Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 15:22:34 -0700 (PDT) From: Jennifer Douglas <jennydude15@yahoo.com> Subject: A Brand New World Chapter 2 "Hello?" I called out as I stepped into my house, My shoes went off first, my feet had been killing me. Soon after my mother responded. "Hi honey! I'm in the kitchen. Dinner will be ready in about 30 min.," She hollered. Great, just enough time for a shower. "Oh by the way," she continued. "Jason called, for you to call him as soon as you were in the house." Well there goes my shower idea. I took my time going up the stairs, each time I stepped a little sharp signal of pain was sent to my feet. I had been giving 5 books today, so the extra weight wasn't helping it. My room was the last one of the upstairs hallway to the left. Yet I took a right, of the 5 doors in the hallway I knocked gently on the second to last. No response. I let myself in quietly. The room was decorated with posters of different sports teams and cartoon characters. A bit of clothes was scattered on the floor, along with a few toys, but it was an acceptable mess. In the middle stood the bed and in it, curled up was my 8 year old brother. He had been reading a school book and fallen asleep. Without a noise I pulled a blanket over him, kissed him on the forehead and whispered "I love you Squirt." And I meant it. Joey was my joy. We got along great, and he always knew how to make me smile. I loved the kid. He stirred a bit, but was soon asleep. I slipped out of the room passing the bathroom, guest room and finally to my own bed room. I had picked the second largest room in the house, next to my parents' which was at the other end of the hall. My room was very spacious, designed with my own bathroom, and a walk-in closet. To the far right end of the room was my twin size bed. On the opposite end was my desk, with my computer on it, my stereo and a TV. To the left of my bed, on the opposite wall to the entrance was my favorite armchair along with a little table. The walls were a light blue with paintings, which I loved, on it. Behind the armchair was a sliding glass door which had an exquisite view of our back yard and pool, but best of all, the beach. My parents had purchased the house when we had moved to California , 5 years ago. I fell in love with it instantly. It had cost a fortune, however both my parents being skilled doctors, we were able to afford it. I dropped off my books, changed into a pair of confy pants and a tank top and sat on my armchair to call Jason. "Hey whore," he greeted me cheerfully. "Hey slut," I replied. The name-calling had been a ritual thing. "So how was your day?" He asked waiting for the juicy details. "Great!" He would have to get it out of me if he wanted to know anything. "I bet it was," of course he was referring to Amy, but I wouldn't give in. "Yup" "Oh come on! Tell me! What's with this girl, you were with each other the whole day!" he finally caved giving in to his curiosity. "Well we didn't get to talk much, hectic day and all, but she's from Boston, just moved in a month ago. Her parents' law firm got an offer over here, so they moved. She's really sweet and really intelligent, at least form the way she talked. She was reading my favorite book, Crime and Punishment, when I approached her." "And she's beautiful," he completed my statement. "Yes, and that," looking at the reality of it. "So when are you going to ask her out," he asked as if it was a common thing. "What??!" I was taken a bit. "I'm not going to! I told you Jason, she's nothing more than a friend and that's how she will stay. And anyway she's straight, well she looks it, at least" "You look straight" "So! Ok, I don't have to be involved with every girl I know. Plus there's Haily," I refuted "Haily? What about her? Mandy, you know that she really is straight as they come. It's time to get over her and start looking for new opportunities, real opportunities. Sweety, there's a whole world out there for you. You're everything anyone could want in a girl, beautiful, very intelligent, sweet, caring, funny, even through your cornyness, passionate. You're any girl's dreams! And guys', of course, but they don't matter." This is why I loved Jason, he could make everything right in an instant. "You're right. But Amy will stay out of this. Thanks babe. So anyway, how was YOUR day?" "Alright, dork. My day was great! Jimmy Thorton was so looking me up and down! I know he's with that slut Diana and all, but my gaydar just goes through the rough when I'm near him. And oh David, you know the football player, he just came out of his larva to a full-grown butterfly! The boy has such a nice ass!....," and so he went on about all the guys he had met and seen. I smiled to myself listening to him, knowing everything was going to be alright. About 20 min later Joey came in my room. "Anda, dinner's ready," He said sweetly. Since he was little he had called me that, he was unable to pronounce the M's very well. "Ok Kiddo, I'll be right there. Wait here, Jason wants to say hi," and I handed him the phone. Joey loved Jason, he would play soccer with him every time he was over, or they would go around the house like crazy chasing me. They had a great bond, something I always thought was great. "Hi Jay, how are you? Me too! Hehe. OK love you too," he handed me the phone again and waited for me to be done. "Call me at 9, I want to get a few things done, ok, bye bye," I took Joey's hand and we descended the stairs, he telling me about his first day of 3rd grade, and all his new friends and teachers. I gladly listened to him, even as he went on all through dinner. It was just mom, Joey, and I. Daddy had been back to Boston, to close up a few affairs left. After dinner I planned on catching up on some of my reading for the course requirement. However exhaustion hit me and I fell asleep. It was a dreamless sleep, but I was awakened by the sound of the phone ringing. A bit annoyed, I reached over to the phone. "Jason, I'm sleeping, you can tell me all about David's gorgeous ass tomorrow, ok?" I said groggily into the phone, hoping to be asleep again soon. "Hehe, it's not Jason, it's Amy, but sign me up for the gorgeous ass lecture tomorrow! I'll let you sleep," she said giggling. "Oh Amy...h...hi, wait" I was suddenly very awake. I didn't expect her call, but I was glad she had. "Is there anything I can do for you? I needed to wake up anyways" "Oh nothing important. I wanted to thank you, again, for being so great to me, I appreciate it greatly. And ask you if maybe you wanted to go to the mall, or catch a movie this weekend. I understand if you have other plans, I was just wondering..." "Listen, I'm the one gaining a great friend, I should be thanking you. And I would love to go," Great start to a great friendship, I thought. "Ok, awesome! So, not to step out of line here, but I take it Jason is gay?" She asked with a bit of caution in her tone. "Oh yea, don't worry, it's pretty known around the school that he is. I hope you don't have a problem with it," Well here it goes. I can set up the ground for my own coming out. "Oh no, not at all. Maybe he can even help me out with my shopping, he looks like he has greate taste in clothing," Great, so she doesn't have a problem with homosexuality, at least male one. "Yea, totally, Jason's a fashion diva," I said, with a bit of a giggle. "But since we're on the subject," here goes nothing. "Yea?" "I...I...(I tried clearing my throat)" "Yes?" "I...ummm..." I couldn't do it. I don't know why, but I couldn't. "I'll talk to Jason about the gorgeous ass lecture, it's very entertaining, and of course, educational" I tried to recover "Ok, I will take notes," she giggled into the phone. We talked for a while after that. She told me all about her life in Boston. I told her all about California, and life before it. I think we finally called it a night at around midnight, promising to meet each other in our spot. After I hung up I tried to figure out why exactly I hadn't been able to tell her I was gay, but the answer wouldn't come. So I gave up and let the blanket of dreams cover me for yet another night. I dreamed of Amy.