One Game

10. Hold back the river

●Jo●

10:30. That was the time that I finally arrived back home. I decided not to do anything more with Cameron tonight. Why you ask? I have no idea why. I just wanted to get home.

He was a gentleman when he dropped me off. Opened my door, held my hand as we walked to the front door, kissed my cheek, the whole nine yards.

As I walked up the stairs on my way to the apartment, I started to wonder why he didn't kiss me. Yeah I know a kiss on the cheek is sufficient and gentlemen like but why didn't he go in for the kill? I don't know. I don't want to think about this anymore. It's causing me a killer headache.

I was passing the kitchen when I heard Darrell mutter something.

"Hey doll" he said softly

"Hey Darrell. Whatca up to?"

"Just cleaning like always. What were you thinking about just then, huh?" He said as he slung a kitchen rag over his shoulder.

"What are you talking about? I was just walking." Lies, lies, lies.

"Sure you were. And I was just riding a dinosaur."

Oh, Darrell. He knows just about everything I do. When I move, he moves. When I sneeze, there's always a bless you following. And when I lie, lord knows, Darrell can detect it. I can't hide anything from him. But my dad on the other hand is a different story. My dad is like an old dog whose lost his nose. Things are always slipping away from him.

Oh, you don't get that simile. Don't worry about it. Its a southern thing.

"C' mon. Come talk to old D." He pats the counter he had just got done wiping. I obey his thought and jump onto the wooden/marble surface. I never really knew what it was. Its like my father couldn't make up his mind, whether if he wanted wood or marble. He's weird headed when it comes to making decisions.

"He didn't kiss me." My head falls to the floor.

"Sure he did, the cheek is sufficient enough doll." He stated

"Yeah I kn- wait..how di- Darrell." I try drag out the 'L' in his name for as long as I could.

"What? You excepted me not to spy on you when you come back from a date with a boy I don't know. Of course I'm going to be standing behind the bar in the exact spot that allows me to see throught the blinds perfectly." He tries to hide his cheeky smile that shows he's at peace with his answer.

I knew for fact he would. I wasn't surprised at all. But all thoughts slipped my mind when Cameron was in front of me on my porch. I laughed quietly at the thought of D standing there living for the next move of a teenage boy.

"See you're thinking again. Tell it. Now." That was an order.

Did I mention he gets a little agitated when I don't talk to him. My whole life I've told Darrell everything. So we've gotten this whole gossip thing down packed. There's one rule: don't hide anything. We bond over trust in this house. That's how things run smoothly. I don't know if you can tell but I grew out of my shyness quickly. But it reappears every now and again. Thoses are the worst times because I feel like I can't express myself clearly. And when it happens everything is just a big mess.

"What if he doesn't like me. I mean I know he likes me because of all that talk he did, but that's that. What if it is just all talk and no doing?"

"Lets hope that there will be no doing, hell." He chuckled

"Not that doing D. I'm just scared he's all talk. He's different. He's not scared of you guys. Well just a bit, but not like the school guys. He's like- "

"Thank the guy up stairs for that because I don't think we could handle another wide-eyed bushy tail man/boy coming up to the bar asking for Joanna. Continue. " He interrupts

"I don't know. I don't know. All I know is that I don't want this to be like those books I read in my room and my favorite movies. I want it to be real. Real enough so that when it hurts I know that it was real. Make sense?"

"Yeah...No. Okay, I understand what you mean by it being real but it can be like a movie and still be realistic Jo."

That's what Cameron said...

"You know that's what Cameron said. Well something like it." I think back to that moment. Oh what a moment to remember.

"Shows that he has a good head on them scrawny shoulders." Darrell said smiling, showing acceptance of my date.

"But he's known out there. Beyond our town. He's famous D. There's eyes on him every step of everyday. I don't want eyes on me."

I might have grew out of my shyness but that doesn't mean I want people watching like I'm on freaking MTV's Real World.

"How famous Jo?"

"Famous enough to make you never want to wash your hand after he shakes it."

"What the hell is he doing here then?"

"Okay I might have exaggerated a bit. But some people do that D." I raise my eyebrows and tip ny head towards him, "All I know is that I don't want that attention to me." I shake out that thought

"Look at me," I scoff, " Talking like he had brought up marriage and ready to move in."

"Just stop for a moment and think. Not overthink. Just breathe."

Tears started to well up in my eyes. For no apparent reason. It's a girl thing I guess. No, I know why. It's because I'm overreacting. I never want to admit it that I cry. When I think to much I start to cry. But it usually takes place up in my room, never out in the open.

"C'mon now doll. Hold back the river, save the tears for someone that's worth them. Not saying that he's not. We just don't know if he is yet. Let's hope he's not because if you ever cry over something he did to you I promise, I will personally shove my fo-"

"OKAY, Okay I get it. " I laugh

He always knows how to make me feel sane again. That's just Darrell. Making people smile since 19'something.

He wraps an arm around my shoulders and squeezes.

" I'll always be here for ya Jo. And so will your dad. You'll always have us no matter what snot-nose young fella comes trotting around here."

"I know D, and I know that about dad too."

He kisses the side of hair and then shoos me off of the somewhat shiny counter.

"Scat girl, I just cleaned this wood, marble thing counter." He shoots me a smile and walks toward the direction of his room.
Leaving me with my thoughts and a smile.