Where We Begin

Chapter 33 - You've Been Awfully Friendly Today

Nov 8th, 2002 - Busta

It was Friday and it busy. On top of being busy, it was weird. Specifically, Taylor was weird.

When we were at Murphy's a few days ago, she asked if I wanted to have a movie night at her place after the football game. Her dad was away doing his last lecture in Texas, so she said I could probably stay late. I answered with a resounding yes, of course.

That was all normal. What wasn't normal was the way Taylor was acting today. She stopped by my locker between every period to give me a kiss or say she couldn't wait to hang out later, even though I knew half the time she was going out of her way to do so. I even found a little note in my backpack, covered in hearts. I have no idea when she slipped that in.

I guess it's dumb to be skeptical of my girlfriend for showing me affection, but come on. It was over the top, even for Taylor. Brandy, Amber and Kiki were being strange too, like they were avoiding me. At lunch they were all exchanging looks, I swear. Brent and Jake, on the other hand, were totally normal and didn't seem to notice anything. 

Something girly was happening behind the scenes and I was obviously being left in the dark for a reason.

* * * * *

After school, Taylor drove me home. I had a couple hours to kill before my lacrosse game, and after that I'd be heading over to watch most of the football game. Typical Friday night. 

"You've been awfully friendly today," I said to break to silence of the car ride. 

"What?" Taylor sounded like I caught her off guard.

"You know, the note, the locker visits. Am I missing something? It's not some kind of anniversary is it?"

She laughed nervously. "No, I'm just excited for movie night. I've got a really good one picked out. I think you're going to love it."

"As long as it's not another musical," I quipped. Taylor didn't reply, so I leaned in close to her on the center console . "Hey, what are you up to now? We could get a head start on the night." 

"Oh, I wish, I cant. I have to pick up Kristen, and then... just all this stuff, and I'm probably going to get ready for the game with the girls... I mean, I am, definitely. It's a crazy day." Taylor spoke quickly and turned sharply into my driveway. "But I'll see you later!"

She kissed me and gave me a big grin, one that was forced and deliberate. I got out and went inside, still wondering what the hell Taylor wasn't telling me.

* * * * *

Buddy and I went out to the cul-de-sac at the end of our street to skateboard. I didn't get out much lately. Brent and I had gone to the skate park a couple times, enough for me to realize I was obviously out of practice compared to him. Brent could do circles around me. 

Today affirmed the fact that my kid brother had also surpassed me in skill level. I never took skating that seriously, it was just another distraction to pass the time and stay out of the house, but Buddy was getting better and better. Eventually, I just sat on the curb and watched him. 

When we got home, Ivy was in the kitchen, surrounded by luggage. She was headed to the airport yet again, and giving me a ride back to school on the way.

"Boys! Great timing," Ivy sighed. "I could really use some help getting this all out to the car."

"I bet. Man, how do you keep all these trips straight?" I asked, grabbing a couple duffels that felt like they were full of yoga mats. Because they probably were.

Ivy looked around at all the bags, her Blackberry in hand. "I have no clue. If it weren't for cell phones and spreadsheets, I'd be screwed. But I always keep hard copies, just in case!" She gestured to a sea of paper on the kitchen island.