When I got in, the house was dark, and it felt so soothing. I was finally in the safety of my own home. But my mom was still up. She was sitting in the living room.
"Margaret? Is that you?" She asked.
"Uh, yes.." I answered. She turned to me.
"You were out late! Did you get anything?"
"No.. we just looked." I wanted her to stop talking to me so I could go upstairs and just sleep.
"Okay.. well, go upstairs, take a nice bath, and get into bed." She dismissed me.
After my bath, I told Jan everything. She told me that Theresa was a bitch, that those men are going to hell, and of course she wanted to know if Dominic was hot. I said no.
When I pulled my covers over my body, I was dead. This all made me so tired, and I was so done with today. I wanted it to be over.
....
The next day, Drew came over. He drove me to his house, and we talked in his backyard. It was huge. His whole house was gigantic.
"This is a beautiful backyard," I told him. He smiled.
"It's all my mom, of course," He picked a tulip from the ground and gave it to me. "Don't tell my mother." I gave him a small smile and took it.
"Drew, have you ever been downtown?" I asked him. Maybe he'd know a bit more of why it was such an awful area.
"Oh, boy. Yes, I have. I'll never go back," He rolled his eyes. "They're all dirty, and they live in these small apartments that have broken fire escapes! It's awful. I don't believe there's one person there who would even just say 'Excuse me'." That was a lot more than I expected.
"It is scary down there," I said. His brow creased with worry.
"Why? Did something happen?" I shuddered at the memory.
"No," I lied. "Just curious. Everyone talks about it so.."
"Don't go down there. Just stay on the good side," He warned. "There's more of people like me." He laughed a little, but I wasn't sure if he was joking or if he was serious.
Later, when I exited the giant gates at the end of his long driveway, I thought about his family. I always had something to think about on walks home.
But I really started thinking. Who was Drew, really? All he did was buy 15 cents worth of tobacco for me. Dominic saved my life.
Wait, why was I thinking about Dominic?
I shook my head and focused on Drew. I thought about how his parents laughed because Drew's little brother told them about a boy he met at the park with flip flops on. What was that supposed to mean? Is it dumb for boys to wear flip flops? Isn't it summer?
Why was I starting to point out bad things about Drew? He seemed nice.. and we kissed, and I felt like I was in love. But suddenly I was starting to feel like he was one of the snotty rich kids that people at my school dislike.
But why now? I guess ever since Dominic came to the rescue last night, I started thinking about if Drew would do that kind of thing. Maybe he'd just buy me tobacco and leave.
Margaret stop! Oh goodness, I think too much into things. These second thoughts about Drew were starting to anger me, and I didn't want to be angry at him.
....
I went two weeks without telling Jan anything about how I was feeling. I tried to figure it out on my own. And I couldn't.
So there I was, two weeks later, still confused. Even though I felt as if I was done thinking about Drew, I went to Jan for help.
"Uh Jan? Can you help me?" I walked into her room. She took the needle off of her Buddy Holly record.
"What is it, Margie?"
"I'm starting to think Drew isn't all down to earth as I thought." I told her. She sat up.
"Why is that?" She seemed a little upset. I guess she really wanted me to have a love life.
But I do. What am I saying?
"When I went to his house a few weeks back, which by the way is like a castle, I just sort of saw this other, snotty side of him. I didn't like it. Also, his family isn't the best either." I sighed.
"Oh, jeez. That's not at all what you want," She shook her head. "But what do you want me to help with, exactly?"
What did I want her to help with? Was I over analyzing things?
"Well... I'm not sure really." I stated truthfully. She gasped.
"Oh wait! Are you saying you want that Dominic kid?!" She sounded excited. I looked at her like she had four eyes.
"Are you insane?" I laughed. "That was a one time thing, you idiot." I threw a throw pillow at her.
"Okay, alright. Sure," She smirked. "Maybe, just maybe, he likes you." I couldn't believe how ridiculous she was being!
"Oh, sure! He just saved me from being molested, it lasted like 30 minutes. He doesn't like me."
"We'll see.." She reached for her car keys. "When we go to the Bronx!" My eyes were open so wide, I thought they'd pop out of my head.
"Janet! No way, you are out of your mind," I disagreed. "That is too much."
"Margie, we're in Manhattan. From here to the Bronx takes only, like, 15 minutes." She tried to convince me, but I didn't budge.
"No Jan. We're not going down there. It's too risky and ridiculous! You're doing this so I can see a boy who barely even knows who I am!" I blustered. She only laughed.
"We're doing it," She wouldn't let up. "Today." She added on. I could only give her a look that clearly said, 'You're crazy'.
"Now go get ready. Look pretty," She winked and slammed her door. I stood there for a second. Why? Why me?
I wasn't sure if we would even find Dominic or not, but I got ready anyway. When I was finished, I looked in the mirror and just laughed. This was extremely ridiculous. It was stupid! Only Jan would do this. This is what I get for being her sister.
