It has been a month since school began and I've found myself in a routine. I get up in the morning, breakfast with the parents, off to school for the day, home to do homework, dinner with the parents, and then either more homework or read a medical book. Sometimes, James or Camille will come over to study and on a rare occasion get me to get out of the house and do something with them. This is pretty much the routine I've had my whole life, except this time one thing is different, Kendall.
I can't stop thinking about him. Every morning the first thing I think of when I wake up is him. I stare at him all the time when I see him in the halls or at lunch. During English I barely pay attention, which is so unlike me, because all I can focus on is the blonde sitting next to me. My parents and friends have noticed that something is off with me, but I keep telling them that its nothing and I'm not sure how much longer they are going to believe me.
I was sitting at our table during lunch on Friday, staring at Kendall. Suddenly a piece of food hit me in the face. " What was that for?"
"You're doing it again." said James
"Doing what," I asked.
"I'm not sure. I know how you look when you get lost in your head, but this look is different, you keep having this weird smile on your face, its kind of creepy"
" I agree with James whats up with you lately. You haven't been acting like yourself, its like something is constantly on your mind"
I considered telling my friends about Kendall, I knew I could trust them. I just didn't really know what my feeling were for Kendall. Luckily, I didn't have to answer because Jo walked up to our table. James nearly fell out oh seat when he saw her. I was looking at his face while Jo was walking up and wondered if thats how goofy I look like when I'm staring at Kendall.
" Hey James, you have you first hockey game a week from tomorrow right?' Jo asked
"Yeah, we have a game in a tomorrow from a week, I mean not a tomorrow from a week that makes no since right?" said James with a nervous laugh. He was getting flustered and his cheeks were turning red.
I couldn't control the laugh that came out of me, but I quickly put my hand over my mouth when James gave me a look that would scare even the toughest of men.
Jo just laughed and said, "Ok I'll see you then"
"Wait. I'm having a small party at my house after the game, you can come if you want."
"Sure sounds like fun," and with that she turned and walked away.
James then turned to me and said "what the hell was that laugh for?"
I was about to respond when Camille starting laughing so hard she fell off of her chair and landed on the floor.
"That was" she started to laugh again. "That was so" another round of giggles stopped her. She then took a big breathe, had a few more laughs, and then she slowly got back up and sat down.
James was so red that I thought he might explode. " It wasn't funny, she probably thinks I'm the biggest idiot on the planet and Logan laughing during the conversation didn't help at all"
"I'm sorry," I said. " I don't have Camille's willpower, cause that was too funny, not to laugh. Besides I thought you were going to ask her out a month ago?"
" I was, but I kept getting too nervous, and I thought I just did ask her out"
"Not really you invited her to a party, you didn't ask her to be your date to the party." said Camille.
"Is there a difference?"
"Yes, idiot you invited her as a friend not a girlfriend, so if you want to go out with her I would ask her on a real date, not some party."
James huffed and went back to eating his lunch. I then looked over at Kendall again, he was eating a sandwich and talking to Carlos and I had the sudden urge to know what he was talking about. I had these all the time, I just wanted to know everything about him and to constantly be with him. I had no idea if this was normal or if was I some kind of crazy stalker freak. I looked at my two friends, they both have had crushes, James just made a fool of himself in front of his, and I knew they would never judge me.
"Guys, how do you know if you have a crush on someone? I mean how do you act around them?"
They looked at each other and then Camille said " Why do you want to know?"
"Well," I said lowering my voice. "I think I have a crush on someone and I want to know if what I'm feeling is normal or creepy"
They both got big smiles on their faces and said " Oh my God," together.
"I knew something was up with you, who is it, you have to tell me." said Camille
"Wait, what do you mean how it feels to be around them. What exactly are you feeling Logan?" asked James.
I sighed. " When I'm around him I feel happy, almost like I'm soaring through the air. I think about him all the time. I constantly stare at him and want to be near him. I want to know everything there is to know about him."
They both nodded their heads " That's pretty normal," said James.
"Good, now lets drop this, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going crazy stalker on him or anything." I said.
" Oh hell no," said Camille. "You are not leaving this seat until we know who it is, now spill"
I looked at James for support, but was surprised to find that he had the same look on his face as Camille.
"Sorry buddy, but I got to know who made Logan Mitchell, king of logic and brain thinkers, listen to his heart for once."
I looked at both of them and knew that trying not to keep this from them was useless. They would badger me constantly until I told them. " Ok, but you have to promise not to tell a soul, not even my parents." They both nodded and looked really eager. I took a deep breath and looked around, to make sure no one was listening, and said, "Kendall."
