Jason Calder - a moment in time

Just something I wrote randomly and hasn't gone anywhere (yet)

It's getting cold again.

I had my hair tied back in a casual ponytail but a few wavy strands were left loose, framing my face. I wore my rainbow beads choker and my red reebok sweatshirt with my black trousers and my trainers. I put in my deep red earrings, a really dark cherry red like wine, and wore my spiders web ring. I then bounced off to meet Cheryl, Lindsay, Julie and the others at the cinema. We went to watch Harry Potter, but guess who I met at the bus stop! Jason. He looked at me and said, "Hello," and I sort of jumped a mile, then started laughing.

"Hi!" I said.

"Are you going to the cinema or something?"

"Yep. Going to see Harry Potter."

"Oh God! Me too," I said, "With the Girls."

"The Girls?"

"Julie, Cheryl, Lindsay..."

"The pregnant one?"

"Yeah. She's nearly eight months so we're treating her to a social life."

"That's nice." He gave a polite smile, like he always does. He doesn't approve of unmarried pregnant teenagers. He doesn't approve of a lot of things. But gone are the days when I'm affected by him. I still like him, a hell of a lot, but now I'm Me again and he doesn't rule Me. I give a polite smile back.

"So, how are you?" he asks.

"Fine, brilliant, spiffing." I say.

He laughs at the 'spiffing' bit.

"Ha ha ha!"

"Going up to Scotland next week," I say. "Going to meet up with Kiern."

He looks shocked, and puzzled.

"Kiern? I didn't think you were going out with him - again."

"I'm not, durr! I'm just going up to see him. Because we're friends, right? And he knows me inside out, it's fun hanging out with him. I can totally be myself with Kiern."

"You can't with me?"

"Nah. It's too wierd with you.Not that it bothers me now, but I keep on trying to change for you without realising it. Force of habit, see, from before. It's a lot easier with Kiern."

"Do you want to join us?" I add, hardly drawing breath.

He raises his eyebrows.

"Thankyou."

I nod. "You're welcome."

This gives me permission to sit behind him on the bus. He looks back.

"What's wrong with sitting next to me?"

"Nothing, I just rather fancied looking at the back of your head. Looking," I added on sudden inspiration, "At how white your hair's becoming. It's quite fascinating really."

He laughs again.

"You - are - wierd."

I grin. "Yeah, but that's why everybody loves me."

I'm purposefully not saying "that's why you love me," because HE doesn't. Apparently. It's the reason he ditched me when I was still in love with him. It would be awkward if I said that. He'd look at me awkwardly and I'd say something like "Oh. No. You don't. Of course. Sorry."

I take a piece of paper out of my pocket.

"Shopping list," I say before he has time to ask what it is.

I run my finger down the list.

Skimmed milk...eggs...teabags...cheesecake... 

Reviews

[tiefightersunite]

i like where you're going with this! i can definitely sympathize, if this is autobiographical, because ive been in that situation with a guy and its way awkward. my only complaint would be that you use 'my' a bit much, maybe switch up the wording here and there. but i'd love to see this taken further, you're great with dialogue.

[black.butterfly]

i like this story. Also i like how the narrating feels casual, kind of personal and direct.keep it up!
:]

[Kieran James McGovern]

You're a narrator. It's very good... I think he is an old man and I think the ending gives it a new level of profundity that I don't get! But that's why it's cool, I'm really trying to read it over a few times!

[emmajoy]

Please 'get it somewhere' soon!

You have two distinct characters here and they obviously have a history .. want to know what,

You've lured me in with odd phrases '"Nah. It's too wierd with you. Not that it bothers me now, but .. ' (and) '. He looks back. "What's wrong with sitting next to me?"

Your writing flows so well - font a little small, but still so readable. Must move onto your other post now.. thanks for sharing this one.