A Chance Encounter
Chapter 13
“Frank! Wake up, you’re going to be late!” my mom practically yells in my ear the next day. I blink up at her sleepily. The couch is so uncomfortable.
“Five more minutes, okay?”
“You don’t have five minutes! Jamia already left, and you were supposed to show her the way!”
I bolt upright. I forgot that without being in my room I don’t have my alarm clock. I’ll have to find some other way of waking up. As it is, Mom’s right. I’m gonna be super late! I don’t even bother changing my shirt, jumping into a pair of jeans and sprinting out the door with only one shoe on. Knowing that grouchy teacher, I’m gonna get an earful!
I manage to fall into first hour exactly one second before the bell. And when I say fall, I mean I tripped over my still untied shoelace and face-planted on the floor. There are several kids snickering as I stand up, and I shoot them all nasty glares.
“What an extravagant entrance, Franklin. Please explain your tardiness.”
“I wasn’t tardy. I was in just before the bell,” I defend myself, “But if you must know, I didn’t have an alarm this morning because I got kicked out of my room.”
“Hmmm,” she narrows her eyes, “Fine. You’ll get off easy today, but only because I’m feeling generous.”
I make my way to the back of the room with my head down and sit in my seat. The hag starts saying something about grammar or some shit. I immediately drown her out.
“So?” Mikey asks from beside me.
“So…what?”
“So what’s she like?”
I groan, “Mikey! Just leave her alone. She’s going through enough shit right now without you stalking her.”
He raises an eyebrow, “When did it change from ‘I don’t want her around’ to ‘she’s going through shit?’”
“Since I actually talked to her and discovered that she doesn’t want to be here either…She’s actually a pretty cool person.”
“Really? Describe her.”
I have to think for a second, because I really didn’t see much of her yesterday, “Well, she’s on the short side, like me. She has short black hair, and chocolate brown eyes. And she plays the guitar. That’s all I know.”
He smirks, “She sounds cute.”
“Yeah…I guess she is. She has a really nice voice, and her lips pout out in an adorable way when she’s sad.”
“Uh-oh. Frank, you don’t…Like this girl…do you?”
Hmmm…do I? She is attractive, and from what I got at dinner, she’s really nice. Then there was that whole crying thing where I just felt the urge to make her feel better, “I think I might.”
“Oh, Gee is not going to be happy about that.”
And now I’m angry again, “Who cares? I’m free to like whoever I want. I was never dating the guy, so he can’t control my love life.” It’s really difficult to keep my voice to a whisper.
Mikey sighs, “I guess I just won’t tell him. He did just get out of one depressive slum. Sending him straight back in would just be cruel.”
I smile, “Thanks, Mikes.” The bell rings then and we depart for second hour.
…
“Frank! Wait up!” Jamia’s voice greets me as I’m reaching the gate after school. I turn and smile at her as she reaches me, breathless.
“I have to wait anyway. You didn’t have to run,” I tease her.
She blinks, “Oh. Who are you waiting for?”
“My friend, Mikey. We always walk home together.”
“Oh…hey, sorry for leaving you this morning. I didn’t realize you hadn’t woken up and Linda said to let her handle it. I didn’t want to be late on my first day.”
“It’s fine. I’m used to being nagged on. Not exactly the model student.”
She giggles. Such a cute giggle, “Yeah, I can tell.”
“Hey, Frankie,” Mikey walks up, “Sorry I took so long…You must be Jamia.”
She nods, “And you’re Mikey?”
He smiles, “Yupp. Frank didn’t lie, you are cute.”
She blushes and looks at me, “You said…what?”
I can feel my own face turning red, “No, he’s putting words in my mouth….Um…”
“Uh, okay…Let’s go home.”
Mikey keeps chatting at Jamia the whole way home. I can’t help but feel he’s issuing a challenge. And besides that, I can see that he’s making her feel awkward. I’m almost happy when we get to our house and he has to part ways.
“He’s a friendly guy,” Jamia says.
“Mmhmm. He wasn’t making things awkward was he? I mean, I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable here. It is your home now.”
She smiles, “Thanks, but it’s fine. Um…” She’s blushing again, and I have no idea why this time.
“What is it?”
“Well…I was wondering if you knew anywhere nearby that we can get coffee…”
“Oh, yeah. There’s a place in town. We can walk, or I can ask Mom to borrow the car.” Wait…she’s not asking me out…is she?
She smiles, “I like walking. Let’s go.”
I shrug and start to lead the way. I probably should have mentioned that it’s a pretty long walk. Maybe I still should mention it. And I didn’t tell Mom where we’re going. She’ll probably be mad when we get home. Or she’ll be happy that we’re getting along. Should I even be going on an almost date with my almost step sister? This is really stressful.
I stop and turn to her, “Um, actually, we should go get the car. And I didn’t tell anyone we were leaving.”
“Oh. Yeah, I guess you’re right. I didn’t think about it cuz my dad usually works late.”
“Oh. Mom just has the same hours as school. I think she’s asked for more, but they won’t give her any.”
