Just You

Twenty Four

Twenty Four

Jake

I drove quietly through the familiar streets of our now familiar town. The streetlights we passed seemed like a blur and so were the people we passed, just like how I felt. My feelings were a blur. They were indistinguishable and that may be the reason why I dislike dealing with complicated things like feelings and relationships. There's just one thing I know for sure about my feelings. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I actually belonged somewhere, and that was here, right beside Dylan. 

I secretly watched Dylan through the rearview mirror. She was seated on the passenger seat of my car looking out the window, a serene smile on her face. She looked so beautiful to me. Neither of us were talking, but it was the comfortable silence of good friends that prevailed in the atmosphere. I could just watch her all night. 

Soon enough, we arrived at our destination, just like every Fridate we have spent. Our street. I parked my car by the big road as usual, and Dylan and I walked to our secluded little street. The truth was that I really missed this, being alone with Dylan here, and for the first time in a long time, we were friends again, and nothing was holding me back. I was single and she was no longer angry at me.

"I missed this," Dylan said, voicing out my thoughts exactly.

"You missed not being mad at me?" I joked. She glared at me but couldn't fight smiling. We were walking side by side, really close to each other. I could almost feel the warmth radiating off her and I liked it.

"Yeah, I missed you," she said quietly, looking at the street and stuffing her hands into her pockets.

"What?" I insisted startling her and making her go all red and blush-y. I guess I wasn't supposed to hear that but somehow, that really made me glad, that she missed me.

" Well, I missed this,too," I said, "But I miss you more."

"Oh yeah?" she said, smiling and blushing.

So cute.

"Yeah," I told her, "I missed being with you."

"You kid, Forger!" he told me unbelievingly.

"Hey Dylan?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we pretend like this is a date?"

"Jake-" she began in an admonishing tone.

Feeling bold and ignoring my thumping chest, I took Dylan's hand from her pocket and held it in mine, so small, so warm and perfect within my own. I looked up at her reaction. She was looking at me all wide-eyed. I wasn't even thinking when I did it. Something just told me to take her hand.

"Dyl, I know what you said about this," I said quickly, "But can't tonight be an exception?"

She didn't say anything, and for a second, she moved her hand. I thought she was going to withdraw it, but instead she held mine too. Smiling, we continued walking, holding each other's hands.

"So, if this was a date, where would you like to go?" I asked her.

"Jake, I know you hate books, but-" she began, but I just had to interrupt her.

"Who said I hated books?" I asked with a grimace.

"Kyle," she replied, equally as surprised.

"I don't hate books, the guys on the team were teasing me about reading one time before practice so I dissed on books," I explained, embarrassed. 

She laughed, a soft musical sound. 

"You are such an image-concerned, superficial jock. I was going to ask you to come to this bookstore with me," she invited smiling.