Grunting as I wake up "Hey- are you just going to walk around with your CV?" I ask groggily.
"That's the plan." She starts rifling in my drawers.
"What are you looking for?"
"Do you have that blue twinset Mum got you- I am going for a young republican aesthetic." She murmurs distractedly.
"No such thing. Also- I think your aesthetic is conservative enough" It isn't really a secret that my sister has been dressing like a thirty year old sloane ranger since she was twelve. I peek out from under the covers appraising the outfit she is wearing. It is a crisp white shirt, charcoal tailored trousers, a beautiful pair of slate Ferragamo court shoes that I have been trying to steal, a black cardigan and the obligatory pearls.
"Maybe.." I stall trying to find a delicate way to express myself "Maybe, you should tone down the luxury brands. We are trying to fit in here you could look a little less...expensive?" I shudder inwardly "That sounded horrible, didn't it?"
"Yes it did. Look, these are my clothes. We're changing where we live not who we are, okay?"
"Okay" I reply not really bothered to push the issue.
"Do you want me to come with you?" I yell at her retreating figure which carries with it half of my cosmetics and accessories across the hall to her room.
"No. Hang out. Rest up before school. I got us an appointment with the local doctor for tommorow."
I hear her jogging down the stairs. My talented sister can run down the stairs in six inch heels. I roll around and sleep for another one and a half hours luxuriating in the sheets. I get up and get some cereal do some unpacking. Just as the silence is beginning to feel oppressive my cell phone rings and I fly up the stairs to pick it up.
"Hello?" I answer breathlessly not checking the caller ID.
"Hey. It's Jason. Jase, from yesterday?" he sounds nervous.
"Hey Jase of course I remember. How's it going?"
"I'm pretty bored actually. Everyone is still unpacking and I am just tripping over stuff getting in the way"
"Uh.. Do you want to come over?" I ask keeping my voice casual but willing him to say yes.
"Sure!" he responds a bit too quickly and a bit too enthusiastically. I smile, he must be really bored.
"Cool- see you soon" I hang up without waiting for a response and quickly shower, brush my teeth and quickly throw on some clothes. I have just finished making my bed when the doorbell rings. I run down to answer it- standing in the doorway are Jase and a very tall good looking man who I assume is his older brother.
"Hi", he flashes a truly dazzling smile, "I'm Jase's brother Arnold and you must be the girl he was raving about last night"
"Really he raved as in raving lunatic raved? Wow, I am flattered" I make sure there are no hard edges to my voice so Jase knows I am just kidding.
"Okay wow. All this humiliation first thing in the morning. Thanks for the escort brother please assure mother that I made my way slowly and carefully across the super dangerous street and arrived safely" He says nudging his brother back out of the door.
"Um okay but does she know how to.. you know?"
"If you say take care of me I will punch you in the throat" Jase murmurs darkly.
"We'll be okay. I'm a well trained monkey" I joke.
"Okay then you'll bring him home?"
"He will be home at a reasonable hour" Jase assures him.
"Okay. Have fun and um.. use protection." he quips as he leaves.
Jase has turned an amazing shade of beetroot.
"I know he was joking. Don't worry about it." I reassure him realising that I am rather hot and bothered as well "Come in?"
"Uh yeah" he coughs. I can tell he is trying to shake off his embarrassment at what his brother said.
We make our way into the living room. Thanks to his brother there is now a strange current between us. Yesterday it was easy today his touch against my elbow is charged. Everything is heightened.
"So, unless you just came over so we can be bored together, like, solidarity or whatever we need to figure out something to do" I declare knowing that we cannot sit and stew in the awkwardness.
" Uh well from what I hear Everwood doesn't really have that much to offer beyond the cafe we went to yesterday and an arcade but I did want to find out the extent of our musical compatibility. Matchbox twenty was a promising start but I need to know more." His smile is teasing and I am totally drawn in.
"So what do you propose Mr...."
"Goodman. We are the Goodmans."
"I think you mean Goodmen" He smiles at my weak joke "We are the Ogilvys nice to meet you. But to your plan; What is it?"
"Well- I brought this" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his Ipod "I was thinking we could play a little game of shuffle roulette. You put your IPod on shuffle and we listen to five songs. Those five songs should tell us all we need to know about eachother."
"So it's not a game- no points no winner.." I clarify.
"I guess not but it is revelatory. And fun."
"Sounds good I have my speakers upstairs in my room- let's go"
Once we are in my room I lead Jase to the bed and watch to make sure he's okay as he situates himself.
"It's a bed, not a minefield. I don't like it when people hover around me. If I need help I'll ask for it, okay?" He smiles patiently. Obviously he has had to give this little speech before.
