FATE

9. Lost Keys

BROOKE

Jonah sits and watches me savor my ice cream for most of the time, studying my face and I try not to make a fool of myself while he does. To try to take his attention off me, I begin to ask a bunch of totally random questions and listen attentively to his words.

He has lived in Boston all seventeen years of his life. He doesn't have a lot of hobbies but enjoys watching movies and reading books as well as listening to music although he has no specific preference and is okay with "whatever sounds good". He loves the color black and writing poetry. When I asked if I could see some of his poems, he quickly told me no in a cold tone.

As we walk to my apartment, the conversation continues.

"You're an introvert", I say.

"I don't think that would be the right word to describe me", he says, "I do socialize to a certain extent"', he stares at the ground, like he's thinking about something.

"Well, you don't have any hobbies that require you to leave your house- ", I raise one finger, "-and you don't have friends", I raise another finger next to it.

"It takes a certain type of closeness for me to acknowledge a person as a friend. At most, all I have are acquaintances besides Hailee of course", he pauses, "I'm not sure if you've met her"

"Oh, I've met Hailee"

His eyes soften and he smiles. You'd think their relationship would take them to the altar and then to the grave with the way his eyes soften when I mention her name.

The late-night streets are quiet and not as busy as they are during the day. I wrap my arms around myself. I catch a whiff of Jonah's cologne from his hoodie and I smile to myself. He smells nice.

"Do you like Boston?", I hear him ask. I look up to see his gaze fixed on the road in front of us, "I mean, do you plan on leaving it anytime soon?"

"I don't know yet. Maybe after high school?", I say, uncertainty clear in my voice.

"I see"

"Yeah"

"Why were you so interested in talking to me?", He asks, now staring at me as we walk slower.

"I don't know. I guess I like making friends"

"That's a weird reason"

"But it's my reason"

He looks up and says nothing. We're getting closer to the apartment building.

"You looked like you could use a friend though", I catch myself saying.

"So, you pitied my solitude?", his tone has changed.

"No", I say quickly, "I just..."

"It's fine Brooke"

I sigh as we approach the apartment building Blake and I moved into a couple of weeks back

"This is it", I say.

He looks up at it. His eyebrows furrow as he studies it.

"Cool"

I purse my lips and look at my feet.

"Keep the hoodie, you can give it back tomorrow", he says and I look up at him and smile.

He moves closer to me and reaches out to gently grab the falling strands of my hair and tuck them behind my ears.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that", he says softly and I can't help but blush.

"Okay", I squeak.