Game Over - Jacky Vincent

26

I didn't get out of bed once that day. Everyone figured I would need my space, so they left me alone. I had fallen in and out of sleep a few times, waking up to the nightmares that my dreams had turned into. I just don't get it, honestly. How one minute, everything was fine, and the next, it's like the entire universe is crashing down on you. Miranda was the sister I never had. Though we lost contact for years, she came back into my life and our friendship was as strong as ever. But now she's gone.. gone for good.

I laid in my bed, staring up at the ceiling in the dark room. I had my shades drawn and my door closed. Chase tried to talk to me earlier, but I ended up ignoring her. I don't like doing this to people, pushing them away like this. It's completely unintentional, and I wish I could explain this to everyone.

I looked over at my clock and saw it was almost six in the evening. I groaned and sat up in my queen size bed. My eyes felt excruciatingly puffy, and my head was pounding. The tears that had been streaming from my eyes had stained my cheeks.

A knock on my door jolted me to me back to reality.

"Come in," I called, my voice raspy from not talking all day. The door knob turned and I ran my fingers through my hair. Ronnie stood in the doorway, and when I met his eyes, he gave me a weak smile. Another sob escaped my throat, and the tears poured from my water ducts for the hundredth time today. Ronnie rushed over to my bed and wrapped his arms around me, as if clinging for dear life. My body trembled as I cried half into his shoulder and half into my hands that shielded my face. Ronnie just held me close and rested his chin on the top of my head. He wasn't going to say that everything would be okay, that it'll only hurt for a little bit, because he knew damn fucking well those are total lies.

"Logan," his normally loud and booming voice was now softer and quiet. I pulled my hands from my face and looked into his deep brown eyes that I've come to love.

"I know this is tough. My brother died last year, and I'm going to tell you this now, it's going to sting. For a long time. But you can't let it drag you down too far, or else bad shit comes out of it," Ronnie let out a breath, "so please, please, don't let it take you under. I promise you, we will stay by your side all through this. No one is leaving."

I wiped the water from my eyes and pulled Ronnie into a tight hug.

"Thank you, Ronnie," I sighed.

"And I don't know if you noticed...but I think lil Jacky's got it bad for you," he said with a wink. My cheeks heated up and Ronnie gasped.

"Is there something I don't know about going on?" He accused with a fake hurt.

"Do we have any ice cream?" I asked, quickly changing the subject.

"I bought a bunch just for you!" Ronnie yelled excitedly.

I smiled at him and got out of my bed for the first time since this morning.

"Let's go watch a movie," I grabbed his hand and walked downstairs.

--

We spent an hour or so all laying around the living room watching Christmas movies. Chase was staying over night and spending Christmas here.

"Where's Jacky?" I asked, breaking the silence. Everyone was awkwardly silent for a minute, until Chase spoke up.

"He went to visit my parents. My dad needed his help with the tree."

I nodded at this and returned my focus back to the movie in front of me.

The endless Christmas movie marathon went on for hours. Ronnie had ordered a pizza, so we all sat around like lazy bums until we got too tired.

"Oh wow," Ronnie said with a shocked voice. We all turned to him with questioning looks, waiting for him to go on. "It's almost twelve. Santa's coming tonight, we gotta go to bed!" He yelled.

Everyone laughed and started to get up. After they all went upstairs, I hugged Ronnie again. Without hesitation, he hugged me back, the familiar musky scent making me smile.

"Thank you so much, Ronnie. For everything," I mumbled incoherently into his chest.

"No need to thank me, Lo. I love you," he responded.

"I love you too."