Chapter Text
Heath was becoming frustrated with where he lived. He’d been staying later at the studio, meaning every time he got home he woke someone else up.
Then last week construction had started on his usual route to the studio, so now had to start leaving earlier.
He’d never really minded having the smallest bedroom in the house. It made sleepovers a little difficult, sure. But Heath had been able to fit all the guys on his floor one time, and they’d had fun trying to figure out where to fit everyone.
He hadn’t considered these to be problems, just inconveniences. That changed when he broached the subject of finally having a sleepover with his best friend to his mother.
“I said no, Heathcliffe.” She turned back to the pot boiling on the stove.
“But it’s just Daisy, what’s the issue?” He pressed. She had been over to his house countless times already. He thought his mother was starting to like Daisy more than her own son, only adding to his confusion. “You didn’t care when Pete stayed over a few weeks ago.” He muttered.
At that his mother whipped around, eyes burning into his with a sudden seriousness.
He sat up straighter. Did he say something that warranted this? Heath thought he was being pretty reasonable. Though a few nights ago he thought this conversation would be a lot easier.
Heath had invited Daisy over to watch Dancemania with his family. His mother had been the one to insist she come early and have dinner. When she said that he remembered stopping for a moment.
He loved how well Daisy fit in with his family, he loved that his parents took to her so easily and seemed to like her as much as he did.
Throughout dinner Heath couldn’t help smiling. Despite his worries she and his older sister got along, even to his own detriment. Rachel would pull out her phone, no doubt showing Daisy the countless embarrassing photos she had of him.
But every time she did Daisy would start giggling, and he loved that sound more than he’d care to admit.
He’d sat between them on the couch for Dancemania, putting an end to the ‘Heath Embarrassment Train.’
His parents, sitting in the loveseat to their right had stayed quiet as Rachel and Heath competed to make Daisy laugh harder throughout the commercials.
They didn't say a word when the joking around turned into bickering. Used to it from their own kids already.
At one point Daisy made a quip to his sister, comparing Heath to one of the dancers on the show. To Heath’s surprise his father started chuckling. And despite being the bud of the joke, Heath still couldn’t stop himself from laughing along too.
When the show ended it was pretty late, Heath had already planned on driving Daisy home. He'd groaned internally, his body felt so heavy with fatigue. Knowing she'd be as tired as him, maybe she'd want to crash here? He’d turned lazily to look at her, still seated next to him on the couch.
She’d had her head resting on the back of it. Only a few inches away from his shoulder. He might have been imagining it, but he swore it was inclined towards him just a little.
His family hadn’t moved yet either. The only light was coming from the TV, casting a comfortable glow around the room. Heath had been overcome with a sense of tired peacefulness. Usually after his family finished watching Dancemania they’d all lazily go up to bed for the night.
Daisy still hadn’t looked up from her phone, he’d assumed she was texting her mother that she’d be on her way soon. He’d ignored every instinct in his body to follow his routine and just go up to bed with his best friend. She fit in here so well, and looked so cozy, and he was so tired.
He couldn’t change the plan though, she had probably already told her parents she was leaving any minute. Was it supposed to rain tonight? He’d thought, thinking of ways he could stall.
His mothers voice had broken him out of his trance.
“Well Heath, it’s time you get Daisy home before it gets too late.” He had looked up to see her already facing him, a knowing look on her face.
His sister pulled Daisy up to say goodbye.
He nodded, and went to find his keys.
He paused in his bedroom, looking around for a few moments.
Sure, it was the smallest room in the house. And sure, he would have to clean it and make it look presentable. But on another day with proper planning, he could totally see them having a sleepover here.
They’d been talking about a movie night for months. This way at the end there would be no 48 minute drive to drop her off in the dark. Heath would take the floor of course, but he didn’t care. Now that he was properly thinking about a sleepover with best friend he knew he’d already made up his mind.
Now here he sat, sweating under the intense stare of his mom after he’d tried to bring up the idea of said sleepover.
“Pete sleeping on your floor after you play video games and eat pizza is one thing.” She took a step towards him, hands resting on her hips. “Your father and I love Daisy, we’re very happy you’ve found someone like her.”
Heath blinked. This is really not how he thought this conversation would go.
