Downtown Idea

26. New York City

Before I could close my door all the way Ashton stepped back up to it and pushed it back open. I looked at him with wide eyes.

"I forgot something." He said before he grabbed me around the waist and planted his lips on mine. Before I could quite register what was happening he pulled away and cleared his throat. "Goodnight, Zoe. I hope distance means nothing to this relationship." He closed the door before I could respond.

"I need to call-" before I could finish my dazed comment to myself my phone started ringing. It was Reece.

"Okay so I have news but I want to hear yours first." She said as soon as I answered.

"O-okay. Hold on." I walked into my bedroom to gather some less rain wet and dried clothes, "So Ashton took me to high tea at a rose garden that had very few roses." I said.

"That sounds... fun?" Reece sounded disappointed.

"No, no, it was. There was an art museum attached and everything it was amazing. Then that weird downpour happened and so we went to this ice cream place that I thought was okay but Ashton apparently loved it." I said all of that rather fast but Reece made that affirmation 'mhm' noise. "Yeah and before we said goodnight he kissed me." She freaked out at that. As if we were 13 year olds again and it was one of the boys in my class that I had a crush on.

"That's incredible." She said, "I wish my news was as nice as that." I nodded and offered if she wanted to come over for sandwiches. The ice cream was good but I was getting hungry, "Oh, my gosh after that run, I would love a sandwich."

When she got to my house I had already gotten every sandwich topping I owned and had spread them across the countertops.

"Holy shit." Reece said walking into my kitchen. I nodded.

"I love sandwiches. I do not take sandwich making lightly." I said glancing over at her. I was expecting her to be laughing or smiling or something, but she wasn't.

"Zoe, my day was so confusing." She sat down and frowned.

"That's no good." I said grabbing some bread. As she talked about her run with Calum and her encounter with the ever elusive Lorelei I made us both a sandwich, "Toasted?" I asked as she stopped for breath. She nodded and continued her story.

I wish they would get over themselves. It hadn't been a full week since they started talking again and I love Reece but she was being so annoying. Maybe if she would at least admit she had feelings for him she would be more bearable.

"But she's so... I don't know, weirdly overpowering. Like she took up the entire room but not in a good way. A noxious gas kind of way." I nodded and plated our freshly toasted sandwiches.

"So from what I understand, you're still too prideful to admit that you like him. And he's still too prideful and afraid to admit that he hates his girlfriend." I said biting down onto my sandwich. She went defensive as usual.

"Zoe! No! I have to talked to Calum and he's really nice exactly 50% of the time. I couldn't be with someone like that." She said quickly.

"I agree but you didn't deny your feelings for him." I said walking into my living room. She opened her mouth to reply again but instead put the sandwich in her mouth, "Do you want to help me finish packing or just eat your sandwich?" I asked. She followed me into my room making me think she was gonna help but instead she just sat on my bed and watched me.

"When are you gonna be back?" She asked. I shrugged.

"Why? Do you have plans or?" I asked. She shrugged this time, "No, but I will be back soon. I'm sure Jonas will be extra again or something. Or I'll be sick of the cold ass winter. Fear not, I will return to the land of summer." I laughed.