BOYS OF ETERNITY: The Merging Of Forever And A Day (Part 3)
Four excruciating, long days had passed since Alex and I had hung out for the very first time, and we were now on the fifth day of being apart. We had only seen each other in school and were only able to communicate through text and video chats once we left the school. His mother had taken a full week off from work and wanted him around the house. He told me he was busy doing in-house chores for her. Since they had moved to Missouri at the beginning of the school year, there were still many things to fix up at their house.
I also learned that his parents hadn't bought the house, but instead, they were renting it out until they were very sure it was what they wanted. Some tiling needed to be installed down in their basement, and the spare bedroom needed repainting. Apparently, the walls had a grungy, dark brown wallpaper. They were going to strip it and repaint it to transform the room into very bright colors. Also, he said the fireplace looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in years, and they needed to make sure it was safe to use. Although, they may need a professional to come out and do that.
I was so proud of him. The more I learned about him, the more I adored him. He was a killer drummer, played sports and had the skills to do handy work around the house. Those are all things that I had no idea how to do. If it was me, I would have had to go online to view videos on how to do everything.
While he was busy at his house, I did my best to stay busy with my music. My new private teacher had taken me down the path of improvisation. He had me playing all these different patterns in every Key. It was something you just don't do in regular music class in any high school. He told me that if I was able to play all my scales, chord tones and multiple patterns in all Keys, I'd stand a better chance of getting my ideas out from inside my mind and through my saxophone.
It made sense what he was saying, but everything he was teaching me was so new, and I was struggling. Clearly, I didn't have all the scales and patterns down as second nature. Every time I tried improvising, I felt very mechanical, and I didn't really have any ideas flowing. It also didn't help that I was separated from Alex this past week. After sealing the deal and becoming his boyfriend and professing our love for each other, it was hard to stay focused when I couldn't even see him for more than five minutes at a time.
Alex and I were both feeling the pangs of separation. As much as I adored all the pictures he texted me, I wasn't able to touch his face or feel the warmth of his hug. And even all the sexy talk through text was just that, sexy talk. It was nothing like the real thing.
When we did video chat, Alex didn't have a problem, since his room was in the basement of their house. He had more privacy. For me, I had to close my door and cover myself with a blanket to muffle the sound. I wasn't ready for my parents to hear me making kissing sounds and telling somebody "I love you" on the phone. If it wasn't for all the video chatting, I think I would've gone crazy. At least we were able to see each other's facial expressions and hear each other's voices. A few times, we were able to get sexy.
On this fifth night of being apart, Alex showed me around his room during our video chat. It was hard to see and imagine everything, since it was only through a small phone. He had his own private bathroom with a full shower in it, and the colors of his room were bright and cheerful, which matched his personality. In the corner of his room was a shelf filled with stuffed animals. There was one cute plushy toy in particular that I kind of made a big deal about.
"It's SOOOO cute!" I had the biggest grin on my face. The stuffed animal was fat with whiskers, but it wasn't a cat. It was just a big fat blob of lime green cuteness. "Where did you get that?!"
"I won it at a carnival back home in Michigan. I spent a lot of money trying to win it, but it was worth it." He seemed rather proud of his win. "You like it that much?"
"Yes! I wish I had one like that. I don't even have any stuffed animals. Just a few video games." I frowned a little. "But seeing your room and your toys, you just seem so open and colorful, and it makes me feel happy looking at everything." His personal space gave me warm feelings. I imagined what it would be like if we ever lived together. Is that even possible? I tried not to think about that too much, but it was definitely something that I wished for.
For a little while longer, we chatted until we were both very sleepy. We said our good nights and made kissing noises. Alex blew me a kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow in Band. Good night, baby."
I blushed, although he couldn't tell, because it was a little dark in my room. "Good night, sweety. See you tomorrow."
The next day at school, I walked inside the band room, eager to see him. I looked around, but he had not shown up yet. I texted him and asked him where he was.
Me: where you at? I'm in the band room already
Alex: I'm here already. Just not in the band room. c u in a sec
There was a wink at the end of his text.
Me: okee pokes, sweety
Within a minute, the band room door swung open, and Alex walked through. There was a huge smile on his face, and he waved at me. A couple of students said hi to him, and he fist-bumped one of them. Immediately, he walked up to where I was seated in the saxophone section. We still had a few minutes before class started, and most of the other students were still loud and running around the room. Alex kneeled down on the floor beside me and poked me on the arm.
"I love you," he whispered. He curled his lip and just smiled.
I smiled back. "I love you too," I whispered. "But I feel like you're not saying something."
"Maybe." He stood up. "Maybe you'll see after class." He then turned and walked to the back of the room where the drum section was.
After class, we both walked together toward my locker. Alex was already prepared and had his book for his next class. He was acting strange, but in a funny, good-natured way. When we finally got to my locker, I turned to him. "If we weren't in school, I'd pin you down and make you spill the beans on whatever it is you're holding in."
A sly smirk spread across his face. "You know, I'm the one who usually pins you down. I might actually like it if you do that to me." There was a sassy tone in his voice. "You gonna open your locker?"
I poked him in the stomach. "Maybe I WILL pin you down." I then spun around and turned the numbers on my lock to open up my locker. "Five, eight, zero, one." The lock clicked open, and I pulled on it. Before I opened my locker, I turned to Alex, and while nobody was looking, I blew him a kiss.
Ignoring my kiss, Alex reached over and pulled on my locker. It opened up, and I froze. Staring at me on the middle shelf of my locker was the fat, lime green, cute plushy animal. "Oh my god!" I think my voice might have carried down the hall to the other end of school.
"It's yours, baby." I could tell he wanted to hug me, but he held back. "I wanted you to have it. We still have another day til we can hang out after school, so I thought you could have this in your room as a reminder that I'm always there. Plus, you don't have any stuffed animals, so this can be your first."
My lips puckered, and I wasn't sure what to say. "You're the sweetest boy in the universe." It came out as a whisper. "I love it a lot. I... I love you so much." I paused. "How did you know my locker combination? I'm not mad, just curious."
"Baby..." He started to laugh, then stared at me with an incredulous look. "You do realize that every time you open your locker, you say the numbers out loud, right?! I've heard you say it twice before today. And today makes the third time. Five, eight, zero, one."
I looked up and to the left while thinking for a few seconds. "Ohhhhh, shit. You're right. I DO do that, don't I?"
"It's all good. Just try not to say it too loud next time, so nobody'll hear you. Come on." He tugged my sleeve. "I'll walk you to your next class."
I grabbed my book and locked my locker back up, and we walked down the hall to my next class. Once we reached the door, we said our goodbyes. I wanted so badly to kiss him, but I couldn't. I just watched him walk back down the hall to his class. While I was staring at him, I caught a glimpse of a couple of other students, a girl and a guy, pecking each other on the lips before they too separated. She went into class, and he walked down the hall in the same direction as Alex. Emotions of sadness and anger welled up inside me. How fair is that?!
