Chapter 1: The falls
I woke up that morning dreading the day that was about to begin. It was going to be just like any other day dealing with the secret pain that I held hidden within me everyday. Instead of getting up I decided to just lay there for a couple of minutes trying to urge my body to get up and get out of bed. When I finally did get out of bed I went to the bathroom. After I peed, I looked in the mirror. My usual brown curls were straightened and pulled back into a messy up do. The blue in my eyes were a flat and empty gray that morning. The cream I had put on the night before had worked though because my blemishes were gone and instead left a flat boring shade of peachy white skin in its place. When I finished my quick evaluation as I did most mornings, I went down stirs to make some coffee and get some cheerios for breakfast. As I did this I try to think if there's anything that we had planned to do that day and come up with nothing. By the time I had finished my breakfast everyone else was about to wake up so I put my bowl and mug in the sink and ran upstairs to avoid them, I wanted to wait at least another two hours before I had to deal with mom and my sister Meems. When I got to my room I went over to my I-pod and plugged it into my stereo. My room was small with purple walls and really messy but the mess doesn't bother me it was only a concern for my mother, which, I didn't understand at all, she's not living in here. I kept a color scheme another thing my mom doesn't understand consisting of my favorite colors blue, green, and purple. I went to my huge closet that we got at some weird thrift store and pull out a fresh pair of underwear and a pair of light colored skinny jeans. I slipped the fresh pair of underwear on and put on my jeans. I wandered around in my black bra trying to find a shirt to wear I remembered almost immediately that I had to wear long sleeves not only because it may be a little bit chilly out but because of the long yet skinny red scars that went from my wrist to about half way up my forearm. If people knew about it they would people call me emo but, I hated that word I preferred just someone who had been through a tough time and needed a way to get it out. I picked up a green shirt from a pile on the floor. Even though it's on the floor I know it's clean and that I haven't worn it yet. It has long sleeves with two slits at the bottom, where you could put your thumbs through, and it has a few buttons going about half way down the shirt all of which buttoned except the top two which stay open. I went to my over sized dresser with the big mirror to do my hair and make-up. I plugged in my straightener and untied my dark brown hair. While I waited for my straightener to heat up I decided to put on my make-up. I got out my eyeliner and applied a little underneath my eyes then I added a little to the top of both my eyes. Then I put on a little mascara on my already long and dark lashes. Even though the cream had taken most of my blemishes off my face the night before I still put on some cover-up to hide the small red splotches that were there. I figured I wouldn't need much else since the most we would be going to would be Wall-Mart. When I finished my make-up I brushed my hair in the part that I wanted, picked up my straightener and started to straighten the bottoms, which had a little curl to them; I hated that. Everyone tells me that I had beautiful hair and that I myself was beautiful but if I was really so beautiful then why did I sit with a table of outcasts, not that I didn't like my friends because I did, but if I had that choice to sit with the popular's I would I think we all would if offered the opportunity. I am 16 and I have never had a boyfriend and have only fallen for a guy once in my entire life and that didn't turn out so good. It's funny how my whole life changed in just a couple months time. After a couple of minutes I was sure my hair was straight but I kept straightening it anyway. It felt almost like I was in a daze and couldn't snap out of it. Soon after I decided that it would be for the best that I stop straightening my hair before I burn it. I decided that it would a good idea to go outside away from everyone and write another one of my short stories. I had noticed a while back that all my stories started to get dark and really ugly so I have been trying hard to lighten them up a bit. I have always written short stories but it hasn't actually occurred to me of the idea of writing a full on book. I grabbed my I-pod a pair of headphones and my notebook and started to go down the stairs
"Maya is that you honey" my mom asked
I get down the stairs and answer her, as I look her in the eye.
"Yeah its me, I'm going to go outside ok," I asked knowing she didn't care anyways.
"Hey that fine but get your sister breakfast first" she answered. I groaned but went into the kitchen to help my sister out.
"What do you want Meems" I said using her nickname that we had been calling her since she was 5 years old. Her real name is Marissa but we have all agreed that Meems fits her better for her personality
"I think I'm going to have Cheerios for breakfast today" she answered me as light and happy as can be. God I wish I could be so happy and cheery all the time like her
"Ok" I said adding, "You copy cat, I had the same thing" but I added a smile so, she knew I wasn't serious. I got down a bowl grabbed the cheerios and the milk and made her a bowl of cereal. After I finished I grabbed my things from of the counter slipped on my flip-flops and went out our gross red painted door. When I was outside I look around to see if anybody is outside not that it really matters I would go out anyways. I go and sit down by the small creek on my favorite rock and opened my notebook and began to write another one of my short stories. I had begun to notice that my stories were getting so much darker everyday and surprisingly it worries me more than anything.
