This Side Of Paradise

'-_three_-'

It's day two of winter break and the first thing I do is check my new social media account I made last night. It's this app that is made in Canada but apparently, a lot of people around here have an account. It shows me users and how close they are to me and when you walk by or get closer than 5ft to them my phone will beep and I will get a notification. It tells me all their information they put on the site, but that's not what I'm looking for. I don't want to walk around the small jointed stores around here aka "the mall" and have my phone go off and have to shout aloud, 'Which one of you is Michael that likes to eat green beans and favorite color is blue?' I just want to see who's nearby that's around my age and possibly goes to my school, or not, and we if can chat.

I scroll through the profiles and who has followed me so far. I have a picture of me at a concert with my old best friend as my profile picture. I actually look really good, my massive curly hair was tamed by putting it in two large braids that stopped right where my high waisted pants are buttons up at. It was a super cute picture but I ended up cropping my friend out of the picture because she looks a lot better than me, very grudge and mature while I look like the 15 year old I was. I filled in the basic information about myself: 5 foot 2 inches, 122 lbs, likes indie music and certain rock bands, obsessed with movies and hot tea with milk in a mug. I don't like snakes or uncleanliness. I also added that i just recently moved to Mattsville and am new to the high school.

I got several friend requests some from older guys, one from a really crazy looking lady in her mid 20's asking for some money and where to meet her, and some kids from my school who followed me. I have a few messages too. One though caught my eye, but he didn't request to follow me just a simple message.

I scrolled through his profile and was found an amazingly attractive boy. His dark hair was lightly tousled and spiked with some gel and his eyes were a captivating golden brown. He looked about my age, probably 2 years older at most. He was muscular but lean. A beautiful big smile that looked so friendly, heart warming almost. He had caramel skin that you would only get from being out in the sun somewhere in the tropics for a long time, it was beautifully exotic. All of his pictures he had that same smile, so drawing and wonderful.

I kept scrolling through his pictures mesmerized, till I find one that i just don't like. It's him holding this girl, she's practically limp in his arms and he's kissing her and every kiss it seems she has melted into a puddle. Her hair cascaded down her back and that's when I notice that she's practically naked and he's shirtless. I felt bad looking at this intimate moment, but I envied her so much. I wanted to just take her out and put myself in that place. I felt hurt that it wasn't me and I was almost envious, jealous. He was mine, even if all I have from him at the moment is a single message that I haven't even opened yet.

Oh god! The message! I tap on my messaging tab on my phone and see that he sent it 4 hours ago, so late in the night. I stare at it and the red dot next to it stares right back at me. 

Should I reply now? Maybe wait a little while longer. If i did that I would seem like I didn't care. Everyone texts back at least within a few hours. Right? So at that moment, I press the message and my was beating too fast as I look at my screen and sigh.

Aidan_Fox24: Hey.

I can't believe I got all worked up for just that. Just a simple hey. I acted like a boy crazed teen. I wanted to gouge out my eyes. I don't even know this boy, his profile had so little besides his height, which is 6'1, weight and that he likes being outside. Other than that I don't know anything about him, so I turn on the 'tracking' button. Turns out he's about 22 miles away from me. Not too far, but far enough that I wouldn't want to talk that distance. I breathe, and start typing my message.

Jemstone00: Hey. watcha up to?

I am about to close out of the app after scrolling through a few other profiles and follow a couple of people I think I recognize from my school. When my phone chimes and a message appears in my notifications.

Aidan_Fox24: Nm, hbu? wya?

I think for a second. I didn't think he would text back so soon. It makes me nervous, yet my stomach flutters and I want to answer so quickly I don't think before I answer.

Jemstone00: Nothing interesting. I moved to Mattsville and aren't you like 22 miles away from me. So you are in Mattsville too? right?

Before I can regret sending that text, I get a reply. I blush from having said too much. 

Aidan_Fox24: Haha, so you tracked me? ;) stalker.

Jemstone00: I mean, yeah. :) why wouldn't I. Isn't that the point of this app?

Aidan_Fox24: Of course. :)

We talk and talk until my dad knocks on my door to ask me if I want lunch. 

Lunch???

I just woke up a few minutes ago. I look at my phone and see that it's a little past noon and my phones about to die.

The rest of the day was spent texting Aidan and learning more about him. I craved talking to him and learning different things about him. I know that he likes to travel and plays football, that his parents are divorced and he has a little sister. I wanted to know him and I felt like I knew him. I told him everything, my old school, my interests, and more. By the end of the day, he called me Bae, which made me glisten and heat up on the inside. It was my secret guilty pleasure. 

I was so busy that I didn't notice I got a text from James, several hours ago. I got two messages, both made me cringe.

James: Hey. are you okay? Im sorry, want to hang out. We can get a coffee or rent a movie?

Are you there? :(

I don't know if I felt sorry or bad, but I felt something in my stomach ache and I wanted to text him back, but at the same time, I think he deserves to feel how he does right now. So, I don't text him back. I let him sit there and continue to text Aidan.