I sit up on the bed almost immediately. I can imagine him smiling, waiting for my reply. I want to walk right up to his house and poke his dimples.
Hi, Brandon. Sorry I didn't call yet.
He replies almost immediately.
It's alright. I got your number anyway. Wanna meet up? Let's meet at the diner a few blocks away.
I know where he's talking about. Gabriola's Diner. He knows what I like, already.
I change to a purple designer sweater with a hood. I'm wearing my favorite blue jeans and white sneakers. I don't have time to style my hair.
"Ricky, I'll be out for a while. In case if mom comes back early, tell her I went to see a friend."
"Okay," he says without looking up from his video game.
By the time I get to the Diner, I spot Brandon looking around nervously. I walk right in, straight to his table.
"Took you long enough," he says jokingly and stands up, offering a hug. "I thought you weren't going to come."
I manage to give him a small smile and hug him back. His hands rest on my back. (Other guys take their hands lower.) Maybe he's different. His hug is innocent but it makes my body tingle with delight.
"Are you hungry?" He asks.
I shake my head. "No, not really."
We end up ordering hamburgers and fries. Coke, not left out.
He's trying to pursue a music career. He doesn't plan on moving far away for his college. I like him already. We like the same kind of music. I tell him I haven't been listening to a lot of music lately and he asks why. I don't tell him the exact reason.
Let him wonder.
Suddenly, he brings up the question.
"Are you crushing on anyone at school?"
I should have expected this question.
"Nah. Not really. Guys were stupid in Junior school. And I've been in the Senior level for only two months."
He nods.
"How about you?" I ask.
"Can you guess?"
"Sure. Gabriella in your class and Betty in my class."
"How did you know?"
"They're every guy's dream." I say and roll my eyes.
Isn't this meant to be about us?
"You missed one person though," he says and presses his lips in a grim line.
"Who?" I ask and raise one eyebrow.
"You."
I stop breathing.
Why on Earth would the second cutest guy at school possibly like me? I'm the nerdy small assed girl right?
"You're joking right?"
"No, Rach."
Rach? No one has ever really called me Rach.
"Since when?" I want to sound bold but it comes out as a squeak.
"Since January last year."
I gasp. I was in 8th Grade then.
"So what do you want now?" I ask, taking a bite on my burger and steal one fry from his plate. He smiles that dimpled smile again. It makes my heart jump.
"I wanted to ask if you could be my girlfriend."
"I don't know what to say, Brandon. I don't even know you that well…"
"I can wait," he says cutting me short.
Okay. I like where this is headed. He asks if any guy in my class in crushing on me. I want to mention names but asks him why he cares, instead. He doesn't say anything then.
I divert his attention to another subject and the rest of the evening goes well. He offers to pay the bill. We finally finish and we're ready to go home.
He extends his arms again and I hug him for the second time today. He places his hands on my cheek and leans in.
"I don't want to kiss you… yet," I quickly tell him.
"I won't force you, Rachael." He leans in and gives me a wet kiss on the cheek.
We exchange goodbyes and head in the opposite directions. I feel like a fool, seconds later. I skip-dance on the way home.
Mom isn't back yet. Maybe she had taken an extra shift. I can't wait to tell Diane about this date tomorrow.
She texts me to say she's home already. That means she left Jeremy's a few minutes ago. I text her; OK.
I kick my sneakers off my feet. I don't bother to change or even take my bra off. I lay down on the bed and close my eyes.
∞∞∞
The next morning, I wake up to a soft voice, tapping me on my shoulders. I stir for a moment. It isn't my mom. Her hands are coarse. These ones are soft and smooth. I manage to open my eyes for a moment but the blinding sunlight wouldn't let me.
"Rise and shine, sweetheart," The voice says again.
My eyes fly open with my heart hammering in my chest. I heave a sigh of relief when I see Diane. She's in her pyjamas. How?
"What are you doing here?" I ask her immediately.
"Good morning," she says and sits beside me on the bed. "Seems like you're not a morning person right?"
"Good morning, Diane. What are you doing here?"
She rolls her eyes. "Well, after I went home, I kept on bothering about you. My mind was here the whole time. So I decided to come back with my bag stuffed with pyjamas and clothes for school today."
"Does my mom know?" I narrow my eyes at her.
"Of course. You don't think I came through the window, do you? She's left for work already. Breakfast is ready."
My eyes widen at her last statement.
"Breakfast? You prepared breakfast?"
"Yes." She shrugs.
