Stay.

Part Three

The small, plush duck stares at me when I wake. Well, that’s creepy. I let out a groan and sit up, remembering where I am. Jason is passed out beside me, his head laid back on the arm rest.

When I read nine o’clock on the wall clock I shove his shoulder. “Jason, wake up,” I say. I latch onto both his shoulders and shake him fiercely.  He wakes and starts to raise his fist but I wrap my hand around it. “It’s just me.”

“Oh. Then, what do you want?”

“Get up.”

“No,” he grumbles and turns on his side, burying his face in the couch cushion.

“We’re late.”

“For what?”

“It’s Saturday. I go to yard sales on Saturday and I’m out the door by seven and it’s already nine,” I practically yell. When I hear his loud laughter I cross my arms and pout.

He sits up and grins at me. “Don’t pout, I’m getting up.”

“Okay, good. Come on.” I run to my room and change shirts quickly, before returning. He just stands there with a dazed look on his face and bed head, so I grab his wrist and yank him out of the apartment.

Apparently Jason doesn’t like going to yard sales, but I don’t actually care. I drag him to six houses before his whining starts to annoy me. We sit down in the coffee shop at 10:10.

“You can’t tell me that wasn’t fun,” I say as I slide in the chair.

“It was super,” he replies. He pushes my chair up to the table and sits across from me. “I can’t believe you bought a new bed for only a hundred bucks. What are you going to do with a king size bed?”

“Well, I have a twin size right now. It’s so small and when I move-”

“What? You’re moving?”

“Hopefully. I just don’t know when. I want to get out of this small town. Danville is great, but I want to try out a big city.”

“You’re a city girl?”

“I could be.” I shrug. I order a black coffee when the petite woman walks over to us. Jason orders a double shot espresso. She takes our orders and with a smile she walks away.

“So, a big city huh? Where?” he asks casually.

“Maybe New York. It would be exciting.”

“When do you plan on moving?”

“No idea.” I take the coffee from the girl and sip it. The heat burns my throat, but I don’t stop drinking it.

“Well, good luck with that.” He slightly turns away from me and drinks his espresso. His dark hair is a mess, but yet it suits him, along with his wrinkled plaid shirt.

When we leave, we go back to my apartment and unload the new mattress into the small building out back that has nothing in it but my bike. After we stuff it inside he turns to face me and shakes his head, giving a throaty chuckle.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Yeah, no problem,” he says.

“No, really, for everything.”

“Now, why are you thanking me for everything?” He quirks an eyebrow as he stands in front of me.

“You helped me out with Marcus, so thank you.”

“Oh. Him. Yeah, most definitely my pleasure.” I ignore that familiar gleam in his eyes and stare down at the grass. I feel his hand on my shoulder but I wait a moment to turn and face him.