"Hey" says a mysterious voice from behind me I turn around eager and curious to see who had talked to me or find that I was just imagining thing. I turned around surprised to see our next-door neighbor. At that point I was happy I had left my hair down. I closed my book leaving my pencil in the place I was at so, I could keep my place, and answered him softly.
"Hey" I said noticing the large amount of confusion that was in my voice. I was mostly wondering why he was even talking to me.
"I'm Damon" he was smiling as he said this, with the most adorable dimples in the world. Truthfully I had known his name for years but I acted as if I hadn't.
"Maya" I answered him "Um can I help you with anything" shit, that sounded so stupid my on earth would I say something like that.
"No I was just wondering if you wanted some company" his smile disappeared and he actually looked slightly nervous. Funny this guy has never even spoke two words to me and now he's nervous to be around me.
"Oh um I was just writing and sure if you want to join me go ahead I'm not much company though." His smile returned as he came closer to sit at my side but not on my rock.
"So, what were you writing" He asked only slightly interested as if he was waiting to ask me something else.
"Um just short stories it's sort of a hobby of mine," I said trying to give him as little information about me as possible.
"Oh that's cool," he said answering me the same way he had answered me before.
I took this brief pause to examine what he looked liked more closely. He had on a red shirt that was fitted almost perfectly to his body and a pair of jeans that were faded on the knees. Along with that he also had on a pair of air walks. He was slightly taller than me and had long hair, for a guy, but not yet reaching his shoulders.
"So…."he finally telling me the main reason that he was talking to me "I was sort of wondering if maybe you wanted to go out sometime". He finished shifting and looking nervous and staring straight ahead.
"Um…sure I'd love to" I finally answered him completely flabbergasted
"Really" he said smiling making sure I wasn't fooling with him. He seemed surprised like he wasn't completely hot and couldn't get any guy that he wanted. Then again maybe he didn't know.
"Really" I said laughing softly.
"Ok then, cool" he turned to leave but before he did he asked me a quick question "so, are you busy tomorrow," I thought mentally to myself nope
"Nope I'm free," I said adding a smile to my face so that he would know I wasn't joking around with him.
"Awesome" he answered then turned and left back to his apartment.
When I was sure he was gone I said quietly to my self what the hell that was. He hasn't looked my way or talked to me in all the two years that we had lived next to each other and now suddenly he's asking me out. This doesn't seem right something's going on that much I knew for sure. I decided that this would be a good time to go and ask my mom if we had anything planned for tomorrow. On second thought there was never a good time to talk to my mom. I get up and walk over to my door and go inside taking my shoes off at the doorway. My mom is still lying on the couch in her pajamas.
"Hey mom" I ask a little nervous that she is going to completely freak out on me.
"Yeah what do you want" She sounds annoyed like I have really bothered her from watching the news as she does every morning. I try to make this quick so, as to not upset her and make her completely pissed off at me all day.
"Are we doing anything tomorrow" I asked hoping that she wouldn't add that one word that annoyed me so very much.
"No I don't think so. Why?" and she ruined it. I hated that little word that she added to everything that I asked her. I made a stupid excuse as I always had before
"No reason just wondering" I answered
I realized that I had just put make-up on but I didn't care I wanted to take a shower anyways. I went upstairs put my notebook and my I-pod on my dresser and went to the hall closet to grab a towel. When I had everything I walked into the bathroom and started the shower up. While it was heating up I stripped off all of my clothes. I feel the water to make sure it isn't to hot then get in. When I was in the shower I noticed for the second time that day the tiny slices that were on my arm. There were many reasons that I cut myself for one, they represented all the people in my life that had abandoned me in my life. Ok so maybe not all the people who abandoned me I would run out of arm easy in that case. They also represented that day in Buttermilk Falls. My sister, my uncle and me were up there playing hide and go seek. It was my sister's turn to count so; my uncle and I went to hide. He led me to a place that I was positive nobody could find. I was happy about that fact and apparently so was he. He told me to come and duck next to him so that nobody would see us. I did as he instructed because it seemed logical at the moment. When I got over there he scooted me into his lap. It was uncomfortable but I stayed were I was afraid my sister would hear me moving and find us. Slowly as I sat there he reached for the top button on my pants and unbuttoned it. I stood up immediately and re-buttoned my pants.
