An Open Window

Chapter 2

I wake up a few hours later, my eyes adjusting to the early morning sunlight poking through my window. I wipe my eyes and check the time, only to find out that it's actually 2 am and that "sunlight" I see is coming from none other than Christian Water's window, which lies less than 10 feet away, with a tree in the middle. If he could, he could hop from the tree to my window with no risk of falling.

I glare at the window, and since our houses are so close, I can hear everything that goes on in there. Like whenever he has a party and it ends with him and a girl "doing the do" in there.

Only now, I look to him just sitting on his bed, his head in his hands, his blond-brown hair sticking up everywhere. When he looks up slightly, his eyes are red-rimmed and shiny, his lips transformed from a pale pink to a bright red.

Why would golden-boy Christian be crying? He has a good reputation, with popular friends, good grades, and apparently throws some mind-blowing parties. So seeing him so vulnerable, so broken, is bizarre to me.

Hesitantly, I open the window, and I wave a little to get his attention. He looks up at me, and glares for a moment. But he stands, opening his window.

"What do you want?" He snaps, and I flinch at his tone.

"I...I uh." I stammer, not remembering why I opened my window in the first place.

"Look, if you're gonna be wasting my time, I'm not gonna bother-"

"I was just concerned, you seem really upset, that's all." I say before he can continue.

He softens, biting his lip.

"Listen, I'm sorry I snapped. I'm feeling really shitty right now and I have a lot of stuff in my head. I guess I just needed to let it out, you know? Boys cry too." He does a half-hearted laugh, placing his hands on the window pane.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."

"You're Sally Trebech, right? From my Physics and History class?" He interrupts, brows furrowed.

"Um, yeah, that's me." I answer, and he slowly nods. I didn't know he even knew my name, even though we argue all the time.

"It's funny, I've lived next door to you for so long, argued with you for the longest time, and it's only now that I'm seeing you." He smirks, but tears are still falling from his face.

"If you don't mind me asking, Christian, why are you crying?" I ask, and he wipes his tears away roughly.

"I, um, had a fight with someone important in my life, and it's kinda taking a toll on me. I've known this person for years and she is starting to change in a negative way." I know for a fact that this "she" he speaks of is Valerie Martin, his partner-in-crime. They're basically a couple, but she's hooking up with a new guy every week. I guess that confirms that it was them fighting earlier, and it did sound pretty intense.

"Oh. I'm really sorry to hear that." I say, and he looks at me with confusion.

"Why do you care so much? Also, why are you up at this ungodly hour?" He should talk.

"I mean, your bedroom light is on so that kinda woke me up, and it's kind of bizarre to see someone as......to see you in this state, so I was curious." I explain. I almost say "Someone as popular as you," but I held back, because that can make him even more upset.