They both were still for a minute, I'm guessing because they were letting the knowledge sink in. James was the first to speak
" I never would of thought you would like him. I thought you thought he hated you that's why I talked to him."
"YOU DID WHAT?" I practically screamed, earning a few looks for the surrounding tables.
"Yeah, you said that you thought he didn't like you and I asked him to let you know that he was just shy or something, so you would stop freaking out."
"No wonder he has never talked to me he probably thinks I'm some weirdo freak who goes and tattles to his big hockey playing friend when someone isn't very nice to him"
" Sorry, I was just trying to help."
I sighed, "What about you Camille, you haven't said anything about him."
"Well I don't really know him, I mean I think he's hot, but besides that I don't know anything about him. I am very happy for you though, finally having a crush."
"Thanks," I muttered feeling my cheeks getting red.
" So tell us about him," she said.
"What," I asked.
" Tell us about him, what makes you like him so much."
"Oh, um I don't really know anything about him. I mean we only talked once when I asked, well more like begged, him for his name."
"So you know nothing about him then." She said.
"Well, I know he plays hockey and that he took Creative writing, he sits next to me."
"Ok, but you hate sports and creative writing." said James.
"Well you have played hockey with him for two years now, what can you tell me about him?" I asked.
"I know he has a little sister and that he lives with his dad, I don't know what happened to his mom. I also know he has a job, and I only know that because he skips practice sometimes to go to work."
"Thats it after two years with the guy."
"Yeah the only person he talks to is Carlos, also I don't have a huge crush on the guy so I don't really care what he does outside of hockey."
I nodded and began to think. For the past month this guy has plagued my thoughts and I really don't know a thing about him. " Is it weird that I have a crush on him and don't know anything about him?" I asked my two friends.
"No not really, but maybe you should try to get to know him better" Camille said as the bell rang. We all got up left the cafeteria and went to our individual classes.
I thought about what Camille had said. I could try to get to know him, but he never wants to talk with me. I tried, after the first day, I would talk to him at the beginning and end of class, but he would just ignore me. I didn't know what I was going to do to make him talk to me.
I got to class and sat down next to him, and as usual he didn't even acknowledge that I sat down. I was about to say something when the bell rang and Ms. Nap called the class to order. I spent the rest of the class thinking of things to say to him and not paying attention at all.
"Ok, thats all for today class, you can use that last couple minutes to do homework or talk, just please keep the noise down." said Ms. Nap.
I looked at the clock we had five minutes left until the bell rang. It was now or never.
"So," I said turning towards him. "I'm Logan, I don't think I ever introduced myself." I put my hand out for him to shake, but he just ignored me.
"Ok, um so do you like to write is that why you took this class?" Still he said nothing to me, just kept doodling words on his notebook.
"You play hockey here right? I'm best friends with James, your caption, he's a great guy don't you think". Nothing, but silence from his end.
Anger was now starting to boil inside of me. What had I ever done to him? He just sits there all smug, arrogant, tall, hot ,sexy,smoldering, wait a sec. Where was I going with this train of thought? Oh, right him being a dick and not even giving me the time of day.
"You know what," I said the anger starting to spill out of me. " I didn't want to be in this stupid class, and I didn't ask to sit next to you, but guess what its happening. So why don't you at least give me the decency of answering me when I talk to you, even if is to tell me to shut the hell up." I was breathing a little heavy. I never had such anger before, what is it about this guy that brings out things in me I never felt before? I was so busy thinking I almost didn't hear him say something to me.
"Why are you here if you don't want to me?" he asked me.
I was stunned, apparently anger can make even the most stubborn people open up a little bit. "There was a scheduling conflict and the only way I could take Ap biology was if I took this class to fulfill my English credit for the year"
"Do you like to write at all?"
"No, I hate it. I prefer to be direct and just say what I'm thinking, like I just did with you. I don't like to use confusing metaphors and things like that."
He smiled. "that sucks, sorry you got stuck here."
"It could be worse."
The bell rang and he got up and left. I sat there for a second and went over our conversation in our head again. I was glad that wasn't a dick, he was actually a little sweet. He felt bad that I was stuck in a class that I didn't like. It was progress, it wasn't making out in the janitor's closet, but it was still something. I smiled at this thought and got up to go to my next class.
A week had passed and it was next friday, after school, and I was sitting on the couch in the living room watching some t.v. Things with Kendall hadn't changed much, we hadn't talked since last Friday, but he gives me a little nod everyday when I walk into class and it was good enough for me right now. My dad came in the door from work and I said hi to him from the couch.
"Logan," my mom yelled.
"What," I yelled back.
"Were going out for dinner, I found a new restaurant I want to try. So get ready, we will be leaving in fifteen minutes."
Thirty minutes later we were pulling up to a restaurant called "Budapest."
