I remember when he first called me that. When we were 14, we had some stupid fight and it just slipped out.
"You listen here Little Warrior, just because-"
"Excuse me?" I snapped.
"What?"
"You just called me 'Little Warrior', what does that mean?"
His face blushed red. "Nothing!"
"Well it means something!"
He blinked. "Kane means warrior."
"And?"
He looked to the ground. "You're little, so you know, little warrior."
"I'm taller than you!" I yell and storm out of his house, onto the street.
He's calling after me. But I can't hear because of the horn.
The car lights blind my eyes and-
I let out a squeak as the warm shower turned cold.
How long have I been in here?
I dried off and changed into a pair of Eleanora's (Nora, Navy's mom, the absolute best) old PJ's. I may or may not have forgotten to pack most of my clothes.
Including PJ's.
Fun times for young little old me.
I stepped out of Navy's bathroom and into his room. I hadn't noticed how many pictures and trophies he had when I first entered.
The pictures varied from him and his mom, to my brothers and him, to landscapes.
Who knew Mr. Named After A Colour liked taking pictures.
And who knew he was actually good at it.
I pick up the closest one. It was a sunset, but it looked as if it was taken from a balcony.
Did the St. Jameses' have a balcony?
I brushed it off and turned to the shelf beside his bed. All of his trophies were all hockey trophies, from first grade to tenth grade.
Ugh, the boys have a whole room filled with hockey trophies. Such an eye-sore.
"What are you doing?"
I spun at his words, my still wet hair flicking behind me.
Navy was leaning on the frame of his door, the smallest smirk dancing on his face.
"Hey-!" Shit. Excuse, Jaxx, you need an excuse. "I was worried one of my brothers would see me if I went to the guest room. So, I stayed here."
Not bad.
"Uh huh."
Anyone else would've believed it. Navy is just a lie detector. My excuse was flawless.
"You like it?" He asks nodding towards my hands.
I look down and see the sun set picture still in my hand.
Whoops.
"Yeah, I don't know had such an eye for photos." I say as I turn around to clip the picture back on the string.
He laughs. "I wish," I hear him walk closer to me, until we stand side-by-side, inches apart.
"These are my s-" he stops himself, "my older cousins photos. That one was taken in the town she lives in."
I thought Nora was his only biological family, none of his family ever comes out here. Unless I've just never met them...
"Nice." I say. "She's really good."
He softly smiled, "yeah, she really is."
We stood in awkward silence staring at Navy's older cousins photos.
Navy clears his throat. "Can I check you eye?"
I swallow harshly. "Yeah, sure."
He leads me back into his bathroom. Navy flicks on the overhead lights and bends over to pick up a first aid kit.
"Isn't that a bit excessive?" I ask, "I mean, I can barely feel it." I stupidly reach up and press a finger below my left eye.
That.
Was.
So.
Fucking.
Stupid.
"Fuck!" I swear loudly.
My entire faces feels as if it's on fire, biting into my skin.
Navy makes a small tsking sound, leading to my glaring at him.
My dark silver eyes meet his golden yellow almost cat like eyes.
"Ow." I hissed softly.
Navy rolled his eyes. "Don't be a wimp Little Warrior, just sit here."
I hope he doesn't notice how my body tenses.
It can't be in my head.
That's the second time he's said it.
Twice is a coincidence.
Everyone knows that.
"Well?" Navy point to the spot just barely beside his sink.
"Why can't I just, I don't know, squat or something?" I frowned.
"Come on Jaxx, the faster you sit, the faster you get to sleep."
This boy had some pretty good logic.
I hopped onto the counter, my eyes met with the top of Navy's shoulders.
I'm fucking 5'10, and he's still taller than me.
Boys.
Navy tilts my head up, making all of my spinning and twirling thoughts fall and fade away into nothing.
He gently touches the side of my face. "Does this hurt?"
"No." I let my eyes flicker close while I unconsciously relax in his touch.
"Here?"
"No."
His hands are touching my face. My neck. My throat. One at the back of my neck, wrapping around half my neck, his thumb is under my chin, tilting it to the sky. The other moves up softly, pressing against the bones and flesh of my face.
Why did he have to be my brothers best friend?
"Here?"
Pain stabs at me, making my eyes shoot open. "Ah, fuck. I mean-yeah, it does." My eyes meet concerned-but surprisingly not pity-and focused eyes.
"Alright, according to this health site, you just have to keep it iced for every 15 minutes and keep your head elevated." He isn't looking at me anymore. He's on his phone, the light of it is dancing in his pupils.
"That's all?"
"Yeah, it's not swollen too much, which I think is a good thing?" Navy frowns around my eye.
I smirk lowly at him, "whoo, it's not swollen, can I get off now?"
Navy blinks. Then he steps back. Then he clears his throat.
Why did he have to be my brothers best friend?
"You should get to bed Little Warrior. There's less than two weeks left of summer break."
There it was.
Again.
Little Warrior.
Does he even realize what he's saying?
"Jaxx?"
He sinks me back into reality.
"Yeah. I will. Get to bed." I jumped off the countertop. I'm about to leave the bathroom when I freeze.
"Do you realize you're saying it?" I don't turn around.
He doesn't respond.
"Navy?" I barely whisper.
"Ice." He blurts out, "you should ice it. There's some in the freezer."
"Right." He can't even admit it. "I think I'll ice it tomorrow, it's been a long day."
"Yeah, it has."
I don't move. Neither does he.
"We'll talk tomorrow?"
We'll talk? What does that mean?
"Yeah Navy, tomorrow." I look over my shoulder to see him still standing near the sink. His back towards me.
"Goodnight Jaxson."
I guess that's it.
"Goodnight Navy."
I leave. I'm in the guest room.
Goodnight Navy.
I'm crawling in the bed when I hear a knock. I shoot up.
"Wait," I hear, "Jaxx don't open the door."
Navy?
Well who fucking else? The muffin man?
"I don't think I can say this to your face but," I can hear his shaking breaths. "I do." He whispers.
He does?
He does what?
It clicks.
Navy is saying it on purpose.
I get out of bed and open the door.
He's gone.
The door closes.
He's saying it on purpose.
The bed sinks under my weight.
He's saying Little Warrior on purpose.
My eyes close.
Little Warrior.
My eyes shoot open.
Did I brush my teeth?