“You know she is always welcome here. But right now whether you like it or not you still live with your parents,”
Had he missed something? One moment they’re talking about his best friend and now this conversation was beginning to sound like-
“So no Heath, I am not letting you spend the night alone with Daisy in your bedroo-”
“Hold on! Hold on!” He scrambled to his feet, head reeling and hands waving frantically. “Me and Daisy aren’t- I-I didn’t mean-” He took a breath, knowing full well that his ears were probably beat red. “We’re just friends, okay? She’s my best friend.”
His mothers eyes narrowed at him just slightly, but he noticed. Why did she have to make this so weird? Finally she sighed, and turned back around to the pot that’d been left ignored.
Heath felt a wave of relief to have that glare off of him. He could continue the discussion, he’d cleared up the confusion hadn’t he? But he couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth. He didn’t know what he would say.
He got the feeling she wouldn’t believe him anyways.
That thought had him briskly walking out of the kitchen, resigned to never bring this up again.
His bedroom had never been a problem to him, but now it had one problem.
Him and Daisy had movie nights like they planned, but he always drove her home afterward. There were a few times he thought she might bring up staying the night, but the moment never came.
She offered to get picked up a few times instead, but he refused.
If she wasn’t able to stay the night he wasn’t giving up those extra 48 minutes.
He got used to stretching out the time between the last credits ending and them walking out the door. Whether it be a funny video on one of their phones, or something Jett texted him yesterday. Even starting a rock paper scissors war because he was having such a good time and didn’t want to leave their little bubble.
A few times they watched movies in the basement, but Rachel’s room was down there. He loved how well they got along but he hated the small twinge of jealousy he felt when she joined them.
Heath felt like he had limited time with Daisy outside the studio, he felt greedy for wanting her all to himself.
One day after practice he and Pete had stayed late to work on their hip hop together, something they did often.
He was sitting on the floor with his back to the wall, taking a needed drink from his water bottle. Pete was a few feet away from him, doing the same. A calm silence took over the room for a few minutes before Pete spoke up.
“Would you want to split an apartment near the studio?”
Heath was caught off guard, the question was completely out of the blue. Sure, Heath had recently confided in Pete with his frustrations over having Daisy over. And Pete had often vented his annoyance about his various siblings and house rules.. But they’d never talked about something like this.
Heath was silent for a few minutes. He knew Pete was serious just from his tone, so he thought about it.
It didn’t take long for him to reach an answer.
“Totally.”
He couldn’t think of a better first room mate to figure out a new apartment with than Pete. He was already looking forward to the idea of being closer to the studio, and taking another step into adulthood.
It would be their own space, his and Pete’s.
It was way too early to be thinking that far ahead, Heath knew that. But then he thought about having a movie night in his own apartment, no rules or time limits. No 48 minute drive through the snow or rain, if Daisy fell asleep on his shoulder he wouldn’t have to rouse her awake.
Heath was really looking forward to an apartment.
Heath was so tired of apartments.
That late night when Pete asked Heath to split an apartment they had made an agreement. They would get on the same page with their parents and then tell their friends.
Heath hadn't asked about Kenzie, he assumed she knew about it before Heath did. The night afterward however, he couldn't sleep. It was almost midnight and he was just so excited.
He knew he couldn't tell Rachel, he didn't trust her not to blab to their parents.
Besides, there was only one person he really wanted to tell. Keeping it to himself all day with her at practice had been torture. It was a Friday night, he knew she'd be awake.
But Heath and Pete had made an agreement, they wouldn't tell their friends until they got their parents on board.
Daisy was his best friend though, surely that meant something? Would Pete really be angry that he told her? He felt a pang of guilt, it seemed so trivial but he had said he wouldn't tell the team.
His phone buzzed and his eyes locked on to the small daisy emoji on his screen.
❀: u awake heathcliffe? :o
He felt himself smiling.
It's not the same. I'm sorry Pete.
It turned out Pete had assumed he would tell Daisy anyways, Heath didn't ask him why. He hadn't admitted that Daisy knew before his own parents did and he wasn't planning to.
Now here he stood, one month later, in a small apartment with Pete.
They had checked out apartments every evening or morning they could. At first Heath was bright eyed and hopeful, he didn't realize how difficult it would be.
Every place seemed to have a different issue. He wasn't too picky of a person himself, but both sets of parents were worried about them getting 'swindled.' So it had taken a long time to find something everyone agreed on, the last thing Heath needed in his life was more drama.
"This one's good right? Kind of small but I like the layout." Pete gestured toward the kitchen. The two of them were in the living room, there was room for a dining table in between, Heath thought.
"At this point I'll take anything," Heath chuckled. "Seriously though, I like it too. Cozy, and really close to the studio." He mused.
