At 11 pm, Ian and I say good night and hang up. I walk downstairs to the living room where mom and Hank have fallen asleep watching TV. Mom's head is on Hank's chest and his arms are wrapped around her. They look so peaceful and in love. It's strange to see them cuddling but it's also cute. It reminds me of Ian and I wish I could be laying on his lap right now.
Mom hears me and opens her eyes a little.
"Hey, honey." She whispers. "How are you?"
I smile. "I'm great. Ian and I are kinda like together now." I whisper back.
Her face lights up. "I'm so happy for you sweetie! I would jump up and scream and hug you but you know." She motions to Hank's chest.
"It's okay. I'll accept that later." I walk into the kitchen and scoop out a bowl of ice cream. It's like Amelia said, Mom and I are both falling in love at the same time.
I walk back into the living room and sit on the couch. Hank is still asleep so I turn the volume down on the TV but turn on the office. Mom looks up for a second and then closes her eyes again. I'm happy she's happy and it leaves a warm feeling in my chest.
***
I think I fall asleep watching TV because I wake up on the couch with the TV still on and Mom and Hank are gone. I switch it off and head to my room. I glance at the time as I get in bed and see it's already 3 am.
***
I wake up with the early morning sun shining through the window. The first thing I hear is a man's voice somewhere in the house. Is someone breaking in? Is he harassing mom? I spring out of bed and run to the kitchen but when I get there I see Hank making breakfast on the stove. I stand still for a second. Did Hank spend the night? When I woke up alone on the couch I assumed he went home and mom was in her room but he must have been there too. Sleeping in her bed. Oh god. I know what that means. I try to get the image out of my head and luckily Mom breaks me out of that horrid thought by talking to me.
"Hey Mar, good morning. What's wrong?" I feel pretty stupid now for thinking Hank was an intruder. Also, what would I have done if I had just run into the kitchen with no weapon or anything and there really was an intruder? I wouldn't be any help and he would have gotten me too. I make a note to never do that again.
"Nothing I'm fine. I was just surprised that Hank is here." He turns his focus from the eggs he's making to me.
"Sorry about that Mar. It was just too late last night for me to drive back so we thought it would be best for me to spend the night. I hope that's okay." He says as if him staying over is up to me. If it was, he wouldn't be here this morning.
"Yeah, it's fine. I was just surprised is all. I'm going to get ready for school." I quickly run out before they can tell me they're getting married or something. It just seems to be moving fast, but again they are adults and it's different than a high school relationship.
I change into my yellow knit sweater dress and put on some cute brown ankle boots. I also brush my hair extra well and add some gold hoop earrings.
I'm a little nervous about school today because I don't know what will happen with Ian. He says he's going to talk to Kimberly today but I'm also wondering if we'll eat lunch together or if I'll eat with Amelia like usual. Or if she'll eat with him and his friends along with me. There's a lot to figure out.
Speaking of I still need to tell Amelia that Ian and I are together. I didn't tell her last night because I want to see her reaction in person. I also have a lot to tell her about Kimberly and that situation.
I walk into school and to my locker where Amelia is waiting like usual.
"I have amazing news!" I tell her almost bursting.
"OMG same, you first!" She squeals.
"Ian and I are dating now! It happened last night. I called him and like yelled at him about Kimberly and he explained that he used to date her but he broke up with her and now that she's back she's trying to get back together with him but he's not gonna let her. And he said he liked me but he thought I never wanted to speak to him again after I ran into them in the hall so he didn't think there was a point to talking to me." I say it all quickly in one breath.
"Oh my god, Mar!!! Your first boyfriend!!! I knew he liked you back! So he apologized about Kimberly?" She asks.
"Yeah, and he said he likes me!" I'm so happy all over again as I tell my best friend about this whole thing.
"That's amazing Marjorie! I can't believe you got a boyfriend!" I honestly can't believe it either.
"So, that's my news. What's yours?" I'm curious.
"Well it's not as exciting as that but I have math with Cole and our seats were rearranged and now we're sitting next to each other!!!" She says excitedly.
