Bane

December 20, 1979

Nadjia hurried down the stairs to answer the door. The bell chimed again. "I'm almost there, idiot boy!"

She answered the door, and Jonathan stood, his dark brown hair slicked back, the sides cropped short. Jonathan stood outside, staring up at the sky.

Nadia stared at him, waiting patiently for Jonathan to do something, or say something. "Are you going to stand there all afternoon, ore are you going to come in?"

Jonathan fought the urge to snicker. "Well it's been such a beautiful day. Blue skies, bright sun... the dark clouds covering the blue skies, and the bright sun."

Nadjia shoved him playfully, grabbed his shirt, and pulled him into the house. She shut the door behind her.

"Whoah, Nadj! Where's the fire?"

"I'll show you fire!" She pushed him into the stairs. Jonathan landed hard, losing his breath in the process.

"Easy, easy!" Jonathan put a hand up, panting. "Uncle!"

Nadjia tackled him.

"Oof!" Jonathan caught her, but not before he took the full force of her momentum.

"Jon!"

Jonathan carefully held her shoulders, and set her beside him. He waited until he could draw a complete breath. "You called me over?"

"Yes! My parents went to Irvine! They took Suheila!"

"When do they come home?"

Nadjia squealed. "Monday!"

"Oh, man. This is big news. So you want to come over as crash at my place?"

"Idiot boy!" Nadjia pushed the side of his head. "You come here, and stay the night!"

Jonathan scratched at the back of his neck. "Gee, Nadj. I don't know. Your parents wouldn't like that. Man, Nida, and Amir-"

"-are in Irvine!" Nadjia giggled, and wrapped him in her arms. "I finally have a moment of quiet with you!"

Jonathan blushed. "I, uh... I would ask my folks, but mom and dad took David to visit my grandpa in Salem. They'll be back Sunday. Maybe I can stay Sunday?"

Nadjia clenched her arms as tightly around Jonathan as she could. He gasped for air. "No, Jon. You're staying here tonight. I have the guest room ready, and everything!"

Decisions, decisions.

Jonathan gasped again, and wheezing, "Okay, okay! If you'll let me breathe, I'll stay!"

Nadjia squealed, again. "I was hoping you would stay!"

✟ ☧ ✟

Jonathan sat with Nadjia in her living room, the end of One Day at a Time aired, the volume low. Neither Jonathan, nor Nadjia were spending much time watching the television, tied up in one another's embrace, engaged in a long session of kissing.

The doorbell rang.

No. "Ignore it." Jonathan held Nadjia tighter. The doorbell rang again, twice.

God. Damn. It. "Let's just keep ignoring it." Jonathan paused between breaths.

The doorbell rang again.

I have to answer it. "It will only be a moment." Nadjia slid off the arm of Jonathan's seat, straightening her hair, and clothes.

Jonathan sulked a moment, and then stood. He did not bother to straighten his clothes, or fix his tussled hair. He hung back just out of sight of the door.