Chapter Nine

Three nights later….

Thunder roared, lightening cracked, and Johanna hid under her blanket. She was scared to death, but there was no way she could go into Dan’s room. The last few days between the two of them had been weird enough.

Dan glanced at the clock. The storm had been brewing for quite sometime and Johanna still hadn’t come in. Maybe that was a good thing. Considering how much stronger his feelings had been lately and knowing she felt something too having her in his bed probably wasn’t the best idea. He still was in complete shock that she had kissed him. Maybe if the circumstances had been different, but he knew he was making the right decision.

‘Don’t be such a baby.’ Johanna thought to herself. ‘You can’t run to Dan every time you get scared.’

‘Why won’t you just tell her?’ Dan thought.

Johanna made her way down to the living room to watch some TV and noticed Dan sitting on the couch. She turned to walk back upstairs, but he had heard her.

“Hey J.” he said.

“Hi.” She replied.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked.

“Yeah. I was just going to get some water.” She said quickly. “You couldn’t sleep either?”

“Yeah, the rain is keeping me up. So…” Dan began as he shifted topics. “You’re moving out soon.”

She nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be moving into the new place next week.”

“I really don’t want you to leave.” He said.

Johanna was taken aback. “You don’t?” What was he getting at?

“You are my best friend. It’s nice having you around.” He said.

“Oh.” She said mentally scolding herself for getting her hopes up.

Dan was silent, but she knew what he was thinking about.

“Like I said just forget it, okay? It was just a mistake.” She said.

‘I wish I could forget it.’ Dan thought.

“Yeah, you’re right.” He told her.

“Night.” She said walking up the stairs.

“Good night.” He echoed.

A few minutes later Dan headed up to his room and into bed. As he lay there alone he thought of the night Johanna came in his room, scared and vulnerable. He thought about how great he felt knowing that he provided her the comfort she needed.

“Who am I trying to kid?” he asked himself.

Chapter 10