Hello guys. This is the fifth chapter of the story. I already have an idea of where the sixth chapter's going to go. I hope you enjoy reading it and please review.
The next day, Billy called Kimberly and asked her to meet him at the Youth Center. When she got there, she found Billy sitting at an empty table.
"Hey Billy," she greeted.
"Hello Kimberly."
"So, what did you need to talk about?"
"It involves Christine."
"Oh, you mean you're new girlfriend?" she asked with a smirk.
"She's not officially my girlfriend," Billy said.
"Why not? You're dating aren't you?"
"Technically yes, but I'm not comfortable calling Christine my girlfriend yet. We've only gone out on one date. Besides that, I'm not quite sure how I feel about her which is what I wanted to speak with you about."
"What do you mean you're not sure?"
"I mean I enjoy being with her and she and I are very similar personalities and I know that she feels strongly for me."
"So what's the problem?"
"I don't want to give Christine an inaccurate perception as to what I feel about her and since I'm uncertain myself, I suppose my question is this: how do you know when you really like someone?"
Kimberly paused before she answered. "Well, I knew that Tommy liked me was when he rebuilt my float, but the moment I knew he loved me was when we first kissed."
"What was it about the kiss that made you sure?" Billy asked.
Kimberly sighed happily as she recalled the memory. "When his lips touched mine, I could feel his desire, if that makes sense. I knew how much he wanted to do it. I got so many butterflies in my stomach and I felt like I was floating on a cloud of pure joy. It was short but it was amazing."
"If I understand you correctly, you experienced a feeling of warmth in your stomach as well as a feeling of elation and you somehow derived that Tommy had wanted to kiss you for a while from the way it was initiated."
"Uh…yeah. Basically."
"So hypothetically, if I were to kiss Christine and experience these same emotions, it would be an accurate indicator that my feelings for her go beyond friendship."
"Definitely. But don't do it just spur of the moment. Make sure the moment is right."
"How would I know when the time is right?"
"You'll just know. You'll know when you want to kiss her. If you're unsure if she wants to, ask her permission."
"I'll be certain to do so. Thank you for your advice."
"No problem. Anytime you want to talk, I'm here to listen."
Later that day, Trini was pacing the floor of her bedroom trying to decide on whether or not to call Billy.
"Come on Trini, you've never been indecisive like this before. What is so hard about picking up the phone and asking Billy to talk to you?"
As she continued to pace, she answered her own question. "It's hard because what if he's busy with something? What if he's out with Christine right now? What if it turns out he actually DOES like her?"
She stopped and looked at the phone, her face set in a look of determination. "Well, you're never going to know unless you actually call him. What's the worst that can happen?"
Her expression deflated as soon as the question left her mouth. "He could reject you and break your heart."
She walked over to the other side of the room and leaned against the wall. "Great. Now I'm having conversations with myself. Just pick up the phone and get it over with. Hope for the best, but expect the worst."
Trini walked over to the phone and picked it up. She slowly punched in Billy's number and waited for him to pick up.
"Hello?" he asked.
She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "Billy, it's Trini."
"Oh, hello Trini. How are you?"
"Fine, thanks. Um…do you have a few minutes to talk?"
"Certainly."
"I heard that you went out on your first date with Christine yesterday. How was it?"
"It was quite enjoyable."
"Where did you go?"
"The roller-skating rink."
"But you don't know how to roller-skate Billy."
"Tommy stated the same thing and I'm still not proficient at it."
"How is Christine's thermal project going?"
"We're still in the process of determining how to simulate the heat source that allows hotsprings to exist."
"I see. I suppose that since you two are officially dating now, that means she's your girlfriend," Trini said, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice.
"Actually Trini, I don't consider Christine my girlfriend."
"Really?"
"Affirmative."
"If she's not your girlfriend…can I ask how you feel about her?"
"I enjoy her company and she and I are very compatible with regard to our interests and intelligence. She's a very sweet person and caring person."
"It sounds like you like her a lot," Trini said softly.
"As a person and as a friend, yes. I'm still uncertain about her prospects as a romantic partner however."
At those words, Trini's expression changed to one of surprise. "Why?"
"Because although I'm sure that her feelings for me go deeper than mere friendship, I can't say that I feel the same way yet."
Trini couldn't help the feeling of hope that rose within her at that moment. "Let me ask you this. You say you know that Christine's feelings for you go deeper than friendship. If you can see that in someone else, you should be able to recognize it in yourself. Have you ever felt about someone the way Christine seems to feel about you?"
She didn't hear Billy answer for a few seconds. When he finally did, his voice was soft. "Yes, I have."
"And you know that you don't have those same feelings for Christine, right?"
"I said I don't yet. I believe I could develop those feelings. Kimberly was correct when she said we would be a good match due to our compatibility."
Trini paused, thinking of a good way to respond. "Well Billy, have you considered that your similarities are the reason why you don't share Christine's feelings?"
"What do you mean?" he asked. She could hear the confusion in his voice.
"Sometimes when people share too many things in common, there's not enough to sustain a lasting relationship because there's no foundation for the relationship to grow. They already know each other's personalities because they're nearly identical and things stagnate. There's compatibility, but no complementarity. The best relationships are those that bring out the best in each person and help each person grow. A relationship between two people who are too similar can't do that, at least in my opinion."
"Well Trini, your observation is a very astute one and it's not one I'd given thought to. I must confess that dealing with these emotions is a new experience for me. You've asked me several questions so now I would like to ask you one. If what you theorize is correct, what kind of person do you think would complement me well?"
Trini knew what she wanted to say, but she couldn't be that forthright with him, not yet. "I think it would be someone who understands and appreciates your love of science like Christine, but at the same time, someone who's able to help you better yourself in all areas of your life. For example, you want to become stronger physically, so a girl who could not only encourage you in that pursuit but actually help you achieve it would be great. And you have self-confidence issues so you would need someone who would believe in you and stick up for you."
"Your assessment certainly is logical," Billy said.
Trini debated if she should say what she wanted to say next. Deciding to take a chance, she spoke again. "One more thing Billy. You would need someone who could easily understand your advanced vocabulary and would be able to simplify it."
She was thankful he couldn't see her blushing. Billy was silent for several moments. Trini began to wonder if he had hung up when she heard him answer softly, "I see…"
"Of course, that particular trait isn't a requirement…just something to think about."
"Well, you've definitely given me much to think about. I'm glad we had this conversation."
"So am I. I guess I should let you go now. I'm sure you've got some inventions to work on."
"Alright. Goodbye."
"Bye."
Billy hung up the phone and sat down on his bed. Trini had been very specific with the last item on her list of traits for a complementary partner. There was only one person he knew that could translate his scientific jargon into simpler language. Was it possible that she was saying that she would complement him well in a romantic relationship and by extension that she wanted a relationship with him?
"That's the only logical conclusion I can draw. But then she did say that trait was optional."
Billy rubbed his temples in frustration. Either Trini was being deliberately unclear, or he was reading too much into what she said. He decided to withhold judgment on her words until a clearer sign came along.
Since I'm still dealing with my feelings for Christine and since Trini still didn't raise any objection to my relationship with her, it would be counterproductive to entertain any romantic inclinations on Trini's part right now. I need to settle things with Christine first.