Like Real People Do - Jill Roord

My Place In The World

Hunter's POV

The moonlight lit up half of Jill's face as she admired the dancing glimmers on the lake, she looked so happily at peace, that small smile always gracing her face. 

"You're staring," She chimed, not even looking in my direction. 

"How did you know?" I furrowed my eye brows, confused as to her sudden sixth sense.

Jill shrugged, "It was just a good guess," And then she turned towards me grinning, "But you admitted it."

"Oh god Jilly, tonight happens and now you're all confident," I chuckled, nudging the Dutch besides me. 

Jill shrugged, her grin widening, "What can I say? Now you're stuck with me."

I groaned, "Someone save me now."

"Shut up!" Jill laughed, I could even see that brightness in her eyes now in the night, "You don't mean that!"

I went to be cruel but I could find it within myself to be mean to Jill, "I don't," I admitted.

Jill leaned her head onto my shoulder, I knew she felt safe, "I know," She responded quietly. 

In those moments I realized Jill made me feel more at peace than anyone ever had before; for once the question of Barcelona and London didn't matter because how could any city compare to the home I'd found with Jill?
I remember once asking myself a question, was home a physical place or mental? And I think the answer was a little of both, not so much a building or city destination, but a place in the world besides someone special; someone who made your heart happy. 

Loving Jill was the closest I'd ever been to heaven and I'd never quite understand why she loved me back, it felt far too good to be true, but I'd spend hopefully the rest of my life proving to her that she'd made the right decision; her heart had fallen upon the right person. 

"I love you Jilly," I told her softly, a natural smile upon my face which wouldn't leave.

Jill paused for a second, I could hear the quiet joy in her words, "I love you too."

We sat there for a minute or two, no words exchanged yet tonight had spoken in such volumes that I never needed to talk again. There was a beauty in the silence, the lake's stillness and the moon's light; it was all so perfect that I'd stay here forever if it was possible.

Jill softly yawned. 

"We should go back," I told her, "You're tired."

Jill shook her head, "I'm alright," She insisted though I saw right through that sleepy smile.

I wouldn't let her stay out all night when we had club duties tomorrow, "No. Come on, you're tired let's go back."

"To mine?" Jill checked.

I nodded, "Course, where else would we be going? I'm not driving home with this boot," I joked. 

But for once Jill didn't laugh, "So you don't need that space?"

Slowly I shook my head, "No, I don't," something about Jill's need for reassurance was rather sweet, she never wanted to overstep my boundaries even if I'd never spelled them out to her. 

"Okay," Jill nodded, the smile gracing her face again, "Let's go then."

Jill stood up first and then carefully pulled me to my feet, looking down at my boot rather worriedly; for such a chilled out soul, Jill was always so anxious concerning me. 

"You can't walk like that," She muttered.

I brushed her worried off, "I walked here, I'll be fine."

"No, come on," Jill pointed to her back, her carrying me had become quite the tradition. 

I sighed, "I'll be fine Jill," I told her again. 

"Okay," She gave up arguing against my point, she knew I was too stubborn to ever give in, "What if I just said I wanted to carry you home?"

I stopped for a second, a smile spreading across my face that I couldn't hide, "Then I'd say okay."

Jill seemed happy with my response.

But I gave her a quick clarification, "But only cause you want to, not for any other reasons."

"Oh, of course," Jill laughed. 

I hopped onto Jill's back, my arms loosely tied around her neck, aware not to hold too tight so she couldn't breathe. For a rather long distance home, Jill didn't seem at all tired or bothered to carry me she just talked the entire journey, looking up at me with that glint in her eyes and classic Roord smile. 

"So I was talking to Viv the other day and she was just speaking about the World Cup and I'm so excited to see all the girls again. You must be so excited to see all the team again, right?" Though I just nodded, not interrupting Jill's flow of words, "And I think it's going to be a great tournament, I'm really looking forward to it." Jill just continued talking and to be honest, I didn't even focus on her words but I still listened, a smile on my face just hearing her so happy and free.

Jill was everything which I loved about the world. I loved the sun; Jill was more like the sun than anyone I'd ever met. I loved the peace which the ocean brought me; Jill somehow mirrored that quietness of the ocean yet still so alive and free like those everchanging tides. I loved the stars at night and how they kept the sky safe; Jill made me feel safe, the world couldn't hurt me when she was by my side. Jill was everything I loved about the world somehow crammed into one spectacular mind. 

Eventually we arrived back at Jill's house, treading up the stairs quietly, careful not to wake Viv and Lisa.

"Do you want a hoodie?" Jill offered as she tied her hair into that funny little bun, before I even answered Jill began to laugh, I think a world without Jill's laughter might just have been the end of it all, "Of course you want one, what a silly question."

I just rolled my eyes at the girl who thought she was so funny but seeing her in those spontaneous fits of giggles made me laugh lightly; her smile was always infectious. 

"Here," Jill handed me one. 

"Thankyou," I smiled up at her, our eyes catching and everything else just faded into a distant background. 

Jill shook her head, pulling her eyes from mine, "I won't have any jumpers left soon with the rate you steal them."

"Hey!" I narrowed my eyes at her, "Don't pretend that you don't love it!"

Jill climbed into the bedsides me, "Shush," She chuckled, having been caught in a lie. 

I laid down, as did Jill, our heads facing one another, smiles on our faces. We were both tired but riding the delicate rush that was tonight; I don't think such overwhelming emotions had ever been such a blessing.

"I'm happy," I told her quietly.

Jill's smile grew a little wider, a detail you'd only notice if you were paying full attention, which of course I was, "me too."

Even if Jill had convinced me not to run, taught me better that it was to stay, I still felt that fear conveyed in the pit in my stomach.

"Night," I told her, turning around so I might actually get some sleep.

"Goodnight liefe," Jill responded, "I love you."

Much as I was terrified of this all, I'd never leave Jill hanging again, "I love you too."

Jill and I had started as a single spark, a tiny olive branch which I'd extended, something which flickered so quickly that it could have been missed but then it had so quickly turned into this sky of stars; lighting up my world and becoming completely unmissable.
It's surprising how quickly things can adapt because I'd seen that single flame, almost thinking my eyes were deceiving me, but now I stared at the diamond crested sky knowing that I'd found my place in the world.