A Thousand Ways to Love

It's Not Right, But It's Okay

Katie“Colin!” a voice calls. “Whose car is in front of the house?”

“Great,” Colin says and steps away from me.

A man and woman walk into the kitchen. “Ahh,” the woman says as she sees us in the kitchen. “I guess that answers my question.”

“Mom, Dad, this is Katie,” Colin says to his parents. “Katie, these are my parents.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say.

“Always nice to meet Colin’s friends,” his mom says and then gives him a look.

“I was just leaving,” I say and grab my jacket from the chair to put it on.

“Do your parents know where you are?” his mom asks.

“Mom,” Colin says.

“They know I’m at a friend’s,” I say. I need to get out of this house.

“A friend’s?” his mom raises an eyebrow at me.

“I should go before my parents are worried,” I say.

His mom is about to say something else, but her husband puts a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

“I’ll see you at school, Colin,” I say and then rush out the door to leave him to deal with the mess of having a girl over while his parents were out.

Colin“So,” Mom says as soon as Katie closes the door behind her. “Do you want to explain why you had a girl over here while you were supposed to be babysitting your sister?”

“She’s just a friend, Mom,” I say. “She coached Hannah’s hockey practice this morning and then we saw her at the convenience store. Hannah is the one that invited her over.”

"Nice try, Colin," Mom says. "You think you can bring a girl over while your parents are away? This isn't like you."

“Mom, she’s just a friend,” I repeat. “Nothing more.”

“A friend I haven’t heard of,” Mom says as she crosses her arms.

“A new friend,” I say. “We’re lab partners.”

“So, she’s in Grade 12,” Mom says. I nod. “Be careful with her. I don’t want my son to become distracted by some pretty face…”

“Jade,” Dad says, putting a hand on her shoulder. “I think that’s enough.”

“Do you want our son to be distracted by some Grade 12 hussy that’s probably just using him for his brains?!” Mom yells at Dad.

“Hey!” I yell at Mom, enraged at her words. “Don’t you dare call Katie that. You know nothing about her. She’s nothing like that. She’s the complete opposite.”

“She not the popular, pretty girl at school that messes around with different guys continuously?” Mom asks.

“Mom…”

“Is Hannah in bed?” Mom asks.

“Yes.”

“I’m going to have a bath and go to bed,” Mom says and starts walking to the stairs.

Dad turns to me when Mom is out of earshot. “Don’t worry about your Mother, Colin,” Dad says. “She’ll settle down.”

“She’s wrong about Katie,” I say. “She’s nothing like that.”

"Colin, your Mother was a lot like you growing up," Dad says. "Super genius, excelling in school and tending to keep to herself. She didn't always have the best experiences in high school. The popular girls can be mean."

“So, she assumes Katie’s like that,” I say and then I remember that I assumed that of Katie as well not too long ago. Dad nods. “How does she even know that Katie’s popular? She just met her!”

“Women have a sixth sense with this kind of thing,” Dad says. I look away. “She’s a pretty girl.”

“She’s a friend, Dad,” I say. “Just a friend.”

“Colin, you are a smart, kind, caring guy. You got your brains from your mother and your looks from me, so you are a handsome fellow too. Any girl would be lucky to date you,” Dad says.

“Dad…”

“Doesn’t matter how pretty or popular she is, or if she’s older, she’d be lucky to date you,” Dad says.

“Dad, I don’t feel that way about her,” I say.

“Fine, son,” Dad says. “But don’t doubt yourself. Branching out and focusing on something other than school would be good for you.”

***

Katie“The Gates of Rome,” I say as I walk up to Colin’s locker and pass him the book. “First of five books. I hope you like it.”

“This is a thick book,” Colin says as he takes it and then starts flipping through the pages. “With very tiny writing.”

“You’ll finish it in no time,” I say. “It’s good.”

“I’ll take your word on it,” Colin says, putting the book in his locker.

“I’m sorry for getting you in trouble with your parents,” I say. “I know how it must have looked to them.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Colin says. “Parents just seem to be incapable of believing a guy and girl can be friends.”

“Parents as well as everyone else,” I say.

“It was nice having you over,” Colin says.

"I had a good time as well," I say. And then it's quiet between us, but not uncomfortable quiet. I haven't felt this way about someone before. I dated Jared's older brother, Devon, for almost a year and he never gave me the same butterflies that this Grade 11 does. Colin grabs something from his locker and then hands it to me.

“A Crunchie!” I exclaim with a smile as he puts the chocolate bar in my hands.

"There were three in the box, so I assume since you ate the first two that you would probably want the last one as well," Colin says. Guys don't tend to pay attention to the little things, but it's the little things that matter so much.

And then I hear a whistle from behind me and a textbook slaps my ass. Jared turns his head as he walks by and winks at me while the other guys with him just laugh.

“What’s your problem?” Colin says to Jared. And then Jared immediately turns around to face down Colin.