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Did I do a disclaimer about this story yet?
"Alright, let's begin." We had a big bowl of chips placed in between our papers as the interview began.
"Cool." Jerry replied. "What's you full name?"
"Gracious Estrellas Do'Herty." I don't usually say my middle name because it sounds so ugly. Eh-stre-las. Ugh.
"That's a very beautiful name." I know he's only talking about my first name; Gracious.
"Yeah but a lot of people have the name Grace." I countered.
"No, I meant your middle name. It's beautiful." "Haha! Yeah right! Like I'll believe that one!" But he sounded so honest and genuine.
"But it's so ugly! How can you like a name like Eh-stre-las?" He laughs at me.
"You know for someone with a Hispanic name you sure suck at Spanish." Wow, way to prove my point. "It's pronounced eh-streh-yahs and it translate to 'star."
Estrellas. When I say it it sound harsh, but when he says it..
"eh-streh-yahs"
I sounds so beautiful and gentle. Sacred as if it would break at even the slightest touch.
I shook my head. I've been out for too long anyway I need to get back to my interview.
"Whatever just don't tell anyone."
"Fine." He seems a bit reluctant, but agrees. Most likely plotting a way to say my middle name without heading the waning. "What's my question?" I look at his blank expression in amazement. Is he really this slow? So the rumors are true.."Well?"
"What's our full name."I ask bluntly. He answers before realizing it's the same question. How can someone be this stupid?
"Jerremiah Fracnchesco Santiago Nicholas Martinez." Wha-?
"That won't fit on the page." I know it sounded dumb but it's the truth.
"oh. Than just put Jerry Martinez." He replied.
Everything kept going fine form then on until something unusual happened. Jerry tried to take some chips from and ended up dropping some in the bowl. Of course he didn't notice and continued eating the ones in his hand, but as I watched them fall, they seemed to almost…glow. Not like radioactive green glow but a soft golden glow as If blessed by a god. Weird, right? So I look away from that and notice that some holes are peeking through my closed blinds and mixing with the light of the room. All of it, plus the dust bunnies falling down from the moving ceiling fan, made it seem as if golden specks were being trapped in a golden halo. "Snap out of it Grace!" I thought. "There's no way he could be an angel. Oh but an angel he seemed to me! A mischievous angel ;). Quit it! What about Bryan and the date tomorrow? I tried to listen to myself, but I got lost looking at Jerry's mouth. His teeth weren't white but they weren't unhealthy, and his full lips move so smoothly, almost like…
"GRACE! ESTRELLAS!"
"Owe! Damn it Jerry what did I tell you about my middle name?!" I scolded and hit him upside the head. His hair was so rough and sticky, yuck! "and quit using hair gel."
"Hwy! I wouldn't have said it if you responded the first 43 times I called you. And don't mess with my hair." He whined. I almost laughed at it, it was so cute.
"Are we done?" I look at my sheet as he did his and we began packing our things up. "So, do you want to go home now?" but before I knew when to stop, the words flew out. "or watch a movie?" I nervously watched him shrug. Why am I so nervous?
"I don't know. What time is it?" I check my phone.
"6:50."
"6:50!?" he screeched with bulging eyes and almost tripped over his own feet. "I need to go!" He got his stuff and literally sprinted down the road. I got to the door only to see a tiny brown speck yell "SHIT!" and turn the corner.
What just happened? I feel kind of down. Did he leave because I practically asked him to stay longer? Did he have really over protective parents? And how far does the boy live? He turned the corner out of the neighborhood, not farther into it. I turn back to look at the damage. The chips seem as dull as the lint and uneven lighting around the room. Ugh, why am I so emotional?
We're halfway through the movie and I don't understand it. This movie is a completely new way of horror and yet somehow familiar, a little less than cliché but still a cliché. Why would you go into the attic anyway? The ladder is obviously broken, but it is kind of compelling. It's no the house that's haunted*. Oh, there he goes. I knew he'd fall eventually.
Right now I'm in the middle of my movie date with Bryan, and I have to admit it's kind of dull. You'd think he would be there, ready to hold me in his strong arms when I get scared right? I wasn't expecting him to curl up in a ball in his seat either.
It was his fault for letting me choose.
"A-Aren't you even a little afraid?" Oh look everyone, the turtle came out of his shell!
"Nah, not really." I take a sip of my Black Cherry slushy until I hear the bottom of the cup."I'm going ot get a refill."
Wait!" he shouts and everyone shushes him. He grabs my arm and it warms up a little, making me (reluctantly) thankful for the theatre's darkness.
"Man up. I'll be right back." And with that I leave. Thankfully there's no line, so I walk up to the counter only to be met with some guy's back. "Hello?"
"Hi. What can I help you for?" He turns and we both freeze.
"Jerry?" I didn't know you work here."
"Oh Grace. How's it going? What're you doing here?" He seems nervous but before I can answer, someone beats me to it.
