Fixated

((17))

It wasn't the sunlight streaming through the window that woke me, it was the immediate feel of someone hovering over me. 

I opened my eyes, noticing the door to my bedroom was cracked open. 

"Jasper?" I called out, letting my feet find the cold floor. 

I stepped across the floor lightly, listening to the wood creak under my weight. 

"Jasper? That you, bud?" I called, this time louder. 

I opened the bedroom door only to find no one there. I looked around, the hallways were empty, as was my room. 

"Okay," I mumbled to myself. 

I shut my door and twisted the lock, listening to it click as it snapped into place. I pulled my old sleep shirt over my head, grabbing a sweatshirt off of the nearest hanger in my closet. The sweatshirt was old, one of my mother's from college. 

I jumped as a knock rang out through the room. 

"One second!" I yelled, pulling the sweatshirt over my head. 

I have been here for four days and this is the first time I've planned to leave the house. 

Archer said he'd pick me up at nine, it's only eight... is it irrational to wish it was him on the other side of the door?

I'm so ready to see him it could kill me. 

And we aren't even dating...

The look on my face as I opened the door could only be confusion. 

"Christian?"

As he stood in front of me, something was different. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked, pulling him into a brief hug. 

"Well, Archer asked me to drop this off before he came to get you. Kind of a surprise before he takes you out I guess," he mumbled, pulling a small black bag from his pocket. 

The bag was soft, almost like silk. It was small, and I could feel a small rectangular box inside. 

"What is it?" I asked, pulling at the strings keeping it shut. 

"No!" He yelled, snatching it back from me. 

"He said you couldn't open it until after your date tonight. When he drops you back off," he said, holding the small baggy firmly in his hands. 

"Okay, you should've started with that," I mumbled, snatching it back. 

I set the bag on my dresser as Christian turned to walk away. 

"Hey!" I called, catching his attention once more. 

"What is different about you?" I asked, giving him a final check. 

"You didn't hear? I joined the marines. I've been working out for training... And how could you not notice my hair is gone?" He asked, pointing to his new buzzcut. 

"Sorry, not allowed," I said. 

"What?"

"You can't just run off to war to die!" I yelled, punching his shoulder. 

He has been working out, that actually hurt my fist. 

"Hey! Stop. It's not like that okay, I wanna make a difference," He said, smiling at me. 

"Whatever, just don't come crying to me when you get blown up," I sighed. 

"Do you even know what the marines are?" He asked, backing out of my room the same way he entered.