He Told Me To Walk This Way

No Surprise

I couldn't figure out why Angela was acting the way she was. It was something I'd never seen from her before: jealousy. My mom ran out of the room to try and find Angela. A moment later Joe stepped toward Steven and patted his shoulder, "I'll be back." He said, just before he followed my mom in pursuit of Angela.

Before Joe or my mom found Angela I knew that I had to talk to her. This was obviously between her and me. She was having a problem with me and we needed to work it out, jus the two of us. I apologized to Steven and told him I had to find Angela. He seemed to understand because he didn't argue with me or ask me to stay. I ran out the front door and instantly saw Angela's car parked out front, with her in it. A gentle rain was pouring down, making the situation all the more soap-opera-ish and arbitrary. I pounded on the driver's side window. She rolled it down abruptly. "The fuck do you want?"

I looked at her, stunned. "Will you just tell me why you're so mad at me?" I said, brushing a raindrop from my face.

"Fuck off, Ginger." She said, putting the car in gear.

"Wait." I said, reaching for the door handle. It was locked. I watched as Angela stretched over the console and lifted the lock on the passenger door.

"Get in." She said. "It's raining. You'll catch a cold, you idiot."

I walked to the other door and got in. "Now, will you like to enlighten me as to why the fuck you've taken it upon yourself to try and ruin my birthday? Of all days to start a fight, Angela." I said.

She sighed and rolled her window down again, which she had closed when she unlocked the passenger door. She lit a cigarette. "I didn't know you smoked." I commented.

"Since that night at the Boiler Room."

"Oh." I said.

"So, what do you want to know?" She asked.

"I just wanna know why you're mad at me." My mom opened the front door of my house and, when she saw me inside the car with Angela, closed the door.

"Okay, fine." The tip of her cigarette glowed red as she sucked in the nicotine. "You're in fucking love. And I never will be. No guy I ever hang out with takes me seriously. You never go on dates, and the first guy you find asks you to marry him. That'd be funny if it wasn't so god damn sad."

"Well I can't just say, 'Hey, Steven. Angela's mad that you love me so, fuck you.' Okay? I love him, too."

"That's real sweet." Angela said in a mocking tone.

"Look, I don't know why Steven loves me. He could have any girl he wants, and he chose me. I don't know why. But I'm sure as hell not gonna ask why. I'm takin' the ball and runnin' this time."

"But why can't someone feel that way about me?" Angela said, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"You can't give a guy what he wants right away. You have to make him wait and really want it, I guess."

"Are you calling me a whore?"

I laughed. "No, I'm not calling you a whore. Look, I think Joe likes you."

"Really?" She asked, her eyes rimmed red from crying. "What makes you think so?"

I smiled. "When you ran out of the house, he was going to come out and talk to you. He seemed, I don't know, concerned, maybe?"

She looked up. "Wow. I like him, Ginger. If he likes me, that'd be perfect. Should I go up to him? Do you think I should say something to him? Or no-maybe I should let him come to me." She was smiling now, and seemed genuinely happier.