semi-automatic ; j.d

twenty eight ; the wedding dress obligation

"josh."

"joooosh."

"joshua."

mia sighs with frustration and pokes the sleeping boy next to her for the tenth time. it's three in the morning and for the past few hours, all she's been doing is trying to stay asleep.

"huh? what's wrong?" mutters josh as his eyes open and he's suddenly aware of his surroundings.

"i can't sleep."

he exhales lightly and feels around the bed until he finds his phone to check the time. "mia, it's three in the morning," he says with exasperation.

"i know, but i can't sleep," she pouts.

"did the movie scare you?" inquires josh while rolling over onto his side so that he's facing her. it's too dark for him to be able to see her clearly but through the darkness he makes out her face.

mia bites her bottom lip. "maybe a little."

"alright, c'mere," he sighs, pulling her into his arms. he sets his chin on top of her head and circles his arms around her. "try to sleep, okay?"

"okay," she mumbles back while snuggling up to him. her head rests in the crook of his neck.

for a few minutes josh stays awake, waiting until he feels mia's breathing even out. one of his hands brush through her hair while the other rubs up and down the length of her arm. his fingertips trail up from her forearm and then slide underneath the sleeve of the tshirt she's wearing, rubbing her shoulder.

i love you.

he wants to tell her that so badly. the words are on the tip of his tongue and yet his fear still holds him back from saying it. this is it, he thinks to himself while listening to mia's quiet breathing. this is the girl i'm in love with.

finally he kisses the top of her head and closes his eyes, settling back to sleep.

"i don't want you to go," says josh with a pouty face as mia stands in the doorway. it's around noon and she promised she would help jenna with wedding planning.

she laces her fingers through his of the one hand she's holding. "i don't want to, either."

"then stay."

"i can't," mia sighs a bit. "i promised jenna that i would go with her to start looking at dresses."

the cherry-red haired boy tsks at her under his breath. "she has like ten other bridesmaids, let one of them go instead."

mia rocks back and forth on her heels and for a moment it looks like she's gonna cave, but then she snaps back into it. "i'm her best friend, i'm morally obligated," she says, shaking her head.

"you suck," replies josh with disappointment.

this makes her grin. "sorry, j. d'you wanna hangout after dress shopping maybe?"

he nods his head slowly.

"okay, then i'll see you later," mia steps up on her toes to give him a goodbye kiss. as she's pulling away, he tugs on her hand to keep her from walking out the door.

he looks down at her expectantly. "just one more kiss," he says, his unoccupied arm sliding around her waist and bringing her in again.