We're Still Nerds

21~ Choices

        Shaun was the best I-don't-know-what that a girl could ever ask for. 

        For one thing, despite our rather enjoyable and not regrettable make out session in Reagan's bathroom three weeks before, Shaun did not try to show anything other than friendly affection. Also, He neither confirmed nor denied whether we were dating to those who asked. They gave us knowing looks, but stopped asking any other questions. And most of all, he didn't act any different towards me. 

            For example: on Saturday night he came over and we watched the first two Harry Potter movies with Pete. My feet kicked up in his lap and Peter sitting on my own, we commented easily on the movie with our usual banter. On Sunday, we met Reagan, Ron, and Bruce at the ice cream parlor, despite the cold weather, and then went to the theater across the street to watch some comedy I'd already forgotten the name of. Shaun whispered smart comments in my ear, taking jabs at the movie that were making it hard for me not to burst out laughing in the silent theater. 

            However, at the end of the day when the two of us walked to my front lawn, Shaun pulled me gently into the shade of the pear tree and asked a question with his eyes. In answer, I stood on the tips of my toes and met his lips with my own. When we pulled away, after several long, pleasant moments, I'd smile. He'd smile back.

                "What are we?" Shaun would ask, just like he had Halloween night. "I can't tell yet," I replied back, but then smiled encouragingly. "Just a few more kisses, and I'll be sure to figure it out." I'd turn, step out of the shade of the tree, and hurry into my house, trying hard not to look back. I didn't need to to know that Shaun had the same smile on his face that I had. 

               It was Thanksgiving. Tomorrow, Jessica would go back home, and I wouldn't see her again until Christmas. It was surprisingly warm outside, considering the cold we'd had to deal with the past few weeks, so my mother had opted to get out the fold out tables from the basement and unfold them in the backyard. The house smelled strongly of the Butterball machine at work on the turkey, mixed with the smell of the pies in the oven and the variety of side dishes cooking on the stove. So, naturally, I hid as far as I could from the smells in the hopes that nobody would ask me to help cook-- therefore, I was at Shaun's house, sitting on his bed and playing a rather annoying video game.

             "How do you not get killed in this STUPID GAME," I yelled in frustration after yet another player shot me in the back. 

                  "Well, maybe you should not go to a sniper window and leave your back exposed in this STUPID GAME," Shaun shouted back, more in amusement than the anger I had spoken with. I huffed and went back to the game, decidedly making my character lay down behind a strategically placed trash can. "I'm just going to hide it out," I announced, putting my controller down. "Wimp," Shaun responded. I watched grudgingly as he turned around the corner of a building and shot three enemies there with ease. 

                       My character was shot in the back again. "How in the hell did they manage to see me?" I questioned in annoyance. "Well, you weren't really well hidden," answered Shaun. "Besides, that's what you get for being a wimp." I shoved my shoulder into his, knocking him to the side, and snatched his controller away. I made his character shoot into the air, announcing his position to the enemy. Needless to say, he was dead in the next ten seconds. 

                        "Anna," Shaun whined, stealing his controller back. "That's what you get for calling me a wimp," I replied with a satisfied smile. "Well, you know I'm going to have to get even," he said, his voice steady. I didn't get the chance to even look at him suspiciously before he lunged, going straight for my controller. I jerked it away from his reaching hands, holding it over my head. "You can't get even!" I exclaimed. "I was getting even for you calling me a wimp!"