He and Pete continued to walk through the apartment, talking about where they would put things. Their excitement was growing and they were happily joking around when they got back to the living room.
Pete stood opposite him, "Okay, I think the couch could sit here. Our TV is kind of small for movies but we could put it up on a table or something for now."
Heath raised his eyebrows in a teasing manner. "Are we getting ahead of ourselves? It sounds like you're already planning a date with Kenzie."
Pete looked over at him, "Hey I'm just excited! And don't worry, I'll still go over to Kenzie's so you and Daisy can have the place." His friend grinned at him.
Heath scoffed, turning around. "Yeah, yeah whatever." He grabbed his phone off the counter where he'd set it down. "Are we calling our parents or what?"
Within a week they had signed a lease. Pete had called Kenzie with the good news and asked Heath if he was going to call Daisy.
By now Heath didn't bat an eye to his friend comparing him and Daisy to his own relationship.
He would never bring it up though.
Heath didn't call Daisy, he was really excited about the apartment again now that they'd finally found a place. He could wait until tomorrow and tell her in person, he wanted to see her reaction. He wanted to share the excitement with her.
The next morning at rehearsal she was already at her cubby when he arrived. He made his way to her side, a grin already forming on his face. He tapped her other shoulder and watched as she looked away in confusion and then back toward him.
"We got an apartment." He said softly, this news was for her ears only. He loved the way Daisy's eyes lit up, her smile was probably bigger than his.
"That's so great! Is it what you guys were looking for?" She asked. He told her all about the walkthrough with Pete, happy to share his enthusiasm with her. Heath appreciated that she could see this apartment thing meant a lot to him right now.
Daisy listened intently as he rambled on, she asked a lot of the same questions Kenzie and their parents had. He didn't mind answering them again though, he loved that she really wanted to know the answer.
Inwardly he promised himself she would be the first one he showed it to when they moved in.
Heath looked around his new bedroom. It wasn’t an impressive size by any means, but was a lot more spacious than his old one.
Maybe a little too spacious compared to what he was used to, because he’d rearranged everything four times already. Heath still wouldn’t call himself a picky person, but every time he thought the room looked right he noticed something off.
Okay, maybe he was being a little paranoid. Heath had planned his and Daisy’s first ever official sleepover for tonight. She’d been over to see the place when they first moved everything in. Back then the place was covered in boxes.
Now he and Pete had actually unpacked everything and set the apartment up. And Heath couldn’t help feeling like his room needed to look perfect.
Pete had been given a fairly large couch from his grandma when they moved in. Heath was planning on sleeping out there tonight, and giving Daisy his room.
She had seen his old bedroom before sure, but Heath felt suddenly aware of a lot of the nerdier things he had.
Like had Daisy ever seen his legions of lasers trading card collection? Was he too old for that now? Right now it was displayed on a bookshelf, he had put it away and taken it back out twice
He glared at the binder for a few more moments before a voice broke him out of his thoughts.
“Dude, why are you freaking out? It’s just Daisy.” Pete poked his head through the door to his bedroom. “Every time I come back your room is completely different, do you really think she cares?”
Heath let out a heavy sigh. Of course she didn’t care, he knew she didn’t care. He ignored the sinking feeling in his chest that seemed to say,
I care.
Shaking his head briefly, he closed the binder and put it back on the shelf. He turned to his friend, wanting to play it off as a joke. But he was nervous, and could use some advice.
”It’s our first sleepover tonight. I feel stupid for being so worked up about it but..” He paused, gathering his thoughts. “She was never allowed to stay too long at my parents house, and I was never allowed at hers. At this place it’s different, and..” He trailed off.
Heath knew why he was so nervous, but the fear he had sounded so dumb he’d avoided saying it out loud.
Pete was still looking at him though, clearly waiting for him to continue. Heath took a breath in and,
“I want her to like it here. If.. If she doesn’t come over its not because of any rules, it’s because of me.” He confessed. At first he’d been so excited, but then the doubts had started to creep in.
Their parents wouldn’t be in the way, if anything went wrong it would all be on Heath and this new apartment.
So it had to be amazing.
However Pete just shook his head.
“Okay if you’re that nervous, staring at this room isn’t going to help.” He guided Heath toward the living room. “Tonight's supposed to be a big fun sleepover right? So pick out some movies and we’ll go get some snacks.”
Heath nodded gratefully, glad to hear something that actually made sense to him right now.
