Always

Chapter Four: Misters & Pictures

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Two days after I first met Brian Torres, we met once again. But it wasn't at the beach this time.

   It was at a party that my friend Mia was throwing in her three story house. Mia said was going to be the “best summer party ever”. She kept bugging me about it until I said yes. But I didn't really even want to go. I'm not the type to party a lot like my friends do. 

   Little did I know though, that Mia's boyfriend Brad was friends with Brian. That just shows how little I actually know the people I called “my friends”. 

   When Mia came to pick me up, Brad was right behind her in his own truck. I noticed that someone was riding with him, and when I realized who it was, I started to panic. Apparently he remembered me. I always wondered if he thought I was some clumsy and clueless girl that was in his way that day at the beach. I hopped into Mia's car, and she drives to her house that I called my second home in life. 

   “Who's that with Brad?” I hear myself ask. Clearly I knew who he was, but I wanted to, you know, get some information about him. Maybe it'll make it easier on me to forget about him.

   “Who, Brian Torres?” God, that name! It's been haunting me for so long! “He's just some guy that Brad just started hanging around with.” 

   I thought so, since they both seem to enjoy being around another. “Is he new around here?”

   “Yeah. He came from Florida.” Oh. Makes sense, since he does look like he came from around there because of his tan. 

   “Why? You want me to talk to him for you?” I laugh. Forcefully. Of course I wanted to be with him! I've been going crazy over him ever since we met! 

   “Uh…” I suddenly felt awkward, so I just didn't respond. Besides, I don't exactly have a reason why I want to be with him. My life's so complicated. 

   Once we arrived at Mia's house, which was already packed with cars all over the place. I rush inside, where I got surrounded by so many people, that I could barely even breathe. 

   I made my way to the kitchen, where a couple was making out. The girl was dressed up on the counter, while the guy was touching her every thing. How gross. But the longer I stared, the more awkward I felt. 

   What if that was me someday, pressed up against a counter, while I got touched? I left the couple for the living room, where so many people were dancing along with the music that was hurting my eardrums. I suddenly felt out of place just standing there. Like I don’t even belong here. And I was right. 

   This isn't me. I don't do any of this stuff. In a way I guess I could say that I wasn't normal, but I was. I jumped when I felt someone lay their hand on my shoulder. 

   I looked up to find Brian Torres smiling down at me. That dimple making my mind go crazy, and my stomach tighten up. 

   “Hey. You're June, right?” Just hearing him say my name takes my breath away. 

   “Uh, yeah. That's me.” I sound like someone just ran me over and over again with a monster truck. Ugh! 

   “I thought so.” His hand was still on my shoulder. I'm surprised it isn't on fire, since the physical contact was making me want to explode right on the spot. 

   “So. You like to party?” I look around me. Too much people. Too much music. Just too much. I shake my head no, and he nods like he understands. Maybe he does. 

   “Would you like to go somewhere else?” His question hung over me, making me decide whether I would like to go or not. I looked at what he was wearing. He had on nice blue jeans, regular looking shoes, and a plain gray hoodie that his hands were tucked in the pockets. I suddenly realized that his hand was not on my shoulder anymore. 

   Maybe talking to him didn't make me notice it. I finally made up my mind, five seconds later we were outside walking away from Mia's house where the party was still going on. It was really nice out. The sun was almost about to set, the sky was beginning to darken. But man was it cold. I'm guessing Brian noticed, because he handed me his gray hoodie. 

   “Don't you need it?” I ask, looking at his blue t-shirt. 

   “I'll be fine. You look like you need it more than I do.” I put it on, the warmth making me feel good inside and out. 

   “Thank you.” 

   “No problem.” We walked on in silence, our bodies sometimes touching as we walked. 

   “So. How're you liking it here so far?” Hearing my voice break the silence makes me feel awkward. Why couldn't I have just stayed quiet? Oh, yeah, that's right: Because I'm clueless!

   “It's not too bad. Not as fun as Florida though.” 

   “Do you miss it?” 

   “In a way.” I wanted to know what he meant by that, but I decided not to ask. 

   “Can I tell you something?” His question makes me stop where I was walking. 

   “Sure.” Brian looked like he wanted to run away at that moment, but he didn't. Instead, be tells me something that changes my life forever: 

   “I just have this feeling that I want to get to know you. I guess all I'm trying to say is this: I like you June.” I wish I could've knew how he really felt until I told him the same thing. 

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