4
A Short Conversation
I should probably put pajamas on, I think to myself while lying on my bed staring at the ceiling. It wasn't like my black t-shirt and jeans were uncomfortable, it was just already well past my bedtime. My mind, however, wouldn't shut up.
Images of long blonde hair soft as silk swirled through my head, accompanied by eyes so green they seem saturated.
Never in my life had I ever had such a fixation on one thing, especially a person. Especially a girl. Sure, even with my 'sordid' past, I'd had short romances, but nothing any more than a fling. Now, not only was I thinking of a girl I was thinking about her in the long term; dating, wedding, kids, grandkids.
Teenage boys are not supposed to think like this, me specifically. Besides, I chastise, who would ever marry you? But no matter how much I try to shut my brain off, nothing works. Lissa Dragomir, maybe one of the most popular and unreachable girls at school, won't leave my mind.
It doesn't help that we've been spending a lot of time together in the church attic. Why she's been talking to me, I have no idea, but I enjoy her company much more than I should.
I swing my legs over the side of my bed to get up and my cell phone starts ringing. Only one person would be calling me at this time and I immediately answer it.
"Aunt Tasha, how'd you know I'd be up?" I ask.
"I always know when you're up, I think it's a side effect from raising you for so many years," she laughs softly. I chuckle at the slight jab as well knowing she wouldn't change raising me for anything. "I just had a sense that something was bothering you and we haven't talked in a while so I wanted to know how you were."
I sigh as I stand up to pace around my small room. I don't want to tell her about Lissa, but I know I need to tell someone or I might just combust – I am a fire user after all.
I don't realize that I've been silent for almost a whole minute until Aunt Tasha asks if I'm all right. "I'm fine," I say quickly, not wanting her to be worried, "I just have this problem, no, it's not a problem exactly. There's this thing, no, there's this girl…" Before I say anymore there's a short intake of breath and suddenly my ear is filled with high pitched squealing.
"Oh, Christian, that's wonderful news! Who is she, will I know her parents? Is she a Moroi or a dhampir? What does she look like? Have you kissed her yet? Is…"
I'm so flustered hearing all these questions, I don't even know where to start but when I hear that last question I know I need to stop her interrogation right away. "Whoa there, I have not kissed her, I haven't even touched yet. I'm not even sure if I'd tell you I had." I stop to organize my thoughts. I don't know if I should tell her the truth or not, but I do know that Aunt Tasha would never judge me for liking a royal and that makes me determined to tell her everything.
"It's Lissa Dragomir. We ran into each other in the attic around the time she got back to school and we've been meeting there every other day since. I don't know what she thinks of me, hell, I don't even know for sure what I think of her, it's just nice to have a normal conversation with someone. She's not bad to look at either," I admit.
Aunt Tasha is silent for a long time and then she says, "Lissa Dragomir is not what I would have expected, but if you like her – and I'm sure you do – then I know I'll like her. Just make sure you don't wait too long before you kiss her, girls don't like that. And if you ever want any advice on anything girl related just ask me."
"I don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon, not that I don't love your advice, Aunt Tasha, but this isn't the sort of thing you ask your family about. I just needed to tell someone and you're one of the only people I can really talk to." The end of my last sentence ends in almost a whisper, no matter how much time has passed it's still hard knowing that you don't have any friends because of something your parents did.
Aunt Tasha notices the change in my emotions and her voice drops a little too. "I know, Christian, I understand, but we've done pretty well on our own so far. And I know with all my heart that this girl will understand you too, just give her a chance. What's the worst that could happen?"
I don't respond for a few seconds, knowing she's right, but not know what to say in response. Finally I say simply, "I know. Thanks for listening Aunt Tasha."
I hear her smile through the phone, "you're welcome, Christian. I'll call you next week at a more appropriate time and we can discuss all the ways you'll have tried to make a move and failed." She laughs out loud at her joke and then says, "I'm just kidding, but seriously, don't wait too long or she'll slip through your fingers. It's about time you had a girlfriend, so don't mess it up."
"I'll try not to," I say with my usual sarcasm, "goodnight, Aunt Tasha."
"Goodnight, Christian," she sighs happily and then we hang up.
I go to my dresser to finally put on some pajamas and then lay back down on my bed. This time, however, my mind isn't spinning. It's thinking about one thing and one thing only; what exactly it would be like to feel my lips against Lissa's. As if my body already knows the answer, I fall asleep with a smile on my face.
