Girlfriend

4. Smile

"So what do you do besides throw rocks at stuff?" Cathy Jean joked.

I smiled. "I hang out with my family and listen to music and stuff like that. I try not to go outside of Hayvenhurst too often because people get crazy," I explained.

She nodded. "So how'd you get here?"

"I got here early."

Cathy Jean nodded again and looked out the window. It was 7:23 AM by now and the sun was up illuminating the world. In the two hour span, nothing happened. She seemed really out of the conversation and stared out the window most of the time. It's bad enough that I'm shy and I'm trying to make friends with an anti-social girl. Deep inside, it felt pointless to stay but I'm already here.

Then the phone rang. It was as if Cathy Jean was deaf. She let it ring forever until she finally picked up. I tried not to stare as she talked.

"Hello? David?"

David? She has a boyfriend?

I found myself feeling sorry for this David character. He has to deal with Cathy Jean. Maybe she's different once you get to know her on a deeper level. She had curb appeal. Lots of curb appeal. Her eyes are absolutely gorgeous and her whole face is just bliss. I've never seen her smile but I'm sure it's beautiful.

"What? No, not right now. I've got a friend over," she said twirling the cord around her finger. She glanced at me and then turned back to the window. "Yes, I'll be at practice. Yes, David. Maybe. I've gotta go now. David. David. NOW. Okay. Bye."

"You have a boyfriend?" I asked when she sat down on her bed.

"Oh no. David and I go to dance together."

"Oh." My face burned with embarrassment.

"Why?"

"Just asked. You're really pretty though."

Cathy Jean blushed. "Thanks."

"So we're friends now?"

"Sure."

I was elated. A strong feeling of joy and excitement rushed over me. She was my friend!

"Mother will be so happy!" I whispered. "Would you like to meet my family sometime? Maybe for dinner? They'd love to meet you."

"Oh my gosh. Sure."

"Tonight?"

Cathy Jean blinked a couple times and shrugged. "Sounds good."

I tried my hardest to keep my composure at the thought of my family meeting Cathy Jean. The best part is Joseph is out with the rest of my brothers for a couple days so there's no chance of him ruining things like he does.

"So what's your family like?" she asked sitting cross legged.

"They're really warm and fun. Except for my father. He's a mystery. But other than that they're great!" I explained.

"What's wrong with your dad?"

"He's just...mean. But he won't be here tonight. He's out with my brothers."

"Oh. I understand," she sighed, twisting her bracelet around her wrist.

"Understand what?"

"Your feelings about your dad. It's just that I don't like my mom either so I'm all by myself. That's the only way I remember it really."

"I'm here for you."

She looked up at me with sharp eyes. I cowered in fear internally. It was as if she was going to attack me or something.

"You are?"

"Yeah." I stood up and found some paper and a pen. I wrote my telephone number down and gave it to Cathy Jean. She hesitantly accepted. "Call me whenever you want. I'll be there. You know, to talk. Or wake you up at five in the morning."

"Yeah. Thanks. That's really sweet of you." She wrote down her number to return the favor. It felt really good knowing I had someone my age to talk to and confide in. Mother would be ecstatic and Randy would be so jealous I had a friend so beautiful.

We talked for a couple more hours and even went outside to her backyard. It was really peaceful. Turns out she loves white roses and monarch butterflies. She practiced her pirouettes barefoot in the plush green grass and purposely fell to enjoy the scenery. I lay next to her and we observed the clouds. She pointed out some really funny observations but she didn't smile. Once.

"I don't mean to be rude but do you ever smile?" I asked as a refreshing summer breeze swept our faces.

"Nope."

I was taken aback by her response. How does one go a whole day even without smiling? Cathy Jean was too beautiful to never smile.

"Why not?"

"There's nothing to smile about. Between my family and my personal problems there's just no reason to," she stated quite satisfied with her reply.

"There has to be something that makes you smile. What about Chaka Kahn?"

"No."

"You don't smile when you're by yourself?"

"Michael, my mother says I haven't smiled since my dad got taken away. I was six. Do the math."

"I'll make you smile. I promise."

"Good luck," she scoffed.

"Seriously! I will!"

"Okay, Michael Jackson. It'll be hard though. How should I dress tonight? Formal? Semi formal? Casual? Pajama party?" she asked, sitting up.

"Semi formal is fine. I'll call you when I figure out everything. Guess I should go to tell Mother." I stood up and helped Cathy Jean.

"Are you going to be okay walking home by yourself?" she asked leading me to the front door.

"Yeah, I should be fine if-"

She abruptly stopped walking causing me to run into her. "We have to go out the back," she said pushing me toward the backyard.

"What? Why?"

"My mom. She can't know about this."

"Cathy Jean!"

"Hide!"

She pushed me into a hallway and ran out to greet her mom. The back door was clearly visible from where I was standing and where Cathy Jean and her mom were standing.

"I'm only here for lunch. I won't stay long," Mrs. Jones said putting her purse down.

"Good. Go eat. Hurry hurry." Cathy Jean guided her mom out of the area and scurried back to lead me to the front door again.

"Sorry about that. Trust me. I saved your life," she said, opening the door.

"It's fine. I'll call you okay?"

"Yeah. See you later?"

I nodded and gave her a small smile before walking off. I thought about what Cathy Jean's smile would look like. Her eyes are bright so they'd probably light up a whole room. I had to make her smile one way or another. I wanted her to know that I cared about her. More than she'd ever know.