Chapter 9---Avoidance

Wednesday afternoon was spent in regret and discomfort. She was wondering the effect of what she could have possibly done by saying yes to John, she felt like she was in too deep. What was she thinking? She's never had a boyfriend before! What was she going to do? Not even cartoons or insanityblue music could take her mind off of it.

John was pretty happy though, back at his place, new girl, new confidence. Oh, but damn! He forgot to ask for her number. He wanted to call her pretty bad, hear her voice or hang out or something. What's better than a phone call? What's better is, seeing your girlfriend in person! Hatching out plans now, he thought he'd take a shower, put a nice preppy look on, cologne possibly, and visit that girl. He knew where she lived, he walked her home once and the memory of her adress was still imprinted in his mind. So, he took his shower, got dressed, and sauntered his way out the house.

The snow was melted finally, small patches of ice was scattered among the browned grass and road. The birds twittered truly happy songs for the first time all year. Cutting through the woods, John spotted Naeira's neighboorhood, a safe suburban kind of place where the kids and they're parents spent all day outside playing on bikes. All the houses looked exactly the same, except for Naeira's, whose spare yard didn't display toys, wagons, flowers, minivans, or anything that suggested a happy home full of children, therefore, John found her house pretty quickly. With nervous fingers he rang the doorbell. After a heartpounding pause, Tasha opened the door, sober for a good few weeks, she still slurred her words and was constantly confused, that was just part of her personality. Seeing this strange albino looking kid on her front porch Tasha blinked her eyes out of confusion.

"Ey, who are you?"

"I'm John." He reached out for a hand shake. Tasha just stared at his hand.

"I have enough stuff, I don't need whatever your selling. No offense."

"No, I'm here to see Naeira, is she home?"

"Yeah! She is home! NAEIRA! Some one is at the door for you!" She yelled.

Naeira bounced down the stairs. Who could possibly be at the door? Slowly she walked through the kitchen and halfway through, she stopped dead. John was at the door.

"Oh my god." She muttered to herself.

"Bye Tasha, I think I'll take a walk."

"Have fun, and don't rape my daughter!" Tasha directed the last statement to John, who was just as bewildered as Naeira at her. Who the heck says that to people, seriously?

"He he he," Naeira chuckled nervously. Aggressively, she grasped John's arms and stomped out of her mother's sight.

"What are you doing here?" Naeira yelled.

"I wanted to see you."

"You did? Oh lord..." They kept walking and Naeira's shame numbed her mouth quiet. So awkward, the whole thing, just, so uncomfortable.

"Hold my hand!" She didn't want to, at all, but she did. His hands were sweaty and wet. Conversation was still silent, Naeira knew it was because she was uncomfortable, John was as happy as can be and completely unaware of his girlfriend's embarrassment. He decided to break the silence.

"So, what do you like about me?" Oh god!

"Eh...um...I don't know, I just do." Fib!

"Well, I'm really glad you're going out with me. I haven't really told people this but I've never been kissed." Oh god dammit! Naeira's never been kissed either, and she knew that she definately didn't want him to be her first kiss or be his first kiss. Gross!

"Me neither."

"We have so much in common."

"Do we?"

"Yeah." The quiet occupied the air still. "Let's go to the mall. I'll buy you shoes."

"You're going to buy me shoes?"

"Yeah."

"You don't like my shoes?"

"Um, I love your shoes, I just want you to have something to say your boyfriend got you."

"Say that to who?"

"Don't be difficult! Don't you want shoes?"

"What makes you think I don't have enough shoes? I'm not difficult."

"I love you." Oh hell no! If he thought that simply saying "I love you!" would trick her into a twirling, happy, little mood and shut her up, he's got another thing coming!

"Aw, I'm sorry for being difficult, and I would love some shoes!" Naeira was brewing up a little scheme to teach that kid a lesson, the L-bomb shouldn't be dropped like that, Johnny boy was going to learn.