chapter six

I stopped painting and left my room. I went to the bathroom and washed my hands. Then, went back to my room and changed my outfit. I wore a white sweatshirt and black sweatpants. I fixed my hair and got out of the house. While I locked my door, my host said, "Hi, Jackson. How are you? We haven't talked in a while."

"I'm fine Mr. Hudson, how 'bout you?""How is Jenny?""She moved into her boyfriend's house two days ago." Mr. Hudson smiled. "So, you're staying alone, right?" I shaked my head as a yes. "Have a great day, Mr. Hudson." I said and left the apartment. He was a weird man. I got into my car and drove to her home. When I arrived, I knocked and waited for it to open. While I'm waiting, I could hear the voices of them. "Olivia open the door!""I'm busy Cindy! Jordan! Can't you get the door?""I don't know who's knocking?""Then open up and see, dumbass!"A few seconds later, the door was opened by Cindy. "Hello! I'm--" She interrupted me. "I'll get her. Olivia!" She went to the inside. Few seconds later, Olivia came in holding a lip gloss. "I'm not ready yet. Come inside. I'll be ready in five minutes. Just trying to decide what to wear." I got in. She closed the door and followed me. "What should I wear?

"Something edgy." She ran the stairs. I smiled after her. I sat on one of the big couches in the living room. "Do I know you?" I looked at Jordan. "I'm a friend of Jenny. You came to our place couple of times.",

"Right! I haven't see you for months. Where have you been?"

"I stay in home usually. And we're in different schools."

"I'm Cindy, by the way."

"Yes, I know you. Olivia talked about you a lot." She smiled. "She's been talking about you a lot too. She is so happy with you. Even her eyes are shining when she hears you name." I smiled. It was nice to know that I can make her happy. "I'm ready, shall we go?" She wore a purple sweat-shirt and black sweatpants. Her blonde hair was wavy. "Yes, let's go." I stood up. "It was really nice to see you Jackson. See you soon."

"Sure. Bye!" I exhaled. "So, what are we going to do?"

"Have you ever colored a pine cone?"

"Why would I need to do it?"

"Usually, in these months, people paint a pine cone and put it in front of a window. Last day of the year, they burn it at sunset. They believe that it brings them good luck for the next year. Are you really hearing this for the first time?"

"Yes. Are we gonna paint a pine cone?"

"Absolutely. Don't worry, it'll be fun. Also, if you do this when you're flirting with someone, the relationship will last forever. Warranted." She laughed when I winked.

"You're just making it up at this point."

"The first part is true, but I did make the last part up. Now, we're gonna collect pine cones!" We get out of the car. "I thought we're gonna collect them in a forest. Then--" I interrupt her.

"Then get lost?" She shaked her head as yes.

"This is not a movie, sweetie." There were trees in the park so we could find pine cones easily. A few minutes later, she asked,

"Jackson, is this one okay to paint?"

"It is but it'dbe better if all the parts on it." She continued her search for the pine cones. I put mine into a bag.

"How many pine cones you got?"

"A lot. But I think I should leave some of them." While we weeded some of them out, next one was the first cone she got.

"I won't throw that one away, it's my first cone!"

"Honey, you can't paint it. It'll be hard."

"I don't care."

"But--"

"It's the first ever pine cone you and I found together. We have an emotional connection."

"Fine, have it." She jumped around like an overly excited little child who got her first birthday present.

"You can't break us up, you traitor of a pine cone!" I put my arm around her shoulder and pull her next to me. Then, I kissed her hair. She smiled. In the car, she even named her pine cone. "His name's dumpling." I laughed. "Why?"

"I used to hate dumplings too much. Then suddenly I started to love them. It's kinda like that as a metaphore but also kinda different." While we were talking I opened my door. I took her coat and hang it on the hanger. Then I said, "After you," and made way for her to enter the house. "Could you please lay these newspapers on the table so that the table won't get stained? And put the pine cones on it while you are at it, I'll get the paints."

"Sure." I went to my room and covered the picture I drew earlier. Then, I got the paints and went to the living room.

"Jackson, what is your zodiac sign?"

"I'm a Virgo."

"Just as I thought. I mean; everything is in its place, the house's smelling nice, we're not gonna talk about that, and it's clean. Everytime I come here, it's clean. Even when it was decided at the last minute. And everytime I can't help but get surprised." I laughed and said, ;

"Well, thanks to my mother." She laughed.

"But it's so quiet in here. Don't you ever get scared? I mean to be living alone and this far away from the city center a little creepy."

"I used to get scared a lot. It was really hard at the beginning. But after a while, you just get used to it." While we were painting the pine cones, we talked about some more family memories. It was really fun to talk about that with her.

"I wish I had a family like yours. I love crowded families. I hope I will have a family with lots of members."

"It's good but you know... The more people there are, the merrier noise. And you can't run away from the headache." I took a wet wipe and look at her.

"Can you get a little closer? There's a paint stain on here." We were really close to each other. I was dying to kiss her but I wasn't sure about what would she think of me kissing her. So, I never tried to get our lips closer than they were before.