Stay

26

EVIE

There was something absolutely thrilling about running. There was something about the wind rushing around you, the feeling of feet hitting pavement, and the sheer adrenaline that courses through your body. It gave you this temporary high that no drug could ever give. 

Niall and I walk up the stairs of our apartment building. I felt sweaty... gross... but so refreshed. It was a strange feeling but nothing felt better. 

“Do you want to come in?” I asked him once we reached our doors. “I bought a blender a few days ago and have been on a major smoothie kick.” 

He throws his arms behind his back, stretching them. “A smoothie sounds pretty good right now,” he replies, taking a step towards my door. “If you don’t mind me smelling like a dirty ape.” 

“On second thought... maybe not,” I joke, pushing him away. “You do reek.”

“You don’t exactly smell like butterflies and roses dear,” he counters back, playfully nudging me on the shoulder. There’s that familiar buzz in the pit of my stomach. That feeling of a thousand butterflies being released all because of the casual use of the word dear. 

“You don’t say that to girls,” I gawked, pushing past the lingering heart racing palpitations. “You are definitely not allowed in my apartment now. No smoothies for you.” 

The next few moments take me off guard as Niall somehow manages to squeeze past me and head into my apartment. Figuring that there was no point in fighting it, I shut my door behind us. I follow him into the kitchen where he has already settled himself at the kitchen table. 

“Now I’m going to have to burn the chair once you leave. That’s the only way I’m going to get your sweaty germs off of it.”

“I’ll bring the marshmallows... put some good use into it.” 

“Please,” I scoff, “Who said you’re invited?” 

“You wouldn’t dare have a bonfire without inviting me would you? I’m hurt, Jones. Jesus - if I knew you were such a heartbreaker, I would have steered clear from you and your evil ways,” he teases yet still managing to maintain a blank expression. 

“Your life would suck if I wasn’t in it,” I confidently quipped. In return, Niall breaks out into a fit of giggles, shaking his head at no one in particular. 

“Fair point,” he chortled, wiping the corner of his eye. 

A comfortable silence fills the room once his laughter subsides. Neither one of us saying anything else for a few more moments. Walking behind the counter, I take out my blender. “Do you like green smoothies?” I ask him even though that was what we were having. 

There had been a sale at the local market. Buy five bunches of kale and get two free. I would be having kale for the next few weeks or until they went bad. This meant kale salads, kale in my sandwiches, kale smoothies... soon enough, I was going to be sweating green. 

“Yeah,” he answers as he gets up from his chair, and making his way over to the kitchen. 

I pull out the kale, coconut water, and fruit from my sparse fridge. I hadn’t realized how empty my fridge had become. Usually it was stuffed with take-out boxes, a carton of milk and a few apples. However lately, it housed seven bunches of kale, three apples, a carton of coconut water and a small carton of milk. 

“Looks like you need to go grocery shopping,” he comments from behind me. “You have nothing in there.” 

“I have enough,” I say, bringing the necessary ingredients to the counter. “Do you like peanut butter? I was thinking about putting a  little bit in for some protein.”