Just Another Girl To You

Fourteen

The following morning was weird, and that's putting it mildly.

I was my usual self, and everyone but Jay was okay with me. He'd look at me from time to time, thinking that I don't see. I'd peek up at him, trying to hold his gaze, yet he'd glance away quickly.

It didn't bother me much, since we weren't really close, but I hated the feeling of having to shy away from a person.

I'd try to talk to him, and keep the topics light, in fear of encountering anything touchy.

We got back to our normal bond after a couple of days, it was now the third of January, we'd be going home in four days.

***

The night was cool, and I decided to stay in the patio and open all the windows. I was about to sit down, when suddenly there was a knock on the door to my room.

"Yeah? Who is it?" I asked.

"It's me! Let me in!" Kate demanded.

"Why?"

"I need food!"

"Go down to the kitchen instead!" I shouted with finality.

"No! I'm calling mommy!"

"Okay, okay, get in!"

That's the only thing I hated about my room: you can't get to the patio any other way, you'd have to pass through my bedroom.

She took a bag of Sun Chips and a Coke, not even bothering to thank me as she left.

"You're welcome, nuisance!" I shouted at the door, locking it once again.

I was drafting the final chapter for one of my online novels, about five hours later, when there was yet another knock.

"No, I'm not letting you in Kate!"

"How if I'm not Kaitlyn?" A familiar voice teasingly inquired.

"Jay? What do you need?"

"Nothing really. I just can't sleep, and I wanted to talk to you..." He began nervously.

"Uh, okay, wait a bit." I rummaged through the drawers for a brush, pretty sure that my hair looked like a rat's nest.

I opened the door, paced back to the patio, without once glancing up from my phone.

"So," I began unsure.

"So..." He replied dithery.

"Are we just gonna keep saying so to each other till morning?" I joked to fill the silence.

"Okay, so, well, here's the thing, I uhm,"

"Cat got your tongue?" I chuckled.

"Here it goes: mindifIcourtyouIreallylikeyoualot." He let out in a rush, visibly flustered.

"Okay, say that again, and reduce the speed by about 75 percent, so I could actually understand." His discomfort amused me. Mean, aren't I?

"You could never be nice, could you?" I was about to make a remark, but he continued. "See, the thing is, I really like you, and I wanted to know if it'd be okay if I courted you."

"Oh, so that's what you tried to say." I attempted a joking tone.

"Yeah, that's pretty much it. So... What do you think?" He severely queried.

"Give it a try. No promises though." I tried at a solemn reply, though I was betrayed by an amused smirk.

I didn't want to say no, for I had no guarantees about what would be happening, hence the "give it a try" answer. I though it only fair that I gave him a chance.