Black & White [Jeremiah Fisher]

twenty-three

ROWAN

I never understood what people meant when they said they felt like they were on cloud nine.

Now I do.

I'm the happiest I have been in years. After my conversation with Jeremiah, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. Not only because I was finally honest with him about everything, but this was also the first time I felt relief saying my private thoughts and feelings out loud.

I'm silly to have ever believed that Jeremiah might not have understood how I felt, but he did. And that let alone is the most comforting feeling.

Jeremaiah's hand is in mine as he leads us both up the stairs towards our bedrooms. I cannot shake the smile on my face as he continues to turn around to make fun of my happiness in a light-hearted matter.

"Your giggles are seriously going to wake everyone in this house up, now shut up." He jokingly whispers before tugging me into his chest. I rest my forehead against his collarbone, trying to calm down my uncontrollable giggles.

"I can't stop." I laugh even harder into his body. Jeremiah's arms wrap around my shoulders so I am now suffocated by him.

"I know, and it's adorable." He says into my hair before placing his lips against the top of my head.

I turn my head up and away from his chest, finding his piercing blue eyes already looking into mine. A soft smile plays against his lips.

"If you're so afraid of getting in trouble, why haven't you shut me up already?" I quirk an eyebrow his way. I'm not sure where my newfound confidence came from, but I am not complaining because Jeremiah immediately begins to dip his head towards me, placing his lips against my own.

Yeah, I will never get used to this.

He kisses me slowly for a few seconds, calming my entire body. It is as if he can tell my giggle fit is gone because he pulls away, placing one last kiss on my lips. Jeremiah rests his forehead against my own, our noses brushing slightly against each other.

"You're still going to like me in the morning, right?" He whispers so quietly that I almost ask him to repeat himself. His tone is serious which makes my heart sink a little because I never want him to ever feel that way again.

"Obviously, Jeremiah Fisher."

He lets out a deep breath onto my lips. "Thank god."

Our lips meet once more before we both pull away, standing in the hallway between both of our bedroom doors.

"We should try and get some sleep," I say, even though I know once I lay down I won't be able to fall asleep due to the exhilaration running through my veins.

Jeremiah sends me a frown before turning it up into a smirk. "You know, you could always crash in my bedroom."

My stomach flutters, rolling my eyes at him. As bad as I would love to just waltz my way in there, I know in the morning I would be hearing it from everyone.

"I would love to, but you know, Elena." I cock my head towards my bedroom door.

Jeremiah nods his head in an understanding way. "We wouldn't hear the end of it tomorrow, would we?" He assumes correctly.

"We wouldn't hear the end of it for weeks."

We both chuckle.

"Well, I guess I'll see you in the morning then." Jeremiah looks down at me while brushing a piece of my hair behind my ear. Even though I know we will be seeing each other in a couple of hours, my heart aches to say goodnight.