Comfort Zone

We've Got Uncomfortable Coming Out of Our Ears

I can't breathe. I can't move. I'm completely frozen as Rhett stares helplessly at me. I can tell he's panicking, but damn it, I'm panicking too.

He just told me that he likes me. That he really likes me. He called me breathtakingly amazing.

What in the hell?

"You like me," I repeat, looking up at him for confirmation. I'm not sure if it's a question or a statement. Maybe it's both.

"Yes," he says, taking a deep breath and holding it in nervously, waiting for me to say something a little... better. Oh my gosh, he probably wants to know if I like him back. Do I like him back?

I don't know!

What if I say I do? Then what? Would we date? I would be awful at dating. Why would he even want to date me? Is he sure he likes me?

I'm about to ask him, but when I look back up at him I know it's a silly question. With his big watery, emotional, terrified eyes, he looks pretty dang sure.

I can tell I'm freaking him out by taking so long to say something. He's as white as a sheet. Oh well, serves him right. What is he thinking, liking me?

"I-I," I stutter.

"You don't have to say anything," he says quickly, coming back to life at my feeble words. "I know I just sprung a lot on you," he admits sheepishly doing that damn nervous, neck scratching thing again.

"I," I begin again, wanting to give him something to make him stop looking like such a sad, lost puppy, but I come up short. So I just say something stupid. "Ok. I need to go home now and...think."

"Uh. Ya. Ok," he stammers.

We're being awkward and I hate it. Up until tonight we have never had an uncomfortable conversation. Now we've got uncomfortable coming out of our ears.

"I'll- I'll talk to you tomorrow," I say with what I'm sure is an unconvincing smile as I jerk myself up.

"Do I need to walk you back to your house," he asks hesitantly.

"No," I say quickly. "No. I can get back fine."

Neither one of us wants to have to walk back together right now.

"Ok. See you tomorrow," he says, sounding a little far off and so very unlike his cocky, cheery self that it makes me pause. I should stay and comfort him, but I know I can't tell him what he wants to hear. So, I quickly speed walk away until I'm sure he can't see me anymore and then start sprinting. I probably look a bit odd, zooming through my suburban neighborhood at night like I'm being chased by a serial killer. I'm hoping no one will be looking out there windows at this time.

It's almost nine o'clock, so the only light I have to see is from the street lamps. Normally I would be a little freaked out, walking by myself in the dark, but I don't have the mental capacity to freak out about anything except for Rhett's little confession tonight.

I reach my house and notice Rhett's car is still in the driveway.

"Oh gosh," I whisper to myself, cringing. Maybe I should have walked with him. He's going to have to walk over here and get it by himself now, right after he poured his soul out to the stupid, heartless girl and she sprinted away.

I let out a loud, frustrated groan and run my hand down my face, shaking my head at myself. I need Violet and Davin. They're good at this. They know about boys and what you're supposed to do when one likes you. Hell, they've been telling me this whole time that Rhett likes me.