Fly Me to the Moon

o13 | Maybe?

I didn't realize Monday would come so soon, and I would have to face Carter again after that terrible dinner. Things got pretty weird after the hug, so I'm ready to avoid him all day long. I quickly get ready and join Ana to walk to school.

"Hey! How was your weekend? I missed you," she says.

"I missed you too! My weekend was..." A disaster. "Interesting."

"Talk."

I do as instructed but decide to skip the part where I had a sleepover at Sierra's place because I know she would freak out and start with the "she's dangerous" bull-shirt again. Instead, I decide to go straight to the point, while she drinks her morning coffee.

"Well, I found out that my singing partner's name is Carter Debonair."

Ana almost chokes, maybe I should've waited for her to finish drinking, but I don't know why she is overreacting this much.

"Sorry I'm not sure I heard you right," she says after finally being able to breathe. "Debonair?!"

"Umm... yes?"

"Oh my God. He is the golden boy around here, you know? I mean I only know him because of his popularity and because..." She stops.

"Because...?"

"Well, Sierra and him were kind of the perfect couple everyone talks about."

Now I would be the one choking if I were drinking coffee. Sierra and Carter. How was that even possible? She's just too bubbly to be with a Carter sort of guy.

"Things ended a bit messy between them though," Ana continues to explain. "So he is all yours now."

"Ew Ana! Why would you think I like him? I only sing with him."

"Well it is kind of impossible not to like him... I even had a secret crush on him in like freshman year, but don't worry, my eyes are only on Philip now."

"Well, I find it rather impossible to like him."

Ana is about to say something when we both see Carter arriving to school and I quickly decide to hide behind her, which takes her by surprise.

"Is he gone already?" I ask after a couple of seconds.

"No, he is coming our way."

"What?!"

"Just kidding, girl," Ana jokes and I playfully hit her. "What did he do to make you look so terrified?"

"It's a long story, I'll tell you after school, gotta go, bye!" I quickly say and run to class before she can say anything else about him.

There isn't really a long story, I just don't want to see him after that dinner and that.... hug. I'm the queen of awkward situations and the more I can avoid this one, the better.

"Okay guys, today we'll continue with some Shakespeare reading, so open your books were you left off last class," the teacher says as I walk into class and quickly sit behind Sierra. I still can't believe that she and Carter were together.

Reading, reading, and more reading. I'm just sick of Shakespeare at this point. Well, we actually have a love-hate relationship. Sometimes I really like him and cry with his pieces, but others I just hate him for making me fall asleep in class, which usually ends with the teacher yelling at me.

I close my book and prepare for a relaxing break without Shakespeare. I have it all planned. I'm going to eat my snacks behind the building, that way I'll completely avoid Carter today.

I walk through the door, ready to execute my plan when...

"Music room, now."

Really? If it was a real plan I'd be screaming mayday by now.

I knew I couldn't push this situation any further. One way or another, Carter would find me. I still try to escape the situation.

"Does it have to be now? I have some homework I'd like to get ahead with," I lie.

"Mrs Robinson never leaves homework."

Damn he is good. And I am a terrible liar.

"Okay fine."

We go to the all-too-familiar music room, the piano is there so I just look away. One day I will come play, no matter how hard it is.

"What song do you want to start with today?"

Oh, he is so not going to escape my questions.

"Maybe with the one where you explain why you didn't tell me you were a Debonair before?"

"Very funny."

"Well...?"

"Just forget about it, I didn't think it was that important," he shoves it off. "It's just a last name."

I can spot bad liars because I'm one myself, and I smell lie right now. Debonair isn't your average last name. I feel like there is a more complex reason why he didn't tell me, and my curiosity won't leave me alone until I know what it is.

"I don't even know your last name."

"Sallow," I say. "I'm waiting..." I fake-yawn which makes him roll his eyes.

"You won't stop until I tell you, won't you?" I shake my head no. "Okay, just keep it to yourself."

"No worries, I'll keep quiet."

"Well, telling my last name to people hasn't really done wonders for me in the past. When they find out, they become suspiciously nice all of a sudden. Let's say they try to get close for the wrong reasons, and when they get what they wanted they just walk away and leave me to wonder what I-" He sighs. "It's hard, you know?"

I nod even though I can't relate.

"So, you just push everyone away?" I can't help but ask. That would explain a lot of things.

"Yeah, kind of," he realizes after thinking about it for a second. "I hate not being able to tell if a relationship is real or fake, so I prefer not to have many."

That makes sense. If I were in his shoes, I would be a total paranoid. I'd see my friends as threats rather than people, and spend hours over-thinking whether I can trust someone or if they just want to use me.

"And... do you think I would do that?" I question. "Do you think I would use you?"

"No, I mean... I don't know, maybe?"

Guess he had the same bad impression of me that I had of him. I get his reasons for not trusting me, but I'm slightly offended anyways.

"You don't know me at all, Debonair."

"Maybe it would be easier to know you if you stopped trying to avoid me all morning."

Oh. Guess he noticed.

However, he isn't guilt free either.

"Well, maybe it would be easier if you stopped ignoring me all the time."

"Maybe," he says. "We'll save that question for another time, when we don't have to rehearse."

He's right. The break is short and I don't want to embarrass myself on stage.

"Let's start with Something Stupid, then?" I suggest.

"Deal."

He starts singing and I can only think that this is the first time we have ever had a normal conversation, and that maybe after this and him opening up, he'll stop ignoring me.