Love And War in Cecil Beach

Chapter 3

"What do you mean, 'wants to do things with you'? Like... go on dates?"

Ah, my naivete. I was a junior in high school, and yet there was still so little I knew about the world. It was at that stage where I thought I knew everything, but only thought that because I was unaware of the vastness of what I didn't know. But that's another tangent. Maybe my question was an attempt to preserve my innocence, along with Diana's. But, to no avail. The truth had to rear its big, ugly head, and become an unforeseen and underestimated catalyst in our lives. I had no idea how big of a role the subject of our conversation would play in our lives.

"No, like... more than that. More than making out, or fondling, or... hand jobs." She whispered, a color rising in her cheeks, her eyes darting away from me.

"Oh." I said, my jaw dropping but being nicely concealed with a sudden understanding of what she meant. "Well... do you want... that?"

"Well, no, not necessarily, but like... he said that we've been dating for three years, and we've only done so much as a handjob once, and he thinks we're both ready."

That bugged me for some reason, but I would only place my finger on it when it was too late.

"Ah." I said, like a doormat. Like many other doormats, I didn't know what to say, because I was an inanimate object used to clean your shoes before entering a house. "Well, um... just... be safe. Don't do it if you're not comfortable..." I thought that was good advice, if not something Diana already knew. I could tell that she was uncomfortable, but my mind was blank, so I had no creative way of changing the subject.

"Well... enough about my romantic life. What about you?"

"'What about me' what?"

She smiled and rolled her eyes, clearly relaxed now that the spotlight was on me.

"Like, have you been dating, or had any crushes, anything like that?"

I laughed nervously. Like, really nervously. Like, "Hehehehe...HEHEHEHEHEHEH....HEHEHAHA."

That.

"No, not really. Sorry, I'm kinda boring, aren't I?"

It has been 3 years since Diana has talked about anything other than her relationship. I should've known something was wrong.

"No, no, not at all." She smiled sweetly. "What about Moa?"

I turned red. Did she think Moa and I were dating? Did she think-er, know I was...

"W-what about Moa?!"

"What's she up to? I feel like I haven't seen her in forever."

"Oh. Sorry. Um, I'm not sure. We're gonna go see a movie after school on Thursday. She wants to catch up, y'know, because we never see each other during school."

"Aw, that sounds like fun. I can't go because... y'know." More plans with Hunter. "What did you think I meant?"

"Hm?"

"When I asked about Moa. What did you think I meant?"

Shit.

"Ummmm, I thought you were asking about her romantic life, or something."

Stupid, why would she ask you about Moa's romantic life?!

"Ohh. I thought you thought I was asking if you two were dating." She pointed a finger at me and the empty air where I imagine Moa was supposed to be, and laughed to lighten the mood. I laughed with her, suppressing the urge to scream in a fit of unbridled terror. God, I can't even imagine how red my face must've been.