Chapter 2
Johnny was so happy that she had agreed to go along with him. He had tried many times in the past, but she had always turned him down. He wasn’t sure why she had agreed today, but he took it as a good sign.
Then in his mind he heard her words again, the same one’s he’d heard so many times before. “We’re just friends Johnny; I don’t see you that way. You’re not my type anyway.” She had said several times.
“Why, what’s wrong with me?” He had asked her once.
He had watched her face as she had tried to think of the best way to say her next words. Johnny had wanted to stop her from saying them, however, there was too much of him that needed to know why.
“I like the bad boys, you know the ones who aren’t into computer games and well.” She had stopped and thought more.
Johnny had stopped her from staying anymore; he didn’t need to know anymore. He wasn’t a bad boy, and couldn’t image ever fitting her idea of the perfect guy. “Its fine you don’t have to say anymore.” He had told her that night. But those words had hurt him deeply.
However, now she was sitting in his car and going to lunch with him. Maybe it wasn’t a date, but it was more than he had before today! He could feel his heart beating wildly as the excitement of this was realized by his whole body.
He took a deep breath and smelled her scent, she always smelled like cherry blossoms. Johnny wished that she would see him differently. He couldn’t help it that he loved to play games online. The fact was no one looked at him when he was behind the screen of a computer.
He wasn’t ugly, but he wasn’t like a lot of guys either. His looks, at least he considered them to be average. His dark hair was medium length, and his eyes were green. His mother always told him he was a really good looking young man, but he knew she was prejudice in her opinion.
Johnny looked at Sally out of the corner of his eyes. She was a blonde haired, blue eyed beauty. Though she was kind of short, she made up for that in her spunkiness. When they had been in high school, she had been the head of the cheerleading squad. He had to watch as she had dated the quarterback of the team for several years.
Often he wondered why they broke up, but Sally had never given him the reason. No matter how much he would push her, she would remain closed lipped to why her and Chip had gone their opposite ways after high school.
Though there were people who said that Chip had been upset about Sally wanting to go to Paris. Johnny could understand why Chip would feel that way, he was the same way. He loved her and didn’t want her to leave, but he also didn’t want to watch her date someone else in town either.
Until he could figure out a way for her to like him, he wanted to keep her close by as much as possible. However, there was another part of him that wanted to see her go. That part was really small however; the part that wanted to squeeze and hold her tight couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving.
“So why do you want to go to Paris so badly?” Johnny asked her. He already knew her answer, he had asked this question many times in the past already.
“Silly you know why, but I’ll tell you again anyway!” She began. “I want to study in Paris so badly, all that art and beauty. The people there are so amazing, so worldly! Plus I know my fashion designs will be such much better.” Sally said.
“How do you know they are worldly?” Johnny asked.
“They must be they grew up in another location. I mean, not like they’ve traveled all over, but some may have. I just want to meet some people from another culture and get out of Nebraska. Haven’t you ever been bored to death here? Oh maybe not, you play those games and can escape into a little fantasy world. Maybe I should take them up until I get the money up to leave!” Sally said.
Johnny smiled, he had tried to get her into gaming for years, but she had always bulked at the idea. “Well if you want to play one, I can get you in my guild and we can power level you up quickly.” He started to say, getting excited about the idea of being able to talk about the game to her every day.
“I’m just kidding; I would rather see something real and in person. Plus I would most likely not be able to earn any money, if I get into some of these games like you, that is.” Sally remarked.
“Hey I’m out of my room more often than I used to be, and look we are going out right now.” Johnny laughed.
“Just as friends though.” Sally reminded him.
“The point is I’m not in front of my computer playing right now!” He added.
“I guess this is true. But how could you ever be a good boyfriend if all you do is play games?” Sally asked.
“If I had the right girl I would make sure she always knew that I wanted to be with her, and fit the game in too.” He explained. “I promise you that you would never feel like the game came before you, and if I had too I would stop playing it.” Johnny added.
“Oh I’m not saying me silly. I mean some other girl. You are a good looking guy after all, if you went out more, you’d be with a girl by now.” Sally stated.
“I don’t just want any girl though, so why would I go out and find one. You know the perfect one for me lives right next door to me and has for years now.” Johnny said and looked at her.
“Can we please not do this again? I mean I understand and all that, but can’t we just give it a break for now?” Sally asked.
“Sure, I’m sorry I don’t want to ruin this for you.” Johnny said, and stayed quite for a bit.
He knew in his heart she would do just about anything to leave and go to Paris, but he could still want her. He didn’t think that would ever change in his life, this also made him very sad. Unless somehow he could figure out a way that he would see her differently. This was a task he would have to work on before she went off though.
Johnny wasn’t dumb he knew that once Sally was gone the chances of her ever coming back where small. He had sat many nights in his room playing his games and wondering how he could win her over. As of yet he couldn’t think of any way to do it as of yet.
If he hadn’t started this stupid talk about being her boyfriend again in the car though, maybe he could have gotten closer today. He still had hopes that this could happen though. If he gave up hope Johnny knew the rest of his life would be over. He knew that no one but her would ever be perfect for him.