I woke up and stretched my arms.

The best feeling.

I groaned a bit and fell back asleep. I didn't want to wake up.

"Wake up, potato," someone poked my cheek.

"Go away, bottle gourd," I mumbled, and covered my face with the blanket.

I heard many, and I mean many, laughs.

I furrowed my brows and peeked slowly from the blanket.

There on the floor, in front of me was a curly-haired, black-eyed guy.

He waved at me.

"I'm not a bottle gourd, you potato," he said sadly.

I looked to the other side and saw a lot of guys. They all waved at me. I turned crimson. Creeps.

"Where's he?" I said slowly, not taking away the blanket from my mouth. Morning breath.

"Who? Oh, the 'lover' boy. The one who threatened us to not wake you up or he'll kick our asses and kill us? He's out" I suppressed my smile.

"By the way, I'm Ryan" he continued and extended his hand.

I just waved at him.

The rest of the guys too came forward and sat beside him.

All of them were on the floor and me lying on the sofa. What even?

"How are you pumpkin?" Ryan asked. Pumpkin? I don't like pumpkins at all.

"I'm f-fine." Breathe.

"Why do you stutter, shorty?" one of them said with a disgusted face.

My hands started shaking once he said that.

"I-I don't do it int-intentionally." I sighed and continued "I'm-I'm sorry," I said and fisted my hand.

"Get the fuck out of here Ruth" Caro gritted out.

"All of you. out." he pointed his finger and motioned to the door.

They scrambled out.

"He's an idiot. Don't listen to him" Ryan said and pinched my cheeks.

"I'm going" he held his hand up in surrender when Caro glared at him.

Once all were out, he came and made me straddle him.

"How are you feeling?" He kissed my neck.

"Peachy. Washroom?" I turned my head to the side.

"To the right" he stood up and I clung to him like a monkey.

He opened the door and made me sit on the sink.

"Toothbrush" he handed me one.

"Everything's here" he pointed at the side and the cabinets.

And turned around and left.

I quickly brushed my teeth and did my business.

"Good morning" I stood up on my tiptoes while he lowered himself and I kissed his cheek and jaw.

"How are you feeling?" He put his hand on my butt.

"You look damn hot blushing," a smile grazed his face.

"Stop" I whined.

"Stopp" he mocked.

"I'm fine" I tried to not stutter. Why do you stutter, shorty?

Disgust. Disgust.

"What do you want for breakfast?" he asked and sat on his chair.

I sat down on the sofa with the hand below my legs. They were shaking badly.

He needs to work. He isn't interested in my trembling self. Why do you stutter, shorty?

. I yelled in my brain.

"Avha?"

"Huh?" I turned to his voice.

"What happened? Why are you so pale?" He voiced his concern.

"Nothing" I shook my hand and faked a smile.

That's new.

Don't stutter.

"You can order anything" I smiled and made sure it didn't look fake.

"Burger or pizza?" he asked, looking up from his mobile.

"Anything" Don't stutter. Don't stutter.

"Both it is then"

"I'll leave for the meeting after breakfast. Will you be okay?" he asked softly.

"I'll be fine. It's the weekend anyway. Drop me home"

"Are you fine Avha?" He came and sat beside me.

I hummed.

He put his finger under my chin and made me look into his eyes.

"Talk" he stroked my cheekbone.

"Nothing" I shook my head.

I bit the inside of my bottom lip to stop the sobs. Fiddling and looking somewhere else distracted me. It did every time, why isn't it now?

"My baby" he hugged me tightly.

"Avha, take it out, Amor. All of it"

I hugged him tightly but didn't cry. Why do you stutter, shorty?

"I'm fine, silly. Just PMS" I hit his arm and rubbed the corner of my eyes.

Don't be weak.

"Come in" he replied to the knock.

"Boss your food" Ruth came in with the food in his hand.

I fiddled with my fingers.

People need to know, the stutter isn't something you can control.

"You?" hostility clear in his voice.

"We took ours" he answered and left. But not before glancing at me.

He took a deep breath and turned to me.

"Let's eat" I smiled at him.

He took out our food and we ate in comfortable silence.

I tried not to talk.

I tried not to stutter.

"Nish, my friend. The therapist, you wanna meet her today?" he asked, taking a sip of his coke.

"Sure" I gulped.

"Avha, look at me," he said sternly, taking my hand in his.

You are strong

"Yeah?"

"What's going on in that little head of yours?" he clenched his jaw.

