Rehearsal

With a casual knock to her already opened door, I walk through with the normal tendency I had been feeling of the past week. Things seemed to be progressing fine with Amy. The only setbacks? None, really, besides my friends. They like to make little comments. Asking if she’s some freak that I’m hiding. Perhaps. Asking if she’s some kind of anti-social sociopath. Perhaps. Asking if I was ever going to ask her out. Perhaps.

It takes time, lots of it when it comes to Amy. I’m just warming up to her. Warming up to her sarcastic side, her playful side, the quiet side (surprising, I know) and most notable of late, her ragged rage. Yeah, I found that in full form just two nights ago when her friend Trent from home was "replacing" her with someone that she loathed.

Those Wisconsin soap operas. Can never get enough.

So, back to where I am in the present and break out laughing. The site is quite precious. Amy is atop the loft of her bed. Well, I’m assuming it’s her. Something is moving beneath the comforter that is draped about.

With a lift in my voice, trying to stop laughter from embarrassing her, "Amy?"

The blanket shifts oddly, and I swear she is staring at me. Or attempting to through the thickness covering her eyesight. Her voice is timid, "Will?" as if questioning herself as well.

A chuckle beats me in my attempts to keep the humorous nature of this out of the room. "No," and I creep closer to the lofted mattress.

"Patrick?" her voice sounding the same it did just moments ago.

"No."

"Jacob?"

"No," I am such a tease!

She begins to harp out, still beneath the blankets. What a retard…"Damnit, who the hell is it?"

The laughter finally begins and a mumble comes out, sounding a bit like, "Ryan."

Her arms flail about as she tries to free herself and I simply watch in amazement that a simple comforter could cause such problems for someone. Then a screech goes out and her body begins to fall over the side. I quickly pushed at the clump of blankets and Amy combined, easing it from falling to the ground.

I saw an arm reach ouch to grab a post of the loft, but the fabric still restricted her movements and grasps. She fails considerably. Folks, this girl needs herself a walking cane to make her way through the straightaway hallway. She would need a harness to keep herself on the bed.

As I continue to aid in her positioning on the bed, she lets out another shriek and does what seems to be swatting at me. "Stop touching my ass!"

Geez, if I had known I was touching her ass, I’d try to enjoy this. Not that I wasn’t…Amy always had a way to make things so interesting, thus prompting my liking of this klutz of a blonde. I push roughly, making sure she’s stable on the mattress. She raggedly pulls at the covers, finally bringing herself some fresh air and glares at me. "You grabbed my ass."

Waving my hands, palms up of innocence and arguing, "I wasn’t trying to do anything remotely close to that." Then I caught her staring at the positioning of my hands. Palms up, a but clenched, as if…grabbing something of the backside nature. God, I am such a loser.

I see an eyebrow raised on her head and I drop my head with a heavy sigh and slow shake. Some creaking makes it way into my mind and I look up to see her making her way down the loft’s ladder. With a wave of her hand, yet an odd voice, "Just forget it."

What just happened here? She was all weird, me touching her ass. I thought she’d like it. So did I. But, it was just strange, like I crossed some boundary and I instantly felt the awkwardness fill the space between us.

After another sigh, "Wanna go out for some food?"

She was already at her desk, seated and flipping pages of some big textbook. Not even looking up, "What?"

"Food?" in a strained voice. It was just way too weird right now. I couldn’t just walk out and not say anything.

Looking up at me with a bit of confusion, yet a bit of anticipation flittering in her eyes, "Now?"

Softly, "Yeah, that’s what I came by for."

Next thing I knew, we were in my ‘ride,’ making our way to Applebee’s. Small conversation was attempted before I finally say, "Amy, I wasn’t intentionally touching your ass. If I wanted to touch your ass, you’d know that I was trying for it."

Oh shit, I am such a fuck-up. What the hell did I just say? Again, MOUTH! CALLING MY MOUTH! What were you thinking, letting that statement leave my mind?!

"Um, okay," she breathes and reaches to change the channel on the radio. Amy sits back in her seat; "I’m really over that whole bum-touching thing, if you would be, too."

I glance her way and try to give a genuine look before bringing my gaze back to the road. "I’m just trying to make sure you realize I’m not trying to paw you."

In a mutter, "I think I realize that."

Was that tension? Was that bitterness? What is this now? Am I being too nice by not trying to come onto her? Girls are sooo confusing!

We both go on without much more between us until we get to the restaurant and look over our menus. Bits of chit-chat fall between us as we talk about what we’re going to order, then I ask about what she was trying to read while I was there. Then the big topic…what the hell was she doing on that bed?

"Making my bed," with a blush marking her cheeks before she looks away.

"Uh, huh," leaves my mouth before I can stop it. I’ve really gotta have a one-on-one with my mouth and mind.

She looks back to me, as if arguing, "I was, I just didn’t want to let my comforter fall to the ground." I stifle a chuckle while she glances away again in a mutter, "I’m such a loser."

At least I’ve found a girl who has much in common with me. Hi, my name is Ryan and I’m a loser. Hi Ryan! Hi, her name is Amy, and she’s a loser, too. Hi Amy!

A few mumbles are leaving her mouth as one of my current favorite songs is playing overhead. "What?" I ask with squinted eyes. She didn’t just say what I think she did, did she?

Apparently confused as to what I was asking about, "What?"

"What did you just say?"

"I just saw her, the other day," she rattled off with slight annoyance for my questioning.

A few laughs later and her face flushes red, once again. That look is charming on her, for real. "It’s ‘I just found out, the other day.’"

"Whatever, Creed is unoriginal anyway." What did she just say?! Oh, no, all of hell is going to break loose.

"Excuse me?" through gritted teeth.

Running a hand through her golden blonde hair, "I said," with emphasis, "Creed is very original."

I lean back in my seat, I know that’s not what she really said. But, I will let that remark slide for now. Our food finally comes and thank God, because I don’t feel like I need to be on the spot for something to say. Songs pass on and I don’t realize who is who, unless it’s something of alternative rock.

A dance song plays and I look at her while her head is bopping from side to side along with the beat. It sounds strangely familiar and I realize that I hear this while I’m working in the computer labs all the time. The radio station we use there is a normal college playlist. Playing everything and anything any one would listen to.

A few words fall from my mouth, "Listen baby, I’m sorry. I will be late…" then trail off.

"What?" with shock across her face.

Confusion rampant in my mind, wondering what she’s asking me, "What?"

"What did you just say?" And folks, we have ourselves some good ol’ déjà vu.

"Um, I don’t know," I had to respond, realizing that I didn’t even know how or why I knew those words. "Why?" A small chuckle escapes her lips and I have to moan. There is no fucking way I just did that, singing in a public place and in front of Amy.

"Uh, huh," with another snigger, "And you hate them."

"I hear that song all the time at work." Then a thought passes, "No, who is that?!" with horror.

She chuckled again with a grated sound of laughter coming; "Who do you think?"

Oh God, help me. I know their songs.

And I’m singing them in public.