Wednesday, August twenty third. The day Dashaun got back into town from Los Angeles. I needed to talk to this guy. I could have talked to him by phone, but I needed to talk to him about was face-to-face business. Things about girls are always face-to-face talks with Dashaun and I. I also did not want to bother him on vacation.
I had to talk to him about Jessica of course. Last week was horrible between us. We said nothing to each other before, but now we say nothing because we both hate each other. More like she hates me and with my pride I hate her by default. I will not give in and talk to her first.
That's where Dashaun comes in. I already know where he stands on this topic. He wanted me to try and make her my girlfriend. Well now that I screwed up everything I needed his opinion again. How can I get out of this? I really have no idea. I never have been in this situation. He never was either, but still his input on this stuff will be nice. Anything he says can't be as bad as the boat I am sailing in now… actually it can be.
Dashaun told me he was getting back to his house at 2 o'clock. The time now was three. I gave him some extra time in case he got back late. Jessica was not home. She was with mom running errands. I decided to leave now, see what this guy got to say. Then come home and possibly talk to Jessica. He better be home and could have company over too.
I called his house before leaving. Sure enough he was there. He said I could come over, but he was still unpacking. I just told him I wanted to talk to him about something and we left it at that.
When I arrived at his house he was already standing outside.
"Yo bro!" he yelled.
"You knew what time I'll be here?" I said.
"No. I was looking out the door and saw you." Dashaun does that sometimes. He looks out of his door for a breeze or just to see what is happening outside.
We both went inside and greeted each other.
"I missed you, bro!" Dashaun said. Then he hugged me. It was a bro hug so I was cool with it.
"I missed you too, but you are way too emotional." I said.
"Can't help it. So how was camp?" he asked.
"It was great. New York was awesome. Mad you couldn't go, bro."
"Well you know I would have been there if I could. How was the competition?"
"It was good, really good."
"Oh?"
"Of course I was better." I laughed.
"Ah. I thought you were getting violated over there."
"When have I ever got violated?"
"Remember when Roy…"
"Shut up Dashaun. That was a lucky crossover."
"Don't see how a crossover is lucky."
"At least I didn't get dunked on."
"Bro he did not dunk on me. I jumped to the side."
"Whatever. Anyways, how was the Vay K?" I wanted to change the subject. It was a stupid argument.
"The vacation was great," he said. "There were a lot of beaches, girls, some basketball, girls, and more girls in bikinis."
"You are perverted."
"No I'm not. I just enjoy the other sex. That's all."
"More like obsessed."
"True. Still that was not the highlight of the trip. Come to my room." He started to go upstairs. I followed.
When I went in the room I noticed he never finished unpacking. He did throw his clothes all around the room. I did not care. He'll clean it, eventually.
Dashaun went over to his wall and a jersey was hanging there. Not just any jersey. It was Kobe Bryant's number 24 jersey. It was not just Kobe's jersey either. The jersey was signed by Kobe Bryant. I was shocked.
"How da hell…" I said.
"This was just a gift from one of the greatest days of my life." he said. "My mom got me tickets to visit the Staple Center and watch the Lakers' summer training camp. First we took a tour. The stadium was awesome. Then we watched the practice. After that Kobe challenged anyone to a one-on-one."
"I can't believe this." Truly, I couldn't believe it.
"Yes sir. Me versus Kobe in a game of eleven. He said I couldn't score a point, but I hit a step back three. He smacked me 11-2, but still a step back three versus Kobe Bryant! Because I scored, I got that and…"
He pulled out a basketball from a box. It had signatures on it.
"A ball autographed by all, well most of the members of the Lakers." He was smiling. "Oh, and a picture."
"I hate you so much right now." I said.
"I know you do."
"Why the hell the Knicks couldn't be where I was at?!"
"I just got lucky."
"Bro, that is pretty epic."
"Yea, I know. I missed my bro though."
"I don't swing that way."
"A bro can't love another bro?"
"Yea, but there are limits."
"So how was the week you got back?" He asked. Here it is. The conversation I wanted to speak to him about.
"Yea, about that…not so good." I said.
"How's life with the girl?" he asked.
"That's the problem. It is Jessica."
"Oh. You love her." He laughed.
"No I don't, idiot!" I said.
"Yes you do. That could be the only reason you have a problem with her."
"No."
"She is that beautiful that she got you hooked already? I have to see her."
"All I wanted to do was talk to her and she flipped out."
"Why would she do that?"
"I don't know. Maybe it had something to do with me not saying anything to her since she got here."
"No wonder she hates you. And you call me the idiot."
"I was following through with the plan!"
"Screw the plan! You should have known that the plan was not going to go anywhere. You know and I know that making her your girlfriend was the best plan."
In a way he was right. I should have forgotten about the plan, especially when I saw her. I was not going to admit that.
"I still never said I wanted her as my girlfriend though." I said.
"So she is ugly?" Dashaun said.
"I never said that. Why do you think I want to talk to her? She is beautiful. Does not mean I want to date her." That was actually the truth.
"Scale of 1-10?"