I walk into the house and look for Mom. She’s sitting in the living room with a book. She looks totally relaxed. It’s nice to see her that way.
“Hey, can I borrow the car? Jamia wants to go get coffee,” I say.
She looks up, “Oh, sure. Just don’t stay out too late.”
I smile, “We won’t. Thanks!”
“Thank you, Linda!” Jamia says before grabbing my hand and pulling me out the door. My hand. She’s holding my hand. This whole thing is making me so nervous. And when I’m nervous, I need nicotine.
Once we’re in the car I roll down the window and pull out a cigarette. Jamia sees it, but doesn’t seem to mind. I hold it up better, “You don’t mind if I…?”
“Huh? No, but…I didn’t know you were eighteen.”
“Oh…Uh…I’m not. Mom doesn’t care as long as it’s not around her though, so,” I shrug.
She nods, “I’m really not a fan of those things. They smell bad.”
“Oh…” I don’t know what else to say, so I put on my seat belt and start driving. There’s a really uncomfortable silence in the car. I have no idea how to break it. Luckily, we get to the coffee place relatively quickly. At least now I can ask her what she wants.
She orders a simple mocha cappuccino and I get a hazelnut coffee, three sugars, two creams. Jamia pulls out her wallet to pay, but I stop her and pull out my own instead, “I’ll get it,” I tell her.
“But…I thought you guys were tight on money,” she says and immediately throws her hand to her mouth, “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean anything by that…I just wanted to help.”
“It’s fine,” I say, “Can’t let a pretty girl pay for herself.” Holy shit, where did that come from? Apparently my mouth disobeys me even away from the Way brothers. Oh well, Jamia doesn’t seem to care and I do think she’s pretty. I get my change from the cashier and we make our way back to a table. The awkward atmosphere seems to finally have dissipated. That’s good.
“Hey, Frank?” Jamia says once we’re seated.
“Yeah?”
“I, um, like your shirt.”
I look down and see that what I’m wearing is just a worn out Black Flag tee that I’ve had for three years, “Um, thanks. It’s almost retired, though. If I wear it anymore it’ll probably get a hole in it.”
She laughs, “That’s fan dedication right there. I like Black Flag. They’re pretty great.”
“Yeah. I hardly ever find people who’ve heard of them, though,” I say.
“Yeah. This world is full of idiots with no taste.”
I laugh, “You said it.”
Someone else comes into the coffee shop. I make the mistake of looking up at them and make immediate eye contact with Gerard. He smiles at me and starts to head over. He freezes when he sees Jamia, though. His expression takes on an expression that’s half anger and half sadness. Then he walks back out the door.
Aw, Crap.
“Five more minutes, okay?”
“You don’t have five minutes! Jamia already left, and you were supposed to show her the way!”
I bolt upright. I forgot that without being in my room I don’t have my alarm clock. I’ll have to find some other way of waking up. As it is, Mom’s right. I’m gonna be super late! I don’t even bother changing my shirt, jumping into a pair of jeans and sprinting out the door with only one shoe on. Knowing that grouchy teacher, I’m gonna get an earful!
I manage to fall into first hour exactly one second before the bell. And when I say fall, I mean I tripped over my still untied shoelace and face-planted on the floor. There are several kids snickering as I stand up, and I shoot them all nasty glares.
“What an extravagant entrance, Franklin. Please explain your tardiness.”
“I wasn’t tardy. I was in just before the bell,” I defend myself, “But if you must know, I didn’t have an alarm this morning because I got kicked out of my room.”
“Hmmm,” she narrows her eyes, “Fine. You’ll get off easy today, but only because I’m feeling generous.”
I make my way to the back of the room with my head down and sit in my seat. The hag starts saying something about grammar or some shit. I immediately drown her out.
“So?” Mikey asks from beside me.
“So…what?”
“So what’s she like?”
I groan, “Mikey! Just leave her alone. She’s going through enough shit right now without you stalking her.”
He raises an eyebrow, “When did it change from ‘I don’t want her around’ to ‘she’s going through shit?’”
“Since I actually talked to her and discovered that she doesn’t want to be here either…She’s actually a pretty cool person.”
“Really? Describe her.”
I have to think for a second, because I really didn’t see much of her yesterday, “Well, she’s on the short side, like me. She has short black hair, and chocolate brown eyes. And she plays the guitar. That’s all I know.”
He smirks, “She sounds cute.”
“Yeah…I guess she is. She has a really nice voice, and her lips pout out in an adorable way when she’s sad.”
“Uh-oh. Frank, you don’t…Like this girl…do you?”
Hmmm…do I? She is attractive, and from what I got at dinner, she’s really nice. Then there was that whole crying thing where I just felt the urge to make her feel better, “I think I might.”
“Oh, Gee is not going to be happy about that.”
And now I’m angry again, “Who cares? I’m free to like whoever I want. I was never dating the guy, so he can’t control my love life.” It’s really difficult to keep my voice to a whisper.
Mikey sighs, “I guess I just won’t tell him. He did just get out of one depressive slum. Sending him straight back in would just be cruel.”
