally letting his guard down.

As she glanced at him, the sight of him lit up like this made him seem so much younger—more relaxed, less guarded, just enjoying the moment. It was really very sweet, and she couldn’t help the grin that stretched across her face as she took a mental snapshot of the image in front of her. The way his eyes softened, the way his smile was brighter than she’d seen before—it was a small victory, and she burned it into her memory.

Caleb watched her and chuckled at her suggestion of a movie and feast. "If that's what you want, then let's do it" he said, the walls chipping away quicker now. He watched her and chuckled at her mental picture that she stored. "What you wanna do now?" He asked, knowing the food was a half hour away. He liked her hand rubbing his back. It made him feel safe and....loved. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was beautiful, kind, smart. He could list off the qualities for ages

Morgan glanced over at him, her face lighting up with a happy nod. She kept one eye on their meal tracking, her fingers tapping lightly against the phone as she made sure everything was coming together. As she looked up at him, a little grin tugged at her lips at his comment. She could feel her excitement growing—she loved food, really loved food, and the thought of a meal in good company made it all the better. But beyond that, she was just excited to spend time with a new friend. She still couldn’t believe she hadn’t spoken to him sooner. He was so... kind.

At first, he'd been a bit difficult to talk to, distant even. But now, as he started to open up, as he relaxed around her, things were falling into place. The conversation felt easy, the silences comfortable rather than awkward. She couldn’t help but smile, feeling a quiet sense of accomplishment.

When he asked what she wanted to do next, she gave a light shrug, her enthusiasm still bubbling over. "I think we set up your living room. Push some couches together, blankets, pillows... the whole shebang!" she chirped, her voice practically ringing with excitement as she sat up, her eyes gleaming with the idea. The image of a cozy, impromptu hangout filled her mind, and she was ready to make it happen.

Her eyes swept across his room again, but her smile faded just a little as she took in the empty space around her. The lack of personal touches in the room stood out to her now, and she felt a small tug of sympathy. "Hey, what sort of stuff do you like?" she asked, her voice softening. "Do you have a favorite band? Or colors, or anything?" She paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the bare walls, already imagining what she could do to help bring some life into the room. "I’m fully planning on helping you kit this place out for Christmas," she added, her tone light but determined. She wanted to make it feel more like home for him, something that could be a space to relax in, something that would reflect him. She was already picturing it, and she was excited to help make it happen.

Caleb chuckled at her enthusiasm. He nodded, seeing the images she put together in her head. "I don't really listen to music and just wear black and jeans so no favorite colors I guess." He admitted with a shrug. He chuckled at her mental picture of what his full house could look like before catching himself and clearing his throat. As he moved the couches and grabbed a few grey blankets and pillows, he smiled. He put the picture in her mind to reality, nearly. He didn't have the happy vibe that she always exuded, but she filled the room with her smile.

Morgan waddled down into the living room, helping Caleb push the couches together and set up blankets. When they were done, the area looked cozy and inviting, the perfect setup to curl up and watch a movie. “There we go,” she said, stepping back with a grin. “Now pick a movie!”

She plopped down next to him, raising an eyebrow when he didn’t immediately choose. “Really? Nothing?” she asked with a playful laugh. “There’s gotta be something. Cars, animals, instruments, singers...” Her head tilted slightly, a teasing glint in her eyes. She couldn’t imagine not having a thing she was into. For Morgan, it was track—always running, always moving. She loved her friends, and her cat was her absolute favorite. And then there were her blue heat Takis, even though their appearance made her convulse a little. Her family meant the world to her, and music was something she could never live without.

"And you don’t even have a favorite color?" she asked, shaking her head in mock disbelief. “That’s wild.”

Just then, a knock on the door made her jump up with excitement. “That’ll be the pizza!” she chirped, glancing over her shoulder. “You get a movie on, okay?” She didn’t really care what they watched—anything sounded good.

