Silver Clouds [COMPLETE]

°•° 27 °•°

The elevator slowly rose to the roof. My stomach was hurting full force but the only way to fix that would be to step outside and just talk to Jordan. I knew it might be difficult, but we had to fix this.

The elevator dinged and slowly opened. While the reception had been going on inside, the sun had slowly set. But it was still bright from all the lights of the city that never sleeps.

I found Jordan leaning against the railing on the edge of the roof, staring out at the city. His brow was creased with worry and his eyes clouded over with thought.

Tentatively, I made my way over to him. I sided up next to him but left a good amount of room between us. Though I wanted nothing more than to scoop him up into my arms and fix everything, I knew that he might want some space.

We were silent, the honking of cars and talking of people from down below the only sound filling the quiet. I could feel the tension between us and it only made my stomach ache more.

Eventually, Jordan let out a breath. "I'm an idiot, El."

I was quiet for a second before saying, "Maybe sometimes."

This earned me a small smile and I couldn't help but feel a little victorious. But his face quickly fell again, the crease between his brow deepening. "I'm sorry for... everything."

My urge to hug him grew stronger, but I only took a step closer to him, keeping my hands to myself. "And I'm sorry, too. I, uh, I don't mean to push you so much."

He shook his head. "No, you have a right to push me when I refuse to talk to you." He rubbed a hand over his head, almost nervously. "I have a lot I need to explain."

I didn't know what he meant by that, so I stayed silent.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. I watched him curiously as he tapped a few times. After a moment, soft music floated from the speakers. "Dance with me?"

This thoroughly dispelled my idea that he wanted space. I stepped forward, leaving just a few inches of air between us. He stuck his phone in his suit pocket and gently slipped his hands around my waist. I put mine around his neck and then we started to sway. The music was quiet, barely louder than the noises of the city, and the evening wind was chilly on my bare arms. But I wouldn't trade this for a dance in the ballroom.

After a few minutes, I closed the space between us completely and rested my head on his shoulder. I closed my eyes and listened to his even breathing, his steady heart beat, his gentle sway. Though I still waited on his explanation, for a moment, I let myself forget that we had fought and just danced with him.

Our swaying slowed and slowed and slowed until we were barely moving at all, just standing on the roof, hugging. Eventually, we stopped and Jordan whispered in my ear, "I was scared."

Though I didn't want to lose his warmth, I leaned back a little and looked up at him in the eye. "But I thought..."

His head shaking made my voice fade out. "Not like that. Your parents aren't that intimidating."

"Then scared of what?"

He sighed and bent down, resting his forehead on mine. My eyes fluttered closed involuntarily, and I decided to just let him talk without interrupting. "Earlier today, when I met up with Kason and his friends for lunch, Kason introduced me, and I instantly started joking around with the guys. They were nice and funny so I felt pretty comfortable. And, of course, Kason brought up you and they had all sorts of questions and comments. Eventually, one asked if I had met your parents yet."

I opened my eyes, intrigued, but didn't pull away.

"I told him that I'd probably meet them tonight. And he dead seriously said that meeting the parents made or broke the relationship... And that wouldn't have scared me so much except..."