Letters With Boys

Memphis and Gray, Week 7 - October

Marvelous Memphis,

I had such a fantastic time with you on Saturday. I think that was the most you have ever talked to me. I guess you probably felt like you had to talk to me that much, given the four-hour drive each way, but I still appreciated every beautiful word that came out of your even more beautiful lips.

Which reminds me—do I get props for not kissing you this weekend? Because it was really, really hard, Mem. Particularly on the drive home, when you got sleepy and pulled over so we could switch, and there was that moment where we kind of got in each other’s ways out toward the trunk of your car, and your cheeks were all pink from the cold, and your eyes were sort of bleary, and I really, really, really wanted to kiss you, only there was this voice in my head reminding me, she’s scared of men, you prick, so I didn’t.

But I do feel the need to remind you that you are welcome to kiss me whenever you want, Mem, or at least give me permission to kiss you, and if you don’t do it soon, I think my heart might explode.

Also, 10/10 on the clearly hand-selected playlist. I think singing Future Days with you with the windows down now tops the Babe I’m Gonna Leave You karaoke in my Best Of memory bank. Which is probably for the best, since it’s a much more romantic song.

Lizzy loves you, by the way. Particularly the way you stood up to Stepdad Number Four when he got after you about your Prius, and even the way you stood up to Mom when she sneered at your outfit. (I thought it was very cute, by the way. Mom doesn’t believe in clothes that don’t cost more than the GDP of small countries, is all.)

Now that you’ve met my family, perhaps I could meet yours? I know you said your brother gets upset easily, so if that can’t happen yet, I understand. Maybe your parents, though? I loved the story you told me about how they got together, and it made me very curious to meet them. I could clean up a bit, and not mention the fights and stuff. Maybe shave the stubble. I’ve never met a girl’s parents before, but I think I might do alright with it. Possibly.

Let me know.

Love,

Gray

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Gray,

Thank you again for inviting me. Lizzy is as adorable as she is sweet, and a talented piano player, to boot. If I had that much talent as a drummer, maybe I’d actually be in a band instead of just annoying my poor family half to death.

I can’t say your mom or stepdad was “adorable” or “sweet,” but I’m glad to have met them, anyway, because it explained a lot. Namely, why you constantly feel the need to beat people up. I think I would, too, if they were my parents.

Are you on speaking terms with your real dad at all? I remember once you called him a “deadbeat,” but then you corrected yourself and called him a “rich asshole,” instead. But you never really said more about him.

It is sweet that you want to meet my parents, but I think we should hold off on that for a bit longer. The last guy they met was Matt, and my poor mother basically had the wedding planned already. If I introduce her to you, she’ll assume… well, a bit too much.

Do you have plans for Halloween? It’s Tally’s birthday, and every year we throw her a giant costume party. Bridget’s parents will be away, like they usually are (they're big-time lawyers who typically work for high-profile celebs), so we’re having it at her place. Would be fun if you came along.

Mem

P.S.: Never shave the stubble. Even for parents.

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Mem,

It’s oddly touching when you quote my old letters back to me. That was ages ago that I said that about my dad, wasn’t it? Thank you for paying attention.

He and I don’t really talk these days. He sends birthday and Christmas cards when he remembers, and if his work ever brings him to Granger (which it rarely does), sometimes he’ll invite me to lunch with whatever supermodel girlfriend he has at the time. He hasn’t married since Mom, so that’s something. Think her having taken half his money taught him that lesson quick.

I wouldn’t subject you to meeting him, even if he and I did talk. He makes Mom and Bruce look like the nicest people in the world. Plus, I already hate him so much that hearing him insult you might make me want to hit him, as I technically have done before, which never goes very well for me.

No problem that you want to hold off on me meeting your parents, though your mom having nearly planned a wedding for you and your last beau makes me feel a little queasy. What happened with you two, anyway, for it to end after all those years, and then for you to remain on apparently good terms? If you don’t mind me asking.

I would love to go to Tally’s Halloween/birthday party with you. Dare I suggest we go at a costume together, or is that tacky?

Dare I also suggest that we hang out beforehand, so that I can maximize my Mem time?

Love,

Gray

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Gray,

If we’re going to wear a couples’ costume, I think we will have to meet up before hand to go pick them out. Don’t you?

In the spirit of our mutual love of music, might I suggest Stevie and Lindsey, Sid and Nancy, or Courtney and Kurt?

Sorry that you hate your dad so much. I think you should not beat him up, as, like I said before, I do not want you getting kicked out of school (or pulled out by an angry parent) and leaving Granger.

The thing that I told you about, with the guy with the stupid tattoo, happened when Matt and I were still together. It put some obvious dampers on our relationship, and neither of us could handle it, so we broke up. He wasn’t an asshole about it, or anything. He was kind, and I like to think I was, too. It was mutual.

Every once in a while, he mentions getting back together. It will never happen, though, and I think he knows it as well as I do; he just misses what we had. I do, too, but I’m not the same girl that I was back then. I was on a different path in life, and I valued different things.

Please don’t ask me more questions than that for now, as this stuff really hurts for me to talk about, and probably the only reason I can do it at all is because it’s on a sheet of paper instead of out loud.

Also, I have decided to give you permission to kiss me on Saturday. I realize this is probably less romantic than if I just kissed you, and I’m sorry for that, but having felt the same moment that you did by the car and really wanting to kiss you, too, and having chickened out for reasons I hope you understand at this point, I think it might be better if you do it.

So, there you have it. Kiss away.

Mem

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Mem,

Don’t you dare be sorry for asking me to kiss you. Believe me—it will still be romantic.

As for our costume—Stevie and Lindsey broke up, and Sid ostensibly killed Nancy, so those options seem cursed.

There are those who believe Courtney killed Kurt, but at least in that scenario, the gal isn't the victim.

You can kill me if you must, Memphis. As long as I can kiss you first.

Love,

Gray