CHAPTER TWO #8
The breeze gently rocked the empty swing beside her. Michael still hadn't answered. Amanda's stomach twisted. She risked another glance. He wasn't smiling. He wasn't uncomfortable. If anything... He looked thoughtful. Amanda laughed awkwardly.
"You..."
She pointed at him.
"...don't actually look surprised."
Michael rubbed the back of his neck. A sheepish smile finally appeared.
"I kind of..."
He looked down briefly.
"...already knew."
Amanda stared.
"...What?"
He chuckled quietly.
"I kind of already knew."
Amanda blinked several times. Then—
"You jerk!"
Michael laughed.
"I deserve that."
Amanda couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"You knew?"
"A little."
"You let me embarrass myself!"
"I wasn't trying to." Amanda pointed accusingly at him.
"I just confessed my feelings!"
"I know."
"And your response is..."
She threw her hands into the air dramatically.
"'Yeah... I figured.'"
Michael laughed harder.
"I'm sorry."
"No, you're not."
"I'm really not."
Amanda couldn't stop herself from laughing too.
"You are unbelievable."
Michael smiled.
"You weren't exactly subtle."
Amanda frowned.
"...I thought I was."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You watched football practice from the exact same seat every morning."
Amanda slowly covered her face with both hands. "Oh, my God."
Michael continued. "You always sat on the third row."
Amanda groaned louder.
"Please..."
"You wore that blue hoodie every Friday."
She peeked through her fingers.
"...Stop."
"You pretended to read while staring at us."
Amanda buried her face completely.
"I am begging you."
Michael laughed.
"I thought you were trying to be mysterious."
Amanda let out a muffled groan.
"I was!"
Michael smiled warmly.
"You weren't."
Amanda lowered her hands just enough to glare at him.
"I've never been so embarrassed in my entire life."
Michael stepped a little closer.
"Can I tell you a secret?"
Amanda slowly lowered her hands. "...What?"
His smile softened.
"I like you too."
Amanda blinked.
"...What?"
"I like you too."
She stared at him. Certain she'd misheard.
"You..."
She pointed at herself.
"...like me?"
Michael nodded.
"I have for a while."
Amanda shook her head in disbelief.
"That doesn't make any sense."
He laughed.
"It makes perfect sense."
"You're..."
Amanda gestured vaguely toward him.
"...you."
Michael looked down at himself. "I certainly hope so."
"No."
Amanda laughed.
"You're the quarterback."
"So?"
"You could date literally anyone."
Michael shrugged.
"I could."
Amanda frowned.
"So why me?"
Michael thought about it for a moment. Then smiled.
"Because you're you."
Amanda's heart skipped.
"I noticed you a long time ago."
His voice had become quieter now.
"Not because you watched football."
Amanda smiled.
"That helped."
She rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious."
Michael looked toward the playground. "I noticed the way you always laughed."
"The way you checked on people… The way you stayed after games to help clean up when nobody asked."
Amanda blinked.
"You noticed that?"
"I notice a lot more than people think."
He smiled.
"I just..."
He rubbed the back of his neck again.
"...never knew how to approach you."
Amanda laughed softly.
"You could've started with hello."
Michael grinned.
"I did."
She smiled.
"...Eventually."
"Eventually."
The two of them laughed together. The silence that followed felt different now. Comfortable. Hopeful. Michael slowly reached for her hand. His fingers brushed hers hesitantly. Almost asking permission. Amanda looked down. Then slowly intertwined her fingers with his. His hand felt warm. Steady.
She looked back up. Michael was already looking at her. Neither of them spoke. Neither of them needed to. He took one careful step closer. Amanda's heartbeat echoed inside her chest. She met him halfway. Their foreheads nearly touched. Then...
Michael gently kissed her.
It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't rushed. It was soft.
Careful. Like neither of them wanted to ruin the moment they'd both imagined for years.
Amanda closed her eyes. For one perfect second...
The party... Maria... Melissa... Everything disappeared.
There was only him. When they finally pulled apart...
Amanda simply stared. Michael smiled nervously.
"...You okay?"
Amanda blinked once. Twice.
"I..."
She laughed.
"...I honestly don't know."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"I think..."
She touched her lips gently with her fingertips.
"...my brain stopped working."
Michael laughed.
"I was hoping that wasn't a bad sign."
Amanda shook her head quickly.
"No."
She smiled. "It's definitely not."
The two of them stood there laughing beneath the streetlight. Then Michael glanced back toward the direction of Maria's house.
"I have a better idea."
Amanda looked up.
"What?"
He smiled.
"Let's get out of here."
She laughed.
"Where?"
Michael offered her his hand again.
"Somewhere..."
His smile widened.
"...without Maria Romano."
Amanda looked down at his hand. Then back into his eyes. For the first time all night... She smiled without forcing it.
"...Please."
