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1 " I wan't sure what he saw in me, but I was glad he saw something. "
― Jennifer Cosgrove , A Boy Worth Knowing
2 " All I know is you missed out. You missed out on knowing someone who's funny, and kind, and-" He looked back at me, squeezing my hand. "-the best person I've ever met. "
3 " He's nice? As in, nice-looking?" My face heated. Dammit. Yes, Nana knew. No, she didn't have a problem with it. "Are we talking about a little crush on the new boy? "
4 " He reached for the popcorn, and his arm brushed against mine. It was was if sparks had lit up the theater. I tried not to react, especially since I was fairly centain I was the only one feeling it. "
5 " I wanted to know anything and everything about him. I wanted to know why he looked at me like that and what he was thinking when he did. "
6 " James spoke first. "Hey."God. One word, and my cheeks heated. It might have helped if he hadn't looked like he wanted to drag me across the table and kiss the hell out of me. How had this become my life? Not that I was complaining. Really, really not complaining. "
7 " And that was all I'd ever needed: someone I could count on to be there not matter what. It had only been a few days, but it was freeing to know that. "
8 " I moved without thought, my hands coming up to rest on his back and it brought back that feeling of solidity and comfort. He grounded me in a way I didn't know I'd been missing until he was there. "
9 " James, Mr. Nice Smile, had a spirit clinging to him.As if things weren't weird enough. "
10 " My resolve not to think about James and his perfect hair lasted until lunch. It wasn't my fault, though; it was his. I was sitting alone in the back corner of the cafeteria at my usual table when he plopped his tray down and sat with me like it was nothing. "
11 " (...) even if I wasn't sure if he liked me like that. If he liked boys like that. I was just happy he seemed to like me at all.It was enough. "
12 " This wasn't going to be easy. Honestly, I was tired of being the one who always had to know. Knowing how someone had died, whether by old age, sickness, or murder, quite frankly, sucked. Add in that I was probably betraying the trust of my only friend, and I felt like a real winner. "
13 " James's friendship meant more than any feelings I might have. That was enough. It would have to be enough. "
14 " I looked up , surprised, and his face was soft, questioning. I didn't know the answet. I didn't even know the question. "
15 " -I'm also well aware how grossly inadequate Sec Ed is for straight kids, and it's an utter failure for gay kids. I don't care if it's embarrasing. If you have questions, ask.(...)-I have the Internet you know.She arched and eyebrow. "And everything online i true? Never trust pron as your only resource, you're smarter than that, and those guys know what they're doing. You know I won't judge. And if you don't want to talk to me, I can put you in touch with someone you can talk to."(...)She tapped my arm until I lowered my hands and then raised finger numbre three. "Three, give me a hug, and I'll put you out of your misery. "
16 " Is it safe to come in?"A strangled sound that might have been a laugh burst out of me. The innuendos were racing through my head. "
17 " I went and sat on the side of the bed to wait. Not for James, oh no. For the two ghosts who were absolutely, pardon the pun, dying to talk to me. "
18 " It hadn't been a week, and I couldn't remember what it was like before James. I didn't want to. "
19 " Sometimes you need to let someone go, even if you care about them deeply, because it hurts too much to keep them close. "
20 " I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to remember I was a reasonably intelligent person who did not fall apart over talking to someone on the phone. "