sour ⇒ jeff atkins

viii

by the time we arrived home at jeff's place, it was late in the afternoon. the sun was beginning to set and the sky had become a sea of pink and orange colours. my eyes were heavy and my legs were weak. i felt myself almost slip into sleep on the drive home.

i follow jeff indoors and into the kitchen, where he throws his keys onto the kitchen island. "do you want some coffee?" jeff asks me with sleep in his eyes. he leans against the kitchen and runs his hand through his hair again. i bite my lip and cross my arms to resist myself from smiling or making a comment about how good he looks with messy hair and a raspy voice.

"no, thanks," i decline, inching closer towards him. i stop halfway, thinking that the idea in my head may not go to plan. i play it off by halting myself up into the kitchen island.

"you sure? you look really tired," he points out, moving in front of me. despite me having an advantage and sitting on top of the island counter, jeff was still a bit taller than me.

"i always look tired," i joke, rubbing my eyes. i begin to play with the hem of my - jeff's - shirt as i try to think about what to say next. I don't ask about the car thing, he looks distressed as he was telling me about his past, and i don't want to ruin the mood.

"i can't believe i've only known you for three days," jeff chuckles under his breath. he was quiet, but was loud enough for me to hear him. he almost sounds embarrassed, making me laugh slightly.

"hm?" i ask. I did hear him clearly, but i want a further explanation. or maybe it's just because i like talking to jeff, even if it's useless information.

"you heard me, foley," he playfully rolls his eyes and steps closer to me, until we were just inches apart. i adjust myself on the kitchen until my height was level with jeff's. "i've only known you for three days, but i feel like i can tell you anything," he explains further.

"i just have that effect on people," i joke, smiling widely. without me realising it, jeff and i were barely apart, making my breathing unsteady. my smile disappears once i realise what we're doing. i was just on a date with another guy last night. i know this is wrong, but i don't protest as jeff places his hands on my hips and begins to lean in.

"atkins!" a muffled voice yells over their loud knocking on the door. i roll my eyes in frustration as jeff pulls away from me, instantly dropping our eye contact. jeff disappears out of the kitchen and into the hallway to answer the door.

"is everything okay, justin?" jeff asks. the name of my brother instantly grabs my attention, so i jump down from the counter and walk into the hallway to meet my twin.

"hey, danny," justin says, a guilty smile on his face, "change of plan," he says without letting me speak. however, i don't say anything else as another figure appears on jeff's porch.

"hey, sweetheart," bryce greets me, smirking. i notice justin glare at him, but that doesn't stop bryce from eyeing my body. i look over at jeff, embarrassed, to see that he looks annoyed, almost angry at bryce's behaviour. the fact that jeff could be potentially be jealous distracts me briefly from the creep that was on his porch.

"justin?" i finally say, snapping my head towards him,"what's happening?" as i ask my question, jeff opens the door wider for justin, but rolls his eyes as bryce also welcomes himself in.

"i want you to stay with bryce for a while," he says quickly, as he probably knows that i won't like the idea. "his parents are out of town and i know him better. i think you would be more safe with him," justin finally finished his proposition, and i instantly start to grow annoyed.

"what? no," i protest, turning down justin's order, "what's wrong with jeff? his parents aren't here either and i trust him," i defend jeff and in the corner of my eyes, i notice him blush and smile.