Without Your Love

Without Your Love; [2]

The door behind me crept open. Creeeek. That same old creeking noise I've been hearing since I was four. Usual. Typical. As always, it was my mother. The only one left in the house, besides me.

"Hallie, can I talk to you?" Her soft voice echoed through my room, and I nodded without realizing it, as I gripped the phone in one hand. I love you. I love you. I love you. "Hallie, how am I supposed to trust you going to some boys house, after everything that happened with Bridget? I've never even met this boy."

"Right." I mumbled, thinking back to my sister, "He said he loved me, Mom."

"He could be using you, Hal. Maybe he just wants, you know, stuff. Like, you know, like--"

"Yes, Mom. I know. But, Mason's not like that."

"You don't even know this boy."

"I know a lot more than you do. So, stop judging him. You want to meet him? Fine, let him come over."

"Tomorrow night. Dinner. If he's even one minute late--"

"He won't be!" I jumped in quickly, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

***

"Hello?" He groaned, half-asleep.

"Mace?"

"Hallie?" His voice sounded fully awake now.

"Hi, Mace."

"Are you okay? It's like, three in the morning."

"Oh, right. Yeah, sorry. I'm fine."

"You scared me, Hal."

"Sorry," I laughed, "My mom's sleeping. But, I can't fall asleep without talking to you first. I keep thinking about what you said to me."

"It's true, Hallie."

"I know it is. That's why I had to call you."

"I don't understand."

"I had to say it back, Mason. I love you, too."

"You don't have to say it just because I said--"

"Mason, I love you." I cut him off, my voice serious, strict, "This has nothing to do with you. I love you, Mason."

"I love you too, Hallie. Is that all you wanted to say?"

"No, I want you to come over for dinner tomorrow night."

"But your mom--"

"--said it was fine. She wants to meet you."

"Really?" I could hear excitement in his voice when he talked.

"But, she said if you're late--"

"I won't be late, Hallie. I promise."

"Thank you,"

***

The rest of that night, I couldn't sleep. What were we having for dinner? What was he going to say? Would he ask about Dad? Would he ask about Bridget? Will my mom approve? What if we can't see each other? I love you. I love you. I love you. And those three words made up for all of the fears.

The morning was crazy. As Saturday mornings in the Thompson house usual were. But, today was worse. Cleaning day took on a whole new meaning. We cleaned everything, and it was my job, as usual, to clean the now empty room Bridget lived in. And, it was hard. But, I knew my mom couldn't do it, and even empty rooms collected dust.