Star Crossed In Time

I sit on the couch glaring at Bai Lei with bloodshot eyes as he tries to not make eye contact by looking at everything else in the room. "This never happened... got it?" I say in a low threatening voice. Bai Lei finally looks at me with a frown.

"No, it definitely happened but don't worry, I'll take responsibility." He says in all seriousness. I grit my teeth and try to remain calm as I try to speak his language. "Okay, how about this... I touched your chest and your... Umm... thing, so now we're even!" I say with conviction.

Bai Lei's frown grows as he shakes his head and says "I've clearly seen everything... how is that even?" I sigh and reach deep for control as I say "It's fine. I'll take the loss. In four days you'll be going back to your world while I stay in my world."   

Bai Lei watches me with a conflicted look so I quickly ask "Are you planning to stay here with me?" Bai Lei's face crumbles a little as he grits his teeth and shakes his head no. I nod in agreement as I say "And I won't be going back to your world. We can be friends from different worlds... okay?"

Bai Lei's dark eyes watch me closely but he doesn't say anything. He just turns and looks towards the muted TV leaving me in a state of confusion. Was this what it was like to raise a teenager? I sigh in defeat and quickly go make the bed for him.

When I walk back out, I find him in the same spot, staring blankly at the TV. "I made the bed for you..." I say softly. Bai Lei looks to me and gives me a gentle smile before saying "Thank you" and following me to the room. 

"This is it... let me know if you need anything." I say as I grab the spare pillow and blanket. Bai Lei frowns at me and asks "Where are you sleeping?" I walk down the hall as I say "I'll sleep on the couch. You're much bigger than me so you'll be more comfortable on the bed." 

Bai Lei scrunches his face up as he says "Why don't we just share the bed?" I nearly trip over my own feet as I turn back to look at him in disbelief. "Wouldn't your future wife be furious if she found out you slept in the bed with another woman?"  

Bai Lei's eyes darken as he slowly gives me a dark smile "Why do I get the impression you think I'm some pure and innocent guy?" I blink in shock several times as my poor brain tries to make sense of what he just said... is he not pure and innocent? 

I only touched his chest and he demanded that I take responsibility... "We can share the bed or we can share the couch... your choice." Bai Lei says with a dark grin. I look at him in shock and confusion... "How is that my choice? You... you! Sleep on the bed! I'm sleeping on the couch and that's final!" I say with a huff.

I quickly make my way over to the couch and toss my stuff down. Why do I constantly get pulled around by him!? I fix my pillow and quickly crawl under the blanket but just as I was getting comfortable, the blanket is pulled up as Bai Lei lays down behind me.

"What do you think you're doing!?" I ask in shock as I try to sit up. He reaches out and pulls me back down as he says "I told you it was your choice, bed or couch." I sputter in anger and try to get up again be he doesn't budge.

"Get off of me!" I say through gritted teeth but he just remains still as he says "Sorry, there isn't much room on the couch so I can't help but lay on you a bit..." I clench my fist and sigh in defeat as I quickly say "Fine! You win! We'll both sleep in the bed but you better keep your hands to yourself!"

Even though I can't see it, I hear the smile as he says "Sure sure, whatever you say." I grit my teeth in annoyance and slowly make my way to the bed. I'm not going to make it... four days are just too long! Bai Lei waits for me to come into the room before pulling the blanket back.

I give him an angry glare before climbing in bed and giving him my back. Bai Lei's smile grows as he climbs into the bed and says "See, it's not so bad." I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Four days... four days... 

I reach out and quickly hit the button for the lights. The room grows dark and the only light is from the streetlights outside. After a few moments in silence, Bai Lei quietly asks "Do you not have stars in your world?" 

I keep my eyes closed as I mumble "We have stars too but you can't see them in the city. The lights in the city are too bright..." The blankets slightly move "Do you ever miss them?" He asks in a low deep voice. 

I slowly open my eyes as I stare at the wall on the other side of the room. "Hard to miss something you've never had..." I say softly before closing my eyes again. I learned about stars in school... and I've seen them in the other world but I've never really stopped to really look at them...

The room drifts into an awkward silence as the both of us get lost in our own thoughts. My thoughts drift back to Zhen as my chest suddenly feels tight... I hope he and his granddaughter have worked things out... is he looking for me? Would he even miss me? I quickly shove the thoughts away and close my eyes. Just don't think about it Nova... don't.