I did my best to try to convince Ethan that the list wasn't necessary, but all my efforts were useless. He was very focused on this task, and with the movie long forgotten, we spent almost a full hour writing the list.
In the end, it looked like this:
Sky's guide on how to become cool (like Ethan):
1. Go to a party ✔
2. Get drunk ✔
3. Kiss a guy
4. Get a boyfriend
5. Do something illegal
6. Go skinny-dipping
7. Meet at least ten new people
8. Sneak out during the night to do something adventurous
9. Skip at least one class
10. Fail a test
Ethan had mocked me for at least fifteen minutes when I told him I had never had a boyfriend or even kissed someone, but it only took a threat of kicking him on his family jewels, if you know what I mean, to shut him up.
Some things on my list had already been done, which was great, because the fewer things I had to do, the better. Skinny-dipping or failing a test, for example, didn't get me excited at all, but Ethan had insisted that they were essential in our journey. I was still not convinced about that, and there was no way my jerk of a neighbor was going to see me naked! Pervert.
During the afternoon, I decided to go visit my mom's grave. I bought lilies, her favorite flowers, and sat next to her headstone talking to her and just thinking about things in general.
I didn't believe in God, but, for me, when people died, they didn't simply stop existing, their souls had to go somewhere. It was impossible to know if my mom could listen to me or not, wherever she was, but that was irrelevant; I still enjoyed visiting her last resting place, in the peaceful quiet of the cemetery.
After saying my goodbyes, I went to the grocery store to buy a few things we needed and then went back home to study Math.
Sometimes, my "boring" routine made me feel like I was missing out on something, like I was much older on the inside than on the outside. That usually didn't bother me at all, until recently. Now, this itch (not literally, of course) to do something, anything, didn't leave my mind. Today was Saturday, for God's sake, I should be having fun!
It was in times like this that Ethan was needed, so I decided to call him. The phone rang a few times and then he answered.
"Hey, sunshine, what's up? Missing me already?"
"You wish, my friend. I was wondering, do you want to do something? I'm really bored, here."
The background noises became lower and he said "Yeah, sure. This is the perfect time for us to start working on your to-do list! I'm not at home right now, but give me ten minutes and I'll be right at your door. See ya."
"Bye."
The phone call ended with a click and, exactly ten minutes after our call, Ethan was at my doorstep, just like he promised.
"Were you busy?", I asked. "It would be okay if you didn't want to meet up, you know. We could do this some other time..."
"Nonsense!", he answered, putting an arm around my shoulders. I didn't like admitting it, but his gesture felt nice, very nice actually. "We are friends, aren't we? And friends, like us, hang out, so that's what we are going to do!"
I looked up at him and smiled. It was funny to see him this excited about something.
"I've been thinking, friend.", Ethan said. "Today, we are going to do your number six."
"No way", I screamed. "There's not a chance in hell that I'm going skinny-dipping with you!"