"Food" I gave him a toothy smile.

"Shut up" he grunted.

"Tell me what's going on. I'll punish you or else" he glared at me. Hard.

He was making me feel frenzy. No, not fussy, Frenzy. This one was wilder.

"Do you find my stutter annoying or disgusting?" I asked honestly.

"Repeat"

This guy needs to clean his ears.

"Is my stuttering annoying?" I tightened my hold on his hand.

"Where is this coming from?"

This guy also needs to stop glaring at me.

I can't look into people's eyes while having an argument or a confession or a meeting. That's so hard.

"My mouth?" duh!

"You ain't this clueless woman"

Jeez! what was this feeling again. My body was on fire.

"R-Ruth made a disgusting face when I woke up early today. He said something about my stutter. I promise I try not to stutter. It's just my social anxiety and it's it's-"

"Stop" he cut me with his voice.

"Stop. Remember every time we've spent. Every fucking time and tell me if I ever said anything about your anxiety, your panic attack, or anything. Come on, tell me one instant" he said kissing my closed eyes.

I needed to stop crying.

I shook my head.

"Words," he said and pecked my lips.

"You-you haven't" my voice coming out hoarse.

"Is Ruth important to you?"

"No" I replied shaking my head

"Why is his disgust affecting you?" he asked with genuine confusion.

"I don't know. His opinion just did"

He made me straddle him.

"Has he seen your struggle? NO. Does he know anything about your trauma? NO. Even if he knows he has no right to affect you. Keep your head held high and flip him or anyone off. Remember, you are starting your training from today, so blow them a punch. I will always protect you. But you need to choose your own battles and not run away from them. Face them"

I stared at him with wide eyes, wide opened mouth.

He closed my mouth with his hand.

"Okay?"

"Okay" I nodded feeling proud of my man.

"You are just amazing" I kissed his cheek and hugged him tightly, shifting a bit on his lap.

He made a noise and moved me a bit on his lap.

"Damnit woman" he smacked my butt.

His phone rang and he stood up with me still in his arms.

I like being around him.

"Ok," he said and hung up.

How can he have a one-word conversation?

"I've got some hoodies here, get changed. I'll start your training and in the evening you are going to the therapy. I don't want to take any chances. Are you okay with that?"

"I am. Thank you, Caro" I motioned for him to let me down to which he shook his head.

"I want to change," I whined.

"Where are the hoodies?" he asked

"Oops"

He then took me to his small closet in the corner.

I took the navy blue hoodie and his shorts and ran to the bathroom.

"I'm ready" I came out with a bun and his clothes.

"Spin" he made a spinning motion with his fingers.

"Good girl" he praised and took my hand in his.

I halted.

"I'm here" he assured me and kissed our entwined hands.

The moment we stepped out, everyone's eyes were on us.

His one glare and they started doing their work.

I quickly matched his long strides and we were now in the elevator.

"You need to change this song. It's bad" I tugged at his hoodie.

"Sure"

"I'm serious" I pinched him.

"Me too"

"Where are we going?" I asked after a few seconds of silence.

"My gym"

"You've got a gym?"

He nodded.

"Here?"

He nodded again.

"Personal?"

Yeah" My my!

"Come" he took me to the gym.

Not so surprisingly, the gym was not all too black. It had some shades of blue here and there. Gray and whites too.

The whole building had different colors and shades. It looked fantastic with the matte finishing, but all black has a different feel.

"Okay, so we'll warm up first. I don't want your weak ass on the bed with the immediate strenuous exercise" He smirked.

"My butt is not weak. See, I too have muscles" I showed him my arm.

"Sure" he flicked my forehead.

"That hurts, car car" I smirked.

"You won't call me that" he glared looking down at me.

"Admit that I'm not weak" I had my hands on my hips.

"You wish" he again flicked my forehead.

+++++

"I'm tired. I give up" I was already panting like a dog.

"Shut it. It's only been 6 minutes" he rolled his eyes and pulled me up with my right arm.

"Exactly. Six whole minutes. See, I'm sweating, I need water and some hugs too" I extended both of my arms for him.

"10 more minutes, then hugs and some food too" he shook his head.

"Promise?"

"Pinky promise. Come on now" A loud noise echoed in the gym

"Stop smacking my poor butt" I rubbed my butt.

"The weak ass, you mean?" he chuckled.

He should smile more. I need to see his dimples again.

====================================

Thoughts?

Unedited.