Breathing Water

CHAPTER 25

My eyes widen in shock to her question. "Um, well I don't know what do you want us to be?"
Shelly laughs and says "Sorry, I guess I phrased my question wrong. Maybe I should say it like this, Oyster will you be my girlfriend and may I be your girlfriend?"
I smile and feel the heat in my cheeks. "Sure, I would really like that." I nod my head at her. "It will also make things easier when I'm telling people."
Shelly smiles back and yells "Great!" She leans forward, pressing her lips against mine. Then she stands up and holds out her hand. I look at her confused. "Its better to tell at least your mom sooner rather than later."
I huff and give her my hand. "Fine," I say as she helps me stand. I can't stop smiling as we walk down the stairs of the lighthouse holding hands. When we first arrived she let go of my hand to lead me up the stairs, but now Shelly is walking down the stairs right beside me with her hand clasped around mine. As we walk past Marty I see Shelly blush for the first time and he nods our way. "So how do you know that guy?"
"Oh, Marty? He's just a family friend." She gasps and says "I almost forgot, my cousin is getting married this weekend and the invitation said I could have a plus one and I want it to be you.?"
"Are you serious?" She nods her head enthusiastically as we reach the car and she pulls my door open for me. "I'd love to be your plus one." I climb in the car and continue "But I will have to talk to my mom first." Shelly frowns a little but nods her head and closes my door. I smile as I watch her excitedly run around the front of the car to her side and hop in. She starts the engine and hurriedly maneuvers the vehicle back to the road. I yell "Slow down, be careful," as we zip passed a speed limit sign that I barely get the chance to read.
I watch the speedometer as it slows down from the fifteen miles per hour that she is going over the speed limit. "Sorry, I'm just excited."
I sigh and say "I know, I'm excited too. But we don't need to crash and die before any of it happens."
"Your right. I usually don't drive like a maniac, I don't know what I was thinking. Sorry. Again"
"Okay," I say exasperated. "I accept your apology you can stop making it."
"Sor-"
I reach over and cover her mouth before she can finish. "Stop apologizing." I make the statement come out kind of staccato to emphasize my point. Shelly tries to mumble something through my hand but it is inaudible. I ask "If I remove my hand are you going to apologize." Her eyes are on the road but she slowly shakes her head no. I slowly pull my hand back and Shelly stays silent. I put my hand down and see Shelly's lips curly into her mouth like she wants to say something but can't. Realizing what it is I sigh and role my eyes. "Fine. Go on. Say it, but this is the last time. Okay?"
Shelly nods and quickly blurts out "Sorry." I laugh and shake my head.
A few minutes later we pull up in front of my house. My smile starts to fade and I guess Shelly can see because she says "Don't worry you'll be fine. You can do it. I'll be right next to you the whole time."
I look at her concerned. "Are you sure you want to do this with me? I mean you don't have to."
"Nonsense! Of course I want to be in there with you. You need support and besides I want to meet your mom." She smiles a very wide genuine smile. Her words raise my sunken heart and allow me to smile a little. I start to reach for the door handle when Shelly says "Absolutely not! I drove, I will open your door. When you drive you can open my door, but right now I open yours. Got it."
She looks serious, so I quickly pull my hand away from the door and put both hands in the air like I am surrendering to the authorities. "Okay, okay. I didn't realize there would be any rules when I agreed to be your girlfriend." We both laugh as Shelly opens her door and climbs out of the vehicle. As she opens my door I feel a cold gush of wind. I see Shelly shiver as I climb out of the passenger seat. I shiver too as she closes my door. As Shelly stands next to me, she puts her arm around my shoulder and I put mine around her waist and we slowly walk to the door.
Opening the door I see the light on in the living room. Shelly kisses me on the forehead before she lets me step in first. For a second I think she is letting go of me but as she steps inside behind me she takes up my hand. I close the door and walk to the living room. Mom walks around the corner just as we arrive there ourselves. "Oh it is you Oyster. And you brought a new friend."
"Well yeah," I say looking back at Shelly. She nods her head and I turn back to Mom. "Look, Mom there is something I need to tell."
"Honey, can it wait 'till the morning? I'm kind of tired."
"No," I say firmly. "It cannot wait until morning. I need to tell you now, but you might want to sit down."
Mom's eyes widen, probably because she has never seen me so confident before. "Okay, fine." She walks over to the closest chair and sits down.
"Okay here it goes. Mom this is Shelly, and she's my girlfriend."