Spark in the Dark

Chapter 114

The sound of the door opening startled Juice. He spun around towards the sound so fast he tripped over his own two feet and lost his balance. He stumbled on the steps a bit, but thankfully, didn't fall completely. Once he regained his balance, he was looking down at his feet and wished he could just disappear. He was trying to decide if it would be better for Shawn to be the one opening the door or her boyfriend, when he heard her voice.

"Are you okay?" She asked, her voice sounded amused. Juice felt relieved. Not only because apparently it was better to be her than Brent, but because she didn't sound annoyed that he was there. He looked up at her and saw her standing inside with the door only partically opened. He realized she was waiting on him to answer and nodded. "Are you drunk?"

"No," Juice answered. He understood why she would think that. Here he was, showing up at her house in the middle of the night and practically falling on his ass in the process. Why wouldn't she think he was drunk? "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I'll let you get back to sleep."

Juice turned to leave, but she stopped him. "Juice!"

He turned back towards her and saw she had stepped out onto the porch. "Yeah?"

"Are you sure you're okay? You don't look so good. No offense."

Juice shrugged and tried to keep his eyes from watering. A whistling sounded from inside the house and Juice looked over at the door.

"What is that?"

"Oh. I'm making tea."

"Since when do you drink tea?"

"Lyla got me hooked on it. She said I drink too much coffee."

"She was right."

"Do you," Shawn paused. Her mouth was moving faster than her head and she considered her words, but didn't change her mind. "Do you want to come in? You can have tea with me or there's beer."

"Your boyfriend won't mind?"

"Did you miss the show? I'm pretty sure when someone asks you to marry them and you say no, then that same someone leaves you at a wedding that that means you're broken up."

Juice smirked, suddenly feeling a little bit better, and put his head down to hide it. They were broken up and she was inviting him inside. Maybe he hadn't totally lost her afterall. A new wave of confidence came over him and he headed over to the steps.

"Sure hope the ring is returnable," Juice joked.

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Some aren't," Juice shrugged.

"Gee, thanks. I feel even shittier now," Shawn said and went back inside.

"Sorry," Juice said and followed her. He shut the door and looked around. "Wow, it looks... Exactly the same."

"You thought I'd change everything in just a year?"

"No, but you didn't even move a picture frame."

"I'm OCD, remember?"

"I know, but... damn." He walked into the kitchen and saw she had taken the water off the stove and was pouring some into a mug.

"There's beer in the fridge," she said.

"Actually, I'll take some of that," Juice told her as he sat on one of the stools at the kitchen island. She nodded and grabbed another mug from the cabinet. She fixed him his tea and set the cup in front of him. "Thanks."

Shawn nodded and took a sip of her own drink. Juice watched as she leaned against the counter opposite of him instead of sitting next to him. She was looking intently at her tea and Juice wondered if she was regretting inviting him inside. He picked up his mug and took a sip. He was surprised that he liked it and took another larger sip.