Her Confidence

You smile at her in the bathtub, “Most attractive…honestly I’ve always loved your confidence in your self. I think the fact that, well before tonight, you always carried yourself as if you didn’t care what anyone thought. Your confidence in yourself is attractive.”

Melody blinks, “My…My confidence in myself. Nobody’s ever complimented me on my confidence.” She blushes, and giggles.

“Oh, I’ve always liked the way you laugh. It’s always, I dunno, a real laugh…umm…probably not saying it right, but you know what I mean.” You say, running your hands through your hair, feeling a little warm around the cheeks.

“Thanks, Jack. But… I mean…do…do you want to know the reason I’ve always been so confident?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“It’s because you always accepted me. Even when I was that skinny little tomboy with too many freckles. I gained my confidence in myself because…well…” She stops. Starts again after brushing some hair out of her face. “Do you remember the first words you said to me? Or rather in defense of me?”

Your brow furrows. In defense? “I’m…umm…I’m drawing a blank…sorry.”

“It was actually before we officially met. At the Freshmen Orientation for high school. Or rather right after.” She smiles at you, but her eyes are in the past. “You and your friend Josh were sitting on a bench outside the school’s campus. My sister and I walked by. She was a senior at the time. Anyway, your friend shouted at me “Hey freckle face, shouldn‘t you be in junior high school?” You remember what you said?”

You smile, remembering. “Yeah, I said ‘Hey, man. That’s not nice, she’s just a late bloomer, is all. Twenty bucks says she’ll be absolutely awesome in a couple years. I mean she’s really pretty now…’ Then he slapped me upside the head. I didn‘t think you had heard that!”

“Do you have any idea how great that made me feel? I was on cloud nine the whole weekend, Jack. You were the first person I saw as...ummm…ahem. Anyway, it made me feel really good, and made me seek you out on the first day of school. After that…I mean no matter what I said, did, or shared with you…you accepted it.” She looks you in the eyes, mesmerizing you with the intensity…and a hint of something else you can’t quite place. But can hope about. “So…Jack…I need to thank you for giving me the confidence you find attractive.”

“Hey not a problem. I mean, what are best friends for?”

“One thing I can think of…” she mumbles.

“Hmm?”

She starts at that, possibly not realizing she had said that out loud. “Making me feel better. Thanks, I really needed that tonight.”

“Again, Melody, not a problem. I’ll leave you to finish then. Maybe watch a movie afterwards? Comedy?”

“A…actually, I can’t reach my back too well. Could you, you know before you leave, wash my back?" she asks shyly, now avoiding your eyes, though not taking them away from your face.