Shifting Currents || E.V.

o3. dependent

we continued walking slowly down a dimly lit sidewalk.

"so, are you from Washington, then?" he asked.

"no," i said. "i moved to Seattle for school with...my boyfriend. we're both originally from Portland."

"oh," he said. "was that who you were with tonight?"

i nodded. "yeah."

i looked up at his face, and he was looking out into the street at the cars driving by.

"so, why'd you guys come tonight?" he asked, turning his gaze to meet my eyes. i felt awkward, considering i had been staring at his face, and looked down at my feet.

"uh, it was because of my boyfriend," i said, trying not to sound awkward. it felt wrong, talking to him about Stephen. "his job asked him if he wanted to come and watch. he brought me along, because we've never really done anything like this before."

"i could see your face," Eddie said, smirking at me slightly. "from where i was, on the stage. that's actually when i thought i knew you from somewhere." he paused a moment. "you looked like you weren't sure what to think."

"i'm sorry, i was literally blown away for the entirety of the show," i said. "because it was...surreal, seeing you again."

"i just can't believe you kept those lyrics," he said. "if i saw some weirdo leave his shit in a public place like that i wouldn't look at it twice."

i shrugged.

"i thought the words were...pretty," i said. "meaningful. plus, i dunno, i like to keep things." i looked down at my hands as i absentmindedly twisted a loose button on my shirt. "you were an interesting stranger, so of course i kept it."

he gently pulled on my elbow to let me know he was crossing the street, and i followed.

"where are we going?" i asked quietly.

"you're the one who lives here," he said. "i expected you to show me around." i raised my eyebrow, and he chuckled softly. "i'm joking," he said. "really, i just wanted to actually get to know you, considering i've got time to kill."

"i actually don't live around here," i said. "i live in a dorm about fifteen minutes away from here."

"i could walk you home, then," he said. i was very keen on that idea, except for the fact that it was cold outside and i was tugging my flannel around me tightly, because i was dumb and hadn't brought a jacket.

i wasn't very good at being discreet when i was cold.

"oh, shit, are you cold?" he asked. before i could protest, he stopped walking, pulled his own jacket off, and was trying to give it to me. "here," he said.

"no, i'm okay, really," i replied.

"too late," he said, smirking at me once again. i sighed, taking it from him and putting it on over my flannel. it was warm, and i hugged my arms across my chest to try to warm up quicker.

plus, it smelled really, really nice, which made me feel a little less guilty about taking it.

"now you'll be cold," i said.

"no, i'm alright," he said. we made a turn around the corner of a large building, and began in the direction of my dorm.

"so, how long have you and your boyfriend been together?" he asked. i held back a sigh, feeling tense about the fact that he was bringing my significant other back into the conversation.

"since high school," i said. "when i was fifteen and he was eighteen."

"oh," he said. "wait, how old are you now?"