“You’re late,” Tony said, throwing something at me.
I like to think that if I had any sort of reflexes, I could have caught it.
But of course, that’s not the case, so a small roll of duct tape got up close and personal with my forehead.
“Tony! You ass!” I exclaimed, rubbing the site of impact as him, Casey, and Ryan laughed. I had a major impulse to stomp my foot in frustration, but then I remembered that only kindergarteners were allowed to do that.
So, I settled on walking right back out the garage door I had just arrived in.
“Jessie! Wait!” I heard Ryan call from behind me. I clenched my fists momentarily before turning toward him.
“We need your help!” Casey said, pausing for a moment as he duct taped a box shut. I bit my lip, shooting daggers over at Tony.
“There’s no way I’m going to help you guys if Tony over here is in one of his moods,” I said grumpily. I know I was being delicate and whiny, but I was seriously not in the mood to deal with Tony and his shenanigans today. I love the kid, but he annoys the hell out of me.
“Tony, are you going to pull your head out of your ass?” Ryan asked, turning toward his friend. I couldn’t help but chuckle as Tony gasped like he had just received the insult of a lifetime.
“I will if she will,” he finally said, not being able to control the smile that was trying to escape on his lips.
“There, now man up and help us,” Ryan said, grabbing onto my hand and pulling me back into the garage. I felt my flip-flops slide against the smooth concrete ground as he determinedly yanked me inside.
“Fine,” I mumbled, “Where do I start?”
“Could you run up to my room really quick and take all of the books off my shelf, and put them into this box?” Ryan asked, holding up a big, empty box. I nodded, taking it from him.
“Do you know magazines aren’t considered books?” I teased, starting to make my way into his house. I’ve been in his room, and I know that he only has a couple real books. The only thing that he would give me this massive box is for his humongous collection of magazines.
“Same thing,” he shrugged, smiling to himself.
I sighed, quickly running upstairs to his room. I caught myself looking around, his room was almost completely gutted now. I can’t believe he’s actually moving out, it always seemed like this day was so far away, and now, it’s here.
I’ve had to listen to his plans to buy a new house for years, I guess I never really considered it would happen, especially not this year. He seemed so young, only a couple months older than me. I couldn’t imagine owning a house at this age.
Going over to where he kept his treasure trove of magazines, I quickly emptied them into the box. It actually took a while, I got sidetracked looking at a few, and I wanted to make them all fit so I could do this in one trip. I didn’t exactly consider the fact of how heavy the box would be until I tried to lift it, overflowing with glossy little books.
Grunting, I finally managed to lift it up, and slowly inched my way all the way back to the garage, pausing every now and then to catch my breath. I think I must have pulled every muscle in my body getting that thing downstairs.
“Whoa, here comes superwoman,” a familiar voice said. I heard someone rush forward and gently take the box from me putting it on the floor.
Ryan walked over to me and grabbed onto my arm, holding it up, “Feel those guns!”
I laughed and pulled my arm away from Ryan, trying not to make a face at how sore they were. Mitch and Taylor had added to our “happy movers” group, and it seemed like they had brought a couple more boxes with them. “Is it just me, or are the boxes starting to multiply like bunnies?”
“It’s just stuff of Ryan’s I’ve borrowed over the years,” Mitch replied quickly, stretching like it was no big deal.
“Over what years? You guys weren’t really friends until-”
“C’mon Junebug, let’s help them tape up these last boxes,” Taylor said, grabbing my hand and pulling me over to where open boxes sat. I wouldn’t have been suspicious of her sudden force if it wasn’t for the look Mitch and Ryan exchanged.
But, I dismissed it, and focused on the fact that once again, I was being forcefully pulled somewhere. Maybe it would help if I started working out.
“When’s the mover’s van going to be here?” Tony asked, tossing the roll of duct tape up and down. I watched, momentarily mesmerized.
“Anytime now. I’m pretty sure I’ve got everything. Did my room seem pretty cleared out, Jessie?” Ryan asked, turning his beautiful green eyes my direction.
He was doing it again.
Making me feel all soft inside without even noticing it.
Ryan had a way of doing that to me, and no matter how much I tried to shove it down, I couldn’t stop myself from feeling this way.
“Uh, yeah. Just your shelves and bed frame,” I nodded, mentally shaking my head.
Focus, Jessica. I reminded myself.
Just then, like some kind of magic clockwork, the moving van pulled up Ryan’s driveway. Everyone quickly got to work stuffing the boxes and random things that were too big for the boxes into the van. Mr. Sheckler showed up, taking on the heaviest things, and even Gretchen tittered around, making sure that everything was going to be organized.
