When she pulled away, she had tears in her eyes. I laughed, rubbing under her eyes. “Why are you crying?” I asked her.
She smiled, wiping her eyes, mascara running under her eyes, mingling her tears with black. “I'm just so happy. I was so afraid you weren't going to do well,” she told me.
I laughed. “You think I'm stupid?”
She glared at me. “You know what I mean. I thought you wouldn't take it seriously. I know that you don't like school, and you only continued because I pushed you to,” she replied.
And Julie. Julie pushed me to.
“Well,” I said, waving the paper. “Now I did it.”
“Yes, you did,” she said, hugging me again. The air got knocked out of me once more, and once more, I didn't really mind. “How about I take you out? We can go to a movie?” she said.
I shrugged. “Whatever you want, Ava,” I told her.
She grinned and held up a finger. “Just let me get dressed,” she said, and started toward her room.
I headed to the couch. “I'm going to call Julie and tell her,” I told her. She yelled that it was a good idea and then disappeared into the bathroom.
Julie's number was on speed dial, but I texted her first.
Guess who just found out he graduated?
I only had to wait a moment before seeing Julie's picture pop up on my phone. Her message made me laugh.
You do not text good news. I will pretend I didn't read that and wait for you to call me.
I called her, listening to her phone ring five times before she finally answered. “Hello?” she answered innocently.
“Hey, Julie.”
“Oh! Falon, this is such a surprise. Why ever are you calling me?” she asked, and I could not help but laugh.
“I just got my letter. I graduated,” I told her.
She laughed, the joking leaving her voice. “That is great! I knew you could do it,” she told me, and I felt the same happiness rise up that Ava had created.
“If you hadn't helped me, I wouldn't have.”
She scoffed. “Please. You had it handled. You just needed the motivation,” she told me. I then heard her gasp. “You should let me take you out, to celebrate. We can go bowling or skating or something, or just a nice dinner-”
“After last time? I think I'm okay,” I told her.
She was quiet for a moment. When her voice spoke again, it was soft. “You can't be afraid to go out because of ignorant people. Please?” she begged.
I took a moment, and though I didn't feel comfortable with it, I found myself agreeing. “Okay. Anything for you and Liam,” I told her.
She was silent. I wondered if I had said something wrong, but her voice came back normal. “Yeah. I guess Liam and I will pick you up? Say around six?” she asked.
I still knew I had said or hadn't said something, but I wasn't sure what it had been. She didn't seem to want to tell me either.
“Ava and I are hanging out tonight. Tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Tomorrow's great.”
“Okay. Goodbye Julie,” I told her.
“Goodbye, Falon, and congratulations,” she said, and then her voice disappeared, and I was there holding the phone.
♥
It bothered me all night while Ava and I were out. I tried to enjoy the movie, despite it being one of Ava's picks. I couldn't help but wonder what it was I had said to Julie.
She had went quiet after I had mentioned her and Liam taking me out. Had she not really wanted to take me out? I didn't see why she would ask if she didn't. It didn't make sense.
It was when Ava and I got home, and both went to our bedrooms, that I started to wonder if maybe Julie hadn't meant that her and Liam would take me out.
Maybe she had thought that only her and me would go. It seemed preposterous, but also, logical. It was the only thing that seemed to make sense.
Julie had wanted to go out, just us. Alone. At night, in a date like setting.
Chills ran up my spine.
Sure, I wouldn't mind being alone with Julie. I liked her, a lot. More than a lot. I hadn't felt the way I felt for any girl except her, but this made things more serious.
Being with her, alone, meant that it turned into a date. Dates turned into dating, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to start dating. This was Julie. I couldn't date Julie.
The thought of sacrificing the amazing friendship I had with her and Liam for what could end up being a disastrous relationship didn't seem right. Maybe I was just being selfish, but I would rather have her as a friend than risk losing her altogether.
♥
The next day, the time with the kids seemed to fly by. We worked as always, like happy little workers. Nothing seemed different between any of us, but there was still something going on behind the curtains.
I kept watching Julie, knowing that tonight was not going to be the way she planned. Why she wanted to be alone, I wasn't completely sure. It would have been interesting to think she liked me, more than the platonic friendship we had created.
Well, not completely platonic. I was thinking romantically about her. I merely refused to act on those impulses.
Liam was concerned over his mystery girl. I could see that nothing had changed the determination he had for finding her. He looked anxious for the day to be over so he could resume his search.
Julie had told me that their mom hadn't been much help. She didn't recognize anyone by Liam's description. She must have been on another floor, or just have not noticed her.
It didn't deter Liam. He was still bound and determined to finding the love of his life.
He wasn't the one that ended up finding her. I was.
Julie had sent me to get some towels for the kid that had decided to vomit in the middle of the room. She had whisked him away to the bathroom to clean him up, and Liam had resumed calming the other kids before they decided to spew their guts too.
I had went to the nearest nurses station and asked for a few towels. The nurse had given me a questioning look, but had disappeared to do so. I frowned after her and turned to wait.