I followed her down stairs, and she began telling my parents that we were leaving to go get dinner together, to have some 'sister bonding time'.
"Oh how sweet. Isn't that sweet, Jack?" My mother asked my dad. My dad just nodded. "Okay. Have fun! Be safe."
Jan and I got into her car. She started making her way down to to the Bronx.
"Where in the Bronx was this?" She asked, her eyes glued to the road. I shrugged.
"I don't know.. when I see it, I'll know. But let's stay where there are more people. I don't even know what you want to do there."
....
When we got to the Bronx, it was still light out. We were in a less... 'scary' part of it, where there were nice apartments and townhouses. As Jan drove, I started really realizing just how stupid this was.
"What is the point of this?" I asked her. She rolled her eyes.
"Margie, just be glad I drove down here for you."
"For what?!" I was not understanding why the hell we were down here.
"To find that boy! Now I know I just seem like a crazy big sister, but that boy saved your life, Margaret. You need to find him, because Drew is not the one for you.."
I interrupted her. "Excuse me?!" I turned to face her. "I am... I felt in love with him, and I think he loves me. I can't just go steady with some other boy from... down here! I made out with him for heaven's sake!" I exclaimed. She looked at me like I was crazy.
"Oh jeez, Marg. Stop. You know Drew is not who you think he is. Is he really that genuine?" She questioned. I shrugged and picked at my nails.
"I don't know. Just drive." I mumbled.
After almost 15 minutes of driving in circles, Jan parked along a street lined with so many other cars. There was a big apartment building to the left, next to it was a barber shop, and then next to that was drugstore.
"What are you doing?" I asked Jan.
"I guess this was dumb. Ugh. Why did I think we'd find him? I only wanted to help you," She sighed.
"Jan, it's alright. You tried," I patted her back.
"Whatever. Let's do something while we're here," she said. "You wanna get a Coke in that drugstore?" She pointed to the one next to "Antonelli's Cuts". I nodded.
We entered the store, got our Cokes, and sat at a booth.
"So do you really not like Andrew?" She asked. I shrugged.
"He's cute, and he can be nice. But I don't know. Today I really saw a different part of him. He acted so snotty around his family." I felt upset about that. I really liked him. Well I still do. I think?
"That's a bummer. He was cute," She said. "Maybe I should stop helping you with boys." She laughed.
"Jan, it's okay! Nothing even happened, I just feel a little different about him," I told her. She didn't say anything.
So we sat in silence for a little, drinking the last of our sodas, when suddenly the bell on the entrance rings and the door swings wide open.
"Hey hey hey, if it isn't Girardi. How ya doin'?" A voice filled the whole store. Not that it was a big one. Or a nice one. Kind of dingy.
I started thinking hard. The voice sounded familiar. So familiar. What was it about that voice that caused my stomach to... flutter?
I almost jumped from my seat.
"Dominic.." I whispered to Jan. "Dominic!" Her eyes widened and she started smiling.
"No way! Is that him?" She pointed behind me. I turned my head to look, and sure enough, there he was in an undershirt, black slacks, dress shoes, and that quiff.
"Yes." I answered. Why did I feel nervous?
"Talk to him!"
"What? No!" I whisper-shouted.
"I didn't drive down here for nothing." She said.
"I don't even know what to say.." I told her.
"Just thank him again." She said. My stomach twisted.
"No that's just... stupid." I said. She rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. You're losing your opportunity."
When we were about to leave, Jan left me standing outside the store so she could look for her bracelet that must've dropped under the table. I just watched the cars go by, and looked in the store from time to time. I decided to check up on Jan to see if she found the bracelet or not.
I turned to go into the store and I bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry.." I said. I looked up and my heart almost stopped.
"It's alright.." He looked down at me. "Oh, Margaret?"
"Yeah, hey Dominic," I said with a smile. "Thanks again." He chuckled.
"Anytime. So what are you doin' down here?" He asked. Now I needed to think of a lie.
"Uh, well my sister Jan," I pointed to her, bent down and feeling the floor.
"Wanted to come down here to go, uh, shopping. She didn't find anything she wanted though." He nodded.
"Ah, I see. I'm glad to see you here," He ran his fingers through his hair, gently, fixing his quiff into place. "Ya know, we should keep in touch. You seem like a real nice girl."
I didn't know what to say, so I just smiled. I knew my face was bright red.
"Would you mind giving me your number?" He was so charming in the way he smiled down at me. I started thinking of Drew, and how he still never called me.
"Sure." I said and grabbed a napkin. He gave me a pencil and I wrote my number down.
"Thanks darlin'. Hope to see you around. I'll call you." He half smiled and walked out of the store. I was left with butterflies multiplying each millisecond in my stomach. Jan came over to me.
"Hey what just happened?" She questioned. I smiled.
"Dominic has my number." I couldn't stop smiling.