[ C h a p t e r - T w e n t y - T h r e e ]

Chapter 23

I stared at the clock, waiting for it to strike 5 o’clock. I wanted, no I needed, to get out of work. I’ve been here since school let out which was 3 and a half hours ago and I’ve been working nonstop. I also have to start up my project, which Jonah and I have procrastinated on this entire week. It’s not due anytime soon; I’d just rather finish it sooner rather than later. And if I’m being honest, I kind of want to spend some time with Jonah…which will be happening once the clock strikes 5.

It was 4:55 PM when the customer walked in. They quickly shuffled to the video game rack and grabbed about 5 games and a new charger. As they made their way over to the checkout, it was 4:59 P.M. and I still have to help them check out. The little boy placed the games onto the counter and began reaching for his wallet as his mother stood impatiently beside him.

I began ringing up the games and the small charger. The games were for a DSI and so was the charger. When I finally finished ringing them up, the total cost was 108.48$. I was standing there with clenched teeth and a fake smile on my face as the kid dug around for the forty eight cents. He already placed the hundred dollar bill, a five and three ones onto the counter, leaving me to wonder where he even received such large bills, yet he struggled to gather the change.

I noticed two quarters in his wallet but he rifled over them and began grabbing a few pennies. I glanced at the clock and realized that I’ve been waiting for four minutes. Finally, the mother, the only sane person of the two, ripped the wallet out of the son’s hands and placed the quarters on the counter. I grabbed the two pennies and handed him the change and his bag. I put the money into the cash register before I walked over to Mere, who was sitting in the employee lounge with a magazine sprawled across her lap.

“My time is up! Now, if you don't mind, I'll be hanging out with Jonah,” I winked at her. That’s another thing I worked on; mending our friendship- not that it needed to be mended. I just felt like I was neglecting Mere. I even listened to her three hour gossip about my brother and I feigned interest as she went on about their date. I couldn’t take another minute as she talked with intricate detail, might I add, about how they kissed. By the time that conversation was over, I wished I hadn’t eaten lunch.

As I got into my car, I started thinking about my birthday that’s in three and a half weeks. It’s on February 17th and I’m turning the great age of 17, finally. I wonder if Jonah knows. I wonder if he even cares. He should, right? That’s what friends do, right? They care about birthdays. I care about Mere’s birthday and I’m pretty sure that she cares about mine. Is it different with guys? Speaking of birthdays, I missed Caleb's. I guess it's not a big deal- we hung out for twenty minutes one night. He was cute and a drummer, but I guess that's all he is and will be to me.

I started the long trip to Jonah’s house, only stopping once to get a candy bar and a bottle of soda. As I pulled into the driveway, I noticed another car there. It’d been absent on New Year’s Eve. I stared in confusion. Was I at the right house? It looked just like it. I’m pretty sure it is. I checked the address I had written on a sticky note. I looked at the street sign and then back at the address on the mailbox. This is it.

Jonah jogged out of the house in jeans and a long sleeved shirt. He walked over to the driver’s side window. “Excuse me, ma’am? Are you lost?”

I glared at him before opening the car door, coming very close to hitting him. “Whose car is that?”

He looked at the car before turning back to me. “It’s my Aunt and Uncle’s, who by the way, want to meet you.”

“You couldn’t have given me, I don’t know, a warning? You could’ve prepped me for this!” I explained and he rolled his eyes.

“You don’t need prepping; you’re perfectly fine,” he explained as we stood in the doorway. I felt my face warm up but luckily, I could blame it on the cold air.

When he opened the door, Georgia, West, and the twins were all ready to leave. They had their coats on and were lingering by the door. West was smirking at me and I glared at him. I’m guessing he heard what Jonah had said just a moment ago. Georgia, on the other hand, was grinning and flung herself at me, wrapping me in a tight hug.

“Where are you guys going?” I asked as Georgia released me and she quickly replied.

She held up her pink sled. “We’re going sledding!”

The twins had a two person sled that was purple, most likely the only color the two could agree on and West had an orange sled. “Well, have fun.”

“We will. You guys have fun,” West replied as they all exited the house. West peeked his head back inside. “But not too much fun, remember- my mother and father are home.”

Speaking of the two, they walked into the living room with warm smiles on their faces. “So you’re Savannah?”

I smiled and nodded. “I am.”

“I’m Diane and this is my husband Gregory,” she introduced. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”

Glancing at Jonah, I shook her hand before shaking Gregory’s. I hope they heard good things about me. “I’ve heard a lot about you two, too.”

“Well, we’ll let you two get to work,” Diane replied.

Jonah awkwardly switched feet. “I was wondering if we could work in my room.”

I felt my face burn warmer and this time I couldn’t blame it on the cold air; we were inside. “Yes, but leave the door open.”