"She's on a date." Bryan just had to follow me? Is he really that scares?! I haven't left for all of 30 seconds." What're you doing here Martinez?"
"Wow, you are as dumb as everyone thinks you are." Jerry said in mock amazement, making Bryan scowl. "Look at the uniform. I work here."
"Hey Jerry, can I have a refill on my Black Cherry?" I ask, causing a diversion before anymore could happen.
"Sure." He smiles at me and scowls at Bryan.
"Why are you working here, huh? Is your dad's promotion not big enough?" Bryan mocked.
"Bryan," I ask. "what are you doing?"
"Shut up babe, I got this." Did he just- I know he didn't-!
"Hey man." Jerry speaks up after handing me my free refill. "Don't speak to a lady like that." I can't believe it. He's sticking up for me. Of course a lot of my previous dates so that to look manly, but the truth and passion in his words. It's like he wouldn't deny it for the world.
"Bryan let's go! We're missing the movie!" He tenses.
"Hold on babe, just let me settle it with Smartinez." Smartinez? Jerry's not that smart. I look at Jerry, who's practically radiating heat from how seething hot he is.
I-I didn't meanitn like that! I meant that he was really hot from being mad! N-Not that type of hot-
Why am I fussing over this in my head? That's Kim's thing so I'll just admit it: Jerry Martinez is hot. End of story.
I just leave as they (meaning Bryan saying rude remarks and Jerry angrily replying and working at the same time) continue fighting. I go back to the dark theatre to see the father entering the door. As the music goes on, I can't help but notice a soft glow out of the corner of my eye.
"Hello?"
"Hey Kim. Why are you panting?"
"I-uh…came from a run?"
Really. At 9 at night."
"Yeah…"
"Whatever. I called because of my date."
'Oh, how is it?" I heard a sigh in the background.
"Pretty bad. Who's in the background?"
"N-No one! Really, who else would be in my room; A boy?!" Yup, someone's there alright, and I think I know who.
"Kim, this date is going really bad. Can we talk about it?"
"Now? At almost 9 at night?"
"If you can run, I can visit."
"Well I have to study and finish my homework."
"We can do that together. I need some advice right now Kim, please?" I sound desperate because half of it is genuine. I've got some things I need to figure out.
The line is silent for a moment and I walk out of the bathroom. "Kim?"
"Call Kelsey." Click. Did she just- I know she didn't-
Oh screw this.
She thinks she can just choose him over me? Congrats on getting Jack-I'm happy for her, really- but to be so rude to a friend? He movie is already over so nothing is stopping me from doing a surprise visit. I stomp past the refreshment counter until I hear my name being called.
"Grace!" I look up to find Jerry. "Where've you been, girl?"
"None of your business. Where is Bryan?"
"He left while you were in the bathroom." Can this night get any worse?
"Man, he was my ride home!"
"No problem mamacita. I can walk you home." He jumps over the counter.
"you don't have a car?"
"Walking is better for anger." He smirks knowingly and turns in his vest for the might before leading me out of the theatre. "So what movie did you go see?"
"Inceptuous." I said simple. I really don't feel like talking right now, it's making the atmosphere awkward.
"Did you get so scared that Bryan had to hold you in his arms?" He teases, but I think I hear a little spite in there as well.
"More like the other way around." I muttered.
"Are you serious?!" He heard that?
"You heard that?"
I have super hearing, chica. Being raised by wolves helps that."
"No way. Your pulling my leg." Well that would explain his eating habits, and how it seems he can never gain any weight.
"Oh yeah?" He does a pretty impressive howl and a few seconds later we get a response from the woods around the road. "That was Pedro saying 'sup'.".
"They aren't going to come after us, are they?"
"Nah. "
Oh." Well, that was interesting.
"So which way to your house?" He asks.
"Actually I want to pay a little visit to Kim."
"Alright. I'll walk you there before walking you home." Does he want me to think he's a stalker? Which reminds me, I'm suppose to be on a case. The Case of the mysterious Martinez. "I just want to make sure no one messes with a beautiful star like you." There he goes flirting. But why does it feel so hot all of a sudden? Am I blushing?! Before I can question it more, we're at Kim's house.
"How do you know where Kim lives?" He looks frantic for the slightest of milliseconds before returning to his normal facial expression.
"Jack gave me the address in case I needed to drive him home."
"Why would you need to drive him home?"
"I think it's if he's too tired." He shrugs. We walk up the stairs of the big white house and stop in front of the door. Jerry reaches out a fist to knock on the door, but It swings open before us, revealing an (ahem) interesting sight.
If anyone didn't see that movie that was an epic spoiler alert, sorry! I got the idea of things Jerry touches glowing form a Japanese film based off of the Anime Lovely Complex (it was hilarious!). I hope you enjoyed this chapter because high school takes up A LOT of time to type.