{Chapter 5}
On Friday I reluctantly pulled myself out of bed and got ready for the day. I showered and slid into some comfortable clothes. I put on some makeup so I didn't look like TOTAL crap. My mom greeted me at the bottom of the stairs.
My mother is a very strict and organized woman. She had a set of house rules of which I was to follow. Me being the person I am, broke all the rules so frequently that she just stopped caring and took it down. Everything has to be organized with her. My chores list is posted on my bulletin board along with my daily routine and school schedule. We never talk because she's always uptight about everything. It's always about HER. HER hopes for me and HER expectations. HER opinions on what to say, what to do. She never listens to what I would like to say for once. It's just terrible . It's days like this I wish I had a regular, normal mom to talk to. One I could tell about My problems and how my day was like or even what the weather was outside.
We exchanged an awkward head nod and I received a cold, unfriendly "Good Morning Grace", in return.
"Morning mom." I replied void of emotion. I hurried down the stairs before she could say anymore. To late, she followed.
"I have a meeting today with some colleges to discuss our marketing problems. I'll be late, don't wait up." She said plaintively, no I'm Sorry-I'm-Leaving-You-Alone-Again-For-The-5th-Time-This-Week tone to her voice.
"I never do." I retorted under my breath.
"What was that you said?" She questioned, not looking up from the mountains of papers she was examining.
"Oh, nothing. Nothing... I'm tutoring a friend from school. Mrs. Klinez asked me to for extra credit. I thought I might as well. He'll be here s-"
"He?" She said, cutting me off mid-sentence, something I had grown accustomed to though it still annoyed me.
"Yes mother it's a he. Grace can TALK to boys at least. It's not like he's a bomb or something." I replied, my words practically dripping with sarcasm.
"Don't talk back to me Grace, I am your mother and I make the rules, you follow them, no matter what you think about them. I have to leave now but I will be home later. Goodbye!" She shouted the last word over her shoulder. Then walked out the door, leaving without giving me any sort of goodbye hug. Not that I wanted one.
I watched the clock like I was a wolf and it was my prey, but time just dragged on and on and on. I watched Netflix. I ate. I stretched. I was so bored I was happy to do anything when Ashur showed up at my doorstep, 2 hours after he said he would.
"Hi," he mumbled,
"Hi."
"..."
"Wanna come in?" I said, trying to break the tension.
"Sure." he replied, making sure to walk in carefully so he wouldn't push past me.
That's weird I thought. He was being so rude yesterday.
"Um," he opened his mouth as if to speak, scratched the back of his head, then closed his mouth again. We stood there in silence for a spell before he spoke again.
"Grace, sorry for being such a dick yesterday, I get really rude a lot without meaning to. Sometimes it just... comes out of me if you understand what I'm trying to say." He motioned down toward his outfit.
Still all black, still all tight, except his suspenders and gloves had disappeared, along with the long sleeves. In place of the shirt was a black v neck, exposing skin surprisingly tan for a guy that kept his arms covered up most of the time, and wore a gray and black beanie on his head. it looked very... Casual.
"It's just that I'm so angry at my parents because of the move and that combined with, well, THIS," he motioned to his outfit once again, "But my anger got the better of me. I didn't mean to take it out on you, I'm sorry."
After finishing his apology he looked down at his scuffed up cargo boots and made this kind of face for just a fraction of a second. He pulled his lips over to one side and raised his eyebrows just the slightest bit, shoving his hands in his pockets. It looked... apologetic? Yes, he defiantly was sorry but there was something else. was that really? It was. In that one fraction of a second, he was vulnerable. That look in his eyes was unmistakable. I could see just a slight bit of his emotion. And I loved it.
"It's fine Ashur. I get that the move here was probably hard, leaving friends and stuff-," at this he coughed slightly and said,
"Yeah, if I'd had any," under his breath.
"You never had a friend?" I exclaimed, bewildered.
"Nope. It's not easy to make friends when you're so...different," he paused and scratched his head again,"your actually the only person who's every really been nice to me. Anyone around my age, anyway. I'm not used to people being nice to me." That vulnerable look crossed his face again. I must be on the right track. Wait, what am I thinking? I don't want to hurt him. Am I really this desperate to find out why I can't understand him, read him? I shook off the thought of my cruel intensions. In no way did I want to hurt him. I didn't want to hurt him more than he already was. I looked up at his face until he met my gaze.
"Well, now you do." I grabbed his arm and pulled him into the living room where I had laid out my books. We sat amongst the stack of books and as I reached over to the coffee table to grab my pencil, I swear I saw the hint of a smile play across his face.
