Chapter two: Memories
Dad looked at me as if I was born with two heads as I told him about last night. It could have been the fact I told him of Jojo, or the face that I was actually smiling like a giddish school who.
" Ya, I meet him at the abandoned observorty last night" I replied while eating a pancake piece off of my fork. Dad looked at me, cocked an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes. Clamping his hands together he was finding ways to prod me.
" Max, why did you even go near there? I know it's hidden in the woods and you should know the woods are dangerous at night" I rolled my eyes and wiped my chin of excess syrup with my arm.
" Yeah I know, but it was fun, I actually laughed and smiled like I did back home with Jake we talked for hours, well I did mostly he doesn't talk at all" I explained while Dad watched with eager eyes at me spazzing about this boy.
" Hmmmm, is he like Jake?" I scrunched my face in thought and dislodged the emotion once I found my answer, " Not really, Jake is more . . . . per see talkative and he wears more colors then Jojo" In my head I compared the two, Blond hair to Black, Blue eyes to Brown, Pasty colored clothes to non color. Yep, two different people yet for some reason I felt that there was something about Jake in Jojo I couldn't put my finger on.
" I think it's great you found someone Max" Mom interupted as she placed steaming, hot waffles in front of us. Rosa squealed in delight as Dad placed a " big" waffle on her plate. I watched Mom take a seat on the chair, lean back and rub her stomach contently.
" Yo Mom, when's your ultrasound I'm curious to see what it's gonna be" I asked while twirling my fork in the air for contentment.
" Next week honey" Mom replied as Dad stood up and grabbed my plate and rinsed it in the sink. Dad walked back over and took a seat.
" Fawn honey, I'm not really sure we should let Max go into that place, I mean it's old and in the middle of the woods, what would happen if there's an emergency?" I rolled my eyes as I let my head fall onto my hand. Mom too rolled her eyes.
" Sweetie, Maxine is a big girl she can take care of herself, and she's not by herself and by the sounds of it this Jojo sounds like a fine young man" I found myself nodding immensely at her words.
" I promise i'll be home by 12 tonight" I declared while crossing my heart in responce, Dad narrowed his eyes while Mom smiled sweetly at me. Finally Dad, giving up sighed.
" Alright, but if he touches you or asks you to do anything"
I stood up and smiled.
" Nah, Jojo wouldn't do that" I replied as I walked out of the door and walked outside, before I shut the door I heard my dad mutter,
" It's always the quiet ones"
It was nearing sundown when I set foot out towards the woods, tonight was much warmer then the other and made me feel more comfortable as I had the sun above me still showing much of the forest. It was also much quieter which made a bit creeped out by the stillness. However in what felt like minutes I saw the observatory in front of me.
Grinning, I ran towards the staircase and dashed up it, despite pleas from my legs hurting. I ran towards the secret entrance and pushed it open, as I did I knocked someone to the floor with a thud. Opening my eyes I saw my hands fell loosely between his arms, pinning Jojo down. His eyes wide with surprise as his mouth was hinged open taking in gasps. Myself shaking with laughter as I stood up and slithered away from him, giving him time to retaile and stand up. He brushed himself of causally and smiled turning towards me, he placed his hands in his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.
Well anyways I haven't got much planned tonight, wanna play some cards or something?
" Sure why not" I agreed as I let him led me towards a room I never saw before. My mouth gasped in amazement at the row of violins, strings of harps and other various items were built together making one huge instrument, I turned to Jojo mouth open like a codfish, his face red from embarrassment in return.
" Did you?. . . .did you build this?" I asked with wide eyed amazement.
Jojo shook his head.
" Wow, that is crazy!" I stuttered looking for the word as I walked and touched the strings of the violin, making a plucking sound with my touch, I smiled as I turned towards him and watched him stare at me.
" Don't worry I'm not gonna break anything!" I replied as I jokingly held my hands above my head, he laughed a silent laugh before sitting down and asking me to join him.
We sat in the setting sun for a couple of minutes listening to the silent ticking of an unseen timer. I cupped my head in my hands as I watched Jojo catalogue what I was wearing, in his conclusions he scrambled and found a piece of paper and started writing.
You know from many Who's your different looking, I mean I never saw a Who leave their hair down straight or one that wore pants for that matter.
I nodded in agreement as I looked at my outfit myself. I always brush my blond hair making sure it's straight as a board with no puffiness or knots hidden within it. I also picked out my red corsett with the grey zipper on the front accompanied with my black skinny jeans, I knew I was different then most, however it was the originality that I loved about myself.
" Yeah I know I'm weird" I said while slapping my hands on my inner thighs and sticking out my tongue in my rebellions.
Jojo cocked his head and raised an eyebrow before politely smiling and writing another note down.
What is Whatville like? I never went there before.
" Well it's pretty much just flat lands, perfect for farming." I paraphrased as I thought of how dull Whatville seemed now. Funny, never thought I would be saying that.
Jojo nodded and took the paper from me.
Did you have many friends there?
I nodded.
" Yep, I had Jake and his friends" My heart skipped at beat at the sound of his name, Jojo noticed this and swallowed a bit.
What is your family like?
