The boy next door

In between: Thursday

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In between: A weird busy week before the last, and most important, therapy session.

~*~

Thursday

The next morning, my car door is frozen shut.

Yup, that's what happens when you have the oldest car on the block. It's my mom's last car, and it works fine, just not so much so in the winter.

I try everything, and finally give up, planning to walk.

And then Drew comes out of his house.

"Hey," He calls.

"Hi," I call back.

"What's up?" He laughs at me just on the side walk, making a grumpy face, coffee in hand keeping my hands warm.

"My door is frozen shut," I frown.

He laughs, "Oh no," as he comes up to me.

"Do you want me to try?" He asks.

"It's no use, it's a goner," I laugh, "Guess I'm walking."

"It's freezing out, Jen!" He laughs, "Just get in the car." Demanding...I smile just at that.

"But-," I laugh.

"No buts, missy, in the car!" He says, getting into the driver's seat.

I laugh and get into the passenger seat.

"You think I was going to let you walk when I'm right here?" He laughs.

"I don't know!" I laugh. We fake argue a lot, it's one of our things.

He gasps, "Jennifer Ann, I am appalled that you would think that I would just abandon you in the dead of winter to walk to school alone in the cold!"

I laugh a lot, "I'm sorry!"

He laughs and we drive to park n' ride.

"Thank you," I'm saying as we get out of the car.

"No problem," He smiles, "Anytime."

We walk and talk to school, like we used to, almost like nothing has changed.

We get to school and walk to my locker.

"Your locker, miss," He presents it jokingly and smiles.

I laugh, "Why thank you, kind sir," I smile.

Then he walks away to his locker.

I get to the café and sit at an empty table. I look around and Carrie is in line with only her bag here to take her place.

"So...I saw you walking with Drew," She says as she walks up and sits down, passing me a muffin.

I laugh, "You don't miss anything."

She smiles, "I don't, now spill."

"My car door was frozen," I laugh.

"Was it really?" She laughs.

"Yup, and I was going to walk, but then Drew made me go with him," I laugh.

"Made you, huh?" She laughs.

"Yes, demanded even!" I laugh, "Used my full name and everything."

She laughs, "Can't say no then."

"Exactly," I laugh and so does she.

Me and Drew meet up outside at the end of the day, and walk to park n' ride.

We stop at his car.

"You know, I could just walk," I smile.

He laughs, "Don't you even start," He smiles.

I laugh.

"It's just fun when you get like that," I smile.

"Oh yeah?" He smiles.

"Yeah," I smile.

He smiles.

We smile a little too long at each other and I finally look away, starting to go over to the other side.

I'm walking so slow and kind of slide on ice, and I scream out of surprise.

He comes over and takes my hand.

"I'm not an old lady," I laugh.

"Yeah, but you're clumsy," He laughs.

We're almost there when I slip right before the door, taking him down with me.

It hurts but we immediately start laughing. And I'm on top of him somehow.

I'm on top of him...

"Why did you help me? You knew that would happen and you knew I would take you down with me!" I laugh.

"I'm a nice guy!" He laughs back.

We laugh more and eventually calm down. I haven't laughed this hard in so long. Worth every bruise I'm going to get. He got most of it. He saved me.

"I'm sorry," I laugh.

"I'm not," He smiles, "It was worth it."

We smile at each other too long, so close I can smell his breath. It smells like cinnamon, his favorite kind of gum. In a romantic movie, this would be the perfect time to kiss him. But I shouldn't. I know it will only complicate things more. But damnit, these hormones...I can't feel much between thick winter layers, but they seem to have a mind of their own. We stay like we are longer for some reason until we hear a people coming.

We laugh at us still being on the ground, I get off him and he gets up, also helping me up. People from our school see us and give us weird looks. But he just opens my door, I get in, then he gets in and drives away.

We get out at our houses.

"I'm sorry about your back," I laugh.

"I'll survive," He laughs.

"Thank you for helping me." I smile.

"You're welcome," He smiles.

"You protected me," I smile.

"Always," He smiles.

We smile longer and go our separate ways.

I wanted to hug him for it, hell, I wanted to kiss him...but I didn't want to make laying low any harder.

~*~