Meeting You..

Chapter Six: Just a Walk.

Finally, we all decided to walk home together. It was cold and Jonah gave me his jacket. So Tom gave his to Katie. I felt my heart sink. I looked down at my shoes, I hadn’t really noticed how cold it was outside. I shivered. Tom noticed.

            “Are you alright Mel?” He asked. It was the first time he looked at me all night. I looked up at him and it seemed like there was so much apology in his eyes. It was almost like he knew I liked him.

            “I’m okay.” I finally spit out. We get to Katie’s house first and she hugs Tom. They don’t kiss though and I can see the disappointment on Tom’s face but I try to ignore it.

            We’re walking down the sidewalk. Tom’s house is next. I feel awkward as he and Jonah stand on both of my sides. I feel like the bologna in the middle of two pieces of bread. Tom looks at me and smiles and starts laughing. Jonah and I look at him.

            “What?” Jonah asks.

            “I forgot to get my jacket.” He says.

            “Oh.” I say. Tom looks at me. I notice how sad I sound.

            “Are you sure you’re alright?” Tom asks. I look up at him. He’s just staring at me. It’s all so simple to him.

            “Yeah.” I say.

            “You’ve just been acting a little strange lately.”

            “I’m fine.”

            Suddenly, Jonah coughs. It’s like we both jolt awake. We had totally forgotten he was there. We’re at Tom’s house. Tom turns to me and wraps his arms around me.

            “I had a good time tonight. Thanks for the advice.” He whispers.

            “No problem.” I whisper back. I feel my eyes filling up with tears. I blink hard. He smiles at me and goes inside. I turn to Jonah. It’s like he can see it all over my face. He gives me one of those half grins when you know life just sucks. I laugh. He smiles at me. We start walking.

            “I think everything with him is going to start soon. You could tell Katie and him probably wont happen.” He says. I look at him.

            “Really?” I ask. He nods and looks away from me. He swallows hard and looks like he’s holding something back.

            “What’s wrong?” I ask. He just shakes his head and looks away. We walk in silence until we finally get to the sidewalk outside my house. We stand in the dimness of the porch light. I look at him and start to turn around but then he calls my name. I turn to him. He looks at me with this deep sadness in his eyes.

            “Yeah?” I ask. He looks at me but then looks down deciding what to say. Then he looks up at me and sighs.

            “I –my jacket.” He reaches his hand out.

            “Oh!” I say. I pull my hands out of the pockets and take it off. I hand it to him. He grins at me. I grin back. I wave goodbye then turn and go inside. He doesn’t walk away until I finally shut the door behind me. I look out the window and watch him walk down the street.

            I go and take a shower and instead of thinking about Tom, I’m thinking about Jonah. But then I force myself to think of Tom. I force myself to forget Jonah. Tom is what I want. Tom is everything.

            Then I go to bed, and I cry.