Jonah nodded. “Of course.”

“No funny business!” Gregory shouted with humor in his voice.

Jonah led me to his familiar room; I remember it when West gave me the tour of the house. As we entered the room, he followed his guardian’s orders and left his door open just a crack.

“I think they meant wide open,” I replied as he walked over to the place where I was standing.

“It’s not like we’re going to be doing anything," he shrugged before he looked at me with a smirk. “You’re a pervert.”

I felt my face burn and I shook my head vigorously. “I’m not! I was just saying!”

Jonah laughed. “Sure,” he drawled. I stared at his white fluffy carpet before my eyes searched his walls. I stared at the band posters, all of which were familiar to me. I noticed his game systems and I had the urge to sit down and play them but instead I turned to look at his bookshelf. My eyes drifted from his bookshelf to his canopy bed with different shades of blue blankets and sheets. “Why are you staring at my bed, you pervert?”

I glared at him as he smirked. “Anyway, let’s get started,” I explained, opening my bag and taking out the pile of books on Martin Luther King Jr. I spent about 28.99$ on the books. They were on the clearance rack and I quickly scooped them up.

“We don’t have to sit on the floor, you know? I have a couch,” he motioned towards the leather couch beside the television and gaming system.

I shook my head. “Too tempting.”

Jonah stared at me before he let out loud shrieks of laughter. I thought for a moment before I realized what he’d thought I meant. He thought that I was tempted by him. I felt my face warm up even more. Just when my blush calmed down! “No! I meant the video games were tempting!”

“Sure you did,” Jonah replied as he placed his hands on his knees and coughed up a few more laughs.

