\\Connor//

Stopping By

Being at home with my mom is boring. Big surprise. I was making cookies. I didn't have all the ingredients so they tasted a little funky, but they were still good.

The doorbell rings as I chomp on another cookie and watch a TV show about 4 lifelong friends who compete to embarrass each other. My mom picks herself up off the couch.

"I'll get it," she says. I nod and continue with my thoughts for another half-second before my mom calls my name and tells me my friend is here. I wasn't expecting company until my birthday the next year.

"Hey," I hear from the door, and as I turn the corner I bask in the presence of Connor Sampson. I sigh. An audible groan leaves my throat and hits his ears. I know he hears it because he laughs and says, "Good to see you too."

"What do you want, Sampson?" I ask irritably. He shrugs and hold up a book.

"I think you left this at school, and I figured you'd need it for the Algebra homework Donnelly assigned us."

I look at it and shake my head, "Nope. I brought mine home, sorry." He nods at me with an assured smile.

"I know. This is my book, I just wanted to come over and see you." I groan again.

"Why do you do that?" I ask demand. "I know you're messing with me."

He shakes his head. "Nope. I really wanted to see you today. You were staring at me. I was staring at you. It was more than obvious to half the class. I wanted to stop by and see if you wanted to hang out." He pulled his bottom lip into his mouth.

He wanted me to hang out with him. I wondered how he didn't think that would be awkward. I was up for the challenge though. The fury he sparked in me also sparked determination.

"Sure. Where?"

"The beach. There's a really cool cave there hidden away, if you like caves, that is."

"I do. Let me just tell my mo-," I was cut off.

"Have fun, baby!" My mom hollered from the kitchen. "Young boy, would you like to come back for dinner?"

"I would love to! Thank you!" Connor shouted back. My jaw hung open, and my eye twitched. They couldn't be serious.

"She only did that because you're cute," I confessed.

"Oh. So, you think I'm cute," he said confidently. I stuttered and stuttered. I couldn't gather thoughts. "It's okay. You think I'm cute and that's okay. I'm fine with it."

-

We get to the beach, and without hesitating, Connor grabs my wrist and pulls me to the cave. He looked like he lived there like a hermit. He goaded me to join him, and after contemplation, I did. Of course, with my luck, I ended up with about a thousand grains of sand in my shoes. He promised me he'd take them out for me.

"The view of the water is amazing, isn't it?" He asked laying his chin on his knees. "This is my happy place."

"I'm learning so much about you," I said in a sarcastic tone. "Please, do tell me more about you."

"Well," he replied, "I like you, my middle name is Wayne, my mother is my best friend, and your friends harrass me on a regular basis when you aren't around."

"What? What are you talking about?" I asked shocked at every word that came out of his mouth.

"Yeah. I know. It's crazy," he said. "My full name is Connor Wayne Sampson." I laughed. What a sarcastic ass.

"Fascinating. That's such a lovely name."

"Thank you. I chose it myself." I laughed again. He was funny. I guess he was funny.

"So," I started, "You like me." He nodded.

"A lot. I like you a lot. You're very pretty, and you're the smartest kid in the class."

I blushed. I couldn't tell what he was trying to do anymore. If he was being serious, I couldn't tell. If he was being an ass, I couldn't tell. He was just being nice, and that made me nervous. I didn't want to lead him on, but I also didn't want him to think I need to date someone to be happy. I'm perfectly fine right now, not dating anyone. I'm my own person.

"Thanks, I try really hard to be."

"I have a question," he started. I nod at him. "Why do you hang out with those girls that you do?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Well, I don't have many friends at all. I prefer to hang solo, but they're alright, I guess. I don't really even know their names, though."

"I do," he said. "I know all of them."

"Why did you say they harrass you? Why would they?" I ask curiously picking at my nails. I didn't want to strike a nerve with him, but he wouldn't have brought it up if it wasn't okay to ask about.

"You don't know about me, do you?" he answered with a question. "That's amazing. Well, I don't want to tell you now. Okay? I don't want to scare you away just yet, I'll be honest. So let's just say that they found me somewhere I shouldn't have been, and they've tried to hurt me ever since." He sighed. "I know I should stand up for myself, but even girls can be vicious to guys like me."

"Come on!" I moan. It echoes through the cave and out to the water. "You can't just leave me hanging like that, Connor."

His eyes widened. "Oh! So I've graduated from 'Sampson' to 'Connor?' Are we on a first name basis now, Dakota?"

I laughed sarcastically. "Fine. Connor. Fine. It's time for dinner though. My mom sets things up at 7 PM."

"Let's go then," he said lifting himself from the ground. He held out his hand for me, and I graciously took it. His hands where soft. "I'm sorry, by the way. I promise to tell you the whole story later. I just have a huge crush on you, and I don't want to scare you away."