Save each other // Joel Miller

Need

Warning: this is a lead up chapter, NSFW

Sophie read the book Joel gave to her quickly, realizing that she recognized most of the pages. Not that it jogged any of her memories but she knew she had read through it by the ease of understanding. She read from front to back and set the book down, giving the second book a glance before deciding to skip it. She got up and looked around the room, finding that she was still in amazement of where she was at.

Her memories weren't specific but she knew that she hadn't felt safe in an actual, real home in a long while. She knew she had been alone too, just by the comfort she felt in Joel's company. This thought stopped her in her tracks, still thinking of the close proximity her flash back had brought them. She also remembered the comforting hug he didn't readily release her from and his face when he heard her laugh.

She slowly traced a picture on the wall of Joel with a young women, short brunette hair and a scar in her eyebrow, with her finger. She thought hard about this girl, getting a familiar feeling in her heart about the young girls face. She shook off the feelings and went to the next one, a framed photo of Joel and a child, maybe teens, at a soccer game. He looked very young, like it was before the pandemic.

Sophie then moved on to the bay window on the other side of the room. She sat on the edge and tried to look out, finding it hard through the heavily pouring rain. The storm outside was getting even worse, and though it was maybe mid afternoon, it was dark as night. Sophie felt a chill in her bones as the rumbling thunder cascaded in her ears and a lingering lightning bolt gave light to the almost pitch black scene.

She stood up slowly, letting her intrusive thoughts guide her body. She wanted to be close to Joel. Closer to him than before. She wanted to explore the feeling her vision had given her and see if there was more to it. Joel had said they weren't in love and maybe that was true, but she wanted more than what she had woken up to, which was pretty much close to nothing. She wanted to feel something real, and in the preset.

Her bare feet patted quietly down the wooden hallway towards the back room, where she assumed he would be. The house wasn't big and he had said the other room was hers. She knocked on the door softly, ignoring the panicked feeling growing in her gut. She heard a muffled groan and took that as an okay to open the door.

When she did, she saw Joel, laying fully clothed on top of his bed, half sleepy eyes peeking at her. He let his head drop back down and he crossed his ankles, placing his hands on his chest. Sophie's heart began to race, seeing such a strong, older man, relaxed in her presence. She wasn't sure if this was a normal occurrence, her barging into his room while he slept, but he didn't seem bothered by it at all. He closed his eyes again and mumbled out to her.

"What's up, sweetheart? Need anything?" His voice was thick and low, drowning in his lethargic tone. Something inside of her slowly churned, she took a step in and closed the door behind her without a word. Joel's eyebrows furrowed but he kept his eyes shut nonetheless.

"Sophie?" He questioned out loud. She took another brave step closer and he then opened one eye to look at her, seeming more confused than anything. "You alright?" She took her final step toward him, being so close that her legs touched the edge of the bed. His eyes were now fully open, watching her with concern.

"I just..." she stuttered out. She cleared her throat and dug deep within herself for the confidence she needed to have for this next question. "I just wanted to be by you. Can I... can I join you?" Although more determined sounding than before, her word still came out small. Joels confused face turn into shock, making his deep brown eyes grow round like two dark chocolate moons.

"Uh.. yeah, if that's what you really want." He motioned for her to sit beside him. She didn't let her body betray her, so before she could hesitate, she crawled across the bed. She pulled his arm open and curled her body against his side, laying her head in his shoulder. He seemed to freeze for a moment before he slowly wrapped the arm under her around her shoulders, slightly pulling her closer. He didn't move anymore than that and Sophie was okay with that.