JUST LISTEN—OWEN'S VIEW

Chapter 9

Monday at lunch, I waited for Annabel to start the conversation. When she didn't, I did.

"So. Did you listen?"

At first she evaded telling her opinion so much that I thought she hadn't listened. Then she lied, saying she liked it. Eventually I got her to tell the truth. "I…I didn't like it."

"I knew it! You know, for someone who lies a lot, you're not very good at it."

"I'm not a liar."

"Right. You're nice." Too nice. So nice you get to the point of unhelpfulness, I'll guess.

"What's wrong with nice?"

"Nothing. Except it usually involves not telling the truth."

We talked about the show more. Can you believe she doesn't like techno?! Techno is the best! Well, to each his/her own. ((AN: Personally, I don't like techno))

I decided to put the songs we had discussed into a playlist. I started dragging songs in on my iPod.

Annabel said, uncertainly, "So…you're OK with that?"

"That you didn't like the show?" I moved 'Lipo' into the playlist.

"Yeah."

"Sure. I mean, it would have been cool if you had. But most people don't, so it's not exactly surprising."

"And that doesn't bother you."

"Not really. I mean, at first it was kind of disappointing, but people recover from disappointment. Otherwise we'd all be hanging from nooses, right?"

"What?"

We discussed the sea shanty, but I really didn't get how she didn't like techno. "So you didn't like the techno? Like, not even one aspect?"

"No. Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, it's your opinion. There's no right and wrong in music, you know? Just everything in between."

The bell rang, and I hopped (well, hopped as much as someone as big as me could) off the wall.

"Well, I guess I'll see you around."

"Yeah. See you later," I replied.

I headed toward art class, knowing as I did that my charcoal apple today would be worse than normal (which wasn't that good anyway). I had too much to think about. Particularly what Rolly had been saying. I really wanted to get to know Annabel. I really enjoyed talking to her. I'd never looked forward to knowing someone this much. So, did I like her? I didn't know.

The next day, again, I was looking forward to lunch.

END