Priscilla and I are back outside of “All Things Kawaii” “Bye,” Yoshi says waving.
“Bye Mr. Kawaii!
Thank you for the shoot, the food and the games!” Priscilla waves excitedly.
I don't say
anything. What is there to say? Mr. Kawaii wants nothing to do with me. He tells
me he likes me only to say that I'm incapable of liking him. Shouldn't that be
for me to find out? My eyes start to tear up as I sit in the car. I'm not sad
that I'm rejected. I'm angry! I hate it when I cry when I'm angry. Priscilla
turns to get into the car. I quickly wipe my eyes and stare out the window, my
face turned from Priscilla.
“I think Mr.
Kawaii likes me.” Priscilla says excitedly. I sigh heavily. “Did you see the
way he smiled at me? I gave him my phone number, do you think he'll call me?”
Priscilla bubbles.
“Priscilla, Mr.
Kawaii doesn't like anybody. He made that very clear to me today.” I say
angrily
“What makes you
say that?” Priscilla asks
“While you were
playing your dance game, I was talking to Mr. Kawaii. He told me he thought I
was cute, and then he told me I could never like him.” I say exhaling sharply.
“He told you you
were cute?” Priscilla says her voice a cross between disappointment and
sadness.
“Yeah,” I reply.
“Then why did he
ask us both to lunch, and he smiled at me, and he paid for me to play the dance
game, and-”
“He didn't want
you to go to lunch, he only wanted to take me, you invited yourself and he
didn't want to be rude by telling you no. He paid for your dance game because
he wanted to get rid of you so he could talk to me. He probably smiled at you
because he was laughing at how ridiculous you look!” I say cutting her off.
“Honestly, I don't understand how you can be so blind.” I add
“Well, I, er,”
Priscilla goes silent. She drives her car and we both sit in silence, both in a
bad mood. We arrive back at the apartment. I turn on the computer and resume my
studies, Priscilla stalks off to her room, to finish her article or cry, I
assume. I lose myself in my studies, a welcomed distraction.
“Pencils down” The
test administrator says. I put my pencil down and look up. I smile. It's over I think, no more studying. No more high school drop out comments. Maybe I can
get a better job too and I can go to college! I feel relief flooding my
body. The GED test is over and I'm confident that I passed. I knew the answer
to almost everything. Bright things are in my future, a better job, college and
hopefully a better car! I rush out of the building feeling like it's summer
break. What will I do with all my free time now when I'm not working, I
wonder. Study for college of course! I answer myself. I smile “College,”
I say out loud. I love how the word sounds.
I'm back at the
apartment. Lavern is outside, her mail in her hand. “I have an episode on
cops,” She says proudly. “I saw them out here.” I reply smiling
“It'll be on Friday
in two week at 7pm.”
“I'll be sure to
watch,” I say “I just finished my GED test!”.
“Good for you,
girl! You be sure and go to college and make something of yourself. You don't
want
“I'm going to
try.” I reply.
“Don't try, do.”
She says and enters her apartment. For someone with a crazy life, she certainly
has some good advice. I enter my apartment.
“You have a
package on the table.” Priscilla says. During the week we both calmed down and
we back to being the best of friends.
“Who from?” I ask
“I didn't look.”
Priscilla says. “Are you going to open it?” She asks
“Of course!” I
say. I begin to open the box it's covered in tape. Once I get the tape off I am
able to see what's inside. There's a gas mask, first aid kit, dehydrated food.
Water purification tablets. A gun and a utility knife. “What in the...” I begin
to ask. There's a note.
“Shannon, I didn't
put my address on the package, because I don't want this to be traced back.
Should the end of the world happen I want you to be safe. Please remember to
find me when the world end, you know where I'll be.”
“Who's it from?”
Priscilla asks.
“My mom.” I say. Who
else would it be from, I think, Yoshi? Don't be ridiculous.
“Did your
test go well?” Priscilla asks.
“Yeah,” I say
smiling proudly.
“Want to celebrate?”
She asks, smirking.
“What did you have
in mind,” I ask
“A night out to
the club of course. We haven't been in forever!”
“Sounds great!” I
say.
The music is loud,
and fast. There are multicolored lights everywhere. We're at Glitter, one of
the best night clubs in the area. The floor sparkles from the glitter specks in
the shiny black tiled floor. I've had a few drinks and I'm nicely buzzed. Owen
came with us and Priscilla and I dance with him. Priscilla keeps pointing out
different guys to me trying to get me to go dance with them. I'm too shy, I'm
not drunk enough to put myself out there.. yet. I approach the bar and order a
drink. I go to pay for it, and a person
behind me reaches out and pay for my drink. I turn around and there's Yoshi. My
mouth pops open. “What are you doing here?” I ask “Are you stalking me?”
“No, I was already
here and I saw you walk towards the bar.” He says smiling at me. I chug my
drink “Cool” I say, “You're going to have to do a lot more than buy me a drink
to make up for our conversation the last time I saw you,” I say
“Look,” He says
looking down and rubbing the back of his head. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to
upset you. I was trying to warn you, warn myself. I don't know if you can
handle me.” He says
“Well why don't
you let me be the judge of that I say.” I take a step towards the dance floor
and I stumble a little bit.
“How much have you
had to drink?” Yoshi asks me.
“Not enough.” I
reply. He grabs my arm and we walk to the dance floor. Yoshi and I dance,
Priscilla sees us and comes closer to Yoshi and I. She's dancing on Owen, while
I dance on Yoshi. We're dancing and grinding to the music. Then I have to pee.
I turn to Yoshi, tell him I'm going to the bathroom and stumble dizzily to the
bathroom. I relieve myself and Yoshi is waiting for me outside the bathroom.
“You okay?” He asks.
“Of course I am, I
just had to pee.” I say “I need another drink.” I walk towards the bar.
I order and Yoshi pay for my drink and we dance again. We
stay at the club drinking and dancing until the club closes. At this point I'm
lucky I'm still standing. I'm giggling and playing with Priscilla's hair.
“Your hair ish sho
pretty.” I slur.
“I'm going to take
Shannon back to my place.” Yoshi says. He takes me by the arm and walks me to
his car. I smile up at him “I like you,” I say poking his nose. He sits me
down, puts my seat belt on me and gets in the driver’s seat. We start to drive
off and suddenly I don't feel so well. “I don't feel good,” I say
“Let me
pull over,” Yoshi says but there isn't enough time. I vomit. “Shit,” I hear
Yoshi say. I pass out.
