- Adrenaline -

Chapter 13: Reading Between the Lines.

     "Hey, Joan, thanks for answering but, I gotta go."
    "Oh, yeah, okay. Well, stay safe."
     "Yeah, yeah you too. Bye."

     I hang up on my friend, staring endlessly at my text screen.

     Wait, wait, hold on, let me get this straight. I tell John that if he doesn't want to be serious, to leave me alone. John breaks up with Cleo, and texts me, presumably not too long after the end of his previous relationship, asking me if I want to see a movie with him?
     Okay, fuck, is he- oh my god. He's serious. Or, I think he is? I mean, why would he dump Cleo, queen bee of all queen bees? Just to be with me? Some loser know-it-all?
     Is he willing to go public with this? With me? Oh gosh- I'm feeling giddy..
     Fuck! I've left him on read for ten minutes now! Okay, okay relax. Answer him.

Me, 4:46 PM
            Maybe.

     Okay, good! See, I sound interested, but not interested at the same time! Dammit, he probably plays these games regularly though, he probably knows exactly what I'm doing.

Stupid Jock, 4:48 PM
            what genders do you like?

Me, 4:48 PM
Do you mean genres?

Stupid Jock, 4:48 PM,
            yeas :O

     I feel the corners of my lips turn upward into a smile. He's kind of dumb, but not in a bad way.

Me, 4:49 PM
Hm. Don't make fun of me, but I like romance and fantasy. I also like horror and action films. I'm into a little bit of everything I guess.

Stupid Jock, 4:49 PM
            a littel bit of everything huh? ;p

Me, 4:50 PM
I can change my mind, you know.

Stupid Jock, 4:50 PM
            free saturday?

Me, 4:50 PM
I think I can free up some time.

     Oh, man. Oh man, oh man!!! I mean, these past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotion, but, I guess that's just what happens, right? We're both figuring ourselves out, and we're only young adults now. We can't be expected to know everything.
     Suddenly I'm feeling so much better. I hope up and run to my work station, pulling out two canvases and started to sketch the draft for my commissions. If I can keep feeling this good, I can have them done by Friday!

~*~

     And I did. I pumped those art pieces out like it was the air I breathe. Mary and Ben were super happy with the finished results, too! School has seemed to return to its normal chaos. Tuesday and Wednesday were all spent with people comforting Cleo, but now she's taking on a new approach to the single life.
     Good for her! She seems confident, and even though she's single, that just means a lot more boys can dote on her every whim and wish. I'd say she's living the life.
     I've seen John a couple of times too, but every time I see him, he looks... nervous. Upset, almost. I haven't really gotten the confidence yet to approach him. A very big part of me wants to wait for Saturday, when we meet up, to talk to him. Maybe he's taking it hard- the breakup I mean. But why would he breakup with her if he didn't really want to?
     Is it my fault? Did I push him too hard, was I too assertive?
     I saw John in the student parking lot, as I was exiting the building. He flashed an award winning smile at me, leaving me with flowers sprouting in my lungs and butterflies migrating all around my stomach. I smile back, waving, and begin walking home again.
     Something I've noticed that I do, is I wait until I'm alone to put on my chapstick. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I would rather be alone while the vanilla reminds me of John. Maybe I'm embarrassed of how enamored I am with him.
     "Hey mom?"
     "Yeah sunflower?"
     "Um, John wants to take me out tomorrow-"
     Bertha slowly gets up from the couch. "Take you out?" I can see her full lips turning into a warm smile.
     "Y-yeah- he- he wants to, to take me out to eat, and then we're gonna see a movie-"
     "Oh my goodness!"
     Mom runs towards me and picks me up, spinning me around, "Oh my little Vincent goin' on his first date!"
     "D-date?!"
     "My, my, you have grown up! Oh, you're an adult now. You're gonna be safe, right?" She puts my feet back on the ground, her hands on my shoulders.
     "It's just- it's just dinner and a movie!"
     "No, I mean you're gonna be safe-"
     I'm bright fucking red. "Mom!"
     She pulls me into a tight hug, "Oh, I'm sorry baby, it's just you're growin' up so fast, it's makin' my head spin!"