Pretty Boy (boyxboy)

Chapter Forty Six

My body jerks from it's sleepy state as I feel my phone begin to vibrate in the pocket of my shorts. I don't remember falling asleep but it must not have been long, as the movie that Jamie and I were watching is just now playing it's end credits on her television screen. 

I groan as I sit up, careful not to wake JJ. 

"Hello?" I mumble groggily into the phone. 

"Matthew! Where are you?"

I jump at my mother's harsh tone and rub my eyes to wake myself up.
"I told you I was going to see Jamie before I had to leave."

"That was hours ago. You're father is here." 

My eyes widen and I jerk my phone away from my ear, checking the time to see it's nearly ten minutes til seven. I mumble a curse word under my breath.
"Sorry, I didn't realize how long I'd been gone. We fell asleep." 

She sighs heavily. 
"Just get over here as quickly as possible, please." 

"I'm on my way." I tell her before hanging up and sliding out of Jamie's small bed. 

I hear her groan as I stand up and begin to stretch and she sits up.
"So this is it?"

I give her a sad look as I lean back down and hug her tight.
"I promise I'll come back. I don't know when yet, but I will. I love you." 

I feel wet droplets fall from her cheeks and into the crook of my neck and she nods against me.
"I love you too, Matty."

She sniffs and releases me from her grip, giving me a meek smile. 
"I don't have the heart to walk you out of here."

I nod and let out a small laugh.
"It's okay. I'll text you when we land." 

She nods again and waves to me one last time as I exit her room and close her door behind me. Walking away from her, and knowing that this could be the very last time I see her for a long time pains me more than anything in the whole world. She has become my best friend, my family, and everything else in between. 

I take a deep breath before finally making my way back down the hall and into the living room of the small apartment. Part of me wants to slow down time, and maybe go back and find Nate and get the chance to tell him goodbye, but the other half wonders if he would even care. And if he did, would that even change things? Probably not. But I can't deny that the thought has crossed my mind more than once. 

"Matt." 

I jump at his voice, and turn around.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't know you were in here." 

He stands up from his seat on the couch in the dark room and I watch him make his way over toward me, the dim light from the kitchen washing over his chiseled features beautifully. 

He stuffs his hands in his back pockets and stands awkwardly. 
"So, you're really leaving, huh?"

I swallow and nod slowly.
"Jamie told you?" 

"No." He shakes his head. "I overheard you earlier." 

"Oh."

He pulls his hands from his pockets, holding out a folded piece of paper toward me. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.
"What is that?"

"It's a letter. I want you to have it." 

I watch his eyes warily as they plead with mine sadly. I finally nod and gently take the paper from his hands, our fingers brushing together momentarily. 

"Don't read it until you get to the airport, okay?"

"Why?"

He shrugs.
"Just don't. Please?"