Page 50 of Flirtasaurus
“It’s okay actually. I don’t think you could mansplain if you tried.”
“Because I’m sonice, right?” He scoffs.
“I’m sorry about that. I know people are more than just one thing. And if you’re going to be anything, why not be nice, right? I think you just come by it easier than I do. More naturally than I do? Because I’m… not nice. I don’t always think of other people before myself. It’s not that I’m inherently selfish, at least I don’t think so, I just… I’m in my head a lot, always thinking about the next step to get ahead. I’m not used to being around someone who is so… open, like you.”
We explore in silence for a bit. Well, as silent as it can get with thewhomp, whomp, whompsound of the heartbeat pulsing all around.
“Was that you womansplaining to me why you kicked me out last night?”
“I guess so, yeah.” I laugh.
“Oh, watch out for that aorta overhead.”
“Thanks.” I duck and just barely miss knocking my head into the aorta. I was too busy watching him to notice where I was going.
I spot a little nook built into the left ventricle.
“Can we sit?”
“Sure.”
A few kids run past, not noticing us tucked in there together.
“I had a dream about you last night,” I say.
“Did you now?”
“Big time.”
“Neat.”
“Neat? All you’re going to say is neat?”
“What am I supposed to say?”
“’What was the dream about? What was I doing in it? Was it a dirty dream? Did your teeth fall out? Was it a drowning dream? One of those dreams when you were naked at school and late for the final exam you never studied for? A pregnancy dream while still being a virgin? An actor’s nightmare where you were playing the lead but never attended a single rehearsal? Were you being chased through the grocery store by a clown with a cleaver? Those are some good starter questions.”
“Wow. You are a very specific person.”
“Aren’t we all?”
“I guess? I think I’ve actually spent most of my life trying to blend in, so…”
“Well, you’re doing a terrible job.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that when you’re as smart and as brilliantly weird as you are, ain’t no way you’re going to blend in.”
He pauses a moment. Then his lips slowly spread, flashing me those stunning white teeth in the most precious smile. The corners of his eyes are in full-on crinkle mode.
“I mean… What I meant to say was, you’re just sort of kind of—”
“Calliope?” he cuts me off, still smiling.
“Yeah?”
“That may be the sweetest thing you’ve said to me in the brief time I’ve known you. Please don’t backpedal.”
