While Brandon looked at me smiling, I grabbed the flowers and thanked him. He gave me a hug."Let's plan something for tomorrow. This time we'll go in the afternoon and there's no way your dad will say no. I'll show up looking like a proper gentleman, talk to him." Brandon laughed and added, "Not that I'm not."
I took a deep breath and said,"Brandon, I don't know what your intentions are, but I don't want us to start with any confusion. I really hope your intentions are only about friendship."
This time, he took a deep breath.
"Don't worry, Mia. Even if our intentions are different, I'm patient. If, for now, all I have is your friendship, that's already great. I'll take it."
I stared at him without knowing what to say.
"Mia, come on! You're going to be late for your appointment!" Abigail shouted.
"I have to go," I said.
"Go, I'll call you later," Brandon replied, kissing me on the cheek before leaving.
While I walked to the car, I saw Emma and Adam along the way. They mocked the situation.
"Mia, if there's one thing Emma and I agree on, it's that we're Team Chad."
I motioned for Adam to shut up, since Abigail was close, waiting for me by the car.
"I heard that, don't even try," Abigail said as we got inside.
"Mia, sweetheart, what pretty roses!"
I sat in the car and smelled the roses. For a moment, I felt like I was back in Staunton.
When we arrived at the hospital, I had several tests done. The doctor said the results would be ready next week and that if anything came back abnormal, I would have to repeat them. But apparently, nothing seemed wrong with me.
As we left the hospital, I asked Abigail if we could grab a snack. She answered:
"The psychologist is nearby, we'll get something after."
Ugh. I had forgotten about the psychologist appointment. What a drag.
When we got to the office, Dr. Montgomery, a tall woman who looked about thirty-five with short blonde hair, greeted us, saying she had been waiting for me. In my town, we would call women like her "madame." She looked like she was made of porcelain. I entered her office and we introduced ourselves.
She asked simple questions about me at first. I told her everything I thought was relevant, including the episodes when I couldn't breathe. Then she asked how I was feeling lately.
I felt comfortable and told her everything that had happened in the past few days, including things about Chad and Brandon. When I mentioned my emotional confusion, I paused.
She said:
"Don't worry, everything here is confidential."
So I asked:
"Not even to my dad?"
She smiled.
"No, sweetheart. But back to what you were saying… you mentioned that Chad sped off on his motorcycle after seeing you with Brandon. I think you should stay away from him. That sounds like abusive behavior. Brandon seems sweeter and kinder. He gave you flowers…"
As she spoke, I kept thinking how I saw everything the opposite way, but I didn't argue. The session finally ended after forty minutes that felt like an eternity.
When we left the office, a guy was talking to Abigail. I assumed he was the next patient. He looked at her completely fascinated.
"Abigail, let's go, I'm hungry," I said.
She said goodbye to him and we left.
Inside the elevator, I noticed her brown eyes, her shiny wavy brown hair, her soft and defined features. She was so beautiful. She would easily get a boyfriend, and my silly father would be left behind. I needed to do something about that.
"What are you thinking about, sweetheart?" she asked.
"Nothing. Let's go home. We don't need a snack. We'll have dinner."
She gave me a strange look but didn't say anything else.
On the way home, I texted Chad:"Hey, just checking if the bowling plan for tomorrow is still on."
He replied right away:"Yes, unless you have something better to do with that Brandon guy."
I couldn't help but laugh. He was obviously jealous and didn't try to hide it. I didn't even have time to answer before we arrived home.
I grabbed the roses immediately when I got out of the car.
My dad was sitting there, reading the newspaper and drinking whiskey. He looked at the flowers.
"Who gave you flowers, Mia? It wasn't Emma, right? She'd be the only person who could give you flowers without you being grounded."
I looked at the flowers for a few seconds.
"They're from Abigail. I'm just holding them."
My dad looked uncomfortable. Abigail stayed silent. She knew if she corrected me, I'd get in trouble. I handed the flowers to her and headed to the stairs.
"Aren't you having dinner? Weren't you hungry?" Abigail asked.
