Colorless

The ride

It was awkward after a few weeks of meeting Tadashi. We would pass by each other in the hall and he would come up to say something but I would turn around and walk away. I was way too embarrassed to approach him.

I've never had a boyfriend let along a guy liking me so actually hugging a guy really surprised me. Gogo said that Tadashi thought nothing of it but I didn't care about that. To me it was something--not romantic or anything like that but it wasn't just a hug. I felt like I had someone who cared that I lived or died. It felt like I was needed.

I definitely didn't want to tell that to Tadashi or anything though.

I was in the art room designing after my class was over. My professor lets me stay longer since I never really want to go home after school. The door suddenly swings open and there's Gogo standing with Tadashi. Crap.

"Sup" Gogo says walking over to me.

I open my eyes real big and look at her and look at Tadashi trying to sign to her that I don't want to see him.

"How's it going, Ellie?" Tadashi asks, "We haven't really talked since we first met...it's almost as if...you're avoiding me" he says with accusing eyes.

Ugh. He's doing that thing again where he wants to know every little thing that's wrong with me. I don't even know the guy it's awkward.

"Look Ellie" Gogo starts, "I know you got your problems with Tadashi--"

"Problems!?" Tadashi questions.

"--ANYWAY..." Gogo shoots Tadashi a glare to shut up, "Tadashi needs you to help him with his independent project"

"Independent project? What does he need from me?" I ask.

"I heard you speak a few languages? That you used to be a linguistics major" Tadashi replies.

I shoot Gogo a look as if to say how much does he know about me and how much have you told him. She just shrugs like she didn't do anything wrong. "Yeah I used to study languages..."

"How many?" He asks.

"Twenty" I reply.

"TWENTY!?" They both reply in unison.

I look at them like it was no big deal, "Yeah I wanted to go into international business but then............" I stop
talking. I don't want to get into it.

"That's incredible! I thought you only knew a few--"

"She told me she only knew a few" Gogo says, defensively.

"--but twenty!? That's amazing" Tadashi finishes, "having you help me with my project is working out better than I expected!"

"Woah I didn't agree on anything, what's your project?" I ask. Im glad that they didn't push further into my past.

"It's better if I show you" He smiles and mentions through the door.

Gogo starts to walk the opposite direction towards her lab room. I look at her questioningly.

"See ya nerds!" She says with a devilish smile and sprints towards the room.

"Uhh...aren't we going to the lab too?" I ask, a bit bewildered.

"Just follow me, this way" Tadashi replies.

We walked all the way to the back parking lot, and I was very confused.

"Umm...." I start to question. He finally stops in front of a motor scooter.

"Hop on!" He says throwing me his extra helmet.

"Is this your project? I don't mean to be rude but it's already been invented"

"Nahh, my projects at home"

"It-- it's what!?" I didn't sign up for this. He's already on the teal scooter waiting for me. Where would I hold onto? His shoulders? His sides? His-

"Come on, we don't have all day"

My face gets hot and I jump on the back of him and put my helmet on. He starts the motor and speeds out of the parking lot. I naturally grab onto his waist and hold as tight as I could. He's a crazy driver.

"Sorry about that, my little brother always likes to ride fast and crazy with me"

"Oh yeah?" I say closing my eyes as tight as I can to not see how fast we are going.

"Hey, open your eyes the views great!"

"No!" I say, clingy onto him tighter.

He laughs, "alright but you're missing out"

I open one eye at a time and relax a bit. He must have taken the long way home because we are up in the hills of San Fransokyo. And he's right. The view is absolutely amazing, I can't remember the last time I went up the hills.

The sun was about to set and I could see the whole city, the rays hit everything just right; it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in a long time.

"Didn't I tell you--" Tadashi paused and turned to look at me for a split second, "you smiled"

"I what?" I couldn't hear him over the wind.

"You smiled, first time since I met you, you should do it more" He replied. I could see his ears were a little pink.

Maybe he was cold, "let's head to your house" I say.

"Right" He answered.