Summer Sights

08 | cool

Andre's POV

47 freckles.

9 on her nose.

21 on her left cheek.

17 on the right.

I don't know why I care. Or why I even bothered counting when she was sleeping so peacefully last night. Or why I can't get those numbers out of my head. But, that's all I can think about as I walk away from her and that damned diner. She's going on a date with another guy and I can't get her out of my mind.

I mean it shouldn't matter anyway. We're just friends. Two teens who only met a few weeks ago and hadn't talked since late last night in a hidden clearing. It doesn't matter if I purposely hung around outside ButterCup's on numerous occasions during the period we didn't talk. Or if I tried to talk her 4 times, but never had the courage.

What matters is that we barely know each other. So who am I to not like that she's going out with someone else? I'm just Dre, and she's just Ryn.

The new girl in town.

The complex, breathtaking, maddening new girl in town.

And I'm pissed at myself for not making a move before Josh.

Because even with such little time, I'm sure that Kamryn isn't someone I want to share. I don't think I want to just be her friend.

I think I want to be her friend and her shoulder to cry on and her lover and her heart.

Perhaps, I wouldn't even mind being everything she needs me to be.

Maybe I'm moving a bit too fast. I always have been one to not look before I jump. I know we need more time. I can see that she needs more time.

Even though she just went on a date with Josh. That part's a bit confusing. But I'd never want to put pressure on her. I can wait. I will wait. And I'll wait for as long as she needs me to. For now, friends is good.

It's hard not to notice when I arrive at my familiar neighborhood. The scenery changes with houses turning noticeably smaller and on the brink of falling apart with barred windows and patchy lawns. It looks rough, and it is. But it's home.

It's just a community where people aren't as lucky the others outside it.

But it's still home. Where mothers do their daughter's hair on their creaky porch steps and children run in the pitted streets.

But at night, streets are cleared of young children and it's big kid time. Big kid time when big kids exchange big kid substances and do other big kid things. I don't participate, but I also don't shame the ones who do.

We're all out here trying to survive in a system that's pinned against us. So you do what you need to do to stay alive and you never look back.

"Hey Andre," a sweet voice sings from across the street.

I look across the street and see Jaazmine, my best friend, giggling with her girl friends and cigarettes in their hands. I walk in their direction, a questionable frown forming on my face.

"I thought you quit, Jaaz?"

"Everyone knows New Year's resolutions don't last Dre, and I needed to relax." She looks me up and down, "And by the looks of it, you need to also." She holds out the cigarette in her hand to me, the imposter of an innocent smile spreading about her face.

"Not in the mood Jaaz," I refuse, causing her lips to pucker out and her angled brows to furrow together.

"Why not?" She pouts, doe eyes staring into mine.