I've Got You

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

We sat on the porch, watching the fireflies dance around in the grass. I heard him drag his cigarette across the cement steps, and in the next moment, the dead butt was thrown into the patch of twinkles. They scattered. I sighed.

"I'm not going away forever, Jay. Remember, my phone is always on - and the rest of them are here for you, too. They might not know your situation, but they know how to be decent human beings. Don't worry about - "

"No." I cut Andy short. "You're not going away forever, you're right. But it damn well feels like forever. We haven't spent a single night away from each other. You know that? Not one. What if something happens to you while you're away? What if something happens to me while you're away? I don't know how I'm going to get through this. Two whole months. That's 8 weeks, Andy. I can't do this by myself." I felt selfish even letting those words slip off my tongue. I promised myself I'd wait until he left before I panicked. I promised myself that I'd hide it all away until they all left. Promises to myself didn't mean crap anymore.

"Look at me. Jayden, look me in the eye, and tell me that you won't do anything stupid. Call me before you do anything that I wouldn't do. Which isn't much. But still." A lump was building in my throat. My vision was blurring from the bottom-up. I blinked the blur away, and felt wet drops fall onto my skin. A hand reached under my chin, redirecting my sight from my entangled hands. I was staring into the face of a porcelain-skinned god in the moonlight. His icy blue eyes held mine locked within them.

"I promise," I whispered. "I promise that I won't do anything stupid without calling you." The hand slid away. I closed my eyes and felt more droplets jump to my cheeks. My chest felt like it was being torn apart. Andy let out a small sigh, and we both turned to look at the small tree sitting off the walkway in front of us. His parents planted that tree when he was conceived, almost 18 years ago. It had flourished into something beautiful, just like him.

With a small cough, Andy stood up and turned around. Quietly, he went over to the door and headed back inside. I put my head in my hands. There was no way this was going to be a good summer. At all.