"Okay. Who should go first?"
"Ladies first"
I find my Ipod in my handbag which is still stuffed with magazines, bottled water and other travelling supplies, plug it into the speaker dock before sitting on the bed next to Jase.
The first song is the broadway cast of the Lion King performing "They live in you". I glance at Jase's expression he is barely concealing his smirk.
"You don't like the Lion King?" I protest.
"I did when I was five" he responds.
"Well I love the show. I've seen it an embarrassing number of times. Now you know my geek secrets- I love musical theatre and comic books."
"I told you- revelatory"
The next few songs on my Ipod are a violin piece I had been trying to learn, Fight test by the Flaming lips, Pursuit of happiness by Kid Cudi and Tiny dancer by Elton John. At the end of five songs I hit pause and turn to Jase.
"So?" I ask
"Well now I hazard a guess and then you explain. Um the first one has something to do with the musical theatre right? You are super into classical music as well. Maybe even Opera. The second one tells me we do have more in common- I really like that song too. Kid Cudi, I'm impressed it means you like rap but you don't like to have your ears assaulted by thoughtless crap lyrics and Tiny Dancer umm yeah we all liked Almost Famous"
"You've seen Almost Famous?" Surprise makes me blurt out the question before I realise how insensitive it is.
"Well I haven't seen it I heard it. It was good. So how close was I?"
"The first one actually has to do with the fact that I play the violin. Not very well but I needed to learn that piece for a recital as school. I don't really have that much classical music on my Ipod. Fight test, I really like that song not sure if I can explain it further. Kid Cudi yes I like rap but Its not that suprising, I'm black. I uh didn't know if you knew that..."
I trail off because Jase is laughing very hard.
"What?" I ask throwing a pillow at him.
"I'm sorry it's just the stealthy way that you just tried to tell me that you were black. Hilarious"
"Shut up." But I cannot help laughing along. "I am stealthy, like a ninja" I defend myself"Okay whatever. Lets hear yours." I grab his Ipod put it into the dock and press play.
The songs are Busted by Matchbox twenty, This way by Dilated Peoples, Generation by Emerson Hart, Another Day from RENT and The Kid's don't stand a chance by Vampire Weekend.
"Okay well. The first song shows that you really are a matchbox twenty fan. This way by dilated people shows that you are into conscious rap as well. You are sooo busted by the song for rent obviously I am not the only fan of musical theatre sitting on this bed and Vampire weekend I saw them live in London. Love them. All in all a faultless and compatible selection" I conclude.
"You really lack the killer instinct to play this game" He chuckles.
"I guess I do. I actually kind of hate the whole music snobbery thing. Music is this intensely personal thing. We can't really judge that stuff. So thanks for showing me you" I smile at him even though I know he can't see me.
"Yeah- um I agree. Thanks for showing me you too." He says and as if he can hear it in my voice he smiles at me in reply.
"So now I am hungry- how about lunch at Nina's?" I offer.
"Sounds good."
Once we are outside I realise that he doesn't have his cane. " Do you need your cane? We could stop by your place and pick it up?" I offer.
"Actually it draws a lot of attention and you were really good yesterday.You don't mind do you?" he asks shifting his weight nervously.
"Of course not but if you fall can I absolve myself from liability right now" I make a little sign I meant to approximate absolution.
"What was that?" he cocks his head questioningly.
"It was my uh gesture of uh absolution" with every word it dawns on me how absolutely insane I must sound.
"You are a strange girl. Do you know that?" He asks nudging me playfully. I am sure he was aiming for my ribs but instead his elbow connects with my breast. I yelp in pain.
"Oh shit! I am so sorry. Are you okay? Was that your um... your um..."
"My breast? Yes" My voice is already calm. It didn't hurt that badly it was the surprise more than anything.
"You know that I didn't. That I wasn't aiming for your um.."
"My breast? I know that you are blind and therefore could not possibly have been "aiming" for anything. Whether or not you were guesstimating the location of my breast we will never know but no harm no foul. My baby can feed from the other one." By now we are both in fits of hysterical laughter.
"Unless you have twins" He is laughing so hard his breathe is coming in short ragged rasps. His teeth are perfect and his neck is tense and a flush is caressing the back of it slowly moving up.
I take a few deep breathes to ease my cramping stomach.
"We're here- step up" I gasp.
I lead us to the same table as yesterday and spot Brett and Eli sitting at a nearby table.
"Hey guys!" I call over to them.
Brett immediately comes over to our table.
"Hey Aisha. It's good to see you again. Exploring the many awesome things Everwood has to offer are we?"
"Why yes we are. This is Jase. He's my neighbour and a fellow new kid in town. Jase this is Brett."
