The evening settling in, I put the kettle on before heading back to the couch in search of a good movie. With the house freshly cleaned, and the rain coming and going all day, I'm in the mood to let the rest of the evening be that of a relaxing one.

A knock on the door takes my attention off of my selection of a movie as I wonder who it is.

Bailey isn't due to stop back home for another couple of hours. 

‘Maybe trick-or-treaters?’

I turned the porch light off right?

Not normally getting them in this neighborhood, I'm praying that it isn't kids. Though my stance has already been stated on the Halloween matter, it doesn't make it any easier to disappoint kids who are only trying to have a bit of fun for the night. I mean, you try telling a little kid in a cute costume you don't have candy to give them.

Almost unwilling to get up, the knock comes again and Spirit begins to bark. I head to the door and open it to see Kalston on the other side.

"Hey."

I'm curious about what brings him by but wait first to see if he says so before I ask.

Giving me his usual charming grin, he answers. "Hey, gorgeous. I was wondering if you would like to be my company for the evening? You can protect me from all those masked monsters, and I'll be your eye candy for the evening. Unless you have other plans, that is."

He raises his eyebrows and I roll my eyes at him.

"I don't mind company for the evening, but don't think it's because of your looks, mister not so humble."

Laughing, I move away to allow him in. The kettle whistles, and I venture back in the kitchen with Spirit following close at my legs as a way to show her still uncertainty of Kalston. Her not growling does show me that she at least isn't completely on guard with him, just a bit cautious. Kalston too follows me into the kitchen.

"I have enough for two, would you like a cup of tea?"

Curious about what we have, he asks. "Sure, but what flavors are there?"

Looking in the cabinet, I take say aloud what teas we have to select from.

"We have cinnamon, earl gray, and chia if you want caffeinated, and for the non-caffeinated, we have honey lavender, a calming cinnamon, holiday cranberry, and a bedtime camomile, but I assume you don't want a bedtime tea?"

Turning to face him, I wait for an answer. He smiles while leaning against the island.

"No, I don't plan to go to bedtime anytime soon. The caffeinated cinnamon would be nice, thanks."

Grabbing out two of the same, I make myself a cup of the cinnamon as well.

My stomach growling, I'm reminded of the fact that I haven't eaten anything since a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast.

"Hey, I'm going to order something, do you want anything?"

"Supper would be nice, yeah. If you have Cash app, I'll send you some money for both of us, or we can just use my card if you don't."

Appreciating his offer, I decided to decline it. I wouldn't have asked if I had an intention of making him pay.

"Nah, it's good. I got you."

"Are you sure? I would like to at least pay for my part."

Looking at me uncertainly, I can understand his regard for the matter. I too feel guilty at times for letting others pay my way. Bailey and family are the only ones I don't feel bad for allowing it.

"I'll tell you what, I got you this time, and you can get me next time."

I make an offer Bailey and I do at times, and his look of regard washes away as a grin strikes out on his face.

"That sounds good. I'll pay you back by taking you out on a fancy date then."

On my phone trying to find a good restaurant to order from, his words don't register right away.

"Uh, wait a minute. No, no date."

Bailey two for two with her assumption of both gentlemen, I really didn't know Kalston's flirting was anything to be taken seriously. Now that I do, I try to make my intentions clear to him as I did with Matt earlier. Putting down my phone, I speak further about what I mean.

"I'm flattered, but I didn't know you liked me. Honestly, I thought your flirting was only the way you were with everyone."

His eyes have some sadness behind them for a split second before they go back to their usual playful selves.

"It's part of my charm, yeah, but that doesn't mean I’m genuine with you. How could I not be? Even not knowing you long, what time I have spent with you makes me want more."

His words make me blush, and I find it hard to keep my mind focused on straightening out the mix-up.

Focus Maddy, focus. Don't let his comment sway you from making things clear, no matter how sweet it may be.