"OMG Amelia it's like me and Ian! First, you sit next to him then you become friends then you fall in love and start dating!" I'm so excited for her.
"I know right? I have hope now that we'll end up together. Literally, every girl but you loves him though, so I have a lot of competition." She says.
"That's true, but have you met you? I'd be shocked if he hasn't asked you out by the end of the week" I tell her. It's true she practically invented flirting.
"I guess. Anyways, we better head to class, tell me how math with him goes at lunch!" She starts walking away.
"Okay," I say. I guess I'll be eating with Amelia today.
While I walk to class butterflies form in my stomach. I instantly see Ian already sitting at his desk.
"Hey," I say sitting down.
"Oh! Hey, Mar" I don't even remember telling Ian my nickname. I think he created it himself which makes me love it more when he calls me it.
"So how are you?" I ask only half joking.
"I'm pretty good. I had a really good night last night. I don't know why, would you know anything about that?" His eyes sparkle.
"Um, no I wouldn't know. How strange." We smile at each other then he covers his face with his hand and kind of sighs.
"I can't believe I asked you out over the phone!" Wait. Is he regretting asking me out? My heart starts beating faster and faster.
"What do you mean?" I ask him. I think he can sense my worry and confusion
"Marjorie, will you go out with me?" He asks. I laugh, relieved he still wants to be with me.
"Yes of course Ian. " He smiles. Then class starts and we stop talking.
As soon as class is over Ian turns to me.
"Where do you want to sit at lunch, or do you already have plans?" Ian questions me.
"I'm not sure," I say. "Amelia and I usually sit together, but I don't know I'll have to talk to her."
"Okay, yeah, take this lunch to talk to her and then get back to me." He says, understanding.
"Alright, what class do you have next?" I ask him.
"History, what about you?" History is right next to Spanish, perfect.
"Spanish," I tell him. We pack up and walk out of the classroom together. Without even speaking it out loud, we both walk each other to class.
"Okay, bye Mar. I'll see you in Chemistry soon." Ian waves goodbye to me.
"Bye, see you." I wave back and head into Spanish.
Chemistry can't come soon enough.
"Marjorie? Marjorie!" Senora Rosa is speaking to me. I have no clue how long I've been spaced out thinking about Ian but the whole class is staring at me.
"Uh, lo Siento*, what was the question?" I ask, my face turning red.
"I am asking you to name three things you like about the fall. Please answer in a full sentence." Senora Rosa tells me. It takes me a few seconds for my brain to switch from Ian to Spanish and when it does I still don't know what to say.
I make up random things on the spot. "Uh, Me gustan las hojas, el clima y Halloween**." I do my best.
"Bien***. Next time pay attention." I nod and Senora Rosa calls on the next person to answer.
By the time Spanish is over, I'm itching to get out of class and see Ian. I can't stop thinking about it, I think it might become a problem. When I hurry out of the classroom, Ian is already standing there, waiting for me.
"How was Spanish?" He asks me.
"Ugh, Senora Rosa called on me in class, but I wasn't paying attention. It was super embarrassing!" I tell Ian.
"Oh, that sucks." Ian sympathizes.
"Anyways, how was History?" I ask as we walk to Chemistry.
"It was okay, boring." I nod.
"I like History." I say, "But only because it's the only class Amelia and I have together."
"Oh, that makes sense." We then arrive at Chemistry and have to separate to take our seats. The entire class, I keep glancing over at Ian and meeting his eyes. He smiles back at me and I melt a little inside.
Soon, it's lunchtime and I meet up with Amelia in our usual spot.
"So, now that Ian and I are dating, I was wondering if I could eat lunch with him sometimes, and also you? Like I could create a schedule or something." I tell Amelia, she looks at me and she looks...mad.
*Lo Siento= Sorry in Spanish.
**Me gustan las hojas, el clima y Halloween= I like the leaves, the weather, and Halloween in Spanish.
***Bien= Good in Spanish.