Always You

Chapter 10

I rip off my shirt, letting the warmth from the shower steam emerge onto my arms. I look in the mirror and laugh when I spot a leaf in my hair. I pull it out and step into the burning water, letting it wash over my body. The steaming water loosens my strained muscles. I stand there, letting the water and the thoughts of the day take over me. I don't know how long I stand there just thinking without even washing myself. 

I'm awakened from my thoughts when I hear a buzz on my phone that interrupts my music. I quickly wash myself and hop out of the shower, wrapping the soft towel around my wet body. When I pick up my phone, an unknown number notification pops up. I unlock it to find Ryan's messages, the most recent one making my heart tug. 

"Hey Jade. I just wanted to thank you for tonight. I know you told me to stay away from you, but I was just really grateful that you were there with me tonight. I needed it." 

I stare at the message, my fingertips hovering over the keyboard. I don't know what to say. 

Ryan used to be my best friend, then he shut me out and hurt me so badly. But tonight it was like everything was the same. Sitting in that tree house with him gave me some hope that maybe we could be friends again, but what he did to me makes me double think. He's ditched me once, who's to say he won't do it again?

I sigh and shut off my phone, leaving it on the edge of the sink. 

I change into my pajamas I've laid out on the sink and pick up my tooth brush. Just as I'm putting it in my mouth, a loud knock on the door causes me to drop it on the floor... face down. 

"Jade! I need to get my clothes from the dryer!" My brother shouts from the other side of the door, and I roll my eyes as I pick up my toothbrush.

"Dude." I say as I open the door. "No need to scare the shit out of me, knocking politely would be nice." I shove his shoulder hard. He walks past me and opens the dryer, attempting to fit a whole load of laundry in his arms. As he walks out, a pair of underwear and shorts drops onto the bathroom floor. 

"Gross." I laugh.

"You're gross." He mocks and goes to grab the clothes he dropped. While he attempts to bend down stealthily and pick up his underwear, he ends up dropping the whole pile on the floor. 

"Dumb ass." I raise my eyebrows at him and shove the toothbrush in my mouth. 

He lets out an annoyed groan, and instead of picking them up, he stands right next to me by the sink.

"What?" I say as I watch him stare at me in confusion. 

"Why do you look like that?" His eyebrows scrunch as he examines my face. 

"Look like what?" I ask in confusion, the toothbrush halfway in my mouth and the toothpaste foaming on my lips. 

"I don't know, you just look different. Almost happy." He teases. 

"Shut up, I'm always happy." 

"No I'm serious. What happened to you?" He says and pinches my cheeks. "You actually look like a human being now." 

"Get out Aiden." I roll my eyes and continue brushing my teeth. He laughs and successfully picks up the laundry on the ground. As he's exiting, he looks at me one more time and says, "Whatever it is, keep it up. It looks good on you." 

I shove him out and close the door. 

When I look at myself, I notice a bit of pink in my cheek. A natural small smile is on my lips, even with a toothbrush in my mouth. My eyes look softer, happier even. I spit the toothpaste out of my mouth and turn on the water, letting it run over the bristles.