Something different

Chapter 3

We kept walking in the woods for about 20 or so minutes and spoke of nothing. I'd try to start up a simple conversation like "nice weather we're having, huh?" Or "thanks for saving my ass by the way," but I'd never get more than an eye roll from her. She either looked down or straight ahead. Destination and where she was. Distance and mode of transportation. She studied the path and the trees. Everything else was irrelevant. I quickly noticed that she didn't just look at something or glance she'd observe or glare. And if the eyes were a window to the soul then I'm doomed. I can't decided if I'm okay with that or not.

She stopped right in front of me once we reached the end of the woods.

In front of us was the huge, flat backyard of a dated, one story house that I assume was Hadley Evans'. If it wasn't then we were trespassing; keeping that in mind I prepared myself to run at a moments notice.

"You know you really should stop stopping right in front of me without warning."

She turned around and scowled. "You can go now."

"What?"

"I'm home...You can go."

"Oh yeah, right of course I'll just-"

"HADSSSSSSS!!!" A young voice rang along with a slamming door. Running out the back door was a small black boy around 5 or 6 years old.

"Shit," Hadley Evans mumbled. "Heyyy, Charlie." She said with a nervous tang in her voice. That's the most emotion she's ever spoken with in the 6 months we've had class together.

Charlie reached us and hugged Hadley Evans legs, his head only at her waist.

He looked up at her with big dark brown eyes as if she were the moon. The kid smiled at just her. He had a gap between his two front teeth but the rest looked perfectly aligned and pearly white.

"Hey kiddo, how about you go inside before-"

"Hadley Elizabeth! Why the H-E- double hockey stick are you so late?!" A booming voice called out.

I looked up to see a short chubby African- American woman in an apron. One of her hands were on her hip and the other was carrying a wooden spoon, the door was wide open behind her.

"Damn it!" Hadley Evans said under her breath.

Charlie let out a small giggle and I, being very confused, stood there. Yep definitely should start running.

"I told you to be home early to help with dinner!" She hollered as she started to walk over to us. Coming out behind the woman were two, obviously caffeinated, red headed boys racing toward Hadley Evans. One carried a green rubber dodge ball while the other one held a ribbon stick.

When they stopped in front of us I noticed that they were identical twins. Same pale freckled faces, same messy, red hair and eyes the color of grass. They seemed to be about 9.

They looked at me then to Hadley Evans then back at me then back at Hadley Evans. Both smirked at her and the one with the ribbon stick cooed: "is he your boyyyyyfriend?"

"What?! Me and Hadley Evans?! No...no... nooooo..." I nervously laughed bouncing on the balls of my feet ready to flee.

"What have I told you about being late?" the woman said finally reaching us. "Who's this?"

"No one," Hadley Evans said quickly.

"Is he a friend?"

"Mom please, you know I don't do "friends,"

I looked back and forth between the two, lost for words.

"Then why is this young boy at my house?"

"He-

"Hi, I'm Hadley's mom, call me Molly. And you are?"

"Her boyyyyyfriend" the twins sang

"Jase! Thompson! Shut the hell up before I-" Hadley Evans warned.

"Hadley! Language! Not in front of Charlie! And do not threaten your brothers! You're lucky I don't start whipping your skinny a-s-s with this spoon,"

"Mom, I'm pretty sure Charlie can spell,"

"No more sass from you. Now boys get inside and help your father with dinner before he burns the house down." With that, Charlie let go of Hadley Evans and ran back inside.

The twins, however, gave me a mischievous smirk. I hesitantly smiled back when the one with the dodge ball said quickly: "think fast!" Launching the ball right at my... Manly parts.

I hunched down holding them and fell to the ground on my side, moaning in pain. "Holy... Ow.. Ahhh...Pain... So much pain," I said in a whispery cry, slightly rolling back and forth in the fetal position.

When they were long gone I scowled and got up, holding in a cry, trying not to act like a totally wimp.

Molly muttered: "those boys gonna run me to my grave." She looked at me, analyzing my every twitch and fidget. "Well where are your manners boy? Introduce yourself."

"Oh yeah! Right! Um... I'm Nathan Lewis. Pleasure to meet you," I stammered shaking her hand maybe a little too harshly.

"Pleasure to meet me? Ooh Hadley I think I like this one. Will you be staying for dinner?"

"No!" Hadley Evans and I said in unison.

Molly looked us over, eyebrows raised.

"I really should be getting home. I was just dropping Hadley Evans off. Um... See you," I said, turning to leave.

"Let me tell you something here Nathan. You walked my daughter home. You came into my backyard. You're staying for dinner." Molly commanded.

I just stared at her wide eye for a while. Never in my entire life have I felt so inclined  to do something. "Uh well then I guess that settles it," I sputter.

"Good," Molly  nodded and headed back inside.

"I'm about to have dinner at Hadley Evans house," I whisper to myself.

"Why do you keep calling me by my full name?" Hadley Evans said

"Huh? Oh I... Well I guess...I don't really know the answer to that."

"Well you can stop. It's just 'Hadley,'"

"Right."

Hadley.

Hadley. Hadley. Hadley.

But it's not "just Hadley." She's not "just Hadley." And I can't put my finger on why but I hate how she said "just Hadley." there's something too her that isn't "just" anything. I don't think she realizes it but nothing I've seen today is anywhere close to "just." Whether she knows it or not, I can tell she's... She's something different. I just don't know what that something is.

I heard a door shut when I realized she left while I was lost in thought. I looked up and saw the one story house full of whos whats whens wheres and whys. Maybe it was the writer with in me or the fact that I was starving but all I want is to be in that house.

I rushed to get back to her.

(Hey, thanks for reading, I hope you liked it. Sorry if I made any mistakes. Leave comments and suggestions below!)