Oceans {Joji Miller}

Chapter 4

     I sprinted away from the house, the night becoming so dark that I seemed to no longer be running, but instead I was swimming in the stars. The smell of the damp moss and the soft grass beneath my feet, it was all so vivid.
     I finally came across a clearing and looked up, seeing a sea of stars above me. A familiar voice soon emerged from the trees and flowed near me. It was smooth like silk, and clear as the purest water. "So tenderly you watch me burn..." It continued the song in soft hums.
     "When will you finally realise?" The voice finally whispered. I felt as if a weight was placed on my chest as I tried to speak. "Re...alise... what..?" I barely muttered. "When will you realise that I love you?" The voice answered with yet another question. No you don't. Stop trying to convince yourself that he loves you.
      The person heard my thoughts and just as he was about to say something, I woke up to a dim light on my face. The clouds were matted over the sun, completely disclosing it. I lay on the couch for a moment with a soft blanket covering me, puzzled. Then it hit me. "FUCK!" I screamed. I jumped up and stumbled to the bathroom, staring in the mirror and panicking. I picked up Joji's comb and ripped through my tangled hair, causing my eyes to water.
     I splashed my face and attempted to unwrinkle my shirt by stretching it across my hand. The attempt unfortunately failed. I felt tears rushing to my eyes. I was going to miss the first day of my new job at a coffee shop. Surely my boss would understand. You idiot. Of course he fucking won't. I slapped myself and grabbed my phone. Just as I was about to leave, Joji cane out from his room.
     "What the hell?" He muttered groggily. I turned around and stared at him, trying my best not to admire his messy hair and sleepy eyes. "I have to go to work." I stuttered, looking at the time. 9:16. I was supposed to be there about an hour ago. My stomach dropped as I felt tears rushing to my eyes. "______." Joji laughed. I looked up at him and felt a warm drop roll down my cheek. "Come here." He gestured towards him.
As soon as I came up to Joji, he pointed out of the window. Hail was falling from the sky in huge blocks, making piles that melted quickly into the rivers flowing through the streets. The water must had been at least a foot deep. I felt relief sweep over me. I checked my phone and saw that my boss had, in fact, texted me that we wouldn't be coming to work because of the heavy rain and hail. I threw myself onto the loveseat and groaned.
I heard Joji chuckle, then make his way back to his room. I stood up and followed him. "How am I going to go home?" I asked. I didn't want to be a bother to him all day just because of the weather. Just as I walked into the doorway of his room, I realised that he had come in here to change and that I was now staring at a half naked Joji clothed in only boxers. He turned around and reddened, his eyes widening. "I-I-" I stuttered, stumbling out of the room and crashing into a wall.
I pressed my face against the cold wall, trying to cool my hot face down. In those short seconds, I had gotten barely enough time to observe his body. Since he wore a t-shirt at the beach, I wasn't able to see his perfectly toned body and his abs. Whenever he moved his arms, the muscles in his back flexed, and then his perfectly round ass...
I bumped my head against the wall to stop myself from thinking any more. Joji walked out, his face still red. "Sorry. I-I should've asked-" I stuttered, cutting myself off. "It's fine, don't worry about it." He smiled shyly. "You have a really nice ass." I mumbled under my breath. "What was that?" He asked, tilting his head. "I didn't say anything." I lied, walking off as if nothing had happened. "So, can you take me home?" I asked, quickly regretting saying that, as the roads were now what looked like a small lake, and there were still small blocks of ice floating in the water.
"Never mind, I think it's safer to not go out right now. Sorry. I didn't even ask if I could stay the night in the first place." I muttered. "Don't sweat it." Joji yawned, scratching the back of his head. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. "God, I hope this isn't my boss-" I stopped as I read the number. It was the same one that I had gotten my previous traumatising texts from.
It read, "Hello darling. Could the weather be any better?" I felt a lump form in my throat. Joji seemed to have noticed as he approached me from behind and read the text. I heard him sigh. "I'm scared." I whimpered. I could feel my voice getting shaky. Why couldn't they just leave me alone? Why did they have to send me these texts calling me names when I don't even know theirs? I suddenly felt Joji pull me into a hug, wrapping his arms around me tightly and swaying slightly. "Don't worry." He whispered. "I'll keep you safe."