Wish Upon A Star

Two

What does he mean there are no people around? Where are my parents? Why are we the only two left? Questions flooded my mind and the back-and-forth motion never stopped as I continued to panic. What if I never see them again? I stopped rocking as realization started sinking in that we might be the only two people here forever in this strange version of Earth. A small tear made its way from my eye down to my cheek and that's when Xavier decided he had had enough of watching me break down. He gently grabbed my arms with his and lifted me wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him. 

"Dyl, stop being such a sad sack" I tried to scoff but I ended up choking on my saliva. After a few more seconds I looked up at him, tear-stained face and all, and said "I'm sorry not all of us handle the news of people disappearing so well" I said before shrugging out of his grasp and moving towards the living room. I quickly wipe my tears with the back of my hand as I stare at our neighbor's house. Huh, it was just yesterday I was watching my neighbor's teenage son fall off his skateboard right there. I sighed at the memory "I'm sorry Dyl" Xavier said from behind me. I could tell he was having a hard time deciding if he should give me space or embrace me. "It's okay, and I'm sorry I yelled at you... I'm happy you're here. " I said, opening my arms to show him I wanted a hug. He smiled at me and ran towards me a little like he didn't want to. Dragging his feet and all, thence finally reached me and lifted me a little and spun me around. I giggled a little and punched his arms lightly "Okay yeah, you can put me down now". He rolled his eyes and set me down lightly, my feel landing with a soft thud. 

I fixed my shirt, "Thank you..." The words died on my lips, Xavier was looking at me with that look. He probably had no idea he was doing it but it was like he was effortlessly staring into my soul. Trying to unravel different layers of me so he could see all of me. It's the look where his eyes are trained on my every movement, never missing a beat but never forgetting to blink. The warmth radiating from his body and the light smell of his everyday cologne made me realize how close I was to him. My hands started feeling sweaty, I hated it when he did this. Well only a part of me did not dislike it. You know how when you become best friends with a guy and everybody expects you guys to date because really, why not? 

But it all just sounded good, it usually never ended well. And yeah we watched each other grow up, so I saw him at his adorable geeky moments when we were ten, but it also means I was there for the puberty stage. I'm not saying he was ugly or anything, but when puberty did that, that's when my crush for Xavier that I had been keeping under the carpet spilled all over the floor and I knew I was screwed. Yes, I had a crush on my best friend, it was allowed. It was the dating part that's just a little...less acceptable. 

My heart raced a little as I found myself having those thoughts again. I tried pushing the thoughts to the back of my head because the last thing I needed right now standing so close to him was thoughts of him in that way. Thoughts of how our lives would be if I decided to make the first move and conquer my fears and gently grab his face and look at his boyish smile and pull his face to mine to capture his soft lips. At least I imagine his lips would be soft. Xavier tilted his head a little lower and that's when I realized I was probably staring. 

He reached his hand out towards my face slowly and my stomach erupted with volcanoes at the thought of his touch. He cupped my face with his one hand and moved a stray lock of hair out of my face behind my hair. "There," he said, smiling. "Now you look a lot less like a monster" I rolled my eyes and pushed him away "Whatever," I said and walked to the long mirror. The morning sun beating down on my skin, I sighed, I could say the sun was what made me feel so warm hoping he wouldn't catch on. 

I hate having these thoughts. A part of me enjoys letting my little fantasy run wild with thoughts of the two of us finally being together. A confession sounds so easy when you're not worried about destroying a seventeen-year-old friendship.

"Come on Dylan, let's go outside and play with the other kids," Xavier said, tugging me towards the door I scrunched up my face but let him tug me "There are no other kids, you are the only kid here" I replied "Exactly," He said with a smile "And besides, we have the whole world to ourselves"