Beware of the Neighborhood.

7 - A walk down the Memory lane

We passed the rest of the students quickly, reaching our table.

"That was amazing" George said.

"You totally ruined her reputation" Paul agreed.

"I can't wait to see her face; I hope she dies of embarrassment" Candace began.

"it was Nice" was all Angela said barely glancing in my direction. I had no idea what was going on in her mind.

Just then the school's music band started playing and everyone proceeded to the dance floor once again.

"Come on, let's get out of here" Kevin said again and holding my hand, he led me towards the back side of the hall.

We headed out through back door and quietly began to walk towards my house.

"So, quite an evening huh?" he asked. He had taken off his hat and his fair hair was now falling into his eyes. I chuckled.

"I liked the way you stood up to her, I don't like her. A lot of arrogance. Besides, I have seen the way she treated Angela and Candace in sixth grade. Angela used to cry every day. I couldn't see it. Angela and Candace, they...they are like my family." He said and we walked a few spaces in silence.

I gazed up at the sky where millions of stars twinkled in the absence of the moon.

"Who else is in your family?" I asked.

"It's just me and my dad, I lost my mom when I was a child and dad is always travelling so, I am pretty much alone" he answered.

"I'm sorry...I can relate with the being alone part though. My dad travels a lot too and my mom is like, super busy almost all seven days of the week. Sometimes I think it's good that I have Jason, although he can be irritating." I said weakly and he chuckled.

"So, what do you do in your free time?" I asked to change the topic.

"I read, a lot actually. It's just that, it is hard to feel alone when you have books. I also love to hang out with my friends." He answered, "I play soccer, so that keeps me pretty much busy!"

"Don't you have a Girlfriend?" I asked. I hadn't meant to ask that, but the question had just slipped out. We took a turn; the weather was getting colder by ever minute.

"Ah...No. it's hard to find the right girl in such a small town. I mean, I grew up here, I pretty much know every girl here since preschool, so it's hard to think of any of them...that way" he explained

"that makes sense...but what kind of girl would you think is right for you?"

"I'd like someone who is brave...who isn't scared of standing up to what she wants...someone willing to put in all her efforts to do what is right, to do what she believes in. someone confident enough to know what she wants and how to get it"

"Wow!" I sighed.

"What?" he asked looking at me curiously.

"seems like you have given it quite a lot of thought" I said.

"I blame the books for such unrealistically high standards" he joked, "It was quite brave of you to challenge veronica" he pointed out suddenly.

"I didn't challenge her, she challenged me" I reminded.

"Yeah but you didn't back down. you stood your ground, I liked that"

And with that we reached my house. The haunted house loomed scarily ahead of us casting dark shadows.

"Ever wondered what is inside that house?" I asked

"Probably the doctor completing his experiment" he said with a chuckle.