Stay ~ Applewood Series #1

19| abby

After I ring the doorbell, Jesse comes to let me in like always. "Hi." I step up to put my arms around him for a kiss, but before I get the chance he puts an arm around me for a simple side hug. I push past the weird behavior as he greets me back and I follow him through the house to the living room where the food and television is already set up for tonight. We have planned to watch the football game tonight, just for something to relax with.

"How was work today?" I ask while we both sit down on the couch. I wait for him to move first to grab a slice of pizza but he does not do anything but sit down on the cushion beside me. So despite being hungry I don't reach for any food.

"Fine," he answers plainly. "How was school today?"

His monotone voice is getting to me in a bad way, but I again try to move past it. Maybe he is just tired. "It was fine, I had a hard test today, but other than that everything was the same as usual."

"Sounds like college." I expect for more conversation like we've had before but instead he turns up the volume to focus on the game. He still doesn't reach for the pizza or the drinks so I copy his actions and stay put on the couch.

After the first quarter and still nothing from him I know something is up. Jesse is never this quiet or cold. I am racking my brain for the entire time wondering what I could have done wrong. Should I just apologize, but what for? Is he only realizing now that he is mad at me for what happened on Halloween? Is he upset that I never plan any of the dates? I guess I really should begin doing that for him.

Sitting in silence isn't something new, but from the way he has acted so far makes me uneasy. I don't want to say something if all he does want is to stay quiet and not talk about it now. At the same time, it is killing me not knowing what is going on in his head.

"Jesse?" I whisper when the commercial comes on. He doesn't take his eyes away from the screen when he hums in response. I feel my stomach sink and my eyes sting at the subtle dismissal. What is going on?

"I'm sorry," I say, my voice cracking from holding back my tears. Even though I am not sure if there is anything I am apologizing for, my only hope is to make him less upset regardless of the reason. This time he does turn his head to look down into my eyes, his face softening when he sees my face. He brings one hand up to my cheek to swipe across my cheekbone.

"No, I'm sorry for ignoring you angel," he replies. My whole body relaxes when he speaks to me, but at the same time the tears spill out with relief.

"Jesse what is going on? What's wrong?" I ask, desperate to understand where he is coming from.

He sighs, putting his head down to look at his knees before looking back up when he answers. "I shouldn't have acted the way I did, you don't deserve that. I just, have something on my mind, something that involves you, that I am a little worried about."

"What is it? Please tell me Jesse." His expression turns conflicted and I can see the argument going on in his head before me. He does not respond right away, however I wait quietly for him to find the right words he wants to use.

"My sister, Meredith, she is coming for a few days in December before going back home for winter break. She will be staying with me here, and well, she is going to want to meet everyone, including you."

"Oh." So I assume that means he doesn't want me to meet her. Though the thought of meeting his sister does make me nervous, I still weirdly want to. The fact of the matter deflates me a little, but I try to not let that on. If he doesn't feel ready for me to see her then that is going to have to be alright with me. "I understand, there is always next time," I assure him.