The Boy From Everywhere

Ch. 22: The Blanket

"That was fun! We should try it again some other time!"

Eli looked at me like an excited little kid as we went down the stairs, still wrapped in the blanket I gave him and flapping his arms like a butterfly. Though the fireworks show ended several minutes ago, remnants of the colorful light show remained in his eyes as he met mine. It didn't matter that the stairwell we were walking down was dark with barely any light source. Maybe it was just innate for him, having a light in his eyes.

"Maybe when New Year comes around? We should both be free by then, though, right?" I suggested, smiling back at him.

Eli, however, did not immediately agree like how I expected him to. His brows rose, and his eyes widened just a bit as he hummed doubtfully. "Hmm?" And then he lost his footing. "Woah!"

"Watch out!" I grabbed the railings with one hand and then grabbed Eli's arm with the other. In an attempt to save him, I pulled, but just as quickly as he almost fell, he found his footing, and we found our faces just inches from each other, staring with wide eyes.

I made a mistake.

Again. This is the second time this is happening. And I still don't know how to deal with it.

I just stared back at Eli while remaining frozen. He didn't seem to know what to do still either, since he did the same. Suddenly, I became much too aware of the grip I had on his arm. Suddenly, my fingers around the railing curled, threatening to let go. Suddenly, I feared what would happen if I did.

Even more so when the look in Eli's eyes changed.

Wait... what-

A smile. A smile broke out on his lips, and his eyes sparkled like never before as he suddenly moved towards me. I froze just as I felt his lips land on my cheek, soft, gentle, and quick as it left just right after it had arrived. By the time I had realized what had happened, Eli was already stepping back and giggling with a huge smile on his face.

My face started heating up eventually. "H-hey! What was that for?!" And I ran down the stairwell after Eli who looked nothing but delighted at the fact that he had just kissed me out of nowhere. Of course, how could I ever ignore my rapid heartbeat at this point now? The only way I could distract myself from it, I guessed, was if I gave it another reason to beat that quickly. Running was the option I went with. Eli's smile, however, was the option that barged in and forced its way into becoming my only reason for my quickening heartbeat.

It's amazing, though, isn't it? Somehow, when I was becoming so scared and insecure of so many things, all it took was Eli doing the usual things he did to assure me. Though this one wasn't so normal.

The stairwell was dark, and cold, and lonely. I had thought that when Eli and I climbed it up slowly to get to the rooftop. However, as we rushed down it now while my face turned hot and my heart raced with my steps, I could barely even notice it anymore. My eyes were on my companion, and my ears on his laughter echoing against the narrow walls. Eli was pulling me in faster than I could comprehend.

By the time we reached the exit, I tripped this time, but Eli turned around and spread his arms to catch me. I fell right onto his chest as he wrapped his arms around me to support me. Maybe it was the previous adrenaline, or maybe it was just my confusion. Nevertheless, no matter how I looked at it, it was a rather impulsive question. I could have easily pretended it didn't happen, but I still asked.

"W-why would you do that? Why would you kiss me?" I looked up at Eli, heart still beating so hard, I wondered if he could feel it against his own chest.

Whether he did or not, I'm sure he wouldn't mind. And I thought my question was impulsive, but if it was... Well, what exactly is his response then?

"I like you, I guess? No, I'm pretty sure I do." My eyes widened just as he looked back at me while grinning from ear to ear. "I like you, Hannah!" He beat me to it. Long before I thought I'd ever actually tell him how I felt, Eli beat me to it and told me his first.

It really was funny. I found myself laughing before my arms went around his torso, returning the words he just spoke. "I like you, too, Eli! I really like you!"

But I meant it. I meant it, and I was no longer scared of it. In fact, for a moment, I was no longer scared of anything. I was so happy, I thought nothing could ever pull me down from this mood I had found myself in!

Until I woke up.

What the...

The alarm from my phone rang, almost blaring. Eventually realizing that I was home, I rushed to shut it off before it disturbed my aunt. In a moment, I found myself in dark silence. It felt weird. I know I was in such a happy place, but was it real? I clearly remember the feeling of my heart pounding as we climbed up the stairs to that rooftop we shouldn't have gone to. I clearly remember the fireworks, and Eli's glowing smile as he stood wrapped with the blanket I brought. And...

I hugged my legs to my chest as the last memory came to me.

Eli confessing his feelings while I was in his arms. That part. That's what mattered to me most, I guess. Was it real?

As if instinctively, I turned my gaze towards the laundry basket of my room. A blue cloth bag sat on top of all my laundry, the same one I used to carry the blanket I brought supposedly for the picnic. The blanket inside, however, was rolled up messily, in contrast to how neatly I folded it when I first took it. So the fireworks viewing was real. But... what happened after that? How did I get home?

I sighed heavily and rubbed my face as another thought occurred to me.

I just hope I didn't do anything stupid to reveal my secrets to my aunt. But... seeing how my arms aren't covered in new bruises or other things, I'm guessing I didn't?

I stared at my arms, wondering to myself before falling silent and hugging my legs to my chest again. This time, though, the thoughts of my aunt quickly subsided, only replaced by the warm feeling in my chest and the memory I had created with Eli last night, albeit not fully remembered.

Ah... I forgot how this felt.

The warmth in my chest only became warmer the more I stayed in this position and with those memories. I haven't really felt anything "normally" in a while. To be in a life that wasn't so bad, I couldn't help but smile as I buried my chin in my knees.

I really, really wanna just stay with him now. Maybe then, I could pretend that my life wasn't so bad.