Hold My Hand

11

*GEO*

For dinner we ended up going to McDonald's, because the restaurant we wanted to get into had a 1 hour wait time and we were all starving.

The moms sat at one table and the rest of us in a booth. Somehow the conversation moved from not wanting to get up at 4 am for our next flight, to how much fun the last tour was.

Nessa's silence showed me how "out" of the conversation she was, but whenever I tried to change topics someone brought it back. I sighed, giving up, and joined in on the conversation. Vanessa laughed at what was funny and smiled when she thought it was the right time; but I could tell she was uncomfortable with not being able to speak.

We haven't had much time to hang out and I got the feeling that it bothered her now.

FINALLY, the conversation about the spring break tour ended.

"Geo have you checked the comments for you last YouTube video!? They're hilarious." Mario said.

"Oh the one about getting arrested?" I laughed.

"WHAT!?" Vanessa gasped, causing even our moms to start laughing.

Julian regulated his breathing and explained for me.

"Okay. So this idiot was playing Ding Dong Ditch and the man they did it to, called the cops and Geo was the first to get caught!" Julian started laughing again and so did the rest of us...except Vanessa, she seemed confused.

"So Vanessa, how do you know Geo?" Mario asked her.

She perked up at the chance to talk.

"Our mom's knew each other from highschool, they were best friends. So when they had us, it just seemed...natural that Juw--Geo and I be best friends too."

"Seriously!" I added. "I did everything with this girl. We went to birthday parties together, family events...." I paused to look at Vanessa and smirk. "And the beach."

She crossed her arms and huffed. "I hate you."

"Wait!" Cat laughed. "What's wrong with the beach?"

"Nothing!" Vanessa lied.

"Uh uh. That girl over there HATED the beach. If our moms wanted to go in the water Vanessa would stand right where the sand and water met and cry unless I held her hand and walked in with her."

"I was afraid of jellyfish! And sharks...and fish" She trailed off.

"Whenever she got scared I'd hear Geo hold my hand hold my hand!" I started laughing and Vanessa covered her face.

"Awww that's so cute!" Cat said, nudging Vanessa.

I wished she was sitting next to me instead of across from me so I could poke her.

"Oh! One time she was at recess--"

"No!" Vanessa chimed in. "Juwany you shut up right now!"

"Heck no! Ok so we were in Kindergarten and I was in the middle of coloring a picture when my teacher tapped my shoulder and asked me to go outside with her. So we walked out of the class and another teacher told me Vanessa was dared to go on the big slide but she got scared and started crying. She told her teacher that she wouldn't come down unless Wany came! They had to call her mom to find out who Wany was!"

"Awwww!" Jovani said.

Vanessa was still covering her face.

Mario widened his eyes and ate a fry. "Hurry I wanna know what happened next!"

"Basically I had to walk all the way to the playground, go up to the slide, and hold Vanessa's hand so she could walk back down."

"Oh my gosh!" Vanessa whined. "I can't believe you just told that stupid story."

I couldn't help but laugh, I could see that she was fighting a smile.

"Oh my God!" I hollered. "We're married too!"

"Juwany!" Vanessa said, irritated with me.

"Sorry, that story has to wait, time to go guys." Ms.Selman told us.

"Saved by the mom." I chuckled, looking at Vanessa. She stuck her tongue out at me and I did back.

Now it's time to go back to the hotel and sleep until 4am, then we head back to the airport to fly to Dallas, Texas.