Riley's Box

Part 62

Shortly after our discussion with Avidicci, Jason and I went to sleep.

We slept close together, under the covers, in the same way that we had done when we were younger.

This time around, however, I felt much more nervous.

Well, I wasn't entirely nervous. It was also comforting to have Jason there, but knowing that I felt for him, in the way that I did, made the butterflies return to my stomach. They fluttered around in little anxious circles.

I wondered, for only a moment, whether Jason was nervous too.

He really could be a mystery to me, at times, and that made me wish that I could read his mind.

However, he also brought fun and happiness into my life that I knew nobody else could ever even hope to replicate. Jason was my best friend. He would always be my best friend.

When I awoke the next morning, he proved that fact by tickling me. 

"You know I'm not ticklish," I said to him. 

He rolled onto his stomach and grinned at me. 

"Is that so?" he asked me, tickling my sides with more intensity. 

Alright. So, it would turn out that I was, in fact, ticklish. 

After a few moments of giggling, I got him to stop. 

"Being with you is fun...tickles included," I said. 

"Being with me, huh?" he asked me. 

I chucked a pillow at him. 

"Come on, Jason. You know what I mean," I said. 

One of his eyebrows shot up, then. 

He rolled out of bed, at the same time that I did. Then, he walked around the bed so he could be close to me. 

I needed to brush my teeth. 

"Do I?" he asked me. 

"Being with you...being in your presence," I said. 

"It's my favourite thing in the world. I have more fun with you, Riley, than I could ever have with anyone else," he said. I could tell from his tone that he was being serious. "But I can tell there's something else on your mind," he continued, as he tucked some of my hair behind my ear. 

"I could be with you...like in a relationship," I whispered. 

Jason's hand cupped my face, tilting it upwards slightly so he was looking directly into my eyes. 

"I knew that," he said. 

"You did?" I asked. 

"Well, yeah. I'm smart enough to know you well. I'd like to think that I can tell what you want, too," he said. "So, Riley, be my girlfriend?" he asked me. 

I instantly threw my arms around his neck in an embrace. 

"Yes, of course!" I said. 

He pressed his face into the crook of my neck, as he hugged me and when he stepped back he had a brilliant grin on his face. 

I knew that I was smiling, too. 

Jason took a step forward, so he could place a gentle kiss on my forehead. 

"I love touching you," he said. 

"I love it when you do," I replied. 

"I care so much about you, Riley," he said. 

I felt my smile grow. 

"Hey, I'm going to go and brush my teeth," I told him and he nodded. 

A few moments after my breath was minty fresh again, I stepped out into my room. 

Jason had brought his own toothbrush and other various guy things, so that he could get ready at my house, too. 

When he emerged from the bathroom again, I realised that we hadn't kissed yet. 

I supposed that now wasn't exactly the time to kiss each other, but I couldn't help thinking about it. 

Soon after the two of us had got ready, it was time for the both of us to make our way to school.

Jason drove, which I was grateful for. 

Although the bus wasn't too bad, nothing beat going for a car drive with him, even if that drive did lead us to school. 

We then stepped out of the car, once he had parked in the parking lot. 

Once we were through the front entrance of the school, I turned to Jason to tell him that I would see him later, but that later honestly couldn't come soon enough. 

Jason beamed back at me, but a slight sadness flickered in his gaze. 

"Hey, I'll see you soon!" I assured him. 

"See you soon, Riles," he said and the light returned to his eyes. 

I watched as he turned and made his way down the hall towards his woodworking class. Jason was a pretty practical person. He had always been good at cooking and things that involved making something. 

I was good at cooking and baking, not so much woodworking, but that was okay. Jason could be good enough at it, for the both of us. 

When I reached my math class, I walked over to the chair next to Eric and sat down in it. 

My eyes flitted over to his paper to find that he had received an A+ on the last exam. 

"Above average," I said. 

He turned to me and the corner of his mouth twitched upwards slightly. 

"What did you get?" he asked me. His eyes glanced over to my paper and he was able to answer his question. 

I had got a B-. I was also above average. 

"I'll get an A plus next time," I said, with determination to do such a thing. 

Eric's eyes flickered with surprise. 

"I look forward to seeing you try," he said. 

Eric was really wise, especially when it came to math, but that didn't mean that I couldn't be really good at it, too. 

After math class was over, I caught up to Eric as he walked on down the corridor. 

"Are you my fan, now?" he asked me. 

"Hm?" I replied. 

"My number one fan?" he teased. 

I released a soft laugh. 

"Uh, no. Sorry to disappoint. Sorry to burst your bubble. I was just wondering where you were going," I explained. 

"I'm going to the gym. These muscles won't grow themselves and I need to get stronger," he said. 

I gave an understanding nod of my head. 

"See you around, Eric," I said. 

His response was a straightforward nod, and he then turned and walked off down the hall, towards the gym.