" Dad is a travel agent who always was on the road, even as a kid I remember him being up at the crack of crow piss" I laughed a bit then abide. " And Mom was a homemaker always at home taking care of either me or Rosa, Rosa is my baby sister"
Jojo smiled a bit and then took a new piece of paper and started writing something long down.
My dad is the Mayor of Whoville and he always goes on about how he wants me to be the new mayor, however I don't really wanna do that and I'm scared that if I say something to him, it'll hurt him more then I intend to you know what I mean? And my mom had a hassle having to look after my 96 sisters.
" 96 sisters?" I repeated with a bit of a gulp lodged in my throat. Jojo smirked and nodded in accord.
Ya, I'm the oldest out of all of them, and see I don't really talk around dad very much let alone anybody. I'm just scared I'll hurt his feelings.
" I understand" I acknowledged, " I think that maybe if you tell your dad what you wanna do he might understand as well" I felt myself move closer as I locked my eyes with his.
" What kind of things are you into by the way?" I asked as I realised I had my hand over his. Jojo noticed this too and unpiled his hand from mine.
I like inventing and music.
" I like music too" I answered. He smiled at this and then stood up abruptly. He gave me the finger motion for one second and ran off into the darkness. I sat for a minute or two until I heard the violin behind me start up and play a happy little tune. Like an orchestra starting up I heard a piano start to play, the harp perked up in rhythm, everything thing came alive. I took a peek up at the ceiling as I saw it start to move reaviling the stars starting to come out, I breathed in awe at the music and sight.
Jojo startled me lightly as without warning he took a seat beside me.
Isn't it lovely? I love stargazing and I love music, it's the two things that set me free and let me be me.
" Ya" I whispered as I narrowed my eyes, the music was like a wonderful lullaby. Pulling me to sleep with it's intoxicating rhythm and instruments. Jojo noticed this and leaned closer towards me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me close very much as to lean my head on his shoulder, letting the sleep succumb to me.
" Jojo?" I murmured to him, he turned his face to me letting his cheek rest lightly on my head, his soft, steady breathing linger in my ears. Even though no words were exchanged I knew he was saying yes in his mind.
" I . . . .I" I started as I used my energy to perk my head up and look him in the eyes. His sweet, beautiful eyes melting and mixing into his blue colored ones. I felt my face heat up as Jojo was mingled and mangled into Jake. I felt my breathe exhilarate as I placed a hand on his face and looked him in the eye.
" Jake?" I asked quietly, he cocked his head in confusion as I let my fingers slid down his chest, piano keys playing in perfect time as if someone dabbing the keys in order slowly. His heart beat speeding up sounding like a drum. I laughed a bit as I leaned forwards and came close to his ear and I shutter as I whisper.
" I love you too"
I felt my head snap up and start to shake in tremors. I gasp for breathe as I look around and find myself in the observatory. When I turn around I find Jojo, red as a beet and looking straight at me, a note lodged in his hands being crumpled up. Petrified written clearly on his face he passed the note to me.
Max? Are you okay? You passed out then started . . . . . .touching my face and calling me Jake.
I stared blankly at the note and returned my gaze to Jojo, tears already welling up in my eyes. It was just a dream, a blank, wonderful dream. I tried my best to smile but I could feel my body breaking and just then I could feel tears dripping down my face. Jojo, no word or reply ran over to me and held onto me. Eyes filled with worry.
" I'm okay" I promised to him as I felt myself intwine my fingers into his fur. " Just a little homesick that's all" No, I was heartbroken as well, it was about time I realised I loved him just as much as he loved me.
Suddenly Jojo took a nimble finger and wiped away the tears and stared at them. He secured his look with mine and smiled serenely. The look in his eyes read to me, I'm here don't worry I'll be your friend. Even though I sobbed louder, I hinged my arms around his back pulling him to curve with my body into a hug. As I cried in his chest I felt his hands wrap around my back and rub it.
" You know you don't have to do this" I replied as me and Jojo walked through the woods together, after my episode he was content on walking me home and making sure I got there as well. I knew it was well past midnight which meant I would be hearing about it tomorrow at breakfast, I sighed quietly not wanting to get unwanted attention from Jojo.
When we hit the city streets I turned around to face him.
" Thanks Jojo I can walk home from here, you better get going yourself" I replied as I turned away and started down the street. I felt his hand grab me and pull me around, his look was plain, telling me he was walking me home. I sighed in defeat and succumbed.
I never really said anything else to him as I knew there was no paper and no way he would respond to me either. I placed my hands in my pockets and kicked a rock around my feet until we arrived at my house.
" Well this is it" I smiled as I walked to the doorstep, I turned around to bid adieu to Jojo before I walked in.
It was pitch dark and silent, I gulped as the clock showed it was 1:30 in the morning. I tiptoed up the stairs and slowly opened my door and walked to my cot. As I sat down I heard a crinkling of paper in my pocket, curiously I opened my corset pocket and sure enough a piece of paper was lodged neatly in it. As I opened it up I recognized Jojo's writing right away.
Sweet dreams and by the way, do you wanna meet somewhere in the morning next time?
- Jojo
For a reason I felt my heart flutter at his letter and a smile pull at my face, I sighed blissfully as I placed the letter beside my blanket. I let my back fall onto it as I pulled the blanket atop of me, I turned around as I could see the moon perfectly in my window, closing my eyes I whispered.
" Of coarse Jojo of coase"