The Summer I Met Her (GirlxGirl)

3- (Jack and) Diane

I walked that familiar path through the grass towards the neighbor's farmhouse. After hopping up the steps I reached for the screen door handle. Before I could a person pushed it open from the inside.

Earl Claiborne flashed his toothy grin at me as he held the door. "Hey neighbor! Welcome back!"

"Hello again, Mr. Claiborne." I greeted politely.

"Earl, please." He shook my hand. "Remind me of your name again sweetheart."

"It's Fianna."

"Fianna, that's right. I was just heading out, what can I do ya for?"

"Oh I just came back to learn how to ride." I pointed back to the barn. "Jaycee said that-"

His eyes grew wide with caution. He pointed a finger at me. "Oh I wouldn't go in there if I were you. Jaycee'll bite anyone's head off who's bothering her during a work day."

"Oh no it's okay, we were just finishing up, I heard there was tea inside so I was gonna bring her some."

He seemed so surprised by such a simple thing. "Oh, well alright then. Carry on. I'm heading out." He stood there holding the door for me. After I went in he left with a slam of the lightweight door.

Quietly, I further entered the house, following the sound of running water and the clattering of dishes in a sink.

I heard a loud clang. Entering the kitchen I found Jay's mother with her face in her hands, her ginger hair pulled back in a low ponytail. I couldn't tell if she had dropped a plate or threw it down in the sink out of frustration. Her hands barely quivered. She didn't seem to notice I was there.

I stepped closer, making sure to shuffle my shoes a little more than usual. She looked over. Her face changed. Any trace of stress had been wiped clean. "Well hello there neighbor, good to see you again! Back so soon, huh?"

I couldn't help but smile, mostly out of compassion. "Yeah, I had to! Heard there was more tea so here I am." I shoved my hands in my back pockets.

"It just calls to you, huh?" She turned off the faucet and grabbed a towel for her hands. "Well, it's the same batch from yesterday. Help yourself, the glasses are just in that cupboard." She nodded toward the floating cabinet to her right.

"Don't mind if I do," I went over and grabbed myself a pair- one for me and the other for the girl outside.

As I poured the tea, Diane started drying a stack of dishes she'd previously set aside, my back to her.

"Guess you've taken a liking to Jaycee, huh?" I heard.

My hand faltered, almost giving way and spilling the entire pitcher. I recovered quickly and resolved to put it down calmly. I had no idea why that statement caught me so off guard.

My brain however, was still in remission. "Oh yeah, she's really nice. You did a good job raising her." I outwardly cringed the moment I stopped talking. What the fuck? Who says that?

"Well thank you, that is high praise," She said with a newfound chipper tone. I guess she liked what I said anyway.

"You know Fianna, I'm really thankful you came along, it's good to see her making friends."

As she talked, I went around the counter and sat at the barstool, facing her. "She have friends back home?"

Diane shook her head solemnly. "None that I know of. They don't stick around too long. Acquaintances, maybe. No girlfriends, if that's what you mean."

I hate when adults use that word to describe friends. It's as if it's purposefully used to nullify the possibility of having a girl for a significant other. It rubs me the wrong way.

"Jaycee hasn't gotten out of the house in ages." She said, drying a bowl with one sweep of both the inside and outer edge. "Girls her age are supposed to be out with friends. Hopefully you'll get her out of the house huh?"

I stared at my singular, tall glass barely filled with a shot of iced tea until it was my turn to speak. "Maybe. I haven't gotten out of the house in a while myself."

"Well, one day, huh?" She compromised. "I don't expect you two to be best friends overnight. But it would be nice for her to have someone."

"Yeah for sure, I'll definitely try to be over more often." Honestly I wasn't all that thrilled at the idea of inviting myself over, but whatever appeased her was fine with me.

"The good part about befriending your neighbors is you can't get rid of 'em, huh?" She winked.

I laughed along.

Jaycee still hadn't come in. I internally debated whether I should bring some out like I said, or keep waiting in case she was already on her way. I furrowed my eyebrows in thought, propping my chin up with my elbow on the counter. I was never one to make quick decisions, especially when debating myself. So far I was losing.

I decided keeping to my word is better than waiting around. I stood and made my way back to the pitcher and glasses, ready to give it another shot. "Is it okay if I bring some tea out for Jaycee? I'm not sure what she's doing but she told me to come up without her."

"You sure can." She answered, drying her hands. "And if she's not in here she's doing some kind of labor no doubt." She turned around, leaning herself against the sink.

"Yeah I just figured she'd be a while."

"You'd be right." She tossed the dish towel on the countertop with a sigh. "For that girl, work is play."

I shook my head disapprovingly. "Absolute insanity."

"Well, that's what I tell her. But she's as stubborn as a mule. I tell her to do something and she just digs her heels in. If anyone tells her the sky is blue, she'll dig her heels in and tell you it's green."

"Well," I averted eye contact as I poured myself a drink. "If she says the sky is green I'd listen."

That caught her attention. "Come again?"

"Well," I hesitated adding clarification as I poured a second glass. "I mean if the sky is green, some kind of big storm isn't far behind right?"

Her eyebrows narrowed. I watched the gears turn in her head. She chuckled softly to herself. "Well, you got me there, honey."

A sneaky smile tugged at my lips, one that could be easily misinterpreted as amusement. "Thanks for the tea, Ms. Claiborne." I took my drinks and headed toward the door.

"Sure thing, honey." Her tired voice replied out of my line of sight.

Something made me stop. Maybe it was that last topic of conversation. I turned to face Diane, who had already started wiping down the kitchen counter. I lingered there in the middle of the kitchen, a glass in each hand. "Is... everything okay? You seem a little stressed." I ventured.

She didn't take her eyes off the countertop. "Is it that obvious?" She chuckled as if what she'd said was a joke. I knew better. "I'm fine, honey. Don't you worry about me."

My lips pursed. I wasn't satisfied with that answer, and it seemed neither was she. It irritates me when people refuse to be truthful in favor of polite conversation. I prefer honesty over bottling things.

I changed the subject anyway. "Hey Ms. Claiborne?"

"Diane's fine, sweetheart."

"Diane," I tested the name out. I'll have to get used to that. "How often does Jaycee work?"

"Nearly every day it seems." She said with a sigh. "Always finds something to do."

I nodded in silent agreement, having nothing else to add. "Well, thanks again for the tea, Mrs. C. It was nice talking to you."

"You too, Fianna." She didn't look up, but I heard the sincerity in her voice.

Pushing the screen door open with my back, I left.