Appreciate #6: Everyone loves Chex Mix
I stared out the window during the drive home. Dad stayed quiet the whole way through, which was a bit of a rarity. This gave me time to think things over though, and I started wondering about a few things. What Casper had said made me wonder about him. It was true that neither of us had anything we 'belonged' to, but I didn't have anyone to compete with. If I decided to try my hand at something new, my parents would be proud of me no matter how I did. If I started playing an instrument, they would be happy just at the thought of me getting interested in extra curricular activities, even if I played so bad that anyone within a fifty foot radius bled from their ears. But if Casper decided to try playing an instrument, would he be judged on the same floor as Crystal? I really didn't think they would do that, but at the same time it wouldn't be hard to imagine him thinking that same train of thought. 'What if I wasn't good enough?' 'What if I'm terrible at it?' I couldn't imagine what it would be like if I had a sibling who outshined me everyday while I had nothing new to bring to the table. Does he suffer? Does he feel dejected? Maybe he's shared those thoughts with his family. Maybe he just keeps it all bottled up. Or maybe none of that was true and I'm just over thinking it.
As we pulled into the driveway, I noticed the sun was finally hidden away behind the horizon. We did it, sun. See you tomorrow, bright and early. After a quick dinner I went into my room and looked at my messy bed. It didn't look as inviting as it did in the morning, but I'm sure the second I decided to lay back down on it I would be singing a different tune. For the moment I had other things on my mind. Homework, for example, was a beast that needed slaying. I didn't want to do homework, but even the most reluctant of us can become great heroes. People will sing for years to come of my bravery against Algebra and the vast complexity of her brother, Geometry. He will be at my castle in but one more year, so for now I must practice on thee, lower sibling! Find X? Child's play! I scribbled past numbers and variables as fast and carefully as I could while making sure to double check my work every so often. It wasn't that I was one of those people that had to make sure everything was perfect, it was more of the fact that I knew myself well enough that I probably messed up every problem in at least one way. Sure enough, whenever I looked over an equation, there was usually something out of place. Nothing major, just a misplaced variable or some other small mistake that would have gotten me points off. I heard the doorbell go off, but ignored it; it was probably just some package being delivered...at seven at night? That's weird, but whatever. I heard footsteps on the wooden floor coming up to my room and I looked towards my open door, expecting to see mom and dad walking to their own room. Sure enough, my dad's face came into view, but he stopped and peered into my room.
“Hey pr—uh, Ashley?”
“Yeah, dad?”He walked into my room as a certain English teen followed him in.
“You've got a visitor.” I stared at Richard as my mind blue screened. “Keep the door open, alright? I'll be just down the hall. You need anything to drink, Richard?”
“No, thank you.” He answered as my dad nodded and walked out of my room. “Hello, Ashley.” Richard told me warmly as I started to reboot myself. I continued to stare blankly at the boy, my pencil mid-scratch on the piece of paper I was working on. In response, Richard raised both eyebrows at me, waiting for me to say something. I came back online.
“Gah!” I shot out of my chair as if I had just sat on a sharp pin and my face turned to a bright shade of red. Boy! In room!
My room! Alone! What?!
“Ashley?” Richard asked as he took a step towards me. No no no! I'm not ready for this! I backed away from Richard and fell onto my bed. Bed.
Bed. Bed?! On a bed in a room alone with a boy? Bed bad! I crawled backwards along the bed, falling over the other side as I heard Richard lean outside of the door frame.
“Mr. Oath?” He yelled down the hallway, “I think your daughter is broken!”
“Did you try turning her off and on again?” Dad called back.
“Does...she come with a manual?”
“I wish.”
“Richard!” I said as my head popped out from the other side of the bed, still beet red. “What the
hell?!”
“Hello.” The Englishman answered with a smile.
“Don't give me that! I'm spoken for! Kind of! And—and think of what's her name...Isabelle!”
“What? Oh,” the boy smacked his hand against his face, “no you daft woman, that's not why I'm here.”
“It better not be.” Dad said as he poked his head in through the door.
“Dad, go away!” I slammed my face into my bed. Damn it, I hadn't even fixed the bed, it was still a complete mess.
“I'm just bringing some water.” My father answered as he placed two water bottles on my desk. “Now behave, you two.”
“Yes, sir.” Richard said seriously. I glared at him before turning to my dad.
“Okay, yeah thanks. Bye now.” Dad winked at me before leaving my room again. “How did you even know where I live?” I asked the boy as I quickly tidied up my bed and did my best to stop blushing. “What, are you going to tell me I had some kind of grass on my shoe that only grows on this side of town? Or that my bag had been damaged by the sun in such a way that you were able to triangulate its usual position in my room and therefore my house?”
“No.” Richard answered, “You gave us your address last year for your birthday party, remember?”
“...Oh.”
“Why are you so fidgety?” Richard asked as he sat down on the chair I was using while I instead took the bed.
Sat on the bed. Alone. Let's stay clear on that point. “Am I the first boy to be in your room like this or something?”
“Yes, actually!” I told him as my face returned to its former red color.
“Oh? That's interesting.”
“I—is it?!”
“A little, yeah. I was sure Casper had—”
“Shut up shut up.” I covered my ears and looked away from him, doing my best to ignore how undoubtedly red my face had become. “I'm not listening.”
