Day of Age

Trying to Make Sense out of Nothing

Even though things with me and Austin were resolved, that doesn’t mean that everything went back normal. Austin asked me out and offered to buy me breakfast at McDonald’s. Again, the most romantic fast food joint in the history of the world.  I tried to make sense of it. I thought I finally got the answer to why Austin would ask me out.  He probably just felt bad for me and decided to ask me out to show me that he’s sorry.

                So, on Saturday I met him at McDonald’s as we planned.  I was driving the slowest I could of. It wasn’t like I wasn’t excited for my first date with Austin, but I just wasn’t excited for the ‘date’ part.  I finally made it inside McDonald’s. I looked around for Austin, I finally saw him. He looked so different! For the last few weeks he’s been looking like he just got attacked by an eight foot bear. Now he actually looked, normal. His gaze finally met mine. No turning back now.

                I walked over to the booth he was sitting. He had two cappuccinos, one just calling my name. I sat down across from him.

                “Hey Nessia,”  He smiled .

                “Hey,” I smiled back, “What’s up?” I grabbed the cappuccino and started drinking it.

                “Ah, Nothing really, boring shit, how ‘bout you?” He asked taking his cappuccino and taking a gulp. I swallowed my slurp.

                “Same old, seeing Zack every day. Man, him and Julia are really hitting it off,” I slightly laughed. Finally, a normal conversation with Austin.  He swallowed his coffee.

                “I know right, whenever me and Zack hangout, all he talks about is Julia. It is ridiculous. You should hear him “Have you seen those amazing eyes of hers.” “Her hair is like a blazing fire burning its way into my soul!” He said trying to sound like Zack. I looked at him bizarrely.

                “A blazing fire burning its way into my soul?” I slightly laughed. He shrugged.

                “I made that part up, but he would totally say that.” We both laughed uncontrollably. This date was going better than I thought, he didn’t once talk about-.

                “Thanks for telling me again about your secret,” he smiled in a low voice. My smiled wiped off my face, but I didn’t want to hurt his feelings so a faked a laugh.

                “Yeah, well, I kinda didn’t want you to get eaten alive by thought of me being like that, so,” I thought of  words to say, “Your welcome?” He laughed, I did my usual slight smile at him as I tried to think of a different  subject to make me feel less awkward. I remembered him talking about his handicapped sister, so desperate to make a new conversation I blurted:

                “Is it a burden to look after your sister?”

                Austin looked at me with an emotion that he hasn’t had directed towards me before; anger, total and utter rage.  I covered my mouth, I felt like such a bitch! How could I say that to a loving brother of a young girl with leukemia confined to a wheelchair?! I tried to open my mouth and respond, but he beat me to it.

                “No, not at all. My sister is 100% not a burden to me or my parents, she’s a blessing, a miracle,” he looked at me directly in my human colored eyes, people were around so the instinct was obviously on. I bit my bottom lip, frustrated with myself and my uncontrollable tongue.