She bounced back into the room with a large four-cheese pizza, a few boxes of sides, and two large cokes in her hands. She’d probably over-ordered—she always did—but they were feasting, right? She set everything down with a satisfied grin. “I might’ve gotten a little carried away?” She laughed, brushing it off before setting the pizza between them and settling back in, ready to enjoy the evening.

"Does Hunger Games sound good to you? It's the only movie I even remotely watch on occasion" He asked, wondering if he was being too cold around her. He flopped onto the couch, grabbing a coke and cracking it open with a grin. He started the movie and grabbed a slice of pizza happily, a smile still on his face. "Thanks" He said when he finished it a little later

Morgan nodded lightly, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "Also one of my favorites," she said as she settled down next to him, her hip gently pressing against his. She shot him a playful look. "It's like you're reading my mind," she mused, half-joking. The idea of him being able to read her thoughts still made her smile—she couldn't help but wonder, though. Could he? That would be impossible, right?

She shrugged the thought off and reached for a Coke, cracking it open as she eagerly unwrapped the pizza. Caleb was already setting up the movie, and as she leaned back against the rearranged couches—which now felt more like a cozy bed—she could feel the warmth of the space and the ease of the moment. She looked over at Caleb, noticing how he seemed to relax as well. There was something nice about the comfort between them.

When he thanked her, she simply smiled and gave a small shrug. "Don't worry about it," she replied, her voice light. The movie began, and she quickly got engrossed. It was one of her favorites, and she loved how easy it was to fall into. Everything felt just right.

As the movie played, a small thought nagged at her. She glanced over at Caleb and then back at the screen. "I feel bad that you were going to be alone," she mused quietly, her voice softening. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment before she quickly grabbed her phone, typing a message to her parents that she’d probably be staying out late. She didn't want to leave Caleb hanging, especially when he had seemed so alone before.

By the time they’d devoured most of the pizza, she set the empty box aside and sort of curled up into the boy side absentmindedly.

When she curled up against him, he didn't think. He reached over and wrapped an arm around her gently and protectively. Like he would never let any harm come to her. Ever. As the movie came to an end, he stayed with her, looking at her and smiling.

Morgan settled down next to Caleb, the warmth of his body making the space between them feel incredibly cozy. She half-leaned on him, her side brushing against his as she relaxed into the comfort of the couch. The softness of the pillows and blankets they had gathered around them made the moment feel even more inviting, and for a moment, she just let herself melt into the peaceful atmosphere. The movie played on, but her eyelids began to feel heavy, the soft glow of the screen the only thing keeping her alert.

However, her back tensed slightly when she felt his arm gently slip around her, the warmth of his touch radiating through the fabric of her clothes. For a brief second, her mind raced, unsure of the intention behind the gesture. But then, as she settled into the calmness of the moment and realized it was nothing more than a simple, friendly gesture—an arm resting comfortably around her side—she let herself relax again. She took a slow breath, her shoulders loosening as she adjusted herself and let her head rest lightly on his shoulder.

It was surprising how easily she let go, the warmth of the moment and the peacefulness of the scene making her feel safe and calm. She felt his gaze on her, though she didn’t stir, a soft smile tugging at her lips in response. She wasn’t sure why, but the closeness felt nice, more comforting than anything. The movie's plot continued to unfold, but her focus was starting to drift. The credits began to roll on the screen, and Morgan let out a soft breath, her body feeling heavier by the second.

Reluctantly, she shifted, sitting up slightly, her movements slow as her tired eyes blinked heavily. She glanced at the screen, her mind a bit foggy from the warmth and comfort of the night, then let her gaze fall back to Caleb, a small smile still lingering on her lips as she stifled a yawn. She wasn’t ready to leave, but the weight of sleep was undeniable now.

"You can stay here." He offered, knowing she was too tired to drive safely. He cleaned up the food and put the rest in the fridge before grabbing a blanket and handing it to her. He shut off the t.v and laid down next to her, resuming where he'd been a moment ago