“Casper had what?” My dad asked as his head once again flew into view. God, he was like a sideways gopher or something.
“Nothing!” I cried, “Casper had nothing!” Richard started chuckling as I threw him another glare. “Would you please stop eavesdropping?” I told dad.
“Just thought you guys might want some snacks.” He answered, placing a small bowl of chex mix next to the water bottles before giving me a small wave and walked out of my room for the third time. Richard waited a few seconds before continuing.
“Casper had
something.” he said quietly.
“N-no!” Richard raised an eyebrow at me as be brought one of the little chex thingies to his lips. Um. Let's move away from lips, actually. “He just...walked me home once, that's it.”
“That's it?”
“Yeah, I mean that was pretty much it.” The boy stared at me. His eyes seemed to drill right into my brain. “Well—well I mean, we, uh...hugged but, but that was it! He didn't like, come inside or or—
Richard why are you even here?!”
“I was just in the neighborhood.” He answered innocently.
“Are you just here to tease me, because I've got stuff to do.”
“I can see that.” He said as he lifted up a piece of paper with various math equations. “You got the last problem wrong, by the way.”
“I was going to double check it!” I told him huffily. “Jeez, you're such a jerk.”
“I'm sorry.” The boy placed my homework back on the desk and faced me. He placed one of his hands inside the other and brought them to his mouth in concentration. “The truth is, Ashley,” He started seriously as he stared into my eyes. I suddenly felt my face flush again. “I, uh... ahem,” He cleared his throat as his eyes darted away from me. Oh my god, he's tongue tied. Jesus, he...he isn't going to say what I think he's going to say is he?! He just said that wasn't why he was here, but what if he had heard my dad walking towards us and just switched the subject so he wouldn't overhear? Oh god, get a grip girl. Think of Casper, come on.
“I need your help.” He told me. I stared at him in silence for a few seconds before a smile spread across my face.
“Pfft, what?”
“You heard me, I'm not going to repeat myself.” I couldn't help but giggle at the situation. My quiet laughter grew steadily and soon I found myself on my back, roaring in laughter as I held my stomach in pain.
“Air,” I said between laughs, “Can't breath, gonna die.” Richard watched on in boredom as he waited for me to recover.
“Are you done?” He asked a few minutes later.
“I'm sorry, I'm sorry,” I said as I started to calm down, “it's just....
what?”
“Okay.” He said, smacking his knee once with an open palm before standing, “This was a waste of time.”
“No no no,” I grabbed him by the han...
arm, “Sorry, it's just not something I was expecting. Like at all.”
“And what
were you expecting?” He asked with a smile as he took his seat. “You don't have to answer.”
“Good. I mean—I wasn't going to anyway. Wh-what do you need help with?” Richard sighed before answering.
“This never leaves this room, alright?” I nodded as I crossed my legs. “I'm...not sure how to handle myself with Isabelle.”
“What?”
“How do I act? Am I unintentionally rude? Am I too overbearing? Perhaps not caring enough?”
“Richard? Is this seriously bothering you?”
“Of course is it. I'm not one to...socialize with others. Hell, I'm surprised you lot can stand me as it is.”
“Dude really? Look, she's obviously into you just for being you. If that's the case, why even worry about it? Just tell her to be straight with you and to let you know if you do anything that bugs you.”
“That's too simple.”
“Most stuff is.” Richard stared at me for a second before bringing his attention to my homework again.
“And if things don't go so...smoothly?”
“You'll figure it out. You're a smart guy.”
“Yes. I am, aren't I?” I laughed again.
“Why did you come to me for this?”
“Who else should I ask for advice on this subject than someone who can't hide her feelings? You're perfect for this.” I felt myself blush again as the boy smiled at me. “See? Just like that. Alexander would have been of no help to me here. He's too...”
“Dumb?”
“I was going to say 'clueless.'”
“Sure you were. The point is, you're over thinking things. It's something you're not used to, but I don't think you have anything to worry about.” Richard nodded in response.
“Maybe you're right.” He looked up at the clock in my room. “Damn. I'm behind schedule.” I followed his gaze to find an entire hour had already passed. “Do you mind walking me out? I'd rather not have your father's gaze down my back.”
“He isn't going to strangle you or anything.”
“I've read some of his work,” He said while standing up, “I'm not sure what he's capable of.” We made our way to the living room and found both my parents sitting on a sofa watching TV.
“Leaving already?” Dad asked with a smile.
“Yes,” The boy answered, “thank you for your hospitality.”
“Anytime, Richard. Feel free to drop by whenever.”
“Just give me some warning first.” I told him. After a quick goodbye, I turned around and faced the sofa.
“Princess?” Dad told me, “Do we need to have...
the talk?”
“What?”
“Well you see, there are birds and there are bees. Now when a bee—“
“No!” I yelled, covering my ears as I ran to my room. “No no no no! This isn't happening! I need to do math and stuff!” I slammed the door to my room shut, and I heard my parents laughing to themselves. Har har very funny, guys. I sat back down on my desk and faced my algebra, but found a yellow sticky note with handwriting on it that was definitely not mine. When did Richard write this? I hadn't seen him do it. I read the note over, but it only had five words on it.
Casper likes peaches and cherries.