Phrase

•|Reassurance|•

Chapter 2

Soon enough Jenni takes the opportunity to leave the house and make it over to Archie's. Once she makes it to the tall house, she parallel parks up to the curb and gets out of her car. To her surprise, Archie is already at the door waiting for her. He pushes the door open once she's close enough and impatiently allows her inside.
"Hey, Jen." The tall boy greets, and Jenni turns around.
"Hey, Archie.." she says and gingerly goes to take a seat on the family couch.
"Ah, wait-" Archie interrupts, causing Jenni to stand back up and question his sudden concern.
"Let's go to my room for now. My folks will be home soon enough and I don't want them to interrupt. That sound okay??"
Jenni eases her brow and drops her shoulders, her confusion sliding off of her like a silky windbreaker. She just nods in response.
To that Archie throws an arm, motioning for Jenni to follow him upstairs. The two then make their way through the sleek and comfortable house and up to Archies room. While walking up the stairs, though, something is brought to Jenni's attention.. A small, yet simple photo hung crooked on the wall leading up the stairwell. In a closer look, within the frame is a photo of young Archie and an adult man, looking to be maybe in his late 30's.
"Hey- who's this?" Jenni abruptly stops, pulling a hand up to the glass of the frame and placing a finger over the mans face.
At call, Archie turns around and jumps back down the stairs to Jenni's side, leaning down and looking at the photo.
"Oh- that's... my uncle." Archie swallows, " He died a few years back.." Archie further explains, "He practically raised me.. But that's in the past now, let's go."
After Archie explains who this man was to him, a brief wave of empathy runs over Jenni before she decides to just purse her lips together and move on with no further questions. Jenni looks at the man in the photo a few seconds longer, though, before clearing her throat and turning away to face a confuzzled Archie.
"Yeah... let's go.." Jenni finally agrees and she continues to follow the speedy Archie the rest of the way up the stairs.
After the two make it up, they shove through the creaky wooden door of the bedroom and make themselves quite awkwardly comfortable.
"So, Jen.." What did you want to talk about..?" Archie asks, dropping down and now spinning in his wheely computer chair.
"Archie, I know you aren't dumb. You were there last-night to see what happened."
The tall blonde boy cocks an eyebrow, stopping in motion to cross his arms, "Your Phrase? You're really concerned about that?"
Jenni's face falls expressionless a moment, and she just rolls her eyes, nodding. "Yes. Yes I am. Now please-" she bites her cheek, a faint anger climbing up her breast.
Archie throws his hands up in defeat, shaking his head and shifting loudly, "Okay, okay. Explain yourself then. The floor is yours, madam."
Jenni takes her time to exhale, gathering the running thoughts in her head, "Well, I'm just.. I'm just worried."
Jenni slumps onto the floor, her calves tucking under her and her torso slouching towards the floor as she takes the impact of the fall. She puts her hands to her face.
"I just feel like I had a sick joke played on me.." she starts to speak into her hands, "Is my soulmate really going to meet me one day and then call me an immediate asshole for something?? Something I'm not even aware of yet??"
Archie raises a brow and looks down at his lifelong friend, his mouth partially agape in confusion. "Jen, I-"
"Can I change the outcome somehow?" Jenni cuts Archie off, suddenly whipping her head back up, eyes wide.
To the movement, Archie subconsciously begins to knit his freshly made expression from before, into one of mild irritation.
"Jenni." He calls out, his vocals tight.
"Maybe I can go out and just- or try-"
"JENNI!" Archie shrills a final time before launching his body from his chair and grabbing Jenni by the shoulders, then pulling her to face him by the tip of her chin, straightening her gaze so that the two instantly lock pale eyes. "You'll be just fine, okay?" he reassures, simply then giving out one of his overly contagious grins. One of the grins that's always said 'everything is gonna be okay'.
"Right..You're right.." Jenni dismisses, pulling away from Archie and holding one arm in the other. "I'm just.."
"Worried, I know." Archie finishes, bobbing his head a tad. To close, though, Archie brings up his fist before the girl, cupping it and holding it out for a fist-bump.
"Peanutbutter and Jelly?" he passively chuckles, referring to their childhood nicknames.
Jenni looks up then, a smirk passing her lips as she lazily places her knuckles against his and mimicks, "Peanutbutter and Jelly" before falling into the boys arms and squeezing his torso in a hug.