A Table for Two?

The Conversation

Chapter 11:

I get nervous talking to girls. It's something that happens to me all the time. My knees buckle, my face turns red, almost like I'm constipated, and I talk gibberish. My moms says it my "sweet talk" and then laughs like it hilarious. With Valerie, I don't do that at all, and it's quite enjoyable to speak to a girl with the sudden urge to pee my pants.

"Hey Valerie," I sad, almost startled at her voice. I nearly leaped off my bed when I heard it.

"Hey Fernando," she replied, again speaking sweetly.

"How are you?" I managed to ask, not wanting this to be any else awkward.

"I'm fine," she said, her tone sounding excited, like she was waiting for me to call her all along. Now I felt like banging my head against the wall.

"That's good to here," I said, trying to sound intrigued of what she was saying. I was, but maybe she wouldn't think that.

"I know right, I just learned how to play football," she said, and now I was really intrigued. Football? It's like me learning how to be a ballerina. I would never, but it seems cool.

"Football?" I questioned, just to make sure I heard her clearly.

"Yeah it was difficult at first, but I get the hang of it now," she said. Every man's dream. A girl who likes to play football. Might as well keep that a secret, or the boys will swarm her like the new call of duty game.

"Who taught you?" I asked.

"My nine year old brother," he said, explaining how he's was the MVP in the football league back in Florida. I'm play baseball, which I'm a pretty good pitcher, but I never play football. Last time I did, I got squashed like a mosquito by the other team. I still watch football, every Sunday, with a dozen tacos on my table.

"Maybe I can learn from him one day," I said, and she laughed on the other line. Maybe she thought I was joking, or she felt bad for me learning football from a nine year old boy. On the other side, at least she thought is was funny.

"You still okay?" She asked, and I didn't understand what she was talking about until I found out. It was about my dad. I forgot about him dying, and in was a pretty groovy mood. Now I felt my heart go from warm to freezing.

"Yeah I'm fine," I lied, cause I didn't want to talk about my feelings. I didn't want to seems soft, I wanted to seem like a tough guy. A boy who will protect her, if I ever get that far. Like when I punched Michael right in the face.

"Good cause I want to ask you something."

That's when I was shocked. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what she was gonna ask. I was getting millions of ideas, all of them filling up my brain.

"Ask away."

"I've been having trouble with history lately, and I was wondering if you could come over tomorrow?"

Oh my gosh. This is a dream that's inside of another dream. I mean I'm intelligent, but I don't know about tutoring a.....girl. This is beyond belief. At first, there was absolute silence. She didn't say anything, waiting for me to reply. I was pondering on what to do. I finally made up my mind three minutes later.

"Yeah I will," I said cheerfully.

Thank!" She almost squealed," you can come over at around five."

"Ok that sounds great."

Ok I got to go eat, my mom is making beans, rice and bistec." I love that dish so much, I felt like inviting myself.

"That sounds tasty," I exclaimed.

"I know right," she replied back," well goodbye!"

"Goodbye," I enthusiastically said back. She giggled a little, then hung up the phone. That was one of the best phone conversations I have ever had in my life. I don't know why, maybe because it was a girl on the other line and not a boy.

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My mom ordered Taco Bell that night, since she was to depressed to cook. I told her about my conversation with Valerie, and see seemed to light up like a Christmas tree.

"Congratulations!!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, hugging me to death till I couldn't contain breathing. That's why I never tell my mom that kind of stuff.

I did my homework right after that, took a quick shower, and went to straight to bed, so I could wake up the next day quicker. The problem was, I couldn't sleep, for a little while. I was just thinking of what I'm going to do tomorrow. I have three tests, I have to tutor Valerie tomorrow, and Wednesday is always fixing my notebooks for school day. It's weird, but it keeps me organized.

Out of all three things, I thought of Valerie. She seemed like a rose, that she was very delicate and pretty. I already had her in my grasp, not wanting to let go. But if I mess up, she floats away, the wind carrying her. It was difficult to understand, but the only thing I knew was this; I liked her.

If only I could tell her that one day.....