Squib leaned against the bleachers, glancing at his watch. He shook his head and tapped his foot impatiently. Okay, so technically Cody wasn't late yet, she still had 5 minutes, but Squib was eager to see her. He hadn't talked to her since breakfast the day before, when she went shopping with Nate. After a morning of practice, Squib was taking her into town so they could eat lunch together. Alone. Unfortunately, they had to be back by 4:30, as they had promised Adena they'd be at her match.
"Hey, Squib," he looked down to see Cody smiling up at him.
"Hey," he smiled back, kissing her briefly before the two headed towards the gates.
"How'd practice go?" She asked.
"Boring, tiring, and left me with the urge to inflict bodily harm upon Gunnerson," he told her.
"So…same as usual?"
"Pretty much," the two laughed. "Hey, I missed you yesterday," Squib continued, "how was shopping?"
"Good," she said, "we found his mom some really nice wind chimes."
He needed her help picking out wind chimes? Gimme a break! "Cool,"
As they approached the gates, an all too familiar voice sounded out from behind them.
"Cody!" Nate called, running up.
"Hey, Nate, what's up?" She asked politely.
"Are you busy right now? I need a little help with my History assignment," he asked.
"Actually, we were just heading into town," Cody said. If she invites him along, I'm throwing myself into oncoming traffic, Squib thought. Luckily, Cody continued, "maybe later tonight? Before dinner?"
"Sounds good, have fun in town," Nate smiled at her, but as she turned around, Squib swore he saw the boy glare at him. Yeah, that's right buster, I get to spend time with my girlfriend and you don't, get over it, Squib thought smugly.
"No! Really?" Squib relished in the pleasant sound of Cody's laughter as he told her about practice.
"I'm dead serious," he chuckled, "landed flat on her butt!"
"Wow, I thought Sunny was supposed to be the good one!"
"I guess she has too much swing for her tiny body," Squib suggested as the two continued their laughter. They had enjoyed lunch and were now walking aimlessly through town. Cody laced her hand through his.
"What time do you have?" She asked.
"3:30, why?"
"Just wondering. We should head back soon,"
"Do we really have to?" Squib asked, only half joking.
"Yes," Cody said, "we need to see Adena's match."
"She won't notice if we're not there!"
"Squib!" She scolded, laughing, "Adena is our friend!"
"Fine," he sighed. He glanced at his watch again, "well, you wanna start back now?"
"Sure, I've got some pictures I wanted to get through tonight, anyways. You coming to the darkroom with me?" She inquired.
"I am offended that you even have to ask,"
She really was getting behind with her pictures, Cody thought as she continued to kiss her boyfriend. Since they had gotten together, the darkroom had been used much less for picture developing and more for, well, not developing pictures, that's for sure. Surprisingly, the two had not had sex again since the incident over 3 months ago. It was weird, or at least that was what Cody thought. The first time they were together they thought almost nothing about the significance of it, probably because circumstances were not the greatest. But now that they were together, freely expressing their affection for each other, it had become, without either of them necessarily wanting it to, something much more meaningful. More than just a way to waste a Friday night.
"Squib," she giggled, pulling away, "I really do have pictures to develop!"
"That's nice," he replied, firmly planted his lips against hers once again. He could feel her smile against his lips.
"What time is it?" She asked, pulling away again.
"I was hoping you wouldn't ask that,"
"Why?"
"Because the match starts in ten minutes," he informed her.
"Squib!" She smacked him playfully, "I didn't get any pictures done!"
"Hey, it's not my fault you can't keep your hands off me," he smiled.
Cody rolled her eyes, "I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer," the two laughed together.
I love you.
There it was, Squib almost said it. He had found himself trying to suppress that phrase more often as of late. Not all the time, no. Sometimes he felt like just a teenager hanging out with his girl, and others he was quite convinced that it was simply that he cared for her more deeply than he had any other girl because there was no way a 16-year old could know what love was. Still, there was the odd occasion when he was quite convinced he was in love with Cody Myers. It just didn't seem right to confess it to her, though. He knew he'd have to before she did; it was just some feeling he had, that he'd end up saying it first. It was just laid out in the great order of their relationship: he would say it first. He was hesitant, though, very hesitant. For starters, he had never said it to a girl before, and Gary Furlong was not the greatest at expressing his feelings. Not to mention the gaping fear in the pit of his stomach that she didn't feel the same way. Three months really wasn't very long to be with a person, not long enough for love, anyway. Then again, a part of him reminded himself, he and Cody had only been official for three months; he had cared for her for over a year before that. Still, during moments such as this, he almost couldn't help himself.
"Let's go," he found himself saying instead, "we're gonna be late."
Squib lie on his back, glancing at the clock. It was 11:00 pm; Cameron was long asleep. He, though, was having a tougher time with it. He had felt jealousy rearing its ugly head again when Nate had approached them after dinner, dragging Cody off to help him with his homework. Which, Squib felt the need to point out (even though no one was around and he was simply thinking to himself) was not that hard. Even he had finished it with ease! He had not seen Cody since. Although at least he could console himself with the fact that she had not seemed all that happy about it. Sighing, he got to his feet and made his way over to the computer, careful not to wake his roommate.
Welcome, Squibslammer, he read. Scrolling down the screen, he was delighted to see the message Shutterbug is online. Apparently Cody had noticed too, because mere seconds later, a message appeared on his screen.
Shutterbug says:
Can't sleep?
Squibslammer says:
Something like that
Shutterbug says:
What did you guys end up doing after dinner?
Squibslammer says:
Not much. How was studying?
Shutterbug says:
More boring than you could ever believe
Squibslammer says:
Glad to hear it
Shutterbug says:
You can't see me right now, but you know I'm rolling my eyes
Squibslammer says:
Don't I believe it!
Shutterbug says:
Would it be too sappy to say that I missed you?
Squibslammer says:
Not at all, City Girl
Squib smiled.
Do you remember the time I knew a Girl From Mars?
I don't know if you knew that.
Oh we'd stay up late playing cards,
Henri Winterman Cigars.
Though she never told me her name,
I still love you, Girl From Mars.
Sitting in our dreamy days by the water's edge,
On a cool summer's night.
Fireflies and the stars in the sky,
Gentle glowing light,
From your cigarette.
The breeze blowing softly on my face,
Reminds me of something else.
Something that in my memory has been replaced,
Suddenly it all comes back.
And as I look to the stars.
I remember the time I knew a Girl From Mars,
I don't know if you knew that.
Oh we'd stay up late playing cards,
Henri Winterman Cigars.
Though she never told me her name,
I still love you, Girl From Mars.
Surging through the darkness over the moonlight strand,
Electricity in the air.
Twisting all through the night on the terrace,
Now that summer's here.
I know you are almost in love with me,
I can see it in your eyes.
Strange light shimmering over the sea tonight,
And it almost blows my mind
And as I look to the stars
I remember the time I knew a Girl From Mars,
I don't know if you knew that.
Oh we'd stay up late playing cards,
Henri Winterman Cigars.
Though she never told me her name,
I still love you, Girl From Mars.
Today I sleep in the chair by the window,
It felt as if you'd returned.
I thought that you were standing over me,
When I woke there was no one there.
I still love you, Girl From...
MARS!
Do you remember the time I knew a Girl From Mars?
I don't know if you knew that.
Oh we'd stay up late playing cards,
Henri Winterman Cigars.
Though she never told me her name.
Do you remember the time I knew a Girl From Mars?
I don't know if you knew that.
Oh we'd stay up late playing cards.
Henri Winterman Cigars.
And I still dream of you,
I still love you, Girl From Mars.
-Ash 'Girl From Mars'
