The Weird Girl And The New Boy

snow

It was snowing the next day. I looked out and resented the white mush coming out of the sky, because it was enough to be annoying but not enough to get us out of school. Some places would have given us a snow day at the very idea of one flake. But not Ohio.

She pulled in my driveway at 7:15. I was ready so I went out.

"Kind of early aren't you?" I asked because of her fifteen minute early arrival.

"I'd rather be early than late, and for me it's one or the other. You didn't have to come out yet," she gave me a smile as I buckled up.

"I was already ready."

"How are you this fine morning?" She asked with genuine curiosity as she adjusted the wheels so they would be straight on the road.

"I'm pretty good. I would be better if it wasn't for the snow."

"You don't like the snow?" She asked in surprise and gave me a slight glance before her eyes turned back to the front.

"Only when it gets me out of school. It's too cold. I don't mind the wet, but freezing is a different story."

"Understood. I'm just thankful that the roads aren't that bad. I'm always scared to drive in horrid conditions." She said, before muttering, "especially in this truck."

"I'm sure you're a fine driver, even in the snow." I was trying to make sure she was comfortable. At the moment I told myself it was because I didn't want someone nervous driving me. I can't quite convince myself of that now.

"You can pick a CD if you want, or you can have the aux cord. As long as its not trap music," she frowned slightly at the idea of listening to that genre.

"You don't like trap?" I asked as I pulled the box of albums onto my lap. As I looked through them it seemed like that was the only genre she didn't listen to.

"It's cool if you listen to it, it's just not for me. Maybe it's because I was forced to listen to it at six in the morning every day through my middle school years. The kids on my bus used to blare it." She gave a small laugh at the memory.

"I can see how that could get annoying. Guess they needed to invest in a pair of headphones...." I stared at the beauty for a minute. She had her. She had Dinah Washington. It wasn't the first artist or album I was surprised by, but it was the queen. "This one. Definitely this one," I whispered to myself as I took out the CD that was already in and inserted the new disk.

She filled the cab of the truck. The mellow sorrow of her voice. The swing of it. Dinah Washington was a good vibe for a morning drive, or a late night dance. It was perfect.

"Fantastic choice. I was hoping for her or Ben Howard." A smile spread across Bexley's face. She loved it to. "The queen herself."

"The queen herself," I said in agreement.

We stayed silent for the rest of the ride. It was comfortable. We let Dinah's voice move between us.

*****

"And now we have to deal with these hooligans," Bexley muttered as we pulled into the parking lot. There were a group of guys hanging next to one of their cars. They were laughing and pushing each other around. A couple were full out wrestling. "I will never understand the male Jock's mind."

"Me neither." It was true. I didn't get the wrestling. What did you get out of fighting, other than bruises and scars?

"What's the point? You both end up hurt or someone gets upset." As we walked passed they hooted at her. She rolled her eyes. "You know you'll never get me!" She shouted at them. "Even if you did want me," she whispered.