Nights Awake With Porter

(3) What Did I Do?

The smile on his face was priceless. 110% genuine. What I'd give to see that smile everyday. He fumbled with his jean pocket and rolled his lips. How is it that we had only just started talking today, and I already feel like I've memorized his face? Is that weird? Yeah, just a little bit.

"Right now?" I laugh, my eyes widening. I didn't have anything going on at home. God, I never have anything going on at home. It's just my mom and I, everyday doing the same thing as the day before. I wish I wasn't an only child, maybe then it wouldn't be so lonely. My mom is a nurse at the local hospital and since she has to support me she works quite a bit of hours. The only time I see her is in the mornings right before I go to school. "Actually," I cleared my throat, "Now sounds great."

Porter nodded his head, "Great, my house then?"

His house?

I felt my hands start to get clammy, "How about my house?"

I didn't want to go to his house. Honestly, I'm not used to going to different peoples houses. The only two houses I've ever really been comfortable with going to are my house, which doesn't really count, and Angie's. Porter was still a stranger. I wasn't really comfortable with being around him yet.

He watched my expression closely. Then suddenly his hand was on the small of my back. My breath hitched and I stared up into his eyes. He looked older than he should. Looking into his eyes I realized that. I couldn't help, but wonder if there was more to him than he let on.

"Hey if you would prefer going to your house that's fine," he reassured, then, just as suddenly as it had happened, he removed his hand from my back. The corners of my lips turned downwards at the loss of contact. Why? I have no clue.

I nodded and Porter motioned for me to follow him.

He started walking towards his car, and I followed along right behind him. It felt weird being with him. Everyone that we passed turned and watched us. It really was like one of those cliche movies. My cousin Beth told me that her high schools doesn't have cliques, but when you live in a town as small as Price forming cliques is easy. As much as I hated them, I couldn't imagine a life without then.

I climbed into the passenger seat and tore my seat belt down into the buckle. It clicked and I looked up at Porter, who surprisingly, was already looking at me. I raised my eyebrow questionably at him and a blush crept onto his cheek. Porter has really prominent cheekbones, and the blush made him look adorable- I mean, not adorable. I didn't think of Porter like that.

"Sorry," he turned the key, awakening the car. "It's just crazy that I've never, uh, noticed you before."He sheepishly turned back to the windshield.

I didn't know whether to take that as a compliment or not. Why didn't people notice me? Was I too quiet? Not pretty enough? I squinted my eyes at the blinding sun that was shinning directly into my eyes. That had to be it, I just wasn't pretty enough. I didn't make an impression on people the way other girls did. Like my friend Angie did. Angie could step into a room of fifty people and everyone would know who she was.

"So," Porter's eyes flicked over to me. "Your house, it's right next door to mine, right?"

I rolled my eyes at him, "Only since kindergarten," I teased, looking out the window I watched little kids play hop-scotch in their front yards. I never liked hop-scotch, always thought it was kind of pointless.

"Sorry," Porter apologized.

"Your fine," I smiled, watching as our street came into view. "I haven't really given you a reason to remember anyways."

Porter mumbled something under his breath, but I didn't catch it. It sounded important, and I was temped to ask him to repeat it, but maybe I wasn't meant to hear it. If he wanted me to hear it he would have said it louder. What do I know though? Porter and I aren't actually close, we didn't even know each other. So I knew nothing. I didn't know how he acted or his habits or all of his different smiles. No, I wasn't the person to start making assumptions.