Starbound

Chapter 8: Kurtis Lemaire

Lia invited me to her Easter, which I am very excited about. Estelle is best friends with her cousin, Kel, so Estelle was already going to their Easter. My brother always works on Easter so we never really celebrate it. I usually just sit there all day on Easter by myself. But this Easter will be different. I'll actually be having fun this Easter.
Three days after our date, Easter came around and me and Estelle walked from my mom's house to Lia's aunt's house, which was just a couple houses down the road. We walked up and Estelle knocked on the door. A woman answered. It was Lia's aunt, also the school nurse, Georgina Muller. I'm familiar with Mrs. Muller. I'm in the nurses office a lot because of my blood sugar. Mrs. Muller stepped to the side so me and Estelle could walk in. We took off our shoes. Lia was sitting on the couch. She looked to me and grinned. I grinned back and walked over to sit down next to her. Estelle followed Mrs. Muller into the kitchen to hang out with Kel.
"Happy Easter," Lia said to me softly.
"You too," I replied, still grinning. I don't know why, but I felt very connected to her in that moment. It felt like she was my other half and being separated from her wasn't an option.
"I'm starving," she said, looking towards the TV.
"Me too," I said.
"Do you want any chocolate?" she asked, reaching to the coffee table and grabbing a handful of chocolate eggs from a glass bowl.
"No thanks," said Kurtis. "I wouldn't be able to eat dinner if I ate that."
"Why not?"
"Uhm.." I was embarrassed. "Because of my blood sugar."
"Ohh, okay. I'm sorry, I completely forgot you had diabetes," she said. She sounded sympathetic and genuine, but I still felt embarrassed.
"It's alright.." I replied. I could tell she was also a little embarrassed by forgetting about my diabetes. It's not her fault, though. It's not common knowledge that I have diabetes since I try my best to hide my insulin pump by putting it behind my sleeve and on my stomach. Today it was a little visible, though. My sleeves were a little short so a little bit of the pump could be seen on my arm.
A girl walked into the living room from the kitchen. She had on a crop top and jean shorts, looking at her phone. She looked to be around 13 or 14 years old. She looked up to me and looked me up and down.
"Hey, Lyndon," said Lia.
"Hey," the girl, Lyndon, said before sitting down in the recliner.
"What're you doing?" Lia asked her.
"I'm snapping Riley," said Lyndon. "He's so cute."
"Oh, Lyndon.." said Lia.
Lyndon looked to me. "Who is that?"
"This is Kurtis," said Lia. "Kurtis, this is my cousin, Lyndon."
"We're not actually related," said Lyndon. "We're just related through marriage."
"Still," said Lia.
I grin. I try not to be so awkward, but I seriously can't help it. I get quiet around people I don't know.
"Is he a friend?" Lyndon asked Lia.
"Yes," said Lia.
"He looks just like this one kid I used to know," said Lyndon. "His name was Lucas Garfield, and he was super weird. He had similar glasses and hair. He had a crush on me but I didn't like him back because he was a freak. One time he tried to kiss me at the fair, and his mouth was blue from just eating cotton candy. It was so gross, Lia. He seriously tried to kiss me with a blue mouth."
"Oh, wow," said Lia. "Well, Kurtis isn't like that."
"Mm.. are you sure? He kinda looks like the type to try and kiss you with a blue mouth," said Lyndon.
"I'm sure, Lyndon."
"Alright.." said Lyndon. "Just make sure you're not friends with a Lucas Garfield."
Lia looked at me and I looked at her. I didn't know what she was thinking, but I was really hoping she wasn't second-guessing liking me. I swear I'd never try to kiss her with a blue mouth. That's just gross.
The day went on and it felt like dinner was taking forever to prepare. I could feel my stomach growl and start to hurt, although I think the hurting part was from nervousness. I watched as Lia braided Lyndon's hair. Lyndon sat on the floor in front of the couch, which Lia sat on. They'd whisper to each other quietly, which made me a little uncomfortable. I didn't like not knowing that they were saying. I felt like they were whispering about me. Lia kept glancing over to me. I tried to just look at the TV and pretend not to care. But inside, I was so nervous and anxious. Lia finished braiding Lyndon's hair. Lyndon got up and walked into the kitchen.
"Kurtis, can I braid your hair?" Lia asked me.
I looked over to her from the TV. Usually I don't let people touch my hair. It's one of my biggest insecurities because I feel like it's too messy and too greasy. I do wash it, though. I promise I wash it.
"Why?" I asked.
"I don't know. You'd look good with it braided," she replied.
"Um.. sure," I said before sitting down on the floor in front of Lia. "I've never had my hair braided before."
"It'll look great," she said as she gently grabbed pieces of my hair.
I wasn't used to people touching my hair, so her combing her fingers through it sent chills up my spine.
"Your hair is so shiny," she said.
