Day Moons

2- Sammy

   Something was off, I could tell. He was doing that thing where he was zone out and stopped talking, and just stared at me. I was almost scared to let him drive like this. I don't know If he was trying to remember when he let me borrow his shirt or if he was mad that I took it from his room because that's 100% what I did. 

   But I also didn't think he liked this shirt as much as the others I'd borrowed. I'd borrowed a lot of shirts over the years. I was kind of like one of those girlfriends that stole their boyfriend's hoodies every time she went over. Except I wasn't a girl, so I couldn't date him. And before you get mad at me I do know that gay people exist, but they don't here. 

   If you are, you don't tell anyone. If you move away and come out it's all anyone can talk about back at home here in Alabama. That's right I live in the south. Yayyyyyy. People here are super nice, the southern hospitality thing is real. But between the whole city I live in- which by the way is not very large at all- we could arm a small army. 

   But I'm getting off topic. Here, everybody knows everybody. The population of this town can't be more than 1,000. Granted- we're in-between to large cities so when we want something to do all it takes is an hour car ride. 

   Again, off topic. My point is if you want to be different you would have to get a new identity. And I am different. I have been judged by everyone here because out of the 200 kids that go to my high school i'm the only one that didn't hit that second growth spurt. I have ADHD, and Anxiety, and all the other things that come with it. 

   I was skinny, and awkward, and Ginger. Oh sweet lord the hell I got about sucking Mav's soul out when we're kids being the reason he was kind of a jerk to most people. Neither of us were exactly normal. We dressed normal I guess but not like the other kids our age. They wore the basic 'red-neck cowboy' get-ups. Jeans, boots, and dirty old t-shirts. 

   We wore sweaters, and band tee's, with baggy jeans and high tops. But because we didn't look like them we were 'weirdos', according to the kids at our school. A lot of people would call us gay for always being together, but here, its like if you aren't married to someone of the opposite sex yet and you said gay you automatically are. Gay that is. 

   But slurs were totally acceptable. Because society sucks. 

   I was pulled out of my trace when Mav pulled up to the ice cream shop. I opened the door and hoped out, standing patiently at the hood of his old pickup truck while he got out. He got out of the truck and slid off his flannel to tie around his waist. It was hot outside. He was wearing jorts, a pair of old, dirty, black Converse, and a white wife beater. 

   This past year he had gotten really into fitness. Mav had never been any kind of fat, not even chubby. I think he just wanted to look more intimidating. He had started cleaning up his diet, and hitting the gym and I to say the least was not... upset by the outcome. He looked handsome. He could have any girl he wanted if it wasn't for me. 

   All the girls hated me when we were little because I was kind of creepy, unsettling if you will. To say the least I crawled around in a back bend, and growled, and the soul sucking thing really didn't help me. But I really don't think I would care about the best friend if you had the biceps that were currently glistening in the sun before me right now. 

   But had been staring at my broad shouldered, towering bestie for a moment too long. He was smirking when I made eye contact with him. Oh gosh here it comes. Flirting. It definitely didn't help out that he didn't give a flying pig's ass about what other people thought and openly flirted with me in public. 

   "I know it's hot outside, but I can't just walk around without a shirt-" he elbowed me as we started walking to the door "You'll just have to wait until we get back to mine." I blushed deep, and slapped him on the arm, big mistake. It was solid as rock. 

   "Shut up." I mumbled. As we entered the shop I noticed a booth with a couple of kids from our school. The kids that acted like they were on Disney channel casted as the over dramatic bullies. I could practically feel Mav roll his eyes. 

   The big meanie jock, Bryan (ikr) who got his hair from Danny Zuko, the pretty popular girl, Esther who looks like Natalie Portman when she was 16 (look it up). And another couple that I didn't recognize. 

   I felt Mav lean in to whisper. "Stand in front of me." I didn't realize why until I thought about what I was wearing, a big baggy shirt, and shorts that I only wear in the summer on the hottest days. Otherwise known as my shortest shorts. 

   "Oh shit I should have changed. Sorry." I whisper apologetically. "Don't be, I just don't want them to stare at you." He leaned down and whispered into my ear. I knew he meant it in a protective way because he cared about me but I was grateful to be turned where nobody could see me  blushing. 

   Except for the cashier that finally showed up to take our order. I ordered for both of us, we got the same thing every time. I paid as quickly as possible, and we practically ran out of there.