Reasons To Live✔

25

"Elyse," Josh mumbles through the phone.

"Josh," I say, repeating his soft tone.

"Thankyou for coming over last night," he continues, his voice continuing to be very soft down the phone.

"Thankyou for being my date," I laugh softly. "What time is it?" I ask, my gaze moving to the curtain that's blowing in the wind slightly.

"10:15," he mumbles, his voice deep from being tired. "Fuck, time passes quick. Can you believe we finished with that school?" He chuckles. I smile, my arm resting over my head.

"It was certainly eventful, Josh," I respond. "From my past relationships to-" I stop myself from saying about last night, still nervous of his response even though he's no longer popular there.

"To last night?" He mumbles. "To prom? When we danced to music together and drank some awful tasting coke and you met my family and you kissed me," he says, quick-paced, his voice trailing off at the end.

"To when I kissed you..." I repeat, my voice just as slow and quiet as his own.

"I cannot believe you kissed me," he murmers.

"Me either, it's been a while since I've kissed anyone."

"Yeah, I could tell-"

"Are you calling me bad, Josh?" I gasp, before letting out a small laugh.

"No no no! You were good, I enjoyed it, it felt new and different with you," he laughs, I can almost imagine his scared expression and his waving arm actions. I roll my eyes, a tiny smile on my face as I stare towards the crack in the curtains: pure beautiful darkness.

"I'm not sure how to respond to that," I finally say.

"Say thankyou." He laughs.

"No-"

"You're welcome."

"I didn't say thankyou."

"I'm saying it anyway."

I laugh, he laughs too. Both soft, and then silence. Comfortable silence.

That is until I hear him sight again and then he starts talking.

"It was ethereal, that moment with you, where it was just us," he laughs, but calmly.

"Big word for you," I respond.

"Shutup, seriously. It felt good to finally do that with you. They were all expecting it anyway but the way it happened, I didn't expect you to initiate it as I'm sure no one else did but I wouldn't change it," he whispers, his voice soft and slow.

"They?" I ask, my head tilted slightly on the pillow as I stare up at the low light of the phone.

"They," he simply responds. "Just they, the people."

I don’t question it. He can be weird.

"I wouldn't change it too Josh, with anyone or anywhere. I hope they're all as special as that one made me feel-"

"All?" He interuppts.

"All," I copy. I hear him laugh softly.

"If you say so, gorgeous." He continues laughing.

Gorgeous? Suddenly, my heart races again in my chest and my smile widens.

"Hopefully it won't just be our first kiss then that's special like that," I finally manage to say through the smile and my heart beating out of my chest.

"Of course it won't be, but if so we still have many other firsts," he replies.

"I guess so, there's so much to do."

"Of course, El, and I'll make sure you get the world in each first."

"You've changed a lot since I've met you."

"I have, thankyou, it feels great to be like this now."

"But anyway, bedtime, I'm tired and plus I'm coming over tomorrow."

"Hm, fine. Text me when you wake up?"

"Do I ever fail to?"

"Sometimes?"

I hear him laugh.

He finally speaks after a few seconds:

"Number twenty-five: firsts."

--

Dedication: ginnywesly111 you messaged me and it was so sweet of you because it helps me so much when people reach out so thsnkyou so much! The indirect support means a lot to me and you are so sweet and it was awesome to interact with you! ♡