The Halstead Freckles - [Linstead] ✓

2. - My Head's Above the Rain and Roses

She opened the door and that's when he looked up and she saw the same eyes as she did today morning when she woke up.

"Jay?"

"Erin, hi." he said and a big grin spread across his face.

"What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk." he said.

"Um... I can't right now. Can you wait here, for like, twenty minutes?"

"Uh, sure." he shrugged his shoulders and smiled to her.

"Thanks." she said, turned around and ran back upstairs.

It wasn't full twenty minutes when she already came back downstairs and he put his famous grin back on.

"Make it quick, I gotta go." she said, looking down at her watch.

"Quick? You think I came all the way here, after all these years to have a quick chat with you? No no, we're gonna sit down for this one." he said seriously. She wasn't going to brush him off that easily.

"Are you planning on staying?" she asked.

"For a week or two, yeah."

"And where are you planning on staying?"

"Um, I was hoping I could crash with you."

A week or two?, she thought. And living in the same apartment? She wasn't sure if she could let him into her world again. She probably hurt him really bad five years ago. It was hard for her as well - after that she never let someone fully in, she didn't trust anyone. Except Oli, of course. He was a blessing.

"Um, ... sure, we can work something out." Of course she was gonna let him crash. She spent some of the best years of her life with him. She wasn't going to forget that. Ever. "C'mon, let's go then." she said and headed out.

He picked up his duffel bag and went after her. As they walked side by side across the parking lot, she could smell his cologne. He was still wearing the same one as the day they met. She inhaled the scent and tried to memorize it, in case she never smelled it again.

They we're quiet the whole ride. When she parked her car in front of Oli's school, he gave her a confused look.

"You have a kid?" he asked.

"Yeah." she said without making eye contact and closed the car door behind her before he could ask any further questions.

Jay suddenly felt bad about crashing with her. He couldn't stay with her kid and her boyfriend, husband, whatever he was. But why did he feel surprised? It's been five years. If he haven't moved on that doesn't mean she haven't either.

Erin couldn't remember when was the last time when she felt so nervous. It was a long time ago, that's for sure. Probably when she left Chicago. Right, not the point here. How the hell was she gonna tell Oli Jay was his dad? Or how the hell will she tell Jay who's kid is this after they'll come home to an empty apartment? She was sure Jay was going to notice how much Oli looked like him. The hair, the eyes, the smile, the freckles. It was like he was looking at an anti-aging miror. And Erin actually dressed him like Jay, but she didn't even realize until now. She was doing it unconciously. Oli was always wearing some cute jeans and a henley shirt, and sometimes a black zip-hoodie over it. Of course he was going to notice.

When they were walking towards the car, Jay didn't notice them because he was playing wit his phone (as usual), but when Erin buckled Oli in and then herself, he put it in his pocket and turned around.

"Hey buddy." he said, but then it took his breath and his eyes widened.

Oli fortunately didn't notice that and smiled shyly "Hi."

"We definetely need to talk." Jay turned to Erin.

She just nodded nervously, still not making eye contact.

* * * *

this one's a little shorter but i promise to update tomorrow, i just rly cant rn its 01:17am lmao and i have school tomorrow woohoooo-.-

*Still Breathing by Green Day*