FRIDA' S LIST

Chapter 19 CLOSER

The following day, Tony picked me up after class. According to the dark circles around his eyes, his night had probably been difficult.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'm good," he said, rubbing his eyes. "Did you talk to the jerk again?"

"What jerk? Oh, you mean Jojo. He's not a jerk. I told him something he seems not able to admit."

"Some things can be hard to admit," he said.

I watched him. He kept his eyes on the road.

"I guess so," I muttered, thoughtfully. "But... I don't get it! He's one of my friends, and now since he's dating Rachel, he's somebody else."

"People change."

"But, he's not people! I mean, he's my friend," I murmured.

I paused.

"Or, maybe, you're right. Never mind. I'm not perfect too."

"You're the best person I know," he said.

"C'mon. You don't have to say that."

"No, I mean it. You're generous, honest, and pure."

"My Gosh. What do you mean by pure?" I asked, grimacing.

I hoped that he wasn't talking about my virginity. It made me sick to think about it this way.

"You've got something... true," he said thoughtfully.

He kept looking ahead at the road before him and paused. I kept quiet.

"You remind me of a song," he said after a while.

"What song?" I said.

"Until I met you, a jazz song," he said, with a half-smile.

"Sorry, never heard of it."

"Anyway, you're someone pure."

"Thank you. You're okay too," I said, smiling at him.

"I doubt that."

"You're too rude on yourself. Don't you think so?"

"No, there are things you ignore about me," he said vaguely, still looking at the road ahead.

"Well, I just wanna know them."

He shook his head in silence.

"Okay, you're freaking me out, now. Antony, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Have you got another girlfriend?"

"What? Why_" he began.

"Just answer me, please," I cut him off.

"No, of course not. Why?" he said, taking a quick look at me.

"Don't lie to me."

"I don't wanna lie to you," he said thoughtfully.

"Okay, so why are you always checking your phone, like you're waiting for something or somebody?"

"Fair enough. Do you mind if we stop by my place?"

"No, I don't mind."

He gave me one of his charming smiles. I didn't know why he was taking me to his house, but I was curious to discover his place.

"I wanna check something out," he said, rubbing his eyes. "But I promise you, I'll tell you everything you wanna know over soft drinks," he said.

He grabbed my hand and kissed it. Every pore of my skin was yelling his name every time he looked at me or touched me. I was gonna rot in hell.