Who she once was

Unknown

I woke up to the sun peaking through my windows. My legs were intertwined with Brandon and his arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I slowly pride him off of me and slipped out to the hall running down the stairs. My mom’s car was just pulling up the driveway, which meant it was still early.

I let her get inside and get breakfast going before i attacked her with my worries. My mom and i have always been really close. She’s like my best friend. I tell her pretty much everything.

And I did. I told her everything. Him changing, how arroused i got when he took off his shirt. How he pulled me into him, how we kissed, a lot. She took it all in as if she’d been waiting for me to tell her all this.

“Mom what do i do?” i finally begged.

“Skylar, you guys aren’t little kids anymore. You’re 17. It’s okay to be attracted to him.” She smiled at me. “Here, have some coffee. I promise, it’s gonna be alright honey, just take it slow with him.”

She was right. We weren’t kids anymore. Brandon knows more about me then anyone else, even my mom. I guess maybe it was bound to happen at some point. Maybe it wasn’t so bad.

I could hear the faint patter of someone running down the stairs. Definitely not my dad. I braised myself to see him. What i didn’t braise myself for was his hug.

“Good morning Mrs. Merick.” He gestered towards my mother before pressing his body against my back and squeezing me in a blanket of his arms. “Morning Skylar.” He lightly kissed my cheek and i instantly felt my cheeks get red.

Mom and Brandon chatted while we all ate breakfast. Dad of course wasn’t awake yet due to coming home drunk, but for Saturday we were used to that.

I quickly scarfed down the last of my pancakes and ran up to my room. I sat on the floor, my back against my bed, just stirring in my thoughts for what felt like hours but was only 5 minutes.

Brandon came into my room and sat in front of me. He put his hand on my knee which was pulled up to my chest. I half heartedly smiled. I could tell he knew something was up. He always could.

“Talk.”

I took a deep breathe. “We did stuff. Last night. We slept all tangled in each other. You kissed me, in front of my mom.”

He cut me off. “yeah, sorry about that. I wasn’t thinking.”

I looked into his eyes, which looked sad and alone. Then quickly shot my look down to my feet. “I’m so confused, Brandon. What’s happening.”

He moved his hand from my knee to me chin, immediately giving me butterflies. I looked up at him again, this time his eyes looked soft and a smirk landed on his face. “Skylar, I really have always had a crush on you. When we were kids i knew it was crazy because you only liked me as a friend and we were young and stupid. But now im almost 18 and ive got my heart set on you. I dont know what it is but being with you every day ive formed this bond that i just cant let go of. If you just want to be friends please tell me now before i make a fool of myself. again.”

I shifted my legs to Indian style, reaching my arms up around Brandon and burrying my face in his neck. “Stay.” Was all i could say.

Come late afternoon, Brandon was still around and I was in a better mood. Mom knew what was happening but dad was a little slow with this stuff. Brandon was laying in bed while i was cleaning and organizing my room when dad walked in. He started raving about how clean and tidy i always was.

Brandon just laughed, now sitting up to talk with dad. “Yeah she is, always cleaning something.” He paused and looked at me. “But hey she’ll make a good wife one day.” Still looking my way, he winked before glancing back to dad.

They continued talking and i took off to find mom. She was in the bathroom doing her make up and hair for work.

“Hey kid.” she smiled, looking at me through the mirror.

“Dad’s not very bright.” Blunt.

“Yes.” she laughed. “Whatd he do?”

“No, Brandon made a remark about me making a good wife because im so clean and dad didn’t even wince.”

“Wife? That quickly?” She put down her eyebrow pencil and smiled at me.

I shook my head.

“Skylar, I know that you and Brandon have known each other for a long time but you’ve never dated him before, and he’s had a lot of girlfriends. Just be careful. Go slow. Dont give in too quickly.”

Sex. She was talking about s*x. I didn’t know what to say so i just nodded and proceeded to exit the bathroom.

By the time i got upstairs my dad was gone. Brandon was laying in the same spot as before watching T.V. I crawled up onto my bed, laying ny head on his lap and closing my eyes.

“What’s up Sky?”

I typically only did this when I was upset, but honestly I was worn out. Tired. I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed to assure him that I was okay. He put his hand on my back, his thumb making circular motions. Before i knew it i fell asleep.

My eyes still closed, i felt around the bed. Brandon was gone. I rolled over to the edge of my bed to check the time and found a note.

Sky, I went back to my house. thought id give you some space. call if you need me. xo Brandon.

I smiled at the note and returned it to my night stand. Still groggy, i rolled out of bed and down the stairs. Dad was sitting at the counter doing some sort of paperwork. The whole house was dark except for the light above where he was sitting. I said hi, gave him a hug and returned to my room.

I slipped on a cropped tank top and a pair of Nike sweatpants. I lay on my bed, stairing at the ceiling. The glow of my christmas lights that were strung along my ceiling lit the room enough for me to see but not enough to blind me. I turned to my side and starred off to my bulletin board that was posted with all different photos of me and Brandon from over the years.

“Come over.”

And he did.