As I got out of the car I looked at the sign and said " What kind of place is this mom?"
"It's a Hungarian restaurant, I never had it before and the girls from work say it is really good so I thought we could try it."
I groaned, but followed my parents into the restaurant. The hostess greeted us and sat us down at a booth.
"This is a nice place, good choice babe." said my dad as he gave her a peck on the lips
I rolled my eyes and opened the menu. I started to look at the different foods choices and a lot of them I had no idea what they were.
"What exactly is paprikas," I asked my mom.
"I don't know, were ask our server when she comes."
I took off my hat and set it next to me in the booth. I started to unbutton my coat when I saw the server walking up to the booth in my peripherals.
"Hello I'm Kendall and I'll be.."
My head snapped up and my eyes locked onto his beautiful green ones, and they looked just as surprised as me.
"Kendall, I didn't know you worked here." was all I could think of to say. I knew he had a job, but I didn't know where.
"Yeah, I've been working her for two years now." he said.
We stared at each other for a moment before my dad cleared his throat, snapping me out of it.
"How do you two know each other?" my dad asked.
"We sit next to each other in English and he plays hockey with James. Um, Kendall these are my parents"
He smiled at them and said, "nice to meet you, can I bring you guys something to drink?"
We ordered our drinks, he told us the specials, and then left to get our drinks. I couldn't believe it, the guy I have a huge crush on is waiting on me while I'm with my parents.
"He's cute," my mom said.
"MOM!, stop that he could hear you and I have to sit next to him everyday, so please be civil, and don't ask him any embarrassing questions."
He came back with our drinks and asked us if we were ready to order.
"What exactly is paprikas? I see you have both chicken and veal paprikas" my mom asked.
"Paprikas is a like a sauce that is made with sour cream and paprika?" Kendall said.
" That sounds good I'll have the chicken paprikas, its a hungarian dish and you can't go to a Hungarian restaurant and not get Hungarian right?" she said with a little laugh and Kendall smiled at her.
I almost died right there. I swore I just told her two seconds ago not to ask embarrassing questions and then she goes and pulls this crap, God help me.
My dad got beef stroganoff and then Kendall turned to me. "Um.. i'll take the stuffed cabbage" He smiled gathered our menus and walked away.
"You like him don't you?" my mom asked.
I looked up at my parents and they both had stupid grins on their faces. "Yes," I said with a sigh, "but I don't know if he likes me so be good and no more questions.
The rest of the dinner went along smoothly, we ate our salads, entrees, and even got dessert something called kremes, it was really good. He came by and dropped off the bill.
" Give him a good tip" I said to my dad.
"I'll leave him 20% he was a very good waiter" my dad said.
" No leave him more than that."
"Son, money won't make him like you." he said with a stern face.
"No, but it won't make him like me any less."
He sighed and my mom chuckled. He put an extra ten in the booklet and then we got up to leave. As we were leaving Kendall walked out of the kitchen and said with a smile, "Thanks come back again soon."
"Thanks, you too," I said without thinking. I could have slapped myself for that stupid sentence. "You too" of course he was going to come back, he worked there. I looked at my parents and they were both holding back laughs.
" I swear if you say one word," I said giving them a stern look.
As we left the restaurant and walked to the car I realized I left my hat in the booth. I told my parents and turned around to go back in and grab it. When I walked back in I was Kendall at our booth with my hat in his hand. I stopped and watched him for a second he was holding my hat like it was the most precious thing in the world and he had a look of sadness on his face, that just killed me inside.
I walked up to him and said, " Hey, thanks you got my hat." I must have scared him because he jumped a little when I spoke.
"Yeah," he said quickly handing me my hat and turning to walk away.
I couldn't just let him walk away. "Hey," I said as I followed him "are you going to James' party after the game tomorrow?"
"No, I usually just go home after games."
"While your whole team is out having fun? You should come, I'll be there so there is even more incentive to go." I said with a big smile on my face.
"I don't know I have to work the morning shift tomorrow and then the game is at five, I'll probably be too tired and it will too late after the game anyway."
"Too late, how long to hockey games last anyway like two hours or something?"
He chuckled, "You're yelling at me for not going to party with my teammates, when you've never been to a hockey game when your best friend is the caption."
"Touche, ok how about this if I go to the game you have to come to the party."
"I don.."
"No, no,no," I said. "That is the deal, I go to the game and cheer you on, you come to the party and have some fun, I have a feeling you need some fun"
He looked at me and gave me a weak smile. "OK," he said.
"Awesome, I'll see you tomorrow." I then left, feeling pretty good, because tomorrow at the party is when I plan on making my move and seeing if this crush on Kendall is really worth all the trouble it has put me through.