Chapter 18

Maura

It was Sunday afternoon and I was having a conversation on the phone with Maura. We were talking about our next date.

"This time I'm choosing the place," I said to Maura. I already had something in mind but I didn't know how Maura would take it and whether she'd be up for it.

"Alright. We can go to a restaurant again," she suggested.

"No, no. If we go to that restaurant again you will bankrupt."

"We can go to another one if you didn't like that restaurant," Maura answered, sounding pretty serious.

"No, Maura. I was joking."

"Oh."

"I say let's go to the cinema and watch a movie together," I suggested, hoping that she would agree with my plan thought I wasn't sure.

"You want to go to the cinema?" she exclaimed, like I had suggested the most ridiculous and impossible thing in the whole world.

"Yeah," I confirmed.

"But someone can see us there. You know, Jane, many people go to the cinema."

"Thanks for the lecture, Miss Isles. I didn't know that. And how many people exactly do you suppose?"

"You know what I mean, Jane. Can we really risk being seen together in a public place?"

"In a dark room where everyone is watching at the screen and not us," I made my point. "And plus it's not like I intend to hold your hand and publicly show any affection. We could just sit next to each other and if someone sees us there which is not very likely but still... we could just say that we met there. No one would suspect anything, I guarantee you that."

"You don't know that for sure," she answered.

"Oh, please. Even if I sit on your lap and straddle you, I think no one would believe that we are together."

"You are exaggerating, Jane."

"I don't think so. Believe me, no one would suspect anything," I reassured her.

"If you say so."

"And plus we already went to a restaurant. How was that not risky?"

"Well, first of all, no one of your classmates would go to that restaurant, and that I know for sure. I knew that there would be no problem and it's not very likely to meet someone I know there either."

"Okay," I agreed with her and I fell silent. I remembered my thoughts about our date from the previous night. I still had doubts but I didn't have courage to share them with Maura. I felt she would think that my concerns were just silly.

"Jane, what's wrong? Is something the matter?" Maura asked me, sounding really concerned.

"No. Nothing's wrong," I denied.

"Because I could tell that something's bothering you. Please, tell me."

"It's nothing, Maura... It's just... I've been thinking. Don't you think that we are too different?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we have different taste in pretty much everything... and after our date I just started thinking about it. Doesn't that bother you? How different we are."

"Jane, we don't have to be the same and like the same things. It's not necessary to have the same taste in everything to be a perfect match. I think that it's actually quite the opposite. I like that you're very different. If you want to date someone who is same as you... it would be like you're dating yourself. Don't you think so? And besides, Paula Abdul said it perfectly well - opposites attract."

"Who?"

"Never mind."

"Maura, so... do you agree to go to the cinema with me? Are we going or not? What do you think. Would you take a risk and go out with me?"

"Yes, Jane. We have a date."

"Or... maybe I can come over at your place right now and we can watch a movie together," I suggested, implying what I mean with my husky tone. That was just a wishful thinking and I knew it very well but a girl could dream.

"What kind of movie? What genre?"

"Erotic," I answered playfully. I hoped that Maura got what I meant with my statement.

"What?" She obviously couldn't crack the code and sounded pretty confused about it.

"You know that come over to watch a movie is a code for have sex, right?"

"Oh... I actually didn't know that," she said apologetically. "So you don't really want to watch a erotic move together?"

"Nope. Seeing you is erotically enough for me," I said as I bit my lip.

"Yeah. I really wish you could come over. But you know it's impossible, Jane."

"Yeah, I know." I answered her with a note of regret in my voice. "So the movie stays on. Right? Let's say next Saturday night?" I wanted to make plans for our next date and make sure that Maura would agree with me.

"Yes. Okay," she said, agreeing to meet next Saturday. "Do you think that your mother would agree and allow you to go out again? I hope you don't have any troubles."

"Yeah. I think she will allow me. Don't worry about that." I answered her.

"But I do worry about it. You know Jane, I think you should tell your parents that you are going out on a date with me. I feel bad hiding it from them. It just doesn't feel right to lie again. They should know."

"They are still processing the news that I like girls. I can't tell them so soon, Maura. And plus, they know I am on a date with a girl. They just don't know it's with you. And that is just a small detail."

"A small detail?" she said, sounding deadly serious. "It's not just a detail, Jane. I felt so bad when your mother almost caught us together. I know that your parents won't be thrilled to find out about us but I think that if we tell them together and make them see how much we care for each other, they would think about it. At least they will know that you're going out with me. And they wouldn't worry."

"No, Maura. It's too soon."

"But I think your parents deserve to know that we have a relationship, Jane."

"Relationship? We have a relationship? Is that what we have?" I asked, smiling at myself brightly just from hearing her say that.

"Potential relationship," she corrected herself quickly.

"Aright. I'll think about it."

"Now I have to go. It's getting late and I have to prepare my lessons."

"Just like me. Okay, Maura. See you at school tomorrow."

"Yes, Jane. But you have to wait until tomorrow."

"Bummer!"

"Ha, ha. You're so funny."

"Whatever you say," I answered. "Alright, Maura. Bye."

I said goodbye to Maura and just when I turned around to leave my phone on the nightstand I jumped from surprise - my mother was in my room.

"Ma! You scared the shit out of me," I scolded her, my heart pounding. Did she hear my conversation with Maura? From how long is she standing there? I began to panic.

"Don't swear, young lady."

"Ma, would it kill you if once in your lifetime just knock!"

"Who is Maura? Is she the mysterious girl that you say nothing about?"

"No! Yes! Does it matter?"

"So her name is Maura. That's the only thing I know about her. It's a start."

"It's enough," I answered in conclusion. I was glad she haven't heard our full conversation with Maura. Just her name. I could breathe again because I realized I was holding my breath from panic.

"Hmm... It sounds strangely familiar..." my mother muttered on her way out. "I came to call you for dinner by the way," she said before leaving my room.

"Is it ready?"

"No. You have to come and help me," she yelled from outside my room.

"I have to do my homework, Ma." I yelled back so she could hear me.

Later, when we were having dinner and my whole family were gathered around the table, out of the blue my mother suddenly asked:

"Hey, Frankie. What was your new teacher's name? You know, Miss Isles. What was her first name?"

Why was she asking that, I was bewildered from her question. I still couldn't process the meaning of her question and her intentions properly.

"Maura," Frankie answered her and I choked on my food when I heard him say her name. Then it hit me.

Oh my God! Oh my God! What the hell!? Did my mother suspect something? Why was she asking that? Just a few hours ago she heard me calling Maura by name on the phone and now she is asking for the teacher's name. I felt a sudden panic and I started to sweat. Maybe she got all figured it out. If that was the case, I was screwed.