17. BIG BABY

17

BIG BABY

Summer

"We haven't talked, how are your courses treating you?" Arch asks once we are alone. My hand is still on his, and honestly, I don't know why I haven't moved it yet.

"Econ modules are mostly fine, but I am having a little trouble with Stats and Math, sometimes it throws me off and I am lost."

I get it a lot of the time but sometimes I get thrown off because the numbers just don't make sense to me, they are just numbers with no story behind them. Of course, there's logic in math but it's hard for it to stick with me sometimes because it has no soul.

It has no story, just an almost soulless pile of numbers. Unlike Econometrics, it has a story, a purpose, it makes sense to me.

He chuckles.

"You should have talked to me sooner; you know that's my jam," he says, and I lift my eyes to meet his.

His face falls before he nods. "Right. But if you need help you know where I am, right?"

I nod.

Where I excelled in theory, they were better at numbers, and we always balanced each other. And even though Caleb is a Mathematics major, Arch is a Psych major, I know he took one of his electives in math because he loves it and is really good at it.

One would wonder why he would take Psych when he had a clear talent for numbers.

He always said he knows he's good at Math and can always learn without a teacher, but humans confuse him, so he wants to study them. Weird logic but that's him.

The door opens and Caleb comes in with a tray followed by Jaden with another. I smile looking at them walking in like professionals and place them on Arch's desk.

"Um, we are going on campus. Thank you again for coming, Sunshine," Jaden says before he walks out.

"If he bothers you, just pinch him and run away, he's feeble," Caleb says with a slight grin before he also leaves and closes the door behind him.

I guess it's just me and Arch. Getting up, I go see what they brought us.

"Hm, they went all out. There's even wings." I turn to Arch.

"Really? They probably did it because you are here. They would have thrown me a half-eaten pizza if I was alone," he jokes, and I chuckle.

There are sandwiches here, toasted and not, a caesar salad, wings, and a fruit salad. There are also two cans of soda and two bottles of water.

"Your medication is for before or after meals?"

"After."

Taking the plate, I place sandwiches and wings on it and sit next to him. I take the bread and direct it to him. He arches an eyebrow.

"You know I can eat on my own, right?"

"Could have fooled me. You've lost a few pounds, now open, Deltona."

He smiles before he opens his mouth and lets me feed him. We eat together and when we finish, I give him his pills.

My phone rings as I'm getting myself a soda. Its Logan. I look Archer's way.

"You can take your boyfriends call, Peach." He murmurs.

I swipe on the green.

"Hey," I answer.

"Hey, babe." He doesn't sound as angry as we left things this morning.

And I realize now I haven't thought of him at all since I left my place this morning. God, I'm horrible. The scum of the earth. I really need to make it up to him later. I turn to the window.

"Look, I'm sorry about this morning."

My heart breaks a little. I am the scum, and I should be apologizing. "No, Logan I'm sorry. I was wrong. I…forgive me. I won't do it again." I reassure him.

"Thank you for saying that. So, am I going to see you tonight?"

"Definitely. I will see you. Will you guys be throwing a party today?"

"No, no party tonight."

"Alright, I'll come to your place later then."

"I can't wait to see you. Text me before you come, I may be out during the day with some friends, okay?"

"Alright."

"I love you." He says and I freeze.

Oh fuck. What do I say?

I open my mouth. "Um, yeah…"

Fuck! What was that?

The line goes dead.

Fuck.

Um, yeah? You are such an idiot, Su.

"He's lucky to have you." Arch's voice startles me to a jump. I had forgotten I wasn't alone.

I turn to find a soft smiling Archer. Not at all what I expected. Placing my phone on the desk, I turn back to him.

"Come now, let me tuck you in, you big baby," I say, ignoring what he just said.

He chuckles. "I am not a baby." But he pouts anyway.

"Riiight." I go to his closet and take out his sleeping pants and a crisp white shirt. Placing it next to him, I turn and wait for him to change. When he is finished, he gets in bed and I sit next to him on top of the covers.

"Are you going to watch me till I fall asleep?" There is a note of something in his voice, maybe…anxiousness.

"It's why I'm here. Now sleep, man baby." I try to joke.

He lies down and I take his tablet in his drawer where I know it will be. Archer is a creature of habit.

"You still read this stuff?" I ask him as I scroll through his hentai reads, more like porn with a plot. He got me into it when we dated but I honestly haven't read much after.

