Awakening: Second Stage
Chapter Four
"Experimentation"
Friday
"Is it just me, or is it hot in here?" Tino asked, fanning himself to the best of his abilities.
"It's hot." Dixon agreed. "The price we pay for chivalry. At least the air outside is cool."
"So, how do we go about getting some of that air in here?"
"Unfortunately, I didn't think far enough ahead to bring a fan, so I'm afraid we'll have to hope nature provides some air conditioning. The lake should give off a decent breeze."
"Maybe I'd better spend some time swimming tomorrow. If it's going to be hot in here at night, I'd like to be cool during the day." Tino sighed.
"Oh, I'm sure you and Tish will be too busy tomorrow to worry about the temperature. From what I gathered, it sounded like you two had a lot planned for this weekend before we uprooted you."
"To be honest, not really, just that we wanted to spend all our time together. I do have something special in mind for when we exchange gifts, but aside from that...I just wanted us to be able to be ourselves, without having to hide anything from our friends."
"Your mom tells me you finally told them."
"Yeah, we figured it was getting to be just a tad bit...what's the word Tish used? Disingenuous."
"Good for you. I think it'll help you grow as a person."
"Yeah. It'll also lead to Carver and Lor making little kissing noises behind our backs at the most embarrassing moments they can find."
Dixon laughed. "It's not like you can blame them. You two will be such easy targets!"
"Great. It's nice to know my doom is certain."
"Oh come now, you're just being melodramatic! Think of it this way, you've got three great friends, one who seems to make a right fine significant other. You're almost out of the abyss of middle school and into those exciting high school years, what more could you ask for?"
"A raise in my allowance."
"You'd have to ask next door for that."
"You could put in a good word for me."
"Or you could work odd jobs."
"I like my idea better!" Tino harrumphed.
"Why am I not surprised? So tell me, Tino, what's it like celebrating your first anniversary?"
"I'm not really sure just yet, we haven't done much in the way of celebrating. To be honest, I don't really have any idea what I'm supposed to do, except of course getting an appropriate gift, but I got that covered in spades!"
"Oh?"
"Sorry, can't tell you. Keeping it a total secret. Maybe after tomorrow night I'll tell you."
"Fair enough. Well, if it's any comfort, I think you're doing just fine so far. Y'know, anniversaries aren't about presents, or parties, or big celebrations. It's about being together, just enjoying one another's company. Sure, you do that anyways, but I've always felt it's supposed to be a reaffirmation of your choice to be with that person that makes you feel special."
Tino stared for a moment at the man who had slowly become his male role model. "Thanks, Dixon."
"Don't mention it. So, whaddya say we get some food going so you can spend a little time with the lady in question tonight, hmm?"
"Sounds good!"
"Did you see that?!" Carver whooped in happiness! "That's the third ball in a row I ran. I am hot!"
"Go you." Lor yawned.
"Are you feeling okay? You're really off your game tonight, Lor."
"I dunno. Maybe my heart just isn't in it."
"Hey, c'mon! This is the gamiest place on earth. Having a good time is mandatory."
"Think I'll get in trouble?"
Carver set his cue stick down on a nearby bench to focus on Lor. "Come on. Lay one of your magic shots on me."
"I don't know if I can."
"Sure you can! Take the stick. Feel the Force..."
"Okay, now you're just being corny."
"I know." Carver hung his head.
"What's the matter? You worried I've lost it or something?"
"You? Lose it? I fail to see how that could even be possible!"
"It's talk like that that'll get you jinxed." Lor warned. "I've got plenty of skill, I know, but no true athlete ever rules out luck." She grinned. "Luck is a hunky date, Carver, but he isn't fond of commitment."
"I thought luck was a lady."
"Only for the guys." Lor revealed as she picked up what Carver was beginning to think of as his "magic cue." His friend deftly twirled the stick in her left arm like a weapon before setting her sights on her quarry. Lining up her shot like a surgeon prepares a cut, she triple-checked to make certain that everything was just so before drawing back on the stick and then driving it forward with a great deal of force. Carver couldn't even follow exactly what happened, but he did remember seeing five separate balls easily slide into varying pockets, passing through his gaze in a blur. "Is that more like it?"
