Stage Fright

Chapter 12 ~ The Sleepover

Heather

Last night had been so much fun, it had been a long time since I'd let loose and really felt happy with another person. Josh was my rock, always available when I needed a friend or a laugh. He was sweet to a tee and always willing to help me.

We practiced pretty late, I texted Zeke that I had a bunch of homework to do so he wouldn't try and come over. I hated what Taylor said but I hated that I gave into it way more. Things were going to be weird when I saw him again and I wanted to forget about it for one night.

That was what was so amazing about being friends with Josh, eventually we gave up on the practice and he started to show me songs that he liked on his Spotify. He had pretty great taste, most of it was relaxing music, some of it was nostalgic. Everything was so easy with him, he made me feel really comfortable being myself.

I can feel the sun shining into my eyes and I roll over, knowing I hadn't heard my alarm yet and I wanted to settle back into a decent sleep until I had to wake up and face the world. I roll over but I run into something, I'm laying on something pretty firm.

I squint my eyes open and see Josh, dead asleep next to me. I instantly freak out, I didn't leave last night. We must have fallen asleep talking, he was so nice to talk to and I didn't want it to end. Clearly neither did he. I sigh and kick myself silently for staying here, but it was one of the most relaxed nights I'd had in a while.

I watch him for a minute, guys are so adorable when they're asleep. I'd never gotten to do this before, I'd had seven boyfriends and not one of them was worth talking with until I fell asleep. I'd never just fallen asleep with a guy before.

Part of me felt guilty for doing it when I was with Zeke, but there wasn't anything romantic about it. Just two friends, no different than sleeping next to Julia when she slept over. But we were definitely close, no question. I was tucked in against him pretty good.

Josh had really grown into his features since middle school. He lost the braces and the baby weight, he had a great jawline and amazing olive skin. It was incredible that puberty could do that to a person, some girl would be so lucky to have him. Watching him now he was absolutely silent, lips parted slightly.

I should be moving away but very rarely did anybody hold me close. I liked that we were this close again already, that he cared about me.

Something I've done seems to have disturbed him, he stirs slightly and tries to stretch but I'm weighing down his right arm. He stops mid move and squints his eyes open with a chuckle.

"Heather." He remarks and I sit up, avoiding the embarrassment of being caught staring.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep last night." I cover immediately and he smiles.

"You were starting to nod off around one a.m. I offered to let you stay instead." He tells me and I furrow my eyebrows, not remembering the encounter. 

"Sorry, shouldn't have-"

"I wouldn't have offered it if I minded Heather." He says quietly. "Besides, you were so tired I barely got the words out before you closed your eyes." He tells me and I feel my cheeks heat up. "When I fell asleep you were.....over there." He mumbles pointing to the other side of the bed and it's now that I realize I was past the halfway point between the two sides. I'd moved over here in my sleep.

"God, I didn't mean to." I tell him, getting up off of his bed and he sighs.

"I'm not upset." He assures me. "I'm sorry, maybe I should have taken you home-"

"No." I tell him waving my hands around. "I really enjoyed last night, I wouldn't change it." I mutter, gathering my things and putting my shoes on. I grab my phone and I feel my eyes widen, I had a bunch of missed calls and texts. Some from Zeke, some from Eleanor and......some from my dad. That was odd, he never texted or called me.