Mutual Friend (Smii7y X Reader)

{24} Walk With Me

Chapter Twenty Four - Walk With Me

(Smii7y's POV)

    There she stood, framed in the doorway. Her expression flickered between surprise and disbelief, her eyes widening as they locked onto mine. For a moment, neither of us moved.

     "(Y/N)..." I managed to whisper, letting my raised hand finally fall back to my side. "I...uh...hi?"

     She immediately took a step backwards, behind the door, peering at me with just her eyes. 

      "H-how...are you here?"

     "Oh John," I blurted out, the words tumbling over each other in a rush. "It was his idea to just show up here b-but I really wanted to see you again. I mean, I didn't come just because of John. He gave me your address and built up my courage to come here in the first place. But I wanted to be here. For you. To see you. Again..." I say as i scratched the back of my neck, feeling my cheeks heat up.

     "I... I didn't expect y-you to be here." she started, her voice wavering slightly, betraying the calm exterior she tried to maintain. The silence between us filled with uncomfortable tension.

      "I didn't expect you to be at the door so soon," I laughed, trying to ease the tension, "You weren't supposed to open the door until after I knocked."

     Her eyes softened, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly as she struggles to keep in a laugh. "Well, uhh you c-caught me off guard too," she admitted, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I w-was just about to go o-on a walk."

     "Could I...maybe join you?"

     I could tell she debated the answer in her head. After she thought for a moment, eyes switching between me and the ground, she took a small step forward. 

     "S-sure..."

(Y/N)'s P.O.V)

     He gave an awkward smile and gestured for me to lead. I quickly walk out, lock the door, and walk past him down the stairs, not saying another word. He follows after me and soon we are walking around my neighborhood.

     In complete silence. 

     I kept my gaze on the pavement ahead, honestly trying to forget he is next to me so I could calm down. After months of nothing, he just shows up at my door? I know he's not entirely to blame because John had a role in it (because of course he did) but the whole thing is...crazy. 

     I try to glance over at him, but as soon as I did we locked eyes. I immediately focused back on the concrete. Again we basked in the silence until he let out a heavy sigh. 

     "I am really sorry, (Y/N)," he blurted out, stopping in his tracks, "I...was wrong for leaving without saying anything.  I knew how difficult it is for you to trust new people and... I feel so awful."

     "Jaren..."  

     "You're so kind, so lovely, and I regret not apologizing sooner. I just... I couldn't stop thinking about how much I messed up, and every time I tried to think of a solution, I froze and-"

     "Jaren." I say a bit louder, trying to get his attention. 

     "I panicked," he continued, his voice trembling, "I didn't know what to say, how to apologize properly. You deserve the world and I've been such an idiot, and I don't know how to make it up to you. I just... I just really needed to see you, in person, to tell you how sorry I am, to—"