“Okay, okay.” He pulled out his phone. “I already have a whole list of what I gotta get.”
While Pete looked over the list Heath took a moment to look out the window. He seriously needed to clear his head. Pete was right, it was just Daisy.
Isn’t that what he himself had said to his mom? He was overthinking this, surely. Tonight would be great simply because Daisy was coming over. He didn’t need to stress about these little things.
Besides, there was no one he felt more comfortable with than Daisy. Heath had been waiting for a chance like this, where they didn’t have to stress about the studio, or drama or even their parents. He could just hang out with his best friend without any distractions.
How could he think it would matter to Daisy what he displayed in his room? She was more likely to tease him about his card collection in their usual playful bickering. This was Daisy. His best friend, his duet partner, someone he'd hung out with countless times.
He felt like he wanted to slap himself awake.
Why had he been fussing over this in his head the last few days? Nothing had changed other than Heath’s location.
Daisy and him having a sleepover was not a big deal.
He was suddenly reminded of his mothers words a few months ago.
Your father and I love Daisy, and we’re very happy you’ve found someone like her.
No, he'd already cleared that up. Their relationship wasn't like that.
But there was a reason she assumed it was, he just made sure never to ask her. Deep down he was beginning to understand the stern glare she'd fixed on him that day. Every look she'd ever given him when it had to do with Daisy too.
But Heath's mom was wrong, there was no good reason he and Daisy couldn't have a sleepover. He almost thought he could hear his mother's voice in his head. Telling him what a fool he was being for believing it. but he shook it off, needing to get away from his own thoughts.
He really was overthinking this, getting himself all worked up for nothing. All he was doing was confusing himself, he didn't need to make things complicated by looking into things that weren't there. A lot of people in his life had confused his and Daisy's relationship, he couldn't start too.
He was just nervous because he wanted her to like the apartment, he wanted this to be a fun place for them to hang out.
He needed to remember what tonight actually was; a chance for them to have fun together. Heath already had all of Daisy’s favorite movies on DVD, and he’d rented a few new ones for them to watch too. What he should be putting his energy into was what he was actually missing, snacks.
He'd get some stuff to make nachos, she'd mentioned craving them last week. Maybe he'd even pick up some chocolate covered cranberries for her. Daisy always had a soft spot for them, but rarely let herself indulge.
He could picture the way her face would light up, he always admired how her eyes seemed to glow with joy whenever she gave a real smile.
Despite his own anxiety, he really was looking forward to seeing her tonight. They'd spend hours laughing at the TV together, talking and playing board games.
He remembered their last movie night. They'd both been so tired from rehearsal, crashing onto the couch and putting on whatever. Heath had hardly paid attention, about thirty minutes in Daisy had fallen asleep. Her head lightly resting on his shoulder as she drifted off. He'd felt so warm and cozy, sitting with her like that. She always made him feel warm and cozy.
Could his mom and Pete have a point? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if-
Stop it Heathcliffe.
Giving his head a good shake, he grabbed his phone out of Pete’s hands and made his way to the door.
You can't go there.
He felt like himself again a few hours later. They'd gone out and bought more snacks than they probably needed, and a few throw blankets for the couch. After a quick dinner Pete had headed out for the night, telling Heath to have fun.
Heath was grateful he left it at that.
Now here he stood, wearing a comfortable pair of sweats. He took one last look around and admired his handywork. The couch was covered in those comfy blankets, the coffee table was filled with snacks and there was a wide selection of movies on the floor.
He checked his phone for the time again, Daisy would be here any minute.
He'd offered to come get her but she had insisted she could get a ride, knowing he'd probably have to drive her home tomorrow.
Tomorrow
Heath felt his grin widening, they were finally having a sleepover! He'd been worried over nothing, they had everything they needed. It had to be the excitement of the apartment getting to him, Daisy was his best friend and he valued that high above anything else.
The doorbell rang and he almost dropped his phone. He took a few paces, making his way to the door.
His mother was crazy, and so was Pete. This friendship meant everything to Heath, and that's all Daisy would ever be.
His friend.
He swung the door open, his welcome dying in his throat. Daisy had come in full sleepover attire. Fluffy pajama pants, a loose T shirt and even slippers. Most noticeable of all to him was her hair, the black strands were down and falling over her shoulders.
He tried to summon words but it felt like his voice had died in his chest. Worse, it felt like sparks were firing off in his chest. His ears were warm, and her bright eyes trained on him were like petrification.
Shit