Raising Lexi (Year One)

3 Closing One Door, Opening Another One

She had said her goodbyes to Chandler and Tyler, with both of them promising her they would check in with her.  She teased back that she wouldn't hold her breath waiting for them. However, in saying that she really didn't want to get her hopes up that either one of them would call her. They hadn't before, why would they now, she thought to herself. 

It was after breakfast that she and Dameon had packed up and got on the road. Well, she and her one bag and her bookbag where put into his car. It wasn't like she had that much. She was just about to try and settle in with her earbuds when Dameon asked her if they could talk first. Reluctantly she put them in back in their case and waited. She sat there wondering what in the world he wanted to talk about because she had no idea what to talk to him about. That, and she really, still wasn't interested in talking to him at all.

Dameon could feel her animosity immediately when he suggested they talk for a few minutes. He really did want to spend some time just kind of getting to know her, finding out some of her likes, dislikes. This might be harder than he thought.  He let out a sigh as he stared at the road ahead.

"So," he finally said deciding to just jump in, "I was thinking. Now that the room is officially yours you might want to paint it now. You can paint it any color your would like, well, with in reason." He quickly added, he taught teenagers, he wasn't dumb, he knew to add that stipulation in, "So, tell me, what's your favorite color?" He asked.

Lexi was looking out her window at the passing houses as they made their way to the main road. Thinking how this was really going to be a long ride back home.

"Is black a color?" She asked as she rolled her head over to see if Dameon was looking at her. He was and by his expression she was taking it to mean, that was a no. She went back to looking out the window. 

"I like purple." She finally said.

"I can live with that." Dameon replied.

"I also like green." She added. "It makes me feel happy and I don't know kind of peaceful like." She said as she looked all the green trees as they were flourishing for the coming summer. She found them in all their different shades of green, beautiful. 

"Noted." Dameon said.

"What's you favorite color?" She asked him, expecting him to say something like gray. 

"I like blue." He said. "Like Mediterranean blue."

"Really?' She said sounding surprised. He chuckled.

"Yeah, why you surprised?" He asked.

"Well, sort of, yeah." She admitted. "You just struck me as someone who would've probably liked gray or something dreary like that." 

"Fair enough." He said, still chuckling. He could probably name a dozen or more students that would agree with her. 

For the next twenty minutes or so they shared their favorite movies, tv shows, and foods. Lexi actually kind of enjoyed it. She found out that he hates avocados and hash but loves homemade tacos, the kind their mom used to make. She admitted that she did too. He really isn't a fan of horror movies like Tyler and Chandler are, does like mystery and suspense and of course all the Marvel movies. His secret is he enjoys watching cooking shows, Lexie giggled when he told her that. Somehow seeing her big commanding brother sitting there taking notes on how to make a casserole, struck her funny. 

But eventually he got a phone call so she put her earbuds in and the rest of the ride she hid away in her world of music. They made one stop for gas and bathroom break and she grabbed a snack and before she knew it they were pulling up in Aunt Julie's driveway. Lexi shifted in her sit as the car rolled to a stop, her backside reminding her the whole reason everything was changing. She sat there staring up at the house, she really almost wished she didn't have to go back at all at this point.