"Don't call it 'this stuff,' Peach, like you don't know its power." He grins.

I pinch his cheek and he laughs.

We used to read it together, it was our foreplay sometimes and often we'd end up reenacting the scenes. Sometimes we'd shop for costumes, it was a whole thing. It might have looked weird to others, but it was our thing.

"Okay, go to sleep now."

"Fine," he says in a low voice.

I start reading the non-porn comic books, waiting for him to fall asleep. I can breathe a little easier if he can sleep because it means he is going to get better. It's a whole other thing if he can't sleep. When we were dating, he'd get these times when he couldn't sleep, and I would go to his house or he'd sneak into mine and sleep there.

Sometimes he struggles with insomnia and can't get a shut eye. But he always said I helped him sleep. So fingers crossed.

Half an hour passes, and his breathing doesn't change even though his eyes are closed.

"Arch?"

He doesn't respond.

"I know you're awake."

He peeps at me with one eye. "Really?"

"Are you having trouble sleeping?" I set the tablet aside.

"Yeah, maybe I need to take another sleeping pill."

"No. You can't get your body used to a higher dose; you know the risks." I turn to look down at him.

He looks away. "It's okay, Peach. I'll try and sleep. You can go and salvage what's left of your day. I'll be fine."

My heart shrinks a little. Reaching for him, I turn his face to me. His eyes are closed.

"Look at me, Arch."

He opens his eyes after a few bops of the throat. I see the shame in his eyes, and it tugs at me some more. Shifting, I get under the cover.

"What are you doing?" His brows furrow.

"I'm helping you fall asleep. Come." I lay on my back and open my arms for him.

He doesn't move, but his heart rate picks up. I see the escalation on the base of his neck.

"Summer…I don't—"

"It's just a little shut eye, Arch. Besides if I leave, we both know you won't sleep, and I won't stop worrying. Just come and get some sleep. Promise I won't take advantage of your vulnerable sleeping state." I smile a little devious smile and he shakes his head.

He comes close, laying his head on my chest, holding onto me.

"If it gets too much for you just tell me and I'll move, okay?" he says.

My fingers find the back of his head, digging through his hair and I start brushing him, soothing him.

"Go to sleep."

"Okay. Thank you."

He doesn't move or shift and we stay in that position before I feel and hear his breathing even. Took ten minutes. As he sleeps, I think. Think about where I am now. If Logan or his soldier - Hazel - saw me now, this would be hard to explain. I can't tell anyone.

In all honesty, even I don't know what I'm doing anymore, but I know I need to be here for Arch. I would lose it if he lost it and if he spiraled… or worse.

But what exactly it is I'm doing I don't know or how far I'm going with it. I just know that I am not going to back away from helping him and he is back in my life. At least for as long as he needs my help.

Before I know it, my own eyes close, and I descend in a peaceful sleep.

Next time I wake up, it's almost dark outside.

Fuck. How long have I been sleeping? Archer is still holding me tight, lightly snoring. I always loved that snore. Like a cute baby. But unfortunately, I need to go to Logan, I have some making up to do.

I try and wiggle myself from his almost iron strong hold. After a while, I finally get free, and make sure he's sleeping soundly.

He clutches the pillow and goes on snoring. Standing there, I take a minute and watch him. I want to take a picture, but I quickly decide against it.

Logan and Hazel sometimes use my phone and that isn't something I'd like to explain to either of them.

With one last look, I take my phone and head out. It's time to go back to my life and to my choices. I close the door lightly and descend the stairs.

Jaden is in the kitchen while Caleb is watching TV. They both turn to me with curious eyes.

It feels like I just got caught doing something I wasn't supposed to. But I keep my gaze neutral.

"He's sleeping. Please look after him and let me know if he doesn't sleep." I tell them.

"You still have us blocked."

My soul almost leaves my body when Harvey's voice comes from behind me. He's coming from the direction of the laundry room.

"Oh, uh…I'll unblock you. I…forgot about that." This is a little cringe and I want to fly out of here now.

Harvey starts for the stairs, then stops. "Wait, did he just sleep now?"

"No, we…we fell asleep." I want to kick myself as all their eyes sharpen on me.

Jaden smirks a little before he goes back to seasoning some meat.

I don't look Caleb or Harvey's way and start walking after I clear my throat.

Heading to my side of campus.