Looking After You

(23) Ages: 19 & 16

Ages: 19 & 16

"I can't believe you two! Lounging on the couch while the girl carries up the last box! Don't you have any shame?" Jenny scolded as she entered the apartment, dropping the last box to the ground.

"Nope."

"Not a one."

Both boys answered together and Jenny stepped further into the apartment with a smile.

"Well, it's about time I make like a banana," Rex announced and jumped up from the couch as if all he needed was a five-minute rest before he was back to his normal, ADHD self. "Glad you got to see me, Jen-Jam." He said jokingly before wrapping Jenny in a hug.

"It was quite a treat, really." She replied playfully and turned as he walks back towards the door.

He pointed at James with wide eyes of seriousness. "Call me, beep me, if you wanna reach me." Lifting up his hand once, he disappeared into the hallway.

Jenny turned to James and laughed, her thumb pointing back towards the door. "Kim Possible?"

James waved her off and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, it's this whole thing."

She laughed once more and stepped forward, falling back on the couch beside him. "You know, when you said you wanted me to help unpack, I honestly thought you were joking. I was supposed to sit here while you and T-Rex - being the manly men you are - brought up box after box."

He leaned into her shoulder and chuckled. "Yeah, but we got it done so much faster putting you to work." Turning to her, he smiled sincerely. "Seriously, though, thanks for helping."

"Of course." She smiled back at him but turns away in an attempt to escape the awkward, cramped feeling. "Now, you can pay me back by turning this into the awesome horror theater we talked about."

"Your wish is my command."

>>>

The room fell silent for a moment. Jenny contemplated how much of an impact words had. It was something she thought about constantly when it came to James. She was always choosing her words carefully when the tone fell serious, but she knew James did it better. She never knew what he was thinking, but she was almost positive he could see right through her. At that moment, she was sure of it and for one split second, it felt as though she had nothing to lose. "I heard what Rex was saying before I walked in."

She could see James swallow the lump in his throat out of the corner of her eye. Words had a huge impact. Words could change everything. She was so concerned about this move and how nothing was going to be the same. And here she was, about to say something that was going to change everything. "Yeah? Well, Rex says whatever he's thinking whenever he's thinking, I ignore half of it."

"Maybe we shouldn't. I mean, we're proof that you can ignore something for nine years but it doesn't mean it just goes away." She could feel her nerves running away with her.

James groaned and rubbed a hand over his face. "Don't do this, Jenny." They both faced each other at the same time; James' expression was solid as a rock while Jenny felt as if her chest was crumbling in on itself.

"Do what? Change everything? Things are already changing, Jameson."

He shook his head. "It's not going to change anything. It's just going to make things more complicated."

So, she was right. He already knew what she was going to say and he didn't want to hear it. He didn't care. "Things are already complicated!" Jenny shouted and stood up from the couch. She was angry and heartbroken and every emotion was flooding to the top and begging to come out through her eyes. She wouldn't let them, though. Not yet. She had to say it. "You can sit there and act like the innocent one all you want but it doesn't change the fact that I love you!" How could those words be surprising when you've been in a relationship with someone for nine years? Why did the entire world stop spinning for three seconds after those words left her mouth? Because they were true. They were true and it was the first time she said them, at least in that context. She ran a hand through her hair and began pacing his living room floor. She wanted to throw up, she wanted to disappear into the ground and never be found again, she wanted to run, she wanted to kiss that dumbfounded look off his face but more than anything, she just wanted him to speak.