The boy next door

In between: Winter vacation

February vacation comes.

Drew goes away with his family so we don't do much. He lets me keep a shirt of his, which is nice. I wear it every night, and it helps. Not like the real thing, but better than without any Drew at all.

My mom still has work so it's a lot of me home in the house doing my own thing, which is nice, I haven't just been alone like this for a while.

I read a ton, sometimes just go around not wearing pants, me and my mom always have dinner together plus we watch shows together at night, and I also spend time with Carrie whenever she's not busy/she needs to get out of her busy house of young siblings.

We go to the movies, out to eat, just talk and hang out, I even go and watch her dance sometimes. I go to a recital she's in during the week. She's amazing, so graceful and beautiful. I'm in awe of my best friend.

We also do other things like paint together in her mom's painting room at their house. It's a lot of fun just making a mess and having fun like we're kids again.

Drew texts once in a while, but I know he's busy with his family. We're not big texters, we like to be together in person and talk then more. That's just us though.

I update Carrie on therapy and such soon after. She's less stern with me now. It was kind of a joke at first anyway, because as my best friend, she wants to support me in whatever I'm doing. But she knows neither of us are going to listen or give up. She knew everything before anyone. And now she calls me and him a "modern day Romeo and Juliet", kind of. I cringe a little when she says it but also smile.

But all in all, it's a good week off. I read a lot, spent time with my mom, and had fun with my best friend.

~*~

Friday

"JEN!" I hear out my window.

I put down my book, laughing, and open my window.

We see each other and we smile.

"Can't you ever just text like a normal person?" I laugh.

"Nope!" He smiles. I laugh.

"Come out here!" He smiles.

I laugh, fake roll my eyes, smile, and get out.

I go up to him, glasses/no-make-up, sweats; without a care in the world except him being back.

We smile and hug, like it's the most natural thing in the world.

"You're back," I say, in the hug.

"I'm back," He replies, in the hug.

I smile and bury my face in him, taking in his smell again. The smell I've always known with the comfort I've always felt.

We separate and smile, our hands falling and our fingers kind of magnetizing together a little.

"How was your trip?" I ask.

"It was alright," He replies, "Something was missing though, for sure," He smiles.

I smile and blush.

"Want to come over tonight?" He smiles.

I smile and nod.

So, were we supposed to be avoiding each other or something? Can't re-call.

Later, after my mom and I say goodnight, I grab his shirt, and go over to his window.

I knock and he comes. We smile and he helps me in.

"The coast clear?" I say softly.

"Yeah, parents are in bed and my sister isn't here," He smiles. Which obviously makes me smile.

We watch a horror movie he saw and wanted to show me while he was away.

We're first watching on our stomachs. Eventually when we get uncomfortable, we move up to the stop of his bed and get comfortable. I get scared and try to hide in him. Which makes him laugh and cuddle me, him sitting up and me kind of laying on his chest with his arm around me. I feel protected this way, it's the best for hiding when scared. In the arms of someone who you feel safe with, someone you know is always going to protect you.

Apparently I'm so comfortable, I doze off a little.

I can hear the credits, him laughing, and turning the tv off.

"Jennnn," He says softly.

I don't respond, in loopy la la land. I bet he's missed this. I've fallen asleep on him numerous times. He's melatonin in a person.

Then I hear him kind of sigh, but not in an annoyed way. More like 'this girl, falling asleep on me, again'. He takes my glasses off and I hear them hit his nightstand gently. I hear him on his phone for a few seconds, and then hear that hit the wood, too.

Then he kind of moves us down under a throw blanket that's always on top of his comforter, like he doesn't want to move me much, and cuddles me comfortably again.

He doesn't get up, or try to wake me up, like he doesn't want to disturb me.

Once I hear his heavy breathing, I smile and immediately fall asleep myself.