Oneshots by Jonny Pippin

~ 4 ~

Voting for You
I'm not telling you, it's a surprise.

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I nervously stare at the mirror, and sigh. Everything will be okay. Nothing to worry about. He likes you, you like him...

"James".
I look up. My dad is standing in the doorway.
"Hi dad" I say. He smiles.
"Hello son, looking good".
I smile too. "Thanks".
"So, what's her name again?"
I feel a small sting in my stomach. I'm not ready to tell him. Not yet.
"I'm not telling you" I say. "You know I like to keep things private".
"I'm just saying, she has to be a real nice lady to beat that other girlfriend of yours. What was her name again? Alice?"
"Alex" I correct him. "And now I have to go".

"You're sure I can't take you there?" he asks, like he's been asking for ages. I shake my head.
"You know how I feel about..."
He sighs. "It's nothing to be ashamed of if your dad has a nice job" he says.
"I know, and I'm not. I just don't want to feel like a show-off".
"Alright then. Have fun".
He gives me a slightly awkward hug. We've gotten a bit closer lately, but he's still not entirely used to it all.

"Bye" I say again, and I leave. I walk out of our house, and towards the subway station. I have to wait five minutes before my subway arrives. Drew's house is only a short walk away from the next station. Once there, I get out of the subway. I see a few people looking at me, probably because of my fancy clothes. I'm not wearing a suit or anything, just a neat, light blue blouse with a pair of black pants.

I walk out the station, past the high buildings, and reach number 36. I ring the doorbell. A minute later, the door opens. I'm glad Drew lives on the bottom floor, I don't have to climb all those annoying stairs. Drew's mom is standing in the doorway.
"Hi James! I'll call Drew over" she says. I love Drew's mom. She already knows about me and Drew, and so does his dad. He asked me my permission to tell them, which I immediately granted. His parents are probably the nicest people on earth.

"He'll be down in a sec, just wait here honey" his mom says, when she comes back.
"Okay, thanks" I say, smiling.
"So, you already know where you're going?" she asks. I smile nervously.
"Of course I do" I say. "We're going to a restaurant, and then the park".
"Ah, that's nice" she says. "Remember..."
"His allergies" I chuckle. "No white chocolate and no beans".
"Right, that's it. Oh, there he is..."
Drew walks downstairs, and smiles at me. I smile back.
"Hi" I say, leaning against the doorway.
"Hello" he says nervously. His mom looks at him, at me, and chuckles.
"Have fun boys" she says. Drew groans.
"Mom..."
"Right, sorry. Won't meddle".

Drew walks out the door, and closes it behind him. He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. After a second, he looks up at me.
"Hey" he says, a lot less nervous than when he was inside.
"Don't be so hard on your mom" I say. "She's cool".
"Well then, go on a date with her" he says.
"Can't, she's married".

We walk towards the bus station. I've got all the routes planned out, but I'm afraid I'll forget them. It's my first real date with Drew, I can't screw this up.
"So... Where are we going?"
"I'm not telling you" I say, and I grin at him. "It's a surprise".
"I don't like surprises" he mumbles.
"But you like me" I say. I look at him, he's staring at the ground.
"Right?" I add. He looks up, and smiles.
"Of course I do" he says. "But to be fair, that was a whole surprise of it's own".
I smile too. "But a pleasant one. Just like what we're doing tonight".