"Okay, I consider myself owned."
"You know it! And I believe you owe me a Chug-A-Freez."
"I do?"
"Oh yeah, definitely."
"Somehow I feel like I'm getting stuck here..."
"You're thinking of it all wrong, dude. It's like an honor."
"Yeah. I feel so privileged."
"I know. It can be overwhelming." Lor smirked.
"This is kinda weird. I mean, you and I usually mooch of the guys."
Lor shrugged. "Yeah, but it's supposed to be the guy's job to buy the snacks. Actually, wait. Can't you just use some of the money they gave us? Then it's like we're still mooching off them."
"Hey, you're right! Now I definitely feel better about it."
"All in a day's work. So c'mon, hurry up, I think I'm getting in my zone."
"Waitaminute. If you're in the zone, how am I supposed to have any chance of winning?"
"That's where the challenge comes in! Or, maybe we could just find some unsuspecting suckers to challenge?"
"Now you're talking!"
"So that's all it takes?" Tish blinked.
Tino's mother smiled. "The thing you have to remember about my son is he's pretty insecure, but at the same time, easily cured of it. I have to admit, I've always been a little worried about him dating. I was young once too, and I know he's got that lost puppy dog quality."
"Yeah..." Tish sighed happily, drifting into a nervous laugh to try and avoid looking like the lovesick schoolgirl she had just projected herself as.
Miss. Tonitini laughed. "Works every time. Fortunately, I like to think I raised Tino to treat the ladies well."
"Oh, no problem in that compartment. Actually, we just like to spend time together. To be honest, it hasn't really been like I imagined dating someone would be. Not that I think it's bad or anything, I really like it. We've always got a lot to talk about. Some of our interests overlap, some don't, but we really aren't afraid to just do our own thing together sometimes. Two weeks ago, we went to the park together and sat under our favorite tree. Tino read comic books. I read Candide." She shrugged. "I guess it's just that we don't always have to say or do something. It's nice to just enjoy company."
"Ok, how old are you again? 13 going on 33? I don't think I've heard any of MY friends come out with something that mature."
"I know, I know." Tish winced. "I can't help it that I'm not like most other people."
"So? There's nothing wrong with that. I think it's wonderful. If you two can have a good time together just doing nothing, I don't think you have anything to worry about. And as for being different, well, the world would be a pretty boring place without 'different' people. Take a look at Dixon! You can't match a mold to that man, he's one of a kind."
"It doesn't make me very popular though."
"What, because you're cultured?"
"I wish! I'm cultured, overeducated, and no one can pronounce my name. I can't even fit it onto those standardized test forms! If I have a daughter, I'm going to give her a name that isn't too long and that will ensure no one ever makes fun of her. Antigone."
"Whatever floats your boat. But what if it's a boy?"
"Hmm. Maybe Brutus."
"Brutus and Antigone. Well, it beats naming them after members of Chum Bukkit."
"That's Plan B."
The conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door by a large man and a teenage boy. Tino couldn't help but feel that he looked like Robin next to Dixon's Batman. At first he thought it was a little silly, but now he was beginning to enjoy the idea. Of course, he'd much rather be Junior Dreddy, but his "training" was not yet complete. Still, Dixon was explaining a lot to him about the finer points of guy/girl stuff, things Tino hadn't even considered yet, like fancy dinners. He figured he might want to consult with Tish when an opportunity presented itself.
"Well," Tino's mother smirked, "isn't this a surprise. "Look Tish, I found us some rugged mountain men."
"Rugged. Right." Tino sighed, knowing he looked like anything but. "That's us all over."
"I thought maybe we could slip down to the general store for a bit." Dixon began. "It's got a small ice cream parlor inside. Real old-fashioned ice cream. A perfect ending to a perfect day, wouldn't you say?
"Splendid!" Tish called.
"Oh, what the heck. It sounds like fun to me too. Can we walk?"
"I'd planned on it when I thought up the idea. You wouldn't believe the heat in our bedroom."
Tish gave her roommate a knowing look, which was appreciatively returned. "Alright then. Why don't you kids go ahead and run along. We'll catch up. I'm sure you have plenty you want to talk about."
Tino beamed. "Thanks Mom! We'll see you there!"
