Roots

Roots - Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Didn’t See That One Coming

Is it wrong to compare walking to a friend’s car after school, as being the same as walking to your death?  That was exactly how I felt from the time the last school bell rung all the way until I saw Eric leaning against his very nice black, Mustang GT that he had gotten over the summer, in the senior parking lot.  My mind had been going wild with how I thought this conversation was going to turn out, different questions and answers.  Could I trust him?  Would I have to lie?  Could I lie? Why me? What was I even going to say? These all the common thoughts that traveled throughout my mind for the last three and a half hours of my life of the school day.

I took a deep breath as I got closer to Eric and his car, okay I can do this.  Maybe he’ll just forget about the whole thing.  Even if he didn’t, he’s smart, and awesome; would it be bad if one of my best friends knew?  I always imagined telling Mandy or Rachel first, but Eric, was still Eric.  Either way, there would be no going back once I told him the truth, and truth was always better for everyone, right? Right. I decided in my head as I walked the last ten steps.

“Hey Lisa, so how was the rest of school?” Eric said, trying to sound casual, but I could hear the nervousness behind it.  I couldn’t help but laugh too.  In a way it was the exact same conversation starter that my mom always did.

“What?” Eric asked again, before thinking about it and laughing a little before continuing, “Oh, sorry I guess that was kind of motherly sounding.”

“Yeah, I was waiting for you to notice.” I said with a smile, feeling more at ease.  Eric was always good about that.  No matter how awkward the situation was he could always ease the room.

“Lisa, I know you have a secret…” Eric started saying kind of loud as guys from the football team started honking their horns across the parking lot.

“Eric, please let’s just get in the car and talk about this.” I said nervously as I looked around. People were still going to their cars, and some were in earshot distance.  I did not want to have this conversation out in front of everyone.

“Okay, fine.” Eric said as he opened the passenger side car door for me, like he always did whenever I rode in his car. Yet, this time felt very awkward.  Okay Lisa, stop making things awkward.  Remember your conversation with Mr. Poloski; just act natural.  You are a princess for goodness sake. I coached myself as Eric walked around and got inside.

“Look, I’m really sorry Eric.  I’m really bad about making things awkward lately, that’s what Mr. Poloski was actually talking to me about.  And he’s right.  I just need to relax, and trust people.” I said over the purr of the engine, while he flipped through his small cd collection.

“Lisa, you just think too much.” He said with a smile as he put in his favorite “Taking Back Sunday” cd while we drove off towards the library.

“But that’s who you are Lisa, so you can’t really help that. It’s not a bad thing either.  Anyways, I was just saying before you freaked out, that it’s your secret, if you don’t want to tell me; then that’s fine.  I’m not going to force you too.  I just want you to know that whatever it is or was that you can trust me Lisa.  Friends stick together no matter what. Plus I know you Lisa; you wouldn’t hide something from me, especially from Mandy if it wasn’t important.” He finished saying as he looked over at me with a smirk.  I couldn’t help but smile back.  This was why I loved hanging out with Eric.  He was just laid back, and we enjoyed just talking. He was one of my best friends, and someone I did truly trust.  This was probably why I knew right then and there, that I could trust him with this secret.