Free Learning to Fly by Misha Elliott

and to kiss u again.  
    I stare at the screen, and read his words over and over.  I think about what I want to say back.
    S: Me, too. Sorry I couldn’t say goodbye before you left.  See you tomorrow at school.
    Beep Beep: the backlight on my phone is glowing again. I have another text.
    A: I can’t wait any longer to ask you this.  Will you go out with me?
    I decide to be funny with my response.
    S: Well, that depends on where you want to go. 
    A: Take my hand; come fly with me
    I hear the sound of knocking and realize its coming from my door.  “Can I come in, honey?”  Angie’s voice is timid and low. 
    “Sure.”  I watch her walk in and sit down on the edge of my bed.  “Sophia, I want you to know, you can always talk to me about stuff like boys.”  She pauses like there is something she isn’t saying.  “You’ve never had boys over and I just want you to be careful, and not go too fast.”  This is her way of saying ‘don’t end up like me’. 
    “Don’t worry, Mom, I don’t plan on doing anything stupid like getting pregnant and ruining my life.”  My answer must calm her fears because she gets up and leaves.  Part of me secretly wishes I could tell my mom about Alex and that what is happening with him is exciting and very scary.
    I look down at my phone to read the last text from Alex.
    A: Be ready at 7:00. I’ll pick u up in the morning.
    Instead of texting again, I pick up the phone and hit dial so I can hear his voice. 
    “Hope you don’t mind that I called.”
    “No, actually happy you did.”
    “What are you doing?”
    “Sitting here thinking about a blue eyed girl that makes me want to write poetry.  Wishing it was tomorrow already so I could see her again.”
    “It is tomorrow somewhere.”  I say, playfully.  “What would you say to me?”
    “I wouldn’t say anything at first.  I would want to kiss you right away, to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, and that you were real.”
    “That’s really sweet, Alex.  Are you always this charming?”
    “I know that I want to spend as much time as possible with you, Sophie.”
    “I want that, too, Alex. Do you want to plan something for this weekend?”
    “If I can, I just want to warn you that I’m going to have a busy schedule with football season coming up.  Between coach and my Dad, I’ll be lucky to have space to breathe.”
    “Get out!” I hear Alex shout in the phone.  In the background, I hear the sound of kids giggling and saying something that irritates Alex.
    “No, you promised yesterday you would watch it with us.”  One of the little voices says.
    “Sophie, I hate to do this, but I promised my brothers I’d do something with them.  Can I call you later? It shouldn’t be too late.”
    “Sure, that’s sweet you’re hanging out with them.”
    “When I call back maybe we can pick up with you telling me how sweet you think I am.” 
    I laugh at his comment. “Talk to you later, Alex.”
    “Bye, Soph.”
    An hour goes by and I haven’t from Alex yet.  I don’t want to text and seem impatient.  I set my phone to vibrate and lay it under my pillow.  I’ll just take a little nap while I wait for him to call back.
    The buzz of the phone snaps me to attention.  I look at the caller ID and see Alex’s number. 
    “Hello” I say, groggily.
    “I’m sorry for waking you up. I’ll let you go.”
    “No, don’t hang up it’s alright.  What time is it?”
    “It’s after eleven.  I would have called you back sooner, but I fell asleep in the middle of the show.”
    “You’re brothers are really lucky to have you.”
    “I guess, sometimes they just get on my nerves though.”  I think it would be cool to have other siblings and I envy him.  No matter what, siblings always have each other. 
    “Tell me about your family.”  I ask him, desperate for information on what it is like to be part of a large family.
    “What is it that you want to know?” 
    “Everything.  Tell me about