k y l a n *
Even though we're eighteen years old and seniors, me, Lane, and a bunch of our friends decided to come out trick or treating. A bunch of our friends including Vivian, Nathan, Monroe, Kaden, Shane, Lily, Carrie, Jovie, Hannah, Paige, Hayden, and Matt. We've barely even started when Kaden has to turn around and bring along his favorite person ever: his niece, Zara, who's dressed up as Jasmine, and since we're bringing along nieces and nephews, Monroe has to turn around and bring her niece and nephew, Coralee and Ollie. Coralee is dressed up as Belle (from Beauty and the Beast), and Ollie is dressed up as a kangaroo.
We've hardly walked down the street when the kids go up to the door and Lane turns around to face me, wrapping his arms around me and burying his head in my chest. I wrap my arms around him.
"You okay?" I ask quietly, trying not to draw attention to us which works about as well as trying to ride a broomstick and expecting to fly. Our group turns around as I say it.
I feel him shake his head against my chest, hear him sniffle, and one of my hands touches the back of his head, and I pull back a little to see his face.
"You wanna go home?" I ask him.
He nods and lays his head back down.
"He okay?" Shane asks me.
I shake my head. "No, I'm gonna take him home, guys, you all have fun!"
"Come on," I say to Lane turning around so he can hop on my back. We walk back down the road towards my parked car. We don't live (Lane or I; we live in the same neighborhood-actually the same house right now because his family is going through some things) in this neighborhood, so we parked at Kaden's sister's house. Kaden's sister and Monroe and her sister, however, do live on the same street which is why they took the kids with them. I let Lane slide to his feet gently and open his door for him. I cross over to my door and get in beside him.
"What's up?" I ask him, fingering his hand gently and looking up at him.
"I just-my family, you know...but I know they'll ask—our friends will but don't tell them why we left early," he says quietly.
"I won't, we can just tell them you don't feel good." I look up at him, staring into his forest green eyes and find myself still absentmindedly playing with his fingers. I catch back up with myself and start my car, finally stopping playing with his hand. I pull out of the driveway and drive the short distance (5-10 minutes) to our house. I pull the car in my driveway and park behind my mom's car and get out. There are a few kids at my door waiting for my mom to hand them candy.
"Why are you all back so soon?" she asks us.
"Bored," I lie and pass behind her to go upstairs to our bedroom.
My older sister, Karmen, is standing at the kitchen counter, eating candy and watches us.
"Y'all are home early," she says.
"Yeah, we got bored." I lie, yet again (don't lie, kids).
"I don't believe you but I also don't care enough right now to ask you why you're actually back already, so carry on." She waves us off, and we glide past her and up the stairs, hoping we don't get interrogated again. Of course, that doesn't happen, my little sister, Keenan, comes out of her bedroom and interrogates us too.
"Why are you all back so soon?" she asks.
"Why does everyone care so much?!" I ask, frustrated. "We got bored so we came home early."
After finally getting away from my family and upstairs to my bedroom, we both fall back on my bed. I look over at Lane, who has in head in his hands. His chest is rising and falling rapidly, and his breathing sounds as if he is crying. I scoot closer to him and touch his shoulder.
"What's wrong?" I ask him, grabbing his hands, pulling them away from his face. He shakes his head, trying to cover his face again, but I pin his hands down and pull him into a sitting position. It's a split second decision, but I sit on his lap and cup his face in his hands. He leans forward, leans his head against me, and starts to cry. I let go of his hands and rub his back gently. He wraps his arms around my waist.
"Ssh," I soothe, stroking his head. "Ssh,"
He sniffs, and rests his head near my belly button.
"I'm sorry," he says softly, sniffing, and moving his head to look up at me.
I put a finger under his chin. "Hey, it's okay," I say softly. "You're allowed to feel things! It is okay!"
He nods tearfully. I move to get off of him, but he holds me tighter in his arms.
"Don't move," he whispers softly.
"I'll stay here as long as you want me to," I say.
He looks up at me and meets my gaze. He doesn't say anything, but continues look at me.
I place my feet on the floor and stand, moving from his lap.
"Get up," I say softly.
He looks up at me, but gets up anyway.
I sit down on the bed, where he had been and hook a finger through his belt loop and pull him on top of me. He lays he head on my chest and wraps his arms around my middle. I'm not sure how long we had been laying there like that when he looks up at me, into my eyes. I do know, however, that within a few seconds of him looking up, I kiss his lips. I feel his eyelashes brush against my face, and know that he's closed his eyes. Seconds later, I feel his hands move to my face. I smile softly against his lips; his lips that are soft and taste sweet on mine. I put my hands on his waist, squeezing gently and hold him against me. He breaks the kiss to lean his head against mine and look into my eyes.
"Thank you for doing something I didn't have the courage to do," he whispers softly, kissing me again softly.
"You're welcome, pretty baby," I say, kissing him again.
1/19/20
I wrote a lot of this in the car with my family :)
