7. First Date
Other than my birthday the rest of the year was completely uneventful. Brenda found a new boyfriend soon after my birthday, leaving me as the fifth wheel at Halloween. Thanksgiving was enjoyable, Phil came over with a few of my mom's friends and there family. Their kids were much younger, four and five, so really didn't bother playing with them, especially since I didn't have anything for them to play with. It wasn't that I didn't like kids, but I was accident prone and the thought of injuring a child was not only a concern for me, but a real possibility.
Once dinner was served I got to sit at the adult table for the first time. I was excited. It was really fun when they started talking about a book that I had read and was able to put in my two cents. The other parents were surprised to say the least. It was actually a college level English novel. After we finished the other parents had to leave so they could make it to their other Thanksgiving dinner and I had to call Charlie to wish him a Happy Thanksgiving.
We talked for a few minutes, he had gone over to Billy's for lunch with some friends and they were back at his place to watch the games. After I got off the phone I went about cleaning the kitchen for the last time this week. With the amount of leftovers I don't think I'll have to do much cooking. My mom told me she and Phil were going to go watch a movie and asked if I wanted to come. I shrugged, said sure and off we went. I must admit it was a little odd being in public with Phil and my mother. But the movie was enjoyable and all in all I did have a pleasant time.
Christmas Eve was pretty simple, we went to church. Then apparently Phil had a tradition to go to eat Chinese afterwards, kind of strange, but the food was good. The next morning we opened presents. With my mom's salary and me not old enough to have a job, money wasn't something we had to spare so we always seem to keep presents to a minimum. We had enough money to live on comfortably, but we were conservative with spending. Plus for my thirteenth birthday I got that gorgeous garnet pendant, so was hoping not to get much now.
After the presents were opened, books and clothes for me, I watched Romeo and Juliet. Romeo was one of, if not my favorite characters. True, he messed up a lot of things, but who doesn't. He loves with his whole heart; it didn't matter to him if Juliet was wrong for him. If she was the daughter of his mortal enemy he loved who he loved and wasn't going to apologize for it. After the water works the movie ended and I headed to my room to read and finish my Christmas break homework. Soon the holiday was over and it was back to boring school as usually.
February 11th the weirdest thing happened. The cute boy that Brenda said was always staring at me came over to talk to me.
"Would you like to go out on a date with me this Friday?" I had a stinking suspicion I knew who was behind his bold move.
"What kind of date?" I asked.
"Well a couple of us were going to go to a restaurant and maybe see a movie." He timidly replied.
"Who is us?" I asked point blank to get to the bottom of this.
"Ummm, Brenda, Joel, Susan, and Gary." AH HA! I knew she put him up to this.
To be fair though, he wasn't that bad looking, I guess, "OK, we can go together." I don't think I have even seen anyone's eyes get so big before. He started rattling of the time, the restaurant where we're going to go and the movie we were going to see and who was driving. I felt like he was getting it out there before I could change my mind. Naturally I didn't miss that it was Valentine's Day, well day after, but still. I guess a fifth wheel on a Valentine's Day celebration is not something my friends wanted. So I gave him a little smile and nodded before he practically skipped to class.
Not ten seconds later I was attacked by two overly excited screeching teenage girls. "I knew you would say yes, I knew you liked him!" Brenda was gushing like some match maker; I guess she was, kind of. Susan was looking at me with the, what are we going to dress you in, look. I decided I would head her off, before she got carried away.
"Well it is Valentine's Day and I got a new skirt and blouse from my mom for Christmas that I can wear, but she still doesn't like the idea of me wearing a lot of makeup so might need your help with my hair and maybe a little mascara and lipstick?" Please let this work!
"I know just what we can do, what color is your blouse? Do you have heels you can wear?"
"Not a chance in hell are you going to get me in those death traps, I am an accident prone klutz as it is, and the blouse is blue."
Susan had a dejected look. "Fine, you might be right about the heels. How about we all meet at my house at 4pm to get ready? And then maybe we can stay at my house that night." Brenda and I agreed and headed to class.
I felt… weird, strange, odd? I don't know what I felt. I was actually committed to going on my first real date. I have spoken with the guy a total of 5 minutes, and most of that time was friendly hellos in the morning. I was not looking forward to the talk my mom was going to have with me. 'You're too young to get married; it is a commitment that you need to think about for a long time. Oh and don't have sex either.' I could hear it all now and wasn't looking forward to hearing it out loud, again.
When I got in the car, for the drive home, I figured me as a captive audience would be better than wasting my time once I got home. "Ummm, mom, I have a date with this guy Chris Friday and then I was asked to stay at Susan's. Is that OK?" Here it goes.
