finding you

forty four

"You should come to Seattle sometime."

"What?"

We're sprawled out on the couch together. Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging (my fav movie, okay?) is on in the background, and we're completely vegging out with chocolate and potato chips. This is my kind of night.

"I mean I'm going to be there for some weekends. Games coming up an everything... but there are parties starting already at the frat houses." He laughs a bit, as if he's afraid it sounds lame. "You, Ron and Ash should come down. Lots of people do from here, actually."

"That almost sounded enticing until you said that last part."

"What's wrong with Ron and Ash?"

"No, you saying how everyone from Growers goes to Seattle to party a lot."

"Oh." He smiles. "Not everyone. Just lots of the guys..."

I can't help but wonder if Brooke was 'one of the guys.'

"You really don't like it here, hey? I don't blame you."

Oh no. I don't want to seem like I hate it here. I don't want to come off negative at all.

"It's not that I don't like it here. I guess I just... didn't fit in with everyone as much as you did." I feel like a loser when I say it, but I'm not going to pretend I was cool in high school when I obviously wasn't. Even though Rhys says he doesn't really remember me, I know he does. I know he saw me as a loser.

"You know... it makes me feel sad that you didn't have a good high school experience. I wish I could have changed that."

"It doesn't matter, Rhys. I feel dumb always bringing it up."

"It's not dumb. High School was a big part of our lives. It definitely plays a hand in who you're becoming as you grow older. It's not dumb."

"Well, I hope that's not true. I hated who I was in high school." I realize I probably sounded pretty dark as soon as I notice his face turn more serious. Crap. He's going to think I'm still like that-all dark and messed up. "I was pretty weird." I hint a smile and his eyes soften. His hand runs along my inner thigh. It sends tickles through my body.

"I just mean it's okay to still have feelings about it, that's all. It's a small part of our entire lives, but we're still young enough for it to be big." He smiles and pulls my thigh up with his hands so my leg is stretched over his. I'm very comfortable with this.

"I get that. I guess it's a good thing you were the king of Growers High." I try to make it sound light-hearted, funny, but I can tell he doesn't feel the same way.

He smirks anyway at me and gives me a little pinch with his fingers. "You're bratty."

I giggle like a little bugger and snuggle closer to him. He seems to not know what I'm doing at first, but I can tell he's definitely entertained. He shifts his body so it's more available to me and I find myself completely melting to him.

"You cozy?" he asks. The heat from his breath hits the top of my head. He brings his hand up so it's resting on my head and he begins to gently stroke my hair.

"Mmm... very."

"Fuck, Theo... I like you."

My stomach flips in excitement. I don't respond because I honestly can't find the words. What do I say to that? Yeah, I like really like you, too. More than like you, actually. Rhys, I'm crazy about you and it's freaking me out.

"Mm? Theo." He stops stroking my hair for a moment and shifts so he's looking down at me. I leave my head resting on his chest, making him chuckle. "Is that okay?"