I picked up one of the last boxes, avoiding Mitch and Casey’s path as they struggled to carry a big, long box.
Again, I was stupid enough to get one of the heaviest ones. I heaved up and managed to lift it, suddenly determined to get this stupid thing into the van. It was all going okay until I felt the last of my energy drain, and the box started slowly slipping from my fingers.
“Jessie!” Ryan exclaimed, running forward and gripping his hands under mine, “Are you trying to get a hernia?”
I frowned at him as he tightened his grip on me, and the two of us made our way to the van without any further hitches.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, making him laugh. He reached over and pulled me in for a hug.
“This is weird,” he said, rocking us lightly back and forth for a moment. I took full advantage of how close he was and wrapped my arms around him, looking up at his smooth face, “I’m moving out. You’re moving out…”
“I’m not exactly moving out, just moving most of my stuff to a dorm room,” I replied, picturing the dorm rooms they had at USC. Right now, I can’t imagine sharing a space that small with another person.
“You’ll come back a lot, right?” he asked, letting me go as the last box was loaded. I smiled up at him, giving him a playful punch.
“To see you? No. Why would I want to do that?” I teased. Ryan tried his best to frown, picking me up like a baby and walking dangerously near a sprinkler.
I shrieked like a little girl and gripped my arms around his neck, kicking my legs in an attempt to wiggle free.
Yeah, it’s definitely time I started working out again. You’d think that surfing would make me stronger, but all it ever did was make me tired. No muscle gain at all.
“Ryan! Stop threatening Jessie and let’s get going!” Casey called from his car, everyone was already on their way to Ryan’s new house. Ryan and I glanced at each other, and just then, I thought I saw something. I thought…
Maybe he was going to kiss me.
But then, someone honked their horn, and Ryan rolled his eyes.
Wordlessly, he carried me all the way down his sidewalk to where he had parked his car and practically tossed me into the passenger seat. I landed with an oof, but was able to secure my seatbelt before he peeled out of his street right after Casey.
When we finally got to Ryan’s house, I couldn’t help but look up at it in an almost reverent way. It was big, It was beautiful. And it was all his.
“Can you imagine the parties?” Taylor asked, gripping my hand as the two of us made our way into the house. Casey’s boxes were already inside, yesterday had been our day to help Casey pack. That’s why I stalled all the way to Ryan’s house today, I didn’t feel like experiencing packing with the three stooges again.
Everyone congregated in the new living room, and then the whole job started all over again. Mr. Sheckler commanded everyone outside, and we all went to work moving the boxes to their appropriate places.
“Junebug, come outside and help me test the chlorine levels of the pool!” Casey said, and once again, I found myself being dragged to a new destination.
The view outside was almost breathtaking, his house was beautifully perched on a scenic hill. “This is gorgeous,” I mumbled, turning to Casey. He was bent over the pool, quickly taking the tests. I had a feeling he didn’t really need my help. But I didn’t care that he had pulled me out here.
I’m really going to miss Ryan, I’m going to miss everyone. But with Ryan, there’s so many things left unsaid. I’m scared about going to college, even though it’s only about an hour’s drive away. I don’t know what I’m going to do without my security-blanket friends.
I just wish I could have the guts to tell Ryan how I really feel before I leave next month. Right now, it was looking bleak. I can’t imagine leaving him behind with an awkward moment hanging on our memories.
“Jessica? Jessie?” Casey put his hand on my shoulder, shaking me back to the present. I took a deep breath in.
“Yeah?”
“I’m done, let’s go back inside,” he said, placing his hand on my back and gently steering me back inside. Everyone was spread around the kitchen, the job of moving the boxes in was finally done.
Tony was laying straight across the counter, a big piece of cardboard that must have been on one of the boxes was sitting on his face. I don’t know if someone had put it there to shut him up, or if he had put it there to try and rest. Either seemed highly probable.
“Ugh,” Ryan mumbled, “I totally don’t want to unpack all this shit.”
“Wasn’t your mom going to stay and help you?” Mitch asked, leaning against the fridge. Ryan nodded, put rubbed his face.
“Yeah, that was until my dad came. She said she’ll come back tomorrow. But then, of course, my dad left right after her,” he replied.
“Which reminds me that I have to get going, it’s family dinner night,” Taylor said, adjusting the roxy hat she was wearing.
