Bright Skies

Chapter 13

Welcome to Virginia.

I squeaked in excitement as we drove past the welcoming road sign. Cole was sleepy, and he wouldn't stop yawning. We woke up at 7, and he usually doesn't wake up till at least 9:30. I knew Cole inside out, even if I had gotten mad at him the other night.

We stopped at a gas station and got something to eat and drink, and to my surprise we found ourselves laughing with each other again instead of us grumbling at each other. Cole was a good guy, he just got a little offensive sometimes. Maybe I did too at points.

"Just about to enter Reston. We are in Leesburg, 30 minutes off." Cole said, sipping his pop. "Want to stop somewhere for food? It's about noon and plus we could get him a card or something." Cole said, smiling. "Sounds good." I replied, and we began looking for a nice food place.

We went in Little Caesars, then into some small shop nearby. I got him a little gift, then a little ribbon to put on my head as a "present". We sat in the parking lot with his card and our food, and I called Jacob's mom.

Briiiinnnnnngggg

Briiiiiinnnnnnngg

"Hello?"

"Hi Mrs. Sartorius, this is Erica Stone."

"Erica! Hi honey! How have you been?"

"Great! How about you?"

"I've been doing great love."

"Well, I called today for a big, important question."

"And that is?"

"If I said I was 30 minutes off of Reston, in Leesburg with my friend Cole, do you think I could come and stay with you guys?"

"Why that would be lovely! Are you actually here in VA?"

"Yep! I was hoping maybe I could come and surprise my friends, and Jacob too? I need a place to stay though, me and my friend are broke."

"That's no problem! We can arrange that. Let me call my husband. Your friend can stay here too."

"Awesome, thanks! I will text you!"

"Thanks honey. Miss you! Your like my second daughter!"

"Your like my second mom!" I giggled. "See you soon!"

"Bye dear!"

"Bye!"

We hung up and I squealed with joy. Cole sighed. "They want me to stay are their place, don't they?" Cole asked. "Yeah, what's the matter with that?" I asked. "I'm going home after 3-4 days of staying here. I hate to leave you, but my mom said 3 or 4 more days this morning." Cole said sadly.

"It's okay Cole..." I said, even sadder than he sounded. "I'll stay here. It's alright. I can find a way home." I smiled brightly at Cole, and he nodded. "I'm just worried about you." He said, shaking his head in discomfort.

"Don't be. Mrs. Sartorius is a lovely lady. She will take great care of me." I smiled brightly with a reassuring grin. Cole shook his head, then did a double take. "Your staying here? For like, good? Like not coming home?" Cole asked in a crazy manor.

"I was considering the thought, but I have to return home. Maybe I can ride one of the horses back to VA, though that would take days." I said, then shrugged. "I'm totally up for it. I just need a good paying job." I sighed. Cole blankly drove. "Your kidding right? Your what, 15? Why not just wait a year?!"

"Waiting is overrated. Live life while you can Cole." I said, acting like some kind of professional. He rolled his eyes. "Like your horses could survive passing cars and such. Are you kidding? Your insane! What am I going to do without my lovely neighbor?" Cole sighed.

"I don't know, you have girls you talk to all the time. I saw the messages on your group chat last night at McDonalds, you left your phone open." I said, looking out the window as we passed buildings. "They are so cheesy though! You, you aren't. Your completely normal, I mean like, unique normal. Your still you normal." Cole said.

"Thanks, I guess?" I said, my head running through scenarios. Did Cole like me? "It's just, your you and you don't let anyone change that, that's what I like about you Erica Stone." Cole said promptly. "You sound like your about to ask me out." I said oddly, but I didn't care.

"Uhh... no! That's not what was about to happen. Defiantly not." Cole said with the shake of his head. I shrugged it off, all cool, but something was wrong with Cole. "Buddy, you okay?" I asked, leaning close to him.

"I'm fine E. Just sad it had to end so soon." Cole said, he wanted to say more, but something was holding him back. "What's wrong? I'm your friend, I understand." I smiled, an adorable crooked smile flashing at him.

Suddenly, Cole leaned over and kissed me right on the lips. Right on my lips. He landed them right there, in my no-no zone! That zone was specifically for Jacob! Though I never really adored the thought of making out, even though Jacob and I did, that was once. I let it slide.

"Cole!" I said, gasping for air and pushing him away. "I'm 15, your 17!" I snapped. "Almost 17." Cole corrected. "2 years apart E, why can't-" Cole didn't finish. "This isn't fair to Jacob! I love him, not you!" I was being so harsh, but I never liked Cole more than a simple friend.

"I'm sorry." Cole sighed after we had 15 minutes of silence. "It's okay Cole." I said softly. "I didn't mean it, I was just urging for it to happen. We always hang out. I thought you liked me, and I wanted to make you happy." Cole smiled, then frowned again.

"I do like you, as a friend." I said, trying to make him feel better. "Just friends is cool with me. I just went over board." Cole said with a happy smile. I smiled even brighter than he did now. "Your still my best friend." Cole smiled, he gave me this adorable, loving smile.

"Good."