Author's Note: I decided to do my first A/N. I hope you guys don't mind too much. So anyway, I love the fact that I'm getting reviews for these because when I get one particular review that makes me laugh / want to write more, I do. For example my first chapter had an anonymous review from "Paul" it made me laugh. I forgot to do an A/N mentioning that in my second chapter. Anyway, I hope you guys who read this will keep reviewing and don't worry, I won't do these boring A/N's too often. I just really wanted to put that out there that I'm grateful my story has gotten so many hits in such a short period of time. Bye guys. :)
Chapter 3: Testosterone Boost
It's been about a week since the amusement park fiasco. I didn't talk to Dawn about it but that doesn't mean I stayed away from her either. I don't think she remembers what happened either. She's still cold and distant. Reggie's right now, she's cold but she's not straight up rude like I was. I guess we are different in that way.
However, sometimes I catch her just blanking out but the thing is, she always turns sheet white when she just spaces out. She always looks afraid; I really want to know what happened to her that caused her so much fear. However, every time I mention the past, she shuts down on me. She seriously frustrates me. Can't she just tell me, us, the truth and get it over with? I don't even want to care about her in all honest but I realize that I have to because I care about her. I hate to admit it but I do. Seriously, I think I should reconsider my "soft Paul" thing. It's so much more troublesome.
"Paul. Paul. PAUL!" Reggie screamed... in my ear.
"WHAT?" I screamed back.
"You were spacing out again."
"Again?"
"Yeah, you've been spacing out a lot this past week, is something wrong?"
"No. Everything is peachy keen." I said sarcastically.
"No seriously, what's wrong? Peachy keen? Come on..." I want to tell him about Dawn and her panic attack at the amusement park but I can't. I feel like it's my responsibility and secret now.
"Well... Dawn's still giving me a hard time," I lied smoothly.
"Oh, thinking about Dawn, eh?" said Reggie with a smirk. I didn't get his innuendo for about ten seconds. Then, I understood. I felt really uneasy and I know my body temperature must have gone up like a hundred degrees.
"Yes, but not that way," I replied coolly. I don't know how I'm able to keep a straight face and tone when my insides are all jiggly and weak.
"Oh come on, have a little fun," said Reggie with a dramatic eye roll. Seriously, what's up with everybody and taking my eye rolls! That's still MY thing!
Anyway, Reggie's not really good company. I decided to go find Dawn again. Regardless of how grumpy she is, I really do prefer her over Reggie. I told Reggie that I'll go hang out with Dawn and I left to go next door. I think the smartest thing that Reggie ever did was buying this apartment. It's located conveniently next to Dawn's house.
I knocked on the door and Dawn opened the door. This surprised me because normally it's Johanna that does.
"Hey, what's up?" I asked.
"Nothing much," she replied and then tried to close the door. Seriously, she's already tried this before; she really doesn't learn her lesson.
"Ahhh, not so fast," I said
"Damn it," I heard her muttered.
"Where's Johanna?"
"Out."
"Oh, well in that case, I guess I'm going in," I said as I pushed the door open farther and walked in. I plopped down on her couch in her living. She walked in and looked at me with slight disdain.
"Let's watch TV," I said. She rolled her eyes. Again, people need to stop with the eye rolling!
"You live next door, go home and watch your own TV," came the reply.
"Well I want to watch TV with you."
"I'm going to my room," she said as she turned to leave for upstairs. I jumped off the couch and grabbed her and pulled her over to the couch. I pushed her on the couch and sat her down. Then, quickly I sat down and plopped my legs on her lap, thus trapping her.
"I don't think so, we're going to watch TV together," I said while smiling sweetly at her, well the sappy, "I got my way" smile.
"Seriously, dude? I want to go to my room," she said.
"What did you plan on doing in your room anyway?"
"What I usually do."
"And that is..?"
"Stuff."
"Wow, aren't you detailed?"
"I don't have to explain myself to you and what I do in my room."
"I bet you're watching dirty videos," I said while snickering. She turned to look at me with a face of disgust; there is a really faint blush on her cheeks.
"You're disgusting."
"You're the one blushing."
"I'm not blushing," she argued.
"Sure, let's see what's on TV." I flipped through the channels; honestly there is nothing good on TV.
"Since you're holding me captive, do you mind if I pick?" she said quietly. She sounds somewhat pleasant, I feel like she has a plan and I feel slightly worried but I gave her the remote. She flipped through some channels before stopping. It was playing "Mean Girls."
"NO WAY," I said. I am SO not watching that. It's one of the movies that a guy should never have to watch.
