Well, Liz Is Alive
I ditched school today, figured I deserved a day off after spending two consecutive days in that hellhole. I spent the whole day reading in Washington Square Park. Well not so much reading as looking through different books trying to find the perfect screen name for my mystery girl. It wasn't hard coming up with names. The hard part was trying to find something perfect. It also didn't help that I hardly knew her. She'd come up with my screen name Dodger on the spot and it fit me perfectly, and maybe one day I'd tell her just how perfectly it fit me.
All day I was stressing over finding the perfect name and I had nothing, well nothing that was perfect. I noticed kids from my school making their way past me and I figured school must be out. I took the short walk home and was surprised to see Liz was home after being away for two days. I figured she'd moved on, but unfortunately not.
"Hey, Jess," Liz greeted me cheerfully.
"Hey," I grunted back as I closed the door behind me.
"I brought food," Liz said motioning towards the groceries on the counter. "You want something to eat?"
"No," I replied as I headed to my room, I could always grab something later.
"Aren't you going to ask where I was?" Liz asked me, disappointed.
"No." I didn't care.
"Jess, the school called," Liz said and I turned around.
"Huh," I replied.
"Your English teacher called," Liz explained. "He said you're doing better… He called you smart. Are you smart, Jess?"
"No." If she paid me any attention at all then maybe she'd know.
"Come on, Jess, this is big," Liz said proudly. "It's not every day one of your teachers calls me up for a good reason."
"I have homework," I lied, headed towards my bedroom.
"I thought we could celebrate," Liz said sadly.
"No, thanks," I said and her face fell. "Maybe later," I sighed, "I've got homework."
I walked into my room and closed the door behind me. I locked it too, just for good measure. I pulled the laptop out of the closet and logged in. I was about to search for her name, but she beat me to it. It looked like she was just as eager to talk to me as I was to her.
Product of a Mistake: Hey, so do you know what today is?
Dodger: No?
Product of a Mistake: It's the day I can finally change my screen name… I hope you came up with something good
Dodger: Not really
Product of a Mistake: I bet it's good
Dodger: It really isn't
Product of a Mistake: Come on, Dodger, just tell me
Dodger: Blue Eyed Angel
Product of a Mistake: How'd you know that I have blue eyes?
Dodger: I didn't… So do you have blue eyes?
Product of a Mistake: Yes
Dodger: Do you like the name… because I can change it if you want… or you could change it
Blue-Eyed-Angel: No, it's fine. You gave it to me, so I love it
Dodger: Good, I'm glad
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Why?
Dodger: Because it took me most of the day to come up with that… Plus, if you didn't have blue eyes I would've been screwed
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Why blue eyes? Why didn't you think I had brown eyes?
Dodger: Because I have brown eyes and that would've been weird
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Come on, Dodger, the truth?
Dodger: I don't know, you just seem like you have blue eyes… It's just a feeling I had
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Ok, so anything else you have a feeling about?
Dodger: You're smart and you're… I'm sorry, I don't really do this… You already know more about me than anybody else
Blue-Eyed-Angel: So you're not big on giving compliments, that's okay. …So what did you do today? How was school?
Dodger: School was… I didn't go to school today
Blue-Eyed-Angel: What? Why?
Dodger: No reason, I just didn't feel like it
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Come on, Dodger, you have to go to school
Dodger: No, you have to go to school, I don't
Blue-Eyed-Angel: I can't believe you missed school
Dodger: Jeez, it's only one day, settle down
Blue-Eyed-Angel: What did you do then? Knock over a liquor store?
Dodger: No.
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Well it was a possibility, Dodger
Dodger: I read, ok, I spent the day reading
Blue-Eyed-Angel: You do realize they read in school
Dodger: Not the books I want to read
Blue-Eyed-Angel: So what were you reading?
Dodger: Not much, this and that
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Give me something to go on here… Genre… Author
Dodger: Austen
Blue-Eyed-Angel: As in Jane Austen?
Dodger: No, as in Janet Austen
Blue-Eyed-Angel: I was just clarifying… You don't seem like the type of guy to read Austen
Dodger: Austen's not bad. I was only reading it so I could figure out a perfect screen name for you
Blue-Eyed-Angel: And did it work?
Dodger: Not really, I kept have the urge to call you Miss something… and you don't strike me as the type of girl who'd like being called Miss
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Good call
Dodger: So what about you… How was school?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Good, I just started a new school actually
Dodger: Really, private?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Yeah, it's hard work
Dodger: You're really smart then?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Yeah, but I'm way behind and everyone at the school is out to get me
Dodger: Why?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: I don't know, but this one girl…. Argh. ...She'd make one hell of a president that's for sure
Dodger: Hmm, sounds bad
Blue-Eyed-Angel: So do you go to public school then? Well you must if you can just skip whenever you want
Dodger: Yeah, public, the kids are stupid
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Compared to you of course
Dodger: Of course
Blue-Eyed-Angel: So why did you never go to private?
Dodger: Lofl *sarcastic*
Blue-Eyed-Angel: I see you have been learning your Internet slang, well done : )
Dodger: Yeah, well there's not much else to do on this computer… Apart from talking to you of course
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Thank you, so why were you sarcastically lofl'ing?
Dodger: Because private school is a joke to me… a dream… Even if I did want to go I never could
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Why?
Dodger: Because I can't okay, there are more important things in life
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Fine, so what's your favorite Austen book?
Dodger: Northanger Abbey
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Really? Why?
Dodger: It's the shortest
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Come on, tell me the truth
Dodger: Fine, Emma
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Why?