“I did," I muttered as he grabbed my bag and placed it onto the blue, leather couch. I sat down on the couch and crossed my legs Indian style. “Let’s get started before I embarrass myself even more.”

~~~

We worked on the project for about an hour, completing half of it. I sighed when I stared at the finished half. He’d been writing while I read off paragraphs. He would take out the important information and make small notes. All we have to do now is type it up and add in pictures.

“I’ll type it and add in the pictures,” I told him as I placed the books into my backpack. He was rolling his wrists around as he looked at me with a confused face.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll do it,” he explained and I shook my head.

“I’ll do it; I mean, you wrote all of that. I might as well make myself useful and type it,” I shrugged as I looked at the four pages of writing. It came from 8 books, most of which were 24 pages long.

Jonah sighed when he realized I wasn’t going to give up the papers. I placed my bag on my shoulder as I went to stand up. “What are you doing?” he queried.

I turned to look at Jonah. “Well, leaving,” I shrugged.

Jonah furrowed his eyebrows. “But you didn’t even eat dinner. My Aunt’s cooking right now.”

I looked at him. “I don’t want to be a burden; your Aunt and Uncle have to cook for 7 people already.”

“Actually, Georgia, West, and the twins are going to eat out for dinner,” Jonah persuaded and I stared at the carpet.

“Is it okay with your Aunt and Uncle?” I asked. The last thing I want to be is an intruder.

“Trust me; they’re perfectly fine with it,” Jonah replied while I nodded.

“Okay,” I sat back down on the couch and placed my bag beside me. Jonah handed me a controller and turned on the XBOX. I stared at the screen in a trance and began playing the game intensely. I occasionally punched him whenever he knocked my player down. He would constantly complain.

“One more game?” Jonah asked as I glared at him. He beat me twice out of three games.

“Yes. Don’t expect to win this time, Davis,” I sneered.

“Davis? Since when are we on a last name basis, Princess?” he asked me.

I stared at him. “Since when do you call me Princess?” I questioned. I haven’t heard that nickname for a while.

“Do you not want me to?” he inquired and I shrugged.

“I’m not a princess, and that's an overused nickname; choose something original,” I retorted and he visibly bit his lip. I averted my gaze awkwardly.

"Melon?" he suggested a few seconds later.

"What?" I asked him.

"Melon, it's original and cute," he told me as he swore under his breath.

"I'd rather be called princess," I muttered.

"Melon it is," he nodded with a grin.

***

After we finished eating dinner, it was only 8 o’clock and my curfew wasn’t until 11. I decided that I liked Diane and Gregory; I see where West gets his sense of humor from. They also didn’t interrogate me; they asked casual questions which consisted of my grades and hobbies. Maybe it’s because I’m just Jonah’s friend and I’m not his girlfriend. I wish I could add the word ‘yet’ to the end of that sentence.

Jonah and I went back to his room and I was preparing to crush his spirit and his soul in the game. When we got into his room and sat down on the couch, he turned to look at me. “Can I ask you a question?”

I immediately started thinking about the possible things he wants to talk about. Maybe West told him! Maybe Georgia hinted to him and he actually understood! Maybe he’s going to tell me to leave!  Maintaining a calm demeanor, I replied with a nod. “Sure.”

“Who is Arthur?” he asked me, taking me by surprise. I stared at him, only capable of blinking. He shook his head after a moment. “Forget it; it’s not my place to ask.”

“No, it’s okay,” I replied, shaking my head. “Arthur was my boyfriend,” I explained as I pressed my back into the arm rest and lifted my knees to my chest. I rested my head on my them.

“So he’s your ex-boyfriend?” he questioned, earning a nod from me. The unasked question sat in the air for a moment.

“You’re wondering why he’s my ex-boyfriend,” I stated and Jonah nodded.

“At first, I thought he was a bully. And he moved away, so I assumed that…Francis tried to take over but when…Francis started bringing it up and you kept getting angry- I thought that maybe something else happened," he explained, struggling to speak about Francis. He was still a touchy subject because it’s the reason that our friendship deteriorated slightly.

“Well, Arthur cheated on me,” I clarified. “Actually, he cheated on me twice: One time with my ex best friend, and the other time was with my worst enemy. It turned out that his sudden interest in me was all a prank and he embarrassed me in front of the student body by breaking up with me.”

Instead of letting silence take over, I continued: “He was the head football player, which was amazing because he was only a sophomore, and he was the sophomore president. I should’ve suspected that a guy like him couldn’t like a girl like me but no, I was on cloud nine. I thought that maybe he might actually like me but he didn’t. As one of his jobs as president, he was supposed to do morning announcements. He would talk about upcoming events, fundraisers, and other important things pertaining to the sophomore class.”

I sighed and looked at Jonah who was listening intently. “One day, instead of announcing the usual messages, he called me out. Everyone knew who I was; I was the sophomore class president and head football player’s girlfriend. He told me that it all was a joke and that I meant nothing to him. He explained how he cheated on me, too. Everyone took pity on me and the football players laughed in my face.”

I rested my head on my knees for a minute, trying to block out the memories of what they’d say. “Anyway, he was leaving the state a week and a half later. I spent the whole weekend coming up with a plan. He convinced his parents to let him stay for the biggest football game of the year. A few hours before the football game, I snuck into the boy’s locker room and put itching powder in all of their football equipment.”

Jonah winced at the thought of being itchy all over. I laughed lightly. “Anyway, I snuck out of the locker room without being seen, or so I thought. Anyway, I attended the game, which surprised many people. They constantly apologized for what happened and I just shrugged it off. When the game started, our team came onto the field and not even five minutes into the game, they started itching themselves.”

“They were so itchy; they had to forfeit the game and somebody ended up saying that I did it, that I planted the itching powder for revenge. Of course this was just an accusation, but then the person who saw me came forward with this piece of information and before you know it; the majority of the school was shunning me. I made the football team lose their place at the state championships all because of a ‘lousy breakup.’”

“That’s why you sat alone outside?” he asked me and I shook my head.

“It was partially the reason, but it was also because everyone inside is an idiot; or most of them, at least,” I explained and Jonah sighed. I was staring at the rug, void of emotion.

“That kid was a jerk,” I nodded my head at his statement. “If I would’ve been there, I would've beaten him up.”

I turned to look at him before I laughed. “Seriously, I would’ve. I would’ve beaten him up just like I beat your character up," he joked.

I went to punch his shoulder playfully but he caught it in his hand, wrapping his fingers around my fist. “You didn’t deserve that, Savannah. What he did was wrong and cruel. You’re better than him. Any guy is lucky to have you.”

I stared at him, shocked at his words. Did he really mean that? If any guy is lucky to have me, is he a part of that group? He’s a guy, right? As far as I know. So he qualifies, right? I was pulled away by the sound of my phone ringing.

I answered it quickly, my face blushing. I seemed to blush a lot around Jonah now. “Mom wants you home,” Jer stated in a sing-song voice.

I went to speak but my voice cracked. Jonah let out an unattractive (but still very attractive snort) “What I meant to say was: I will be home in about an hour.”

“Whatever,” Jeremiah replied before hanging up the phone.

I turned to Jonah. “Well, I have to go,” I explained, standing up. He stood up beside me, grabbing my bag and walking with me down the stairs silently.

After saying bye to Diane and Gregory, Jonah walked me to my car. I turned to him. “Thanks.”

“For what?” he asked me, shivering slightly.

I shrugged, staring at him. “For listening.”

He stared at me before suddenly wrapping his arms around me tightly. It took me by surprise but I too wrapped my arms around him; I felt his shivering stop as I held him for a moment. It felt good to be able to tell someone about Arthur without them saying that what I did was wrong or something along those lines. He didn’t push me to tell him sooner and I appreciate that. I really do.