"... We couldn't leave James' house," he added.

Laurel pouted a little, "Why not?"

"We don't know if it's safe," Nic explained.

"But... you'd be there." Laurel reasoned.

"... I wouldn't want to risk it," Nic argued.

Laurel sighed but nodded, "Alright, then we shouldn't tell any of the girls what we're doing." she told him as she squeezed his cheeks together lightly between her thumb and forefinger, "They wouldn't leave us alone..."

Nic blinked, looking rather silly which he was very unaware of. After a moment he nodded a little.

Laurel smiled at Nic for a moment before suddenly wrapping her arms around his head and lifting it up as she bent down slightly until his face was snuggled into the crook of her neck. She ran a hand through his hair as she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I won't let anyone else hurt you." she whispered more to herself than to him before kissing the side of his head.

Nic ran a hand through the stubble on her head and kissed her cheek.

Laurel hugged him tightly for a little bit longer before pulling away and looking at his face. "Do you like hair better or no hair?" she suddenly asked seriously.

Nic was quiet for a moment before asking, "My hair or your hair?"

Laurel blinked, "Mine, obviously." she replied slowly, "You'd look terrible bald." she grimaced slightly.

Nic blinked, like he really hadn't thought about how he'd look bald. "... Well, I haven't seen you with hair," he replied, not considering the fuzz hair. "I like whatever you're more comfortable with."

Laurel paused, "I... don't know." she said quietly, "I haven't had hair in such a long time I've forgotten if I like it." she admitted, fiddling with Nic's hair a little. "My dad said I looked too much like my mom with it." she murmured, frowning a little as she focused on his hair.

After another moment, Nic shook his head a little, making his hair bounce around. "... Mine's a little long," he decided.

Laurel snapped back from some daydream and glanced at him, "What me to give it a trim?" she offered, "I'm pretty decent at it."