Vibrations

Chapter 4

Casey opened the door and I was struck with the deepest sense of wonder I had felt in a very long time... the highest sense of happiness that I had managed to find in such a long time...

It had been almost a year since I had been home... so long since I had seen her smiling face.

My face, bad day or no, split open on seeing her. I couldn't help but smile in her presence.

She wrapped her arms tightly about her body and leaned against the door frame, her brown eyes reaching into my soul, the same way they always did. I stepped forward as she stepped back, letting me into her home, no invitation extended and none needed...

My left hand reached out and took the back of her neck as I pulled her head to mine.

I almost kissed her...

The desire to do it was stronger than I had ever felt, and considering that I had undergone the entirety of my teenage years with her as the closest friend I had ever known... I had thought about kissing her pretty fucking often.

I would never do that though... I had no right. I had to admit to myself... I really wanted to. I had wanted to since as long as I could remember.

I contented myself with laying my forehead to hers, my nose against hers, little sparks of pain shooting through it as our noses brushed. I didn't care about the pain. Just her presence against me was enough to drive all of my concerns away.

Her hand came up into the crook of my elbow and pulled me closer to her. We both closed our eyes and savored the moment.

Kiss her you fool! My brain screamed at me.

I shook my head and sighed, feeling the familiar rush of emotions she always brought out in me. Loyalty, friendship, a sense of family and protectiveness I felt with no other human on earth... and yes, more than a little love.

I was not however, going to mess up that friendship.

"I missed you Case." I whispered.

She finally wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a big hug. I hugged her back just as hard.

She whispered in my ear, "I missed you Jakey." She added as she pulled back from me, taking my face in her hands, "Your poor little nose..."

I smiled at her, "It was never very little..."

She smiled back at me, and I added, "Don't sweat it, it just has a little more character now."

"You two need to get a room?"

I laughed at Adrianna, interrupting our moment.

Turning to her, I was struck by how much she had grown up in the year since I had seen her. She was taller, and at fourteen, she was starting to transition from kid to woman. She was fuller, stronger. She had mid length blonde hair, and her father's features. That same blonde hair and striking, otherworldly, Nordic blue eyes. She had her mother's athletic body, which was way better for her than if she ended up with her dad's, who tended more towards the plump size.

"How 'bout a hug over here, big bro?" She smiled, holding her arms wide.

She was still tiny compared to my six-foot frame, athletic or not. I wrapped my arms around her neck as she wrapped hers around my body. I was gentler with her than I had been with Casey, but I still hugged her tight.

We broke, and she punched me in the ribs. It was a light punch, a hell of a lot lighter than Alyssa's had been.

It made me wonder a little bit at what about me made women feel the need to punch me...