The Shy Girl

Kept

"Ma'am, this is all I could find. I hope this is what you're looking for." The woman officer hands me the bag full of my dad's belongings and my car keys and walks away.

I walk to my car, happily pressing the bottom of my keys to unlock it.

I lay the plastic bag carefully on the backseat as I get comfy in the drivers seat. It felt like ages since I've drove.

Brad exits the parking lot first, then I leave, following him back to his place. Now that I can see the outside of his house, it doesn't look that bad.

I watch Brad unlock the door from my car and go inside. I grab the plastic bag and walk in behind him.

"What's in the bag?" Brad asks as he shuts the door. I place the bag on the table and carefully unzip it.

The paper inside it falls out, scattering on the wooden floor.

It wasn't useful for nothing, it was just the proof that it was my dad's stuff.

I already could see what I was looking for. It was there, pushed to the back of the bag.

I reach for it and take out a tiny piece of paper that said, I LOVE YOU DADDY and had wrinkles from being in the bag for long.

"I made my dad this when I was in kindergarten. He promised me he would always keep it with him. He kept his promise. He always kept it in his pockets."

"I'm sorry about what happened." Brad apologizes slyly, looking at his feet.

"I'm sorry about your parents. It must have been worse for you. I mean, you lost them when you were three."

"Yours was more dramatic." Brad supports.

"I just wanted to check and see if my dad kept his promise. He did." I hug Brad, holding him close.

He was the only one that I had left. Out of all my family, I choose Brad.

He was there for me when I needed him. I could rely on him.

I toss the bag and the papers in the trash while Brad looks for a picture frame to put the tiny piece of paper in.

"I found it." He walks back in the kitchen and hands me the picture frame.

I place the paper inside the frame and secure it with the latches that are on the back of it.

~

I put the picture on the white dresser that's in my room that looks like a disaster occurred.

Brad lays on my bed shirtless,flashing his abs and muscular arms. He stares at the ceiling,not looking at me.

I toss myself on the bed next to him. He still doesn't look at me, almost as if he's mad at me.

"I think I might go to school tomorrow." I blurt, watching his jawline twitch.

"Are you sure? Positive?"

"Absolutely, I miss Lizzy." I say.

"Oh, right. That weirdo." Brad remarks with a laugh.

I nudge him in the side playfully. "She's just protective. And she's my best friend. Deal with it, dude."

"Oh, okay." Is the only thing Brad says.

"You know you'll have to wake up early, right?" I ask, lifting my eyebrows.

"Are you serious? That's why I don't miss school."

"Dead serious." I say, laughing.

I lay my head on my pillow, while I set my alarm on my phone.

Brad stands up to leave, but I stop him. "Hey, put this on the dresser."

He takes it out of my hand and does as he's told. Then, he walks out, turning the lights off as he does.