Thieving Florida

chapter 18

The rest of the night went by in a blur.

We got home quickly since Aj was super paranoid. I would have teased him, but my heart wasn't in it.

Marisa had been so happy about getting out and spending the evening doing something normal that she hadn't noticed the ocean of tension between Xander and I. Maybe it was just me though, because Xander wasn't particularly acknowledging me in anyway.

Eden could sense it though. I noticed she would try to quietly ask him something and he would ignore her, sending her glares and being rude in the car. Eventually she gave up, but not before she gave me a quick glance and shook her head slightly. She thought I couldn't see it, but it was obvious to me.

Once we got to the damn apartment I had called dibs on taking the first shower. Once I was in, I let myself cry from the situation at hand.

I really liked him, I had come to realize. I don't know when, my emotions felt like the paint water in art class that turned a mucky brown from all the different colors. That was how I felt. Mucky, mucky brown.

Maybe it was when he helped me from being dehydrated, or maybe it was when I had kissed him for the first time. Maybe it had even been when he had challenged me to a dare.

Maybe that was why I had always come back, risking all of our safety and freedom.

But I knew that I couldn't do this without getting even more hurt it the long run. He would leave, I would go home, and life would finally turn back to normal for the both of us. But I don't want normal.

Turning the water off, I stepped out and wrapped myself in a fluffy towel. I looked at myself in the mirror, examining my new red hair closely.

It looked so different, I had barely gotten used to the short hair at first. Now I totally looked different. At least it looks good.

I brushed it and let it air dry, not caring for the blow dryer today. Once I was totally secure in my towel, I walked across the hall to Marisa's room and grabbed the pajamas she had left out for me. A white t-shirt and black cotton boxers, which are surprisingly comfortable.

Finally settling on my spot on the couch, I flipped the TV on. I was alone in the living room, Marisa and Aj going past me and into the bedroom to do god knows what. Eden had went straight to her room when we got home.

And Xander had just straight up left. He didn't go inside the apartment, just walked away. Aj hadn't been happy, but Xander muttered something that made Aj shut up.

I knew this routine, yet I still hadn't been ready for it. For God's sake, it had barely been a day that we had gotten along!

Shaking my head from those thoughts, I settled on animal planet's Too Cute! to cheer me up. Without prevail, I witnessed the growth of Maltese puppies, Saint Brenards, and Tea Cup Poodles. It was adorable.

Not wanting to stay up too late, I turned the TV and lights off and curled up into a ball on the couch. Sleep came easily, but slipped away just the same. I was in and out of sleeping all night, never truly getting too long into it.

Morning came, totally taking away sleep from me for the rest of the day. I yawned, stretching and twisting different ways.

But with nothing to do, I stared at the wall and counted the bricks.

1... 2... 3... 4...

89... 90... 91... 92...

234... 235... 236... 237....

"Jes!" I heard Marisa yelled. I jumped up, startled by her appearance.

She laughed at my reaction. "Not funny, I lost my brick!"