The Summer I Met Her (GirlxGirl)

7- Where the Green Grass Grows

The smell of smoking ribs and pulled pork entered my nose. Sausages, hamburgers, hot dogs on the grill followed not long after.

We had garage doors on each side of the barn, both of which were open for the smoke to let out while my dad grilled on the concrete floor.

I found out the other day the official term for what we lived in: a barndominium. In short, both our barn and home was within the same structure, on the outside appearing like any other metal barn. On the inside it held our tractors and equipment in the garage side while the other half hid a one room home behind a wall separating the air conditioned side and the barn side.

Our- well, my grandmother's- living quarters was simple: once inside the barn there'd be a white door. Once opened, front and center sat a table and chairs, to the left a sitting area with a couch and mismatched chairs, to the right a bed for two, and a small door in the corner that was not for clothes, but held the shower and toilet.

I sat in an easy chair by the front window in a yellow, floral-patterned cropped blouse and flare jeans paired with matching studs and ear cuffs. Through the blinds I saw my sister running the dogs through the pasture. My leg rapidly bounced up and down.

She entered through the door that led to the deck, holding the screen door for the trio of panting dogs to trot inside. They went straight past me and the rest of the living room for the table and chairs. They knew what time it was.

The digital clock from 2008 sitting below the television displayed 6:25 in red lines. I swallowed hard.

Last night I texted Jay the time they could head over. She responded by liking the message and saying she'd be there.

To some, it may be weird how nervous I get at such little things. I can't ever remember a time I wasn't anxious. It's not that I didn't like people or socializing, it's just that whenever I had to I felt as though I was under a microscope the entire time I was stepping out of my routine.

It didn't help that Jaycee was like miles above my level. I'd met her family before, spent even more time with her herself. I've had nothing but positive encounters with all of them. No reason to feel intimidated. So why did my stomach feel as if it were in untieable knots?

I heard my dad's muffled, polite, conversational laugh. The kind he does only when he's entertaining guests. They must've come up the gravel driveway and met him in the garage.

I jumped from my chair. "They're here." I said to my unbothered sister who sat comfortably on the couch as I went by. She didn't move.

My fingers touched the doorknob and it flew open on me.

I stood face to face with Jaycee. Both our eyebrows raised in surprise as we almost slammed into each other.

"Woah!" She stepped back.

"Oh my gosh, hello! Come in!" I greeted in surprise, stepping aside to let them file in. Jaycee came in with a nod toward me, then Shawn in shorts and a t-shirt, and lastly Diane in mom jeans and a t-shirt of her own, her red hair held back in an claw clip.

"Hi Mrs. C!" I greeted as I closed the door. "You look nice today!"

"Oh hush," she waved me off. "You're too sweet."

I held a fist in front of her son. "What's up, Shawn?"

He smiled back, responding with his fist meeting mine and a small "hey."

"We already said hi." I said as though I were snubbing Jay's presence with a dismissive wave, gaining some chuckles from the group of three. "I'm kidding, I'm just messing with you."