It Started Off So Innocent

by Sachin Ahuja Appleby College

There was a knock. “Go hide in the closet,” he whispered, wide-eyed. He opened the door a crack, heard the stomps of three idiots run down the hall, snickering, and let out a sigh of relief.

She fell out, along with a pile of dirty clothes, angry but laughing.

“I’m so sorry,” he blushed, “I just threw everything in there when---”

“It’s fine. I don’t really mind the smell of guy for some reason. Really, its fine. You can play the music again.”

And I ain’t never did this before no… J. Cole started from the Mac Book on the dark, cluttered desk. He liked this song.

“You like this song?” she asked. “This used to be my favourite.”

“Yeah,” he nodded, smiling. It was a guy’s room. There was a Gorillaz poster and a crooked Chance poster on the corkboard over the bed, above that was a shelf with a stack of messy papers threatening to fall. On the desk were university brochures, a pack of gum, a diet coke, and a piece of thread.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Uh, it’s kind of stupid. All of my sisters give me a bracelet as like a symbol of protection. We do it every year. My family can be obsessive and kinda annoying, especially my mom, but I guess they mean well.”

She sighed, gazing through the window. “My mom works hard.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.”

The pause got uncomfortably long, so he proceeded to talk about last year’s trip to Jamaica, and about his brother, and about his roommate, and his classes, and his friends, none of which he had any complaints about. He had never kissed a girl before, and when he kissed her, her eyes stayed wide open.

She pulled away. “Look, I’m just---I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” His palms were sweaty. “Hey, uh, tell me more about your sister.”

“I told you. She’s my best friend. She’s been really good through everything. You know, like the last couple years.” She paused.

Since they met two weeks ago, he had always felt vaguely guilty around her, as if he didn’t deserve all that he had. It made him uncomfortable.

It was on repeat: baby be gentle cause… Cause I ain’t never did this before no…

“What about your parents?” he asked.

“I told you, my mom’s really hard working. She does everything. I haven’t really told many people this, but I live in a hotel. It’s my mom’s.”

“That’s cool, I guess.” A pit formed in his stomach. The bed was uncomfortable, it creaked with every movement.

Yeah, it’s okay. My dad’s kind of an asshole. He doesn’t come around much,” she said flatly. His heart raced. “I’m so sorry.”

She forced a laugh, “There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s fine.”

He thought to countless drives with his dad to practice, to restaurants, in different countries, blasting rock music, playing video games, and changed the subject. “What about your friends?

You mentioned that guy Jeff. What’s he like?”

I wanna get somethin off my mental, I can tell you a pro but baby be gentle cause…

She cringed. “Why him?”

“Just wondering,” he said.

“Yeah, no it’s fine. He was a good guy. He was into rugby and soccer and stuff. Anyway, he asked me out a couple years ago. We dated. And it was good.”

“But?”

“But nothing. I mean, there was this party,” she sighed. “It was my fault, I was drunk.

“Let’s just say, I’ve done this before.”

by Zachary