chapter threeHalf an hour later, I was still wandering around the mall. I couldn’t face going home again just to mope around. At least the mall wasn’t quite as boring. I was still kind of thinking about my meeting with Taylor, when I found myself at the same bookstore I’d started at. I returned to the magazine stand, and flicked through the same magazines as before. I was reading an article on Jamiroquai when someone coughed behind me. I moved aside, so they could get to the stand, thinking that was what they wanted. When nothing happened, I looked up to see Taylor watching me. "Oh! Umm, hi," I said, again lost for words, and trying at the same time to figure out why he would possibly want to talk to me.
"Hi. What are you reading?"
I tried madly to remember what it was. I glanced accusingly at the magazine in my hand, blaming it for my having forgotten what the article was about. Then it hit me.
"Umm, it’s just an article on Jamiroquai"
"I love them!" he exclaimed, "Virtual Insanity is the best!"
I mentally thanked the editor of whatever the magazine was for putting in something we could talk about. "I know—have you heard Cosmic Girl? It’s almost as good." Well done, you’re talking normally. Now just keep it up, and he might think you’re normal…
"Yeah, I’ve got the album"
Now think before you say anything…..think first -
"Do you live in Tulsa?" he asked, breaking into my thoughts.
"Yeah, I’ve lived here since I was three. It’s a nice place, I like it."
"Yeah, it is. So, umm, what’s your name?" I was a bit surprised by this, but managed to answer. "Rhian, Rhian Campbell."
"Rhian…that’s a cool name!"
"Yeah, it’s Welsh…that’s where I was born. Wales, I mean."
"Cool. So, Rhian, I was wondering if you’d like to do something tonight?"
My jaw dropped open "M-me?"
"Well, I don’t see anyone else" he teased.
"Oh." I stared at him for a few more seconds, before regaining my composure. "Well, then, yes, I would."
He grinned, "Cool. So, do you want to meet somewhere or what?"
"Sure…is here okay?"
"Yep." He pushed his hand through his hair and then returned it to the pocket of his jeans. "Why don’t we meet here, then? About six?"
"That’s fine. So, I guess I’ll see you then."
"Yep. See ya," He smiled again, and headed away towards the door of the store. I watched him walk out and over to Ike and Zac, who had been watching the entire conversation. Taylor said something, and then turned back to look at me again. I quickly pretended to read my magazine, watching him out the corner of my eye. After a while, all three headed away towards the exit of the mall.
* * * * * Taylor grinned at Isaac. "She was really nice. We talked a little about Jamiroquai, and then I asked what her name was - it’s Rhian, by the way - and then I asked her out." Zac, Isaac and Taylor were in Isaac’s car on the way back from the mall. "I gather she said yes, then?"
"Yeah, she did, and then-"
"Tay, shut up! We don’t care!" Zac was getting a little more than annoyed at Taylor’s constant rambling. "She said yes, that’s all we need to know."
Tay stared at Zac "I’m going out with the girl of my dreams, and you don’t care! Well, thanks! Thanks a lot!"
Zac groaned, "Tay, Pamela Anderson is the girl of your dreams, remember?"
"Ike, you understand, don’t you?" Taylor questioned, ignoring Zac.
Isaac looked over from the driver’s seat of the car. "Tay, you have been talking about her for the past half hour"
Taylor slumped in his seat. "Fine, then, I’ll stop!"
"GOOD!" yelled Zac from the back. They continued for several miles in silence, before Isaac said, "Where are you going to take her? Did you think about that?"
"Yes…..I’m going to ask what she wants to do, and then suggest an arcade or movie."
"Go for the movie, Tay. Common ground" he explained, "she might not like arcades, but you’ll always be able to find a movie she’ll enjoy,"
"And aren’t we just sooooo experienced, Ike?" Zac sarcastically called from the back.
Tay nodded slowly, again ignoring Zac. "Yeah, but you can’t talk at a movie - and I want to get to know her more"
"Maybe you can’t talk, but you can do other things," Ike said, grinning.
"EWWWWWW!" exclaimed Zac. Both Isaac and Taylor burst out laughing.