Page 96 of This is Me

“You really, really shouldn’t have.”

“Why? I used to have half-naked chicks hanging on my wall all the time. What’s the difference?”

“You’re a creep. I’m not.”

“Mhm, sure you’re not. It’s okay if it turns you on, Pete.”

“What? No! Get out of my room, you fucking idiot!” I could feel my face heat up even more as I shoved Brad away from me, dropping the poster on my bed.

“Okay, okay. I get it. You want to be left alone with the poster. Fine. But should I wear headphones?”

“Get out!” I yelled, shoving Bradly again, and he gave me another sharp punch in the shoulder before leaving, laughing maniacally as he went.

After my door closed behind Bradly, I walked over to my bed, sitting next to the poster he had given me; my face still burning and no doubt incredibly red.

Taking another look around my room, I felt a rush of warmth run through my body again—and it wasn’t just because of Brad’s poster. I took in everything that my parents had put up in my room, and I felt the love that came with it. I looked down at the shirtless firemen in the poster next to me, and for the first time, I noticed a little message Brad had written in the bottom right corner.

‘No more sentimental crap after this, but welcome home, you little fuck.’

I smiled to myself as I re-read Bradly’s message. That’s exactly where I was. Home.