“She’s my ride home,” Mitch said as Taylor came over and hugged me.
“Someone’s going home!?” Tony exclaimed, popping right up, “To sleep?!”
Taylor sighed, “C’mon Tony, I’ll give you a ride home.”
Tony hopped out the door quickly, Mitch following close behind as they all said their goodbyes. Casey turned to Ryan and I, “I need to go shopping for shampoo and body wash, I’ll see you guys later.”
And just like that, Ryan and I were alone, in his big, new house.
“Hey, I’ll help you unpack,” I said, feinting chipperness. Ryan grinned, shaking his head. Who knew moving was this tiring? This makes me totally dread the day I have to move all my stuff to college.
“Thanks, Jessie,” he said, wrapping an arm around me and leading me up the stairs, “I know exactly where we’ll get started.”
Ryan led me to a room that was about the size of a bedroom, it even had its own closet. A couple boxes were situated right in the middle of the walls, there were only three of them.
“Ooh, what are you going to use this room for?” I asked, both of us going over to the boxes and kneeling by them. Ryan had a secret smile on his face, and he placed his hands on a box.
“Just open the boxes,” he said. I frowned at him a moment, feeling a small wave of confusion wash over me.
“What?”
He pointed at the box in front of me. I slowly opened it, getting into a mini-brawl with the tape that had secured it so tightly closed. Ryan laughed at me, which didn’t make me feel any better.
Finally, I got it open and peered inside.
“What the…” I pulled my journal out of the box, looking at it and Ryan quizzically.
“Keep going,” Ryan grinned, I was incredibly confused at this moment. He looked almost… nervous?
I reached into the box again and brought out…
My favorite lamp?
My perfume bottles?
My old-fashioned radio?
“Ryan,” I paused, holding them in my arms, “What is this?”
Ryan took a deep breath and crawled beside me.
“I don’t think I’m ready for you to go away yet,” he said slowly, I was aware of the fact that he had placed his hand on my knee, it tingled all the way down to my toes. “I figured, if you kept some of your stuff here, you’d have a reason to come back as much as possible.”
I stared at him a moment, unsure of what all of this meant in the big picture. Surely, he was kidding about me actually keeping my stuff here, but the look he was giving me was the most serious one I’ve ever received from him.
“You… My stuff…” I mumbled, trying to link it all together in my head.
Suddenly, Ryan’s hand on my knee pressed behind the small of my back, pulling me close to him. I felt his warm lips clash against mine in a frenzied, but short kiss.
“I couldn’t let you leave for USC without telling you how I feel, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity,” he breathed, eyes completely naked. His hand was still on my back, timidly resting there, waiting for what I would do next.
I felt a grin spread across my face, “I’ll come back home every day if it means coming back to this.”
I wrapped my hand around his neck and pulled him back to me, feeling his warmth spread through my whole body. His arms secured around me, smoothing his hands down my back.
Even though we were already pressing against each other, I ached to have him even closer. My free hand grasped at the back of his shirt, hugging him tight with my arm.
I never wanted to let him go, and the way he was holding me, I felt safe to know he was thinking the same thing. His kisses trailed down my neck as I watched the fan on the ceiling, suddenly thinking that nothing had ever looked so beautiful to me before. I’ll remember that pasty white fan forever.
I couldn’t stand being without his lips on mine another moment, I grabbed his chin softly and pulled his face back up to my lips, becoming completely mesmerized with the way his mouth worked against mine.
He was overwhelming, my head felt light, and my spine felt like it was being poked by tiny little pins, but I hugged him closer, nonetheless.
Suddenly, a thought popped into my head.
“Wait,” I said, pulling away breathlessly, we both took a moment to breathe, even though he didn’t completely stop. He placed tiny kisses on my jaw, my temple, my nose as I pulled my thoughts together. They had turned to mush in the past couple seconds. “Did everyone know about this?”
He nodded, a full grin spreading across his face, “Taylor and Mitch went over to your house as soon as you went to go get my magazines. I knew it would take you a while to get them all together.”
I felt my mouth open in slight shock, he reached over and pecked the corner of my mouth, “And when Casey asked me to help him with the pH-”
“We moved the right boxes up here,” he replied. I felt myself chuckle in his arms, and rested my head on his shoulder for a moment before I could look back up at him.
“You’re amazing,” was all I could say before I pulled him in for another kiss.
No matter what happens, or where we move, I know Ryan and I will always have that connection.
Am I nervous about going to USC?
No.
Because I know that no matter what, I’ll always have him to come home to.
