*Not edited.*
“I’ll take you home.” Josh says standing up.
“No. Please.” I tug his hand so he sits again.
“Why?”
I look Josh in the eyes for a long time and he realizes why not.
“Stay at my place. You’ve got clothes there.”
“Sure. Hey Kyla?” I say taking my eyes off Josh.
“Wajgn aklgna?” She says, pizza stuffed in her face.
“I’m sleeping at Jsoh’s. Could you tell mom for me?” She nods her head.
“See ya later guys.” Josh says standing up.
“Bye, Brad.” I stand and he wraps me in a hug. “Have a good night, take her home safely.” I try to sound happy.
“Okay.” He lets me go and I nudge Kyla. “No goofing around.” I say sternly.
Josh takes my hand and we leave out the front door.
“You okay?” He asks opening the car door for me. “Really, I’m serious. I can take you to a doctor.”
“No. I’m okay.” I slide into the seat and hold my stomache.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Positive?”
“Josh!” I yell laughing. “I’m fineee. Nothing more than cramps.”
“Kay.” He revs the car to life and we pull out of the parking lot. “Want to go home? Or stay out longer?”
“What do you want to do?”
“Anything that makes you happy.”
“Could we… Nahh.”
“What?”
“… Can we go to a movie?”
“Sure. What do you want to see?”
“I dunno.”
“Rent or theatre?”
“Theatre?”
“Cool. Ummm… They re-play movies on Canvor Street?”
“Sure.” We drive away into the night and for once, my belly calms down.
“Options arrre… Titanic. Finding Nemo. Or A war movie.” Josh says getting back into the car.
“Finding Nemo.” We say at the same time and laugh.
“Yush pleaseeee!” I sing.
“Awesome.” He gets out and opens my door. “For ma lad-ay.”
“Why thank you kind sir.” He spins me and I kiss him. It’s dark outside and the stars are coming out.
“Love you.”
“I knew that.” I pinch his cheeks staring into his eyes.
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“Don’t you love me?!”
“Nope. I don’t.” His face falls and I burst out laughing. “If there was something you could do more than love someone, that’s what I have for you. I love you more than we need air. Than the moon needs stars, and trees need the sun.” I kiss him again and pull him towards the theatre.
“Two tickets to ‘Finding Nemo’ please?” I say to the boy in the box.
“10.95 please.” I slide a twenty under the glass window before Josh can take it out of my hand.