"Oh.. gosh," I mumbled. "I just washed it last night. I swear."
"No, that's a compliment. If you think I mean it's greasy, your hair is perfectly fine," she said.
I felt some relief.
"You have really good hair," she told me.
"Thanks," I said with a grin. I'm glad someone liked my hair and didn't call it ugly for once.
"I've been meaning to ask you something," she said, her fingers still working through my hair.
"Hm?" I replied.
"So, um, would you maybe want to go out with me?" she asked.
"I thought we already did. We went to a restaurant."
"No, I mean, would you want to be my boyfriend?"
My heart skipped a beat. The butterflies in my stomach quadrupled. My breathing stopped. I panicked.
"No," I said.
Goddamn it!
"Oh, um, okay.." she uttered.
I shut my mouth for the rest of the time she braided my hair. How could I say a word after that? I completely panicked and said the first word that came to my mind, and of course that word was 'no'! I felt so stupid and so idiotic and so angry. How do these things happen to me?! I'm such an idiot!
"I'll, uh, be right back," Lia said, walking into the kitchen. I waited in the living room for a little bit, beating myself up for what just slipped out of my mouth. I couldn't believe it. After some time, I got up and walked to the kitchen. Lia and Lyndon weren't in there, so I stood by Estelle's chair.
"Estelle, I want to talk to you," I said.
"Um, okay," said Estelle, looking to me.
I grabbed her arm and led her to the bathroom. I closed the door behind us. Estelle looked at me in confusion, probably wondering why I was suddenly so frantic and panicked.
"Lia asked me to be her boyfriend," I said suddenly.
"Really?" Estelle replied in excitement, her face lighting up.
"Yeah.." I mumbled.
"What did you say?"
"I said no."
"Oh.. why?"
"I panicked, Estelle! It was really unexpected! Instead of saying what I really wanted to say, I just automatically said no."
"What did you actually want to say to her?"
"I wanted to tell her I'd think about it, because I really do need to think about it, but now she thinks I'm a jerk because I just straight up said no."
"She doesn't think you're a jerk. She looked upset, though."
"I kind of wanted to say yes.."
"Oh, Kurtis! You should have!"
"I said I panicked! I really didn't expect that! What do I do now..?"
"Go talk to her."
I sighed and leaned against the wall. "But she probably thinks I'm a jerk now.. I can't bare to talk to her right now knowing what I just did."
"Then wait it out. Talk to her later, or tomorrow," said Estelle.
"But the rest of this day is going to be really awkward.." I mumbled. "Can you talk to her?"
"Uh..sure. What do you want me to say?" asked Estelle.
"Just tell her I didn't mean to say no, and that I'd think about it. Then, when I'm ready, ill go up to her myself and give her my answer."
"Alright," said Estelle.
"But don't embarrass me," I said, opening the bathroom door.
"No promises," Estelle said with a smile, walking out of the room.
I furrowed my eyebrows before walking back out to the living room. Estelle sat with me until Lia walked into the room.
"Can I talk to you?" Estelle asked Lia.
"Sure," Lia mumbled.
They both walked down the hall. I waited anxiously, my stomach throbbing from all the nervousness and emotions. I hoped Estelle would have a good talk with her. I just wanted this all to clear up so I didn't have to worry anymore. If I started dating Lia, maybe my usual gloomy mood would clear up, and I wouldn't live life feeling drained everyday. Maybe she could turn my life around, and maybe I could start seeing myself living past 16. My heart pounded, and it pounded hard.
About ten minutes later, Lia came back out and sat down beside me.
"So, what do you wanna do?" she asked me.
I was still a mess, but I grinned at her. "Um.. I don't know," I uttered. "About me being your.. boyfriend, well, I've just never had a girlfriend before and I didn't know how to respond to your question."
"Don't worry about it. I shouldn't have been so dramatic."
"Have you ever had a boyfriend?"
"No, actually.."
"Oh. I feel like I've asked you that before.." I rubbed my eyes, then leaned back into the couch. "I guess I'm just confused."
"Yeah, I get it," she said.
I looked at her. Her eyes got wide.
"I want to be your boyfriend, Lia," I said.
Her whole face loosened and her eyebrows raised.
"Really?" she said, a small grin on her face.
"Yeah," I said. "What I said earlier wasn't actually me.. I kinda panicked and said something random. I hope it won't be weird after that.."
"It won't be weird," she said.
"Although all relationships are weird at first."
"Yeah. It'll be alright."
I looked to the side. I looked back over to her after a moment, a grin on my face. "Tate is going to be furious."
She chuckled. "He's not as cute as he thinks."
"No, he's really not. He looks like a horse," I replied.
She snickered, and I smiled at her. I know I've only been in a relationship for about one minute, but I was already feeling the affects of it. I felt more comfortable and safe, as well as loved and respected. It was a good feeling.
That day was probably the best day of my life.