Meeting with Cobra. . . . .
The next few days were pretty boring. I got home after school on Friday, and was ready for a relaxing weekend. So, naturally, I didn't get one.
"Ames, Fiske says you should meet up with Ian. Ian called him, and talked to him for a while. Fiske says you need to make alliances. Have fun," Nellie said, making dinner.
I silently walked up to my room, and flopped, face-down, on my bed. I waited a couple hours, and then called Ian. I listened to it ring, and waited for him to pick up.
"Hello, love," Ian said, unusually perky.
"H-Hi, I-I-Ian," I said.
"So, I suppose you're calling to find out when we can meet somewhere," Ian said knowingly.
"Y-yeah," I said lamely.
"Well, how about that little coffee shop? The one down the street from your school?" Ian asked.
"S-sure. Wh-when?" I asked.
"How about 12 o' clock? Does that work for you?" Ian asked, polite as usual.
"Ok-kay. S-see y-y-you then," I said.
"Alright. Goodbye," Ian said, and hung up.
Later on that evening, I was reading, and my phone said, "Message recieved. Ian Kabra."
I picked it up, and the message read: 'Love, this is quite embarassing, but what am I supposed to wear? Usually, I wouldn't ask, but I don't want to attract too much attention.'
I laughed a little, and decided to reply saying: 'Jeans. T-shirt. Sneakers. Good luck.'
He replied a few moments later: 'Thanks.'
The next morning, I took my time eating the wierd looking muffins Nellie made. Once I finished, I put on my best pair of jeans, a white long-sleeve shirt, and a light blue t-shirt over it. I pulled my hair over my right shoulder, and braided it. I slipped into a pair of socks, and pulled on my sneakers. I grabbed my cell phone and my wallet, and walked down stairs.
"Ooh, don't you look nice?" Nellie teased.
I shrugged, and downed a cup of water, and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth.
"Hey, where's Amy going?" Dan asked.
"She's going to meet up with Ian," Nellie said.
"What? Why didn't anyone tell me?" Dan whined.
"Why? Do you wanna' go?" Nellie asked.
'Please say no. Please say no. Please. Say. No!' I thought.
"No way!" Dan said.
I exhaled in relief.
"I wanted to spy on them! Like, put a video camera on Amy's hair clip! Or her bike. Or I could just follow her, and then spy on them from a hidden spot nearby!" Dan said.
I rolled my eyes, and rinsed my mouth out.
"Dan, no. You can't go," Nellie said.
"Why not?" Dan whimpered.
I went into the kitchen, got more water, and began to drink it.
"Because, your sister isn't gonna' want you to follow her and her potential boyfriend around," Nellie scolded.
Okay, so, you know how, in cartoons, people do spit-takes when someone says something wierd? Well, that's what I did. I covered my mouth, and wiped the water off my face. Meanwhile, Dan laughed at my reaction.
"Oh wow! That was cool! Did you see that, Nells? She did a spit-take! A real life spit-take!" Dan said.
"Yes, very amusing," Nellie said sarcastically.
"I-Ian's n-n-not my p-pot-t-tential b-b-boyfr-friend!" I protested.
"That's what they all say," Nellie said, smiling mischieviously.
I chained my bike to the bike rack in front of the coffee shop. I looked inside the coffee shop's glass windows. Ian was sitting at a small table with an empty seat across from him. He was focused on his Blackberry, while a group of girls were talking with a waitress and staring at him. I walked into the slightly crowded building, and over to where Ian sat. Ian must've heard my footsteps, because he looked up about the time I was half-way to him. He stood, and smiled.
"Amy! My, oh my, it's been a while since we've last seen each other, hmm?" he said.
"Y-yes, it h-has b-b-been a wh-while," I said, trying to sound friendly.
It looked like iIan was tempted to hug me, but instead, he pulled my chair out for me and gestured for me to sit down. So, I did.
"Th-thanks," I said.
"It's my pleasure," Ian said, standing over me for a moment, before going to the counter, and coming back with two cups of hot chocolate.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the group of girls looking angry and parting ways. I suddenly felt really awkward.
"Is there something wrong, love?" Ian asked, sounding concerned, as he sat down.
"N-no," I muttered.
"Love?" Ian said.
For the first time since I had gotten there, I actually looked at Ian. He was wearing jeans, really nice sneakers, and a long sleeve black t-shirt. He had combed his hair, but it didn't look like he put gel in it. It looked pretty normal for once. His amber eyes were glinting with curiousity.
"I-I'm f-fine," I said.
"Do I look alright? Natalie went out and got a whole bunch of outfits like this one," Ian asked.
"Y-you l-l-look f-fine. H-how is N-Natalie?" I asked, the memory of Natalie's insane mother in the Gauntlet, wielding her gun, had been burned into my mind.
Ian could tell that's what I was thinking about, and I was pretty sure that's what was on his mind as well, "Yes. She's fine."
"I-is her f-foot ok-kay?" I asked.
Ian smiled appreciatively, "Yes. She'd appreciate your concern. As I do. Thank you. You know, she wanted to come along with me today, to see you."
"Wh-why d-d-didn't she?" I asked.
"I wouldn't let her come. I told her that if our meeting went smoothly, that I'd make sure she got to see you soon," Ian said.
"O-oh," I said.
"So, how did your Uncle Fiske get you to agree to meet with me?" Ian asked.
"I d-didn't have a ch-choice," I said.
"Oh," Ian said, "so you didn't want to come?"
"N-No, I d-did! I-I was j-just s-s-saying . . ." I said quickly.
"Hmm. I think you're lying," Ian said, smiling.
"Wh-why w-would I?" I asked.
"Because you're too kind. You wanted to spare my feelings, which, by the way, it wouldn't have hurt them. I know that there were a lot of- that I shouldn't have- that my family-"
Ian stopped, and held up a finger, telling me to wait a moment.
"What I am trying to say is, I am sorry. For anything and everything wrong I've ever done to you or your family," Ian finally said.
I was quiet for a long time. I didn't know what to say. I wasn't going to say it's okay and that he's forgiven, but I didn't want to not forgive him, and him be upset.
"It's-" I began.
"Don't say anything yet. If you're willing to forgive me, I want to earn it. I don't want you to give it to me on a silver platter. I don't deserve that. But don't worry, I'm determined to get it," Ian said smiling.
"O-ok-kay," I said, looking at my feet.
I felt my face get really warm, and I guessed that I was blushing. A thousand thoughts ran through my head, and I heard Ian typing away on his phone.
"Wh-what are y-you d-d-doing?" I asked, trying to make conversation.
"Talking with my father. He's wondering if you're," Ian looked around. "If you're going to enter the challenge," he whispered.
"Oh. I d-don't kn-know yet. I h-haven't r-r-really t-talked to m-my family ab-bout it y-yet," I said.
"Alright. Well, just let me know when you've made your decision," Ian said, completely emotionless.
"S-so. . . . . " I said.
"I've got to go," Ian said abruptly.
"Oh. Ok-kay," I said.
Ian stood, bid me goodbye, and left. I stood up, threw away my empty cup, and walked outside to my bike. I un-chained it, and rode home quickly, feeling the need to get home A.S.A.P. Once I got home, I put my bike in the garage, and went inside.
"Hey, how'd it go?" Nellie asked.
"F-fine," I said.
I went up to my room, and spent most of the day reading, thinking about why Ian left so abruptly, and listening to Nellie yell at Dan for having his videogame volume up too high.