The Start Of A Good Thing (Book 1)

Chapter 15

Thirty minutes later, India stood in the food stand line. Her talk with James went surprisingly well. He was still trying to get back with her, but he came to her at different angle. It wasn’t like before where he used his charm and good looks; he seemed a lot more emotional this time. Still, despite the impact his words had on her, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to get back with him.

            India sighed as she reached the cashier at the food stand. He looked overly happy for someone with a job like his.  “Hey, can I get a hot dog and a sprite?” India ordered.

            The guy whipped up a hotdog faster than she could say ‘thank you’. “Want any mustard on that?” He asked, hand on the condiments.

            “No thank you,” India replied, shaking her head.

            “You really gon’ drop a dollar on a hot dog?” a voice spoke beside her. India looked to her right and saw Trevor standing next to her. A warm sensation went up her spine.

            “Yes, I am,” she smiled. Trevor shook his head and slid a five-dollar bill on the counter of the food stand.

            “I got you,” he said, moving in front of her.

            “Aww, you don’t have to…”

            “If I got you, I got you,” Trevor interrupted. India was surprised to see him here, let alone him paying for her meal.

            “Okay, big balla’,” She joked. Trevor received his change from the cashier and handed India her food.

            “Thanks,” she said, taking a sip from her sprite. The two walked to the side of the stand. “I didn’t think you were coming.”

            “Yea well, you thought wrong,” Trevor replied. He looked around the crowded area, still wondering why this many people were here. “I aint gon lie though, I aint think it be this packed.”

            “Me either, I was ‘really’ nervous up there,” India agreed.

            He glanced around some more, seeming a little paranoid. “Oh yea? I couldn’t tell,” India noticed his constant checking of the surroundings.

            “You okay?” She asked, concerned.

            Trevor’s eyes stopped wondering, and he looked at India. “Yea, I’m good . . . I just don’t like crowds.”

            “You wanna go somewhere else? I can show you around the Lake if you want?” India offered.

            “Sure,” he shrugged, ready to get away from the swarm of people surrounding him. India motioned for Trevor to follow her, leading him out of the talent show.

            “So… how’d you like the show so far?” She asked.

            “To be honest, you was the only act I seen,” Trevor truthfully answered. “And I aint know you could move like that.” India grinned.

            “Thanks, I’ve been dancing my whole life,” she said. “Or at least since I was four.”

            “I can believe it,” Trevor agreed. India stopped walking and pointed to a spot in front of them.

            “You see that? That’s where I first learned to swim. My parents use to take me here a lot when I was little,” she exclaimed. She showed Trevor another portion of the lake. “Over there is the boat rental, you can rent a canoe, or one of those little paddle boats.”

            “ ‘Wow’,” Trevor remarked, not really impressed. “People actually waste money on that?” India playfully slapped his arm.

            “It’s not a waste, it’s fun,” she said.
            “Sounds like a real blast,”

            India ignored his sarcastic comment and took him by the arm. “Com’ on, I wanna show you my favorite spot!” She rushed to a path in the woods, dragging Trevor with her. His face and body language told her he wasn’t interested, but that wasn’t true. He trailed behind India holding his pants up. When she finally stopped they were on top of a hill that looked over the entire lake and city.

            “Isn’t it beautiful?” She asked, mainly speaking to herself.

            “Yea,” Trevor said, but wasn’t really feeling his answer. He didn’t have a taste for things like this.

            “My grandma showed it to me. We use to come here all the time,” she added, sounding emotional. “It’s been years since I been here though, I kinda forgot about it; until tonight.”

            “But I thought it been yo favorite spot?” Trevor asked. India lowered her head, staring at the ground.

            “It is… it’s just.” She paused, lifting her head back up. “Ever since my grandma died, I kinda . . . stopped coming here, to this spot at least. It brings back memories, memories I don’t always like to think about.” India sat down on the grass, sadness in her eyes. Trevor saw her, wanting to say something. He knew nothing about empathy, but couldn’t let India sit there without attempting to comfort her.

            “I know the feeling,” he said, taking a seat next to her. “I don’t really know my grandma like that, we don’t exactly get along. But I use to live my great grandma, we called her Anne.” Trevor cracked open a door to a past he’s long since locked away. “My mom died when me and my sis was born, and my grandma aint want nothin’ to do with us, so Anne took us in. She’s the one who taught me almost everything I know, besides Heavy . . . ,” India listened to Trevor talk, not saying a word. Although what he said itself wasn’t comforting, the fact that he’s telling it to her was what meant the most. “When she died, it hurt me to my heart. Until I remembered what she told me, a long time ago. ‘Death on this earth, is only the beginning of life’. “ Trevor paused, thinking about the phrase he just told India. “I guess what I’m trynna’ say is, yo grandma aint really dead, she’s just not with you right now.”

            India batted her watery eyes, trying to dry them. “You know, the funny thing is, my grandma use to say the same thing. I just didn’t believe it . . . Not until now.” She looked at Trevor, making eye contact. Something about him seemed different, his eyes weren’t filled with his usual doom and gloom; they shinned with life. Before India could say another word, her phone went off. It was her best friend, Robin. “Hello?” India answered.

            “Girl where you at?” Robin asked. “Brittney ready to go… shoot, we all ready to go.”

            India sighed, staring at ground. “Okay, I’m coming,” she hung up her cell phone and looked at Trevor.

            “I gotta go, my ride’s bout to leave,” she said.

            “Ight,” Trevor nodded, still sitting down.

            “Bye Pyro, I’ll see you on Monday,” India waved, walking away.

            “Aye!” Trevor called out, stopping her in her tracks. “My names Trevor…”

            India smiled, glancing back at him. “Okay . . . Bye, Trevor.”