Curious Georgia |✔

•18 - Curiously Suffering•

  The movie is silent. The living room disappears. Now it's just me and his eyes. They're staring at me, asking me to repeat it. I think I love you. What do I say to that?

  "Are you sure?" he asks. Am I sure?

  I think so.

  I nod. "Yeah, I love you." Just me and his eyes. That's it.

  "Georgia, why can't you give me a chance?" he asks, and we're back in his livingroom. His eyes are still prominent to all of the other intricate details around us though. But he didn't say it back.

  "Danny–"

  "You don't like him like that," he chides me, as if he was my mother. And it's true. Danny's only pretty to me. I'm sure another person can find some substance to hold onto when they fall in love with him.

  His hands find mine. "Please, Monkey."

  I lift both of Adam's hands to my lips and kiss them. And I nod. And now it's just his arms, his eyes, and me again. And Part of Your World (we can't forget the perfect musical accompaniment).

  "I love you, too," he whispers.

*~*~*~*

  It's nearly seven in the evening when Adam finally drops me off at home. "If you want me to stay with you a little longer, I can," he says.

  I think that's one of the best ideas in the history of best ideas, but he's been with me all day already. "It's fine," I say. "I love you. See you tomorrow." I really don't want him to go. If only he'd just insist to stay: the issues of being a girl.

  His entire being brightens, and he backs away slowly down my yard with an "I love you" hidden in his smile.

  Swoon.

  I sway in euphoria up the stairs and into my bedroom. My heart is still beating hard, and Adam's not even here anymore. He's in his car, probably more than halfway to his home by now. But there's a sudden knock on the door. Oh God, is it him? Did he read my mind after all?

  I sprint down my stairs and compose myself at the door and open it to a smiling Danny. "Hey, G."

  "Um, hi," I say. Why now? "What are you doing here?"

  "You weren't at school today. Bella said it had something to do with your face." He looks at me now, he actually stops and observes. "Ouch. Ha, wow. That's bad."

  "Yeah. I know." I almost roll my eyes.

  ...I have to tell Danny.

  "It's fine. Bruises are hot." He steps forward, and I move the door for him to come inside. Why did I do that? "I have the work you missed." He pulls a few papers out of his backpack and hands it to me.

  "Thanks, Danny." He sits down on my couch and waits for me to follow suit, which I don't do. "Look, it's not really a good time. I'm kinda tired."

  He smiles at me a little more. "Aw, but I'm just so eager to read this new book with you. Where the Red Fern Grows. Won't you read this depressing book with me?" he says sarcastically, and I almost laugh. But a smile makes its way on my face, just a smile.

  "I'd love to. Maybe tomorrow, though. I need sleep."

  He stands from off the couch and towers over me, looking down on me. His hands snake onto my waist.