Be Brave

Him.

He's here...

Wait? No...it's someone else...

I blink. The world is a blur.

"Who's there?"

I ask hoarsely. I ashamedly wipe a tear off of my cheek with the heel of my hand.

"Tell me!"

I demand, knowing that I will not receive and answer.

The tall, slim figure approaches the house. I begin to tremble, but do not scream in terror or move away. I swallow a lump in my throat as the figure begins to scale the siding. What should I do?! There's nothing I can do. I am helplessly frozen in place.

Boney hands grip the open window pane. Green eyes peer at me over the edge of the window.

"What the hell..."

I mutter under my breath. Yet another tear finds it's way down my cheek. I am fascinated, but terrified.

He manages to swing his body in through the open window. He comes into the light.

"Lucy, I need to tell you-"

He freezes mid sentence. He automatically pulls me into his arms like it's a small gesture, confident like it's been done for ever. I still feel myself tremble.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

"Shh...."

He only holds me tighter. He strokes my hair although it's a huge mess of knots. It's comforting.

"Why are you here?"

I look up at him, once the tears have momentarily subsided, with wide eyes. My voice comes out unsteady. I sound like an innocent child.

"That's not important now. What happened? Who do I need to kill?"

"You-y- just scared me that's all..."

He shakes his head in disbelief. His face makes me feel like I should open up, that I could tell him everything.

"Fine, I'll tell you. Sometimes... I feel like nobody truly understands me or how hard I work..."

I pause and bite my lip. He stares at me intently. I shake my head.

"No forget it...it's stupid...I'm stupid..."

"No, no continue!"

I let out a sigh.

"I'm sick and tired of people taking advantage of me..."

He nods.

"You work hard for what you have..."

He says.

"But sometimes it's not enough, I'm just so dumb..."

"You are not dumb, not even close!"

He exclaims. I shake my head.

"Okay, but will you at least tell me why you're here?"

All of the color drains from his face.

"Lucy, I-I....you know what? Nevermind, it's stupid..."

"You could have just texted me you know?"

I offer with a small smile.

"I don't have your number... besides... it was too important for a text..."

"Well um... I see you stare sometimes."

I swear he blushes. I gasp as he grasp my shoulders.

"You see right through me! Alright Lucy?! You stare sometimes too..."

Now I blush...we both laugh.

"Sorry you always have to hear my ugly laugh..."

He rolls his eyes.

"Stop! It's beautiful, you're beautiful."

He brushes a stray hair off of my face. I bite my lip, blushing once again.

"Be brave, now."

I say urging him forward. He lets out a sigh.

"Okay... well I was wondering if you want to go out with me, you don't have to say yes or anything... I just had this idea that maybe you like me too... I don't know why some one as beautiful and smart as you would want to go out with me anyways and-"

All of the words come flowing out with no end. It's the most I have ever heard him say at once. I cut him off.

"You know Brett, I would be an idiot not to go out with you."

He smiles.

"You're adorable."

I say, wrapping my arms around his neck. I also smile. He wraps his arms around my waist and our foreheads are pressed together, our noses aligned. He frees one hand to cup my face. His thumb skims my cheek bone.

He tilts his head and leans in closer...

My eyes flash open, I wake with a start.

Brett.

We have a past...

How about a future?

How do I even feel?

I don't know...

Okay...

I'll admit it....

I like him.