"You said I can pick, if you agree to watch this, and I mean WATCH THIS, then I will willingly stay," she said trying to bargain with me. Sadly, I prefer a more agreeable Dawn than one that's forced to stay.
"Fine," I said. She looked at me like I had grown an extra head. She obviously didn't think that I would agree.
"You have to watch it with your eyes open, no bathroom breaks or plugging your ears. If you need to use the washroom, do it now," she demanded. I knew that if I got up, she would go running upstairs. Luckily I used the washroom at home so I'm good to go.
We watched the movie in peace; some scenes did disturb me though. The part where the math teacher or whatever takes off her shirt and flashes her bra to the whole class made Dawn chuckle. I didn't react to her laughing but it was like music to my ears because I haven't heard that tinkling laughter in such a long time. I used to think it was obnoxious and loud but it's very melodious now. Then, we saw a bit more of the movie. I chuckled at the guy asking if the girl wanted her muffins buttered. I'm surprised he didn't get slapped for saying that though. Maybe I should have Reggie say that to Maylene. She would probably flip.
Then, we got to the scenes where the dumb red-headed girl is desperately trying to be one of "The Polymers," I think that's what they're called. Like I understand the whole plan and all but then she really wants to be popular or something. I don't get it, why would you want to be a polymer? Girls are so confusing.
I really dislike the damn names of the characters too, I mean Katie Heroin? Are they trying to promote drug abuse or usage? I mean, not to mention, she acts like a crackhead too. She practically throws herself over that other guy, I have no idea what his name is. I am not good with names, I couldn't even remember Dawn's name when we were younger. Gosh, girls are scary. Is this really what they're like? Luckily, Dawn's not like that.
Then we got to the scene where this blonde and this guy were on the bed like twisting around making out. It was really awkward watching that with Dawn next to me. I looked over at her at the same time she looked at me to see my reaction. We both have this awkward stare thing going on for ten seconds before we both turn away abruptly.
I was taken back by the scene where the blonde gets hit by the bus. Then, she makes this dumb joke about the girl dying and saying just kidding. Seriously, this movie is making my eyes bleed. How can girls like crap like this? Dawn was thoroughly enjoying it, I can tell. Every time I look over at her, I can see her mesmerized by the movie. I guess, this is the leftovers of her happy, girly, and cheerful Dawn past.
We got to the dance where they all have their little "perfect, fantasy" ending where everyone is happy. Then, we get to the ending where she mentions that "Girl World" is at peace or whatever. What a stupid message, I doubt girls act like this in real life. Well, maybe they do, but I'm a guy, they don't do stuff in like in front of us. Overall, I was just glad the movie is finished.
"See, I survived," I said.
"I didn't think you were actually going to make it before you start crying," Dawn said sarcastically.
"Well, do I get a prize?"
"The bragging rights to tell everyone in the world that you watched "Mean Girls"," she said with smirk. She's taking another one of my trademarks!
"Why don't you make me lunch," I suggested with a smirk.
"Why don't you make yourself lunch and increase your femininity, you've already watched "Mean Girls," that was like the first step," she retorted. Damn this girl has good come-backs.
"Why don't you be the woman and do it?"
"Why don't you make like a tree and leave?"
"Because I'm not a tree, are you suggesting that you're not a woman?" I asked with a snicker.
"I'm 100% woman, thank you very much," she replied, I can tell that she's getting annoyed but it's just so much fun teasing her.
"Not a very good woman."
"What defines a "good" woman?"
"You have like no charm of a woman," I said, I don't really mean it but honestly, when I'm teasing her, I don't mean half of the things I say.
"Oh really now?" she asked while raising an eyebrow, "I have no charm?"
"None whatsoever."
"Yet I still get guys asking me out?" I scowled at this.
"They just want you because you're Dawn Berlitz, the famous coordinator, not because you have charm," I feel like we're heading too close to the danger zone. I should stop soon.
She doesn't reply. She winced at my insult and then smirked. Then she walked up to me and grabbed my face and pulled my head down so that she can crash her lips against mine. I was seriously taken back. I flailed my arms like a little girl and pushed her off. I have never been so embarrassed in my whole life. Seriously, I bet my whole face is beet red right now.
"For someone that doesn't have charm, I can really make the "cold-hearted" Paul blush like a little girl," she retorted with smirk. I cannot believe I just freaked out and flailed my arms because I was kissed. Maybe she's right; my masculinity went down the drain the moment I agreed to watch "Mean Girls."
