To Density and Beyond

Chapter Two

To Density And Beyond - Chapter Two: The Ways of A Man

When Reece and I reached the awkward age of thirteen, puberty forced us into the embarrassing subject of dating.

We knew it wasn't something we could avoid forever. And Reece, being the cocky jerk that he was, had no problem with bragging about the number of push-up bra users who begged on their knees for his attention. The thing was natural to him as heat is to the sun. He's used to stuff like that.

I, on the other hand, am the opposite of him.

I've never had a single guy throw rocks on my window or drag me out of bed late at night to profess his undying love for me. I've never had a guy take me to homecoming, go with me to the grocery, or drive me around in his sleek, black BMW. I've never had a guy friend other than Reece, much more a boyfriend.

I was an innocent, immature spoiled brat.

Reece said it was okay. He said we had each other, and that was enough. He told me that girls like me aren't meant for guys who drive sleek, black BMWs, throw rocks to their girlfriend's window, drag them out past their curfew for a midnight date, or guys who use girls as arm candy at homecoming to win the title of Homecoming King. Girls like me were for guys who drove hand-me-down trucks with the rust almost covering the paint, guys who throw Forever 21 shoes at their girlfriend's window because they know how superficial they are about shoes, guys who drag their girls out at sunrise because they want to be the first ones to say "I love you" to their sweethearts when the day starts, guys who arrive at homecoming with their arm wrapped around their date because they want the whole school to know just how much they're proud to be with someone as beautiful as their girl, guys who wrote songs in the silence, and guys who won't let the year end with their girlfriends crying over a positive pregnancy test.

I was surprised to hear all those words coming from Reece, considering how much of a playboy he was in school.

So I asked him to describe himself as a guy.

Reece stuttered - oh sorry, stammered - over his explanations a lot. But he did make it clear that he wasn't boyfriend material.

That's why it was a little shocking to hear him say he was he in love. He did make it clear he wasn't for anything serious, so why was he ready to commit now?

"I don't get it."

Reece's eyes didn't waver from my sister's wedding video on the projector screen as he answered. "You don't get what?"

"Why you're in love with that girl."

He frowned, finally turning around to look at me. "Why?"

"Because," I exhaled. "You've never been one of those people who liked getting serious with their relationships."

Reece stared at me.

Then at the projector screen.

Then back at me.

"I do get serious with my relationships," He replied calmly, turning his gaze back to the screen where Daphne and Matthew were happily declaring their wedding vows. "You just think I don't."

I blinked. "What - You think I think you don't get serious with your relationships? I don't think, Reece. I know." I shook my head at the screen, feeling my stomach clench at the sight of Matthew and Daphne making googly eyes at each other. Sister of Judas be damned.