Starting A Club And (maybe) A Long-lasting Relationship

4. I find a new passion

4
I thought I'd massively screwed up my chance at starting a club when Luke didn't call me to ask if I'd come to the other club meetings. I'd stared at my phone-- the only time I ever did because I was waiting for someone to call. I think waiting for the call would have been easier than making it. And it would have been way easier if he called because I could assume he wasn't mad I ditched and is actually willing to talk to me some more.

The phone never rang. I never called either.

The next week arrived like it was nothing. I always either sat by the window-- yes, I'm that quiet girl who sits by the window-seat at the back like some anime character-- or next to the door so as soon as the professor dismisses the class, I've got the chance to dash out without having to awkwardly squeeze past everyone else on my way out.

It was on that particular Monday that I'd bumped into someone and instead of saying 'sorry' or 'my bad' or simply just ignoring me, they said my name.

"Viz!"

I gulped and immediately answered a "yes?" as if I was being paid to be polite and formal and stuff.

It was Luke. He seemed happy to see me and my shoulders relaxed at that. Today, he's wearing a pair of thick glasses and walking with another kid taller than him with jet black flared out hair that reached just above her shoulders. You couldn't miss it.

"Nice to see you again!" he finally adds. "Thought I wouldn't after the last time we spoke-- oh, and I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I understand the club's not popular and talking about sex might be taboo--"

"No!" I scream. I think my voice echoed throughtout the hallway. It's probably the loudest I've ever said anything. "There's nothing wrong with your club. I'm the one who's sorry I left without a word. I was-- I just-- Um... I don't have any sexual experiences."

"Huh..." He stands with one hand akimbo and the other rubbing his chin. "Guess it was just a misunderstanding."

I nod rather than talk worrying that I'd start stuttering all over again. Agh! Why was it so easy to talk to that nice doctor in his office but so hard to talk to someone my age who might possibly be more understanding?!

You're weird Viz!

"Oh! Forgot to mention--" Luke points at the lanky girl beside him. "White, this is Viz and Viz, this is White-- not her name but a cool nickname, yeah?"

White nods and gives me a smile. "It's my initials: Y-T. I thought it would be funny since I'm not, you know, white."

"Yeah..." Luke clears his throat. "She doesn't go here. Just picking me up on her way to the music store on Fourth Street."

I nod awkwardly. It's because I didn't even know there was a music store in town or that
a street called 'Fourth Street' existed here.

"Would you like to join?" White asks. "We can get you on the community radio if you'd like."

I gulp and look at them both speechlessly. I think it's obvious that I didn't know there was a community radio either.

"Viz?" Luke calls, effectively launching me out of my quiet stupor. Feeling both pairs of eyes relentlessly and intently on me, I nod a bunch of times to which White adds: "Cool! Let's head off then."

Just like that, I was outside-- a place I rarely was ever-- with people-- people I barely know. Everything outside is just loud and overwhelming. Cars keep hooting left and right. People keep screaming at each other. Hawkers keep getting in my face and trying to sell me stuff. Ice cream stands are everwhere on the sidewalks. Food trucks are parked around. Huge trees are providing shade to almost every single living thing there. For once, I could almost say it's beautiful outside.