I don't know what love is but I Love You

Chapter 1

Ali had already met Joe's mom and stepdad, but this was the first time she was invited to their home for dinner. Ali's om lent Ali one of her summer dresses. Vicki helped Ali put her hair up and did her light makeup, which accentuated Ali's girlish beauty. Joe offered to pick Ali up, but Vicki said she could drive her friend to Joe's house.

Joe's mom opened the door before Ali had time to press the doorbell. She had to see her through the window.

"We're glad you came,"  the woman said in a warm voice.

"Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me,"  Ali replied nervously.

Joe's mom hugged Ali as if she was her own daughter. At the same time, a woman's voice came from the kitchen.

"Rebecca, we need more glasses."

"Joe is in the living room," said his mom, disappearing into the kitchen.

Ali made her way with uncertainty into the room where the men's voices were coming from. They were discussing why soccer wasn't– and never would be–as popular in America as football, baseball, or basketball. Joe and his cousin agreed that a soccer game wasn't exciting enough compared to basketball or football and not enough goals were scored in a soccer game. Joe's stepdad nodded in agreement and added that what annoyed him most is that soccer games often end in a draw. 

As Ali approached them, Joe kissed her on the cheek.

"Do you remember Ali?" he asked his companions.

David, Joe's cousin nodded affirmatively.  

"Of course."  Joe's stepdad replied. "How is your brother?" 

"He's doing better. Thank you so much for asking Dr. Wilson to be Harry's therapist. He no longer sits in his room for hours. He even met with his friends yesterday," Ali replied.

"Dr. Wilson is very experienced in therapy for people struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, so your brother is in good hands," Joe's stepfather continued as his wife called for him from the kitchen.

"Daniel, the meat is ready. You can go ahead and fire up the grill."

Joe, David, and Daniel got busy grilling the meat. Ali approached Mia, Joe's half-sister, who was preparing the table in the backyard. Ali greeted Mia first and then offered to help her. The girls liked each other from the first meeting and enjoyed spending time together. When the table was ready, Mia poured some champagne into two glasses and filled them up the rest of the way with iced tea. She handed one glass to Ali and took a big sip from the other. Ali followed Mia's example and was surprised to find that she liked the flavor combination.

Ali and Mia lamented a bit about the fact that summer was coming to an end and school was about to start again.

"Did you paint the picture you gave Joe for his birthday?" Mia asked her all of a sudden.

"Yes,"  Ali replied.

"The foundation I volunteer at is having a charity auction next weekend–" Mia started, but was cut off when Joe walked over.

"Why didn't we think of this before?  Of course, Ali's going to paint a picture for the auction! It'll look great on her college application!"

"You know I haven't had a paintbrush in my hand since my parents split up," Ali said as Joe put his arm around her waist.

"You need motivation.  You want to start painting again, don't you?" he asked.

Ali nodded. No one was paying attention to Joe's conversation with her anymore. Daniel and David put plates of meat on the table. Joe's mom and aunt, along with Mia, brought salads and fried potatoes from the kitchen.

 When all the food had been put on the table and everyone had taken their seats, the feast began. Ali enjoyed the food very much and was even more impressed by the warm family atmosphere. In her home, even when her father lived with them, they rarely ate together, and when they did, there was little petty conversation, joking, or levity. Ali didn't talk much, but she listened with interest to the conversation between Joe and his aunt, in which Daniel and Rebecca sometimes interjected. Joe's aunt who was an oncology nurse claimed that rapid technology development frightened her, and she wanted more research done before 5G technology became mainstream. Joe, of course, as befits a future computer science student, said that progress was unstoppable and that there had always been fears when something new came to market but the world was still working and doing just fine. Finally, he added that the biggest threat related to the 5G network was Chinese companies, but no one else was interested in this topic. 

Across the table, David was telling Mia about a beach she should definitely see, preferably at his company. Ali decided to ask Mia to tell her more about the charity auction, so Mia could avoid further conversation with David. The girls poured themselves iced tea and moved to the swing to talk quietly.

 "An admirer?" asked Ali.

Mia nodded in agreement.

"So you and Joe are a couple?" asked Mia with a glint in her eye.

"Yes," Ali replied. 

"Me here, him there. Does that have any chance of working out?" she added after a moment.

"Of course, it does. When two people want something badly enough, it's more possible than impossible," said Mia confidently.

Ali's phone rang. She looked at the screen. When she saw that it was her father calling, she dismissed the call and focused on talking to Mia. The song Ali had set as the ringtone for her phone sounded familiar to Mia.

"Isn't that the song Elle and Marco danced to?"

"Mhm," Ali replied.

"I love that series. I saw the first part and the second part several times. I can't wait for the third part," Mia continued.

"Maybe we can watch it together," Ali proposed.

"That would be great," Mia replied. "If I were Elle, I'd choose Marco."

"A boy with a guitar, who listens more than he talks," Ali reflected.

"He's just perfect," Mia added.

As David and Joe approached the girls with grilled pineapple in honey, Mia quickly changed the subject.

"So the idea is to paint a reproduction of a famous painting."

"I want my painting to be in this auction, but I can't promise anything," Ali said.

Mia smiled and replied that she had to make an urgent phone call, then quickly went home. Ali watched David's eyes carry her away wondering if he'd follow Joe's sister or stay with them.