Why did he insist on continuing to press a statement that simply was not true?
”Then I’m going to go because this conversation really isn’t enjoyable anymore.”
And with that, he turned on his heel and started to head back home. Hanging out with Summer was fun and all but like with any person, Isaac could only spend so much time with someone before he started to get irritated — it was just his nature.
Completely unaccountably, Summer sat down on the steps and burst into tears.
“If I hadn’t mentioned it, you would have asked me why I wasn’t going,” she pointed out. “Then we’d still be right back here, because you seem to want to fix it and I don’t understand.”
“Dammit, you cannot acknowledge something that doesn’t exist!”
”I’m not trying to fix anything.”
”And for fuck’s sake just take the compliment because this is starting to get annoying.” Why was it that people would deny a compliment when they’re given one?
“I can’t accept a lie!”
Why did he insist on continuing to press a statement that simply was not true?
“I’m trying to figure out why my wallflower status and inability to flirt and lack of being kissed bothers you.”
“And why you’re insisting I’m hot, which I’m not. On a good day I manage plain.”
”It doesn’t bother me, you’re the one who brought it up. All I did was ask if you were going to Danny’s party and you started talking about being a wallflower.”
”As for you being hot, I’m not insisting so much as… acknowledging. Yeah, that’s the word I’m looking for.”
“If I hadn’t mentioned it, you would have asked me why I wasn’t going,” she pointed out. “Then we’d still be right back here, because you seem to want to fix it and I don’t understand.”
“Dammit, you cannot acknowledge something that doesn’t exist!”
“No, I’ve been kissed. Last year. He … anyway. Look, nobody noticed me in high school, and nobody notices me now — except you, apparently, what is up with that?”
”I don’t know. I mean, we’re friends and I can acknowledge the fact you’re hot but it doesn’t really change the fact I like Allison.” He had no idea where he was going with that.
”Maybe it’s because I like someone else that I notice? I don’t know,” he finished.
“I’m not hot, that is entirely the point here,” she protested.
“If I did, I didn’t know that was what I was doing. I don’t know how to flirt. I just kinda … it’s easier if I just — I don’t know.”
”Seriously? You’re saying you’ve never actually flirted with someone before?” His look was a mix of contempt, disbelief and a pinch of boredom thrown in for good measure. He wasn’t actually annoyed with her so much as he was stumped as to how to actually help her.
”You’re a sophomore in college. How have you never flirted with someone. Next you’ll tell me you’ve never had your first kiss,” he joked with dark humour.
That got a small laugh.
“No, I’ve been kissed. Last year. He … anyway. Look, nobody noticed me in high school, and nobody notices me now — except you, apparently, what is up with that?”
“Then nearly every boy I’ve ever met is crazy. I don’t care to be shaken off or ignored, either.”
Is he nuts? I’m not going to court rejection.
”Okay have you at least tried flirting with a guy before?” He wanted to help her but there wasn’t a lot he could do if it turned out that she was socially inept.
“If I did, I didn’t know that was what I was doing. I don’t know how to flirt. I just kinda … it’s easier if I just — I don’t know.”
