When We Meet ✩ Jenna Ortega

10

I could watch her talk for hours.

Jenna was talking about everything that happened at, before, and after school today. We FaceTimed again as soon as we both found some time to ourselves. My parents were gone for a meeting, leaving me alone for the evening.

"And then Mrs. Johnson was giving us a shit ton of homework. Like, I have science homework that I'll still be doing by next year." I chuckled at Jenna's exaggerated comment. She smiled in return. "And then my stupid history teacher tried taking my phone away because "it was a distraction to my fellow peers" or whatever bullshit he pulled, but I didn't listen and he ended up just leaving me alone." I could stare at her forever too. I don't think this girl realizes just how beautiful she is. I mean, her features are very defined and sharp, it just makes her even more magnificent. Her brown eyes are like two pools filled with many different emotions but the one I search for in them is comfort. Her nose is probably the cutest nose I've ever seen. Her lips were the perfect shape and size, the most beautiful shade of pink ever too. Her eye brows — knitted together whenever she rambled on and on about something she loved. And don't even get me started on her freckles.

"Y/N? Y/NNNN." Jenna dragged out, snapping me out of my trance as she waved her hand in front of the camera. I blinked multiple times before shaking my head. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good." I confirmed confidently with a smile. Jenna smiled back and went back to her rambling. I rested my chin on the palm of my hand, smiling dreamily as I watched her.

"I feel like I've talked enough, I would like to hear your pretty voice now." Jenna gestured to me — making me blush furiously at her words — she stood from her bed, sitting in her bean bag chair while her phone was now propped up on the stand in front of her. "Talk, gorgeous."

I chuckled for a moment — ducking my head down to hide the redness in my cheeks. "Uh." I hesitated for a moment, trying to think of something to ramble about. "I got an Imagine Dragons vinyl album today." I started and saw her eyes light up at that. "School is shit like always, would rather not go into detail on that and I'm home alone since my parents have a board meeting today." I concluded, my day has been pretty uneventful.

"Tell me more about yourself. Any siblings?" Jenna asked — suddenly intrigued as she rested her chin in the palm of her hands.

"Yeah. One." I hesitated at first, setting my glass of soda down on the bedside table to my left. I noticed Jenna's bored furrow — as if silently asking me to continue on but not in a forcing way either. Fuck it, I'm crushing on this girl hard. "My brother, his name was Teddy." Jenna focused all her attention on me, especially when I let out a shaky breath. "He uh love to study the stars, mostly loved giving facts about Pluto - the dwarf planet - and he was just overall an amazing person to be around. He was so sweet." I closed my eyes briefly. "But where there is good, there is also bad."

As if Jenna senses my hesitation again, she gently replies, "Hey, you don't have to say it if you don't want to. I won't force you, okay?" How can someone be so perfect?

I smiled slightly at her, nodding at her. "It's okay." She falls silent and watches with curious and slightly concerned eyes. "He was diagnosed with cancer when he was 4. Or more like a brain tumor. It wasn't like a slow burn for most, Teddy suffered harsh conditions at the beginning. His battle lasted until... a little before his 8th birthday, we went to wake him for breakfast but he... uh-" tears began to sting my eyes as a lump in my throat formed. Jenna's eyes softened. "He didn't make it."

Moments of silence pass by, I knew Jenna wanted to give me a moment of quiet before bombarding with questions. That's what I thought she was doing.

"Can you... can you tell me some things about him? Like his favorite stuff?" She asked slowly and softly, I was surprised.

A small smile pulled at the corner of my lips — I was happy she didn't constantly ask questions. "He absolutely loved the color orange for some strange reason. He loved all animals; specifically dogs and birds. His favorite thing was to make oatmeal cookies and eat them while we stargazed with a telescope our grandma bought for us." I chuckled as memories flashed through my head. "He was a sweet boy. And the best brother ever."

"He sounds like it." Jenna smiled at me, I noticed the slightly dreamy look in her eyes. "Do you have a picture of him?" I nodded my head as I reached into my wallet that sat in my backpack, pulling out the pocket size photo of Teddy, I flipped it around to show her. "He looks so adorable. He's got your eyes."

"Thank you." I whispered and tucked the photo back away in my wallet, smiling widely to myself. I could feel Jenna's eyes on me through the screen, causing me to look up and meet her eyes.

"You're cute." Jenna mumbled and smiled a little wider when she noticed my blush. I rolled my eyes playfully at the camera at her charming tone, making her laugh.

What an angelic sound.