I'm finding it difficult to take my eyes off the stick-shift of the sky blue Mini. Rather, Adrian's hand on it.
It just looks so strong and capable. Down shifting before one of the many crosswalks, shifting up when we drive again, up and down, side to side. He never even needs to look down at it as he does.
But he looks at me, through the corner of it eye every few minutes. Then back at the road.
There is something sexy about a guy who's a good driver. Even more so, a guy who drives a standard competently. I totally understand now, why guys think girls diving stick is sexy.
"Hey," he says, downshifting as we come to a chock-full crosswalk. A few kids skitter across the road, backpacks bouncing. "What are you thinking about?"
"Um... your tattoos." Or nah.
He arches an eyebrow as he glances at me. "Really?"
I nod. He smiles. "Did you get them all at the same time?"
"No, that would've killed. I got them all through last year. A few here and there every session until they were sleeves. It's actually just a bunch of random crap." He takes his right hand off the gearshift and offers it to me. He's wearing a short sleeved t-shirt and his skin is warm and satiny.
On his wrist is a small duck, then some script that must be a song. Up his forearm is twining patterns that remind me of Aztec tiles, and on the inside of his arm are roses and a sketch of a cat. It goes on like that, and I smile when I lower his arm.
He doesn't jerk out of my grasp, but glances forward to make sure the light is still red. I curl my fingers around his wrist because I can. His pulse jumps against his skin.
"I like them." I say, although it's really not that sleeves that I like. It's the person wearing them. A month ago I was scared of tattooed strangers; still am.
"Thanks." He says.
It's been a little awkward today, and I don't know why. He just picked me up after school and we haven't talked past what's up? and you have a car?
"Hey, Gracie?" I look at him expectantly. "What... would you do if I kissed you?"
I stare at him, my mind reeling. Hewantstokissmehewantstokissmehewantstokissme-
I bite my lip and take a deep breath. I feel brave, all of a sudden. "I'd let you."
He seems surprised. "Well..."
Then a chorus of violent car horns erupts behind us, and he jerks. The light is green, and he clumsily shifts and zooms through the crosswalk.
"To be continued." He says with a cheeky little wink and I hit the headrest as he accelerates.
