Right Where You Left Me

like when we were kids

When I wake up the next morning, I almost forget my nighttime encounter with Nate. Things that happen at night tend to feel like a dream, feel like a hazy memory that never quite happened.

But then I remember Nate's intense gaze and his brown eyes on me, and I know it wasn't a dream.

It's a Saturday, so I roll around in bed and avoid leaving the warmth of my blanket until the last possible moment. It's two in the afternoon when I finally roll out of bed. Nancy's left a note for me; she's gone into the city for a while and she won't be back home tonight. Probably spending the night at some fancy hotel with a handsome man.

I slip on mom jeans and a green tank top, and slip on my converse shoes. I run my thumb along the little smiley face before grabbing my phone. I go to grab the bike lock before remembering Nate has it. I shrug and shut the front door as I exit the house, bounding down the steps.

Then I'm on the road, blasting my playlist in my white wired earbuds as I speed down the country lane. Rolling green hills dotted with small farmhouses blur as I whiz past them. I speed by my favorite place to go apple picking, the rotting pumpkin patch, and round the corner onto the quiet lane where the only place to stay in town is.

It's a breakfast and bed, owned by Sydney. She's a wonderful old lady who makes the best strawberry muffins.

I drop my bike on the grass and walk inside, pushing open the glass door as the little bell jingles to announce my entry.

"Adya, hon!" Sydney explains, enveloping me in a hug. "I haven't seen you around here in a while. It's so good to see you."

"You're looking great, Sydney," I tell her. She blushes and waves me off, handing me a muffin.

"What's up?" she asks me. "Need a room?"

I shake my head. "Actually, I was looking for Nate."

She raises her brows and chuckles. "You kids are wild," she mutters. My eyes widen at what she's insinuating, but before I can tell her that I'm not looking to hook up with him, she talks again. "He's in room 207, the second floor. Try not to be too loud, eh? There's a lovely old couple next to you, and I really don't want them to be traumatized."

"That's not what I'm here for," I tell her, my cheeks red, but she chuckles and shooes me away.

I sigh and climb the rickety stairs. The handrail used to be white, but the paint is chipped and peeling off. Once I get to the top, I head down the hall towards room 207.

I reach for the door and knock.

It opens, and standing there is Nate.

I still need to get over the shock of seeing his face. It's been three years. I've changed, but he's changed too. I wonder if he ever looks at me and get shocked by how much better I look. I doubt it.

He leans on the doorframe and looks down at me, his eyes flickering to my red shoes before travelling slowly up my body. He takes his time. He's always taken his time. When he reaches my eyes, his lips stretch into a lazy smirk.

"You missed me that much, yeah?" he says. "Saw me eight hours ago but you're already back for more?"

I roll my eyes. "Don't be conceited. I just wanted to drop off these." I push a paper bag of donuts in Nate's chest that I bought from the only Timmie's in town. He takes the bag, surprised, and thanks me. My feet shift and I turn to leave.

He pauses, then lets out a breath and pushes himself off the door jamb. "Wait," he says.

Almost against my will, my feet stop walking and I turn around.