"Oh, right," I said, turning around.
"Come on, Dad?"
"I'm not hungry. You two eat," he said, looking straight at Abigail while placing his glass on the table.
He looked really upset. I wanted to laugh.
He started walking to his room.
"Dad, what about bowling tomorrow?"
He turned around.
"You can go. Abigail will go with you, unless she has something better to do."
"No, sir. I'll go with her," Abigail answered.
"Thank you, ma'am. Good night," he replied, turning his back and going to his room.
During dinner, Abigail barely touched her food. She didn't comment on the flowers situation. She knew she owed me an explanation about my dad's jealousy.
Had something already happened between them? The thought wouldn't leave my mind.
After dinner, I went to my room. I called Chad, but he didn't answer. I got sad. Brandon was calling several times, but I texted him saying I wouldn't be able to go out the next day.
Later, I talked to Emma and Adam. They made a group chat for the bowling night and added Chad, but he didn't say anything.
While I was distracted talking to my friends, including some from my old city, I heard a small pebble hit my window. I got scared and went to look. When I looked down, I saw Chad.
He was holding a basket of wildflowers. My eyes lit up when I saw him.
I whispered:"I'll come down."
He said:"No, I don't want trouble with your dad."
He placed the basket on the ground, tucked an envelope inside the flowers, blew me a kiss, and left. I blew him a kiss back.
As soon as he left, I rushed outside to grab the basket and ran back to my room. I admired those beautiful flowers, smiled, and opened the envelope.
"It was Emma's idea. Sorry for this afternoon. From the moment I first saw you, I felt we were meant to be, and I forgot we're not together yet. Good night. I can't wait for our first date."
I placed the letter on my chest and smiled. Then I set the flower basket on the windowsill to decorate my room. I texted him a thank-you message and went to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up with Emma shaking me.
"Seriously? You forgot we're going to the mall?"
I covered my face with the blanket. Emma insisted:
"Come on! Let's go! Abigail is coming with us!"
So I got ready. Emma was so excited she kept hurrying me.
"We'll shop, then the salon, then home for lunch, and later bowling."
She had every second planned.
We went to several stores. I bought new clothes and asked Emma and Abigail for suggestions.
"Mia, you have your own vibe, don't lose it. The floral and colorful stuff you wear is cute. You just need to stop dressing like it's 2004. We're in 2024," Emma said.
We laughed.
"But your hair… We're getting a haircut," she said, dragging me into a salon.
I got a trim and my nails done. Emma and Abigail too.
When we paid, Emma paid for Abigail.
"A gift from me," she said.
She was so kind.
We had lunch and went home.
Later, at the bowling alley, I almost fainted when I saw Chad. He was waiting with Adam.
"You look beautiful, Mia," he said.
I smiled.
We played girls versus boys first, and of course we lost.
There was definitely something going on between Emma and Adam, even if they pretended otherwise.
At one point, while we were playing, Chad gently grabbed my hand and led me away from the others. He took me to a small park beside the bowling alley.
"Abigail will notice we left," I said nervously.
"Don't worry. Emma and Adam will distract her."
He held my hand and looked into my eyes. My heart was racing.
"Mia, do you feel something for me too?" he asked.
"I think so," I said.
He smiled.
"I don't want something secret. I want to know if you'll be my girlfriend so we can get to know each other better."
I froze. He was so straightforward.
"I… I…" I tried to speak, but nothing came out.
Chad leaned in and touched his lips to mine. I kissed him back.
He placed his hand on my head and pulled me closer. The kiss grew deeper.
As we kissed, I remembered scenes from movies and how lucky I was. My first kiss was happening exactly how I had dreamed, with a boy I already liked so much, even after such a short time knowing him.
Once, we went to a wedding back in my old town. While the groom read his vows, he said:
"I didn't want a serious relationship at that moment, but when we met on that plane, when my eyes met yours, I knew it wasn't coincidence but a reunion. Some people are destined for us, chosen by God. When we meet that person, we feel like we're home."
That's exactly how I felt about Chad. Just like that.