meet me at midnight.

23.

In the week that followed we got a curtain for the sliding glass door, drawing it at night or whenever I felt nervous. It made me a little sad that it was the beginning of June and I couldn't enjoy my own backyard. I distracted myself with my two art pieces.

Louise had offered the studio for the third piece and I just had to find the time to go there. Josh's schedule had altered and on the Monday his shift patterns altered, becoming 3 twelve hour shifts from Monday to Wednesday. It was decided that the following Thursday, we'd go to the studio so I could draw him.

However, I had to get through this coming week. This coming Monday would be the week Josh started night shifts and I couldn't help but feel a little panicky about being alone for three whole nights.

The Monday and Tuesday weren't too bad as I finished work at 10pm, getting home at half ten. I had a quick meal and went straight to bed, but Wednesday would be the worst.

I got home from college on Wednesday at just after two. The house was quiet and I closed the door. I walked up the stairs and pushed open the bedroom door. We'd had blackout curtains fitted and the room was swamped in darkness. I used the furniture as a guide, but still managed to hit my toe on the corner of the bed.

"O-ouch." I yelped.

I was blinded by the light from Josh's phone as he sat up. I started apologizing profusely.

"Can I interrupt the stream of apologies to ask you to come and hug me?" Josh said.

"Y-yeah." I smiled.

I climbed onto the bed and he switched the light off on his phone, pulling me to him. I sighed when his hand found my hair, toying with the scrunchie. He'd taken to removing it, pinging it across the room, causing me to lose my hair ties. This time his hand gripped my ponytail, pulling it and moving my head.

"Quit it." I giggled.

"This hairstyle has multiple uses, apparently." He murmured.

"N-no, you're just dirty minded." I said.

"And? You have some kind of issue with that, little mouse?" He said, gently removing the scrunchie and trailing his fingers through my hair.

"N-no." I said, giggling again.

"Then quit your whinin.'" He said.

I smiled and shifted closer and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. I wrapped my arm around him, not wanting to admit that I didn't want him to leave. I missed him immensely and my desire to see him succeed dampened my want for him to stay with me.

I wanted to make the most of the time I had with him before he left at half seven. I squeezed a little tighter, pressing myself closer.

"G-gonna miss you." I mumbled.

"Explains why you're tryin' to squeeze me to death," Josh said. "My throats further up, you'll have more luck squeezin' there."

I sniffled and his hand gently stroked my hair. His other hand lifted to touch my face, tilting my head back so he could kiss me. I returned the kiss, whining a little when we pulled apart.

"It's ok if you're having a difficult time with my hours changing, little mouse." He said, gently.

"A-a little," I said. "But I'm ok. I'm tough."

"You are exactly the opposite of tough." Josh said.

"Can I do the Spongebob quote about my spice garden again?" I giggled.

"Not if you don't want to be dangled upside down outside the bedroom window." He said.

"You're silly." I said.