8. Pretty great
1464 Words
Being nervous was a natural habit humans always experienced right? Either before an exam determining the fate of their degree or probably a date with someone they crushed on hard.
Precisely, a natural habit. Petra didn’t exactly believe that now, she refused to accept she was nervous. She had no reason to be, her and Otis were friends—a person doesn’t, does not, get nervous meeting a ‘friend’ for a friendly hang out.
Sure Otis was astonishingly good looking, kind—a sweet heart—full of adventure, rebellious yet freeing at the same time, it was fun.
But she definitely didn’t like him like that neither did he, she thought so.
“You are definitely nervous.”
Being pulled out her thoughts she glared at the red head standing by the door.
“No, I am not.” Objecting she pulled off the shirt she previously tried on leaving her in her bra and walked to the closet.
No matter what she tried on, it didn’t look okay for the occasion—mainly because she didn’t know what to wear and for what—Otis hadn’t disclosed any helpful information.
“Yes you are!” he argued jumping on her bed that had been stacked with a lot of her clothes.
She grabbed a piece of clothing on the floor and threw it at the grinning fool.
“f**k off Frank!”
“Petronella!”
Petra walked over to the door grabbing it by its handle she picked her head out, then shouted. “Yes mama!”
“The fine man is here to get you.”
“I’ll be down soon.” shutting the door she slipped the purple fabric over her head then turned to Frank. “Do I look okay?” Petra asked staring down at her outfit.
“You are over dressed for this friend of yours.”
“No—”
Interrupted Petra pursed her lips as she glared at Frank dramatically shaking his head.
“Heels? What if you guys run and that skirt is too short.” he sighed crossing his arms—he really stepped into the role of big brother right now.
“Really?” Petra asked in disbelief—his opinion didn’t matter anyway. Mostly someone whose opinion was based off of ‘if’ they ‘ran’.
“Wait let me ask.”
In a spilt second he rushed out her room leaving her alone staring at mirror.
Grabbing the skirt she tilted head a bit—maybe the skirt was a bit too short and with the weather, it wouldn’t be pleasant.
Tapping her foot against the floor she pursed her lips. Heels would slow them down, last she checked Otis only had a bicycle—they would definitely do a lot of walking.
“He said wear something comfortable!” Frank slammed the door open causing a bit of curses from Petra’s mother and his boss.
“What the hell—” she didn’t have the opportunity to finish her sentence as Frank shoved her out the way with his hip, landing Petra gripping the bedsheets before she fell.
“You f*****g bitch.”
Obviously he ignored her, his undivided attention was on her closet.
“This short, shirt and boots.” he said tossing them at her on the floor. “This beanie and that sweater.” throwing the sweater at her he smiled kneeling down he violently slipped the beanie over her head.
A fake tear wiped from the corner of his eye he lightly tapped her cheeks. “Get ready for your date! Bye!”
Tossing a heel at him she hoped it hit him but the door had closed way before it even got midway. “Unbelievable!” Petra groaned.
§
She was undeniably mad at Frank—he definitely was the brother she never wanted but got anyway—but she still wore what the fucker chose.
Jumping the last step she smiled seeing Otis already standing a bag pack hanged over one shoulder.
“Ready?” he asked slipping the other strap over his right shoulder.
“Yeah—”
“Finally!” Frank clapped his hands as he exited the kitchen, cookie crumbs on his dark blue shirt.
“Missed a spot.” she mumbled trying to suppress a laugh.
He definitely devoured the cookies in storage—she doubted her mother let him take at least one.
Her attention back on Otis she shook her head. “I’m done!” she smiled pulling Otis to the door because her mother would be down soon.
“Bring her back before 10!” Too late. Miss Akinyi’s voice stopped the two immediately.
“Mama!” Petra whined.
“Midnight then.” her mother firmly said staring at Petra then she diverted her gaze at the guy beside her daughter—a firm parental glare.
“Don’t worry Miss Akinyi, I will.” he promised brightly smiling as though the woman wasn’t glaring at him.
Otis closed the door behind him before nodding his head telling Petra to follow a long.
“So where to?” she asked. She wasn’t really a fun of quiet walks if she happened to be with someone—a little conversation didn’t hurt.
“Places!” he sang gripping the bag pack straps.
“Otis!”
“Okay I will spill. Remember that wall with graffiti, that we happened to add more graffiti?”
Nodding Petra asked, “The one near the old train tracks?”
“Yeah. Race you.”
Immediately the guy sprinted, no warning no whatsoever he just ran.
Petra was astonished. “Hey wait that is so unfair! Cheater!” she shouted running right after him—and damn was he running fast.
§
By the moment she arrived Otis was already seated down. He caught sight of Petra and began laughing, “Took you long enough grandma.”
It took her a good twenty minutes to arrive and that was because the girl stopped and rested for a few minutes. She wasn’t willing to witness her heart stop.
Because by the time she ran for four minutes her heart dared her to continue—it wasn’t going to be pretty.
“I can’t breath!” she panted bending down grabbing her knees for support.
Soon enough Otis gently placed his hand over her shoulder as he offered her a bottle of water.
“Here, grandma.”
Chugging the contents she punched him on the shoulder once her breathing was steady. “You are such a cheater!”
“And you are a cry baby!” he giggling taking a few steps back.
“No lie there.” she agreed following him until they took a seat. It was exactly a deserted place just trains rarely took this route anymore, because of that most people just hanged around this parts.
A few minutes of peaceful silence, an empty water bottle and a dark sky Petra glanced over at Otis.
“We came to seat on this concrete?”
Steadily he shook his head. “You like watching the stars it I remember correctly.”
“Yeah!”
“And this is a good quiet view.” he pointed out referring to the quiet place—he wasn’t wrong at all. “We can talk here too and eat these snacks.”
Unzipping his backpack he showed Petra the snacks, literally her face lit up like a little child.
It made Otis giggle a bit.
A few snacks down and forgotten, different conversations discussed. Petra laid on her back staring at the sky, as did Otis.
“This is so soar!” Petra harden her face but then threw another in her mouth.
“Stop eating them then!” the guy giggled shaking his head.
“Can’t, they are just so tasty!” this time Otis laughed so hard he choked on his own saliva. Lightly Petra patted him back as she laughed herself at the coughing fool.
Head resting on her palm she popped the lollipop out her mouth. “Okay so thoughts on l***q+?” she questioned staring at Otis.
Otis turned to his side just as Petra. A huge grin formed on his purple lips—yes they might have had too much coloured candy.
“I fancy it!”
Beyond what she expected it almost made her choke up in happiness and ease—just maybe, this one wouldn’t leave.
“I’m Transgender.” she blurted out, eyes partly closed expecting the worse but it didn't.
In fact Otis smiled brighter, if it was even possible. “Nice, I am demisexual and queer!” he cheered clapping his hands.
Giggling she clapped along.
“She, her!”
“He/him, they/them!”
- Writer
