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"Really?" he asked, both shocked and happy.
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North couldn't possibly have turned more red. She bit her lower lip and stole a glance up at Dexter, "Yeah... really... I mean I know it hasn't been that long, but you're a nice guy, Dexter, and I really enjoyed hanging out with you today."
She glanced into the house, then out at the yard again, "You want to go inside? We can order that pizza..." |
"Yeah," he said with a relieved smile. "Let's order that pizza."
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After the pizza had arrived and both of them had eaten their fill, leftovers were packed away, and everything but their drinks was cleaned up, North returned to the sofa and plopped down next to Dexter, "That sure hit the spot... Is there anything you'd like to do? We have a few video games, or board games. Or we could just watch TV or a movie or something."
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"I'm too full to play video games," he said with a content sigh. "Let's watch TV."
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A few hours later, Noah's mother came back to the house and stopped just as she entered the living room, spotting the two teens dozing on the sofa. She smiled to herself and went to the couch, gently patting North on the foot, "Hey you two, time to wake up."
North stirred and mumbled, yawning and opening her eyes a bit, "Mom? What time is it?" "It's close to midnight. We should get Dexter home before his family worries." North nodded and pushed herself up a bit, reaching out and patting Dexter, "Hey... Dexter?" |
It took him a few moments to respond, but he slowly started to move, his eyes cracking open just a little. Tiredly, he reached up to adjust his glasses so they were even on his eyes again. "Hm?" He blinked a couple times, sitting up straight up and rubbing a kink in his neck.
"Sorry for falling asleep like that..." |
Noah shook her head a little, "It's alright, we both drifted off. Mom and I will take you home, ok? You wanna call your folks so they don't worry?"
North's mother smiled, "Don't worry about drifting off, Dexter. It's fine. I apologize for coming in so late. I had no idea that the meeting would go so long." |
"If my aunt was worried, she would've called. Same for Tess." He covered his mouth as he yawned, then stretched a bit. "You don't have to worry about taking me home," he said, checking his cellphone for the time.
"There's a bus I can take. If I start walking now I'll be able to catch it." |
North and her mother both gave Dexter an incredulous look, though North's was decidedly more drowzy. She shook her head, "Dexter, it's late, you shouldn't be walking all the way to the bus this late."
North's mother nodded, "Absolutely. We'll take you home. No argument." She got up and went to get her keys, looking back at the two teens. North nodded, smiling, "You'd best not argue, she's a stubborn woman. But I think we'd both feel better to take you home ourselves." |
"No no, I promise, I'll be fine," Dexter insisted, standing up and pulling the strap of his back over his shoulder. "I've taken the bus much later than this. It's no big deal." He gave them both a reassuring smile.
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North's mother shook her head, "No, we insist. I own't have it any other way. We're taking you home."
North nodded, and took Dexter's arm gently, "Please? Let us take you home." |
Dexter sighed, bowing his head a little in surrender. "Alright, but know that I am capable of making it home on my own."
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North's mother nodded a bit, "We believe you, but it doesn't stop us from wanting to look out for you."
North smiled, stepping into her shoes, before touching Dexter on the shoulder, "Don't be put off with us, ok?" |
Once outside his apartment building, Dexter got out of the car, then reached back in to take North's hand, gently kissing it. "Thanks for the great day. I hope we can go out again sometime soon," he told her with a tired smile. He then headed inside the apartment building, to the apartment he shared with his aunt, and promptly fell asleep fully clothed.
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North's mother raised an eyebrow at the boy, then she glanced back at her daughter, who was blushing and smiling, and smirked slyly, "Pretty cute boy... if things don't work out, you mind if I have a go at him."
"MOM!" The following Monday at school, North adjusted her backpack on her way to lunch, glancing around the cafeteria for Dexter and Thaddeus. |
Dexter sat at a table by the window, Thaddeus nowhere in sight. His lunch wasn't a school lunch today, instead it appeared that he had stopped at a store on his way to school to get himself lunch.
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North tilted her head, then walked over to the table where Dexter sat, and sat down with him, "Hey... where's Thaddeus today?"
She reached into her backpack and pulled out some containers, such as a sandwich box holding a tuna fish and pickle sandwich. |
"He's at home. Fell asleep on the balcony again and got sick," Dexter replied, taking a drink from a bottle of flavored water.
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North shook her head a little, "Darn... Poor guy. You think we should go by later to take him his homework, and maybe a movie to watch while he's laid up?"
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"Can't. I have to get in a couple hours work before the track meet tonight."
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North raised her eyebrows, then smiled, "I didn't know you ran track. Do you mind if I came and watched you? I'll maybe take Thaddeus' homework to him and then come back to see you run. If you'd rather I didn't, though, I'll understand. I don't want to be pushy..."
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"Oh no, if you want to watch me that's fine. A lot of people don't realize I run track, but that's why I can hold my own. After I gave up jujitsu I kinda got out of shape, but track is great. Gives me an outlet for burning extra energy instead of getting into trouble."
He finished his lunch off and pulled out a manga to read. "Are you involved in any sports?" |
North chuckled, nodding a bit and opening a container of goldfish crackers, which she pushed to the side so Dexter could have some too, "Actually, I play volleyball. I'm also on a lacrosse team during the spring, but that's not school related."
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"I do sports outside of school during the summer. I play basketball on a community center team. Not sure if I'll be able to play this summer or not, 'cause I'm gong to try to get a full time job to save up for college expenses just in case I don't manage to get a track scholarship."
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