I walked around my room, pacing. I was trying to decide what to wear when I hung out with Dallas later on. I finally decided on a pair of black leggings; a pink, lacey tube top; and my jean jacket. I grabbed my phone and clicked my Pandora app. I turned on my John Legend station and went into the bathroom. I got in the shower while singing along to "Ordinary People" by John Legend. I was thinking about Dallas and what we would be doing tonight.
Once I was out, I went back into my room and got dressed.
Right before I started to do my hair, my phone rang. My screen showed the name DALLAS <3
“Hey Dallas! What’s up?” I asked.
“Uh, hi Gizelle. I uh, can’t make it tonight. I hope it’s not a big deal. Sorry,” he said quickly.
“Uh. Okay? Can I ask why?”
“Hockey stuff.. Sorry.”
“Uh huh. Suuure Dallas.”
“Okay I’m lying.”
“Then what’s the truth.”
“I don’t know if I want to hang out anymore… I don’t know if this is gonna work.”
“If what’s gonna work, Dallas?”
“Uh… Us. Us hanging out… I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Why do you think you’d hurt me?”
“Because… I just think I will.”
“Dallas, you never know unless you try.”
“Well, right now I just need time to think okay!”
“Fine Dallas. Have your time. Take all the time you need. I really don’t care.”
I hung up on him and found the bummiest clothing I owned.
I put on a pair of sweats, an old softball tournament shirt, a pair of Nike socks and I put my hair in a high bun. Luckily, I hadn’t put my make-up on yet, so I didn’t have to wash it off. I grabbed my phone and called my best friend, Katie Matlin.
-LATER THAT NIGHT-
"Katie, what do I do? I feel so... So used! And played. And like shit!" I whined.
"'Zelle, calm down," Kate comforted me.
"But K, he's been leading me on a LOT. Until tonight that is."
I plopped down on my bed and put my face in my hands.
"Gizelle, I know. I think he just doesn't know what it feels like to truly like someone. I think he's just scared and worried about hurting you. Just like he said."
"I can only hope.."
We sat in my room eating ice cream while she listened to me complain about Mike stupid Dallas.
"We talked on the phone for hours, making jokes, laughing and just getting to know each other. He basically just threw all of that away.
"No he didn't. I bet you that tomorrow or even later tonight he's gonna call you."
"Probably not. I bet he just wanted to make me his puck bunny."
"If that's the case, he would've slept with you already. And you know that. You know he has feelings for you. He just doesn't know how to handle them without hurting you in the process."
"Too late..."
"Gizelle, stop it. He just said that right now he needed time to think. Give him the benefit of the doubt."
"Fine I guess."
Suddenly my phone rang.
"Who is it?" She asked.
"The idiot."
"I'm gonna go home so you two can talk. Call me later."
"Okay."
I hesitated another second before answering my phone.
"Hello?" I asked.
"G..Gizelle?" He stammered.
It sounded as if he had been crying. Mike Dallas? Crying? Something didn't seem quite right.
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry. I'm such an idiot. You were right. I do like you. A lot. I just.. I just didn't want to hurt you. I've hurt a lot of girls in the past and I didn't want you to be like them. I don't want a puck bunny. I want a girlfriend. I want you as my girlfriend. I won't be surprised if you say no, but can you come outside?"
I was dumbfounded. The only thing I could say was, "Sure."
I walked outside and saw him. He looked so vulnerable.
"You have five minutes to explain yourself," I said as I crossed my arms.
He took in a deep breath and sighed.
"Gizelle, I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just so scared... I've never been in a real relationship. You were the first girl I've ever developed true feelings for. I thought all I wanted was a puck bunny. But then, you came into my life and..." He stopped talking, took another deep breath and started talking again. "I fell for you. Hard. Gizelle Taylor, I... I love you. I can't stop thinking about you. When you'd come to my games, I played my hardest for you. You were my motivation. When I sit in class and I want to give up, I think of you telling me to keep trying and that you know I can do it. You are my motivation, you are my heart. My thoughts are ninety-five percent you, five percent us. Gizelle, baby, please forgive me. I truly do love you. Please forgive me…"
I began to tear up. I didn’t know what to say. I liked him a lot, but why should I believe him?
I looked up at him, and I saw tears in his eyes. He was telling the complete truth. A guy wouldn’t just cry over this if he wasn’t serious.
“Dallas, I really liked you. You hurt me. Why? Why would you do that if you “love” me?”
He sighed again.
“I… I’m an idiot. I don’t know. I thought that if I told you the real truth and not the “truth” I told you earlier, you could maybe find it in your heart to forgive me. I know I shouldn’t have assumed that. I was just hoping you could. Gizelle, if you give me this chance I won’t make you regret it. Gizelle, will you please do me the honor of being my girlfriend?”
I stared into his dark, brown eyes as he stared back into my hazel eyes. I thought carefully as to how I would answer him.
I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes.
“Dallas, I love you too. Of course I’ll be your girlfriend.”
A smile appeared on his face. He took a few steps closer to me and I walked towards him. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me.
“Do you know how long I’ve wanted to do that?” He asked.
“Probably about as long as I have.”
“You know, probably.”
We both laughed.
“I… I’ve got to go inside before I get yelled at by a crazy Filipina.”
He laughed. “One more kiss?”
“Sure.” We kissed one last time, just as my mother yelled at me in Tagalog to come inside.
“Okay, now I’ve really got to go.”
“I love you, Gizelle Taylor.”
“I love you too, Mike Dallas.”
