jayden
"good morning," annie said, drowsily, her eyes barely open.
"hey."
"how did you sleep?"
we had gone for dinner the night before, and annie and i had spent the whole night glancing across the table at each other and passing napkin notes between us. when we got back to her house, it was late, and we retreated to her room to watch movies. we had ended up with our legs intertwined, and annie had laid her head on my chest while i ran my fingers through her hair.
"good." i propped myself up on my elbow and studied her for a minute. i couldn't help but notice the freckles on her nose, and the way her eyes fluttered as if she was dreaming. the sun pouring in through the windows fell lightly over her, and her hair fell so perfectly around her. she was extraordinary.
"hi," she whispered scooting closer to me. i smiled and brushed my fingers across her cheek.
"hello." and then she giggled and i was breathless, and in awe.
"can- uhm- can i kiss you?"
"yeah, of course."
and so she kissed me, and she tasted like toothpaste and coconut lip balm and annie. i wrapped my arm around her waist and laid down beside her, and she hooked her leg between mine to pull me closer.
i whined a little bit when annie pulled away, and she giggled, but proceeded to press kisses along my cheek and down to my jawline. she slowly brushed her hand into my hair and let the other fall to my waist, before lightly kissing my neck.
"do you wanna do anything today?" annie asked, her lips leaving a trail across my collarbone.
"maybe we could just- maybe- talk?"
"oh yeah," she leaned back up to my face and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, "about what?"
just then there was a knock at the door, and annie quickly rolled away from me.
"good morning, girls," annie's mom chimed, walking in with a camera.
"hey, mom."
"what are your plans for the day?" annie looked at me before shrugging and sitting up.
"maybe just go to starbucks or something. what do you think jayden?"
"oh yeah- that sounds good."
i didn't know why the sudden space between us made my heart twist, but it did. and i think annie felt it too, because a few minutes later, when the camera was off and her mom was gone, she laced her fingers with mine and laid her head on my shoulder.
"i'm sorry."
"for what?"
"that it's like this. i just- my mom isn't like that. and i don't know i'm ready to, you know."
and the way she looked at me was worth more than anything.
it was as if i was her safe space.
"and that's okay. i don't need more than this if you're not ready."
"but uhm- i do have a question."
"shoot," i said, running my fingers across her spine.
"are we uhm, like, dating? like i don't really know how you wanna do things because we have people to see and places to go and i don't know when i'll be ready and obviously when you'll be ready and it's-" i cut her off with a gentle kiss.
"stop rambling," she giggled and rolled over, "i would love that. we'll talk about more when we're ready. but if it's just us right now then it's just us. don't worry about the rest."
"so, does that mean," annie trailed off, and i knew she wouldn't say it first.
"girlfriends?"
she let out a soft laugh and a small smile crept across her face.
"that one," she said, before kissing my forehead and wrapping me in a tight hug.
