Meet Me After Practice

Hershey's Kisses

---JOHNNY ---

“Do you mind if we take my car?” I said, tossing my bag of stuff into the trunk before looking over at Abby. “I’ll drop you off back here after we eat so you can pick up yours.”

“That sounds fine to me.” She said, smiling at me before walking around the front of the car to the passengers side of my black mustang, looking at me before climbing in. “Nice car.”

I watched her as she fell into the passengers seat and closed the door, just the back of her head visible to me. After looking at her for another minute, I shook my head and slammed the trunk shut. You’re a freakin’ stalker! Stop staring at her! I said to myself, straightening my shirt before hopping into the drivers seat. I put my keys in the ignition and started the car, pulling out onto the main road.

I looked over to where she sat quietly next to me, looking out of her window at something in the distance. Before I could change my mind, I cleared my throat loudly. There was no turning back now! “So, Abby...” I said, swallowing when she turned to look at me. “Do you... Well, you remember at lunch today? How James asked you about- if you had, you know- met a guy yet?” Holy crap, I sounded stupid. No, I was stupid!

Her expression changed slightly, her blue eyes burning holes in the side of my head. “Uh, yeah... why do you ask?”

“I was just wondering if you... you know...” I let out a nervous breath and reached up to scratch my neck, suddenly hating myself for even bringing it up. Why did I think she’d tell me? Who she met and who she supposedly found attractive was not my business. Even if it was my business, why would she freakin’ tell me? I was just another one of her brothers stupid friends. I probably meant nothing to her.

“Yes?” She said, looking at me in a way that caught me off guard. She looked almost excited- like she was anticipating what I was going to say. Was she hoping I’d say something specific?

I just sighed and shook my head, deciding that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea to ask her about this after all. “Uh- never mind.” I said, wanting to go back in time and stop myself from ever saying anything to her. “It’s none of my business anyway.” I was going to kill my ego if I embarrassed myself anymore than this!

I was surprised when she pouted at me, puffing out her cheeks and slumping in her seat as she looked at me. “Johnny.” She said, catching me with the best puppy dog look I’ve ever seen. “It must be something important, because you’re acting all fidgety and nervous. Come on- what is it?”

I groaned and looked away from her. “I am not fidgety or nervous. I’m just- really hungry.” Wow, that was a lameo excuse. I believe my nose has just grown a foot longer.

She laughed. “Huh, yeah right! Now what is it? I want to know what you were going to say.” She said, folding her arms across her chest as she stared me down. “If you don’t ask me, I’m going to have to do something unspeakably horrible to get it out of you.”

I looked over at her as I turned off the exit, trying to decide if I should be afraid for my life or not. After one look at her determined expression, I decided that I should probably be afraid. At least a little bit. I had no doubt that she would do whatever it took to get what she wanted out of me. But I still wasn’t about to tell her anything. “Oh, come on, Abby! It’s none of my business anyway.”

“I don’t care what you think it is or isn’t. I just want you to ask me the stupid question. It can’t be that bad.” She said, cocking her head to the side and smiling at me evilly. “Just ask yourself, Johnny boy; Is this secret really worth dying over?”

I half groaned half laughed. “Abby-”

“Johnny, please?” She said, clasping her hands together as she pleaded. “Please tell me! I promise I won’t get mad. Or laugh, or make fun of you, or do anything to physically harm you in any way.”