Summer's Winter

Chapter 23 - Anise

I have a crush on one of my failed talking stages. At first, I liked him but he was a little too blunt in 8th grade. Now I see some progress in him. I think I like this new Knox more. Knox has that stoic face now. Maybe I have a thing for guys with stoic expressions. I don't know.

I invited Knox over to my house. We are going to play basketball. Yay! Tucker was watering and mowing the grass when Knox came over. I hugged Knox. I love Knox. I see Tucker staring at me. Me. I want nothing of him. I have moved on. He should too.

I grabbed Knox's hand and led him to my backyard. Knox seems like he likes me too. His long hair is covering his face though. He forgot his hair tie this time. 

"Knox, do you need a hair tie?" I said. 

"Yeah," Knox said. 

I ran upstairs and then went down with a hair tie. I placed the hair tie on his hands. I look up at Knox and he looks back at me. I helped him tie his hair by moving pieces of his hair out of the way of his vision. 

When we got to the backyard, Tucker was also in the backyard mowing the grass. Shit. Tucker go away. I set up the court for basketball and Knox helped me. He is such a kind soul. Better than Tucker. Ahem. 

I check the ball to Knox. We are doing a 1v1. Shit of course he wins. He is tall. He threw the ball right over me. Tucker giggled and Knox looked at him with a cold stare. Tucker stared coldly back at him. I see a bit of tension here. 

Tucker had his hands still on the lawn mower. Knox has his hand on the basketball. I feel like Knox is trying to protect me or something. I think I screwed up bringing Knox to my house. They both glare at each other with a blank expression. I moved closer to Knox. 

"Knox, let's keep going," I said while placing my hand on his arm. 

"Alright," Knox said while looking at me into my eyes. 

I melt and smile when Knox looks into my eyes. His long hair breezed through the soft wind of summer. I want to show him how I feel now. If I show him how I feel would he and I would have a failed talking stage again?

I kiss Knox. Shit, I kiss him. I kissed my crush, Knox. He leaned in closer and kissed me back. Inside I am going into a frenzy. I smiled. I SMILED. Tucker looked at me in astonishment. He stared at Knox deep down with an icy fury. Knox noticed Tucker's stares. 

Knox grabbed my hands and went inside my house. Tucker watched as me and Knox headed inside. Tucker continued back to mowing. My mom knows about Knox and how he is coming over. She made us cookies and fruit before she left for the flower store. 

"These cookies are good," Knox said.

"Thanks, my mom made them," I said.

"Well I am so lucky I am dating you now," Knox said.

"What? Wait did you say dating?" I said in surprise.

"Yeah so?" He said. 

"I just couldn't believe you said that. Is it official?" I said. 

"Yeah," He said. 

I hugged Knox. He hugged me back. He looked at me in my eyes. I look at his emerald eyes. 

After officially becoming a thing, he hangs out at my house often. My mom doesn't know that we are dating yet. I think it is time to tell her. 

"Mother?" I said. 

I was trying to get her attention from her computer screen. 

"Yes, dear?" My mother said. 

"You know Knox?" I said. 

"Yeah?" She said.

"I am dating him," I said with a smile. 

She looked at me in a deadpan expression. I think she is not happy about me being in a relationship with Knox. 

"Did you guys have sex when I was gone?" Mother said. 

"no. No. NO. Mother oh god just no." I said. 

"Thank god. Are you happy with him?" She said. 

"Yeah, so far I think I am happy," I said. 

"Nice," She said still in her deadpan expression. 

"Mother, I feel like you want to say something to me about Knox," I said

She looks at me still. 

"Anise, I want you to be careful. I feel like he isn't the one for you. I know you can do so much better. I think you guys should be friends. My instincts tell me he would be the one acting like your dad somehow. If you are happy, I am proud of you. I just know he isn't the one for you." She said. 

"Oh. I will be careful." I said. 

"Good," She said and continued her work on the computer screen. 

I texted Knox saying that my mom knows about our relationship. He seems thrilled.

After about a month into summer, he ignored me. He became dry. LIKE LOOK AT HIS TEXTS.

"Knox, goodnight. I love you" I texted. 

"Gn" He texted. 

He used to have an interesting text. He always answers my texts in full. What type of person is this man? 

"Coming over?" I texted. 

"Nah too busy" He texted back.

ONE HOUR LATER HE POSTED A STORY AT A GIRL'S HOUSE. HE WAS AT A PARTY. I swear to god. He said he wasn't going to that person's house. HE LIED MOTHER FUCKERS. Um. I don't deserve this shit going on with me. My mother was right. Asian mother instincts never lie. 

I slammed my phone on the bed. Maybe he changed his mind. That could always happen. Me and Knox are in our one-month relationship.