"What's wrong?" he asked giving me a sly smile. It was the most horrible smile that I had ever seen in my entire life.
I was so scared that I couldn't speak or move at all. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him. I collapsed into his lap motionless. He started as he had before but this time moving his hand up my leg slightly faster than he had before un-buttoning my pants once again. My pants fit loosely on me so he had no trouble slipping his hands in to do what he had came to do and there was nothing that I could do but just sit there and cry softly to myself. He was stronger than me and quicker I had no choice but to just sit there and let him do what he did. When he was just about done he leaned his lips softly to my ear and whispered
"This will be our little secret now. Don't tell anyone or else". I listened to him mostly because who would believe me by then my dad had died and my mom blamed me for his death. Why on earth would she believe me over her own brother? So instead I just sat there and cried knowing that my father's death was my fault and that this was my punishment.
I zoned back to where I was and realized that I was sitting down in the shower crying much like I had that day in Buttermilk Falls. I sat there just crying softly for a while before I realized that the hot water was going to run out soon and I still hadn't washed my hair. I got up and grabbed my one-dollar generic brand that was specified for my sister, and me it was only my mom who got a special brand of tiresome shampoo. When I finished with my hair I quickly washed my body with our bar of soap and an old rag and rinsed off I turned off the now cold water. I stepped out and wrapped myself in the huge blue and white towel.
I sit on my bed reading Misery's Finest and listening to music just about all day. My butt started to vibrate so I took out my phone, looking at the caller id. It was James; he was one of my best friends. I looked at the text
Hey Maya
I hit the reply button quickly and typed something simple eager to see what his response to Damon would be.
Hey James guess what, I text back.
While I waited for him to text me back I changed the song on my I-pod and turned up the volume. After I did so James text me back
What.
I knew he would say that James was mostly my friend because he was always eager to hear what I had to say. James was taller than me by almost a foot and had short black spiky hair. He wasn't overly hot but I guess you could say that he was descent. I text him back quickly
u know the guy that lives next 2 me. I hit send button and resumed what I was doing, turning the volume up even more so that it was blasting my ears out.
Right before James text me back my sister came back and tapped me on the arm. I took out my headphones watching her wait patiently. I already knew exactly what she was going to say
"Mom wants you", Meems said as if she was afraid for my life. I could see the frown lines on her forehead.
"Ok "I said getting up and turning off my I-pod. James text me then and I text him before I went down stairs. "Yeah", he texts back. I responded leaving out a lot of information hoping that he would ask for more details. "Well he asked me out". I stuck phone in my back pocket and headed downstairs. Meems had already left getting only half way down before my mom started on me
"MAYA" she yelled
"I'm coming," I said almost just as loud
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG I HAVE BEEN CALLING YOU!" she exclaimed
She always thought that I was ignoring her but truthfully most of the time I couldn't hear her because I had my music blasting in my ears. Only on occasion did I actually purposefully ignore her.
"No I had my music on and my door closed," I said hoping my voice would calm her. Needless to say I didn't work.
"THEN MABY YOU SHOULDNT HAVE AN I-POD OR A DOOR" she said still continuing to scream at me.
"Mom its fine, god what do you want" I tried to give her only a small attitude but it came out sounding pretty bad. Suddenly my phone started to vibrate in my back pocket and my mom for some godforsaken reason heard it as well. "Shit" I mumbled to myself luckily she hadn't heard it though.
"Give me the phone," she said stretching out her hand motioning me to put my phone into her hand. I wasn't surprised but I also wasn't about to give up my phone either.
"WHAT? NO THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY PHONE YOU CAN TAKE MY I-POD I DON'T CARE BUT YOU ARE NOT TAKING MY PHONE" I knew I went a little far but I couldn't help it she pissed me off. You would think that I would be in the best of moods due to the fact that Damon had asked me out but since I wasn't sure if he was joking about it or not I was even more pissed off. I guess I would have to wait until tomorrow to ask him.
