Teach Me How To Love

Chapter 13

                                Calista's POV
"Do your brother and sister know what you're doing today?"

"Yeah. Made that mistake. They both want a shirt. How the hell am I supposed to get clothes for two 10 year olds?"

"You gotta think like a 10 year old. Did they say what else they want? Do they want like anything on a shirt?"

"One wants whales. The other wants sharks."

"That should be easy then. Hey uh...how come you're being this nice to me? I mean...you're always nice but..."

"I don't know how to explain it. There's just something about you. I honestly don't know. You seem really calm about all of this."

"Oh inside, I'm panicking. I'm trying to not show it though. I haven't hung out with anyone in years."

"Really? You haven't even been on a date?"

"Nope."

"Damn. This is your first one then."

"This is a date?"

"Yeah. You didn't know?"

"No? It didn't register."

"So lemme get this straight...you've never had a guy friend?"

"Nope."

"Never gone on a date?"

"No..."

"Never slept with anyone?"

"No."

"You haven't even kissed anyone?"

"Nope. Not at all. I have no idea how to love somebody."

"Wait...seriously?"

"Yeah...I don't. I-it's pathetic...I know."

"I-I'm not saying that."

"You're not?"

"No. I just haven't heard that from someone."

"I've never had a boy be romantic or anything to me. I don't even care if, I end up getting hurt. I just want to feel something. You know?"

"Yeah. I-I get it."

"My sister even has someone. She doesn't talk about it to me so I don't get upset. I feel bad about it. She wants to explode with everything. I'm holding her back."

"She knows how you feel?"

"Yeah. She knows everything. She's the only one, I really trust. I'm shocked...I'm even telling you. But...now that I think about it...I should be honest right?"

"Yeah. I'll be honest with you too."

"I feel like...I won't be enough for you. Your last girlfriend was literally a model."

"Eh. That was literally PR. I don't even count her."

"Really?"

"God no. Ick. I try to avoid her ass now."

"So, you didn't want to be with her?"

"No. She's toxic...."

"Sore topic?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Anyway..."

"I'm rambling. I-I do that sometimes."

"You're good. Your rambling is gonna help me get to know you more."

"Oh right...I didn't think about that."

We got to the aquarium and he parked. We got out of the car and started walking.

"I, no joke thought wasn't expecting this. Kinda glad though."

He didn't let me pay for my ticket.

"Uhhh. Huh?"

"You're not paying for anything today."

"Huh?!"

"You're not paying me back either."

"Huh??"

We started walking into the aquarium.

"I-I...Dean..no."

"Calista..yes..."

"I-I feel bad."

"Don't. It's fine."

I should drop this.

I don't wanna piss him off...

We started walking around. I stopped and started looking at the manatees.

"I love these. It upsets me that people don't pay attention. See all those scars?"

"Yeah."

"They're all from boats. Oh god. That one only has half its tail."

"Let's leave before you get more upset."

"No no. I'm fine. I was just making a statement. This is good for me. I'm stuck inside all day. I've been wanting to get outta the house for years now."

"You were serious about that?"

"Yeah. Why would I lie?"

"I dunno. I am still learning about you."

"True."

We went back to walking.

"When do you go back home? I know you said in a few weeks. What does that mean?"

"Literally after tour ends. I'll have practice for a few hours. Then when football ends basketball starts. It's a never ending cycle."

"What do you do about songwriting?"

"I actually manage to still do that."

"That seems rough."

"Eh. Once I get an idea, I just start writing. Can't risk losing it. Sometimes they're shitty."

"You still think that?"

"Yeah."