𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃, jeremiah fisher

twenty-four. just you

jeremiah's pov

THE ONLY WAY I know how to fix things with Autumn is to tell her that I'm just as in love with her as she is with me. If she still is. After the way I turned her down, I wouldn't blame her if she wanted nothing to do with me anymore. I know I wouldn't if I were her.

But I hope like hell that she still feels the same because I don't know what I would do if she doesn't. I hope I didn't fuck everything up with her before it even had the chance to start.

Even if I did, I need her to know. I need to tell her how much she means to me.

After the talk with Mom, I told her I needed to go. She just smiled at me and squeezed my hand and told me to let her know if I wouldn't be back home by tonight. My cheeks flushed, but I didn't have time to be embarrassed.

I left the house and ran all the way to Autumn's house, the fifteen-minute walk lasting only seven minutes.

Now I'm climbing up to her window, no fucking clue what I'm going to say but needing to see her as soon as possible anyway.

I hoist myself up onto the ledge of her window and slide it open because she always leaves it unlocked. I have to tell her to start locking it from now on. But then again, I seem to be incapable of using the front door.

I don't see her at first, so I let myself inside the room and get off the windowsill. When I turn my head, I finally notice her figure. Her back is facing me. Her...bare back.

Fuck.

Warmth flushes into my cheeks, the tips of my ears most likely turning pink. She's only wearing pajama pants with no shirt. I glance away, shielding my eyes from her. I clench my jaw.

"Autumn," I say gruffly.

I catch her moving from the corner of my eye but can't see her or her expression. She lets out a strangled scream and moves to pick up something—most likely her blanket—to cover herself.

"What the fuck, Jeremiah!"

I clear my throat, still turned away. "I came over to talk."

She scoffs. "And you couldn't have used the fucking front door?"

Despite the situation, I let out a small smile. "It's not like I haven't already seen everything."

Something hits the side of my head, and I realize it's a pillow.

"Just shut up and don't turn around!"

I raise my arms in defense. She huffs, and I resist a smile.

Finally, she says, "You can look now."

autumn's pov

HE STARES AT me. I cross my arms and wait for him to speak. He doesn't.

"What do you want, Jeremiah?" I ask tiredly, leaning back against the doorframe of my closet.

He opens his mouth, closes it, opens it again, and promptly closes it. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I saw him in my room, but this definitely wasn't it. I don't know if I want him to take everything back or if I want him to just leave me alone.

Irritation sparks inside me at his silence. He's the one who came to me, not the other way around. I shouldn't have to be the one to initiate the conversation.