I smile, “Thanks, Mikes.” The bell rings then and we depart for second hour.
…
“Frank! Wait up!” Jamia’s voice greets me as I’m reaching the gate after school. I turn and smile at her as she reaches me, breathless.
“I have to wait anyway. You didn’t have to run,” I tease her.
She blinks, “Oh. Who are you waiting for?”
“My friend, Mikey. We always walk home together.”
“Oh…hey, sorry for leaving you this morning. I didn’t realize you hadn’t woken up and Linda said to let her handle it. I didn’t want to be late on my first day.”
“It’s fine. I’m used to being nagged on. Not exactly the model student.”
She giggles. Such a cute giggle, “Yeah, I can tell.”
“Hey, Frankie,” Mikey walks up, “Sorry I took so long…You must be Jamia.”
She nods, “And you’re Mikey?”
He smiles, “Yupp. Frank didn’t lie, you are cute.”
She blushes and looks at me, “You said…what?”
I can feel my own face turning red, “No, he’s putting words in my mouth….Um…”
“Uh, okay…Let’s go home.”
Mikey keeps chatting at Jamia the whole way home. I can’t help but feel he’s issuing a challenge. And besides that, I can see that he’s making her feel awkward. I’m almost happy when we get to our house and he has to part ways.
“He’s a friendly guy,” Jamia says.
“Mmhmm. He wasn’t making things awkward was he? I mean, I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable here. It is your home now.”
She smiles, “Thanks, but it’s fine. Um…” She’s blushing again, and I have no idea why this time.
“What is it?”
“Well…I was wondering if you knew anywhere nearby that we can get coffee…”
“Oh, yeah. There’s a place in town. We can walk, or I can ask Mom to borrow the car.” Wait…she’s not asking me out…is she?
She smiles, “I like walking. Let’s go.”
I shrug and start to lead the way. I probably should have mentioned that it’s a pretty long walk. Maybe I still should mention it. And I didn’t tell Mom where we’re going. She’ll probably be mad when we get home. Or she’ll be happy that we’re getting along. Should I even be going on an almost date with my almost step sister? This is really stressful.
I stop and turn to her, “Um, actually, we should go get the car. And I didn’t tell anyone we were leaving.”
“Oh. Yeah, I guess you’re right. I didn’t think about it cuz my dad usually works late.”
“Oh. Mom just has the same hours as school. I think she’s asked for more, but they won’t give her any.”
I walk into the house and look for Mom. She’s sitting in the living room with a book. She looks totally relaxed. It’s nice to see her that way.
“Hey, can I borrow the car? Jamia wants to go get coffee,” I say.
She looks up, “Oh, sure. Just don’t stay out too late.”
I smile, “We won’t. Thanks!”
“Thank you, Linda!” Jamia says before grabbing my hand and pulling me out the door. My hand. She’s holding my hand. This whole thing is making me so nervous. And when I’m nervous, I need nicotine.
Once we’re in the car I roll down the window and pull out a cigarette. Jamia sees it, but doesn’t seem to mind. I hold it up better, “You don’t mind if I…?”
“Huh? No, but…I didn’t know you were eighteen.”
“Oh…Uh…I’m not. Mom doesn’t care as long as it’s not around her though, so,” I shrug.
She nods, “I’m really not a fan of those things. They smell bad.”
“Oh…” I don’t know what else to say, so I put on my seat belt and start driving. There’s a really uncomfortable silence in the car. I have no idea how to break it. Luckily, we get to the coffee place relatively quickly. At least now I can ask her what she wants.
She orders a simple mocha cappuccino and I get a hazelnut coffee, three sugars, two creams. Jamia pulls out her wallet to pay, but I stop her and pull out my own instead, “I’ll get it,” I tell her.
“But…I thought you guys were tight on money,” she says and immediately throws her hand to her mouth, “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean anything by that…I just wanted to help.”
“It’s fine,” I say, “Can’t let a pretty girl pay for herself.” Holy shit, where did that come from? Apparently my mouth disobeys me even away from the Way brothers. Oh well, Jamia doesn’t seem to care and I do think she’s pretty. I get my change from the cashier and we make our way back to a table. The awkward atmosphere seems to finally have dissipated. That’s good.
“Hey, Frank?” Jamia says once we’re seated.
“Yeah?”
“I, um, like your shirt.”
I look down and see that what I’m wearing is just a worn out Black Flag tee that I’ve had for three years, “Um, thanks. It’s almost retired, though. If I wear it anymore it’ll probably get a hole in it.”
She laughs, “That’s fan dedication right there. I like Black Flag. They’re pretty great.”
“Yeah. I hardly ever find people who’ve heard of them, though,” I say.
“Yeah. This world is full of idiots with no taste.”
I laugh, “You said it.”
Someone else comes into the coffee shop. I make the mistake of looking up at them and make immediate eye contact with Gerard. He smiles at me and starts to head over. He freezes when he sees Jamia, though. His expression takes on an expression that’s half anger and half sadness. Then he walks back out the door.
Aw, Crap.
8/11/13