The Older We Get

Chapter 3

               A quick check to see if he was still in my room, and I finish blow drying my hair before stepping out and shifting to one leg after spotting the area he was in before totally empty of a body. Even the blanket's gone.

               It's darker outside too.

               That really did just happen though right?

               "Wow." I shake my head, checking in my dresser mirror to see if I secured my chest properly, when I remember the way Chandler's fingers felt on my body, the barrier between him actually managing to keep him from fully groping me only causes my thoughts to wonder what it would've felt like if I hadn't have bound myself up.

               The Chandler from back then wasn't even bothered by the fact that I was a girl and he was a boy. We were just friends.

               He did move to Las Vegas, told me from the few e-mails we exchanged that it was pretty up to date there. It sort of makes me sad thinking that he's probably changed because of moving and living in that type of environment.

               But more or less I'm just wondering what he's doing back here, and how in the world are we going to be able to look each other in the eyes after that?

               Finishing up my fresh attire by pulling on a red semi-casual long sleeved shirt with a v-neck and a few white buttons near the top, I drag some black skinny jeans up my legs and some flats just before flipping my long waterfall of thick blonde hair over my shoulder and hurrying down the steps, wondering if Chandler's still in the house.

               "Mom?"

               "In here!" I direct myself towards the kitchen, hurrying when I see dad take a sip of tea while eyeing the figure of my old best friend sitting on a bar stool in the middle of my kitchen, his wrist decorated with some new age elaborate square shaped watch hanging a tad loose on him, while his long fingers that I didn't expect to turn out so fine and slender mess with a coaster I made once in art class.

               So he really is here. But why? Is it a visit or a temporary move? For that matter, why is he here in my house, sleeping on my bed?

               "Hey soon to be senior high school girl. You all dressed?" My mom spreads her arms out on the table when I experience the words to respond slip out as Chandler turns and smiles at me, eyeing me up and down to the point I feel like I'm wearing something inappropriate.

               Did he used to do that? Not that I remember.

               "Doesn't she look nice Chandler?" My mom just had to ask. If she could see his glowing, sparkly eyes touching my figure she wouldn't have had to wonder.

               Maybe I'm just over thinking this. I'm 3 years older than him and we were more or less like cousins so I doubt he's checking me out. Idiot.

               I'm not shy but, Chandler makes me uncomfortable, which is insane because, he never used to make me feel uncomfortable.

               Never.

               "Mm-hmm." He answers without looking at me, but I spot the small upturn of his lips before he messes with the coaster again. "Going somewhere Sage?" Still not looking at me, but him using my name unhinges me a bit.

               It's nothing like it used to be. When he says my name now, just the tone of his voice, it's like a different person.

               "She's going to a party."