It took a moment for my eyes to relate the woman walking in the room to one of the people that had been with the girl. I recognized her by the way her nose stuck in the air. If it rained, she was sure to drown, Ava always said.
I looked to the nurses station, and when it looked like she wasn't coming, I moved toward the room. I knew I needed to be calm and collected about the way I did it. This stalking thing could go either way.
There was the woman, and a man in her room as I passed. The girl was laying down on her side, but I knew it was her. The same jet black hair cascaded over the thin, white blankets.
I looked at the card outside her room. H. Turner. Fall risk. Nothing else was written, not her first name, or why she was here.
“Sir?”
The nurse was back, and I went back to the station. I grabbed the towels quickly and thanked her as I ran back to the play room, feeling my own sort of giddiness wash over me.
When I came in, Julie looked annoyed. “Well, it's about time. What took you-”
“I found her, Julie,” I said quickly, handing her the towels.
She stared at me, not knowing what I was talking about. It didn't take long for the recognition to cross her face, and a smile to release. “Are you serious?” she asked.
I nodded, and she gave me the towels again and rushed off to Liam. I laughed, but started cleaning up the mess as she told her brother. I saw Liam's eyes widen and he came to my side quickly.
“Room 306. H. Turner,” I told him. He thanked me on his way out the door.
I looked to Julie. “You aren't going with him?” I asked.
She shook her head and got on her knees to help me. “No, I'll meet her eventually. He needed to do this by himself,” she told me.
For the next few hours, he did.
♥
Julie and I worked by ourselves the rest of the day. None of the kids vomited again, but another one did
get gum stuck in her hair, and one decided to be the next Picasso and draw on the table.
I took the job of scrubbing it off while Julie cleaned up the room after they left. We were doing so when Liam finally came through the doors.
We couldn't be mad at him. Both of us were more excited than angry that he had ditched us to meet the girl. Being gone for a few hours had to mean something good.
“Her name is Hilary,” he said first, closing the doors behind him. “Her mother is a snob, her dad is a pushover, and she is blind.”
Silence ensued, and Julie looked to me before glancing at Liam. I knew she couldn't believe it, because I couldn't either.
“Blind? Like blind, blind?” she asked.
Liam smiled slightly and nodded. “Yeah, like blind as a bat. Couldn't see how many fingers I was holding up kind of blind,” he told us. “You should have seen their faces when I told them that I was deaf. I thought her parents would flip out, and she just smiled.”
“So were you Ryan Gosling or Alicia Silverstone?”
“Ryan,” he said, and Julie gasped in approval. “It was like she knew who I was the moment I walked in. She asked if Prince Charming had finally came. I asked if she was the one that had disappeared, and she said she had rode her hospital bed far away,” he went on, smiling.
Julie and I looked at each other with the same expression. We didn't have to understand it. Liam had found someone who understood his sense of humor.
“Her mom didn't like me much, but I didn't leave. It had taken me half an hour to convince myself to even go in. We didn't get to talk much, but from what I've learned, she's amazing,” he told us.
“That's great, Liam,” Julie said, standing up. She gave him a hug, and Liam returned it.
Something crossed his face, and he pulled away, looking to her and then me. “Actually, there was something I needed to ask both of you,” he replied.
“Yeah?”
“Could you go out without me tonight? Hilary's mom won't be here tonight, and her dad likes me and said we could hang out while he went out. I really want to hang out with her,” he said, looking to me.
I knew I had a frightened expression on my face, but Julie didn't seem to notice. She was too busy glaring at Liam.
“I already made the reservations, Liam. Falon wanted you there too,” she told him.
“Falon won't mind, will you?” Liam said quickly, looking to me.
I did mind. I minded a lot.
“No, I won't mind,” I said.
Julie looked at me, not believing my martyrdom. She didn't say anything but I knew she didn't believe me.
“Thank you! See, Falon understands my true love, Julie. Reservations?” he said, then scoffed and shook his head.
Julie glared at him, and Liam smiled, telling her he was only joking. Julie couldn't stay angry with him, and she played into his hands like putty.
“I guess I'll tell mom where you are,” she told him.
“Yeah, that's the other thing. I need the car tonight, so do you think you could pick her up, Falon?” he asked, looking in my direction.
I looked to Julie, but her face was expressionless. Liam had given me an excuse not to go out tonight. I could say Ava was working, so I couldn't have the car, or that Ava wouldn't let me take the car out tonight. I had a loophole sitting in front of me.
But I couldn't do it. I looked to Liam and nodded. “Yeah, I'll pick her up. Text me the directions?” I said, looking at Julie again.
She nodded. I saw a small smile cross her face. That gave me some sort of hope.
“Great! Look at that! Everything is going to be great tonight!” Liam announced.
Subconsciously, my mind went somewhere. To something I would try after we were done.
♥
After we had finished cleaning up, and Julie was taking the crayons and books away, I picked up the basketball. I stood where they had showed me, and I prayed that I would make the basket.
If I could make the basket, tonight wouldn't change Julie's relationship with me. We would remain as we were now: not a couple.
