Summer Love

Where From Here

     It has been 2 days since I called Jess's phone, and still she hasn't contacted me back. I wonder why she hasn't returned any of my calls. Is she weirded out by everything, don't want to talk to me, or just think I we was moving too fast? I let out a big sigh racking my brain to figure out what is going on. This whole thing has me going crazy. I can't figure her out and not knowing how she feels is making me anxious. The feeling of wondering how she feels and where to go from here is nerve racking. I need to get my mind off of her for a minute. I get up out of bed, still in a bit of pain, and decided to go downstairs to see Lisa and my Dad.
      My dad decided to stay home today to watch after me. This whole Ronni thing have my parents shaken up. My dad, most likely upset that the ordeal even happened, is taking it a lot better than Mom is. The only reason I Lisa is here is because I asked her to stop by. I wanted to hang out with her for a bit. If I am going to be bedridden, I might as well have some fun and hang out with my best friend. No one else can lighten up the mood quite like her. As I walk downstairs I hear the TV on. My dad is watching football in the living room with John and Danny. They are debating whether the Stealers could beat the Buccaneers. My dad is a Stealers fan and the terrible twins are a Buccaneers fan. Like always, they are both really into It.
      It is funny to see. I'm not much of a football fan, but I do like the Stealers and Green Bay Packers. "It is nice to see dad home, isn't it?" I heard from behind me in a whisper. It was Grace's voice I heard. I jumped, caught off guard by her presence. I turn around and face her. "Don't sneak up behind me," I replied with the same soft tone as her, not knowing why we are whispering. "You know you are creepy as hell." She looked at me as if I was pathetic. She said, "Awe shut up. You know you are easy to scare you big baby." "Whatever." I said while walking to the kitchen and she followed.
      I waved to Lisa, who was in the kitchen eating a snack at the time. "Yeah, it is nice I suppose. Enjoy it while you have it," I muttered to her. "Don't be like that Mark" she said. "You know our patents have to work. So just relax and don't take it personal." "Yeah, whatever," I replied while rolling my eyes. "So anyway Lisa," I said trying to change the subject, "have you heard from Jess at all? I have been trying to call her, but no answer." "Yeah, I did. She said she needed some time to think. I'll let her know that you want to talk." I wonder if she is just as confused as me right now, I thought to myself.  What could she be thinking.
     Kindly, I thank Lisa for the help. She walks over to me and then gives me a really light punch on the shoulder. "When was you going to tell me that you kissed Jess? Like seriously dude, what kind of best friend are you?" I looked at her in surprise. I didn't know she knew about that. I didn't say anything until I find out how Jess feels. "How did you-" I started before Lisa cut me off. "Come on man, you can't hide anything from me," she said while smiling.
      I just looked back at her, not believing a word of that. "Jake told you, didn't he?" "That too. But I knew you was acting weird and weirder than normal." Like seriously, Jake can't keep anything to himself. If I was a criminal, I am almost sure he will say everything. Luckily I am not a criminal or else I would have been locked away.  In the middle of my train of thought, I felt a hard punch in my arm. I  already knew who it was. "Like oche," I said in a loud whisper.
       Grace was upset for some apparent reason. "You snuck out the house, still injured, just to make out with a girl?" I can tell she was irate. I appreciate her concern, but she gets too hot head fast. "First of all," I said firmly, "it wasn't like that. It just happened. Second of all, I am sorry I had you so worried. And third of all, stop hitting me!" She looked at me with a small smile. After a while she finally said, "Stop being such a baby. I am not even hitting you hard, so man up. And I wouldn't have to hit you if you stopped doing dumb things lover boy." I sigh in frustration.
      She isn't going to let up with the punches whether I like it or not. So I might as well get used to it. Our brother and sister bound is messed up but strong all the same. "I wish the both of you could stop fighting for five minutes," Lisa said. "You two are like oil and water, you never can mix. However, you both have more in common than you realize. Sometimes I think you both are twins." Grace and I laugh lightly at the remark Lisa made. We both know we like most of the same things. We might get along if we didn't try to annoy the other so much.
      "Anyway," I finally said, "are you ready to finish the movie we was watching Lisa?" We were both watching a movie in my room before she came downstairs for a snack. I called her over to hangout and when she got here, we just watched movies and talked about school and our favorite songs. "Yeah, sure," she replied. I walked back upstairs, still in a bit of pain, and Lisa followed. Grace just went in the living room to spend time with Dad. I laid back down in bed. It was a struggle to get back in, but after I got comfortable the pain faded away. Lisa sat at the foot of the bed.
      I was about to play the movie, but before I did Lisa said "Hey Mark". Not really paying attention, I said "What's up" just to respond. "How do you feel about Jess?" she asked with a really serious look on her face. But it was like she was lost in thought as she said the words. As if she was here physically, but mentally somewhere else completely. It had me curious on what was on her mind. I answered her. "Well, I don't know to be completely honest with you. I feel like I am falling in love with her, but don't want to rush things. When I am with her, she makes everything feel better. Like it is just me and her. However, she is also distant and hard to figure out. I guess I want to try to see if we can make this relationship work. I do feel strongly about her."
      Lisa smiled at me lightly. I don't know why, but I felt uneasy by this. Her smile felt forced. I am now completely focus on her and trying to read her. I might be reading too far into this, but I know Lisa and know when something is wrong. She is my best friend and for some reason I feel as if she is putting on a false smile. She finally said with enthusiasm, "That's great. I am glad you are happy and found someone like this. Jess is a really cool girl and I hope you two get together. She is a lucky girl to have you." "Yeah thanks," I said hesitantly. "To be honest, I want to be with her, but we will see how things go after we talk. So, only time will tell. Anyway, are you ok, Lisa? You know if there is something bothering you, you can always tell me."
      She looked at me directly, still with that smile. Her eyes give away that she wants to talk about something, but her smile shows that she doesn't want to talk about it. I know her very well and I know when she puts on a fake smile. "Yeah," she said looking as if I was the weird one, "of course I am ok. I mean it is a little upsetting that you are going to be dating. You might forget about your friends. You know, when you are so in love and you become that annoying couple. Me and my girlfriend did this, me and my girlfriend did that, me and my girlfriend always do this, and so on is annoying." Lisa looks down at her hand as she tried to explain. She is worried about losing her best friend. That was probably why she was upset. I lean up and then flicked her on the forehead with my finger.
      She jumped back a little in surprise and then stared at me. I did that to wake her up or jolt her awake from her sad spell. I stated, "Look Lisa, you over think just as bad as me. Do you honestly think I will forget about you, let alone be more annoying than I already am," I said while laughing lightly. "You deserve the flick on the forehead if you think I could forget my BFF. Yeah, I do love Jess more than a friend, but being with Jess doesn't mean not spending time with you. Jess is going to have to accept that you are my BFF because I wouldn't have survived without you. Well, maybe I could, but wouldn't be as fun." I gave Lisa a genuine smile and she returned one back. This felt like a real smile and not a fake one, which made me happy. "You know what?" Lisa asked. I just replied what. "I am lucky to have a friend like you, but if you ever flick me on the head again, I might break that finger of yours," she said jokingly. I laugh in response, but still take her warning seriously. "You made up your mind I see. You said you love Jess more than a friend. If she have you feeling this way, then she must be special."