I woke up sometime during the night and got up, slowly making my way into the living room. Dahvie was up, watching a horror movie I didn't recognize.
"Hey." I whispered and plopped down on the couch beside him.
He jumped and relaxed when he recognized me. I smiled.
"Hi."
"What time is it?" I ask.
He checked his phone. "A little after two."
"And you're still up?"
He shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."
"It might be the movie."
"Nah," he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against him. "I'm more worried about you. Don't want you to have nightmares."
I laughed quietly. "They don't scare me."
He tightened his arm. "I know, but I'm trying to sound like I'm protecting you from the horror."
I laughed. "Okay, I'll let you do that."
He nodded once. "Good."
We sat in silence for awhile, until I got up and went into the kitchen for popcorn. Then I realized no one had put up the groceries. I groaned and lifted two bags onto the counter.
"Hey! Come and help." I called to Dahvie.
I heard him groan and then his footsteps. He grabbed some bags and set them on the counter beside me. We started putting everything up and unsurprisingly Jayy had bought more liquor. Eventually we got everything put up except one bag, which we both tried to get to. As I grabbed some things out the bag to put in the pantry I ran into Dahvie turning around. He caught me by my shoulders and balanced me back out. We were so close, I could smell his soap. He didn't let go for a long time, then he grabbed the things out my hands and disappeared into the pantry.
I stood there waiting for him to come out, about to ask him what the hell was wrong with him and why didn't he kiss me, but he didn't come out. I grabbed the rest of the bag and went to the pantry; Dahvie was leaning against the wall, his face in his hands. I stacked things on the self.
"You okay? I asked, making him jump.
"What? Oh yeah…no."
I went and leaned on the wall beside him.
"What's wrong?"
"You." he said quietly, like he didn't want me to hear.
"Me? What'd I do? I didn't do anything!"
He laughed softly. "Nothing. You just grew up."
"I'm only six years older than when you met me."
"A lot has changed in six years, Jez."
I stared at him "What you mean?"
"You've changed. A lot."
"Yeah, we covered that. How did I change?"
"You just have."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"Jez." he said and looked up at me. "You're making this harder."
"Harder? What the hell is that supposed to mean!"
He didn't say anything for a while. It looked like he was trying to choose his words carefully.
"I used to think of you as my sister." he said finally.
"Used to?"
"Yeah, used to."
He sighed. "Do I have to explain everything?"
When I didn't answer he sighed again.
"It means in the kitchen, I wanted to kiss you." he said finally.
"So why didn't you?"
He looked up shocked. "You wanted me to?"
I blushed. "Umm…" I turned away. "Maybe." I said quietly.
I heard him chuckle. "You should go to bed."
I look over at him. "Really? All this and you expect me to go to bed?"
"Actually no."
"Then why tell me to?"
"Because Jayy's gonna kill me."
"I'm a big girl I think I can make my own decisions."
"Says the girl whose brother is going to kill me."
"Well you haven't done anything."
"Yet."
I look over and wait a few seconds.
"You still haven't done anything."
"Jez."
"Dahvie."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really."
"Don't say my name like that."
"Don't say my name like that either." I said. "At least I didn't call you David."
"At least I didn't call you Jezebell."
"I would have slapped you."
"I wouldn't have let you."
I was about to reply when he suddenly grabbed my wrist, pulling me to him. He pressed his lips softly against mine, giving me little time to respond. By the time he had pulled away, I had barley closed my eyes.
"Happy now?" he asked.
"Not necessarily."
He smiled. "Go to bed, Jez."
"What about the movie?"
He chuckled and took my hand in his. He leas me out the pantry and back to the couch. He placed his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. We watched the movie in silence. Eventually I fell asleep, still wrapped in Dahvie's arms.