She stepped inside the door of her favorite Friday night hang out; Majors Sports Bar. Probably the only local bar that she was able to go in, she'd be 21 in six months.
She came here every Friday night with her parents for karaoke. The people knew her name by now and had her drink order memorized. She glanced around the room for a place to sit but stumbled on her own feet when she saw him.
This was the 3rd time she'd seen him here, this time sitting alone. She'd never talked to him before, didn't know his name, just referred to him as " Smiles", because that's all he did. Everytime he'd look up at her across the room or the table, when their eyes met, the shiest, but most heart-stopping smile would radiate across his face and warm his soft eyes. After she caught her breath, their gaze would be stopped by the girl's reddish cheeks looking shyly away.
This night though, she would talk to him. She sat down in the booth next to him so both of their knees were facing out, the only thing keeping their shoulders from touching was the back to the booth itself. As she sat down, he smiled that same smile she was hoping for.
She learned that his name was John, they talked about work, school & music. Their soft, shy voices were hard to hear over the thick blasts of noise coming from the speakers going into their ears.
She'd never felt this way around anyone before. She was usually more confident, more talkative. But this time, she was being cautious. Just watching him closely. She was amuzed by him. She wanted to know him.
The following weekend she sat next to him again. This time with his friends. The night was filled with little talk and shy smiles. At the end of the night he slid a piece of paper across the table that said "call me sometime" followed by his phone number. She smiled at him and added in an "I will" then skipped out the door. Weeks following she started to get to know him better. She found herself saying funny things and doing silly things just to see that warm smile. She wasn't quite herself around him. She tried so hard to be but found herself doing stupid things without realizing. Getting lost on her way to places she'd driven ten thousand times, pumping gas with the engine still running - something she's never done before. He made her nervous...excited - in a good way. She was enthralled and wanted to know more.
February 9, 2009
I was sick today. The kind of sick that makes you want hot soup, a hot bath and someone to hold you while you sleep. I kept my mind off of it by reading my book all day. The night was almost over, about time to go home, when i looked up from my book to see him, walking toward the counter, his eyes on me. My heart sped up and I felt my face turn red.
"Hi" I spoke without thinking, "Hey" I said again realizing who I was talking to.
Why did I say hi twice?
He flashed a warm smile. That made me forget about my achy muscles and sore eyes. Then he pulled a 5 in by 7 in white envelope out of his jacket and set it down in front of me. On the front it said "Ali". The card had a picture of a little boy holding a bouquet of roses and on the inside it read,
"Sorry you're not feeling well today. Get better.
John"
Again, I felt my face turn a bright shade of red and I looked down shyly at my hands. Then he reached into jacket again and pulled out a golden-colored little stuffed dog. He set it down in front of my hands and I watched one corner of his mouth slowly move upward into a crooked smile that said "hope you like it".
Excitement danced inside of me. No one EVER surprised me. I always did the surprising. It was a good feeling. No, it was wonderful.
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