Awakening: Second Stage
Chapter Three
"Feelings"
Friday
"I'm sorry I'm being weird." Lor sighed as she and Carver walked slowly down the street, no particular destination in mind. I just...suddenly stuff like this matters to me. It's not the same anymore. It's like...they're on a different level than me now, y'know?"
"I don't think it's all that big a deal. They've been up to it for a whole year!" Carver countered. "It's not like they act all mushy together around us. Stop and think about it for a sec, Lor. A whole year! I mean, that's a long time. So whatever they've been up to, it looks like they found a system that really works for them. And like I said before, this is the first time they've ever ditched us just to be alone together. That's pretty cool of them. It means that all along they've been thinking about us, trying not to weird us out or just forget about us."
Lor growled in frustration, upset with the situation, not her companion. "I know, I know. And it's not like I don't want them to be happy. I'm just. . .I guess I'm just not comfortable with it right now, that's all. Maybe it's just a girl thing. Everything you say is right, but it still bothers me. And no, I'm not jealous. I know it looks like I am, Carver." She smirked, trying to show that she wasn't feeling completely down.
Carver shrugged. "Maybe we should just try not to think about it for awhile. Y'know, if it upsets you."
Lor playfully punched him in the shoulder in a friendly way. "C'mon." She laughed. "Don't must out on me. I'll be fine."
"So what do you want to do?"
"Well, one good thing did come out of this. The lovebirds gave us twenty bucks!"
"Yeah, and on their anniversary too. I still don't feel right about that. We should've been the one giving them something."
"Hey, what better way to celebrate their anniversary than by spending their hard-earned money?"
Carver slapped his palm against his forehead. "You were one of those girls who used to take a magnifying glass to her Barbie dolls, weren't you?"
"Yeah, but shortly after that, I got my first basketball, so no loss."
"Come on, let's go get a snow cone or something."
Evening was beginning to give way to night as the car passed through the Californian mountains, the splendors of nature unfolding on all sides of it. Tish glowed as she tried to take in all the scenery. She had never been up into the mountains before, most of the trips she took centered around urban areas. It had been a long time since Tino had been up this way too. He couldn't form any specific memories in his mind, but something in the back of his thoughts insisted that this was very familiar.
The wind from the open windows blew Tish's long hair about freely, and Tino deftly scooped up a small handful and lightly tugged to get her attention. "Having fun?" He asked, twirling the strands around his index finger.
"It's wonderful!" She sang, the perfect depiction of mirth. "I wish I had been out this way a long time ago."
Dixon smiled. "If you have a good time, I'm sure we can bring you out again the next time we come, Tish."
"Really?" She looked as though someone had told her she had just won the California lottery AND an autographed copy of The Canterbury Tales.
"Absolutely. The mountains are beautiful, but they're a lot more fun when you've got the right people to share them with." Tino saw his mother give Dixon a knowing look out of the corner of her eye, and he began to feel something he hadn't let himself feel in a long time. A sense of family and belonging. With his mother and his girlfriend present, along with a guy who Tino felt was doing a better than average job of being a father figure, Tino felt more secure than he had in a long time.
"I'd like that." Tish smiled. "Thank you both so much for bringing me."
"Yeah." Tino reiterated. "Thanks for letting her come."
"You're welcome." Tino's mother smiled. "And so polite, too!"
"Hey Tino?" Tish asked.
"Hmm?" Tino turned to her.
"I think maybe next weekend, I'd like you to meet my parents."
Tino looked blankly at her for a moment. "But, uh, Tish, I've already met your parents. They're nice people. A little eccentric, but nice."
Tish laughed. "I know you've met them, but I mean, they know you as my friend, not as my..."
"Oh. Well, um, sure, I understand. Uh, they're not going to put me through any weird Old Country traditions if you introduce me as your boyfriend, are they?"
"Um, I think there might be something involving both us and my parents. If they approve, that is, but I don't see any reason why they wouldn't. I mean, they know you and they think you're really polite."
"Sure, why not. I'd say you're worth a few awkward moments. Um, so long as Lor and Carver aren't going to be there."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Tish giggled.
"So, what exactly do we have to do?"
"Oh, it's just kind of a standard introduction......"
"That's it?"
"Well....."
"Tish?"
".......There's.........some yodeling......"
"I knew it was too good to be true."
