Oxygen

Chapter 3 - Accidental lunch date

I stare at the tall, strong figure as Carol runs happily into his arms. "Jordie!" She screams, as he picks her up and scruffs her hair.

"Oh, hi Fern" he says, noticing me over Carol's shoulder. "Hi, Jordan" I reply, smiling awkwardly.

"Can I come in for a bit? It's not quite six, and my mother wanted to make sure it was worth the money" he smiles at me jokingly.

I open the door wider to let him and Carol back inside. Jordan follows her straight to the couch. "Do you want some popcorn?" I ask him, offering the bowl.

"Nah, you have it" he says. I look at him sternly but continue the movie. By six o'clock Jordan is lying comfortably on the couch with Carol on his lap, only an inch or so from my side.

I try to stay calm and not think about it, but every time he moves he bumps his warm skin against mine, and I feel a quick jolt like lightning surge through me.

Carol stood up, bouncing around in her blue tutu as the movie came to an end. Jordan and I clapped from our seats, and laughed as Carol pulled funny faces at the screen.

Just before they leave, I decide to give Carol one of the pink cupcakes from the cupboard. She grins as I bring it closer, and reaches out with her little hands to receive the gift.

"Thank you" she says, before heading out the door. "Thanks for taking care of her" Jordan said kindly. "Don't mention it" I reply.

I watch him as he walks away, and joins Carol by his silver Jeep. A Jeep! I look at the car stunned, and Jordan turns on his heals, "I'll see you tomorrow at Starbucks" he winks, returning to unlocking his car. I watch as they drive away, amused at the sight.

•••

I wake up the next morning with a wide grin on my face. I realise that I'm a bit excited to see Jordan.

I roll lazily out of bed, and take my time getting a shower, brushing my teeth and getting dressed. Evelyn told me to wear a summer dress, so I'm following her instructions and wearing a navy blue dress, pulled in at the waist, with a grey cardigan.

I slip on my black ballet flats and head out the door. My Mum is long gone, having left at a godly hour this morning to get to work. That woman needs a break.

When Ev arrives, I hop in the passenger seat and watch my tall cottage house disappear into the distance as we speed away. "You look good" she says, "Ready to impress?" She asks, winking. "Yea, let's do this!" I joke back.

When we arrive at Starbucks, we take the sofa chairs in the corner and order our Hazel Latte's. As we chat about McDonalds frozen cokes, Nik walks in, followed by Kyle and Jordan.

They find us quickly and sit at the table. Jordan scoots in next to me, rubbing his knee to mine as he slides in. Kyle sits next to Ev on the left, and Nik sits on her right.

I can see a blush rose colour appearing on her cheeks as he says hello. Jordan notices too and turns to me. "Cute, isn't it?".

"Yea, if only". He looks at me quizzically, parting his lips to ask something, but deciding against it.

I take a sip of my latte just before Jordan cups it in his hands and takes a swig. "Hey!" I protest, unhappy with the act of theft.

"Mmm, it's sooooo good" he says, licking his lips. I roll my eyes and take back the cup. I trace my fingers over the summery flowers and Christmas patterns on the cup as I speak, "So what are you into? I know your in the rugby team, but that's about it".

He rests his head in his hand and replies, "I really enjoy rugby, I'm the quarter back, if you know what that is. I'm also a very big fan of art and English poetry".

I can't help but laugh at this, and he gives me a look of grief. "Meany" he says, and I laugh more. He starts to laugh too, and Kyle buts in, "You two love birds having fun?" He asks, finally looking up from his phone.

"We're not love birds Kyle! Atleast we're actually being sociable, instead of playing flappy bird" I smile at my intelligent comeback, and he shrugs away and goes back to his phone.

We spend hours talking and joking around, and we take Kyle and Evelyn's cars to the park to play on the little kid swings. It's the most fun I've had in a long time.

When I get home I go straight for the couch. I enter the pin on my phone to find a new contact; 'Jordie pie' it says, with several numbers and an email next to it.

I smile at it realising that he must have taken my phone from my pocket when I wasn't looking.

It melts my heart thinking about him. The feeling is almost undescribable. His blond hair, strong, muscly arms, defined jawline, and dark blue eyes. It makes me fuzzy just thinking about it.

•••

I stayed up way too late last night. I could feel my small frame aching from head to toe as I stretched my feet to the floor from inside my warm covers. Yawning and rubbing my eyes, I stand up with my slippers on, and begin to leave the room.

All of a sudden I jump back ten paces nearly screaming, and see Jordan moving from the corner. He stands from my comfy desk chair to greet me.

"Finally, you're up" he laughs, and I stare him straight in the eyes. "How on earth did you get in my room?".

"You left the window open. Wanted to drop off Carol like my Mum told me to, but it looks like your the only one home, and your a pretty deep sleeper". I cry inside at his answer, wishing perhaps that he was here for something else other than an errand.

I walk him downstairs and he gets Carol from the car. I decide not to get dressed, but just put a bra on under my baggy top. I wrap my dressing gown around my waist and tie the ribbon.

Carol runs down the path and makes herself comfortable in the lounge, on what used to be my dad's favourite armchair.

Jordan decides to join us and sits cozily next to me on the sofa. I get a warm feeling as he casually puts his arm around the back of the chair. I can't help but lean back into him.

"Comfy?" He asks. "Mmm, yea" I reply, closing my eyes and tilting my head back onto his arm. Jordan uses his other hand to stroke my forehead.

I feel him get up and walk away, and when I open my eyes he's coming back with a hot chocolate. "For you" he says, smiling. I can't even say what this does to me.

"Awww thank you" I reply happily. When I've finished my drink I lean my head on Jordans shoulder as we watch the movie. Carol chose Inside Out this time, another movie I've fallen in love with.

While Carol has her eyes fixed to the screen, I go for a walk around with Jordan in the garden outside. He walks close to me, and I feel more confident than I ever have. Like I fit in a puzzle, that is worryingly uncomplicated.

He smiles at me when we reach the end of the long stretch of grass. I smile back, my heart peeling open more and more.

As we're talking about ourselves and getting to know eachother, I just about trip over my own feet when I step back into the rose bush.