"That is fine with me sweetie, I'll call Mrs. Stevenson. Now I know I have told you this before." Only a hundred times I mumbled so she couldn't hear. "You are too young to be thinking about getting married, you should wait till you know you are ready. It is a commitment and it takes time to think these things through." She looked at me once we got to a stop light to make sure I understood. I nodded that I got it.
As we pulled up to the house and we were getting out, five minutes later. "OH and don't be thinking about sex either. That is all these boys want and they will tell you anything to get it."
"Don't worry mom I have no intentions of doing anything like that." I said hastily as I made a mad dash for my room before it could continue.
After a couple hours in my room doing homework it was time to go make dinner. I hoped she said her peace and we can have dinner in silence, well about that topic at least. After prepping dinner and cleaning up the pans I set the table and called my mom. Dinner was served and the dreaded topic was, thankfully, not brought up again. After the dishes were done I went to get ready for bed and read.
The next day Chris was waiting on me. I smiled at him, hoping I wasn't over doing it. "Hey Bella!" I could tell this might have been a mistake.
"Hey Chris."
"Can I carry your books for you?"
"No thank you, I can manage." I said with a smile, at least the boy has manners.
"So I was thinking last night, are we boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Place shocked look on my face before comment. "I think that might be a little sudden, we haven't even been on our date yet so technically we aren't even dating."
Place deflated look on his face. "OK that makes sense. So, are you looking forward to our date?"
Persistent, I'll give him that, "Sure, I think it will be a lot of fun hanging out with everyone." Please catch the subtle hint that it will not just be you and me.
"Great well I'll see you later." And off he goes smiling ear to ear.
Luckily the rest of the day isn't so bad and the next day was about the same. On Valentine's Day Chris gave me a box of candy and a card. Luckily I thought ahead and got the same for him.
Friday, February 15th 2002, 7:30am, in front of the school by the unloading zone, Chris fidgets. I smiled before he sees me; it really is kind of cute. My mom was smiling; I guess she figured it out. I put on a straight face as I get out. As I head to the door he rushes over to me and holds it open, I smile at him.
"Thanks."
"Hey Bella, so are you ready for tonight's date?"
Ummm, "Yeah, going to Susan's after school to change."
"I can't wait, OK, see you tonight." I slowed down to meet up with Brenda and Susan, who were walking a few steps behind me, smiling.
Just walk, don't say anything. "OK, you have to be so excited, why are you not about to burst? This is your first date." Brenda likes to think that boys were the reason we get dressed up to come to school. And I suppose they are since I am very comfortable in my shorts and tee shirt right now, with no makeup or jewelry and sandals with my hair in a messy ponytail. Both Susan and Brenda had makeup, skirts with a nice blouse and heels with their hair primped.
"I don't know about ready to burst, but I am looking forward to having a good night out with a bunch of friends." I stated letting her know it was not a boyfriend date. That must have been a huge let down to Brenda's next question because we walked the rest of the way in silence.
After school my mom picked me up and took me to Susan's. I had tossed everything in the trunk that morning so we would not have to go back to the house and I could leave my school books in the car. My mom always wanted to meet the parents of the people I was staying with and exchange numbers in person to make sure I was taken care of, it was one of the few parental things she still did.
Once we got there Brenda and Susan were already upstairs getting ready. After saying good bye to my mom and hello to Mrs. Stevenson I headed up to become a little more, girlie. Once I was changed they sat me down and tortured my hair and eyes and gave me some lipstick and blush. I looked in the mirror, not bad, but not really me. I could tell I was wearing makeup and I was really not too fond of that feeling. It might be nice to find someone that can apply it and make it look natural, but I think I'll stick to no makeup. After my hair was done I put on my flats and waited for the other two to finish.
We got in the car and as we headed to the restaurant I had to admit, I was getting a little excited. This would be my first date. Once we got there the guys were waiting outside for us. We all went in and sat down. We started out with small talk and then ordered our food and started talking about more interesting topics. It was pretty easy to talk with Chris, which was nice. It was the first time we have said more than a few sentences and the first time one of those sentences wasn't asking about tonight. Naturally he played sports, but also liked music, something I really liked thanks to my mom's influence. He didn't read too much, but had read some so that carried the conversation until it was time to go to the movie. He paid which was nice, but I made sure he understood I was paying for the movie and popcorn. I guess he saw I wasn't going to back down so he agreed.
Once we found our seats, I sat with Brenda on my right and Chris and my left with Gary beside him. We decided to see the movie that I had gone to see with my mom and Phil. Once the movie started Susan and Gary turned to each other only coming up for air when absolutely necessary. Brenda and Joel were holding hands and watching. Chris had his left arm on the arm rest, since it wasn't occupied and his right on his knee. I keep my arms crossed so he wouldn't be able to hold my hand. I am not sure if I wanted to or not, so it was easier to not give him the opportunity.
