Footloose

*Note: I've received some feedback from a few readers letting me know the last couple of entries weren't posting up on time. I have my blogspot set to automatically post at 12pm EST. When I checked to see what might be wrong it turns out the timing somehow changed to an international time zone. Weird, I know. Anyway, it's been fixed so, posts should be up every Monday and Wednesday at 12pm EST. Thank you to those for letting me know. Sorry about the inconvenience and enjoy today's read!*


Since my talk with Jonah, I realized that in order for us to work I would have to reciprocate Jonah's energy. He's been trying to get to know me by breaking down the walls I've put up, but I haven't been responding to his attempts. I knew that, if it was going to work between us, I needed to start over fresh. I needed to leave my past behind and make a new foundation for Jonah and I to build off of.

The last couple of dates we went out on were planned by Jonah. So, after having my recent revelation, I decided it was my turn. I wanted to show Jonah I was in it and making an effort. I called him the night before to let him know to keep his schedule free. And to make sure he wore a plaid shirt. (Which shouldn't have been hard since most of his shirts were variations of plaid button down shirts) The rest would be a surprise.

Finally, after a whole week, Kadie was coming back into town today. Thankfully my classes ended early and I was able to make it in time to pick her up from the airport. It wasn't hard to spot her as she was the only one pulling at a suitcase while the revolving baggage claim wheel spun. Typical Kadie.

“Oh god! Help me!!” Kadie shrieked as she tried lifting up her suitcase.

“Gees, what's in this thing?” I pulled at the suitcase to help Kadie.

“My whole life, literally!”

After grabbing Kadie's things we stopped to get some pizza and headed back to the apartment. Kadie left her luggage at the door and fell face first into the sofa pillows. She let out a roaring grunt that was slightly muted because she was face down.

I put the box of pizza down on the coffee table and nudged Kadie. “Are you okay?”

She turned her head towards me so her cheek was lying on the pillow instead. “I think it's just now hitting me that Texas is no longer home.”

I rubbed Kadie's shoulder to comfort her. “I felt that same way until you moved her. As long as we're here and we have each other we'll be okay.”

And just like that Kadie was back on her feet pulling open the box of pizza.

“You're right. I don't know why I'm moping. If it weren't for you moving here I would've never gotten a job at Darlington! Here's to a new home! Cheers!”

She took a slice of pizza and bumped it against mine.

Once we were done eating we took Kadie's luggage into her room and I helped her unpack. Kadie filled me in on her trip back home and I told her more about Jonah and my first week at school.

Kadie was exhausted from her early morning flight so we left most of the unpacking for later. She walked over to her bed like a zombie and fell in letting the comforter consume her.

“Oh, by the way, Adam wanted to come over tonight for dinner. Hope that's okay?” she asked in a groggy voice.

“That's fine. I'm taking Jonah out tonight if you two want to join us”

“I'll ask Adam and let you kn-” She wasn't even able to finish her sentence before she fell asleep.

I went back to my bedroom to take a shower and get ready for the night. I never thought I'd be wearing this in New York, but I pulled out my cutest pair of Daisy Dukes, my cowboy boots, and a button down shirt that tied just above my naval.

After I got ready I headed out. I was meeting Jonah at his place.

Jonah dropped his jaw when he opened his door, “Whaaaaat! Is it my birthday?” he couldn't help but look me up and down.

I walked into Jonah's apartment and looked at him disapprovingly.

“Jonah, I thought I told you to wear a plaid shirt?”

“I am!” He looked down at himself.

Technically he was wearing a plaid shirt. But he wore a tie with it and a nice black sweater over both the tie and shirt. His hair was nicely made and slightly parted to the side. (think JT at the Grammy's)

“You look like you're about to go to a social hour at Harvard”

Jonah laughed and started taking off his sweater and tie, “Fine, is this better?”

I walked over and untucked his shirt from his jeans. “Now it is”

“Can you tell me where we're going now?”

I walked over and sat on the edge of the kitchen counter. Jonah walked behind me and stood between my knees. He rested his hands on the counter top on either side of me

“Well since you showed me a part of your past, I thought I'd show you a part of me.”

