Sometimes, he steals flowers from my garden.
I remember watching him play outside sometimes, when we were younger. I moved to live with Voights when I was about 9 or 10, and I wanted a friend really bad. Sometimes, when I wasn't that shy anymore, I played with him. But as high school started, we drifted apart. After graduation, I haven't seen him much, usually only for holidays when he visited his family. Maybe he went to college? I heard rumors he joined the army, tho, but the neighbourhood rumors were never reliable. His younger brother went to study medicine in New York. He didn't even bother to come home for Christmas. I guess he had his reasons.
And today, I saw him again. I'm not even sure what his name is. Jay, is it? Yeah, I think it is. I got up this morning and Hank was already at work, and I didn't bother to wake up Justin for breakfast, knowing he would only be cranky because I'd wake him up.
I poured myself a bowl of cereal and milk and sat down and stared through the kitchen window. It was April, and I hoped it would be sunny, but it didn't look like it. It was one of those cloudy, rainy days again.
Then I saw something moving outside. I looked in the way I sensed movement and saw the boy next door, Jay, or whatever his name was, leaning over our little garden fence and picking up pink roses from our garden.
I had no idea what he was doing, but I sure as hell didn't care much. I shrugged my shoulders and continued to eat my cereal. I had more important things to think about than some flower thief that lived next door. I had a bunch of exams coming up, and I had to do good. After all, I was about to graduate the Academy this year.
As I got back to my room, I flopped onto my bed and picked up a book from my nightstand. As I did so, I unintentionally looked through the window and I saw him again. The boy with pretty eyes. Wait, why do I know what kind of eyes he has and why do I even care what they're like? Anyways, he was walking along the street, with our roses in his hand. Lucky girl, I tought, and then immediately mentally slapped myself. I do not care who's going to get his flowers. My flowers. Whatever.
He was dressed in some jeans, pale blue henley shirt and a black leather jacket. He looked fine. Another mental slap to myself. Erin, stop it! What's wrong with me? I should be studying, not spying on some childhood friend.
Was I even allowed to call him that? Friend? I wasn't quite sure.
I saw him again, just a week from the first time he 'borrowed' our flowers. He was leaning over the fence again, trying so hard to go unnoticed. I wouldn't let him know he was failing doing it, I couldn't take that away from him. Not just yet.
It was a nice sunny day, one of the first in the year that were actually warm, like you know, warm so you could wear short sleeves outside and not freeze to death. But it was quite depressing that I had to stay in and study for my exam. Hank and Camille asked me if I would join this family trip that they planned, a short hike or something, but I refused. As much as I wanted to go, I had to pass my exam. So instead of me, they dragged Justin's ass along. He complained, a lot, and I knew that if I went they wouldn't make him go. They just wanted some company. But I probably owe Justin one now. It's not like it's my fault I have to study, though. I'd love to swap places with him. He doesn't even know how lucky he is.
I had books and papers sprawled all over my bed and my window was open, so at least some fesh air and warmth could get in, if I couldn't get out.
After a few minutes, I heard the familiar iPhone ringtone, but it wasn't coming from my phone. It was coming from outside. I tried to ignore it and focus on studying.
"Yeah," someone sighed after the ringing stopped. I guess the person answered the call. And that voice, it was really nice, and it could totally be Jay's.
"Seriously? Will, come on." yep, it was Jay. He sounded disappointed.
I put my notebook aside and leaned over the opened window. He was standing by the garden fence again, this time, he was dressed even nicer. He wore black jeans, a white dress shirt and a black tie. Maybe he and his girl had some kind of anniversary? Or maybe it was someone special's birthday and he just wanted to dress really nice? But I knew he was about to pick some flowers from my garden so I was sure he was going out with his girlfriend. His lucky, lucky girlfriend.
ERIN! That wasn't just a mental slap, it was a mental kick to myself. Stop it already! First of all, he has a girlfriend. Second of all, he probably wouldn't be interested you. Third of all, you have to study. I had to stop myself and pull me off the window sill, before I would say something to him. Something stupid.
Later that day, when I was sitting on the porch steps and reading my psychology book for the exam, using the last rays of sunshine of the day to get me warm, I saw him walk out of the house and almost slam the door behind him. He was holding a bouquet of pastel orange roses this time – yes, we had a lot of different kinds of roses. He took a deep breath and then headed down the street, passing our house, passing me.
"Lucky girl." I said.
He stopped in his movement and looked at me. "I'm sorry, what?"
I closed the book and made those few steps to the pavement. "The flowers. They're pretty. She's a lucky girl. You don't see guys bring flowers these days much." I smiled and lightly shruged my shoulders.
"Oh, that." he lightly blushed and scratched his neck "Thanks."
I pretended I didn't notice. He obviously argued with his brother before, and then the door slam, so I assumed he had a bad day and didn't want to give him a hard time. Plus it was fun to mess with him.
"Well, I hope it goes well," I smiled when he didn't say anything else, and turned around to go back to the porch.
"Good luck on the exam," he said after me, as I was halfway back to the house.
I looked over my shoulder and he was smiling shyly. "How'd you know I had an exam coming up?" I asked, confused.
"Well, I figured that a girl like you wouldn't be reading a psychology book at her own will." he shrugged.
Then I turned around fully and made a quick couple of steps back to him "A girl like me? What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, acting curious.
"I think you know." he smiled. "See you around." and with that, he walked away.
I stared after him dumbfoundedly.
I couldn't sleep that night. My mind was filled with one and only, Jay Halstead. Not in the way you think tho. Well, maybe in that way, but how can he just look at me once in a decade and tells what I'm like? How can he be so sure he knows who I am? He was such a smartass, and I couldn't stand it.
Or maybe I couldn't stand the fact that he seemed to know a lot about me, and I didn't know anything about him.
a/n
so this is it for today. i hope you liked it, i got some requests for a college au and i said why not? tell me what u guys think.