Strings (1 of 2)

Chapter 6 - Polaroid

I take a quick shower to rinse off and throw on my favourite purple satin robe as I curl my long blonde hair into loose waves. 

I finish putting on my mascara as I hear the doorbell ring downstairs.

I race down the stairs as fast as possible to try to beat my mom to the door, almost wiping out on the last step. I hear my mom walking out of the kitchen as I reach the door and yank it open.

Dean stands before me in dark jeans and a blue golf shirt. Casual, yet extremely attractive. He could look hot dressed in garbage. I smile at him and pull the door fully open to let him in. His mouth hangs open as he looks over my body. Confused, I look down and realize I am still only wearing my purple robe I put on after the shower. My eyes pop open and I mentally slap myself.

"Fuck my life," I mumble to myself and instinctively try to pull the robe down to cover myself. It's no use though when it barely covers me to begin with.

"I didn't realize you called me over for this..." he winks at me, teasing.

My face heats up and I shake my head. "This... uh... this was a mistake. I didn't realize I hadn't changed when I came to the door. Sorry..."

He doesn't reply but gives me a reassuring smile and I try to relax. It's not like he hasn't seen me in less, I remind myself. That doesn't really make this any less awkward to remember those times though.

Ok, focus, Emily, we need to get through what we need to say.

"Let's go upstairs?" I ask him motioning towards the stairs behind me. "My mom is here somewhere and I really need to change."

"Lead the way." he nods.

"Um... maybe it's better if you lead the way..." I reply blushing trying to pull my robe down again so he gets the hint. I don't really need him seeing up my robe as we climb the stairs.

He looks me over again and laughs, walking past me towards the stairs.

We climb them in silence and I pray my mom doesn't appear and see us like this. The universe gives me a win for once when we reach my room with no sign of her.

Dean walks in first and looks around, taking in each wall of photos and paintings.

"You haven't changed it at all."

I walk into my closet and find jean shorts and a long red flowy top. I don't reply to his comment since it seemed more like he was talking to himself instead of me. I close the closet door enough to throw on my clothes without him seeing me, but open just enough to be able to watch him as he sits on my bed hesitantly and waits for me.

His face looks anxious now that he thinks I can't see him. He looks around the room, frowning a little at my photo collage board on the wall beside my bed. I can tell he is looking at the picture of us specifically.

We went to the beach that day to watch the sunset. Dean had brought a blanket for us to sit on and bought us both cones from the ice cream truck  in the parking lot. We laughed so hard that night as we watched the other people on the beach and made up crazy stories about the strangers' lives. The more outrageous the story, the more we laughed. After most people left - probably because of us being so loud - we cuddled on the blanket and listened to the waves for hours. I made him take the polaroid picture with me to remember how happy we were in that moment, despite all the sadness we felt.

I open the door quietly and walk out towards him.

"That was a great night." I say as I reach my bed and sit down beside him and turn to face him.

He looks back at me with a look in his eyes I can't figure out.

"It was." He sighs at me. "Why do you keep it there after all these years?"

He doesn't seem upset or mad at me, just curious. Either way, the smile leaves my face as I mentally prepare for the talk I invited him over for. I guess it is getting deep sooner rather than later.

I guess small talk was never our thing anyways.

I look down and play with my sheets in my hands to avoid his gaze. "It's my favourite one on there. I keep it there because it makes me smile every time I see it." I swallow hard and look back up at him. "It reminds me how happy that night made me despite all the darkness around me then. How just those few hours laughing on the beach with you made me forget all the pain and focus on the light."

I can see the understanding in his eyes as he nods when I finish rambling and he smiles softly at me, which just tugs at my chest more than the beach picture already did.

Author's note:

Going to stop this chapter here so I can upload it now, but their conversation is not done! Stay tuned for Chapter 7 for the rest!

That tiny cute memory is for any Dean fans (like me) and so everyone understands what they had was not just sex - there was a deeper connection there. I'll get into that more in the story later though.

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