"DO NOT USE THAT ATTITUDE WITH ME RIGHT NOW" instead of reaching out for my phone again she turned and went to go and sit back down on the couch. "Fine but go and un-load the dishwasher" This statement further proved that my mom was completely bipolar. Instead of arguing further about the lost cause I just left and did what I was told. I walked through the short walk to my kitchen. The kitchen was the most colorful room in the house; it was my mother's idea. The walls were a bright yet ugly yellow that doesn't match any thing else in the kitchen. The floors also proved that point; they were black and white. To match the rest of the mismatched kitchen we also had dark brown cabinets. I went over to the dishwasher and opened it up. I put away the dishes on top first mostly consisting of cups and bowls. After I was done with that I put away the bottom portion, which consists of pot pans and silverware. When I finished with the dishwasher I remembered that James had text me. I took out my phone and looked at the text. "WHAT THE HELL!,DETALS". I laughed quietly to myself and text him back. "i dont know he just came over and asked me out. I think it's a little fishy what about you". I hit the send button. I was hoping he would agree with me. I was trying to relax from what had happened with my mom and confirmation that she was psycho would defiantly make me happy.
"MAYA" my mom called from the other room
Oh my god could she not leave me alone for more than a couple of minutes. I closed the dishwasher and walked back into the living room.
"WHAT?" I said a little sharper than I had really wanted. It hadn't even seemed to phase her one bit though.
"Will you run to the store for me and pick up something for you sister yourself and me for dinner" she said adding "I love you" to the end thinking that would just make everything better. She always did that. She was also more excited than me when I got my car and I soon learned why. Not that I opposed to having to run these occasional errands and get out of the house but sometimes it was just annoying. I had already gotten back into my jeans and long sleeve shirt from after my shower. Although I hadn't reapplied my make-up, I did however get a chance to re-straighten my hair. Before I left for the store I went upstairs to re-apply some make-up though not a lot though. Then because I didn't feel like dealing with it I put my hair up in a small clip. I put on some eyeliner and a little mascara then grabbed my car keys, which were on my dresser next to me. After I made sure I had everything I practically ran down the stairs actually running past my mom but my excitement faltered when I realized I had to grab money from her. I had my wallet and 40 dollars in there but I refused to pay for dinner I thought that that was my mom's one and only job that I had made her do. I went back the living room and walked over to my mom and held out my hand, not wanting to say anything. She actually started bursting out laughing as she placed a twenty in my hand. I turned on my heel and headed back for the door slipping on my flip-flops as well. I opened the front door, and walked out. As I went to close the door James text me back
I dont know its hard 2 tell. Did he just come over and ask u out tell me EXACTLY what happened.
I decided that since we still had at least 2 hours until dinnertime I would go and meet James for ice cream.
Yeah pretty much. Can u meet me for ice cream at dairy queen ill tell u everything ill even come pick u up and pay. I hit send knowing that I probably sounded completely desperate and lonely but hey, so what I was too annoyed to care about that at the moment.
I turned to start down the short walk to the parking lot and suddenly I saw Damon's door open. I freaked out a little bit but I kept walking and stayed calm as best I could. I walked down and he met me at the end of his walk. He still had on the same outfit as before but something was different about the way he looked I just couldn't tell.
"Hey" he said trying to sound as casual as possible. It was weird knowing that we were really sort of dating now.
"Hey" I answered shifting awkwardly.
"So," he said "you going somewhere"
"Um yeah" I answer "I'm going to pick something out for dinner and then meet a friend for some ice cream." I noticed the garbage bag in his hand, which further explained what he was doing. I suddenly remembered how horrible I probably looked right now.
"So" he said interrupting my train of thought "I'll pick you up at two o clock tomorrow" he started to smile which made me even more curious as to what his plan to humiliate me would be. I guess I would have to wait and see what happens tomorrow to fully understand it.
"Um yeah that sounds great. Were are we…." My phone going off in my back pocket interrupted me. I took it out and read the text. "Yeah pick me up now. I must know these things". I text him back quickly to get back to Damon k I responded. Then I turned my attention back to Damon.
"I'm sorry where were we," I asked.
"You were going to ask me where I'm taking you but I'm not going to tell you it's a surprise" his smile covered his entire face reaching his eyes.
"Ok" I said laughing softly. "Well I got to go, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ok, yeah can' wait" he answered.
