You're The One

10

School ended a month ago, I was back in Atlanta living with Reneé. Joe and I kept in
contact but we haven't really discussed anything relating to our date or the kiss since it happened.

I missed him but I tried to hide it, Reneé saw straight through me though. "You should go see him, or at least call him," she says at least once a week. I should call him, I just can't bring myself to do it for some reason. That night we kissed everything changed, as happy as it all made me we can't go back to just being friends.

"Jasmine, call him. He has feelings for you and you have feelings for him. Call him, go see him, something," Reneé said for the second time this week.

"Okay fine I'll call him," I say before grabbing my phone and walking into my room. I was anxious as I pulled up his contact but I ignored it and called him anyway. The phone rang, it kept ringing, he wasn't answering. Maybe he's busy, I thought, it was the only possible reason he didn't answer right? I decided to wait to call him again, 30 minutes later I tried calling him again. Straight to voicemail. What the fuck?

"Reneé he isn't answering," I say with a confused frown when I walked back into the living room.

"He's probably just busy, don't worry about it," she rationalized.

"See that's the thing," I sat down on the couch next to her, "I thought "oh he's probably busy I'll call again later," right? So I waited like 30 minutes and called him again but he didn't answer, it just went to voicemail."

"Well you know your only option then," she says. I assumed she was going to say "call him again" or "text him," "Message his best friend, get his address, and go see him. I'll help you pack."

"What? Reneé that's insane. I can't go see him, what if he still lives with his parents or something? I doubt they know anything about me and that's creepy. All he did was not answer a couple of phone calls."

"You've barely talked to him all summer Jasmine. You and him went on a romantic first date and you kissed him and then acted like it never happened, that's fucked up," she was right, I shouldn't have done that. "He likes you a lot, dare I even say he loves you. I will not let you let him go. I have never seen you this happy, you came home glowing, Jas. Austin never has and never will make you happy the way Joe does. And guess what else? That man is definitely going to the NFL so you got that going for you too."

Everything she was saying was true. I was so happy with Joe, I felt like I could be my truest self with him. I spent all of this time in denial that I was pushing him away. "I'll text his best friend and book a flight for myself, will you pack some outfits for me?"

"On it."

Joe's best friend is Ja'marr Chase, LSU's wide receiver. I DM'd him on Instagram explaining the situation and asking if he knew where Joe lived and hoped he'd answer and tell me. I went to my room after sending the message and helped Reneé finish packing my bag. By the time we were done Ja'marr had replied telling me where Joe lived and that he was hurt that I barely texted and never called. My heart ached reading the message, but I pushed that to the side and booked my flight to Cincinnati.

Reneé drove me to the airport and about an hour later I was boarding my flight. Another hour and a half later I landed, I made my way to baggage claim and paid for an Uber to Joe's apartment. I sat in the backseat anxiously praying that he would be home. The Uber driver finally arrived at Joe's apartment complex. I stepped out of the car with my bag and hesitantly walked in and rode the elevator to his floor.

My heart was racing, aching too. I was so nervous about seeing him but I knew I had to. Reneé was right, I can't just let this go. I found myself at his door just standing there nervously. I went back and forth with my own thoughts before finally knocking on the door. I stood in silence, picking at the skin around my fingernails hoping he'd come to the door soon. I stood for another 30 seconds before deciding to walk away and wait for an Uber to a hotel in the lobby. This was a bad idea, I thought as I began to walk away.

Before I could even take three steps I heard the door open. "Jasmine?"