He gives me a sad look that is all too clear isn't meant to be taken seriously before following what he says with a small smirk.

"You do find me charming don't you?"

Squinting my face up a bit, I stand my ground.

"That's not the point. We barely know each other Kalston. I just don't want you to think that I have feelings for you that aren't there."

"So what you're saying is you don't like me?"His eyes question if that's true.

Not wanting to lie, I know he's going use my words against me once they are out.

Why couldn't this be as easy as it was with Matt?

I take a long breath before changing the topic altogether for the time being.

I’ll come back to it later when you can think how to better combat his behavior.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I'm good with anything you are."

Coming around the counter to stand next to me and watch my phone as I try to decide, his presence is nice and also makes me a bit nervous. Not bad nervous, but more that of being unused to people so close. Being sensitive to the emotions and energy around me, I usually don't get that close to those I'm not familiar with, and even those I am, I still sometimes keep space except for a few.

Leaning down closer to me, he whispers in my ear and it makes my stomach flutter a bit.

"Changing the topic doesn't stop me from wondering, love."

Trying to keep my emotions from showing, I bite back a grin before speaking again.

"I think chick-fil-a sounds nice. What do you want?"

My eyes stay on my phone as a way to not see the most likely flirting look upon his face.

"I'll take a spicy chicken sandwich and an oreo milkshake if they deliver cold things."

His response is followed by him heading to the couch, and I slowly begin to ease the tension I was holding while Kalston was present.

Placing our order, I look up at him to notice his focus on Oliver and soon Lilly too as she grows curious of him. My heart warms at his interaction with them and their growing affection for him.

I make my way to the couch and am sure to sit with at least a foot in between us. Grabbing the remote to continue my search for a movie, he begins to voice his notice of my purposeful distance placed.

"You know love, I don't bite."

My eyes look to him, and I roll my lips in, making a line of my mouth before speaking.

"I didn't think you did, I just didn't want to crowd you."

Speaking a half-truth unintentionally, taking a breath, I correct myself.

"Okay, that's only a bit true. I..."

Kalston cuts me off, and some seriousness comes into his eyes.

"It's okay. You don't have to explain."

Almost feeling bad, the way his words come out caring, and actual caring without his usual guard alongside them, I take notice of his consideration and openness towards me.

His tone changes back to light and playful when he directs both of our attention to the screen in front of us.

"So, what do you plan to watch? Something scary? It is Halloween."

"I don't mind something with some thrill, just nothing demonic."

"That's cool. What do you think about watching The Depths? I hear that one's pretty good."

Agreeing with his choice of movie, "Sure, it's a good pick." it's one I've seen before but enjoyed and don't mind watching again.

I have a fear of big bodies of water, but the fear ultimately leads into a curiosity and fascination revolving around them. With many parts of our oceans being unexplored, it's fun to think about what can lie deep within them.

Kalston turns on the movie, and I grab both blankets off the back of the couch. We enjoy the movie and exchanged conversations here and there. Asking each other what we believe could be out there both in the ocean and then leading into our belief of supernatural things. I find out that Kalston is open-minded about some things like ghosts, bigfoot, and even the possibility of aliens, but there are some things he is sure don't exist that I still believe could like fairies. Though I also don't think they are nice or good.

Food comes, and we enjoy it while finishing out the movie. Unrealizing at first, I eventually become aware of how the distance between us has shrunk from what it originally was. With Kalston next to the arm of the couch, it's me that must have scooched closer. Almost about to put the space back between us, I decide against it as I enjoy the closeness to him both physically and beginning to be emotionally as well. Though we don't talk deeply about a lot, talking in general with him makes me comfortable and lets down my wall a little more.

Once we are done eating, I clean up as Kalston turns on another movie. This time he picks a comedy. Sitting back down beside him, he pushes play on the movie.