I desperately hoped that he wasn't faking this. I wanted so much for this to be real but there was this voice in my head that kept telling me that if I did let him in he would only break my heart like everyone else. I turned to look back at him at the same time that he did. I looked straight again my face turning bright red and started to giggle softly hearing that he did the same thing. I walked over to my used red Chevy pick up truck got in and started the ignition. For as long as I can remember I have always wanted a truck so, when I was finally old enough I jumped at the chance of buying one. Dam why did I have to wear jeans it was almost 85 degrees now in the small town God I could have at least worn shorts that wouldn't expose my scares at all. It was just begging summer break, we got out of school just a week ago. I turned on the air conditioning and sat there for a few moments waiting for the cool air to reach my face. After I was cooled off enough I pressed down on the gas and backed out slowly. Ever since my dads accident I had been driving much more carefully. I pulled out of the parking lot and onto Jefferson rd. remembering the accident like it was just yesterday and not three years ago
"I'm sorry but there was nothing we could do" the nurse told my crying mother at the hospital. I knew what they were talking about and I couldn't help but put my knees to my chest and cry as well. My mom had just found out that a drunk driver had hit my dad and he had died. I was in the car too but the driver had missed my side of the car. I had blacked out for only a few minutes before I was alert. I woke up and my dad was just lying there. The car had been tipped over on my side. I crawled out through the broken glass that was everywhere. When I was out successfully I took a look around there was glass and people surrounding me everywhere. I looked at the other driver noticing that he was dead there was no doubt about that. My first instinct was to get my father out of the car but I didn't know if that would hurt him even more. Suddenly I heard a girl scream
"I CALLED 911"and as if they heard her, an ambulance came up from the left side of the road. I acted as quickly as I could crawling to the side where my dad was taking his hand so that hopefully we wouldn't be separated. There was a gash in my forehead and something was wrong with my leg toward my lower calf; I could feel the pain there. I tapped my father and shook him slightly; he didn't move. He just lied there motionless. There was blood everywhere. I felt unconscious coming to me but I fought it with great strength. No more than a month later I was carried away on a gurney. Even though I was scared and didn't think any noise would come out I started to scream
"NO DADDY, DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME NOOOOOO!" they wouldn't listen me they just kept repeating the same thing over and over again.
"Your fathers going to be fine. Now you need to tell me what hurts" I couldn't think clearly let alone tell them what was wrong with me when my father was still lying in the tipped car practically dead and it was allmy fault. They loaded me onto the ambulance and like I was no more than just a heavy piece of cargo. All I could see was more were what looked like thousands of serious faces all ready to do whatever job what handed to them. I leaned up on my elbows bringing some faces into better focus. I started to mumble trying to get up them to listen to me. "I'm fine can someone please go and find out how my father is and give him some help" I heard one of the guys talk to the other people, it was obvious that he held some kind of authority of great importance. After he was done talking three people two guys and one girl got up and jumped out the back. I hoped they were going to check on my father who I thought was still laying there practically dead in the car. The two guys that were still in the car came to examine me. One of the guys was tall and kind of handsome he looked to be in his late twenties at most; He came over to check my pulse. The second guy was slightly less hot was and more round like. He came over to examine me in better detail. When they were finished they closed the back doors like they were ready to leave.
"What were are we going" I mumbled somewhat comprehensible.
"Were going to the hospital to further examine your wounds that gash in your forehead is deep and you leg has a deep muscle bruise" he finished looking me straight in the eye
"But not without my dad right" I knew he could sense the worry and the pleading look that was easily present on my face.
"There is another ambulance on the way for the two de-" there was a brief pause as he thought once more about his word choice. "I mean to pick up your father" he finally finished. I could hear a little sadness in his voice. He was lying at first my father is not dead. I kept repeating that the whole way to the hospital.
It didn't take that long to get to the hospital. We were there in less than ten minutes. They got me out of the ambulance and onto another gurney in no time. There was another ambulance that pulled up but before I could see who was in it they had already wheeled me into the ER.
I knew I would always remember that day and always blame myself for it as well. Maybe if I had pulled him out or if I had seen the drunk driver coming instead of fooling around with the radio then I could have saved his life. It was my fault what happened and both my mom and I agreed with that.
I turned onto Swan St. and into James driveway. I knew he was expecting me so I just honked the horn a few times. He came out dressed in blue shorts and a red cut off shirt. He had his hair spiked up as usual and a grin spread wide across his face. He came over to my truck, opened the door and hopped in already asking me questions.
