Girlfriend

9. Call Me

"Michael, I am so so so so so sorry about what happened," LaToya said, sitting on my bed. "I know you like her."

"No, I don't," I sighed.

"Yes, you do. Why are you denying it?"

"I'm not!"

"Michael, Michael, Michael. If you wait too long to ask her out it'll be too late," she told me straightening out my comforter.

"I never said I was asking her out," I said sitting next to her.

"You should! She looked so comfortable in your arms. You guys should really be together!" LaToya cried.

"But she's got someone else," I mumbled.

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

I fiddled with the fringes of the blanket on the foot of my bed, contemplating whether or not I should ask Cathy Jean out on a date as LaToya suggested. The only thing in my way was this David guy.

"Toy," I said.

"Yeah?"

"What if she doesn't like me? What if she thinks like Joseph?"

"She was practically suffocating you! Cathy Jean doesn't hate you if anything," she told me.

"Toy," I said.

"Yeah?"

"You don't believe Joseph do you?"

"Of course not. Don't listen to him. It was wrong for them to call you names."

"Toy," I said.

"Yes, Michael?" LaToya sighed.

"What do I do if she says no?"

"Try not cry because that'll make things more awkward than they already are. She will say yes," LaToya chanted. "Don't worry."

"Toy?"

"Michael?"

"She's really pretty, huh?"

LaToya smiled and took my hand, rubbing it with her thumb. "Not as pretty as me," she joked.

"Of course not."

"Hey," Janet whispered, peeking into my room. "Was Cathy Jean really here?"

"Yeah why?" I asked.

"Are you going to ask her out?" she cried.

LaToya looked at me. She knew she had won the argument. "Yes," she said. "He's just feeling a little shy tonight so he's waiting for the right time."

"Oh my gosh! Finally! We were just waiting for the day," Janet sighed. "Randy's getting jealous."

"Tell Randy to get over himself," I snapped.

"Ooh okay. It's serous now," LaToya laughed.

"Of course it's serious! Randy can't come and steal the only girl who likes Michael for who he is," Janet said.

"Randy can steal any girl he wants," Randy boasted, barging into my room.

"Please don't talk in third person. It's very irritating," LaToya mumbled, sounding a little irritated herself.

"And I'm pretty sure Cathy Jean doesn't want a shallow, self centered guy like you," Janet retorted.

"It doesn't matter. She doesn't like him," Randy claimed.

"She doesn't like you either!" my sisters exclaimed.

"What is all that racket?!" Mother hissed joining the party.

"Randy's trying to steal Cathy Jean away from Michael!" Janet whined. "And it's not fair!"

"Janet, hush. You know if your father heard all this noise he'd scream at all of you. I suggest you get to bed with your eyes dry," Mother commanded. "Go."

LaToya kissed my cheek and left with Janet and Randy. Mother waited for them to leave before closing the door.

"What's going on?" she asked sympathetically.

"Cathy Jean and Randy and David and...everything's too much," I groaned, falling back onto my bed.

"You like her, huh?" she asked with a small smile.

"I don't know."

"You can be honest with me, baby." She lovingly stroked my cheek.

"I'm good."

"Why don't you call her and try and sort out what happened today. It was all a little abrupt, wasn't it?"

"Yes," I replied, sitting back up. "One minute she won't get off me and then all of a sudden she's running away from me. Mother, I'm so confused."

"Call her, then. You talk much better over the phone." She handed me the receiver.

"But Joseph..."

"Michael, you know you couldn't talk that loud if you tried. And if somehow you do wake him up, I'll cover for you, alright?" Mother said with a smile.

"Alright. Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Call." She gave me a kiss and exited, shutting the door behind her.

I picked up the phone and dialed Cathy Jean's number not even knowing what I'd say if she picked up. I tried to come up with something really quick while it was ringing.

Do I ask her out now? Do I ask about what happened today? This was a stupid idea. Maybe I'll just hang up.

"Hello?"

"Hey..."

It was silent for a second. Neither one of us knew what to say. It was too late to back out now.