6/21
Sorry I haven't been writing, Nbook. Things have been crazy lately. Between work (Have I mentioned that I don't like working at the Ice Cream Palace? I didn't? I DON'T LIKE WORKING AT THE ICE CREAM PALACE!!) and Vanish rehearsals, I just don't have time for anything.
I've been really pulling for the guys (and girls) in Vanish. There's auditions for them to go this weekend for next weekend's 4th of July Bash. Only three bands are being chosen, and pretty much everyone in Palo City will be there according to Maggie. Besides, all the bands that are chosen get paid $300. Exposure. Money. It can't go wrong.
Brendon won't be here of course. Camp whatever in Western Massachusetts. He's leaving later today, while I'm at work. I'll be meeting him BEFORE work, so we can say goodbye. It's only SIX WEEKS and he'll be back for freshman year - FRESHMAN YEAR!!! Not that it seems like such a big deal, since we're already in the high school building. But it's still cool, official high schoolers.
The other day, when Dawn's friends got here, when Justin made his big announcement, I had absolutely no idea what he meant. I sort of went along with everyone else, because they weren't making a big deal out of it.
Later on I ask Saint Isabel what bisexual meant.
She starts laughing. "Amalia, you are so naive."
"What? Isabel! Just tell me!"
Remind me, Nbook, to never try to talk to Isabel about anything.
After about ten minutes of this, I get it out of her that bisexual means you're attracted to guys and girls, and once she explained it to me, I felt even more stupid, because it seemed to make so much sense then. Bi. Sexual. I get it now.
Yesterday, I told Brendan (I figure that Justin will tell everyone in his own time, but Brendan wasn't going to spread it around) and he was really cool about it too, but he didn't seemed surprised. In fact, he acted like he expected it.
"I sort of saw it coming," he says. "I mean, he's kind of obvious."
"Obvious?" I ask.
"I dunno. He's... pretty."
"What?" I'm totally confused. Isabel is right (never write those words again), I'm totally naive.
"It's just his demeanor," Brendan says.
"Well, I never noticed anything," I say stiffly. Why does everyone around me seem to know it all? It's not just a Palo City thing since Brendan knows.
"It's not a big deal," Brendan says, putting his arm around my shoulders. "People are who they are. It's not weird or anything."
"I didn't think it was." I'm still sounding very unlike me.
"It's okay, Amalia."
I lean back against him. "I feel stupid, I'm like the only one who doesn't know about anything... they don't teach in school. I just feel kind of left out. Like an inside joke or something. And I just laugh so it looks like I'm keeping up."
"You shouldn't have to. No one thinks you're dumb, least of all your friends."
Brendan is so sweet.
That evening, I went over to Maggie's, (alone, Brendan had to pack) she had everyone over. Her mom still isn't home from Betty Ford, and Maggie was stewing over her Dad sponsoring food and not being able to just get pizza and Chinese food. However, the food was great.
I started talking to Claudia, and we got on the subject of art. It turns out she's an artist too, but her's is on a much more professional level than mine, and she's way better.
"You're amazing!" I say after she shows me the drawing of me she sketched on a napkin.
"Thanks. You're really good too." She takes the cartoony drawing of her (on a napkin too) from me. "This is really fun."
"Fun, code for "it looks like something a four-year-old drew,"" I remark.
"No, not at all," Claudia says. "It's just different. It's more... well, fun."
"But this," I say, waving the napkin with my face on it at her, "looks like a photograph!"
"That's my secret," she says, grinning.
I start laughing. "That's just raw natural talent, though. You're really good, I promise."
"Thanks," she says again, this time sounding a little sheepish. She picks up her plate and starts eating. "Have you tried the pie?"
Things get a little boring until -
"So, um, do you guys hang out with the band a lot?" Claudia asks.
"Sometimes, but mostly just at rehearsals, and sometimes at school. And everyone always makes it to their shows. Hopefully we'll be playing on the 4th of July," I reply. "But they don't show up for these things."
"Oh."
I started to get things right here and my eyes widen. "You like someone!"
Claudia blushes.
"Who is it?" Then I realize that I've known Claudia for a total of two days, and I'm being nosy. "Sorry, you don't have to tell me."
"No... it's okay. It's... well." She pauses. "Does... Rico have a girlfriend?"
I grin like crazy. "No, no, he doesn't." Claudia likes Rico! That's so adorable!
She starts grinning too. "Well, then... that's... too bad."
"Did you meet him yesterday?" I ask. "I mean, did you introduce yourself to him?"
"No, I was too nervous. I've liked guys, but they were all my own age, not sixteen."
"Sixteen year old guys are just like thriteen year old guys, except they drive. You spent all day at Disneyland with Ducky, and that wasn't weird, was it?"
"But, he's Ducky. He's different."
"Yeah, okay, you're right. I dated a sixteen year old, and he was a loser, but Rico isn't a loser. Anyway, older guys. Just like guys our age. Besides, it's not like you act like a regular thirteen year old," I say.
"I don't?" Claudia asks.
"Look at how you're dressed." Claudia was wearing a short black skirt, a long sleeved bright blue shirt, and strappy black high heel shoes. She had a silver necklace on with a handmade looking charm on it, and silver swirly earrings. She looked at least fifteen, if not older.
"I dress like this all the time."
"Really? I don't have that kind of energy." I was wearing jeans, my Jax t-shirt, and sneakers. It's what I had put on half asleep that morning.
She smiles. "How I dress doesn't make the fact that I'm only thirteen any different."
"The guys don't see it like that. I'm their manager, and I'm only thirteen," I say. "And I bet, if you introduce yourself to Rico-"
"You think he'll like me?" Claudia asks.
"I don't know, but what's the worst that could happen?"
Hopefully he'll like her too, because I have this bad habit of giving advice where I don't need to be giving advice. Or bad advice. I invited her to rehearsal this evening.
I've got to meet Brendan now, and then go to work.
(I hate working at the Ice Cream Palace.)