on top of the stairs.

picking up where we left off.

I wasn't doing much. I'd just got home from school and dove myself onto the couch. It's what I normally do every Monday through Friday from 2:15 til I eventually pass out on my various sheets of homework. Being preoccupied with my phone while whatever else is going on in the world gives me a sense of privilege that I don't usually get. It's about the times where I feel like the only person in the world, not just because I'm the only person in the house at the moment. It's not that I don't enjoy not being alone, I mean, my friends—my family—allow me to feel like I'm perfect here. Like I'm perfect with them. What I do like is silence, though. Don't get me wrong, I do favor blasting music in the house whenever I can, but having silence to myself seems so unreal in the realest of ways. Maybe I'm just picking at dust trying to justify my laziness after school.

You'd think the others would be home by now—Mckey and Oz, the youngest, are probably still at school making up all the work that they missed while skipping classes. IJ is most likely hanging out with Mikaela at her apartment. And Evan—she's off somewhere doing god knows what. Always on top of everything, a real responsibility advocate.

I'm in the middle. The 17-year-old junior who's smart enough to hand in homework on time, but not smart enough to read the instructions on boxed-bleach hair dye. Mil had to help half way through. They have a lot of experience with dying their hair. Currently, it's purple, which I think suits them very well.

They've told me before that it was their favorite color. They didn't explain why, or even where it started being their favorite. I assumed that it was just a feeling they had around the color. Mil didn't explain a lot of things, actually. They're a person of very few words. They keep to themself often—headphones attached to the ears, hands hidden nicely in their coat pockets. You'd think that a someone as tall as them would have a personality as big as a house, but that's quite the opposite. They've always been reserved while I've always been the loud one. They're usually the one to sit patiently at a bar while I'm having the time of my life on the dance floor. But like I said, I don't mind the silence.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ ♡ ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹

I did it again: I fell asleep on my homework. Only this time, I ended up passing out in Evan's office instead of the traditional kitchen table. I figured if she could stay in here hours on end without getting distracted, I might as well give it a try, right? Turns out I forgot that we're two totally different functioning people.

When I woke up from my little unexpected,
expected nap, it was only 3:00. That 45 minute nap felt like 2 hours. I mean, at least my body thinks Im well-rested, so that counts for something. I looked defeatedly at the papers in front of me and sighed while scooping them up from Evan's sad, wooden desk. I can practically feel her room judging me. I grabbed my backpack, along with what felt like 10 pounds of folders in my arms and dragged my way to this small kitchen of ours. I slammed my belongings on the table and began heading upstairs to change into something more comfortable. As much as I love dressing up, I can't stand staying still in the same clothes for hours on end. School actually makes me want to jump out a window.

Just starting to step on the first set of stairs, I hear the door knob a little ways in behind me jiggle a bit. Mc and Ozzie must've just gotten home. I shrug whoever is at my door off and climb the stairs further... until I pick up the sound of slow and frustrated knock at the door again. I let out a breathe of disappointment and sluggishly stomp back down to open the door to whoever forgot their keys this time. It's roughly a biweekly occurrence, so it's nothing out of the ordinary.

Grasping the handle, I quickly open the door and say with a smirk, "Now who didn't remember this time?" until I recognized the hair sitting on the sides of their shoulders.

"Hey, Loe,"

"Mil?! Wh-Why are you here?! I thought you weren't coming back until the end of the month!" I yelled, surprised. They were standing so still on the mat outside, only fidgeting with their fingers and looking at me.

"It is the end of the month," They said softly.

"No way," Typical that I lost track of days. I chuckled, "You're lying."

"You need a calendar," They replied so nonchalantly, walking past me through the doorframe as if they were stepping on ants.

"Well," I began, helping Mil take off their jacket and get situated back within the house again, "Since you're finally here, can you help me focus on my homework. I just need someone here or else I'll pass out."

"That's fine," They smiled back, fixing their hair behind their ears while they snagged each shoe off.

"Oh! Let me just change. You know me."

I gave her a quick grin and sprinted up the stairs. I searched for the most comfortable pair of shorts and t-shirt imaginable. I am really, extremely picky when it comes to my clothes. Luckily, I know myself inside and out, meaning that I understand exactly what to wear depending on the day, the time, and even on what I've worn the day before. I'm like a wardrobe whisperer.

After contemplating what I was going to wear, I finally exited my room where I found Mil waiting by the top of the stairs.

"Aw, did you miss me already?" I joked, but all I saw from them in response was a blank and concerned face. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at them more sincerely, "Is everything alright, Millie?"

They sighed quietly. They don't usually do the whole "eye-contact" thing, but couldn't help but notice that all they were doing was looking directly at me. They shyly began to reach for my hand until I grabbed theirs tight.

"I'm sorry I didn't text you. I-"

"Mil," I smiled, "I know you. It's alright."

They looked away for a moment to recollect themselves, and then looked back at me.

"I just miss you," They missed me? "I miss you so much," They missed me.

I noticed they squeezed my hand a little tighter, and they looked a little more emotional than normal.

Mil bent down a little, and all I could see were their lips. We've only ever kissed once before, but it was before they left. I guess... we're picked up where we left off.