Page 34 of Finding My Charming

Searching around the room, I noticed a flyer hanging on the wall announcing a local band that was playing tonight. That explains the crowd and no poets…yay!

“Do you like the band playing tonight? Is that why you wanted to come here?”

He looked up at me then around the small shop as if he was just realizing where we were.

“I just saw a flyer for them on the wall.” I pointed to his left and his eyes followed. “I’m glad it’s a band, instead of the poetry open-mic. Have you been to one of those?” I raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

He didn’t laugh.

“Oh no. I’m sorry! It’s not a bad thing to like. I just… It’s not my kind of… thing.” I groaned as my brain absorbed the word-vomit spewing out of my mouth. Can I be any ruder? My need to fill the silence was ruining everything!

My fingernails became the most interesting thing in the world while I prayed he would take the initiative to change the topic now that I’d stuck my foot… ankle… basically, my whole leg in my mouth.

I snuck a peek at him. He was staring off to his left as if he hadn’t been present for the last thirty seconds.

After a few more moments of trying to compose myself, I couldn’t take the silence anymore.

“Um… did you just graduate too?”

His eyes slowly connected with mine, and he nodded once.

There. We’ve established one thing.

“Where did you go?”

This question had brought on trouble last night, but I didn’t know what else to say, and he wasn’t making a move to take over the conversation.

He stared at me blankly, and it quickly became clear he wasn’t planning on answering.

I was really starting to get annoyed when something struck me.

Oh no! Maybe he couldn’t talk. We hadn’t said anything to each other the night of the party. Alarm settled in with this realization. How rude of me! I am asking him questions and expecting answers he can’t give.

“I’m so sorry. I’m being rude. Is it easier for me to ask yes or no questions?”

He looked confused for a moment then shook his head again.

I let out a sigh in frustration. I didn’t know how else I could communicate with him. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know sign language.”

He seemed to finally come alive before my eyes. His eyes filled with shock then anger. “I’m not mute!”

I froze in my chair. How could I have possibly known if he hadn’t spoken this whole time? Embarrassment mixed with annoyance, and it took a few moments for my mind to clear enough to form a thought.

“You haven’t said a single word this whole time. What else was I supposed to think other than you couldn’t?”

His blue eyes that had appeared so alluring just minutes before were now cold.

I had to make a choice quickly. Either sit there and hope he had a rational explanation for his erratic behavior or leave and forget all about him.

Easiest decision ever.

I shot up so quickly my chair teetered and almost fell. I snatched my bag and flung it over my shoulder. “Sorry to waste your time. Goodnight.”

the front door slammed behind me, and I cringed. Mom hated when any of us did that.

A second later, she yelled from somewhere downstairs. “Hey! Don’t take it out on the house!”

I hesitated, looking between the stairs and the kitchen. Avoidance or hunger? Which one was more important?