Chapter 7

Small talk

It had been a few days after our kiss with Maura. That unexpected kiss left me thinking. I was quite confused after that. I played the kiss over and over my mind and I just couldn't stop thinking about it. In my mind I could still hear the loud thunders; I could still feel Maura's warm body against mine and her gentle touch; I could still taste her lips. Just the memory of it could bring me back to that special night and I still remembered it vividly. I couldn't get it out of my head. It was driving me insane. I remembered every detail about it and I wished it could happen again even thought I knew that was impossible. Sometimes I just wished I could go back in time and spent one more night with Maura. And even though most of the time I was putting my foot in my mouth, I wouldn't change a thing about that night.

I remembered that Maura told me she was scared but not from the storm. And now it got me thinking what she meant with her words. Am I that scary for her? Was she afraid of me? I don't look so scary, do I? Of course not. She didn't mean she's scared of me... Maybe she's scared that she likes me. And maybe she said she was scared because I am her student and a bit younger than her. Maybe she's scared of our age difference and the fact that she's my teacher. But that was just a suggestion. An assumption I made for myself. I couldn't be sure about it. I could be totally wrong - maybe the kiss was just a simple kiss and nothing more. A mistake. Or just a spur-of-the-moment decision that she regretted later. She left the room quickly and didn't say anything so maybe it didn't mean anything for her. I had no idea. And I desperately wanted to know. But not desperately enough to ask her. I couldn't ask her straightforwardly - I didn't have enough courage to do so.

The morning after the storm it all seemed like a dream. When I got up, woken up from my alarm, Maura was already in the kitchen, making the breakfast. I would really have thought that it was all just a dream if I hadn't woken up in Maura's bed. She greeted me and we had a brief talk but nothing important. She didn't even mention the kiss. So I decided it was best to leave it that way. I couldn't muster enough courage to say anything about it. We quickly ate our breakfast and we went to school and after that we parted our ways. That day I didn't have biology and I couldn't see her later. And that was all.

It's been a few days after that morning. Lately Maura started calling me almost every day. When I was in her house she had asked me for my phone number and I gave it to her. She started calling me ever since. We usually talked about school, and how was our day and stuff like that. We usually had a small talk - nothing important but still, it was nice hearing her voice every day. We talked about things that she likes and don't, about things that I like, and about our everyday routine. I think that thanks to these conversations we got really close. Of course no one knew about our small talks. I would go to my room and hide there while I was talking with Maura. I didn't want someone to find out. I kept it a secret for now. I haven't said anything to my mother because she would probably start asking me too many questions and I didn't have any answers for her. Not as much as I hoped. Even I still wasn't sure what was going on between Maura and me.

I still had no idea whether Maura likes me or not. Maybe she was just being friendly and nice with me. And there was nothing going on between us. Maybe I was being paranoid for thinking that there's even a small chance that she likes me. I had never asked her. But what was I suppose to ask: "Why do you keep calling me so frequently?" Or ask her straightforwardly: "Do you like me or not, Maura?" That was out of the question. I couldn't do such thing so I just went with the flow - I waited until she did something. I hoped she would take the first step. So we just talked over the phone for now and I was okay with it.

That day we were talking about movies. She said she had been to cinema the previous night and we started discussing movies that we've seen.

"What's your favorite movie?" she asked me over the phone.

I was in my room, talking with Maura, hoping that no one would show up there. I just needed my privacy. That was the only place I could be alone.

"Loving Annabelle," I simply answered without any hesitation. I didn't have to think it through, I just knew.

"I have never heard of it," Maura confessed, thinking about it for a few seconds.

"Oh, you should totally watch it," I said, recommending it to her.

What the hell did I say that for? You should totally watch it. That sounds so lame! Even when I couldn't see her right in front of me, I was still a bit nervous when we talked.

"Okay. I will," she promised me. "And since we are on the topic, I wanted to ask you what's your favorite song, too? What kind of music do you like and do you have a favorite song? I am just curious."

"Well, I do have favorites. Gravity is definitely on the top of my list. It's by Sara Bareilles. Actually, it's from the movie I told you about. I heard it when I watched the movie and I just loved it. But I like listening to R&B and Hip-hop music as well... or whatever I like. It just has to be good and that's it," I explained to her. "What about you? What kind of music do you listen to?"

I was curious to find out, too. We haven't talked about it until now so I was happy to know more about her and her taste in movies and in music.

"I listen to classical music," Maura answered.

She listens to classical music. Of course she does! I should have said something smarter. Like some smart song. Is there any smart songs at all? I shouldn't have said that song which she haven't even heard of. And now how can I say I listen to classical music too when I don't! I just can't pretend that I like it just like her. We have learnt about the classical composers at school but other than that - I didn't have any clue. Just a few names and facts that were in no use to me at that moment.

"I like Tchaikovsky and Beethoven but my favorite one is Rossini. I love The Barber of Seville," she informed me and I had no idea what to say.

I should remember that. Maybe listen to it later so the next time I don't sound so stupid and incompetent. Maybe I should write it down on a paper. I would totally forget the title of the song.

"Jane, are you there?" she asked me after a few moments of silence.

"Yes. Yes, I am here."

"You just didn't say anything and I thought you hang up or something."

"No. I am sorry. I just... I don't know what to say," I answered nervously, biting my nail. "I actually don't listen to classical music so..."

"So what if you don't? That's not important, Jane. You sound concerned," she noted. "Everyone have different taste in music and you shouldn't worry that you don't listen to the same music as me. When I was your age, I didn't listen to classical music too. Don't worry about it. Relax, okay. Judging by your voice I could tell that you are a bit nervous."

"Okay," I answered. "But I promise I'll listen to that song."

"Oh, you don't have to do that."

"But I want to. What was the title again?" I asked, biting my lip. I was so stupid that it just slipped out of my mind.

"The Barber of Seville," she repeated for me and laughed at the end.

AN: I know this one is really short but I hope I could post the new chapter by Friday. I'll try to make the next one longer and more interesting. That's it for now. What do you think?