To stay awake and unseen or sleep in oceans of blue

Chapter 5

"How could you not tell me, Harley," Jordon hugs her tight to his chest and I notice her start to cry.

"I didn't want to tell you about it because I thought I'd get some weird speech about it being related to Aaron."

"Well, it is."

"Why do you think I didn't want to hear it?" She laughs dryly and wipes her nose with the back of her hand as Jordon lets her go to examine her at arms length.

"We are always here for you, but you need to talk to us. I can't believe you've been letting everyone hurt you for so long. And you," Jordon looks at me as I set my bags down next to Harley's, "I'm sure, by now, you know we care about you too. Why didn't you say anything?"

"It's not really an easy thing to talk about," I shrug it off, "but we're here now, and I hope that's ok."

"Oh, you guys are staying and I'm not hearing a thing about it."

"Thanks, man," we bro hug and he hugs Harley again.

"So," Jordon looks at me, "she knows where everything is, but I'll show you the room anyway. You guys cool with sleeping together or should I set up a couch or something?" He grins and Harley flames red.

"Should be ok," I look at her and she nods.

"Alright," his smile stretches and we walk down a hall to a blue room. "This is the only guest room. I'd say I'm sorry there's one bed, but you're a guy."

"Thanks, but I'm exhausted," I sit on the edge of the bed and put my head in my hands. "And fucking school tomorrow."

"I get that," he laughs. "Sorry it's not much, bro, but it's probably better than..."

"It's great, thank you. Harley didn't want to do this alone," I look up at him and he smiles warmly back down at me.

"Is there anything else I need to know, Jorel?"

"I don't really think anything else would be my place to say," I say simply and he nods.

"This is why we like you, but if it's anything that's really dangerous to either of you, tell me, please."

And with that and my word, Jordon leaves the room and Harley comes in, stumbling trying to carry all the bags with a look of goofy determination on her face.

"Babe," I laugh and get up to take them off her shoulders, "why wouldn't you just wait for me to finish talking to Jordon?"

"Because I'm strong," she drops the bags and flexes adorably.

"You're right, baby," I hug her hips tight and take a deep breath. "You're the strongest girl I've ever met."

"Had to make it all serious again, didn't you?" She sniffles into my neck and I can't help but smile at her cuteness.

"We're really doing this? Moving out and away from everyone?"

"We need to. We both know what we do to ourselves when we're around those people," she pulls away and looks me in the eyes.

It always stuns me how much emotion they show, it stops me in my tracks every time.

I nod and sit back down on the end of the bed, Harley following.

"God, I'm tired," she flops into her back and I take the time to admire her tattoos and her figure through her tee.

"God, you're beautiful," I copy and lay down too, "but same."