"So are you going to tell me or not" he asked first. He was in the seat putting his seat belt and starring me straight in the eye a serious look on his face. I couldn't help but burst out laughing when I saw his face. I could see a smile wavering on his face too.
"I'm sorry" I said "but that look on your face is just way too funny". I kept laughing and couldn't seem to stop. It just felt so good to laugh in light of what was happening and all the flashbacks. I looked back over at James and saw that he was laughing as well.
"Ok, Ok" he said suddenly serious "now fess up what happened," I laughed a little more, saluting him saying
"Yes, sir, what do you want to know sir" I laughed again only this time it wasn't as hard as last time.
"Everything" was James's simple response. I backed out of the driveway and made a left turn heading towards the closest Dairy Queen. I explained what had happened when I was sitting by the rock and Damon interrupted me. When we got there I pulled into the small parking lot and put my put my truck into park then turned off the ignition.
"So, what do you think? Is this all some sort of gimmick or is he serious about wanting to go out with me". I asked James climbing out of the side of my truck and grabbing my small wallet, which sat in between the two sets. James had climbed out his side too. As we walked into the entrance of the shop he answered me.
"I honestly have no idea, but I guess I would have to say," he took a brief pause then continued, "Just go with it. If it turns out he wasn't lying and it turns out to be a happily ever after then great. Although if it doesn't then it doesn't matter because we didn't really expect much anyways", he finished shrugging. I had to think about that. In some ways he was right but in others he was extremely wrong. If I let him in then it would break my heart just like three years ago. If I found out that this was some sort of pity date or joke date then it would only make my depression worse, but I answer him smiling anyways.
"Yeah I guess your right"
"No, you know I'm right" he said smiling trying to make me feel better. We laughed as we got in line. There weren't much people so the line moved really quickly. When I got to the cashier a blond woman who was in her mid twenties it looked about. I ordered our usual.
"Hi how may I help you?" she said repeating her usual statement that she spent repeating almost all day. I almost felt sorry for her.
"Hi can I have two twists in a chocolate sprinkled waffle cone please". I saw her punch in a few buttons onto the computer. Then she walked over to where the waffle cones were and took out two of the chocolate sprinkled ones and filled then with both chocolate and vanilla ice cream. When she's done she walks over to hand me the cones. Before I walk away I say,
"Thanks"
"Your welcome" she says back politely.
James and me find a table near the left corner window and sit down.
" So, we have been over my love life what about yours?" I ask James knowing the answer before I ask. James is gay so he finds it hard to find another guy that is open to a relationship.
"No, not yet I wish gay guys would be more open to admitting that they are into the same sex" he says frowning. I laugh nodding my head. There is a moment of silence so; I start to eat the side of my ice cream that is dripping.
We talk for a while longer eating our ice creams during pauses in our conversation. Soon after I remembered that I still had to go to the store and get something for dinner. I saw that James had finished his ice cream, as did I so that gave me a chance to use the restroom.
"I'll be right back," I say to James as I get up.
I walk to the back corner where the bathrooms are and enter the one with the girl figurine. After I'm done I stop and look into the bathroom mirror. I can see the worried and frustrated lines on my face as I think about what I'm going to do about Damon. I realize I better get going if I want to make it home before dinnertime. I open the bathroom door and return to the table where James is sitting and playing with a saltshaker.
"I have to get going", I say
"That's fine I have to be home now anyways", he says adding, "My grandma is coming up. Yay" he says sarcastically. I laugh with him as we leave and walk back to where I parked my truck. I get in on the driver side and start it, turning on the air conditioning. When James is in next to me he starts to ask me more questions about Damon. "So, what do you think this special surprise place is? Also I really need to see this guy". I doesn't surprise me that James doesn't know who Damon is. Even though Damon and I are neighbors we don't attend the same high school. James and I attend Delis high school on the east side of town while Damon attends precision high school on the west side. It is something to do with a weird cut off on the district. Somehow I get stuck at delis while Damon goes to precision.
"Um, I have no Idea". I say ignoring his comment about wanting to see Damon. He continues saying suggestions about the date anyways.
"I bet it's a romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant. Or maybe it will be a movie or-" he stop short lost in thought. Truthfully he sounded more excited about this than me as he was going on the date.
