Infidelity.

7. Reconnection

I woke up with itchy eyes and a feeling that i had slept for way longer than i usually do. Even still, i felt groggy.

It was a different environment for me, waking up in someone else's bed isn't exactly what i do on a daily basis.

I never expected it. I never expected this. I never expected it to be his bed.

Angelo and I pretty much grew up together. He was my neighbor for 7 years, when my family and I moved in next door to his one day during the summer. We were young so we always played together. I spent more time playing with him than I did the other girls on my block, I liked playing with dolls but Angelo just made the time feel better as it went by.

We even had sleepovers together during the summer where we would camp outside in the backyard since our parents never actually took us camping. We hated the mosquitos but staying up all night laughing about nothing made it all worth it.

As we grew older we spent time together doing different things. Less playing, more talking. I would sit on the windowsill cushions and talk to him through the cup phones we made one day for fun. It just became our thing every night. He always looked good to me. We spent hours talking about everything and nothing.

In 10th grade he started walking me home, I usually walked with Skyy when we wanted to and some of the other girls. Other days I had cheer practice so we never got the chance. He held my hand that day and told me to walk on the inside of the side walk so I would be away from the cars. He even offered to hold my books or my cheer bag. He always met me at my locker at the end of the day to be there with me every step of the way home.

Every home coming game I would cheer for the team in my uniform, even though everything i was doing really was for him. I never noticed it was this way until we became official partners in the homecoming gift exchange. Our gifts were personal, little inside jokes even.

Our last homecoming game, he asked me to the dance. That day, we won the game. He gave me the strongest hug i ever felt! Picking me up and wrapping my legs around him. When he held me like that, i felt we were in our own world alone despite the hundreds of people screaming and rejoicing over the victory.

I felt so safe in his arms. He told me I was his good luck charm, had I not been there.. he would have been off of his game, thinking about me instead of the ball. Looking into his eyes that night I thought he was going to kiss me! I watched his eyes bounce between my lips and my eyes several times during our exchange, but he just squeezed me tighter before telling me he loved me and putting me down.

I said it back, of course. We did have a love for one another. Sometimes it felt like it was way more than the love we had as best friends or family. Those kind of close interactions came with tension, but we kept it innocent there on the field.

Later that night after the dance he carried me into his house since my feet killed me from the heels. He laid me on his couch before taking of my heels and rubbing my feet. I was tipsy, and he took care of me. That night, I knew I could trust him to take care of me in any situation.

He chuckled as i let out a breath as he took the pressure out my feet. "Feel better?"

"Much better." I smiled at him. He motioned for me to come closer before picking me up and spinning us around.

"You'll make me dizzy.." I laughed in his ear. He continued for a little bit as i threw my head back.

Everything about him, especially that night, was euphoric. It felt so good inside.