collection of love

my neighbor

i sat on the edge of my roof staring at my phone.

i texted her over 20 minutes ago, what's taking her so long?

suddenly i hear her window open and she sits down across from me on her roof. she smiles and opens her mouth, "sorry i took so long, i had some unpacking to do."

i nodded showing her i understood and i proceeded to ask her how she's been at university.

i hadn't seen her in forever since she left for school. it's been almost three months, it's her first time home since then.

"...and my chemistry professor is really on my back about this assignment we- are you listening?" she caught my attention with that last sentence and i looked up at her rosy face.

the night was a bit chilly and i saw her hold her arms close to her body, she looked cold.

"hm? yeah sorry, i was out of it." i carefully took off the sweatshirt i was wearing and handed it to her, making sure it didn't fall through the space between our houses.

"you looked cold." i smiled as i handed her my navy jacket. she thanked me and put it on with no hesitation. i told her to continue with her story and i proceeded to listen.

"anyway my chem teacher told me to start going to the tutor classes after school. and i met this boy.."

i shot my head up and listened more intently, trying not to let the jealously display on my face.

"well i didn't really meet him, he's my tutor and he's super smart, a genius even." she had this dazed look on her face when she talked about him. she closed her eyes and sighed, "but if i ever tried anything with him it would never work. he's a senior and i just started out university."

i rested my weight on my hands behind me and kept my mouth shut. she continued to talk about how sweet this boy was and how he'd go out of his way to help her with chemistry.

"i saw him at a frat party a couple of days ago and he asked me out on a date." i clenched my hands and prayed my envy wouldn't get the best of me.

"w-what did you say?" my throat was dry and trying to get the words out was difficult. she looked at my eyes, her face expressionless.

"no, obviously. i told you, nothing could ever happen. i have to focus on my studies. but oh god i wish i could just kiss his perfect face, did i tell you he can speak 5 languages? how amazing right?" she proceeded to blabber on about him again.

**

i checked my phone for the time, 2:34am.

she's been talking about him for over 2 hours. she never talks this much. she stopped and the only noise that filled the air was the soft wind.

"oh it's late isn't it? do you want to go to bed? i'm sorry i've probably been rambling, it's just i have no one to talk to at university." she looked sad, embarrassed even.

"wait no no no, i was just checking the time." she nodded and asked me something i did not want to answer.

"so what do you think? about the guy? should i just abandon my morals and go on a date with him? and had the most exotic name, damiar, i think it's french." she smiled unknowingly of the pain residing inside of me.

"oh well i don't know." i honestly didn't know what else to say other than, "hey charlotte i've been in love with you since we were 7, can you please return the feelings?"

"you're not adding much input in, are you okay? you usually always have something to say." she looked genuinely concerned. i just nodded.

she got up off her roof and walked to me, i got up too seeing where this was going. i helped her over the space between our houses making sure she didn't fall.

charlotte sat next to me and rested her head on my shoulder. she always knew how to make me feel better even when she was unaware of it.

"riley?" i responded with a hm and turned my face down to look at her. her green eyes looked back at mine, i found it hard to catch my breath.

"i missed you." her soft words filled my ears and all i could do was smile, i hugged her closer to me and whispered, "me too."

**