Chapter 9 - A moment

I watch Mina walk toward us her interest peaked. Her eyes are focused on Golden; she walks next to me and looks at me for a long time. As if she’s asking me what the hell bro? She sits down next to me and looks at Golden for even longer.  I can see her little mind working over time.

I open my mouth to say something but she beats me to it.

“Who are you?” she asks Golden still looking at her intently.

“I’m Golden.” Golden says extending her hand to Mina. My little sister looks at her hand and then she looks at me. I smile and she looks back at Golden’s offered hand. She looks Golden in the eyes and then finally decides to accept her hand shake.

“I’m Mina.” She says.

“Nice to meet you.” Golden says looking unfazed.

“How do you know my brother?” Mina asks still curious.

“We go to the same school.” Golden says looking intently at Mina. I guess she’s not backing down.

“Okay” Mina says and then turns to me. “I’m going back to play.”  She declares, she waits for me to nod and then she’s off.

I smile glad she has the balls to face Golden because I’m dying on the inside. What do I say? I have thought about this moment so many times. I’ve made up conversations but nothing compares to real thing. This moment right now.

“Wow that was intense.”  Golden says and smiles at me.

“You have no idea.” I say feeling her pain. I go through the same inquisition at least twice a day. And I have a feeling I’m going to have another one when we get home about Golden.

“I don’t blame her.” She says looking down at her hands looking shy all of a sudden.

“Oh?” I ask curious.

“’Yeah, if I had a brother I would suss out every girl that comes into his life.” She says and looks back at me.

“You don’t have any brothers?”

“No, I’m an only child.” She says and lies down on the blanket. She looks at me sideways; her eyes look so beautiful in the afternoon light. I swallow hard; I need to get a grip.

“That must be interesting.” I say not really knowing what to say, her being here is throwing me off. And my none existent conversation skills leave me completely.  

“More like boring and lonely.” She says her eyes closed.

I take that opportunity to really look at her.  I trace my eyes over her perfectly shaped nose, her beautiful lips and her smooth flawless skin.

“That’s why you have so many friends?” I ask staring at her. She opens her eyes and catches me staring at her. I look away quickly and concentrate on Zach and the kids.

“I guess you could say that. Although, lately I’ve had to reevaluate my friendships.” She says and it catches me off guard. I look back at her and find her looking at me.

“Is that why you’re here?” I ask thankful she took the conversation there. I’m dying to know why she’s here. We’re not her usual crowd, what game is she playing?

“I like Zach, he’s so chill. I need that in my life.”She says thoughtful.

“Okay.” I say not really saying what I want to say.

“What?” She asks looking at me intently.

“Nothing.” I say looking away.

“Leo, say what you’re thinking. I can take it.” She says serious.

“I guess I’m just wondering why you’re sitting here with me and not with Zach.” I say regretting the words as soon as they leave my mouth.

But she doesn’t seem to take my words out of turn.

“The truth?” She asks and I nod yes. “I’m curious about who you are.”She says and looks away quickly. She covers her face and makes a sound. “Jeez that sounds so bad, I’m so sorry. Why did I say that? I sound so weird.” She says rolling to her side, hiding from me.

I reach out and roll her back, I peel her hands from her face and she resists.

“No you’re fine. Don’t feel that way.” I say softly pulling her hands away. She opens one eye peaking at me.

“Promise me you won’t ever repeat what I just said to anyone else.” She says holding out her pinky. I interlock her pinky with mine smiling. “Say I promise.” She says giving me a deadly look. She looks so cute right now.

“I promise” I repeat the words.

“Are you two ever going to join the fun?” Zach says behind me and I almost jump out of my skin because I didn’t hear him approach.

“Yes” Golden says standing up so fast and she snatches the water gun out of Zach’s hands and starts spraying us. Zach starts screaming after her, she runs away and I get up running after them.

We run around playing with the kids. We scream our hearts out. Mina and Golden team up against us,

It’s the ladies against the guys. They soak us with the water guns. I surrender when they gang up on me.

“Okay I surrender.” I say to them and they giggle running after Jon and Zach.

I laugh watching the boys run away, they look so happy. I want to stay here forever but I have to get back home so I can get ready for work. I walk back to where our stuff is, I take a moment to commit this scene to memory. I had an amazing day, after a moment I signal Zach and he gathers the kids. He says something to Golden and they join me.

We gather all our stuff and head back to the car.

“Thanks for inviting me.” I hear Golden say to Zach as I load the car.

“Well you told me about this place.” He says as he lets the kids into the car.

“All the same I’m glad you invited me.” She says looking at me.  I smile thankful I came. I had an awesome time.

“Well we should get going.” Zach says and gets into the car.

“I can walk you to your car.” I say to Golden.

“Oh thank you. Bye Zach.” She says and he waves from the driver’s seat. She starts walking in the direction of her car. She unlocks her car and opens the door. She hesitates for a moment and then she gets in.

“Well thank you.” she says, I nod and walk away. I don’t know what to do or say.

When I get back in Zach’s car and he has this cheesy look on his face. I ignore him.

“Are you going to say the words or am I going to have to peel them out of you?” He says as we leave. I can see Golden’s cars behind us in the side mirror.

“’What words?” I say looking at him finally.

“Oh I don’t know, words like. Zach you were right about Golden and I was wrong.” He says looking smug.

“You were right about nothing. Nothing happened and nothing will happen.” I say loud enough so that I can hear the words too. I don’t want to get my heart broken over nothing.

“Even I know that’s bull” He says looking at the road concentrating. We drive in silence from then on.