Elements of Us /// Jimmy Butler

Chapter 14

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for the characters I created.

She woke up the next morning with a piercing headache. She blinked a few times and adjusted to the sunlight before taking in the room around her; Jimmy's bedroom. She was lying down next to him under his cotton sheets as he still slept. She silently lifted up the sheets and confirmed what she was hoping she didn't let herself do, she was completely naked. She quietly tip toed out of bed and saw both of their clothes just sprawled out around the floor.

She took a deep breath. This was going to be a mess.

She found her bra in the pile and slipped it on, next she found her dress. She continued to look through the pile and to her luck, seemed to have misplaced her underwear.

Perfect. 

She slid into her wrinkled dress and took one last look at Jimmy from the door. He was so cute when he slept, his body lifted with each inhale in a rhythmic pattern that Allison found comforting. She quickly snapped out of it and decided it was in the best interest for her to leave so she could have some time to think about how to clean this up.

She slowly slipped out the door, after grabbing her purse, where she then called a cab to bring her home. But, on the car ride home she felt a pang of guilt overtake her. She didn't want Jimmy to think he didn't mean anything to her; because he did. But, on the other hand she didn't want to get herself caught up in something that would end up being a mistake. And, who knows, maybe Jimmy won't remember?

She was caught up in her own thinking when the cab driver pulled up to her building complex. She sighed to herself, paid the driver and then made her way inside to wallow in her guilty thoughts.

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Jimmy took a deep breath as he woke up and stretched out under his covers. He felt so comfortable and at peace for some reason.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw an empty bed space next to him.

Wait, what?

He quickly sat up and saw his clothes on the floor, but only his. He got up changed into a new shirt and underwear before surveying the night. He knew he went home with Allison, he remembered it so clearly. The way she looked, the way she felt. It seemed so right to him. Why'd  she go?

He picked up his clothes off the ground and saw a pair of panties that got tangled up with his clothes. And he vividly remembered her wearing them last night. She left them.

He felt a pang of disappointment in himself; he really wasn't the one night stand type. Especially not with a girl he felt he wanted more with.

He quickly shot Allison a quick text asking if everything was okay before sitting down in frustration. He heard his phone buzz in response but was a little too afraid to look at her response yet.

But, he did.

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Allison saw Jimmy texted her, and knew she was kidding herself thinking he wouldn't remember. She thought out what to say to him in response but she really thought that the best way to work whatever it was between them now, it was best to do it in person.

She asked him if he'd want to come over to talk about it. She didn't wait for him to respond before she took a quick shower, she looked and felt like a hot mess. Old makeup running from her eyes, and crazy hair; she thought a quick shower would be the best way to make herself feel a little bit better.

As soon as she walked out of her bathroom she saw Jimmy had agreed and said he was on him way. She frantically tried to find something casual yet not too scummy to wear in front of him; she really didn't want him to think she was a slob. She realized how awful she looked. No makeup on, wet hair and a t-shirt with a pair of leggings on. She was again a mess. It was too late, because before she could find something better she heard knocking at her door.

She slowly opened the door to an awaiting Jimmy whose hands were behind his back and her heart started racing.

"Hey." He greeted with a heart-warming smile, "Hey little guy." He said, smiling at Buddy who was seated behind Allison.

"Hey, come in." she replied opening the door wider so he could come it.

"I think you forgot these." He mentioned holding up Allison's missing underwear as she closed the door.

She immediately turned bright red and hid her face in her hands from embarrassment.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." She said into her hands as she snatched the underwear from him and went to go throw it in her laundry basket.

"Hey, it's okay." He comforted her, laughing slightly.

"Don't laugh," she said with a humiliated smile, "This is so embarrassing."

"C'mon, you're fine." He chuckled, bringing her in for a hug, "It's just me." He shrugged, rubbing her back slightly.

"Exaclty. It's you." She whispered to herself.

"Look, let's sit down," he said taking her hand and bringing her to her couch, "Calm down its fine, we're just two people, talking." He said soothingly.

"Okay, you're right." She agreed, taking a deep breath, "So..."

"Look, alright, I'll start," Jimmy breathed, shaking his head anxiously, "So, we, um, you know." He said looking at her, "And I just wanna know, um, why'd you leave this morning?" he managed to get out, "You know without waking me, or something?"

"I'm sorry," Allison nodded, "I just left because I didn't want it to be awkward or anything, J, and I don't really know what's happening. But, I really just didn't want us to get into something that would end in a mess."

"Okay," he said, understanding where she was coming from, "So, what do you wanna do now?" he asked.

"Well...I don't know." She smiled uneasily, "What about you?"

"Oh my god, you're hard to talk to." He chuckled

"Okay, look, Jimmy, you want me to just tell you what I'm thinking?" she blurted out.

"What, yeah, what do you think I'm waiting for here?"

She shot him with a jokingly annoyed look, before taking another deep breath.

"Okay, I'm just going to come out and say what I'm thinking." She said out loud, trying to psych herself up, "I can do that."

"So then let's go!" Jimmy urged, half-jokingly.

"Well," She began, getting nervous again, it was hard for her to talk about her feelings because she never really had before. And Jimmy looking at her, actually listening to what she was saying was making her freak out.

"I like you, okay?" she began, "I have had some sort of feelings for you for a while now, and I've been trying not to act on them because I know technically we're only supposed to have a 'friendly' relationship, but I don't know and you probably don't feel anything for me anyways. And, I understand now this makes things awkward or whatever." She continued, breaking eye contact from him, "and if you prefer that I resign or get a replacement for me that's totally fine, like I get that." She went on, blabbering.

"Hey, hey, hey," Jimmy cut her off, with a confused face, "Stop, shh." He said, putting his finger up to her lips.