summer boy ~ tal fishman ✓

~35~

I wake up and I'm completely disoriented. I feel someone's arms around me. This feels like a déjà vu... Then I remember properly what happened. Tal is next to me and I had a terrible headache this morning. I cautiously open my eyes. Please don't hurt, head, please don't hurt... I think the aspirin kicked in. Yes! I smile a small smile.

Tal notices my small movements because he shifts from his space. He detangles his arms from me. 'How long have I slept?' I ask him. Then I remember I probably have a horrible morning breath. I slowly scoot away from him a bit. 'I think half an hour or so?' I looked at him and my eyes widen. 'Did you stay awake that whole time? I'm so sorry! You should have just left!'

He chuckles. 'No it's fine. You're really cute when you sleep. I enjoyed watching you sleep.' 'You do realize how creepy this would sound in a different context?' He laughs, showing his straight, white teeth. 'Yeah, you asked though. I'm blaming it all on you.' 'I never mentioned the word blame. What are you blaming me for?' I am smiling and heading a bit closer to him. I like teasing him. He blushes a bit and it. Is. Adorable. But then, what isn't adorable about him?

'You are making me sound like a creepy stalker. But I guess your headache's gone?' I start giggling but soon burst out into laughter. He smiles, but it's a polite smile, I can see how confused he is. 'Hahahahahahaa... A s-Tal-ker!' I can't stop laughing now. It's too hilarious. He laughs with me, I barely notice. Then I lose my balance and I fall onto the ground. I bumped my arm on the side table, but I don't care. I laugh even harder.

After a few minutes, I'm sort of back to normal. Still giggling, but able to function somewhat properly. My arm is starting to bruise but I don't mind. 'I got this feeling your headache is gone and the aspirin kicked in.' I grin at Tal. 'Same feeling here! I'm going to change, I'll see you downstairs in a few minutes! As in, you go downstairs now and I'll come when I'm changed', I add after he makes no effort to move.

He grins at me and walks out the room. 'You know I don't mind watching you change, do you?' I roll my eyes and grin at him. He closes the door behind him and I hear him walking down the stairs.

When I'm changed into a comfortable pair of shorts and a loose t-shirt, I check my phone. I see a few messages from Mer apologizing for leaving me. I decide to call her. 'Heyy Jul, are you feeling better? I'm soooo sorry we left, it's just, Adi planned this date and he thought of inviting you but Tal wasn't planning on leaving you, so we went and-' 'Shhhh... If you're going to keep talking like that, I'll get my headache back.' I chuckle and I hear her do the same. 'It's no big deal, really. I'm just glad I didn't ruin your entire day with my stupid headache.'

We talk for a few more minutes before she announces she has to go. I hang up and head downstairs. Tal is standing in the kitchen looking really confused with ingredients spread out over the countertop. He looks up at me. 'How did you make those pancakes again? I'm afraid you'll have to help.'

After we ate the home-made pancakes- and cleaned the mess that was the kitchen- Tal is trying to persuade me to go outside. 'Do I really have to?' 'Yes.' 'Really?' 'Yes, come on. It'll help with your headache. We'll just go to the park and head back home.' I sigh. Then I give in. After about five minutes, I'm done with him persuading me. 'Fine! I'll go! But promise me you'll watch a movie of my choice with me afterward!' He squints his eyes at me. 'Promised.'

Why am I feeling like something bad is going to happen? I'm sure something bad is going to happen. I don't want to go. I can't explain it. I just, like, know? I don't know anymore. I'm sounding like I should be in a mental hospital. Which is true, but still. Please do take me seriously.

I sigh again. Tal notices. 'What's wrong? Have you got a headache again? Should we go back?' I shake my head. 'Just a gut feeling.' He nods. 'Do you want to go back?' I nod back at him and give him a weak smile. And my headache is starting to creep in again. Great.

We are heading back to my house now. And the feeling something bad is going to happen isn't leaving. Then I see a girl running towards us. I'm confused. She is looking at Tal. I see him getting slightly nervous. What is this? After the first girl, I see a few more running behind her. I scrunch my brows and look up at Tal, who is not looking back at me. He seems to get more nervous with the second.

'OMG! You are Reaction Time! Tal, I'm such a big fan! Please let me get a selfie with you!' the girl squeals, completely out of breath. 'Sure! No problem.' He lets go of my hand and I pretend I don't notice a pang of jealousy. I mean, the girl is really pretty, around Tal's and my age and is not wearing that much clothing. And then I'm even ignoring the filthy stares those other girls are giving me if I'm counting up all the bad things in this situation. The other girls caught up and are crowding around him now. 'Um Tal, I'm just going to go. Bye', I say and I walk away. I feel he's looking at me for a bit but I ignore it. I don't look back and keep walking.

Why didn't he tell me anything? Does this have anything to do with last night? I feel my headache really kicking in now. The timing is horrible, I just want to be in bed when I have a headache not alone on the street.

I don't know why, but suddenly I remember when I went to his house, when was that? A few days ago, or so. I don't even know. I lost track of time. It feels like so much had happened since then. I close my eyes and I am forced to walk slower because of my headache. Just get home, Julia, you'll be alright.

After what feels like a day, I arrive home. My vision is starting to get blurry. I can't see what key is the one to the front door. About five horrible minutes later, I'm finally in. I walk to the bathroom and try to find an aspirin. I can't. Where did Meredith leave them? I walk back downstairs. My two hands are on my head. What did I do? Why does it hurt so much? I remember it did when Mikaela said- NO! Stop thinking about her, Julia. It wont help your headache. Leave. It. Behind.

I finally found my phone. 'Call Meredith' I nearly whisper to Siri. Thankfully she gets it and Meredith is being called. And she doesn't pick up. Great. And now? I call her again. After three tries, she still hasn't picked up or called back. I tell Siri to call Adi. Hopefully, he's still with Meredith. I feel like passing out right now. I need to stay calm. I stumble to the kitchen to grab a glass of water, with the phone still in my hand. Adi picks up after two calls. 'Hi Julia. What's wrong?' 'Head... aspirin... Mer.' I mumble.

I swear, I'm fairly sure the zombies bit me and I'm turning into one. He got the last word apparently, because I now hear a Meredith on the other end. 'What's wrong Jul?' 'Aspirin.' 'Oh, I left them on the kitchen counter. Are you alright? Isn't Tal with you? Are you alive? Shall we come to your house? We're coming to your house.'

'No', I mumble. 'What no?' 'Don't come.' It sounds like a bare whisper. 'We're coming anyway.' 'No. You are not.' I try to sound normal so she won't have reason to come, but it's hard when you are feeling and sounding like a zombie. 'But-' 'No.' 'Okay... Are you sure though? We could be there in about an hour.' 'No', I say. I'm not going to ruin their entire day just because mine is crap. I hang up.

I take an aspirin and wash it away with a glass of water. I know I need to get some rest. That's good against your headache. Then I stumble to the couch and lie down. I hear a noise outside the window. I see Tal. He hasn't seen me yet. I pretend to sleep and I close my eyes. I am still pretty tired. I hear him knock softly a few times. Then I hear him stop. He's probably gone. The last thing I hear before I fall asleep is my phone receiving texts.

~*~
Hey guys! I just wanted to let you know I changed my username and I'm going to try to be uploading every two to four days.

And THANK YOU! Thank you for getting my book to 6K and all your comments and votes and just everything! You're the best! 

Sorry for being so cheesy and yeah. Byeeeeee ❤️❤️❤️