Dodger: Emma's father always cared about the health and safety of his loved ones… I guess I never really had that in my life
Blue-Eyed-Angel: I see
Dodger: What's your favorite Austen book?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Emma, lol
Dodger: Why?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: She was happy, yet she was an individual. She did what she wanted, like matchmaking even know Mr. Knightley told her not to. She spends part of her life trying to fall for Frank because everyone thinks they'd make a handsome couple. Then she realizes she was only seeing what she wanted to see and not the truth. Then of course she ends up with Mr. Knightley because he's loved her ever since the start of the book
Dodger: So what part do you relate to most?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: I don't know, I guess conforming to others ideals because it's easier than being questioned about your individuality
Dodger: So you aim to please others, even if it means compromising your own happiness?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Yeah, well that's just how life is
Dodger: Is this a family member trying to push you to do something you don't want to do?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: I guess, but technically I have a big family… some of them aren't even related to me. I've known them my whole life and they feel as though they get to put their two cents worth in
Dodger: Must suck
Blue-Eyed-Angel: What about you? Do you aim to please others?
Dodger: No
Blue-Eyed-Angel: No one? What about yourself?
Dodger: Not even myself
Blue-Eyed-Angel: So what do you do then?
Dodger: What I want mainly… What needs to be done
Blue-Eyed-Angel: What about your parents, don't you want to please them?
Dodger: They don't care what I do
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Really? I'd hate that… My mom and I are close, she cares for me… If she didn't care for me, I don't know where I'd be in life right now
Dodger: What about your dad?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: He's out of the picture… well most of the time
Dodger: We have that in common, except I've never seen my dad… I do have his surname though
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Does that bother you, having your dad's name?
Dodger: Not really. My mom's not that much better, but at least she stuck around… I'm thinking of changing my name when I come of age
Blue-Eyed-Angel: But it's you name… Isn't there an eccentric Uncle or something… someone who makes your name actually mean something?
Dodger: Don't know, I think my mom has a brother, but I've never met them, other than that, I don't know of anyone else
Blue-Eyed-Angel: That must suck
Dodger: It's good sometimes, I don't have to worry about anyone, I can just do what I want
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Like skip school and read all day?
Dodger: Exactly… The kid's aren't even up to Austen's level, so I see it as self-education
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Self-education? Call it what you want, but it's still skipping school
Dodger: That's your opinion
Blue-Eyed-Angel: So where do you read… at home?
Dodger: No, at the park
Blue-Eyed-Angel: At least you're getting fresh air
Dodger: Yeah…
"Jess," Liz said as she knocked on my door. "What are you doing in there? …Why is this door locked?"
"What?" I yelled back.
"I want you to come out so we can celebrate," Liz said. "I cooked and everything… I'll be waiting for you."
Dodger: I have to go, sorry
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Why?
Dodger: My mom's on bonding mode or something… and apparently she cooked… I didn't even know she knew how
Blue-Eyed-Angel: K, I'll talk to you tomorrow?
Dodger: Yeah, most definitely… until then…
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Bye, Dodger
Dodger: Bye
Blue-Eyed-Angel: One more thing
Dodger: Yeah?
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Go to school tomorrow, Dodger
Dodger: Fine
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Promise
Dodger: …Fine, I promise
Blue-Eyed-Angel: Great, ttyl
Dodger: Yeah
Dodger has logged off
I packed up the laptop and quickly made my way out of my room. The kitchen table actually had food on it and surprisingly it didn't look poisonous. I sat down silently and waited for Liz to acknowledge me.
"So, Jess," Liz began. "What were you actually doing in your room?"
"Homework," I said and she looked at me skeptically. "I swear."
"Okay," Liz accepted as she sat down across from me. "And you needed the door locked for that?"
"I didn't want to be disturbed," I said. "So what's for dinner?"
"Your favorite," Liz said happily. "Lasagna and apple pie for dessert."
"And you made this?" I asked, digging my fork into the lasagna.
"Yes, well not the apple pie, I bought that," Liz said. "I can cook." Liz tried to reassure me.
"Could've fooled me," I muttered under my breath.
"Dig in," Liz said, taking a bite. I did the same.
"Not bad," I told her, it actually tasted pretty good.
"See I told you I could cook." Liz smiled.
"Why have you never cooked before then?" I asked her confused. If I knew I could've been eating like this for most of my life, then my life wouldn't have been half bad.
"Never had the time," Liz explained guiltily. "I'm sorry, Jess."
"It's fine," I replied. I had lasted this long without home cooked meal, plus I'm sure this change isn't going to be permanent.
"So," Liz said, "are you still not going to ask me where I was the past two days?"
"I really don't care."
"I was at an orientation," Liz said excitedly. "I got a job working as a kitchen hand in a hotel. I figure if I can get enough experience they might make me a chef one day."
"Yeah, dream on," I muttered under my breath.
"What do you think, Jess?" Liz asked hopefully.
"I think it's great," I replied unfazed, it was only a matter of time before she lost this job as well.
"I'm glad you're actually trying in school," Liz said. "This is going to be a turnaround for both of us, I can just tell."
"Yeah, sure," I said as I plastered a fake smile on my face.
"I'm so proud of you, Jess," Liz said.
Well she never could tell when I was being sarcastic or not, so I just smiled back at her. I still couldn't help wondering just how long this change would last, based on the past, it wouldn't be very long. We sat there in a comfortable silence. I was actually enjoying dinner for once, so I was savoring every minute of it. But then I started wondering if I finished eating quickly enough whether or not Blue Eyed Angel would still be online. I wanted to talk to her again. I actually enjoyed talking to her. Jeez I think I have fallen for her… and hard.