All You Need is Acceptance

Chapter 4

I was on my type writer writing a song about how I feel whenever the idea or concept of romance get brought up. I'm always sick of hearing everyone else's ideas and perceptions about why I don't desire romance and that it's because I choose to do so or that I'm too stubborn. It annoys me when people who don't know anything about me always having the most to say like they know me more than I know myself. Isn't that rather preposterous?

The radio in our kitchen was playing "I'll buy that dream" and even though it came out in July and it's now October, I still roll my eyes whenever it comes on. I never understood why people are so obsessed and fascinated with planning their wedding day. When I picture myself walking down the aisle in a white wedding gown, it doesn't feel special or something I'm supposed to get excited about. It feels unnatural.

My dad walked in, and my mom gave him a welcome home kiss on the cheek.

I looked at them, and sighed. When I become their age, I'm probably going to live in a mountain somewhere, with either a goat or a cat. I'll even invite Evan with me, and we can devote our time to baking and gardening.

Thinking of such a scenario put a smile on my face. I wonder if this is how people feel when they think about romance.

As I was concentrating on the next verse, the telephone started ringing.

My dad picked the phone up as though it were a dumbbell positioned horizontally on top of the rotary.

"Hello? May I ask who's calling?"

He looked towards me with the phone still in his hand but away from his ear.

"It's for you"

I stood up from the table and grabbed the phone from him.

"Hello? Hey Evan. Why did you call? Okay, I can meet you there, I'll just have to ask my parents if it's okay"

Next scene

I arrived at the playground, and saw Evan sitting on a swing. He smiled and motioned for me to come sit with him. I gladly did so, and sat on the swing beside him.

"So, what's this about?"

"My parents found out about your feelings towards romance, and they decided that I shouldn't hang out with you anymore"

"How did they find out?"

"My cousin must have overheard us talking about it, and then he blabbed it on to them"

"Why don't they want you to hang out with me? They know I'll never hurt you"

"It's the opposite of that, actually. They fear that when we both grow up, that you'll just see me as sex object, and not a person"

"Why would they even think that? Why would I even think that?"

"I know you love me deeply. I don't wanna have to stop spending time with you just because of what my parents think about you"

"Do they know you're here?"

"I didn't tell them. I wanted to be with you, and I didn't want them finding out I went against their wishes"

"But it's my wish to be with you. Why can't they understand that?"

"I don't know. Some people will just never understand"

Next scene

I was at recess, playing chalk with Evan.

"I'm so happy you understand me, Evan"

"Of course I do, it's not like you're abnormal or anything"

"You're right , I'm not abnormal, I just experience feelings in a different way than most people do"

A girl with red hair and a floral dress skipped towards us, but in a cocky way.

"Evan, ewww that's really gross"

Evan looked at her confused. I was confused too because I don't think either of us had any bit of the slightest clue what on heavens to betsy she was going on about.

"What's gross?"

"Minerva clearly has no romantic interest towards you but yet she's always spending time with you"

She turned to me with a disgusted expression painted on her face

"What exactly is your motive, Minerva?"

"What motive? Why would I have a motive? What are you even talking about?"

"The fact that you feel no romantic connection towards my cousin but yet you spend every single second with him makes me want to barf. It's extremely gross"

Evan was starting to get upset and I was starting to get annoyed.

"You're the one that came up to us. Then you have the nerve to tell Minerva she's somehow gross for not wanting to be with me in a romantic way? How shallow can someone be? If it bothers you that much, why did you approach us in the first place?"

"So I'm not allowed freedom of speech?"

"Going up to people and harassing them isn't part of that. Here's what you can do. How about you do us both a favor and leave us alone? Can you do that please? Thanks"

"I have to go" she twirled her dress in an arrogant fashion, and skipped away

"Thank you so much for sticking up for me, no one has ever done that before"

"I'll do it for you anytime"

"And I'll do the same for you"

We both helped each other get up, and thats when I noticed that a game of hopscotch was going on across the courtyard.

"They're playing hopscotch, I wanna join in with them"

"Hopscotch isn't really my thing, I'll go play in the basketball court"

Evan and I tightly hugged each other, and went our separate ways.

Even when we're distant from one another, my heart still beats for him.

"Hey guys, can I play with you?"

"Sure"

I love hanging out with the lower class-men because they don't experience romantic crushes yet, so they can't tease me about not having any.

We have been playing for about fifteen minutes, and then everyone went to go hydrate at the water fountain.

I was gazing at Evan, smiling, and daydreaming about our platonic future together. He even makes concentrating on a basketball net look adorable.

I should have been paying attention to my surroundings, instead of focusing on Evan so much, because what happened next was not pretty.