An Open Window

Chapter 5

When we go back into my house, the party still blares on next door.

"Geez, it's 1 am, and it's just as crazy as it was three hours ago." Christian comments, plopping onto my couch. Portly growls at the house, and I giggle, petting his head.

"I could call Mr. Johnston, he can call the police for me." I offer, and he raises his eyebrows.

"He'll do that for you?" He asks, clearly surprised.

"Yeah, I kinda have a good word with him, since I watch his dog every weekend when he goes to visit his son and hold his newspapers until Monday."

"So why isn't his dog here now?"

"His son decided to surprise him this time at his home, so he told me that I won't be needed."

"Wow. I need to start doing things for my neighbors. But I don't think I'm ready to go yet."

"Really?" I ask, surprised.

"Yeah, I've been having a fun time."

"Do you want to go upstairs, the music isn't as loud on the upper level." I ask, and Christian suddenly looks flustered, blushing.

"Upstairs?" His cheeks are a deep red, and I laugh.

"Dude, I'm only asking so we can actually hear each other, the music is much louder down here than it is upstairs." He lets out a breath, and nods.

"I'm sorry, not that I'm bragging, when girls ask to go upstairs, it's usually for....you know what, never mind." He stops himself, and I shoot him a look.

"Ugh, keep it for your diary, Christian." I shove his shoulder, and he laughs.

I can't stop thinking about the fact that I felt an urge to kiss him. I barely know him. I don't know his deep desires, his fears, hell, not even his favorite color. But something about that moment left me raw, as if I suddenly had my entire soul exposed to him without any words.

"You know, Sal, I never understood why I always argued with you. Maybe it was hatred by association, since Valerie actually despises you." He says, plopping down onto my desk chair, and I laugh.

"That would make sense, I mean, she's hated me since kindergarten and you've been friends with her since...?" I don't actually know how long they've known each other. I sit on my bed, placing my phone next to me.

"We've known each other since we were two." He finishes for me.

"Wow."

"Yeah, that's why I get so torn when I argue with her."

"By the way," I start, quickly changing the subject, "Where are your parents? I mean, you have a crazy party going on right now, and I see zero sign of them."

"My mom is actually a part-time nurse, so I see her during the day and she takes the night shift at the hospital. My dad actually left us when I was ten, so I don't see him very often."

"Oh, thats gotta be fun, you get the house to yourself at night." I say, and he sighs.

"It's nice, but sometimes I just need my mom here, like if I ever get scared because I watch a horror movie, or I'm upset, like I was the other night."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, I do see her pretty often during the day, so that makes up for it. By the way, if you don't mind me asking, where are your parents? I never see them around, either, less than my own parents." I let out a deep sigh when he asks this.

"They have a business trip in Japan at the moment, but they're always travel so I never see them. They pay the bills and my aunt sometimes pops in for a day or two, and I do have friends over quite often, but I'm mainly on my own."