I don't like walking around this old and empty house, so hold my hand, I'll walk with you, my dear.

I sigh softly to myself, running my fingers through my hair as I stare at my laptop screen. I had been researching various grad schools and masters programs and credential programs and the like for the past couple of hours, and honestly, I was kind of burned out. Taking a year off after graduating college with my bachelor’s degree had seemed like a great idea at the time, but now I wasn’t too sure. Trying to figure out where to go and what to do in order to further my education was getting really stressful.
 
“I need a break.” I shut my laptop and get up, wandering over to my kitchen. I open my fridge, grab myself a beer, and then wander back to my bedroom, plopping down on my bed. I pop open my beer, taking a long swig out of it before I set the can down, closing my eyes. Maybe a nap would help clear my head.
 
I must’ve dozed off, because the next thing that I hear is the sound of my cell phone vibrating on my nightstand. I sit up quickly, grabbing my phone without checking to see who it is. “Hello?”
 
“Heeeey there big bro.” My younger sister, Bianca, says on the other end, laughing softly. “You okay? You sound funny.”
 
I grab my beer, taking a sip out of it before I answer. “Yeah sis, I’m fine. I was just napping…my phone vibrating woke me up.”
 
“Oh, oops. Sorry! I didn’t mean to wake you.” Bianca says apologetically. “Do you want me to let you go back to sleep?”
 
I shake my head into the phone, settling back down into my pillows slowly. “Nah, it’s okay. What’s up? Is everything okay with you?”
 
“Yeah, I’m alright. I just wanted to call you…we haven’t talked in a while. I miss you, Jesse.” My sister says, sighing softly.
 
“Aw…I miss you too, Bianca. We should get lunch or something sometime one day when you don’t have class. How does that sound?” I ask, taking another sip out of my beer.
 
“That sounds great. I’ll check my schedule and let you know, okay? School and work and sorority stuff keeps me really busy.”
 
“Not to mention parties, eh?” I ask teasingly, laughing. “But yeah, lemme know.”
 
“Will do, big bro. Buuut I’ll let you go now, okay? Sorry again for waking you up.”
 
“It’s no big deal, little sis. Love you.” I reply, shifting around in my bed a bit.
 
“Love you too.”
 
After my sister hangs up I stare at my phone, scrolling through my contacts absentmindedly. Maybe I could find someone to call and see if they wanted to hang out. I needed to get out of my apartment, even if it was just for an hour.
 
I finally stop at the letter M, letting my finger hover over one name in particular – Mia. I had met her a little while ago at this diner I ate at a lot, and we had ended up really hitting it off. There was just something about her that drew me in and made me want to get to know her better. She was so mysterious and intriguing and beautiful…it was almost hard for me to believe that she was into me as well. We had talked a few times since our first initial meeting, but nothing too serious had gone on between us.
 
I stare at Mia’s name for another minute before I hot the call button, bringing my phone up to my ear. It rings a few times before it goes to her voicemail, and after the beep, I leave a message.
 
“Hey Mia, it’s Jesse. I was just wondering if you wanted to get together sometime today or this weekend or something if you aren’t too busy. Gimme a call back and let me know, yeah? Bye.”
 
Now all I had to do was wait.
 
[and insert Mia here?]