Page 13 of With This Lie

She smiles and I’d like to do more things that make her smile.

We finish eating and walk outside onto the sidewalk. As we’re standing there, she pulls out her headphones.

“What kind of music do you listen to?” she asks.

“I don’t really listen to music,” I reply.

Her jaw drops and she looks almost wounded.

I shift my eyes back and forth and I don’t know what I’ve done wrong.

“What do you mean you don’t really listen to music? How is that even possible?” she asks, dismay in her voice.

“I mean…I don’t know, I just never got into it,” I say. By this point, she’s looking at me like I’m an alien. I’m not sure what else to say so I wait for her to say something.

“Okay, okay, this is fine. I’m not freaking out but you should know this is a big deal and you’re really weird.” She laughs. “But that’s okay because I can fix it.”

“You can fix it?” I ask.

“Yes, I can fix you, weirdo.” She giggles. “I’ll see you later. I obviously have work to do.”

“I’ll see you later then,” I say, walking back toward the park.

I check back over my shoulder to see her bouncing down the pavement, headphones in, completely unaware that she’s so unbelievably intriguing. I turn back and start my walk through the park. This is the exciting part. The newness of something is always so fun and full of wonder. There’s a lot of laughing and sparks and…hunger. I’m ready for it.

I’m definitely ready for it.

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