"Hey" Jase nods vaguely in Brett's direction. He has tensed up and his shoulders are hunched as if he is bracing or protecting himself.
"Hey" Brett responds looking quizzically at Jase. He isn't wearing sunglasses and his eyes are perfectly normal, beautiful even a clear green, but they are unfocused. Brett can't tell he is blind but he's probably wondering what is off about him.
"Do you mind if we join you? We could warn you about what to expect. School starts in like 3 days you guys must be wondering about it. Luckily for you I am the guy in the know. An invaluable first hand resource." Brett lays it on thick but I like that. He is charming and energetic and kind of shallow.
"Sure sit down. Hey Eli! Do you want to join us?" Eli smirks and joins us at the table. I shift to sit near Jase hoping it will make him feel more comfortable. I squeeze his hand as I slide into the booth. He smiles and I know that it is for me. The conversation is slow as we all feel eachother out .Jase warms a bit but there is an awkward moment early on when they discover he is blind.
"Where is the bathroom?" He asks as he nudges me to slide out of the booth.
"I'll take you", I offer.
At this point Brett and Eli probably just think we are off to make out or something but then Jase pulls his cane out of the waistband of his jeans (so he did have it! I note) and we make our way to the bathroom.
"I'll wait outside" I say when we get to the door.
"I don't actually need to go I just thought the cat needed to be let out the bag. The sooner they ask the questions and we deal with the awkwardness the sooner we can all be friends or they can react like total asshats and we can all not be friends. They seem like good guys though"
"Let's find out shall we" I reply as we head back.
When we get back to the table the silence is incredibly awkward. Eli is staring intently at the floor and Brett's mouth is slightly open.
"So yeah I'm blind" Jase deadpans.
Suddenly I can't help it. The laughter starts from a place that has nothing at all to do with the present situation. It starts from the absurdity of my childhood spent in hospitals all around the world, to my parents, to Jase having to deal with this every time he meets someone, to all of us walking wounded. Life is all of a sudden very hilarious. I laugh until tears stream down my face and until I am snorting like a farm animal. The boys just stare at eachother dumbfounded until Jase cracks up and all of a sudden we are all laughing because really what is not to laugh at in this situation?
"That was so fantastically awkward- it needs to be a scene on the office or arrested development. One of those cringe humour shows" I gasp.
"Dude we had no idea! I thought you wanted to talk to her or something or worst case scenario that you needed, i don't know, help" Brett flounders
This sets us off again.
"Help?" Eli exclaims "You are an idiot"
"So uh what happened? Were you born like that or?" Brett asks.
Eli chokes on his coffee "You don't have to answer that if you, you know, don't want to. Brett was born without a tact gland"
"I don't mind actually. It makes things very uncomfortable when people have questions that they just won't ask I was sighted until I was seven and then I got sick and that short circuited the part of my brain that um...sees."
The boy nod and I decide to change the topic by asking Brett about school gossip.
The next few hours fly by. We eat chips (french fries) and the boys drink milkshakes. Eli actually has a great sense of wry humour. Turns out he lived in New York until he was ten and he moved to Everwood. Once we are over the initial tension it turns out we all have a lot in common. Eli and I both play classical instruments. Brett and Jase both love sports. Eli is a little awkward around Jase he apologises every time he uses a visual verb. Jase stops him after the third time and threatens to punish him for killing an entire set of words from the English language. They tell us all about Everwood High.
"Wait wait wait. It sounds like the plot of every teen comedy. You know, before the girl takes off her glasses and is a total bombshell" I tease.
"That is exactly what it is like only without the clever dialogue and pop culture references" Eli murmurs darkly.
"The girl's aren't as hot" Brett adds with his mouth full of french fries my spontaneous response to this is to glare at Brett.
"I hate that, likening girls to temperatures. It's gross."
"I like being scolded by the English accent by the way. Also why would it upset you you are way hot."
"She is?" Jase asks.
"She is sitting right here. She also has to go because she wanted to make her sister dinner." I pronounce hopping to put an end to this particular line of conversation.
"She definitely is. She is also using her angry English accent which may be better than her scolding one." Brett laughs and holds his hand up for a high five. "Come on man don't leave me hanging!"
After a beat Jase responds "Are you talking to me?"
"Yeah man c'mon don't leave a brother hanging- give me five" Brett insists. Eli and I exchange amused glances.
"Uh yeah I'm blind dude- We are not going to have a high five-ing type of relationship, sadly" A half smile plays on his lip as he lowers his head in faux remorse.
"I can live with that" Brett replies easily.
As I walk home with Jase I realise that it was fun, the most I I have had since the accident. And I cannot help but hate myself for daring to enjoy myself.
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