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eight

eight - i'd dance just for you when the nightlight goes out

There's a treehouse in my backyard. It's been there since the eighties, so says a little knife carving in the wood. It's really strong and we used to go up there all the time when we were kids, but we soon grew out of going up there every day. I wanted to go up there more over this past summer, but Jeremy was always too busy to hang out with me, and when he did hang out with me, I felt like he was doing it out of guilt. We haven't been up here since we were fifteen.

Until now. Now, it's all dusty and there's leaves in here, but not many leaves. Jeremy's constructed a little nest out of pillows and blankets in the corner and he's strung up some battery-powered lights. He brought extra blankets to cover up with. He also brought a bag full of snacks and he managed to bring his laptop up here, so I can only think that we're going to watch movies up here. It makes my heart happy.

"I hope this is okay. It's not much, but it's for you. Happy birthday."

I smile and grab Jeremy by the face, kissing him deeply. The kiss lasts for a few moments before I pull away, smiling more than before. "It's perfect. Thank you, baby."

Jeremy seems to turn red from the nickname, but he smiles too. "You're welcome."

I crawl over to the nest and I motion for Jeremy to come snuggle up to me, which he does. We pull the extra blankets over us and I grab the snacks. Jeremy grabs the laptop and sets it right in the middle of our laps. I start to eat Cheez-Its from the box as he tries to find a movie I'd want to watch. I curl up next to him to try and gain more warmth.

"We should probably watch movies together more often." He mutters.

"You have snow days, Thanksgiving break and winter break. You should come over." I suggest.

"That's the plan." He tells me, still scrolling. He finally gives up and looks at me. "Give me a movie you like. I know I should be keeping track of the movies you like, and I know some of them, but I don't feel like watching Beetlejuice or Ghostbusters."

"We could watch Dirty Dancing..." I say, a little embarrassed of the fact that it's the movie I want to watch. It's good, though.

"I remember watching that before," Jeremy recalls. "I think it was with my mom and sister, way back then."

I know that family is a touchy subject for him, so I don't know if I want to continue this conversation. "Is it okay if we watch it?"

"Hm, yeah. It's your birthday."

Jeremy somehow pulls the movie up quickly, which is convenient for my impatient ass. He has to mess with the volume a few times, but after that, we're all good to go. I curl up to him even closer. He wraps his arm around me, which makes me smile.

-

"Do you have a marker?" I ask Jeremy after we finish the movie, expecting 'no' for an answer. But he ends up saying yes and he places a Sharpie in my hand. I scrunch up my face in confusion. "Why the fuck do you have a Sharpie in your pocket?"

"Don't ask questions."

I shrug. I get to my knees and I take the cap off the marker, holding it in my mouth. I dust off the wood with my sleeve. I begin to write on the wall, taking my time to make sure my handwriting is neat. After a few moments, I'm done.

"There. It says Michael and Jeremy, then November twelfth, and then a heart. So whoever has the treehouse next can see it."

"That's adorable."

"Ooh, I found a Pokémon card." I reach over and pick it up, checking the other side to see which Pokémon it is. The colors are super faded and the card feels weird, but I can make out the image of the Pokémon. "Charizard. Lit."

Jeremy looks at the card in my hands. "I think I left that in here a few years back."

"You want it?" I ask, holding it out for him to take, but he shakes his head.

"Nah, you keep it." He tells me. I smile and take my phone out. I take the case off and slip the card into there before putting it back on. "You ready to go inside?"

"Hm, yeah...it's getting cold."

We fold up the blankets and put them in the tote bag that was holding the snacks. I'll grab the trash later. Jeremy slips his laptop into the bag and then we finally take the lights down, turning them off. I stick them in the bag, then we make our way down the ladder and through the backyard. We go onto the back patio and to the sliding glass door that leads into the kitchen.

We head inside and I'm immediately met with warmth, which makes me realize how cold I must've been. I check behind me to make sure that Jeremy's there, and he is, smiling contently. I take his hand and lead us down to the basement, wishing that my mom didn't have to sleep so early so we could celebrate. She could've at least bought me a cupcake from the store. I guess the lizard is enough.

I kick off my shoes when we get downstairs and I set the tote bag in a beanbag chair. Jeremy slips off his jacket and sets it on the bag, then he takes his Converse off. He looks over at me, some sort of look in his eye. It makes me blush. I go and sit on my bed and Jeremy follows, sitting next to me.

There's a few moments of awkward silence, then I bite my lip. "Why are you looking at me like that...?"

"Do you not like it? I'll stop if you want me to."

"I'm just wondering if you're trying to seduce me or something. Because if you are, it's kinda working." I admit.

Jeremy looks kind of surprised. "Really?"

"Y-Yeah, kinda."

Jeremy laughs a cute little laugh and smiles dorkily, a blush starting to spread across his freckled cheeks. It makes me melt. I haven't seen him smile like that or laugh like that in a long time. His eyes meet mine again, and I feel myself getting lost in them. I give into the urge to kiss him, planting my lips against his.

Something escalates. I feel myself fall back onto my bed gently. My sheets surround me in ultimate warmth, accompanied with the feeling of my boyfriend now sitting on top of me. He's good at keeping me warm too. Jeremy kisses me again, more passionately than before. In between kisses, I let out a shaky moan that I would've preferred to keep to myself. I'm embarrassed, but it seems to make him kiss me harder.

When Jeremy pulls away, I feel like I lose a little piece of myself. I didn't realize how much I crave his touch and how much I need his lips smashed against my own. I prop myself up on my elbows, and that's when Jeremy takes off his shirt and discards it on my floor. His hands rest on either side of me and he gives me a smile. His eyes practically have hearts in them.

I start to feel incredibly nervous, something I've been feeling too often. I blurt out, "What if you don't like what you see?"

His lovey expression fades and he looks as nervous as I feel."I-I kinda freaked out over that too. But with me."

"I'm glad we're on the same page here..." I mumble. "I don't like being...ugly."

"You're not ugly," Jeremy scolds, yet voice is still gentle. "I'm gonna make you feel beautiful tonight and every day after." I find myself believing in what he says.

Jeremy plants a soft kiss on my forehead. I smile, feeling my face grow warm. I love him so much.

"Don't be nervous, because it's my first time too."

"Shocker." I remark.

"Shut up." Jeremy pouts. I snicker, then I pull him into yet another kiss.

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