Two Worlds

Chapter 10

Cecilia:    I paced back and forth a stopped. Griffin cocked his head to the side. “Um… ah, what’s wrong?” he asked in his usual nervous stutter.

“You want to get with Kat right?” I asked him. And it’d be nice if I were with Luke. I thought. Griffin nodded his head. “So what should you do?”

“Um…. I don’t know, celebrate black day?” he offered. I smacked him across his head. “Ah! Ow… um, err, what was that for?” Griffin asked, obviously surprised.

“Black day is when you don’t get your love, and that is not what we’re trying to get!!” I snapped. Griffin flinched and I instantly felt bad. “So, what do you think?” I asked, my tone much softer. Griffin shook his head.

“It’s because of Nat.” he whispered. I stared at him, confused. Nat? Why did that sound so familiar? “If Nat never, um,  lived Kat would be with still be dating me… ah! Um, oh, sorry, unnecessary information…” he muttered. I smiled sympathetically at him.

“I guess were in the same boat.” I said, flopping beside him on my yellow bed. Griffin was over at my house- as a friend- and we were planning what to do about him and Kat.

“Um, excuse me? Do you like someone?” he asked.

“Well, kind of, or- I think so.” I muttered, turning bright red.

“How are you on the same boat as me?” Griffin urged. I was beginning to feel like I liked him better when he stammered and barely said anything.

“Well, he likes Kat…”

Griffin jolted back in surprise, I wondered why. “Um… ah, err… y-you l-l-like ME?” he asked. This time I scooted backward.

“NO WAY! Um… I mean, no.” I added quickly at his hurt face. “His name is Luke… my childhood friend… I’m pretty sure I already talked about this…” I muttered. Griffin’s face looked absolutely guilty as I confirmed who I liked. Griffin knew Luke was my childhood friend, and he already felt bad talking bad about him but now it was absolutely clear I liked him too.

“Mhm, well, um… I guess we ca- oh no, I feel so mean…”

“You don’t want to break them up do you?”

“It’s not nice.”

We talked a bit more on the concept. “Hold on, I’m gonna get a snack.” I said, standing up. Griffin sat on my bed and waited. Actually, I wasn’t hungry. I remembered when I had showed Griffin Luke’s house and how Luke had stared at us. I shivered. I needed a bit time to think about it and I wasn’t sure if I should tell Griffin.

Why had he been staring at us? Was he jealous? Worried about me? I shook my head in confusion. I quietly opened the backdoor, careful not to let Griffin know I was abandoning him. I sat down at the base of a huge, nearby tree. I stared up at the clear blue sky. It was still so surprising to see it like that. It was blue. And clear. With fresh air. I remembered the dark days when the sky was always murky brown and the air was heavy and thick. It was nice to clear my head and think. But then, if Earth hadn’t gotten better, then there wouldn’t be a Kat. And Luke would maybe, just maybe, end up liking me. But then there wouldn’t be a Griffin. I smiled thinking of the boy with soft brown hair, waiting in my room. Waait. That sounded weird…. It was difficult with guys and maybe I would never understand them.

I shook my head, disapproving my thoughts and went back upstairs. I was going to tell Griffin about what happened with Luke.

As I explained to Griffin he seemed tangled in thoughts. “Maybe Luke likes you.” Griffin muttered. I beamed, but for some reason Griffin didn’t seem as happy. “But that doesn’t mean Kat will like, um, me.” Griffin added, as if to read my thoughts. Oh. Darn. Yeah. Right. “Um, she’d probably just attack you like a, um, cat,” He said. I laughed out loud with maybe a little bit of snort. But that was okay, Griffin was my friend, and I didn’t have to impress him. I looked at him happily. “Uh, ah- what are you looking at?”

“Nothing.” I replied and smiled. It was nice to have a friend where I could just be myself, which I had found myself doing less and less. “Say, what was it like in Zeron?” I asked.

“Oh, um, well it was a lot like… Earth. Except it was more… advanced?” he said seeming unsure of himself. “What was it like underground?”

“Three words: Boring, stuffy, tiring.” I said, putting up three fingers. Griffin smiled- in fact, Griffin smiled a lot, yet he never laughed. I pondered over this when Griffin’s phone began to ring.

RIIING! RIIING! He pulled his phone out of his pocket quickly. I strained to listen in to his conversation.

“Hello? ...Oh, um well, hi.” There was a long silence before he spoke again.

“Hmm? …No, no thank you… Uh-huh, I’m at a friend’s house… You don’t know her… Yes she’s a girl… Um…” he looked really uncomfortable, and lowered his voice. I leaned in slightly toward him to hear more.

“Cecilia… no, she’s not dusty… Kat!... No, no, sorry… okay… sorry, I can’t drive you to the mall. Why not Luke? ...Uh-huh, ok, um bye.” He shut his phone. I looked at him expectantly. Though I already knew, I asked anyway.

“Soo? Who was it?” I asked.

“Ah, ah, um well… uh… my mom!” He stammered. I raised my eyebrows and he fumbled with his phone, jamming it back in his pocket. “Well, I have to um, go.” He smiled apologetically at me and kissed my forehead. “See you tomorrow?”

“Sure…” I replied. I could hear his feet stomping down the stairs and the door click shut. What had just happened? Was kissing- even on the forehead- normal to him? I rubbed my head in a daze.

Actually, I should have felt uncomfortable. Or I should have felt normal. Or I should have either be unhappy, or not care. I didn’t feel any of that. What was I feeling? I ignored it and went downstairs to make dinner but deep down, I knew I felt somewhat… happy.

Kat:     “Oh, so now you’re here.” I said, my voice a slur. I was sprawled across the living room’s hot pink sofa as Griffin slipped into my house. Griffin’s self seemed to change as he entered the atmosphere of my home. “What do you want?” he asked, without a single stutter or tad of fear- his voice was cold. He could put up the act, or a million layers of armor; I knew he still loved me. I laughed, my voice ringing out and I threw my head back. My laughter sounded like a million knives stabbing the walls surrounding us.

“Stop acting like I’m some stupid villain.” I giggled. He rolled his eyes, straining to be cool but it just made him look sillier and stupider.  “Griffin,” I said, placing my hand over his. His hand stiffened; he looked into my eyes longingly. I smiled slyly. “How’s Cecilia?” I said straining to say her stupid pretty girl name.

“Fine, thank you, why?”

“Just checking in on your girlfriend.” I said, smiling smoothly. Griffin shook his head.

“Not girlfriend. Just friend.”

“If that’s the case,” I looked deep in his eyes, where I knew was as weak as a piece of jell-o. “Pleeaase take me to the mall?” I batted me eyelashes.

“Why can’t Luke?” He asked. I pouted.

“Luke’s busy.” I replied. Griffin scratched his head. I knew he wanted to be my boyfriend, but I wondered how low he would go.

“If that’s the case, fine.” He said standing up to start his car. I smiled toward his back and stuck out my tongue. Stuupid! I slid into Griffin’s shabby car and went on my biggest shopping spree ever.

“One of these days, my card is going to fill up!” I giggled after visiting the mall.

“Can it be filled up?” Griffin asked. I shrugged.

“Whatever, you can go now, I’m done with you.” I said, waving him off. Griffin looked immensely hurt but he slowly went away. Good riddance.