My phone vibrated against my desk. A tiny bit of happiness filtered through when I saw it was Hayley.
“Hey, Hay.”
“Hey, how are things tonight?” Hayley was whispering through the phone, and I had no idea why. I glanced at the clock. It was after ten, so maybe Ann was asleep.
“Things are the same. Jason has barely come out of his room unless my parents drag him out to talk.” I sighed, flopping onto my bed. “He still won’t talk to me. I don’t know, but I will say it still feels like we’re on the verge of World War III in our house.”
Hayley laughed. “We all miss you at school. Ollie walks around like a lost puppy. I can’t believe your parents are having you stay home.”
Ah, yes. My parents decided to keep me home for a few days until they sorted things out. Why? I had no idea. I guess they were afraid that people would find out that not only was Jason a troublemaker, but their precious, straight
-laced daughter wasn’t the princess they thought she was, either.
“I know,” I huffed. “But they were so angry with me that I didn’t even argue. I did, however, almost go to school today just to spite them.” Hayley laughed again. “But seriously, things are weird here, Hayley. So weird.” My stomach dipped with nerves, thinking back to this morning when I crept downstairs to find my mom and dad arguing. It was rare. Not the arguing, but just them being in the kitchen on a Wednesday morning. They didn’t say a word as I grabbed some orange juice and a granola bar. When I went back upstairs, my nerves coiled tight, I stopped in front of Jason’s door only to hear nothing at all. When I peeked inside, I saw him sitting on the edge of his bed with his head hung low. I was certain he knew I was standing there, but he wouldn’t turn in my direction. He was icing me out.
At first, I was pissed that he wouldn’t talk to me. Part of me wondered if he was angry with me, but once I’d talked to Ollie later that day, he helped me realize that Jason was probably ashamed. He was mad at himself, not me.
Ollie. I missed him. I wanted things to go back to normal—well, semi-normal. I wanted the freedom of seeing him when I wanted.
“Why are things weird?” Hayley asked, still whispering.
“I’m just confused. My parents won’t tell me much, and I’m too afraid to ask. Jason won’t talk to me.” I slowly sat up on my bed and tucked my damp hair behind my ears. “I have a bad feeling, and I can’t shake it.”
“You know what I think you need?”
“What?”
I could tell Hayley was smiling. “I think you need your best friend…and your boyfriend.”
I do. Ollie and I had talked every day since Saturday. In fact, we talked so long on Sunday night that we both fell asleep on the phone. We had a lot to say. He filled me in on what was going on with his dad and Christian, and I filled him in on everything going on at my house. He dropped off my homework yesterday and gave me a quick peck on the lips before leaving me at the door before my parents came.
It only made me miss him more.
I hated to admit it, but part of me felt like I needed him. I needed him to lean on. I needed him to ground me. The thought scared me, because I was so used to being on my own, but it was kind of nice having someone as a clutch. Having someone you could lean on.
“I wish things weren’t like this right now,” I said. “I want things to go back to normal, before I got involved with my brother’s shit and Tank.”
All of a sudden, I heard a deeper voice. “But you mean, like, you want them normal, except for you still want us to be us, right?”
I almost squealed. “Ollie! What are you doing with Hayley? Are you guys all hanging out without me?” My lip jutted out. It was agonizing that I wasn’t with them.
“Open your balcony door, Pipe.”
My heart halted. “What?”
“We’re coming in to hang. Did you really think I could go this long without touching you? That kiss yesterday was a tease.”
I smiled so hard my face hurt. My phone fell from my hand as I jumped up onto my carpet. The balcony door pushed open slowly, and I slapped my hand over my face as I saw three smiling faces staring back at me. Oh my God. I love my friends.
And Ollie. I loved Ollie. The feeling that blossomed when I saw his lifted cheek was life-altering. That was what love was, right?
Ollie was the first to jump from the tree limb to my balcony. His arms wrapped around me almost instantly, the breeze of the cool January air coating my bare arms. “Hi,” I breathed into his chest.
“Hey, you,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “I missed you.”
Content. That was what I felt being in his arms. One hundred percent content and full. He filled me up.
“Move, dipshit.” I peeked over and heard Christian scoff at our embrace. He was the next to jump and then Hayley. Christian tried to reach over and grab her, but she swatted his hand away and rolled her eyes. So independent.