Once the movie was over we left and talked about it, we all agreed it was pretty good, mostly Chris and I as the others ended up not seeing it all. Before we got in the car I gave in a little, just to test the waters and hugged Chris for a second and pulled back before he could try and kiss me. Once in the car Susan's mom asked about the movie. Again half way through Brenda's attention was preoccupied and Susan didn't even see the opening scene, so I had to fill her in while the others agreed with me. I laugh to myself, I wonder what would happen if I did make out with Chris and none of us knew what the movie was about.
Once we got back to Susan's we went up to take off our makeup and got ready for bed.
"Did you kiss him?" Brenda immediately started to ask.
"No, I didn't kiss him or hold his hand. It was our first 'date'. I hugged him goodbye."
"We know, we saw and it looked like you made sure that he didn't have the chance to kiss you goodnight you pulled back so fast."
Blushing now, "Well I like to take it slow, I am not sure if I like him enough to do that stuff. I haven't ruled out giving him a second date though."
The girls start giggling at my expense, more blushing. "Bella! He adores you. You really don't have to take it that slow. It is just kissing, it isn't like he is going to eat you and you're not going to get pregnant from it."
"I know it is just, well my parents got married young and divorced when I was only months old. I guess my mom has enforced the, 'take it slow' to a whole new level."
Susan shrugged at my reasoning. Of all the people I have known she seems to be the most level headed. Takes everything in stride, talks when you're ready, keeps her mouth shut if you don't want to discuss things further. But she has no problem with understanding boys. "Bella, it isn't that we disagree with your views, it is just that every male on earth wants one thing. At some point in a relationship we have to decide to proceed to the next step or get out of the relationship. Of course that doesn't mean a guy will stay around forever for you to decide." She took a deep breath. "Gary and I talk about it and decide when we are ready to move on, together. He is such a great guy." She looked at me, waiting on my response.
"I know Susan, I know it is mostly a girls' choice, but I am not ready to have to choose. If I don't have a boyfriend there is no choice to be made." Blushing subsides, deep breath, "I guess what I am saying is, I do kind of like Chris. He is a good friend and I think I will hang out with him, but once I am forced to make a choice I am not comfortable with, I over analyze it. I will obsess over the issue, but once I make up my mind I stick to it. If it doesn't work out though, I won't have any problem moving on." Susan smiled indicating she understands where I am coming from.
Brenda starts bouncing up and down, "Bella has a boyfriend!" Great, I figure the best way to handle this was to ignore her, but she doesn't stop bouncing for an hour.
After that the talking dies down and Brenda and Susan comment on kissing and how sweet their boyfriends are and how they paid for their meal and movie. Luckily it didn't last much longer before we went to sleep. By the next morning, I was terrified I talked. I couldn't remember my dream and we were talking about boys the night before and...
"Who is Edward?" Crap! Brenda came in the room.
"What?" I ask trying to present the most convincing 'I have no idea what you are talking about' look.
"Last night in your sleep you said Edward. It freaked me out because you said it like you were talking to someone."
"Sorry I have been known to talk in my sleep, but I really don't know who Edward is or why I said his name." I could tell she was thinking overtime, trying to think of any boys in school named Edward I bet, but I knew of none.
I am not sure if she believed me but she let it drop. As I got ready to go home I tried to remember my dream, but again the only thing that came to mind was a grass circle with wild flowers, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, but it was sunny and it felt warm. It certainly was not anywhere I have ever seen before, but had no clue why I was thinking about it or how it would relate to anyone. I couldn't picture anyone in the area either. Once my things were packed I headed down and we ate in silence.
A short time later my mother showed up and I said my goodbyes and thank yous and jumped in the car. The drive home was quiet after the normal round of questions. Once we were home I went to my room and unpacked and sat on my bed to read and think. I had to decide if I was ready for a boyfriend. I knew from the choices I have made in the past the hardest thing for me was making the decision. It actually started when I had to decide on which piece of candy I wanted long ago. It took 15 minutes for me to decide but after that I enjoyed the gummy bears very much; I always bit their heads off first.
Well, pros and cons, pro I have a boyfriend, con I have a boyfriend. OK that doesn't help, am I happy alone? Yes. But, well, I guess it would be nice to have someone to hug and hold hands with, but I don't feel the need. The cons, I would have undue attention and another person might get injured if they get to close when I fall. Well he is a guy; he should be strong enough to hold me up when I fall since he plays sports. OK, I will agree to go out with him again, but it is not time to commit to being his girlfriend. Done, now what do I want for lunch.