After Josh got dressed, he hung back in the doorway as I made my way over to him with my blanket tightly wrapped around me. Lightly brushing the hair out of my face, he pulled me in, gently kissing me on the forehead.

"You're sure you don't want me to stay?" He asked. "I don't want you to have to be alone-"

"I'll be okay." I insisted. "And if anything.. I know you guys are right next door, right?" He nodded, giving me a subtle smile.

"Right." He waited for a moment, as if still hanging on to the idea of an invitation that wasn't going to come. I leaned in, gently kissing him on the lips and he sighed, accepting that was my "goodbye."

"I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" He asked, proceeding to stall his inevitable departure.

"Okay." I said simply. He waited a moment longer before finally backing out of the doorway, shutting it behind him.

I listened as he slowly made his way down the steps and out the front door, peeking out my window to see him trudging across the lawn towards his back door. Before going in, he turned to me, giving me a gentle wave. I waved back, waiting until he was back inside before plopping back down onto my bed, curling up into a ball and finally letting the rest of the tears fill my eyes that I had tried so hard to hold back from him.

And once I let go, there was no stopping them. My pillow now stained with heartache and confusion, wanting nothing but to held by the one person I couldn't stop thinking about, knowing he was no more than a few steps and a phone call away.

After eventually calming down, my body ached and my eyes burned and I couldn't tell you what time it was, but when I pushed myself out of bed and opened the curtains to my other window, I could see a faint light glowing in Jake's bedroom.

Call me later.

I wondered if he was waiting up for it, or if he had completely given up on the idea hours ago after no sign of anything. I grabbed my phone, hesitating for a moment as I stared at his contact. His photo was one I had taken of him one day while we were all in their garage, and he was playing something he had just written. He was so excited, his eyes lighting up with every perfect attempt played all the way through. I just knew it was a moment I wanted documented forever.

I pressed call.

And after two rings he answered.

"What are you doing up?" He asked, his voice tired and raspy. I couldn't help but smile, feeling my cheeks burn.

"You told me to call you." I said, now pacing around my room. My heart jumped at the sound of his quiet giggling.

"I did, didn't I? Well, what took you so long?"

"I just figured I'd keep you waiting."

"Yeah, well, just cause you know I'll wait for you doesn't mean you have to make me." He laughed again. I could listen to him laugh for hours.

"I'm sorry." I sighed.

"I forgive you."

It was quiet for a moment, my heart starting to beat faster, praying that he would say something soon to fill the silence again.

"Do you want to talk about before?" He finally asked. My stomach dropped, realizing that maybe silence would have been better.

"Not really." I muttered, flipping through everything on my desk now.

"You seemed upset."

"I-I'm okay now." He was quiet again.

"I'm.. I'm sorry I called you so late, I.. I should just go."

"No, let's talk all night." He said. I could hear the smile in his voice now, making me blush again.

"I don't think you'll make it that long."

"To talk to you, I would."

"Jake.."

"Sorry." He laughed again.

Finally I came across his guitar pick, picking it up and inspecting it closer.

"What am I supposed to do with the guitar pick that you gave me?" I asked, now trying to change the subject.

"Oh, is that where that went?" He asked. My stomach dropped. He didn't remember? But he said it was his favorite. I didn't know what to say to that until I heard him giggle again.

"I'm kidding, Jaime." I sighed, a smile escaping my lips. "You can do whatever you want with it."

"Well, I don't want to lose it. It's your favorite."

"Thank you for appreciating that, I wouldn't just give that to anybody."

"Oh, so I'm not just anybody, huh?"

"You know you're not, Jaime."

Despite knowing he was right next door, he felt a million miles away.

"If you want, I can make it into a necklace for you. That way you'll never lose it." He said, his voice trailing off.

"I'd love that." My heart jumped at the idea of getting to wear jewelry from him, especially something as personal as that.

I went back over to my window to see him sitting up against his, his head propped up onto his hand, already smiling back at me.

"Funny seeing you here." I said, leaning up against it. "I didn't know I could see your room from here." He shrugged, his smile growing.

"You must not have been looking for me." He said plainly. "I've always been here." I sighed.

"You really have."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about anything?" He asked again. I hesitated, wondering if now would be the only time I would even be able to get the words out to him. There was something about the comfort of it still being over the phone that made this a little easier, just knowing at any moment he couldn't reach out and touch and send my mind into a whirlwind.

"Y-you.. you were right." I finally blurted out. He stared back at me, confused.

"What was I right about?"

"You were right about a lot, and.. that's kind of as specific as I want to get right now." He nodded.

"Okay. Well, you seem upset that I was right." I nodded.

"Can I ask why?"

"Because.. I really thought I had it all figured out, but.. turns out I really don't know anything." He nodded, giggling to himself.

"Join the club." Even from across the way his smile was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

"Are you okay though?" He asked. I nodded.

"I think so." He held his stare on me for a moment. I did the same, sitting in silence together.

Slowly but surely, the silence became more of a comforting solitude rather than a once anxiety-ridden battleground, fighting to fill the space with useless words when all we really wanted was to spill the truth. Even still, we danced around it like drunken partygoers just thrilled to have this one night together, bathed in whimsical innocence and playful banter.

Before long, our tired eyes were submerged in the radiant glow of the summer's early morning sun, while our voices became hoarse from the many hours of giddy amusement, merely captivated by each other's presence.

"I should let you go." I whispered. "It's getting late."

"I think you mean early."

"I think you're right."

"Thanks for calling, Jaime."

"Thanks for answering." I heard him sigh.

"I always will."

"That's good to know."

"Jaime?" He asked, his voice quieter now.

"Yeah?" He held his stare on me.

"N-nevermind."

"What is it?"

"It's nothing."

"Doesn't seem like nothing."

"Call me again tomorrow and.. maybe we can talk about it."

"Deal."

"Deal."

I could tell at this point, we were both saying whatever our mouths could manage just to keep the other on the line for that much longer, not wanting the night to end, but we knew at some point, it would have to.

"I don't think I can sit up at this window for much longer." I smirked.

"Me either." He sighed, holding up the phone. "So I'm gonna bring you over to my bed to lie down. You can go and do the same if you'd like, and if we happen to fall asleep, well.."

"You're gonna fall asleep the second your head hits the pillow." I laughed. "I can see it from here." He shook his head, flashing me a toothy grin.

"You're probably right. So.. do you want to just say goodnight now?" He asked.

"No, but.. I will."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Good night, Jaime." He said softly, my heart skipping a beat at the sound of him saying my name.

"Good night, Jake." His smile grew as he motioned back to the phone.

"You have to hang up." He muttered. "I can't hang up on you."

"Okay.. good night." I said, finally forcing myself to press end.