oxygen (e.d.)

chapter ten

<ethan>

"so this is the kitchen," i say nervously, motioning to the room.

rowen looks around, smiling and noticing every little detail.

grayson walks into the room, eyes glued to his phone and shirtless.

"this is my twin brother, grayson," i say, "grayson, this is rowen."

"sup," he only says with a slight head nod.

"nice to meet you!" rowen says enthusiastically.

he doesn't respond, only gets a skillet from the drawer and starts making a grilled cheese.

"cat got your tongue?" i ask, annoyed at his cold silence.

"tired," he responds dryly. he can't lie to me, though.

"we're going to go watch a movie in my room," i say, pointing upstairs, "goodnight, gray."

"night."

i slightly roll my eyes and take rowen up to my room.

"this is nice," she says, lightly touching the trophies i have on my shelves.

her eyes work around the room, and i see something hanging off the edge of my bed frame, glinting in the golden sunset light.

"what's this?" she asks.

in her hand she holds a necklace.

the necklace.

"that's something i got for my old friend, ester. it's her birthday this weekend." i lie, not being able to tell the truth.

rowen frowns at it, and i furrow my brows.

"something wrong?"

"it's nothing," she says, "but i think she would like it more if it weren't so antique. also, a sun charm is always better than a moon. but its pretty, i guess."

"oh," i say softly, "i guess you're right."

i take the necklace and study it in my hands for a second before pocketing it.

"so what movie?" i ask, showcasing my selection.

"um, how about horror?"

riley hated scary movies.

i nod and she picks out insidious 2.

after i place it in the dvd player and make sure it's rolling, we settle in on my bed.

the arrangement isn't awkward, but it's not super comfortable. she sits a few inches away, shoulders almost touching.

i move my hand closer to hers throughout the movie, and i see her smile slightly every time.

by the end of the movie, my hand is laying partway on top of hers.

"that was fun," she yawns and stretches her arms, making my hand fall back on the bed.

"yeah," i say, "we should do it again sometime?" an unintentional smirk lets out with it.

"okay," she giggles, "but right now- shit- i have to go home." she says, glancing at her watch.

"why?"

"i have an interview for an internship early tomorrow," she smiles apologetically.

"that's cool. i'll take you home."

"thank you, really."

as i drive her home, i recap the night. i had a really good time.

"thanks again," she says as she gets out of the car.

"goodnight." i smile.

she grins back and closes the door.

i make sure she gets inside and waves at me before i peel out of the driveway.