. B O N E S . S H A T T E R . ;; Cryssie

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"No, don't," She pressed a warm palm over his lips, head shaking, "Please don't apologize, Leo.."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo let out a shaky breath. "But I should. It was inappropriate of me."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"If it was really that inappropriate, I would have pushed you off," Phoenix sounded sheepish, nibbling on her bottom lip.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo swallowed and clenched his hands into fists. He finally looked up into her eyes. "I still shouldn't have done it."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"I wanted you to, Leo," Phoenix closed her eyes, "God, I really did."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He blinked. "Really? Why?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix shifted her weight from foot to foot, "Um, well, I...I don't know," she murmured, her cheeks turning red.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo shook his head. "We're friends, Phoenix. I'd like us to stay that way. I don't... I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you." He knew all too well that romantic relationships were destined to end badly.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix turned around, clutching her hands to her chest. She took a deep breath and pushed down the hurt in her heart, "I..don't want to lose you either."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Maybe we should forget this ever happened," he said, looking away.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix felt tears prick her eyes and she hurriedly wiped at her cheeks, "Oh..alright. If you think we should, Leo.."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I think we should," Leo said, his voice coming out harsher than he meant it. "Goodnight, Phoenix."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix sat down on the bed, his clothes folded in her lap, "Goodnight, Leo." She whispered.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo went to his room and stripped down to his boxers. After a moment's thought, he put some sweatpants and a t-shirt on. Sleeping mostly naked probably wasn't the best idea with her in the house.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix sighed and laid back, hugging the clothes to her chest. She'd been happy to finally kiss Leo, something which she struggled not to think about every time she saw his face. But now..he'd been quick to shut it all down. She understood his reasoning, but it still hurt.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo crawled under the covers but couldn't get to sleep. He couldn't stop seeing her face, the remembering the feel of her lips against his, her warmth... It made his heart beat faster and sweat break out over his body.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

She sat up and stripped her clothes off, pulling the clothes Leo had given her on. They were large on her smaller frame, but no less comfy. Phoenix smiled and nuzzled her nose against the collar of the shirt. They smelled of Leo and that cheered her up at least a little bit.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

About halfway through the night--around three in the morning--Leo got out of bed and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix was still in bed, though she wasn't asleep. She heard the rustle of him getting up and a conflicted feeling rose within her. She wanted to see him again, but Leo was very clear that he didn't want to do anything that might ruin their friendship. She sat up and stared at the door, almost as though trying to convince him to open the door.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo filled a glass of water and then shuffled back down the hallway. He paused in front of the guest room door, his heart aching. He stood there, frozen, unsure of what to do, even though he knew what was right.