"I highly doubt it's a dinner he's picking me up to early for that", I comment
"I don't know" he says, "but it will have food all dates do it adds romance". This makes me laugh out loud. I had to give him credit though it made sense most dates, so I have seen, did contain some type of food. James stares at me mystified. "What?" he asks innocently.
I don't bother answer him instead I focus back on the road. I pull into James's driveway. He unbuckles his seat belt and gets out.
"Next time it's your treat," I yell after him. I hear him laugh as he reaches his door. I wait in his driveway to make sure he gets in before I leave. I decide to go to wegmans instead of tops because it's farther and I'm trying to stay as far away from my mom as possible. On my way to the store I try to distract myself from Damon by thinking about what I should get for dinner tonight. I decide to quickly that I am going to get chicken potpies. Before long I'm thinking of Damon yet again. He surrounds my thought completely. Why on earth would he like me let alone ask me out. I have been asked out a few times by guys but not anyone similar to Damon. I have always said no to guys when they ask me out. Really, I don't even know why I said yes to Damon there was just something about him that made me say yes no matter if I didn't want to. I get to wegmans at about the same time everyone else did I think. It's completely crowded. I'm forced into parking way in the back. I park my truck and grab my wallet from the small compartment between my seats. I walk in and grab a small cart. I walk past all the produce and into the freezer section. I walk all the way down and find the biscuits. I pick out the cheapest brand I can find and put them in the cart thinking that maybe I should grab two. I put two in the cart and walk down to pick up some milk as well. I pick one with a pink label, 1%. I look at the expiration date and figure it will be ok for a while. I stick it in the cart next to the biscuits. The last thing I need are the potpies so, I turn down a freezer aisle to get them. I pick out two roast beef for my mom and three chickens for my sister and me. I don't think I need anything else so I continue going walking to the exit.
"Hey" someone says behind me. The voice sounds so I turn around. I smile realizing who it is. One of my friends Jessica straddle is smiling at me.
Jessica is tall with straight black hair. She usually wears it down but she has it tied up in I messy ponytail now. Her figure is similar to mine long legs toned from being on the track team and a small mid section. She's wearing a pair of really short jeans shorts and some layered black and white tank tops. Jessica is one of the people I like out of our group. She also happens to be one of the most outgoing of our group. I have always wished that maybe some of her spontaneous personality would rub of on me but it never did. She's standing next to her mom Teresa and kid sister Mandy who happens to be my sister's best friend.
"Hey" I answer her "What's up?"
"Nothing. God aren't you sweating your but off" she says taking in my jeans and long sleeve. Her mom and sister have kept walking and are out of ear shot but she still refrains from using a swear word in case.
"Truthfully yeah I hadn't realized how hot it was going to be today it wasn't nearly this hot yesterday was it?"
"No, it wasn't I don't think", she says. She smiles so I smile back. "Well I have to go catch up with my mom but call me sometime so we can get together." I nod
"Yeah defiantly I would love that I'll see you later" she nods and turns to leave skipping off in the direction her mom went.
Jessica always reminded me of a little girl really she's always skipping and eager to do anything under the sun. She also always had a certain charisma that made people like her nobody ever wanted to tell her bad news afraid she would get really upset. Even though we were the same age I thought of her as just my little sister.
I start walking to the exit but turn around and go back the other direction. I realize that I am in serous need of ice cream. I look at all the cartons for a few seconds trying to find my favorite one. Finally I see it, peanut butter cup cookie dough. It has been my favorite since I was little. My dad used to buy it for me and he told me that it was my special treat for when I was good. We would curl up on the couch with huge spoons and the carton not even bothering with bowls. Thinking of my dad made me feel bad but I tried to let it go. I put the ice cream in the cart and head up to the registers. I place everything on the register belt and wait for my turn to pay. The total wasn't much only around sixteen dollars. I hand the woman my twenty and grab my bags I put the cart back and walk down to my truck. I get in and glance at the time on the dashboard only five forty. I back out of the parking space hoping to get home without thinking too much about Damon. Boy did I fail there; I thought about him the whole way home. I pull into the parking lot and reach over to grab my wallet and the groceries from the passenger seat. I get out and close the door locking it behind me. I can't help but glance over at Damon's door as I walk to my door. I'm glad he's not outside. Finally I reach my door. I open it taking my flip-flops off and setting the groceries down on the floor next to me. I close the door quickly so my mom has nothing to complain about. I stand in the door way and take a deep breath and pick the groceries back up. I set the groceries on the kitchen counter.