what it was | √

first; true by spandau ballet

My parents picked me up from school everyday.

But on this particular school day, when I had to leave school late because of the school paper, I waited. Little did I know that they weren't coming; that they weren't going to be able to pick me up; that they were too busy. Again.

Usually, I would walk. Or get a ride from one of my friends. But with all the ruckus from the printing, they had declared to stay the night inside the campus. And I, who could not live without going home where all my necessities were, opted to go home and return early in the morning.

Mom? Are you going to pick me up? I texted my dearest mother.

And as I looked around the driveway out of the school, goosebumps started forming on my arms. The security guard who was supposed to be at the gate was probably taking a piss, or worse: eating.
So I was alone, phenomenally, standing under the flickering light bulb of the school gate.

Dad? I'm still inside the school.

No reply.

Just then, as I moved to call my father, an engine revved to life behind me. A sports car, I believe.
It surprised me, as my thoughts ran away again, how rich the students were in my school. Half the population had their own cars. And it didn't surprise me, as my thoughts went back to the situation at present, that my father did not answer my call.

Please reply, I texted my father.

Headlights flashed behind me and I turned to find a guy getting out of his car; a guy I knew not well but just enough.

It was the guy from my grade, Luigi. Oh, this guy was the real deal. He was a soccer and basketball player, a swimmer and a well-known class clown. We talked at certain times in art class, and exchange hellos, but that was that. I wasn't much of a talker myself.

"Vanessa Stan?" I heard him call, his voice a little unfit for his face.
I turned to face him again, and saw him walking towards me. I raised my hand at him and waved.

"Where you off to?" He asked me, standing in front of me now.

"Home." I answered, giving him a small smile.

"Your parents going to pick you up?"

"Maybe. I mean- yes? I think so."

He checked his watch, which I admit, was a little big for his thin wrist.

"It's getting pretty late, Vanessa."

I raised my eyebrow at him. "I know, Luigi."

He cracked a smile, pointing to his car. "Come on, I'll drop you off. Your house is near Evan's right?"

I shook my head. Uh-uh. No way.

"No!" I shrieked, a little too loud for my liking. "I mean-" I cleared my throat. "I mean, my mom's probably on her way. There's no need, really. I'll be fine."

He scrunched his eyebrows together and opened his mouth.

"No thank you, Luigi! It's fine. Thank you, though."

When he didn't move, I had to use physical force. I pushed his arm, urging him back to his car. "You be safe!" I hollered at him as he stood beside his car door.

"Are you sure, Vanessa? Are you sure I won't find you in the news tomorrow morning missing and in danger?"

"Yes!" I hope.

And as Luigi went back to his car and started it to life again, my phone rang. Quickly, I picked it up and begged that my mother was on her way.

"Mom! Please tell me you're on your way-"

"Hi, sweetie! We're kind of busy with your sister's birthday right now with all the guests, so we probably won't be able to pick you up."

My voice couldn't hide its tone of anger and disappointment. "Are you sure? Because I've been waiting for about an hour now!"

My mother replied to me with a biting tone, too. "Well, if you want to be picked up then you will have to wait for an hour or half. We can't simply cater all of your needs at once."

And then she ended the call.

Normally, at these certain times, I would have been glad to walk home. Independently. But something about the way the weather turned cold and what with Halloween nearing made me not want to walk home, despite the fact that our town was safe.
So I bit my lip and threw my phone inside my bag, a horrid look on my face. And just as I was about to sit on the benches, Luigi's face called my attention. There he was, inside his car, grinning at me.

"So are they coming?" He asked as the passenger window rolled down.

I shook my head. I had to tell him the truth.

"Not now, but soon." I sighed.

"Well? Get in!" He exclaimed as he opened the door from the inside.

I opened my mouth to protest yet again, but what the hell.

I went inside his car, all neat and clean to my surprise.
And then he started driving slow and gliding; like a slow practice.

I sweat buckets when we were halfway to my house, and I couldn't bring myself to look at him. I was nervous. Why? I had no idea. Maybe it was because he was a guy? And it was already dark? And I was a girl?

"You okay?" He asked as I moved to wipe away the sweat on my neck. Ew.

I nodded quicky, breathing heavily.

What the hell, Vanessa. Get your shit together.

"I-I'm fine, Luigi." I couldn't help but stammer.

A second after I had said that, my window automatically rolled down, opening to a full.

Releasing my lips from my teeth that was biting on it unconsciously, I turned to face him.

He grinned at the road, his hands nonchalant on the steering wheel. "Just in case you want to call for help."

I couldn't help but smile at that.

And even as we were nearing my house, I continued to smile, my smile slowly turning into a grin, then a laugh.

And he laughed too, saying; "Well, at least now you know I'm not a murderer."

And we laughed, thinking how silly I was, and our laughs masked the melody of Spandau Ballet's True from his car stereo.

⚓️

I didn't know what love was. But slowly, I learned. And I learned that love was different from infatuation.