"Have fun!"
"Tish?"
"Ready! See you guys!" The two teenagers quickly jumped out the front door and into the cool night air.
Miss Tonitini sighed as she saw Tish bound down the front walk onto the trail with her son. "I was never that young."
"No." Dixon smiled. "You were younger."
"Miss me?" Tish asked, ruffling Tino's hair as she practically bounced around him in a circle.
"Whoa!" exclaimed Tino. "What's got you so wound up?"
"I love it here!" she giggled. "This place is so nice! Plus your Mom is pretty cool. She's a good listener, and she's got all this great advice!"
"Yeah, she's helped me out with a dilemma or two. Mom is definitely...I dunno, she's just Mom, but she almost always has the answer for me when I feel like I'll never figure things out."
"Well, I'm really enjoying getting to know her."
"She hasn't cooked for you yet." Tino smirked.
"Neither have I!" Tish crossed her arms over her chest in a classic What's-That-Supposed-To-Mean look.
"I, um.....well, that is,-"
"Relax. I'm just playing with you." She hooked an arm through his and slowed her pace, falling into step by Tino's side. "I'm just glad to be here."
"Me too."
"You still owe me a present." She giggled.
"Tomorrow."
She stuck her tongue out in response. "You're no fun."
"You'll thank me for it later."
"Don't I get anything?"
"An ice cream."
"Well, at least it's not a total loss." She smiled, then stopped in her tracks. "Hey, Tino! Look!"
"What?"
"Over there!" Tish pointed up ahead and to the left at a small clearing.
"Is that?"
"A playground!" Tish unhooked herself and ran towards it quickly. Tino shrugged before following her.
"I don't believe it."
"It's...a playground. Tish, are you feeling okay?"
Tish laughed, trotting over to a swing set. "It's been a long time. I was just thinking about being little again the other day. But I couldn't go back to the playground back home. Someone might see me. Don't think there's much chance of that here, though." She sat down on the rightmost swing, kicking her legs up into the air and turning her head coyly in Tino's direction. "Push me?"
"I'd be honored." Tish sighed as Tino firmly planted his hands into her back, turning back to him before he pushed her forward.
"If you think I'm being childish, I understand."
Tino smiled. "I think we're all entitled to relive our childhoods every now and again. So long as we don't get carried away."
Tish leaned upwards and presented him with a brief kiss, grinning as she plopped back down in the swing. "No rules saying we can't have a foot in each world."
"I like the sound of that." Tino responded, pushing her forward. He propelled her on each return trip until she had achieved sufficient height. "So what made you think of the playground?"
"Earlier this week, I was remembering what it was like to be that young. Things were so much different back then. I never cared about how I looked. School was all about fun. No one expected anything of us. It was kind of nice. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like who I am. It's just, sometimes I think about being young again. I don't want to forget." She smiled at the cool breeze on her face as she swung to and fro.
Tino hopped up onto the swing beside her, pumping his legs a few times in an effort to synchronize with Tish's height. "I think I can understand that."
"I woke up that day and realized I was a teenager already. I'm not even sure where it all went."
"I don't know either. But I do know I'm glad I had friends like you and Lor and Carver to spend some of those years with. They made a big difference."
"Thanks. You're sweet."
"Nah, just honest. C'mon, let me buy you a cone."
"Just a few more minutes?"
Tino smiled. "Yeah. Bet I can swing higher than you!"
"You're on!"
Hello again, everyone. Thanks for reading. Parts of this were very therapeutic to write, because I was able to convey a lot of emotions and thoughts I've had over the past few months. I tried to stop for a bit in this chapter just to smell the roses, but I certainly don't think I was treading water. What happened here was pretty important to the theme, I think. I really love writing this story, I've found it to be just....energizing. Sure, sometimes it keeps me awake at night, sometimes it stays with me all day, demanding to be worked on all day, and then I have to come home and do just that.
Thanks once again to the readers, especially those who have been supporting me since the time this whole story was nothing more than an experiment occupying a few pages. I intend to continue entertaining you right up until the end.
Be seeing you soon!
Lord Malachite
6/20/03
10:43 PM, EST
E-mail: ranger_writer@yahoo.com
AIM: Asukaphile26