Lucid June

Chapter Five - What Else, He Can Build A House From Scratch?

I need to talk to the girls, I need to know if what he said means anything. If I don't ask, I'll just be hyper-fixating on it all day finding no result, but just a massive amount of flustered stress. 

Back in the dining hall, the kids grab some water and a snack, taking a small break as we reset for our next activities. Which for Derek and I is puzzles and board games - something I excel at and requires no talking just brain power. 

Fetching my snack from the table, I snack on my muffin as I search for Ella and Josie. I spot them by the water station, rushing over to them in a speed walk that'd give Olympians a run for their money. 

"Hey- woah, your face is really red. You alright, Margaret?" Ella question worriedly, Josie chugging a cup of water. 

'I need to run something by you two, so I don't go insane.' I sign frantically.

"Is it about Derek?" Asks Josie. 

I flush even deeper. 'Maybe.' 

They both smile slyly, then both tell me sternly, "Spill, Margaret."

'Okay, basically when Derek and I were out with our group one of the kids comes up to us and asks Derek if he has a girlfriend. He brushes it off, joking with her until she runs off, then he asks if I'm single,' I may be signing too fast because Ella is translating at a speed I'm unsure if she's breathing. 

"Oh, I see where this is going." Josie smirks. 

I intake a breath, as does Ella. 'I answer no, saying single as a Pringle. But he didn't catch that part, thank the universe. Then he kinda walks off to go check on the kids, but tells me that he doesn't have a girlfriend, winks, then walks away,' I explain, eyes frazzled and panicked. 'He also asked if he could call me Maggie?'

Ella's jaw drops as Josie's smirk widens. 

"We told you he's into you," Josie states. "He's really into you, babe."

"Yep, what she said." Ella nods giddily. "I mean a nickname, all the winks, telling you he's also single even though you didn't ask..." she fans her face, "I mean, he's hinting but in a good way." 

I smack my hand to my forehead, then drag it down my slightly sweaty face. 'Hinting what? I don't know what he wants.' 

"Why don't you ask him?" Josie suggests. 

I cough from shock, then shake my head. 'Absolutely not.'

"Yeah, Josie, have you met Margaret?" Ella jokes slyly, but she's not wrong. 

'What she said.' I add.

Josie huffs an eye roll. "Look, the dude is obviously into you. He's waving it around on a neon pink flag and slapping it across your face, what you need to do is show him you're also interested. Do what he's doing, but in your own way." 

'How?'

"When-"

"I'm glad you asked," Ella buts in, Josie playfully narrowing her eyes on her. "If he says something funny, laugh and sort of caress his forearm," Ella lightly drags her fingers over my forearm. "Stand close to him, give him little smiles, use your touch, use your eyeballs." 

'My eyeballs?' I gape. 

She nods firmly. "Your eyeballs. You've got very entrancing eyes Margaret, very lapis blue, puppy-like eyeballs. Use them." 

"That's what I was going to say, just so you know." Adds Josie. 

'Okay,' I roll my shoulders. 'I can do that. Caress his forearm, use my eyeballs, that's doable.'