I watched with relief as the ball fell through the hoop. It landed against the floor and started rolling, and I felt a huge burden lift from my chest.
“Hey! Looks like you and Julie are going to have a great time without me,” Liam said, picking up the basketball.
I watched him make a basket too, and I smiled. Tonight would be okay. Nothing to worry about.
♥
Julie texted me the directions while I was getting dressed. I was buttoning up my shirt, rolling up my sleeves, and then looked at myself in the mirror.
The outfit looked appropriate enough, A dark blue button up shirt, dark jeans, I figured I could fit in wherever Julie was taking me. Wherever it was in town that required a reservation.
My burns were still visible through the open buttons of my shirt, so I buttoned one more. There was only one more to button, but I couldn't have that last one done. I'd feel like I was choking.
I couldn't do anything about the burns all over my head. Those couldn't be buttoned up.
Ava came into my room, and she started smiling as she leaned against my doorway. “Look at you. You look very handsome,” she told me, and then held out a small bouquet of red roses.
“What are those for?” I asked her, unbuttoning the button I had just done. It felt too close to my neck again.
“For Julie. When she says they're beautiful, you say, 'Not as beautiful as you are' and then open her door and kiss her before she goes home,” she told me, holding the flowers out.
“This isn't a date, Ava.”
“Of course it is. You and Julie? Alone? It's a date,” she said, forcing the flowers into my hand.
I looked at them. Maybe I could ditch them before I got to Julie's house. Then I wouldn't have to worry about it.
“Here,” she said, and handed me some money. I took it, but gave her the same look as I had with the flowers.
“What's this for?”
“Gas in my car, and so you can pay for dinner. Date or not, you are paying for dinner,” she warned me, and I knew not to argue with that. I had been hoping for money. The thought of Julie paying for dinner was just weird. Some traditions were meant to stay that way.
“Okay,” I said, and then looked in the mirror again. I sighed, and ran my hand over my head. “I guess I need to get going. It doesn't get much better than this,” I said with a shrug.
Ava smiled and hugged me. “You looked great. And have fun tonight, and don't impregnate anyone,” she said.
I laughed, and nodded. “I'll try. I can't make any promises.”
She laughed, and I left. I memorized Julie's directions and found her house without any problems. I knew most of town so it hadn't been too difficult to figure out where she lived.
Her house was in a nice neighborhood. All over two stories, with beautiful green yards and fences blocking the backyard where a few houses held a pool. They were old southern mansions, white and columned, and nice balconies. They were the types of houses that had large oak doors and paved driveways.
I parked on the street, by the curb of her house. I took a moment to look at her house and then I straightened my shirt out again. I started to wish I had ironed it.
I got out and made my way to her front door. I was mindful of the grass, knowing how some people freaked out when you walked on it. I stayed along the walk way that was set out, and went onto the porch.
The flowers were in my hand, despite knowing what signals they would send out. Basketball Lotto has said differently.
I rang the doorbell, and listened to the chime inside. I shuffled nervously, cracking my knuckles and rubbing my arms until I heard someone move toward the door. I straightened up and cleared my throat.
A woman answered. She had a long, blond bob and the same light green eyes that Julie had. Her smile was professional, and warm. I guessed as a head nurse, you would have practiced that smile a million times.
“You must be Falon,” she said, her voice light. No traces of judgment, or disapproval. It must have been a family trait.
“Yes ma'am. You must be Julie's mom,” I replied.
She nodded and moved aside. “Yes. Come on in. Julie will be down shortly,” she told me.
I wanted to tell her that I would wait outside, but it seemed rude. I didn't feel right about going into such a nice house, but it was better than getting on Julie's mom's bad side.
I closed the door behind me and Julie's mom hooked her arm with mine. She started leading me in a room. “Would you like something to drink? I'm not sure how long Julie might be,” she told me.
“No, I'm fine,” I assured her, but her touch felt foreign. It was still weird for anyone to touch me.
“George?” she called out. An older man, with a balding head and a few extra pounds around his middle came out. I could almost feel Mrs. Michaels smile. “This is Falon. Falon, this is Julie's dad, and my husband,” she told me.
I was released from her grasp only to be put in his handshake. He had a hard grip, and he shook my hand excitedly.
“It's nice to finally meet you, Falon. My kids have went on and on about you. I was starting to think you might be a myth,” he said with a laugh.
“It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Michaels.”
“Please, call me George, and that is Shirley. Make yourself at home,” he said, releasing my hand and showing me to the couch.
I sat down, but everything felt surreal. People weren't usually this nice to me, and a part of me wondered if maybe they were faking all of it for Julie's sake. They would make fun of me after I left.
But, I knew that wasn't true. Julie was just like them, and so was Liam for that matter. They were all just happy, hospitable people with constant smiles on their face.
Weird, sometimes, but it was also contagious.
“So, Falon, Julie tells me that you just graduated,” Mr. Michaels replied.
I nodded. “Yes sir. I found out yesterday,” I replied.
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