Special enough
17. It’s barely step one
🤍🖤💜 Jacob 💜🖤🤍
“I thought you were coming to our school today?”
West sits next to me in the locker room wearing his shoes after our match practice.
“No man... one more week. Next Monday, to be exact.” I frown, “I thought I told you about that chemistry competition on Sunday..”
West scoffs, “You indeed are a dork!” and walks out of the locker room. Nerd would be more appropriate. But Ok.. Whatever gets you off West. If someone from Maple High would have teased me, I might have taken offense. But I know West doesn’t mean it like that. He is crude to everyone. His default mode.
I like him. He is fun to be around and surprisingly cool for things other boys have embarrassed me about. I am looking forward to attending school with him. I am sure we will have some of the classes together. With Natalie too.
She and I can be good friends. Or maybe more. I am eager to meet her in the evening again. She told me she would like to take a walk with Coco.
I wonder if she knows West or someone in team? Her expression was indecipherable when I mentioned the hockey team. Maybe she doesn’t like hockey. I wouldn’t be surprised. People barely care about ice hockey in USA.
I grab my bag and start browsing my phone while walking out. I must have checked her messages a million times today.
Dull-Mean-Happening-Girl: ‘Saved! I was starting to wonder if you will txt me after a month or something. Are you an early riser?’
That was her reply last night. She was interested in chatting with me. Thought itself made me giddy when I came back home after the walk this morning. I wish I hadn’t turned off my phone last night. Could have talked to her more. I am indeed a dork.
During school, after mulling over it for hours, I finally replied to her.
Me: ‘I am not but Coco is. She drags me along to her morning walks. What about you? I am guessing you are.. ‘
Dull-Mean-Happening-Girl: ‘Yup! Morning runs clear my head. Also have a competition this month. So there is that!’
“very rare to see you smiling on your phone” West interrupts my reverie. I realize he has been walking just behind me.
“Please tell me it’s a girl.” He asks, trying to peek at my phone.
“Could be,” I smirk and put my phone into my pocket. Quickly.
“OH MY FUCKING GOD”
I try to shush him with no success. He starts patting my back as if we have won a championship trophy on my behalf.
“Of all people in the world... you should know it’s barely step one,” I hiss at him.
“Well, It’s a huge milestone for you. Who is she? Tell me. Do I know her?”
“I don’t wanna jinx it.” I admit sheepishly, “But you might know her. She is from your school and probably in some of your classes too.”
“Name! Name!! Give me her name.” He asks me eagerly.
I roll my eyes. “Nooo... Let me test the waters first”
He nods. “Happy for you. I gotta go. See you tomorrow.”
He is excited, as if I have already slept with her. He somehow figured out my non-existent experience with girls. He assumes I am just too shy or something. Indeed, I am. But believe me, when I say I got plenty of chances with girls. I didn’t go ahead because it felt… not right. Uncomfortable. Made that mistake with my first girlfriend, Sadie, my famous stalker. We often hear about the male ego getting bruised. After her, I figured Girls have pretty fragile egos too. Many girls couldn’t believe it when I told them ‘No’.
It stirred some crude chatter at school. But again, what doesn’t stir rumors in a school full of teenagers with active imagination?
Ahem...
There is one more embarrassing thing I need to admit. A few months ago... I might have caught myself staring at West while he was changing. Others could say I was practically drooling. But I strongly disagree. I was just admiring. Quietly.
I put a halt to my chain of thoughts for two reasons. One, he is committed. Two, He is probably straight (Could be closeted bisexual. We can always hope. Right?) We don’t talk much outside our hockey circle. But I do consider him a friend.
18. Special enough
🤍🖤💜 Jacob 💜🖤🤍
On the way home, I notice Norris on the side of the road asking for a lift. He probably recognized my car.
“Waiting for someone?” I grin as I roll the window down.
“Thank God it’s you!” He sighs and says after a pause, “I know I was an ass to you yesterday... But still, save me.”
Oh yes, he was. I usually don’t hold grudges, but he doesn’t need to know that. I raise my eyebrow.
He pleads, “Please”
“Please sounds melodious from your mouth, Norris.” I resist my temptation to call him by his first name. He hates it. So I use it when revenge is essential.
“Do you have tow cable?”
I shake my head, and he sighs again. I refrain from suggesting he should get his car serviced often because we both know he will retort with something mean. And I will end up calling him Chuck.
“Give me a lift. I will come back with my brother to tow it away.”
“Why don’t you just call him?”
“Already did. He is a lazy ass. Will have to personally drag him here.”
He locks his car and hops in the passenger seat next to me. Norris and I have quite some rivalry with the team. But it’s good sportsmanship. I could say I like him too.
Then again, June will say, “You like everyone.” “Have some standards.” and whatnot.
I smile at the little conversation we had when I first told her about Natalie.
“I think I like her.”
“Duh! you like everyone brother. Tell me the last time you didn’t like someone.”
“No, I mean, I really like her.”
“like?” she raises her eyebrows with a hidden smirk.
“Enough… so it could turn into physical attraction probably..” I mumble.
She squeals. “Oh, my fucking God”
“Language!”
She rolls her eyes. “You can’t even say F ! Would you be able to F her when the time arises?”
I winch inward even remembering her comment. For a 16-year-old, she certainly swears like a sailor.
“You look happy today.” Norris’ voice brings me out of my thoughts.
I notice him glancing towards me. “Well, you apologized. What else do you expect?”
“I did not!”
“Hmm, Let’s see...” I count on my fingers.
One. “You admitted you were an ass.”
Two. “You asked me to save you.”
Three. “And let’s not forget the please…. Collectively, I would like to label it an apology. “
He smirks and shakes his head. “Whatever gets you off, Jacob. Still, I am sure something is different,” He adds after a pause. “West noticed it too.”
Looks like he eavesdropped on my conversation with West earlier. I chuckle. Everyone digs good gossip. I am not in a mood to hear his wild guesses, so I tread carefully.
“Just some girl I have been talking to...”
Considering I only started talking to her 24 hours ago, it’s a bold statement.
He grins and nods. “Special?”
“Special enough to make me smile.” I shrug. “But let me clarify. Me smiling a minute ago was for your apology.”
He laughs and we continue our casual chatter about anything to everything.
After dropping him, I pull through the driveway and notice June sitting at the front door waiting for me.
