me & tomfoolery

Overnight, FINALE | Josh Hart Short Story

"Say that again..."

Sonja heard him but she was trying to understand what just happened. Standing up Josh walked over to the wall she stood on.

"I love you. I don't see life without you. But I told you this already."

Flashback: Christmas.

Sonja laid in the guest room in the Hart house looking at all the things she had bought for him.

• a basketball pin for a suit jacket with matching cufflinks.
• a limited edition signed Pokémon memorabilia book.
• a gold plated friendship necklace
• a signed Iverson Jersey

She really had to beg her aunt to help her get the jersey signed. She knew he was going to flip his lid. Once her bag of gifts were together, she returned downstairs to see Josh in his matching onesie, prepping the cookies. His parents and siblings were still at his uncle's house enjoying dinner. Josh and Sonja came back early to have their own time together.

"You ready to exchange gifts Suga?" She asked walking under his arm. "I am. Just getting these cookies ready."

Sonja set the timer for the cookies and walked back into the living room. They made a palette of pillows and blankets on the floor so they could cuddle in front of the tv. She begged him to watch a traditional Christmas movie, just one. Placing a kiss on her forehead he brought her closer to him while they laid together.

"When the cookies are done, we can exchange gifts."

Josh asked his mother to make her a shirt with her new Cricuit machine. The shirt said 'Future Juris Doctor'. Something that would mean a lot to her in the future. Her next gift was a necklace with his number and initials on it. This one would probably be the thing that said more than he was willing to say at the time. His third gift was a build-a-bear with a Villanova jersey and his voice over saying 'I love you sweet cakes, hope this makes you smile.'

A Christmas Story played in the background as Josh hoffed on cookies fresh out the oven. Sonja of course told him to wait, but he wasn't a patient man.

"You already burned yourself, stop that." She slapped his hands away from the plate. "Now let's exchange."

Sonja went first and Josh loved every gift. He thought she got it all right. No one had ever done that for him before.

"Don't get mad." He started, "I did the best I could." 

She was sure whatever he got would be great. After accepting and opening all the gifts, she marveled at the necklace the most.

"I can't imagine anyone else wearing my number besides you. Can't imagine life without you Sonja. You've really made my senior year something Unexpected."

"How do you know for sure Josh?" It was hard to accept the simple concept of love because her parents had a strange way of showing it. In that same breath she played with the necklace he gave her. Although the signs were there, she needed that reassurance.

"Sonja, how do you know that you love me?"

From the moment she met Josh, he had put a smile on her face. She was comfortable around him, he made her feel confident, allowed her to be free and never judged her for being needy.

"Because you've allowed me to. To know you is to love you. I told you before, you're special." Sonja always filled him with affirmations. She loved telling him things to make him feel good.

Josh kissed her. Something they both fantasized about. His blueberry chapstick now on her tastebuds, it was rather exploitative for a first kiss. Reaching for the bottom of his shirt, she pulls it over his head before kissing him again.