where the water meets the moon | e.d.

fifty-four

ethan

every night that i spend with addison, we dig deeper and deeper into random topics or things about ourselves.

there's no doubt i could tell the girl anything, and she wouldn't even bat an eye. just listen.

she's great like that.

july 17, 1:37 am

"i'm not going to stop until you give me attention," she warns, still poking my side every couple of seconds.

i simply laugh, still focused on squinting down at the notebook in my hands and trying to write out my letters for the week. i forgot to do them earlier, and i have to get them done before tomorrow afternoon, since it's a hands-on day for research and i'll have no time then.

"how can you even see in this lighting?" she questions, looking up at the small flood lights on the overhead roof of the deck.

"i try my best," i mumble, my hand moving swiftly across the page as i try to explain to my brother what a hookah system is.

"ethan, seriously," she insists, taking the pen from my hands and holding it away from me when i try to grab it. "i'll even wake you up early tomorrow to finish them, but i miss you."

"i'm right here," i motion down to my body.

"i know. but i just... miss you."

it was a rough day for all of us.
kendall was in an amazing mood, causing her to be all over me and never leaving my side. addy got into a quarrel with avery about him not anchoring up fast enough, and evan just didn't see many birds from his chair today.

i lean in like i'm going to kiss her, and she smiles and lets her eyes close. but instead, i use that as my time to yank the pen back from her hands and continue with my writing.

she scoffs. "what was that for?"

"because i'm busy."

"okay, fine. should i just sit here?"

i side eye her. "that would be preferred."

she sighs out dramatically and begins to whistle like she's bored. i shake my head, trying to conceal a smile as i continue on with my writing.

then she sighs again, this time louder, leaning her head towards me more.

"shhh," i nudge it away gently with my arm.

i give it maybe 15 seconds before she's sighing again, this time practically throwing her head into my lap and on top of my paper, looking up at me with playful eyes.

"fine," i finally say and pull the notebook out from under her head, only to discard it to the side.

her face beams, and she immediately sits back up, curling into my side and hugging me tightly.

"never pinned you for the clingy type," i say only half-joking.

"i'm not," she sing-songs. "but kendall was extra handsy today and it made me sad."