Don't Get Angry

27- Dalta: Body Wash

I walked into Otis' room. It was painted dark blue and his bed was neatly made with light blue sheets and white pillows. A fluffy brown teddy bear was set between the two pillows. I smiled at it then I turned back to him. He shut his door softly so his grandmother wouldn't hear him close it. Then he turned to me with folded arms. "What do you want, Dalta?" He didn't look me in the eyes.

I tucked my hair behind my ears. "You keep a teddy bear on your bed?"

He looked at it. "My dad gave it to me. Why are you here?"

My smile faded. "I..."

He groaned. "Dalta-"

"I like you," I blurted out.

His stared at me.

"I like you a lot, but I don't want to date you because I really...really can't afford to lose you right now. You mean a lot to me for some reason. And it's so weird and stupid and I feel stupid. But I have no one else. I don't trust anyone else. And with everything going on, I'm so scared and when you're with me..." I stared at him.

His brows fell.

I snickered, feeling like an idiot. I put my hands on my forehead. "I shouldn't have said anything. I always mess things up...I'll just leave." I walked over to the door making way past him. I put my hand on the nob. "You know what? No...NO." I turned back towards him. "I'm not walking away. Not until you say something to me."

He squinted at me then he looked down at his hands. "I..." He looked at me again then he stepped closer to me. I stepped back and my back hit the door. He held my arms. "Are you okay?" He rubbed my back, staring at me with worry flushed on his face.

I stared at him. I couldn't understand it. Why did he care so much about me? "Why do you care so much about me?"

He froze and looked me in the eyes. "I...I don't know."

I pursed my lips and bowed my head.

He put his hands on my cheeks and lifted my head towards his. A light smile spread across his face. "I don't know why I like you...I just know that I do. Is that enough for you right now?"

I didn't know how to reply. It shouldn't have been enough. Otis should've known why he liked me... He should've at least thought about it once. It was obvious that he just wanted me around and didn't know why...but I wanted him around; Someone around. I nodded. "It's enough."

He stared at me then smiled. "Okay... So...what now?"

I shrugged. "I guess we're dating now-I dunno'," I giggled and scratched my head.

His smile faded. "I'm...I'm with Taylor."

I looked at him, then nodded. "I know... But it's not real. You're pretending to like her."

"I know. But you got me so mad and-"

"I know and I'm sorry. I should've just... told you how I felt." I blushed at the ceiling putting my hands over my face. "I really like you."

He held my wrists and uncovered my face. "I like you a lot, too." He blushed and bowed his head, pushing his hands into his pockets. "You're, like... my favorite person I guess." He chuckled and wrinkled his nose. He looked at me. "Does that sound weird?"

I felt my cheeks grow and a smile spread across my face. "You're my favorite person too."

His eyes grew slightly narrowed.

Someone suddenly knocked on the door. We both flinched. "Otis," his grandmother shouted. "Open the door. No closed doors with guests."

"I know," he groaned then held the nob. He looked at me.

"Walk me out?"

He smiled shyly, then nodded.

We walked out of his room, his grandmother following us down the stairs. We walked over to his front door. I stepped outside, then turned back to look at him. "I'll see you tomorrow?" I lifted my brows and held my arms behind my back.

He nodded his head once, his hair bobbing in front of his face. He pushed it back, out of his face. A frown spread across his cheeks as he stared at me. He suddenly stepped closer to me and he tucked his arms under mine. He pulled me toward him, wrapping his arms around me and burying his face in my shoulder.

I stopped breathing. "Is...is everything okay-"

"Fine," he said abruptly. "Just...fine."

"O... kay." I tried to pull away but he held me tighter.

"Can we just...stay like this for a minute?"

I smiled. "Sure."

His head moved and he put his chin over my shoulder, resting his head gently against mine.

Things gradually began to feel off for me. He was acting really odd. And he smelled...different. Like lavender body wash; women's. "Otis," I began to push him off, pushing his on chest. "Did something happen with you and Taylor?"

He looked at me. "N-no," his mouth said the word, but his Adam's apple bounced downwards his neck and he started blinking a lot.

"I-uh...I'll see you tomorrow."

"Dalta," he sighed as if he wanted me to come back, but he seemed more relieved that I'd left. He stood there and watched me leave.

I walked down the front steps feeling as if I had rolled around in mud that smelled like lavender. The red car across the street suddenly sped away. "What the..." I looked back at Otis' door. It was closed. I walked down the sidewalk with folded arms staring at the gray pavement. "Why did Otis smell like women's body wash? Was it Taylor's? It could be his mother's or grandmother's or little sister's. But he seemed upset when he came home. Maybe he was mad that he had to date Taylor all over again. Maybe I'm being paranoid." I gulped. It had to be paranoia.