Mary does a little self discovery. I am sorry up front if this is a little slow. i am trying to set up the story line. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I am in bed after my date with Brian. It was nice, well he was nice, but I keep thinking of Liz. I am not thinking of just the sex. I am thinking of Liz. I am seeing her face, seeing her smile. Not only that but I want to talk to her, but it's late. It feels like it will be awkward too. She knows I was going out with Brian. "What should I do?" I ask Zeena.
She is laying beside me and I am scratching her head. She kind of looks up at me and sighs, and Ezzie startles me.
"Zeena says you should text her." Says Ezzie.
"No way. You're pulling my leg." I say out loud.
Just as Auntie lightly knocks and opens the door. She sees I am awake as I look over. "Sorry Mary. I heard your voice, and I just wanted to check, and make sure you are ok." She says. Zeena's head pops up when she hears Auntie's voice. She sees it's Auntie, let's out a small sigh and drops her head back down. Auntie smiles and giggles. "I guess I passed inspection." She says as she sits on the edge of my bed. My bed is starting to feel crowded.
Auntie smiles at me. "It's been a long week or so. I feel like I didn't see you at all today, between school, studying with Liz, and a date with Brian right?"
"Yes, Auntie." I say with a smile. I know she is just looking out for me.
"So how was your date?" She asks.
"It was ok. He is nice." I say.
"How did studying go?" She asks, and I can feel myself blush. I see Auntie smile. "So you liked studying."
I giggle. "I did." I sigh and break down. "Auntie, I am confused. I want to reach out to Liz, but I am afraid it will be awkward. After being on a date with Brian." I say.
She brushes my cheek, and pushes my hair back. "You like her don't you?" She asks and I just nod. "Does she like you?"
"I think so." I say.
"Is she a little confused like you are right now maybe?" She asks, smiling at me.
"I don't know." I say.
"Maybe you two should talk, and I don't mean text or FaceTime. I mean face to face. Talk to her. You might find she feels exactly like you do." Auntie says.
I sit up and hug Auntie. "I Love You!" I say into her neck.
"Oh Sweetie, I Love You too." She says as she hugs me and gently rubs my back. She pulls back and kisses my forehead. She takes my phone and puts it in the nightstand, and tucks me in again like the other night. She pets Zeena. "Good girl watching over Mary." She walks out leaving the door ajar just a tad.
I am awoken by Zeena jumping up on the bed with cold wet paws. "Zeena!" I giggle. She has obviously been out in the yard in the dew covered grass. I lay there thinking there are three things I need to do today.
First I need to call Mike. There is more paperwork to go over, and I need to suck it up and do it. Second, Anna and I need to go car shopping. We have been talking. She knows I want to get a Cadillac. It was what my Dad drove, and we both love the new Lyriq. It's got the expanded battery for something like 500 miles to a charge, and Zeena can have a large area in the back with the back seats folded down.
And finally, and most importantly. I need to call Liz. Her phone doesn't finish the second ring when she picks up. She sounds happy. "Hello."
"Hi." I say realizing I am excited too. "I was, umm wondering if maybe we could meet for coffee, and maybe talk?" I ask.
"Talk?" She asks sounding concerned.
I giggle. "Yes. I would like to talk with you."
She giggles, and sounds a little relieved. "Ok. When."
We decide on a little more than an hour at a coffee shop with outside tables. I want to take Zeena with me, so she doesn't end up in her crate all day, and she gets to get used to different places, people and sounds. I was reading that you need to socialize a puppy.
I text the lawyer Mike.
ME - I think I am ready to go over the paperwork.
Just a few minutes later he responds.
Mike - Great. I am free and in the office most of today catching up. Would you like to come today?
Um, wow I wasn't expecting that. I take a deep breath.
ME - Yes I can be there at about noon time.
Mike - Great. See you then.
It's a decent day, so the twenty minute walk will be nice. Of course with someone sniffing everything in the world it takes us thirty minutes to get there. Liz is already seated and she waves. "Who is this?" She asks leaning over to Zeena after standing up.
"This is Zeena. My Uncle gave her to me for my birthday. Someone just had to stop and smell Everything." I say. "Sorry I was late." I say.
Liz stands and gives me a little bit more than a friendly hug. We break the hug and give each other an awkward smile. We sit and seconds later a waitress is there to take my coffee order. She comes back with my coffee and some whip cream in one cup and some water in another. "She is too cute." She nods to Zeena.
Zeena is under the table enjoying the whipped cream. Liz and I are alone, and she starts talking. "I have to ask because I am unsure, was our study date an exploration? Was it a fling?" She glances up at me. "Was it more?" She asks quietly. I don't realize I am sitting there silently for a moment until Ezzie says something.
"Answer her Mary. Tell her what you are feeling." Ezzie says.
I am scared. "Ezzie, what does she feel?" I ask.
"She is hoping it was More." She says. "Tell her what you feel."
I smile at Liz. "More, I hope."
Liz smiles and holds my hand on the table. "Me too." She says softly. We just sit there smiling at each other. We eventually end up chatting away when I look at the time.
"I am sorry Liz. I have to get an Uber and leave to go see a lawyer." I say.
"A lawyer? Why?" She asks.
I play it off. "It's for inheritance stuff, now that I am 18."
"Oh." Says Liz.