"I'm sorry!"
"Oh come on, Tino, it won't be so bad." Ms. Tonitini laughed.
"I didn't say I wasn't going to do it!" Tino tried to defend himself.
"You'll do it?" Tish asked.
Tino smirked. "Well, it wouldn't exactly be fear to cut my mom in and leave your folks in the dark, would it? Of course I'll do it. Just so long as we agree not to talk about it afterwards!"
"Oh no, don't worry about that. I won't tell a soul if you don't!"
"Deal."
They looked at each other for a moment, and Tish rest her right hand in Tino's left, twining them. "Things have really changed the past year, haven't they?"
"Between us? Yeah, and I like to think we've done pretty well for ourselves."
"I think so too," she sighed, "but I mean, everything has changed. More than just us. We're already getting near the end of eighth grade, and sometimes I feel like the world opened its doors. I'm aware of a lot more than I used to be. I don't know, maybe we grew up, just a little."
"As long as it doesn't happen to us too fast, I'm ready for the world as it comes."
Tish looked out at the setting sun on the horizon. "Do you see that?" She asked. "Whenever I look into the sunset like that, it's like I can see the whole world out there, waiting. And I want to explore it, Tino! We live in a beautiful world, we really do."
"Amen to that." Dixon added. "If I'm not interrupting."
"No!" Tish quickly came out of her reverie. "I'm okay, really I am. I just lost myself for a moment there."
"We live in a beautiful world." Dixon agreed. "But no matter how glorious that world may be, trust me when I say that it's all moot without that special place we can each think of as home."
Tino looked between Dixon and his mother, then towards Tish, who smiled warmly at him. "I'm home." He squeezed Tish's hand. He felt warmth inside when she squeezed back.
Lor reclined atop the wall separating the street from the beach, almost as though she were posing. "Ah, it's just not the same without those two geeks! Every time I think of doing something, it feels empty knowing they won't be here."
"Well, I suppose we could just do nothing." Carver laughed.
"Yeah, but then it's like the weekend's a waste."
"Point taken."
"Want to come by and watch some episodes of Teen Canyon I've got on tape?"
"Well, I don't really want the night to go to waste, so I guess it's fine with me. Maybe we can use the money to catch a movie or something tomorrow."
"Sounds good."
"Hey, everything will be cool by tomorrow. I bet it doesn't even bother you then."
"I hope not. I hate feeling like this. It just isn't me. "Hey, what time is it?"
"Eight."
"Maybe I can whoop your butt at a game of pool before we go back to my house." She smiled, jumping off the wall.
"Now that's the Lor I'm talkin' about!"
"Don't worry, she's not changing her address just yet. Winner buys the next round of Chug-A-Freezes?"
"You're on!"
Gravel crunched under tire as the car pulled into a cluster of cabins. The parking lot was rather low-budget, but not quite in disrepair. Dixon pulled up in front of what was clearly the main office, disappearing inside and telling the others to wait. He returned five minutes later with two keys attached to wooden blocks. "These are to our cabins. Sorry it took so long, apparently I reserved us but the owner didn't see fit to put us in cabins adjacent to each other. I haggled us into something suitable, though."
"So where are we going?" Tino asked.
"We're on a far edge, near the woods. It's pretty close to the water but the cabins are facing the long way over there so we don't have a great view from inside. I thought we'd let the girls choose which one they'd prefer, Tino." Dixon smiled, climbing back into the car to drive them over to their lodgings.
The drive was rather short. This time, all four of them got out of the car, breathing in deep the mountain air (which was flavored heavily by the lake). Tino ran to the rear of the car to get a start on his luggage, quickly thinking to take Tish's suitcase as well. It never hurt to rack up extra points! "Dixon and I can handle the luggage." Tino found himself saying. "Tish, why don't you and Mom go check out the cabins and pick one out for yourselves?"
"My, how chivalrous!" Tino's mother commented. "Alright, Tino, we'll let you know."
"Have fun!"
"Seeya soon, Tino! Thanks for your help!" Tish called as they were walking away.
"You know," Dixon began, nodding in approval at Tino, "I'd say you're already off to a good start. I think you know more about scoring points with the girls than you let on."
"Nah, I just asked myself 'what would Dixon do?' And then I did it."
