have something, but—I should go back inside.” I feel pretty rotten for being a tease, but I can’t just sit here and explain why I’m resisting his advances. Single girl survival tip #2: Don’t inform someone you just made-out with that you’re thinking about another guy.
“No, please don’t.” Alex slides back closer to me. “I just came by to apologize. I don’t know what came over me.”
“I’m the one who should be apologizing. It’s been a long day and I guess I’m just tired.” What I want to say is that I do want to be close to him. Here I am, so far removed from everything I know, yet I’m living a life that’s supposed to be mine. “Maybe this isn’t the best time to talk about this.” I suddenly feel sorry for Alex. There’s nothing I want more than to keep talking to Alex, but I know I’m treading in dangerous waters. Someone is going to get hurt.
“I understand. I’ll show myself out.” He takes his time getting up off the chair. Maybe he hopes I’ll change my mind and ask him to stay.
“Thanks for coming over. It means a lot.” I must be off my rocker. For years I’ve had a mad crush on Alex and I’m turning him away for what, another guy who just happens to make my whole body sizzle, who obviously isn’t interested in me in return?
“It’s okay, we’ll talk tomorrow at school.” Alex leaves the way he came in, through the side door of the backyard fence.
All of the sudden, I hear my Aunt Maggie through the open french doors. “Is Alex staying for dinner?” She calls out. “We have plenty of leftover stew.” How long has she been standing there?
“No. Looks like it’s just you and me tonight.” As soon as the words come out of my mouth, I smile. It’s nice to have an aunt to share dinner with.
I rise up from the lounge chair and head back into the house. I pause for a moment to take in the fragrance of the outdoors before retreating inside. Someone had mowed the lawn earlier, I can tell, and I can still detect the crisp freshly cut grass. Have I ever stopped to notice things like this before—taking time to stop and smell the roses? I giggle at my own cliché.
“Well, go get washed up. The stew won’t sit around forever.”
• • •
Since I slept in and missed dinner the night before, my first official meal alone with my aunt is a pleasant one. We talk about our day, with me mostly listening to Aunt Maggie talk about her day. Turns out she’s a graphic designer and works primarily from home. I think its neat having an aunt who does something cool for a living.
We finish dinner and after Aunt Maggie insists, after much protesting, that she doesn’t need help clearing the dishes, I head straight to bed. She still thinks I’m coming down with something and sends me upstairs to rest.
I go to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. There are so many cleansers and bottles lined up against the vanity that I don’t know which one to use, so I wash my face with a regular bar of soap I find hidden in the medicine cabinet.
And true to her word, Jaime calls right as I tuck myself in for the night. I snuggle up against the sheets and I tell her about Alex’s dropping by.
“Seriously? He came over? What did he say?” Of course she wants all the sordid details. “Was he pissed off about Hunk?”
I wish she’d stop referring to Cooper as Hunk. It’s getting annoying and every time she says it, I can’t help but think about him.
“No, he wasn’t mad about Cooper. He wanted to apologize for that incident with Jenny last Saturday. We actually had a good chat.” I don’t go into detail about the kiss, because I know only too well that Jaime will want to know why I spurned his advances and then I’ll have to admit my feelings about Cooper and who he actually is. If it isn’t already, my life is beginning to get complicated.
“That’s it, isn’t it? You’re hanging out with Cooper to get back at Alex,” she says in a knowing voice.
“No, please don’t.” Alex slides back closer to me. “I just came by to apologize. I don’t know what came over me.”
“I’m the one who should be apologizing. It’s been a long day and I guess I’m just tired.” What I want to say is that I do want to be close to him. Here I am, so far removed from everything I know, yet I’m living a life that’s supposed to be mine. “Maybe this isn’t the best time to talk about this.” I suddenly feel sorry for Alex. There’s nothing I want more than to keep talking to Alex, but I know I’m treading in dangerous waters. Someone is going to get hurt.
“I understand. I’ll show myself out.” He takes his time getting up off the chair. Maybe he hopes I’ll change my mind and ask him to stay.
“Thanks for coming over. It means a lot.” I must be off my rocker. For years I’ve had a mad crush on Alex and I’m turning him away for what, another guy who just happens to make my whole body sizzle, who obviously isn’t interested in me in return?
“It’s okay, we’ll talk tomorrow at school.” Alex leaves the way he came in, through the side door of the backyard fence.
All of the sudden, I hear my Aunt Maggie through the open french doors. “Is Alex staying for dinner?” She calls out. “We have plenty of leftover stew.” How long has she been standing there?
“No. Looks like it’s just you and me tonight.” As soon as the words come out of my mouth, I smile. It’s nice to have an aunt to share dinner with.
I rise up from the lounge chair and head back into the house. I pause for a moment to take in the fragrance of the outdoors before retreating inside. Someone had mowed the lawn earlier, I can tell, and I can still detect the crisp freshly cut grass. Have I ever stopped to notice things like this before—taking time to stop and smell the roses? I giggle at my own cliché.
“Well, go get washed up. The stew won’t sit around forever.”
• • •
Since I slept in and missed dinner the night before, my first official meal alone with my aunt is a pleasant one. We talk about our day, with me mostly listening to Aunt Maggie talk about her day. Turns out she’s a graphic designer and works primarily from home. I think its neat having an aunt who does something cool for a living.
We finish dinner and after Aunt Maggie insists, after much protesting, that she doesn’t need help clearing the dishes, I head straight to bed. She still thinks I’m coming down with something and sends me upstairs to rest.
I go to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. There are so many cleansers and bottles lined up against the vanity that I don’t know which one to use, so I wash my face with a regular bar of soap I find hidden in the medicine cabinet.
And true to her word, Jaime calls right as I tuck myself in for the night. I snuggle up against the sheets and I tell her about Alex’s dropping by.
“Seriously? He came over? What did he say?” Of course she wants all the sordid details. “Was he pissed off about Hunk?”
I wish she’d stop referring to Cooper as Hunk. It’s getting annoying and every time she says it, I can’t help but think about him.
“No, he wasn’t mad about Cooper. He wanted to apologize for that incident with Jenny last Saturday. We actually had a good chat.” I don’t go into detail about the kiss, because I know only too well that Jaime will want to know why I spurned his advances and then I’ll have to admit my feelings about Cooper and who he actually is. If it isn’t already, my life is beginning to get complicated.
“That’s it, isn’t it? You’re hanging out with Cooper to get back at Alex,” she says in a knowing voice.
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