I Missed You- Kleinsen (deh)

Jared

Heck

"So then we started just talking about stuff, like college and, ya know, jazz-"

"Of course."

"-then she was like 'we're stalling' and stuff, so then I started to explain but then she was saying about how she felt the same way-"

"Oof."

"-and then we got up and made a pinky promise that we were good and we left."

"You literally said the word 'then' like five times."

"Will you shut up Jared?"

"Sorry."

"I'm still kinda worried about it. Like what if- what if she's really upset and just faking it?"

"Well, you guys did make a pinky promise."

"Yeah, but like, for real."

"Dude, I'm pretty sure you could purposely run over her dog- if she had one- and she would end up forgiving you for it eventually."

Evan rolled his eyes but smiled.

He was so excited to come talk to me (naturally) that he left work without even changing. His work uniform made him look like a total dork, especially in my cool-tastic basement (note to self: never fucking say that ever again) but he is a dork, so it fits.

We sat in my couch, eating pizza and watching a random movie I found on Netflix. Neither of us were paying much attention to the movie, though. All I know is the main character's name, and that's it.

"I mean, I guess." He replied, looking down at his hands. "I think because of that and my mom acting weird this morning, my anxiety started acting up. I dunno."

"Your mom acting weird this morning?" I ask. Mrs. Hansen acts weird a lot, but that's just her. She's cool. He looked at me for a second, thinking.

"Just... mom stuff." He tried to be casual, but I could tell he was embarrassed.

"Oh come on Evey," I say leaning in really close to him. "What did your mommy do?"

"Back off!" He laughed, pushing my face away.

"Aw, come on, just tell me!" He crosses his arms, and I do the same. I stare at him directly in his eyes, and he stares back. We keep doing that for a while, until he sighs and looks away.

"Ugh, fine."

"Yay!"

"She was just saying that I was, well, changing."

"In a bad way?"

"No. Just changing and that made it look like I... liked someone?"

I look at him for a moment, blink, and then just straight up snort.

"Why the fuck would that give you anxiety?"

"And this," He said, crossing his arms again, "Is why I didn't want to tell you."

"But like, why?"

"I don't know!" He turned and faced away from me, pouting.

"Well, do you?" He turned towards me again, cheeks a little red.

"What?"

"Do you like someone?"

"No," He answered, rather quickly.

"Then there you have it- nothing to worry about." I cross my arms behind my head and lean into the couch. He didn't look too sure.

"But it's mom, she's going to make a little conspiracy about it."