Edison smiled as he carried the bouquet of daisies up to Nora's front door. As he knocked, he could see lights on in the living room. Thankfully, Nora had said that her dad was on a business trip so he wouldn't have to be polite and make small talk with him. That was always awkward.
Nora opened the door. Her expression turned to one of surprise as she eyed the flowers.
"For you," Edison awkwardly held them out.
"Thank you, they're beautiful," Nora said, taking them. "Come in for a minute while I put them in water, then we can go."
"Alright."
Edison followed her inside the entryway and then into the kitchen.
"How's your mom?"
"She's asleep and she's better," Nora said as she stood on her tiptoes and reached into the cupboard for a vase. Her t-shirt slipped up and Edison caught a glimpse of creamy skin.
"Here, let me help," he moved forward and easily pulled a vase down from the top shelf.
"Edison?"
"Yeah?" he handed her the vase.
"You're so dressed up," she admired his dress slacks and suit jacket. "I mean, you look great but I think I need to go change into something nicer."
"No, you're fine," Edison leaned against the kitchen sink as he watched her fill the vase with water and arrange the flowers. He knew her hair would be silky to the touch and her skin would be so soft.
"I thought we'd catch that new movie, the romantic one."
"You aren't into romances," she laughed.
"I want to try something new," he glanced at his watch. "We should get going though, so we can get good seats."
"Alright, let me just grab my jacket."
They stopped at the hall closet for Nora to get her jacket and then left the house.
~~~
While Nora and Edison were in the theater, his phone kept vibrating. "I swear I turned it off," Edison muttered.
"Maybe it's important," Nora whispered.
The cell phone vibrated again.
"I'll be right back," Edison sighed.
"No problem," Nora said.
~~~
He walked into the lobby and swiped his finger across the phone.
The phone vibrated in his hand and he nearly dropped it from being startled. It was a text. Well, it was another text. There were fifteen of them. They each said the same word. "You're mine."
He searched for the caller ID but nothing came up. He then tried to trace it but it was a non-existent number.
"Lame prank," he said as he shoved the phone in his pocket and walked back to where Nora sat. The credits were rolling.
"I'm sorry."
Nora saw how upset he was. "It's okay, really. Relax."
They waited a few minutes until the crowd cleared before they started to leave.
"So, who kept calling you?"
"No one."
"No one is pretty stubborn."
"I don't know who called."
"Yeah, sure, Edison. If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to, but don't make stuff up."
They didn't talk again until they were in the car.
"Look for yourself," Edison pulled out his phone and pulled up the text messages. He handed her the phone.
Nora peered at it. It said: You have no messages. She showed it to him.
"That's weird."
"Thanks for the movie," Nora said as they drove home. She gave him a funny look.
"How about dinner next Friday?"
"I don't know. I think I have plans."
"You think?" Edison frowned as he pulled into her driveway.
"I mean, I'm not sure yet."
"I'll take a raincheck," and as he leaned across the seat to try to kiss her on the cheek, she turned her head.
Something in his mind interrupted his thoughts. She doesn't like you. Yes, she does, I know she does. That familiar warm feeling made his thinking fuzzy.
"I'll let you know," Nora answered as she quickly undid her seatbelt and got out of the car. "See you tomorrow. Thanks, again."602Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzQOUZcJ81
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He knew she liked him and he had begun to like her too. So what was the problem?
He had the urge to look at himself so he pulled down his visor mirror. His face was missing his easy, friendly smile. His eyes were missing their sparkle. He looked empty, dead. He snapped the visor shut and drove home.
~~~
"Hey Edison," Anna cornered him in the hallway at school the next morning.
"Hey."
"I wanted to ask you-"
"Sorry, I can't talk now," Edison quickly walked away.
He saw Nora walk through the double doors. Feeling a little dorky and pathetic, he walked up to her.
"Hi, Nora."
She looked up. "Hi."
"Can we talk?"
"Now?"
"Yeah. It'll just take a minute."
Anna watched them from her locker.
"Get over it. I told you he's into Nora," Carter said, coming up behind her and putting his arm around her waist.
"Just watch," Anna said.
Nora looked upset and Edison looked frustrated.
The bell rang and all of the kids drifted into the classrooms, except for Nora, Edison, Anna, and Carter.
"Edison, really, I can't talk now, call me later."
"You never answer my calls or texts. So, I'll just get to the point. Do you like me?"
She looked at him, blushing. "Like you?"
Edison stepped closer to her and she slowly backed up to the wall.
"Of course, I like you."
Edison leaned in close. "Do you feel the same way about me as I do about you?"
Nora swallowed hard. "I..." She looked down. "I like you as a friend."
He froze as he felt his heart shatter. "I see."
"I'm sorry."
"No problem." He turned and walked towards Anna and Carter.
"Anna?" Carter said, confused as she slipped from under his arm and fell into step beside Edison.
"We're broken up," Anna called over her shoulder. "And find another place to sit at lunch."
"What the hell!"
Edison kept walking, refusing to let the pain register. The warm feeling circled about him, seeming to try to soothe him.
"I'm not interested," he said, not looking at Anna.
"When you're ready for help with your situation, get a hold of me," Anna's voice was like honey.
Edison stopped walking and looked at her.
"What situation?"
"The girl who haunts you. I know her."
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