Objects in the Mirror

Chapter Two

It's the break of dawn. Little birds are singing as they drift through the sky. Men are creeping back into their homes and women are dreaming about a life with a better man. It's 5:30 A.M. His fatigued eyes gaze upon the screen of his iPhone as a pair of weary, chinky brown eyes stare back. Maria has her hair tied up and wrapped in a scarf. Her purple comforter is draped over her, but her black bra strap is still slightly visible. He's laying shirtless, but nothing below his chest is visible to the FaceTime camera.

"We're gonna have bags under our eyes." Maria says as she is pulling at her bottom eyelid

"Stop or your face will get stuck like that." He says chuckling

She goes on to make a few silly faces and they share a quick laugh.

"Would you still talk to me if looked like this?" Maria asks as she makes her eyes cross and flares her nostrils

"Whoaa! you'd have to wear some bomb ass sunglasses, then maybe I'll think about it." He replies as he laughs

"Damn, that's crazy." She says while shaking her head

"So why are you still a virgin? I mean look at you! You're cute as shit, you're the star basketball player, you have money. What's the problem? You can have any girl you want." She says with a nervous laugh

He sits and stares off into space for a brief moment. The alarm clock on his bedside table dings as the new hour arrives.

"Exactly. Just because I can have anyone doesn't mean I want just anybody. Why settle for just anyone when you can have someone that you truly want?" Not just someone you can get a quick nut from and never speak to again." He replies

Maria tries to hold back a smile by biting her lip.

"Okay, so let's say you wait to have sex with someone that you truly want. But after you fuck it turns out that that person wasn't really rocking with you?" She asks while sitting up slightly in her bed

"Well then you need to understand that as long as you were real and true through the whole thing that's all that matters. If someone fucks you over while you're being legit it's not your loss. It's theirs." He answers

"Well shit, if I was still a virgin I know who I would've lost my virginity too." She says as she plays in her hair and laughs

He smirks and starts rubbing his head.

"I know who I want to lose my virginity too." He says in a deep and raspy sleepy voice

"Boy bye, this pussy will fuck your life up." Maria says as she sits up and twerks her ass and giggles

"Well you're confident as hell to automatically think I was talking about you." He says laughing

"Then who were you talking about smart ass?" She says rolling her eyes

"You." He says

"That's what I thought." She says as she plays in her hair

"Okay so we're still going out to the movies tonight right?" He asks

"Yeah of course. You're driving right?" She asks as she retreats back under her comforter

His eyes widen and he swallows hard. The sounds of blaring horns and metal ramming into one another flood his thoughts. The faint stench burnt rubber and seeping gasoline permeates his nostrils.

"Soo are you gonna answer me or keep staring into space?" She asks

"Uhmm, I don't drive anymore." He says, snapping himself out of his delusion