i don’t tell you about what happened last night as you sit next to me in my room.
“you look tired,” you say as you bring your thumb to touch my now noticeable dark circles. i swat your hand away. “you okay?” you ask.
“i’m fine,” i say, convincing myself for my own good. “are you okay?”
“yeah…”
“then i’m better than fine.”
you look at me quizzically for a few seconds. “you’re acting strange.”
“like you never have,” i snap. i regret it when i see you frown and hurt glazes your face. “sorry,” i say. “i didn’t sleep well last night…”
“why?”
i’m tempted to tell you, but afraid you’ll make a scene, i just shrug it off. “i wasn’t comfy, i guess. it was too hot and too cold, you know?”
you nod slowly. “i hate those types of nights.”
faking a laugh that sounds nothing like a laugh, i cringe afterwards.
“i think i have something that’ll lighten your spirits, though,” you say.
“what?” i ask.
you pull a colorful thread from your pocket and i notice it’s our friendship bracelet. i grin in surprise and look at you. “you found it,” i say.
you smile in response. “i did.”
“where was it?”
“it was by the swing set,” you say, smiling.
i smile at you. “of course that’s where it is,” i smirk.
you roll your eyes. “me and my forgetfulness.”
i nudge your shoulder and you nudge me back.
“things will be okay, jasper.”
“i don’t know about that yet, valerie.”
