Sunday, September 4

After breakfast and another long walk again today, I realize that I need to do my laundry before work tomorrow. I wish that it was still my mom’s responsibility to ensure that I had clean clothes. It is nice to be able to make my own choices of what I do and where I go, but some parts of growing up are just plain dull. Once I move out, every decision will be my own to make, and I am not sure if I am quite ready for that, although I wouldn’t want my parents to know. I thought speak Reese to ask how the day with her parents went yesterday and see what she is up to today as I check the pockets of my clothes while putting them in the washing machine. She tells me that it was fun and that she is going to the beach with Jeff and some other friends if I want to go. I tell her thanks but that I am doing responsible things like laundry and cleaning my room today. As I pull out the crumpled up piece of orange paper that was in my white pants from Friday night, I feel a weird sensation in my stomach, so I quickly tell Reese to have fun. This paper is stirring something in me, and I feel a pull to go. I know that I just told Reese that I was staying home, so I don’t understand why I find myself getting dressed and heading for the tram.

I had tried on three different outfits before deciding on a pair of red shorts with a black shirt that ties in the front and my black sandals. I stuck my hair into a high ponytail and put on some makeup and lip-gloss. When I looked in the mirror before leaving, I wondered if my appearance is attractive to Dallas? Reese’s facial features, with her long blond hair and blue eyes, are generally thought to be attractive to most people. She is around the same height as me, but an inch taller, and she is slimmer yet more shapely than I am. I believe that my looks are generally average, so I have always focused more on my intelligence as a strong trait that would appeal to a future life partner.

When I get to the art gallery, my stomach is fluttering once again, and I try to remember if I took my red pill today. I distinctly recall taking it with orange juice before heading out for my walk. As I head to the back of the gallery after paying the fee to enter, I am hurrying towards the area where I remember Dallas’ paintings were