Chapter 10
Cindy
It was Tuesday after school, and I was sitting in my family room contemplating the situation. I knew I had done the right thing, yet Taylor still wouldn’t talk to me. It was so unfair. I didn’t understand how he could so selfishly shut me out like that, when really, what had I done so wrong?
I don’t know how long I was sitting there before I vaguely heard the doorbell ring. When I got to the front door, I was shocked to see Taylor himself standing on the porch. He looked nervous, sifting from one foot to the other. I stood and looked at him for a while. I wasn’t sure why he was there, and how he’d known where I lived. I decided to tackle the easy question first. “How did you know I live here?” I asked after exchanging short hi’s.
“Well, you told me what neighborhood you lived, I picked the house with your car in the driveway” he explained with his trademark grin.
“Oh” I said softly.
“I just came by because I wanted to apologize for Saturday night” he told me. I must have given him a really confused look. I was sure he was mad at me, and now he was apologizing. He continued. “I know I should have been saying this a long time ago, but god knows I’m not perfect in anyway. But I didn’t mean to leave you alone for so long, and I’m really sorry. And on top of that, I shouldn’t have I should have apologized right away but I was just sure you’d never forgive me and it wouldn’t be worth it. So, I’m sorry for everything.”
“I thought you were mad at me for dragging you away from your friends, that’s why you hadn’t said anything” I admitted in a low voice.
“Oh Cindy, I’m not mad at you at all. In fact, in a way I’m glad you asked me to leave. Like you said, I would have just gotten in more trouble and wouldn’t have been able to see you” he said taking a step toward me.
I smiled and shrugged. “So it was just a big misunderstanding then?” I asked. He nodded. “Why don’t you come in” I finally held the door open and let him into my house.
We had a seat back in the family room. “Actually, there was something else I wanted to talk to you about” he told me.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Well, you’re an amazing girl” he started. “I really value our friendship. I just met you a little over a week ago, and I feel like I’ve known you for so long. And I really like hanging out with you. But I know we’re two very different people, and I need to know if that’s all right with you.”
I sighed; I didn’t really know how to respond to that. Ironically, it was what had been on my mind as well, however I hadn’t come up with any answers. “Well, for starters I do value our friendship too. I think I told you this already, but my dad and I move a lot. Its not often I make a friend that I this well with, and certainly not so soon. I really appreciate you the way you made me feel so at home here” I told him.
“Is there a but?” he asked looking a little nervous.
“Well, we are two different people, but that’s not always a bad thing. Obviously we like hanging out with each other, we just have different views on how to have fun,” I said trying to make sense of it all.
“So how is that going to work out then?” he asked.
“Well, a little bit of compromise on both of our parts” I suggested. “And believe it or not, but I’m not completely the miss good two shoes you must think I am.”
“What do you mean by that?” he wondered aloud.
“Well in school for instance, in school I have just as much trouble paying attention in history class. If fact, I could really care less about it” I explained. He grinned, knowing I was right in that case. “But I think the whole underlying issue is that is that you like to go out and party and drink, where as that’s not really my style. Don’t get me wrong, I like to go out and have a good time. Plus my dad doesn’t really care if I drink a little when he’s around. I just think drinking should be done in a responsible way, and last Saturday night wasn’t very responsible. I mean, we were outside in a park, if the police had come we would have all gotten in huge trouble, not to mention that just about everyone drove there.”
I stopped my preaching and let Taylor soak it all in. He nodded, “I’ve never really thought about it like that before, but I totally understand what you’re saying.”
“I don’t expect you to change who you are for me. But I have a good feeling about friendship, and I think we can work around our differences” I told him.
“I think so too. I can show you how to have a good time here in Tulsa, and you can help out by keeping me in line” he said grinning.
“Sounds like a good plan to me” I agreed.
“Friends?” he asked holding out his hand to me.
“Friends” I said taking his hand and shaking it. However, even after all this friends talk, I still couldn’t help but notice the surge of heat that hit me every time my skin came in contact with his.
