Beth had to go to this music store after class to pick up a couple things; and because it was near my house, I ended up tagging along with her.
The nervous quality I registered on Saturday had sort of lingered. I thought of what I could say to make her feel at ease.
"It was cool meeting your parents the other day."
She looks surprised and turns to me with the relief of someone who'd just been told that they did well on a test they were sure they'd bombed.
"Oh really?" she says.
"Totally. They're super interesting."
"You didn't think they were weird or too intense?"
"Not at all," I say. "The religion stuff is new for me, but I'm interested in learning."
"Okay," she says softly.
"I guess it's important to you too?" I ask.
"Yes." She hesitates. "Faith is very fundamental to who I am as a human being. I think I would be completely lost without it."
"Sorry, maybe a dumb question, but what exactly do you mean when you say 'faith'?"
"It means..." she hesitates again, searching for the right explanation, as if her next words are going to be written in stone.
"...it means, there's good in the world. Real good. In everyone. Including me. And I have to remember that, even when it's challenging."
"I like that," I say.
We roam slowly through the music store. She seems calmer suddenly, more confident, and takes her time looking at different guitars, tuners, microphones, and other accessories. We're quiet around each other, occasionally making eye contact but neither of us really feel the need to speak. Something really soothing about the atmosphere in here—our own little universe.
Being quiet gives me time to really see certain details about her: the freckles on her face, bright in this light; the black dot on the white part of her left eye; the stitches on her dark green jacket. She mentions she's warm, takes off her jacket and reveals a black Joy Division t-shirt that hugs her figure. I'm definitely attracted to her; would love to see what she looks like without the Joy Division shirt on. But I'm also happy to remain in this space, ambling our way through a music store, mostly quiet, taking our time getting to know each other. The shared mission of the band was a good excuse to be around her. I don't know if we'll ever be more than friends. It's cool just to know her though.
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Alternative
Teen FictionTim's public high school experience thus far has been characterized by bad grades and the total absence of a social life; he's listless and needs a change. So, after grade eleven ends, his mom decides to enrol him in a bizarre, little alternative sc...
