show where someone had just gotten spaghetti dumped on his head. Turning, I shook my head and climbed the stairs to my room. That never happened in real life.
I sat my stuff at the side of my desk. As I slumped in my chair, I pul ed out my homework. I did it as fast as I could and as focused as my brain would al ow. I stil saw her standing by her locker looking cool, and calm—and the smile on her face when she saw me.
I final y finished my homework close to ten. The note in my pocket felt as if it must have burned through to my bone. It hurt me. I was dying to read it. I went to my laptop and quickly made a play list adding Digital Underground to the list from the iStore. She’d had that album, too. I synced my iPod and dug out the note. I put my iPod on the keyboard while I waited and stared at it, flipping the note between my fingers. It stared at me, too, taking its time while the circle chased its tail, tel ing me that I couldn’t unplug it yet. Final y, when it was synced, I went to my bed across the room and lay across it sideways. I put my iPod in my clock radio and hit play on the play list that said “GIA.” Tu-Pac’s “Changes” played. I final y al owed myself to read the note.
Travis,
Thank you for the note; I appreciate your thoughtfulness. You are very sweet. Thank you also for the invitation for Friday night. I will be at the game for Alex, and I’d like to go do something with you too. My mom always told me that I could date when I was sixteen, but Oliver hasn’t said what the rules are. I’m not sure if he even knows what they are. We all kind of avoid each other. I’m still mourning my mother and trying to adjust to this new place. I don’t know how fair it is to be happy here. It holds a lot of bad memories for Alex and me. When I think of you, I am scared too. I think it’s the good kind; it’s the scared that makes my heart race and my palms sweaty. I can’t really say much more, but I can say that I like your smile and your eyes. And now you’ll probably get into trouble for reading this note in class, so I’ll close. See you soon.
-Gia
I read the note again immediately after I finished it. She liked my smile and my eyes. I could go on about the things I liked about her, but I wouldn’t do that. I grabbed my spiral notebook and began to write her another note. I’d put it in her locker in the morning, but a couple lines in, I paused. She was sad. Her mom obviously meant a lot to her. I rol ed on my back once more and read the note. I could move slowly. Was that what she was tel ing me? That she wanted to take things slow? I thought I could do that. I continued to write.
Gia,
I’m sorry that you had something so terrible happen to your family. I know a little bit about loss. My father left my mom weeks before my sister was born. I was only eight at the time, but I clearly remember that one day he was there and the next day he was gone. My mom cried a lot at first, but she just kept saying it was better this way. I had a hard time believing her though.
I hope you don’t feel helpless. Just so you know, I’m a really good listener. I don’t really know why I’m telling you all of this, maybe because I want you to know me. I don’t know.
For the record though, there are so many things that I like about you. I like your hair, it reminds me of the sun, as it sets in the sky with the brilliant colors of red, purple and gray. Not that I think you’re purple although that would be a pretty color on you; but you remind me of the most beautiful part of the day. And I like your eyes. They are so expressive. They draw me into them. Though I’m in a hurry to get to know you, I’m not in a hurry to push you into a relationship. I can be patient. I will be patient if that’s what you want. Talk to you soon.
-Travis
I changed to some pajama pants, preparing to go to bed. I lay down but was almost immediately up again, too wired to sleep. I paced my floor tossing a footbal in my
I sat my stuff at the side of my desk. As I slumped in my chair, I pul ed out my homework. I did it as fast as I could and as focused as my brain would al ow. I stil saw her standing by her locker looking cool, and calm—and the smile on her face when she saw me.
I final y finished my homework close to ten. The note in my pocket felt as if it must have burned through to my bone. It hurt me. I was dying to read it. I went to my laptop and quickly made a play list adding Digital Underground to the list from the iStore. She’d had that album, too. I synced my iPod and dug out the note. I put my iPod on the keyboard while I waited and stared at it, flipping the note between my fingers. It stared at me, too, taking its time while the circle chased its tail, tel ing me that I couldn’t unplug it yet. Final y, when it was synced, I went to my bed across the room and lay across it sideways. I put my iPod in my clock radio and hit play on the play list that said “GIA.” Tu-Pac’s “Changes” played. I final y al owed myself to read the note.
Travis,
Thank you for the note; I appreciate your thoughtfulness. You are very sweet. Thank you also for the invitation for Friday night. I will be at the game for Alex, and I’d like to go do something with you too. My mom always told me that I could date when I was sixteen, but Oliver hasn’t said what the rules are. I’m not sure if he even knows what they are. We all kind of avoid each other. I’m still mourning my mother and trying to adjust to this new place. I don’t know how fair it is to be happy here. It holds a lot of bad memories for Alex and me. When I think of you, I am scared too. I think it’s the good kind; it’s the scared that makes my heart race and my palms sweaty. I can’t really say much more, but I can say that I like your smile and your eyes. And now you’ll probably get into trouble for reading this note in class, so I’ll close. See you soon.
-Gia
I read the note again immediately after I finished it. She liked my smile and my eyes. I could go on about the things I liked about her, but I wouldn’t do that. I grabbed my spiral notebook and began to write her another note. I’d put it in her locker in the morning, but a couple lines in, I paused. She was sad. Her mom obviously meant a lot to her. I rol ed on my back once more and read the note. I could move slowly. Was that what she was tel ing me? That she wanted to take things slow? I thought I could do that. I continued to write.
Gia,
I’m sorry that you had something so terrible happen to your family. I know a little bit about loss. My father left my mom weeks before my sister was born. I was only eight at the time, but I clearly remember that one day he was there and the next day he was gone. My mom cried a lot at first, but she just kept saying it was better this way. I had a hard time believing her though.
I hope you don’t feel helpless. Just so you know, I’m a really good listener. I don’t really know why I’m telling you all of this, maybe because I want you to know me. I don’t know.
For the record though, there are so many things that I like about you. I like your hair, it reminds me of the sun, as it sets in the sky with the brilliant colors of red, purple and gray. Not that I think you’re purple although that would be a pretty color on you; but you remind me of the most beautiful part of the day. And I like your eyes. They are so expressive. They draw me into them. Though I’m in a hurry to get to know you, I’m not in a hurry to push you into a relationship. I can be patient. I will be patient if that’s what you want. Talk to you soon.
-Travis
I changed to some pajama pants, preparing to go to bed. I lay down but was almost immediately up again, too wired to sleep. I paced my floor tossing a footbal in my
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