For You

Cheesy Declarations

I decided to kill the spare time by getting lunch at the nearest restaurant. I wouldn't dare venture out too far, a fear of getting lost again.

       Sat in a corner booth, knees touching beneath the table, we chatted easily, Lexi at complete ease. I happily concluded that she had yet to put together what I was planning. I chose to enjoy her tranquillity before I had to ruin it.

      We interacted as we usually did, Lexi giggling as I told her about my odd encounters with Amir, until a group of teenagers walked through the small dinner's door. Lexi's sentence cutting short, she took on habits that I hadn't seen in a long time. A light blush painted her face, her gaze dropped to her plate, and her hair fell from behind her ear to cover her face.

      The four that appeared to be on a double date, were probably around our age, but they were so engrossed in their retelling of a party that they were blinded to anything or anyone around them. They hadn't even noticed Lexi and I. They hadn't spared a single glance in our direction. Which was completely fine; perfectly normal behavior. But I couldn't get past Lexi's strangeness.

      Only when the four were long out of sight did I frown. "Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?" I asked tentatively.

      Lexi snorted incredulously. "Of course not."

      "Then what caused you so much embarrassment?"

      "I'd like to think you've noticed that I'm shy by now," she defended, as if realising just how troubled I was. "You're being ridiculous."

      "Ridiculous?"

      "Yes." She answered without a beat of hesitation. "How could you ever think I would be embarrassed of you? I mean look at you."

      I frowned again. "What's that supposed to mean?"

      "Physically, emotionally and socially, you are basically a perfect human being."

      My brows shot into my hairline, my turn to think her statement ridiculous. "I highly disagree, but I still don't see how that belief would have to do with anything."

      Lexi offered me no explanation. She seemed incapable of wording her answer, but still she looked at me as though the answer was obvious. Staring blankly her way, I thought it was far from obvious. I remained clueless for many moments. My mind spun with ideas, until eventually I was struck by an idea. I was almost too embarrassed to speak it. I thought it completely absurd, but I couldn't think of anything else.

      "You think I'm too good for you?" I asked quietly.

      She remained silent for a moment longer, and I knew then that I was correct. I recoiled, in complete disbelief of her lack of self-worth. Maybe I wasn't as close to finishing my task as I had believed.

      "Everyone knows it," she said. "You are so out of my league, Jaxson. You excel at everything you do. You've been at school for less than two months and everyone already loves you. People stare at you in the halls, either in envy or with the desire to be with you. You could have any girl—"

      "I don't want any girl," I interrupted, not at all seeing her standpoint. "I want you."

      Lexi forced a smile, still staring down at her food. There was clearly more to it, but she made no move to speak.

      "What are you thinking? I want to hear what you have to say," I prodded.

      Removing her eyes from her plate in exasperation, shyly, Lexi met my eyes.

     "I know you'll think otherwise," she started timidly. "But I can't help but feel that everyone who sees us together wonders why you've chosen me or wonder what you see in me. I don't open up easily. You've put a lot of work into getting to know me. Why would you choose to be with someone so difficult?"