Warmth | ✔️ #wattys2021

4. plans & denial

Adams POV (slightly mature language)

"Adam Talley got rejected! Oh my god I love her already. Tell me everything!"

"Hey! Stop being so happy about all of this!"

I scolded my older sister Mila. She long picked up on the teasing behavior of my friends. Not only that bothered me but the fact that I was actually looking for advice to get over the disappointment of asking her out. Or in the best case, change her mind. I still couldn't properly grasp it. Was she really that insecure or just searching for a nice excuse?

"No-oh, I never thought that day would come. I've been waiting forever! Everyone you see practically throws themselves at you!"

"That's it, I'm calling my nicer sister!" I threatened jokingly.

I couldn't deny what she said. Nor the fact that as a guy in the mid twenties who was at his sexual bloom enjoys the attention he gets from women.

But Adeline was somewhat special to me, not only because she didn't jump right on my bones. So I prayed Mila wouldn't just go along with it and hang up. I counted to five, then heard a chuckle, so she was still on the other line.

"Don't be silly, Clara is only 17."

"Ayy, she is still big on guys! I don't know how dad deals with it to be honest. But that's beside the point, will you please say something helpful now..."

"You really are helpless aren't you?"

"Well, yes."

I know I must have sounded pathetic, the last time I so desperately needed her advice was, when I was convinced my flu is going to kill me and the way from the couch to the kitchen was the real mission impossible. "Tell me why she declined!"

"Well first off she was laughing at me? She said she was just shocked for some reason but it felt weird, I've never been that vulnerable in front any girl. And then she claimed that we don't fit because I seemingly only date models and she wouldn't feel like she was enough for me?"

Which is something I still don't understand, has she not seen herself? She's got the real potential to drive any man crazy.

"And then later on when I was trying to convince her, she just came up with stupid excuses."

"Oh boy, I told you, your reputation will precede you one day when you really wish it wouldn't." Mila finally answered and went on: "So you want to like...change her opinion on this, or what?"

"Yeah, I mean -I don't know I obviously want her close. I keep on thinking of her and replay everything I've said to her..." I did, it was almost annoying, overanalyzing everything. "But then again I also want to respect her decision even if I don't understand it. And I'm probably gonna see her a lot more these days 'cause she's so close to Jimmy and everyone else so I can't just turn it all off, you know?" My frustration came back. "Perhaps I should just avoid her."

"No, no, hey don't! Such feelings don't come by every day, they're special, ok? I guess how you feel is pretty normal."
"You guess??" I asked outraged.

"Well, I've never been rejected" Mila teased on the other line of the phone.

"Yeah, but only because you are Adam Talley's big sister" I countered.

"Hey, I'm fucking fierce! And married, wear the prove right on my finger."

"Now, back to the topic, if you really feel like this, give her a day or two and then, try to reach out to her again!"

"Well, I guess I will do that... " I knew it was probably the right thing to do, even if it meant waiting.

"Great! So beside that little encounter how have you been doing?"