In 31 Days

Day 17: Depressive

I never really told anyone what happened after we arrived home, but it was pretty darn awful. For one thing, my parents were finally together on something: screaming at us. And yes, it was directed at both of us, not just me. They finally realized what a devil he truly was, and found it no less respectful to call him a head with water inside it and no brain.

To say the least, we were royally screwed.

But it was okay! I was happy, and so was he, and that was enough.

"Boy, you look radiant today," Alex commented as he strolled in my room.

"Thank you," I said slowly. "You do too."

It was true. His eyes gained that sparkle that I thought only appeared in crazy cartoons. His boyish smile parted with his laid-back style meant an even happier Ashley, I decided.

"We should take some pictures and finish up your picture assignment!"

He agreed. "Let's do it."

After searching up some murals near our home, we decided to take a trip to Hunts Point, a major graffiti spot a couple minutes from where we lived.

I grabbed my prized camera and met him outside the front door.

"Do you mind if we bring some my friends?"

"From the mall mischief a week ago?"

I nodded.

"Sure!" Alex exclaimed. "That'd be great."

After picking up some of our friends, we parked in an abandoned parking lot.

Immediately, Emmi pulled me aside.

"Tell me everything," she pronounced slowly.

"What do you mean?" I feigned as my mind racked for something interesting to bring up.

"Cut the bull, Ash. Alex has been staring at you non-stop ever since we all got in the car."

I stared at here, bewildered. "He has?" I asked, a bit too loud.

"Who?" Alex immediately asked, nearly growling.

"You," Emmi said simply, picking an imaginary piece of lint off her pristine jean jacket.

Alex relaxed instantly.

"Good," he snapped, and turned away.

"Protective," she hummed, "is a very nice quality in a boyfriend."

"We're not even dating," I protested quickly, amid her badgering.

"Sure, sure," she waved. Pulling my hand, she urged me back into the crowd of my friends.

"Let's get this photo thing started!" Emmi shouted, inciting a couple whoops of excitement.

"Who first?"

***

A couple hours later, we were laughing, strolling along the parkway, hand-in-hand. I listened intently on the snippets of the conversation between Emmi and Alex as I pretended to be concentrated on something else.

"Do you like her?" I heard Emmi ask.

I held my breath. Although Alex professed his liking to me in private, in school he was still known as the mysteriously attractive guy sans emotions. I wondered what he'd say back.

"Yes," I heard him mutter back. "A lot."

I smiled down at y shoes despite myself as I vaguely heard a squeal from her direction.

I was happy that day, I noted later, after he left. I was happy that someone who wasn't a degraded asshole took in interest in me and professed it aloud. I was happy with my friends who took so many pictures on the crappy camera that I swore they broke the keys. With or without Alex in my life, I knew I could fit in with people I didn't fully appreciate at first. But with all that teenage angst, I knew something would go wrong.