"Broken scale."
"You're lying." He said.
"Whatever. What da hell do I do?"
"There is only one thing you can do." he said. "Well two things."
"Please don't tell me…"
"You have to talk to her first. Seriously this time. I know the first time you did it because you were forced to."
I knew it. I already thought of that. I really did not want to be the first to crack. Even though it may be the only option.
"What's the second option?" I asked.
"You can buy her a gift and say sorry for being a douche. Though you should apologize in both options."
"The first option it is." I said. I'll be damned if I bought a gift. I had no money and option two was the same as option one. Only thing was that option one was less expensive.
"I knew you would pick that, cheap bum." Dashaun laughed.
"I don't think she is the type to accept that anyway." I said ignoring his insult.
"So, when will I see her?"
"We are not on speaking terms yet."
"So? I'm not you."
"How am I going to introduce you two if she hates me?"
"You don't have to introduce me. Just take me to your house. I'll introduce myself."
"If I take you there she might think I am pimpin' her out to my friend or something. I don't know. It is not a good idea."
"Why would she think that?"
"I don't know! She hates me. She could think anything. When she yelled at me I could see she could get angry."
"Ooo, feisty! I like her already."
"Shut up."
"Bro it is simple. I could come over like I'm your company, which I am. Then I be like 'who is this?' and then we are introduced. It is perfect."
He was right. It was not a bad plan. I just did not want him to see her yet. Soon, but not at this point in time.
"I'll introduce you. Just be patient right now. I got you." I told him.
"You don't even know what you are going to say to her."
"I got that. Don't worry about it." The one thing I did not need his help on is what I was going to say.
"Ray is in love, wow." He started laughing.
"Shut up." If he saw her he'll be addicted too. Not saying I was addicted.
I helped Dashaun with his room. Then we played some games until 6:30. We could have played longer, but he was tired. He said no sexual jokes. I went home at seven. He needed to rest up a bit.
When I got home it was extremely quiet. Sounded like no one was there. I went into the kitchen and found a note on the table.
Ray, your father and I went out to dinner with friends. There are some hot dogs and French fries in the microwave. We will be back at ten or later.
-Mom
"No need to sign, Mom." I said to myself.
I warmed up my food and went to the living room. I did not feel like watching Sportscenter. I turned it to Nicktoons. Iron Man Armored Adventures was playing so I watched that while I ate.
The hot dogs were great. The fries were too. I finished it in like ten minutes because I was hungry. When I finished I was still hungry, but I did not feel like eating anything else. Now I had nothing to do. Nothing was even on television. I was thinking about going upstairs and playing some video games. I heard the stairs. Then I remembered the letter.
Damn! If my parents are out that means Jessica is here. That means we are alone in the house together. Terrific.
She made it to the bottom and walked past the living room. She looked in and saw me. She clearly rolled her eyes as she walked past. She really hates me.
Now that I think about it this is the perfect situation. The parents are not home and it is just us able to talk with no problems. I may not get this chance again. Not like this anyways. It was earlier than expected however. I think I could do this. I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to say. I might as well do it now.
"Jessica wait!" I yelled.
"No." She said calmly, but still with an attitude. This started badly.
"C'mon." I pleaded.
She came walking back. "What do you want?" Why does she sound so pissed? This is going to be difficult.
"Can we talk?" I asked. I was trying to stay calm. Not get too excited.
"What does your mommy want you to do it now? On that note?"
I know she did not mean that. She was just being a smart-ass now. I know she read the note. That's how she knew there was a note. I'll just go with it. I don't want to turn this into a yelling match.
"Nope, this is all me this time."
"Whatever. Hurry up and say whatever you need to say." She was really getting on my nerves. So much for her being so polite.
"I'm sorry. The thing is I don't hate. I don't know you that well to hate you." I giggled a little trying to milk it. "I did not talk to you because I was personally trying to get back at my parents for something. You were just a casualty."
"Oh now I'm a casualty to you?!"
"No that was not what I meant!" maybe that was the wrong choice of words. She knows how to use words against you. "I just wanted to teach my parents a lesson trying to ruin my life."
"So you used me to do so? Why?" she said calmer, but I could still see she wasn't happy about it.
"I don't know. It was stupid. You did not deserve any disrespect. You did nothing wrong."
"Got that right. You are an idiot." She is such a smart-ass!
"Can we start over or something? I am sorry for the last couple of weeks."
She stood there for a while. "I'll think about it, Ray." She said and went back upstairs.
That was the first time she said my name. It was pretty cool I admit. She may be cooling off a bit. She said she would think about it so I consider this a success for the day.
Another thing I thought about was her action. She came downstairs then went back up without getting anything. Did she want me to talk to her? I think she did. Why else would she go downstairs and go back up for no reason? It was a test to see if I was going to say something to her. She wanted me to talk to her.
I sat back down on the couch. Suddenly everything seemed good on T.V. I was watching with a smile on my face. Progress finally with Jessica. It felt nice. Having her as a friend would be good as well.
But I couldn't help the thought run through my head. Jessica. Girlfriend…