Rue's Mad World

Chapter 9

It had all began with an "I like your shirt."

I looked down trying to remember what shirt I had flung on that day. I had mastered the art of caring yet not really caring at all. Thus meaning that I always looked presentable but I didn't really care enough as to remember what I had even put on before I left the house. One quick mirror check and if my reflection didn't produce a cringe then I was good to go.

"It's nice. I like David Bowie"

I was so focused on my shirt that I completely forgot to answer. My mom's old Bowie concert tee from 87. All soft and worn. It always made me look edgy.

"Thanks. I like it too." I said as I turned back to my math home work. A Short and sweet answer. May be considered boarder line rude, may be considered not. Anything to remain in my stride of study. I was not about to fail this years midterm to chat.

The voice cleared it's throat "I'm Elliot." it continued, this time more eager than before. His voice prompted me to look at him. So I did.

The first mistake

...............................................................

History repeats itself they say.

I hated the thought of whatever was happening with Ash developing into something else. Logic had a very neat and clean direction for my life and I wanted to keep it that way.

It had been weird having Ash drive me home. I had had fun at first. We had ended up talking about family in the beginning which ALWAYS kept me engaged. I loved my family more than anything. I loved my parents. As an only child you have to. He talked about how he was really close to his younger sister. I pretended that I didn't know her name even though I had totally remembered it from my Wikipedia stalking sesh.

Elle

Apparently I would just love Elle. Because "no human in the world" could ever hate his sister. According to him she was smart and beautiful and had the artistic genius of Frida Kahlo. You would think he was her personal hype man or a parent who screamed a little too loudly at their child's little league game-- he thought she was the best. He told me that we should all hang out sometime. I'd so far counted three times since our short meeting saying that we should spend time together. At the pet shop, with his sister and for Buble-- and Buble hadn't even happened yet. Eagerton Valentine was more like it.

"She's 18, ya know? She's still has the world ahead of her." he smiled, his eyes with a far away look. Cars whizzed by, as we drove past pretty cobblestone houses nearing my neighborhood.

"I'm 18" I confessed quickly. I didn't look at him. I stared straight, suddenly embarrassed about my age. I tried to remember what year Wikipedia said he was born.

Dear God he can't be that much older than me? What if he's like 25? Am I driving around with a 25 year old guy?! I wonder if he does his own taxes.......

He turned to me, then quickly turned his head back to the road. "Good."

"Whats that supposed to mean?!" I challenged, a little too quickly. I tried to keep my cool, but something told me we were about to have a disagreement.

"I don't know. 17 is too young and 19 seems a pretentious age"

I scowled. "Pretentious!? Who the heck even are you? Father time?! How old even are you?!"

Ash laughed "I'm 20". I knew he enjoyed teasing me.

"20? You're 20? That's it?" Now I was slightly annoyed.

"Yep. "

"Well," I started, ready to give him the lecture of his life " I think 20 is a pretentious age to be." I crossed my arms. "No longer a teen, but also barely scrapping the barrels of adulthood. If you weren't off being a rockstar you'd probably still be VERY dependent on your parents, who'd probably be paying your way through school, or at least helping. But then you'd be constantly talking with your friends about just rough being independent is and how you feel so old because you have to pay your phone bill now. All the responsibilities of an adult with all the responsibilities of a child. Pretentious? Yes I think so"