I Want You to Want Me

    I held my breath and counted to ten. My room was a mess from the clothes I just threw out of my closet. I was searching for the leather jacket my mother got for me last year. I wanted to look my best. The jacket did its best in making look like a total bad ass. I glanced into the mirror to see the full effect. My blue eyes seemed brighter and, my auburn hair seemed to be more red than normal. I braided it down the length of my back. Nervous jitters caused my hands to shake as I wrapped my hair tie around the end of the braid. Ashton would be here soon. I couldn’t help but smile at myself.       Ashton has been my best friend for the last five years. I was in love with him. I loved his smile and his jokes. I always found myself wanting to comfort and assure him. He seemed to feel the same too. We were always together, and we knew everything about each other. I have wanted to him how I feel about him for the past year now. I thought I would have all the time in the world, and that it would just happen naturally.       However, he hasn’t been around much these days. It seems like he’s always preoccupied. I had confronted him the other day but, he got angry and hasn’t texted me back since. I huffed as I dug through the mountain of clothes to grab my backpack.       “Andy! Breakfast is done!” my mom shouted up to me.       “I’m almost done!” I shouted back. I gave one last look back at my reflection. “Don’t screw this up, Andy” I whispered to myself.       I bounced down the stairs lured by the smell of eggs and bacon. As I came into the kitchen, I noticed my father wearing an apron that said, “kiss the chef.” He was bent over the stove flipping the bacon over. “That smells heavenly,” I exclaimed closing my eyes in rapture.            He laughed, “it tastes even better.” He placed the plate full of bacon on the table next to the steaming eggs. My father wore large glasses that took up most of his face. He was mostly bald and stood at a grand total of 5’8, just one inch taller than me. My friends all say he looks like Stanley Tucci but, I just don’t see it. He gave me a quick side hug and went about cleaning the kitchen. He was already in his suit which meant he had an early class to teach at the university.           “Hey sweetie,” My mom said from behind us. “There’s ketchup in the fridge.” She said knowingly. I smiled as I walked towards the fridge to grab the best condiment for eggs.           “Ketchup belongs on burgers not eggs!” my dad protested.          “I bet if you tried it, you’d like it.” I said as I poured a generous amount onto my eggs.        “That is foul, my eggs are perfect the way they are.” He shook his head in disappointment, but I saw the small smile he was trying to hide.       “I’ve got inventory today at the store. You guys can order pizza or something for dinner.” My mom said as she finished putting her earrings on. I often wished I looked more like my mother. She was exceptionally beautiful with blazing red hair and bright green eyes. She stood above my dad and I with her tall stilettos.       “Is Ashton picking you up today?” My dad asked while washing the dishes.       “Did you make up with him?” My mother asked right afterwards.       I glanced at back and forth between them. “Uhm, he hasn’t texted me back and I don’t think he is going to pick me up.”       My parents shared a knowing glance. “Well maybe you should talk to him in person.” My dad said.       “I’m sure everything will work itself out.” My mother said confidently.       “Well lucky for you, I happen to have a job at the university today. I’ll drop you off.” My dad said as he dried his hands off.       I nodded, “Thanks dad.”       We all quickly ate down our breakfast. Mom rushed out of the house with two pieces of bacon in her fingers. I followed her example and rushed towards my dads small green Fiat. He hurriedly got into the driver seat and started the car up. AC/DC blared out of the speakers. “Hopefully, we aren’t late. I don’t have time to sign you in.”       I nodded and buckled my seatbelt as we backed out of the driveway. Normally Ashton and I would be on our way together already. He hasn’t been around to pick me up in the past 3 days. I was getting worried. At first, I was just as mad at him as he was at me. Until I realized I wasn’t the only one avoiding the other. When I tried to text him and make up, he never texted back. I called countless times only to be taken straight to voicemail.       “You ok kiddo?” my dad asked glancing over at me. He put on his blinker and began maneuvering around a slow pick-up truck.       “I just want everything to be like it was,” I sighed. My breath fogged up the window as I stared out at the passing pine trees. Laketon was a small town in the middle of nowhere. We were isolated from the rest of the world up here surrounded by mountains and forests.       We drove the rest of the way in silence. I felt my hands shaking as we got closer and closer to the school. I kept replaying my goal to myself. Don’t hold back. Just tell him everything. I prayed that he would tell me he felt the same. As we pulled into the parking lot, I spotted Ashton’s car immediately. “He must be inside already,” I murmured.       “Well then, what are you waiting for?” My father murmured back. He gave me a warm smile. I smiled back as I jumped out of the car.       “Love you, dad.”       “Love you too, kiddo.” He shouted back. I shut the door and started walking up the school steps. Red and gold covered the entire front half of the school. Our mascot, a wolf, was painted howling at a moon above the doors.       My palms felt sweaty as I grasped the door handle. Ok this is it. Its time. I just needed to do it. Like ripping off a band aid. I pulled the door open and was immediately assaulted by the loud teenagers inside. Everyone was at their lockers grabbing their things. I hurried to the second floor, only to see Ashton was not at his locker. Confused I mindlessly walked over to my locker at the other end. Where could he be? I started to get frustrated. Why was he even mad at me?       “Hey.” A deep voice sounded from behind me.       I jumped and turned to see, Kane, our star baseball player standing behind me. “Oh uh, hey.” I gave him a confused look. Ashton had tried to set me up with Kane a few months ago. It made it clear he did not know how I felt about him. I immediately turned down the possibility. It seemed to make Ashton sad, but he accepted it, nonetheless. Besides, Kane and I rarely ever talked. Until now anyway.       He cleared his throat, “I wanted to ask if, uhm…” he rubbed the back of his neck as he trailed off. His black hair was cropped. Subdued green eyes seemed to be pleading with me to understand what he wanted. He had lightly tanned skin from playing baseball all the time. He was incredibly gorgeous. However, everyone knew that he turned down almost every girl, and guy, who asked him out. Maybe he just liked being single.       “Are you ok?” I asked patting his arm. He jumped as soon as I touched him. I quickly withdrew my hand. “Did you need something?” I asked genuinely concerned.       His cheeks flamed red and he continued to rub the back of his neck. “So, for a long time now… No wait, uhm…”       “Kane!” A cheery voice shouted out. Catherine, the head cheerleader, came bouncing up to Kane. She grabbed his arm and pressed herself up against his body. “After the game tonight, everyone is going to BJ’s Diner. Come with us!” she said demandingly. Her blonde hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She wore the cheerleading uniform. A small strip of skin peeked out between the shirt and skirt.       “Uh, yeah, sure.” Kane said with a small smile.       I slowly edged away from them as she continued to prattle on about the game. Besides I needed to find Ashton.