It’s not long into it before my eyes grow tired and I struggle to keep them open. I do try to stay awake but don't notice when my head begins to rest on his shoulder. When aware again of my unintentional behavior, my mind isn't clear enough between the exhaustion settling over me and the pleasantness of it to move. Soon enough, sleep overtakes me completely.

Hearing the door shut, I'm taken out of my sleep a bit and become aware of what’s happening around my still-shut eyes. My head is in Kalston's lap, and his fingers brush through my hair as he continually strokes it.

Bailey’s voice comes from the kitchen as she greets him in a softer tone than she usually has.

"Hey, Kal."

"Hey, Bailey. How was your night?"

"It was alright, and how was yours? You haven't pulled anything funny with my girl have you?" A bit of protection in her tone, I do notice that it's not as intense as it has been with some others in our past.

He chuckles a bit at her question, before giving her a response.

"No, nothing funny. Not besides light teasing that is. That's okay, right?"

With his question not being anything serious, it does seem to hold a bit of weight to it.

"Playful teasing is fine. My girl can handle that, she gets plenty from me anyway. I'm trusting you tonight sir. If she comes to me about anything negative you did, I know where you live."

He laughs again with her claim before their conversation settles away with one last exchange.

"Okay, ma'am. I'll be a perfect gentleman, I promise."

Taking note of how playful he is with her, there also isn't any of the same flirtation as when we interact with each other.

Maybe he doesn't act the same way with every girl he's around. Maybe his feelings for me are true and to be trusted.

Sleep takes me once more as I begin to dream the same one I did this morning, but this time it seems to take place from a different perspective.

My feet hit the sand as my heart worries, praying that Ember is okay.

Please, Lord, let her be safe!

Praying for someone I'm unaware of to be safe, the love I hold for her is deeper than that of anything I've experienced.

Worry tries to overtake me, but with a knowing of what is about to happen must, I hold tight to my trust in the Lord.

He will be with me, and keep Ember safe.

Things flash to black. There is a pain in my chest and I hear a fast beeping that reminds me of a heart monitor and voices surround me.

"Suction, now!"

"I can't see to stop this bleeding. Come on people I need a clear line of sight."

"We're losing him, people! I need an extra set of hands over here."

The beeping grows faster as my heart rate increases alongside it, and the next second it drops completely as the beeping screams out in one steady high pitch.

The pain in my chest grows worse as it feels like something is ripped from it.

"Madison. Wake up, Love. You're safe."

Kalston's voice is calm as he tries to wake me. My eyes snapping open, the breath in my lungs is short and erratic as panic stays settled over me. The pain still in my chest, but does begin to fade away. My breath though takes a moment longer to get under control.

Kalston looks me over to see if I'm okay as he keeps his voice calm, but his eyes display worry.

"Hey, are okay?"

Unable to voice anything, I shake my head instead. His face still solemn, he pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me.

"I've got you, Love. You're safe now. It was only a nightmare. You're home. I've got you."

Repeating his words to help ground me, I break down as sorrow overcomes me. There’s a sense of familiarity and safety in his embrace, so I let him be there for me in a way I need right now.

Once settled down, I tell him what my dream was about and find it a bit silly how it overwhelmed me as it did. None of my dreams have affected me that deeply, and I'm not entirely sure why this one did.

Well, sort of certain why with how real it felt, it still doesn't explain it all that much with how real most of my dreams do seem at times.

When getting out what the dream was and Kalston showing actual sincerity in his behavior towards it, his reaction shows me that he can be serious when the time permits and even needs it.

The full serious not lasting long, I do notice a fraction of it remaining as he jokes around trying to lighten my mood and help take my mind off the dream.

We stay up pretty late talking and eventually turning another movie on, this time I don't hold back my willingness to get cozy with him. Though I make sure to keep to our own blankets and try to keep myself clear-minded, it's not out of lack of trust, but simply to keep things from crossing any lines.

When we do grow tired, he stays the night on the couch again, and I'm thankful to not have to spend it alone.