Best Friends or More?

Chapter 4

John's POV

When we got to the mystery place, she said, "Stay here, I'm going to go check something."

"Fine, I'll be out here BLINDFOLDED and bored, by myself."

"I won't take long, don't worry."

Thankfully, it couldn't have been more than five minutes that she was gone. This gave me time to think about the things that have happened between us today. I think we almost kissed three times. Why? There had never been any romantic interest there before... But I guess that was when we were younger. Our relationship has always been about being there for the other, which I guess is something that's necessary for successful couples. But, the two real questions are, one, do I actually like Mary? Two, does she actually like me?

I didn't get time to consider either of them because Mary came back at that moment.

She said, "OK, we're good to go in."

She opened my door. I got out very clumsily. She laughed at me.

"Hey, I am blind here, don't laugh. You know your birthday's not that far from now, maybe I'll make you wear a blindfold and have to get out of a car."

"You're right. Laughing is rude."

I moved away from the door and she closed it.

"Give me your arm so I can guide you."

I stuck my arm out and she linked hers through mine.

"Would you rather take the ramp, or risk the stairs?" She asked.

"Stairs are fine."

"OK. There's about twenty."

"Joy," I said, laced with sarcasm.

On the way up, I made a couple of stumbles, and one major fall.

She said we were almost at the top, but I misheard her and I thought she said we were at the top. I didn't lift my foot high enough and I started falling. Since our arms were linked, I brought her down, too.

To keep from twisting my leg in an awkward position, I spun around and landed on my back.

Mary landed on top of me. Our lips almost touched. I immediately felt my face turn red, and since I'm so pale my skin color changes are very obvious. I wish she was the one wearing the blindfold so she couldn't see my red face!

She got up very quickly.

"I'm so sorry, I thought you said we were at the top!" I said, embarrassed.

"No, it's OK. Don't worry about it! Are you OK?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. You?"

"Yeah, just red in the face."

"Oh, well so am I. So, I don't feel quite as awkward now."

"Let's keep going. We're almost there."

"Sounds good."

We linked our arms again and walked up the last two stairs.

"Are you kidding me? Two stairs? I was so close!"

"Yeah. I'm going to let go and open the door now." There was a squeak. "Just walk straight ahead. There's a little bump in the doorway right... Now."

I lifted my foot a little higher to clear it.

"Now we're inside, but I'm going to keep the blindfold on a little bit longer."

"OK."

"Turn to your left. I'm going to open another door."