“Ohh, do I get to pick which part?” He slowly started lifting his hands pretending as if he were going to untie my shirt.

“Jonah” I playfully slapped his hands.

“I'm kidding!” he threw both his hands up and took a step back.

 He was now standing arms folded with his back leaning against the refrigerator listening intently to what I was about to tell him.

“I'm taking you to BrnYrd! We're going line dancing” I smiled when I saw Jonah's reaction. His eyes widened and his brows furrowed.

“You're joking, right?” I could tell by the dimples on his cheeks that he was holding back a laugh in order to not offend me

“Do I look like I'm joking?” I pointed to my outfit.

Jonah clapped his hands together. “Alright, alright, alright” he said in his best Matthew Mcconaughey impersonation

“Really? I'm so glad you're down for this! I thought you'd say no”

“I would've never entered the world of comedy if I wasn't down for humiliating myself.” he dropped his head in defeat.

BrnYrd was this awesome bar that Kadie and I randomly discovered in Brooklyn. From the outside it looked like any other building in New York, but once you stepped inside you were suddenly in a barn yard in Texas. Of course it wasn't 100% authentic. It was almost like the cast of Jersey Shore was asked to recreate a line dancing bar and this was their take on it. There's wooden beams across the ceiling wrapped in stringed lights, hay stacks around the room, mason jar chandeliers, and peanut shells and hay covering the floor. In the middle of the bar is a dance floor. The waiters and waitresses wear skimpy cowboy get ups. And the music is pop and country mixed to an electronic beat.

I got a text from Kadie letting me know her and Adam would be joining us after dinner. So we waited at Jonah's place until she told us they were on their way.

Jonah and I took the subway over to Brooklyn and met them there.

Kadie and Adam were waiting for us outside BrnYrd. Before I could introduce them Adam and Jonah greeted each other like they were already friends.

“Do you guys know each other?” Kadie and I stood confused staring at both boys.

“Yeah, a few of the clients I represent have been on the late night show, so we always run into each other backstage” Adam said excitedly.

The place was crowded with people so we quickly went inside and claimed a table.

Jonah ordered a round of drinks for everyone and Adam ordered another before the waitress could even leave to get the first round.

“We're gonna need some heavy shit to get through this” Adam said as he nudged Jonah.

Right then Timber by Pitbull and Kesha started playing.

“Aw shit, this is our jam!” Kadie and I both jumped off of our stools.

“Come on, I'll show you how it's done!” I grabbed Jonah's arm and led him out to the dance floor.

“Just watch me” I demonstrated but I could tell he wasn't able to follow along. 

“Here” I stood with my back to Jonah and put his hands on my waist. “Just do what I do”

After a few attempts Jonah was starting to get it.

“This is surprisingly easy!”

Jonah was getting better with every song that played. Adam, not so much. But he gets an A for effort.

We swung around, tapped our heels and do-si-doed the rest of the night. We could have easily been back up dancers for the line dancing scene in the Footloose remake.

After we completely exhausted ourselves Adam and Kadie left and Jonah and I went back towards Greenwich to grab a bite to eat.

“That was amazing!” Jonah said happily while wrapping noodles around his chopsticks

We picked up Chinese food and sat by the fountain in Washington Square Park.

“I'm glad you enjoyed it!” I leaned into Jonah and gave him a kiss. “Kadie and I use to go line dancing all the time back home”

“Did you guys have horses too?” Jonah said jokingly

“Actually, we did. Kadie's horse was black and white, so she named him Moo. Mine wasn't the smartest of the bunch so I named him Fredo.”

Jonah turned to me shocked that we really did have horses as pets.

“Texas seems like a whole other world” he took another bite of the noodles. “What made you come to New York?”

I stared up at the buildings around me. “I don't know, really. Bright lights? Big city? I know it sounds cliché. I just felt like something was telling me to come here.”

We finished our food and started walking away from the park. Jonah wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we walked. 

Just as we were under a street light he turned me towards him and grabbed my face softly.

“I'm glad you listened to your heart.” He leaned down and he kissed me slowly and passionately.