Unluckily for her, my testosterone runs very high. I walked up to her and held her face like she did with mine and bent my head down to crash my lips on hers. She didn't see it coming, she was frozen with shock. However, unlike her innocent kiss, I actually did a little more action with my mouth. Soon enough, she realized what I was doing and pushed me off like I did to her. She covered her lips with the back of her hand and her face was as red as a tomato. I smirked at her. She just kept covering her lips and blushing.
"I think I win," I proclaimed, "I will see you later, maybe tomorrow." I headed for the door and I reached it as Johanna opened the door.
"Oh hey Paul! It's nice to see you," she said warmly.
"Hey Johanna," I said with a smile.
"Are you staying for lunch?"
"Ah no, I was just about to head out."
"Why don't you stay for lunch?" I was about to decline but then I realized that I can silently torment Dawn a little more with just my presence.
"Sure!"
"Great! Why don't you go hang out with Dawn while I make you guys some lunch?"
I smirked; I will have a lot of fun with this.
I walk back into the living to find Dawn sitting there with both of her hands over her mouth and still blushing. She's spaced out, but she doesn't look afraid like she usually did when she spaces out. She looks embarrassed. Honestly, she looks so cute like that blushing on the couch.
I walked over to her and looked at her right in front of her face, inches away from her. Finally, she blinked and looked at me and jumped, thus smashing her forehead against mine.
"OWWW!" she screamed. I flinched in pain.
"I've always knew you were hardheaded but damn, your head is like a rock," I said while rubbing my aching forehead.
"Speak for yourself, if my head is like a rock, yours is like steel," she said, also rubbing her forehead. Then she spoke again, "Why are you still here?"
"Your mom invited me to dinner."
"Well, go tell her you can't eat here and go home."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to eat with you."
"That's exactly why I chose to stay."
"I hate you."
"No you don't. You wish you did though," I replied with a smirk. She just looked at me and then looked away. She didn't say anything but lay down on the couch and closed her eyes.
"Aren't you afraid that I will kiss you again if you closed your eyes?" I asked.
"You wouldn't."
I took that as a challenge so I leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Oh but I would." Her eyes fluttered open and she tried to sit up instantly and what does she do? She head-butts me, again. This time her forehead hit my chin because I was leaning down.
"UGH, NOT AGAIN!" she screeched while clutching her forehead as I'm clutching my chin.
"It's your fault... again," I accused.
"Whatever," she grumbled.
"LUNCH IS READY!" said Johanna in a really cheerful voice. Gosh, I can see where Dawn used to get her bubbly personality from.
"Coming," I replied. Dawn said nothing, she got up and walked to the dining room, I just followed behind her. The aroma of lunch filled my nostrils and made my mouth water. It was spaghetti. I sat down across from Dawn as Johanna handed me a heaping plateful of food. It looked really good and it smelled even better. I dug in and the delicious taste of perfectly blended tomato sauce and soft noodles flood my mouth.
"This is delicious!" I said after swallowing. I may be a guy but I still have table manners. I looked at Dawn and she was there eating her spaghetti as fast as she can, no doubt trying to get rid of me. I decided to kick her lightly. She jumped and choked on her spaghetti.
She started coughing and stared daggers at me. I just smiled sweetly at her. Johanna ran up to her and started patting her on the back trying to help. However, Dawn just keeps coughing. She started to turn red from all of the coughing. Then, I felt bad. I went to get her water. It took about five minutes to stop her coughing. Her red was seriously red by the end. I felt really bad.
"Sorry..." I said, trying to apologize. She just looks at me and then ignored me. There's no doubt that she's furious so I decided not to push her on the subject. I finished my food and decided that I should really go home.
I got up from the table and washed my dishes and then told Johanna, "Thank you for the wonderful meal, I think I should be going now."
"Oh alright, you should come more often for meals when Reggie's not home," said Johanna.
"Thank you for the offer, bye Johanna," I said. Dawn wasn't looking at me but she glanced up for a couple of seconds to look at her through her peripheral vision, I nodded a goodbye. She pretended to not have seen me. I decided to just walk out.
"I'm home," I yelled into the house.
"Oh, welcome back Paul!" Reggie yelled as he came to the front door to greet me.
"Thanks."
"How it was at Dawn's?"
"Ehh... the same, I'm going to go to my room now," I excused myself as I head upstairs and contemplate today's events. I think I pushed Dawn too far today, I shouldn't have stayed for lunch. Gosh, I feel really bad about it. I should buy her something to make up for it. I don't know what though.
