The splash of my boots into the puddles of sweet smelling rain sounded distinctly different from that of the converse that walked behind me, suddenly beside me with one huge stride. He smiled at me and I could hardly return it, mesmerized by the glow he emitted once we passed under the street lights – much like the strange illuminated shimmer of the wet sidewalks that reflected the same light. It was as if you could jump right into the cement, it was there beckoning me, calling my name and sparkling differently with each step that I took.
The pattering of the huge drops that gathered on the tree leaves finally colliding against the ground was competed with by the faint droning coming from Andrew’s ear buds. I grabbed the one that hung, hitting lightly against his chest as he walked along side me, and he hardly skipped a beat as I did so. I adjusted it in my ear, and found myself almost holding my breath as the music filled my ears. I couldn’t exactly tell what was going on before he hurriedly grabbed his Ipod.
“Here, let me find you a good song,” he said, casually shattering the comfortable silence that hung in the air – the odd but splendid calm after the storm that lingered on these chilly summer nights. I couldn’t remember the last time it had rained, but I was thankful for this. The strange choppiness of the music as he tentatively skipped songs made my stomach uneasy, and made me think of the weird silence of my house – not pleasant, like this, but strange. I knew I shouldn’t have left, but there was something about how my summer had been. Staying inside, playing it safe, convincing myself that simply enduring high school was enough – that I could simply wait it out, and as long as I survived until I could make something out of myself, I was good. But the time had come. Honestly, it was now or never. I was done putting this off. Fear had kept me restrained for far too long, I thought as I could feel my nerves and courage battling each other as I indecisively glanced back time and time again.
He finally decided on a song, and though at first it was strange it definitely had a good rhythm. Different, but that usually meant good – at least when it came to Andrew. I could still clearly remember how skeptical I had been about him when we first met – I couldn’t count the number of times he’d proven my assumptions wrong, or proven me wrong in general. I’d never admit it to him or anyone else, but I could have sworn he knew me better than I knew myself at times. This both scared and intrigued me. He began singing along with the song, looking so soulful as the words spilled out of his mouth, they hung in the air along with the calm, and for the first time in a long while my smile just came naturally – no force, and I welcomed it.
“What are you laughing at, Jacobs?” He questioned playfully, straightening his posture and glaring haughtily at me. I laughed, pushing his arm as he did so. He quickened his pace slightly, quickly fidgeting to get his keys into the lock. As I perused his van and made my way to the other side, I couldn’t help but be slightly offended that he didn’t even offer to open my door. I brushed it off though - I didn’t expect chivalry tonight, nor was it my reason for leaving. This wasn’t about Andrew.
Soon, though, as I swung open the door, it was clear to me why he was in a rush to get in. The seats were occupied with empty coffee mugs, clanking together as he threw them in the back carelessly. I skeptically gazed around the not filthy, but obviously not entirely in tip top shape interior – I knew his parents had money, so I couldn’t help but wonder why he dressed the way he dressed (by now, his feet had to be soaking wet from the puddles we ventured through, and even in the cold odd hours of the night he was dressed in his usual skinny jeans and tight fitted tee) and why both his heater and air conditioner were broken (not that he needed to point that out, as the wiring was spilling out of the car itself and almost onto my lap). Never the less it was cozy, and though I half expected it to reek of booze, it just smelled of fresh linen and slightly of coffee.
