fences

9

Alexandra

His car felt smooth and new. It smelt like artificial pine and beauty, if  that makes sense. I folded my hands on my lap as Logan slipped into his seat gracefully. Nervousness swelled in my muscles, and I began to tense as he started the car and drove to his house.

I should have realized if a 17 year old boy is driving a glossy Porsche, then he has an even glossier house to live in.

I slipped out of his car and landed my black chucks on the fine stone driveway.

Logan smiled at me from across the hood of car as we walked to his grand wooden front door.

I internally sighed.

Going to a friends' house?

This must be something new.

The ceiling of the house was extremely high and had a very airy feel to it. I admired the comfort and neutral colors the house sported.

Especially it's scent of warm vanilla.

"This is my house," Logan commented quietly while he locked the door. "My mom and dad aren't home, so I guess we can play around in the theater or the game room. Your choice."

"Do you like Disney movies?"

"I haven't watched any except the Lion King."

My mouth dropped open and he gave me a befuddled look.

"What?"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! You've never watched any other Disney movie?!?"

"Nope."

"Let's fix that then."

•••

After watching Finding Nemo, I felt extremely accomplished witnessing Logan's childlike reactions to my favorite scenes in the movie.

It was the purest form of excitement.

It was about 4:30, and I didn't want the sun to set before I got home. But the comfortable conversation I was engaged in with Logan felt so much better than home.

"Do you ever wonder something about the people you've met but have never really met?" he became a little more serious.

"All the time. Who do you wonder about?"

"The girl that helped me that night."

My heart skipped a beat and my eyes widened unnoticeably. I wanted to scream that it was me, that I saved him and made sure he was okay. But my tongue felt thick in my mouth and I couldn't speak.

"The police found her TracPhone, but how do I even trace it back to her? I could tell she was pretty though. Her eyes were brown-green. That's all I can remember," he smiled slightly and looked at the blank TV.

So that's what happened to my phone!

"Maybe she'll finally build the courage to tell you one day."

"Sure, but why is she so afraid to tell me now?"

"Suppose she feels that maybe if she told you, you wouldn't accept her because she doesn't fit in your world."

Surprised at how I was describing myself, I shut up.

"I wish she knew that I'm not like the other people. That if I really knew her, I'd let her know she changed my mind about the world and how to live it."

I took the bus home late that night, and I dreamed of birds.

Flightless birds.

•

I stayed at Logan's house more often than I stayed at home. I never slept over, I just stayed here until it was almost time for his mother to come home.

Our conversations in the band room were fun, and we'd play with the weird instruments that lined the shelves.

He learned that I'm allergic to lettuce, and I learned that he has a passion for writing.

"What do you write about?"

"Stuff," he said and looked away from me.

Silence passed for a few minutes as I stared at the tall ceiling of the band room.

"Would you like to come over to my house for dinner on Friday?" he asked.

My heart sank.

"Why?"

"You're a really close friend of mine, and Joey always brings his friends for dinner. I just want to show them that I'm trying to change, and you've helped me do that." he sighed.

"Fine," I said and regretted my words as he grinned and messed up my hair.

•••
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