Dixon laughed. "Just be careful not to overdo it. Chivalry is one thing, but it can get ugly if they start to think you see them as helpless."
"So noted. Thanks, Dixon."
"Don't think this means I can teach you everything. There's some stuff you just have to learn for yourself."
"That stinks."
"Yeah, but the lessons you learn the hard way are the ones you're guaranteed never to forget. I know, I've been there."
"I hope I'm as smart about this stuff as you are when I get older."
"Older? Speak for yourself, I plan to live forever!" Dixon grunted as he struggled to lift three suitcases.
"Mom packed a lot, didn't she?"
"They usually do."
"Tish only packed one."
"Try to remember that always. Soon enough she'll have a lot more."
"How come they're being so helpful?" Tish asked Ms. Tonitini as they explored the first of their two options. "Not that I don't appreciate it, of course."
"Oh, they're just showing us how caring thoughtful they are in their own way. It is kind of sweet, though it's not nearly so clever as they like to think it is. Still comes in handy though."
"Yep." Tish stretched her comment out relaxingly, inhaling the rustic smell of the wood around them. "You know, I can get used to this."
"What, the men being helpful? Best not to get too used to it!"
Tish laughed. "Well, yeah, that too, but I was referring to this atmosphere. This place is soothing."
"Come to think of it, it has been awhile since I've gotten away from Bahia Bay. Sometimes I forget there is an outside world."
"Thanks again for including me."
"I think Tino would've had a coronary if I hadn't! But that aside, I did want to spend some time with you. I mean, I know you, but I don't feel like I KNOW you. I think you're a good match for my son, so I'd like us to be good friends."
"I'd like that."
"You'll also like how I teach you to manipulate him when he's being unreasonable."
"Oh yeah! But to be honest, we don't usually fight. And when we do, we usually realize we're both being silly and we'd enjoy ourselves a lot more if we just cut it out and remembered what we like about each other so much!"
"That's a very mature attitude, Tish."
"Thanks. It's something I spent a lot of time thinking about right after Tino and I got together. I mean, I felt that if we're actually going to have a relationship, we have a responsibility to it, and Tino agreed. Don't get me wrong, we don't have this perfect relationship or anything. And we always try to keep it simple. But it's so nice to have someone I can always be myself in front of. I know I can be weird, but I also know that it's not going to push Tino away or anything. We're comfortable around each other."
"And it works?"
"I play the dulcimer, he reads Captain Dreadnought." Tish shrugged. "Not exactly overlapping interests, but we're tolerant of each other's hobbies. It's worked well for us so far."
"Well, I hope it continues to work for as long as you two are together."
"Thanks. That....that means a lot."
"You're welcome. So, what do you think of this place? Should we take it?"
"What are the beds like?"
"Fairly soft, considering the atmosphere."
Tish stood up and looked out the back window, the last vestiges of the setting sun disappearing beyond the horizon. "I think we should take the other one."
"Oh?"
"The sun is setting on this side, which is where the bedrooms are. They'll be hot when it's bedtime. The other place is facing the other way, so the bedrooms should be cool at night."
"Nice plan!"
"I try. Shall we check out the other cabin then?"
"Race you! Ms. Tonitini was already out the door as Tish followed. The trip was already off to a successful start.
Another chapter done. I wrote this one all in one sitting, guess I just really felt on the ball tonight. I tried to work in more with Lor but it's hard. There's something very important that will be going on with her but the timeline forces me to have that event happen at the end of Second Stage. Bare with me until then if you're missing her. I promise I'll continue to pop in on her and Carver while I work on the primary scenario. There's some fun to be had with them this stage, I guarantee it!
It's become cliche for me to say, but I had a fun evening while writing this. Best of all, I wasn't so tired that my eyelids were drooping. I think most of this is quality work I'm proud of. I haven't decided whether to release this right away or hold it back until the weekend. Maybe I'll split the difference, we'll see. It depends on what else I get done this week. Okay, that about covers it. I'd just like to give a special thanks to each and every person who has left me a charming review over at Fanfiction.net. You folks are all very special to me, and I'm glad you're enjoying my work so much. I hope that this latest installment is enough to fill your bellies for a short while. My fans at The Weekenders forum, you're no less worthy. Thank you all for reading. See you next time!
Lord Malachite
6/10/03
10:28 PM, EST
E-mail: ranger_writer@yahoo.com
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