The Boy Next Door > jariana (ON HOLD)

twelve

It snowed for three days straight, and Justin used it as an excuse not to venture out, not that I wanted to. It was blowing sideways and coming down in white cotton sheets. I was perfectly happy playing house; lighting citrus scented candles, cleaning, cooking the food Emily had prepared for us, and feeling the weight of Justin on me and his warm skin pressed to mine. I was lost in a Justin drug haze, like I was stuck in an opium den.

We were settled into our temporary bubble of faux-wedded bliss. I glanced down at my sparkling stone-laden ring, the one I'd never moved back to my right hand. I would keep on pretending while I was there. Will this be what it's like once we move in together in New York? I'm sure it would be, why not? I asked myself and reasoned. This is proof of what it would be, right?

I began counting down the days I had remaining as I played with the pages of the book I was reading. The fourth day had begun. My trip is half over. My stomach sank at the thought. I listened to Justin as he began to strum his guitar. I wondered where he was at and rolled over, glancing around. He sat at the edge of his seat at the far end of the flat, wearing only his black sweat pants, and looked deep in thought. He was writing a new song—humming and jotting words down in his leather journal.

I rolled back and stared at the industrial-looking ceiling with its exposed pipes and beams, bringing the bed covers over my chilled arms. I began to obsess about what the remaining months would hold, until I graduated and was with Justin again. My thoughts went to Sophia. I was glad Justin turned off his phone. I hadn't seen it once, since.

"I can hear you moving around over there."

I stretched out, humming, and tossed my book to the side. "Mhmm."

Justin plucked at his chords. "I think we may be able to venture out today. It finally stopped snowing."

I turned onto my stomach and our eyes met. "Aren't you cold?"

"Nope." He smiled at me softly and brushed his hair to the side. "How you feeling?"

"I'm feeling tortured," I said, propping my chin up by one hand as I pouted and poked at the pillow with the other. "I only have three more days left with you." As soon as the words fell out of my mouth, my stomach tightened even more. Wow.

His eyes dulled, almost going gray, and he nodded. "I wish I could go back with you," he said sadly.

"In a perfect world." I laughed ironically. "But nothing in our world has ever been perfect."

"It's perfect for us now."

I smiled, feeling uplifted by his words. "True enough. I'll stop being a Debbie-Downer...as my mom would say." I hopped out of bed, fixing my panties.

"Mmm," Justin moaned as he watched me continue straightening myself in the mirror. I ignored his alluring sounds, smiling despite myself. "Come over here and sit on my lap."

I looked at him with sly-seductive eyes, mockingly. "Oh, are you sure that this is what you want? Do you really want all of my fresh-out-of-bed loveliness?" I prowled towards him, giggling.

"Oh alright." He threw his hands in the air. "What I really meant was come over here and sit on my face."

I guffawed and picked up his t-shirt from the back of the sofa and threw it at him (He knew I didn't want to go there yet, and kept asking me at every turn). He gently laid down his guitar. His brown eyes shimmered as he stared me up and down. Then he suddenly jumped up, scaring me, and I gasped. He charged me and I screamed louder turning to run away, but I was in his grip in a flash.

He twirled me into his chest and breathed me in. "Ew, stop!" I cried through staggered laughs. "I can't stand myself right now."

"I can." He dragged me toward the bed.