She slipped her hand into his.
"Take me."
The restaurant overlooked the river. Warm string lights stretched between wooden beams above the outdoor patio, casting a golden glow over the small tables scattered beneath the late September sky.
A musician quietly strummed an acoustic guitar in the corner.
The sounds of laughter and silverware replaced the pounding music from Maria's mansion. Amanda breathed in deeply.
"This..."
She smiled.
"...is so much better."
Michael pulled out her chair.
"I figured we'd earned a quieter ending to the night."
Amanda laughed.
"I think you're right."
She settled into her seat. For the first time since leaving the party... She felt safe. The waitress had barely walked away with their drink order before Amanda leaned forward. She rested her elbows carefully against the edge of the table, studying Michael with obvious curiosity.
"Can I ask you something?"
Michael smiled.
"You just did."
Amanda narrowed her eyes. He immediately laughed.
"Sorry."
She couldn't help smiling.
"You think you're funny."
"I've been told."
Amanda rolled her eyes affectionately. "Okay..."
She picked up one of the sugar packets, absentmindedly folding it between her fingers.
"How well do you actually know Maria?"
Michael's smile faded. He leaned back in his chair, exhaling quietly.
"...Unfortunately?"
Amanda raised an eyebrow.
"...That doesn't sound promising."
"It isn't."
He looked out toward the river for a moment before meeting her eyes again.
"Maria and I dated."
Amanda nearly inhaled the ice water she had just taken a sip of. She coughed violently. Michael reached across the table, trying—and failing—not to laugh.
"You okay?"
Amanda held up one finger. Still coughing. Finally— She caught her breath.
"You dated Maria Romano?"
Michael winced.
"...I did."
Amanda stared at him.
"...Voluntarily?" He laughed.
"Believe it or not..."
"...yes."
Amanda blinked several more times.
"I..."
She searched desperately for words.
"...I have so many questions."
"I imagine you do."
"The first one being..."
She leaned closer.
"...why?"
Michael burst into laughter.
"That is an incredibly fair question."
Amanda smiled proudly.
"I thought so."
He shook his head.
"We were fourteen."
Amanda nodded slowly.
"Ah."
"I know." "No one makes good decisions at fourteen."
"Exactly."
Michael laughed.
"Back then..."
He searched for the right words.
"...Maria wasn't..."
Amanda waited.
"...quite as terrifying."
Amanda tilted her head.
"Was she?"
Michael thought for a moment. Then smiled.
"...Slightly less."
Amanda laughed.
"So she was always a little terrifying?"
"Oh, absolutely."
The two of them laughed together. Michael rested his forearms on the table.
"We dated for a few months. It wasn't serious."
"At least..."
He shrugged.
"...not to me." Amanda's smile faded slightly.
"What happened?"
Michael sighed.
"The same thing that always happens with Maria."
Amanda listened carefully.
"Everything became..."
He searched for the right word.
"...a competition."
"What do you mean?"
"If I talked to another girl..."
He shrugged.
"...she assumed I was cheating. If I spent time with my teammates..."
"...she thought I was ignoring her."
"If I disagreed with her... she'd stop talking to me for days."
Amanda frowned.
"That sounds exhausting."
Michael laughed softly.
"It was."
"So..."
Amanda hesitated. "...who broke up with who?"
"I ended it."
Amanda smiled.
"Good."
Michael looked at her curiously. "You sound relieved."
"I am."
She laughed.
"I would've judged you just a little if she'd dumped you."
He placed a hand dramatically over his heart.
"That's harsh."
"I'm honest."
"I've noticed."
Amanda smiled.
"Someone has to keep you humble."
"I appreciate your service."
She laughed again. Then... Her smile slowly disappeared. Michael noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Amanda looked down at the table.
"I think..." She sighed.
"...something makes a lot more sense now."
Michael waited.
"In the locker room..."
She looked back up.
"...Maria told me to stay away from you."
Michael's expression changed instantly. The warmth disappeared from his face.
"...She what?"
Amanda nodded.
"I didn't think much of it."
"I figured she was just being..."
She smiled weakly.
"...Maria."
Michael's jaw tightened.
"What exactly did she say?"
Amanda tried to remember.
"Basically..."
She shrugged.
"...that I wasn't good enough for you." Silence.
The guitar playing somewhere across the patio suddenly felt very far away.
Michael looked toward the table. His jaw flexed.
Amanda could practically see him replaying the conversation in his head.
When he finally looked back at her... His eyes were different. Determined.
"I'll talk to her."
Amanda immediately shook her head.
"You don't have to."
"I know." "I mean it."
Michael leaned forward.
"I'm not looking for a fight."
Amanda studied him.
"I just..."
He smiled reassuringly.
"...I'm not going to let someone scare you away from me."
Amanda felt her heart melt. She smiled.
"...Good."
Michael smiled back.
"Good."