Where the Sun Sets

Six.

"Hey." I felt something poke my side roughly, "Wake up."

My eyes fluttered open and I forgot where I was just for moment. Who I was with.

"We need to get ready for the game. It starts in 30."

I sighed and sat up, realizing we just took a four hour nap. I raised my arms over my head, stretching. "I feel so well rested." I stood up and looked at her in the bed, "Theme is white out."

"I picked it." She giggled as she stood, "Can I borrow something? I was originally gonna go to Raya's but..."

"Yeah, yeah." I pointed to the closet, "Take whatever, I think we're the same size."

"Like two off, but whatever." She shrugged and began to gently look through my clothes.

As I went into the bathroom to fix my hair and assess my makeup situation, I realized how domestic this situation was becoming.

I don't really do relationships but for some reason, I would with her.

Shit, I don't even let anyone in my room and I let her sleep in my bed.

As I ran the brush through my frizzy hair, I looked in my room and watched as she stared at herself in the mirror.

I wonder what she's thinking about. It would be so cool if I knew because then, I wouldn't be so fucking confused all the time.

She leaned on the doorframe and held up my white nike shorts and a white shirt that I cut the sleeves off of. "These?"

"Spencer, that has Cole on the back." I turned the shirt around to show her my last name in Red letters, "Cole."

She eyed me, "I know."

I became frustrated with my own feelings. I like her. I like her more than just whatever this is. "You can wear it."

She smiled and nodded, "We have to talk about this. It feels-"

"Domestic. I was just thinking that."

She nodded as she took her shirt off, "I like you, I think that's clear."

"And I am very fond of you."

She slid the shirt on and looked at me questioningly, "You're an ass."

"You bully everyone in school."

"Not you." She loomed at me, "I- I don't know how- I'm trying to be better."

I looked at her in the mirror noticing the way her eyes began to fill with tears. I kissed her cheek, "That's all I can ask for."

She looked at me, her eyebrows furrowed.

"I like you too, idiot." I rolled my eyes and went into the bathroom. I'm a clean freak honestly so I brush my teeth anytime I'm home.

Spencer stood in the doorway, "Is this your sevret to your pearly whites?"

I nodded, "Your mouth can be one of your dirtiest places if you don't brush." I glanced at her, noticing that sly little smirk, "You're messing with me."

She shrugged, "I was but this is clearly something you care a lot about."

I rolled my eyes at her and spit the toothpaste into the sink, wiping my mouth with a napkin.

I was wearing whote shorts I got from Old Navy last weekend and an old swim shirt from middle school.

Right before we were going to leave, the front door slammed shut.

Spencer looked at me with curiosity.

I shrugged, "Probably Nelson. He doesn't come down here."

But then the basement door opened and multiple pairs of footsteps were coming down the stairs.

She raised her eyebrows, "You love to jinx yourself."

There was a knock on the door, "Yo, Nat! You aren't answering your phone." Shyloh.

And she's right. I forgot I had a phone while Spencer was here. "My bad! I been asleep." I looked at Spencer and nodded to the bathroom.

She understood and moved quickly to the space, leaving the door crached so it wouldn't make any nose.

I opened my bedroom door and Shy, Nel, and Pen were right outside. "Hey, everybody."

"Roger is waiting in his Jeep outside." Pen gestured towards the stairs.

I nodded and slid on my white Converse, "I was actually gonna take my car, I think?" I looked up at them, praying it wasn't suspicious.

Nel nodded and got up from the couch, "Yeah, thank you so much because that shit was about to be packed."

Shy raised her eyebrows, "You ready to go? You can follow us there."

I shook my head, "Gotta double check my lady coverage if you know what I mean?"

Pen laughed and nodded, "Worst theme to be on your period."

I nodded, laughing with her, "Tell me about it." I cleared my throat, "I'll be there on time, don't worry!"

Shy dapped me up, "Alright."

"Bye, guys." I smiled at them as they walked back up the stairs.

Spencer came out of the bathroom as soon as I closed my door again, locking it again. "Lady coverage." She snickered.

I glared at her, "Do you wanna ride with me?"

"And ride home with who?" She raised her eyebrows at me, "Exactly."

"Me." I shrugged like it wasn't a big deal.

She didn't say anything as she slid her shoes back on. Looking up at me, she seemed conflicted. "Are you sure?"

"Spence," I sat next to her, "I wanna... Like, do this." I gestured between us.

She smiled, "You wanna do this?" She was actually asking me that as if I haven't made it beyond clear that I like her and I want to be with her forever.

I groaned, "This is so sappy but yeah?" I held her hands in my own, "Maybe whatever this is didn't start in the most romantic way."

"When you slapped me?"

I nodded sheepishly, "Yeah and then we had sex in my friends guest room."

She shrugged, "Best ever."

I laughed, "I just... I want to actually be with you. And we don't have to tell anyone at all. It can be, like, private. Not a secret but just our business."

She smiled wide, "I love that idea, Nat." She kissed my cheek, "We're gonna be late."

Kissing her gently, I stood up, "Come on then! We gotta go, don't we?"

She insisted on playing her music on the way there and I didn't hate it. I didn't know it but I didn't hate it.

When I told her I didn't know it, she made a whole playlist. "I just realize I don't even have your phone number."

I sighed, "I'm never on my phone so it slipped my mind, sorry." As soon as we pulled into the packed parking lot, I put my information into her phone.

She save my contact as nattie which I found very cute. So I saved hers as spencie which is so corny but I don't even care.

I don't care if it's corny or cringe because I like her and I like being cringe and you don't and that's why you're sad and lonely.

We walked in the game together but split up so she could go actually do her student council duties. I found my group sitting in the fifth row, barely in the senior section.

Shy wrapped her arm around my shoulder, "Damn, you take a long time."

I shrugged. I couldn't say anything because a wave of guilt and realization rushed over me. I'm a bad friend. And a bad cousin.