A New Kind of Love

Strange Terrain

     I sat in my living room, watching a rerun of The Golden Girls. I watched the show so much, I felt like I knew all of the characters personally. My mother hadn't gotten home from work when Addie and I arrived home. Nonno fixed us snacks as we sat around looking for something to do. I had tried to start on my math homework, but I was too keyed up to concentrate. I was so nervous thinking about my impending 'date' with Jake, that every time I tried to focus, my mind would wander, and I would find myself looking out of my window at his house. I gave up ten minutes in, and traveled downstairs. 

     Nonno was sitting in the recliner, reading a book in Italian. I didn't want to interrupt him, but I figured I should tell him that I was leaving in a few hours, just in case Mom was still stuck at work. "Nonno?" I asked. He looked up at me and smiled. "Si, mia cara?"

     I cleared my throat nervously. "I have to go to the library with a classmate at around six thirty. Is that okay?"

     "Would your mother let you go?"

     I laughed. "I think so."

     He nodded, smiling in a way that made his wrinkles almost disappear. "Then, it's fine with me."

     "Grazie," I responded. That was easy enough. But, of course, the butterflies came at full force now. If I went insane just thinking about being with him, how would I handle actually being with him? I couldn't stand it. The anticipation was killing me. It seemed like time passed too quickly, because before I knew it, I heard a knock at the door. I was expecting him to maybe blow the horn, or call my number, which I'd given him that morning in English. This would be harder than I originally thought. 

     Nonno peeped around the archway to the kitchen. He had been cooking dinner. "I got it," I yelled quickly. I slipped my shoes on and walked over to the door. I took two deep breaths, and slowly turned the door knob. I wasn't expecting my knees to nearly buckle when I saw him. The full force of those cerulean eyes nearly sent me reeling. Jake smiled down at me. "Hey." 

     "Hi," I replied, sounding like a girl. 

     He looked up, and I heard my grandfather behind me. "Buona sera, giovane."

     I laughed nervously, about to explain to Jake what my grandfather said. He surprised me once again when he answered in Italian. "Buona sera, signore. Mi chiamo Jackson Diveen."

     Nonno laughed in approval. "I like this boy," he said, chuckling. 

     Jake smiled a heavenly smile. I thought I would faint. "This is my nonno, Vittorio Ungari."

     They shook hands and began having a chat. A few seconds later, Nonno kissed my forehead, told me to have fun, and went back to the kitchen. I grabbed my laptop case from the table it sat on and yelled 'goodbye'. Then, I made my way to the threshold, stepped over it, and closed the door behind me. "Shall we go?" Jake asked, smiling. His pink lips were inviting. My stomach lurched. 

     "Sure thing," I said unevenly. We walked over to his dark blue Jetta sitting in front of my house. He unexpectedly opened the door for me. I smiled up at him, and he smirked back. When I was in comfortably, he closed the door, and made his way around the car. "Chivalrous, are you?" I asked. 

     "I refuse to believe it died," he replied. Then he looked over at me, and I could tell his eyes would set my soul on fire. "But then again, maybe it's just the beautiful girls that keep reviving it."

     I was breathless and the guy hadn't even touched me. I could feel the heat encasing my cheeks. He chuckled under his breath and smirked at me. Damn him for making me feel this way. Was this normal?