I fling the covers and get out of bed. "Now that is one thing I have to see." I hurry downstairs just in time to see Ricky stuffing pancake and maple syrup in his mouth. The aroma is heavenly.
"Morning, Ricky."
He nods too busy to answer me. When he finally swallows, he pipes up.
"Your friend is a better cook than you." He looks around and beckons me to come over. I walk leisurely to him and he whispers. "She gave me money yesterday. 5,000 bucks. She asked me not to tell you. I gave it to mom though."
I nod my head and stand up straight. It's our little secret.
Diane finally comes downstairs.
"We have a lot to talk about, Jessie." She looks outside the door. "Ricky, the bus is here." Ricky grumbles and picks up his bag. He gives Diane a kiss on the cheek and waves me a goodbye.
"Where's my own kiss?" I ask him.
He gives me a small smile. "You don't get one." And he's out of the door. I stare at him in awe.
"I said we have something to talk about," Diane says again.
I pile pancakes on my plate. "Yeah. What is it about?"
She squares her tiny shoulders. She means business. "A little birdie told me you were out by 8pm yesterday."
I almost choke on my French Chocolate.
"Yeah. I planned on telling you this morning."
"Who did you go to see, Rachael?" She sounds more like an elder sister now.
"It was Brandon. He texted me and said we should meet."
"He was right," I heard her say under her breath.
"Who was right?" I ask with one eyebrow raised.
"Just forget it. Be careful though. I haven't heard a lot of good things about him. And you're so naïve. I'm just looking out for you."
"Gee, thanks," I say and pour maple syrup on my pancakes.
We finish breakfast and have our bath just in time for school. Diane wears a purple fitting top and a new pair of ripped blue jeans. I settle for my white top and black fitting leather skirt. It makes my ass look a little bigger.
"I like," Diane says, pointing at my skirt. I smile and we head for school. We walk past Jeremy's house but it looks like he's already left.
"He likes being on time," Diane tells me.
I just nod. We finally get to school and everyone is staring at me.
"Seems like you got busted, Jessie," Diane says again.
"Shut up, D," I snap.
Is it my new skirt? Is there a stain on my white top? I could hear whispers in the background.
"What's the hold up, people?" Diane suddenly pipes up.
Austin comes from behind and pulls me to a corner.
"How are you, baby doll?" He asks.
Oh yes, I forgot to tell. He is gay. But we're close friends and have built an unshakable bond in the last 2 months.
I fold my arms to keep myself warm.
"I'm fine. What's up? What did I miss? Why is everyone staring at me like that?"
"You do not wanna know, baby girl."
I sigh. "Can I at least trust you to tell me?"
"You and Brandon? The hot dude in Grade 12?"
I gasp. "What about us?"
"Pictures have been flying around. Both of you, hugging."
"And so? It's just an innocent hug, though," I say, looking around. There are pictures of people doing worse than that. It's not like anyone notices me here."
"People notice you more than you think, my love. People envy you. Even the ones in older grades."
"Wow. How do I not know this?"
"You're never up to date on the happenings of this school." He gives me a small smile. "He's hot though. Blue eyes and tanned body. You are lucky, baby girl."
"I'm not lucky. We aren't even a couple." I groan.
"I know, and that's why I'm telling you not to go for him."
"I'll think about it," I say and give him a small hug. "Thanks Austin."
Diane comes to find me and we bring out our books for History class. As soon as I open my locker, a pile of white sand comes crashing on the floor.
Everyone turns and laughs. Ugh.
Second time I'm humiliated in school. Who did this? I look around and see Jeremy lurking at a corner. He's smirking. The Principal comes and looks from the sand to me.
"Who's locker did this sand come from?" He asks in his hoarse voice.
"I-it's mine, sir," I squeak and people laugh again.
"To your classes everyone." I hear him say as the bell goes off.
I heave a sigh of relief.
"Two hours of detention for you, young lady. After school." I roll my eyes. "And clean this up." He adds.
Once again, Ugh.
After- school detention are the worst things ever. People hardly go into detention these days.
"Yes, sir," I say and scurry off to take a broom from the Janitorial Room.
I see Diane in a corner and she mouths "Sorry." But I can see a smirk plastered on her face. Betty and Danielle will surely have something to talk about.
I manage to smile and she leaves for class. She sure doesn't like to miss Dante's classes. I sigh again and clear the remaining sand in my locker. A bit of it has gotten in my shoes. I bend down to start sweeping when I hear a voice.
"Can I help?"
I know that voice.