"I can do this...I can do this. I. Can. Do this."
Dominic nodded his head, pounding his fist into his hand. This had been an ongoing struggle for him for the past 2 years now, ever since he'd discovered just how much he liked his best friend Crystal. 15 years old...and he still couldn't muster up the courage to tell her how he felt.
"It's just a simple knock on her door Dominic...just a couple of knocks and then you tell her."
He nodded his head, lifting his fist just an inch away from the door...and then lowering it. The questions were kicking in again and, despite his father's advice playing through his mind over and over again, he just simply couldn't muster up the strength to make those three consecutive taps on the door.
"Damn it dad, how can I tell her I love her if I can't even knock on her door?" Dominic sighed, and then quirked his eyebrow in realization of the words he'd just used. Love? He loved her? Surely he was mistaken, this was just a strong feeling that he had towards her, right? He didn't love her, he just really liked her alot...
A much needed deep breath followed, as Dominic shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. Jesus...love?! Love was such a strong word to use yet it seemed to fit this so perfectly...did he really love her?
"Nah...I couldn't, I'm only 15!"
He nodded, trying his best to convince himself that what he felt was a lie was actually true to him and his emotions. He was, of course, losing that particular battle...and he was also losing valuable time again. For the past two years now he'd been debating over whether or not he could knock on her door, but this was the first time he'd ever been forced into debating whether or not he loved her. To him, it had always just been a case of 'like liking'.
'You know...if you keep up all this waiting, she's eventually going to find herself a boyfriend.'
His thoughts were fairly accurate, she'd been talking about a particular individual she wanted to ask her out. Strange though, she never did tell Dominic who it was...
'Maybe she'd go out with David, he DOES like her after all, and he's always trying to be better then you at everything else...'
It was this particular thought however that made his blood boil. David Tyrone was your typical bully, and often times saw Dominic as a target for his aggression. Nowadays it was merely verbal abuse, but there was a time where David had tried to attack Dominic from behind and pretty much failed miserably. Dominic could easily handle himself against David, it was just the matter of only doing it in self defense. Once David caught onto that...he taunted Dominic all he could without striking him.
Yet Dominic knew that Crystal would never go out with a punk like David, she didn't even like him to begin with. He rarely showered, had an annoying laugh he only used when others were hurting, and generally was one of the biggest jackasses in school, much less the whole community.
"Alright, that's it...I'm knocking."
And so, with a deep breath, Dominic brought his fist to the door three times and waited for a response. When none came, he tried again...and then promptly sighed in defeat. No one was home, after two years of trying he finally gathers the courage and no one was home...
"Ugh...this is..ugh."
Dominic turned sadly, head lowered as he let out another sigh and made his way down the driveway...when he heard a noise behind him. The sound of a door handle turning, and then the sound of a door being opened. Dominic blinked and turned around, and standing in the door frame was Crystal Parker herself, eyebrow raised as she looked at him in concern.
"Dominic? Hey you, what's up? Why the sad face?"
Dominic smiled wide, that 'sad face' quickly fading as he made his way over with a chuckle, scratching at the back of his head nervously.
"Ehhhh...I guess I sort-of thought you weren't home and I had something important to tell you."
"Well I'm right here, go on and tell me!"
She smiled, leaning against the door frame and crossing her arms over her chest. She was wearing a light blue shirt and a pair of blue bell bottom jeans, and with her light blonde hair falling on her shoulders and her blue eyes lit up with amusement, Dominic couldn't help but find himself lost in a slight euphoric trance.
"Err...I uh...I...that is to say...uhm..."
"Come on, spit it out!"
"I..."
And then, one deep breath later...