Page 30 of Silent Count
Chelsea: You’re patient, emotionally regulated—very prefrontal cortex of you. You have a way of stepping back, observing, instead of needing to be the loudest in the room. Honestly, if I were profiling you, I’d say you’re the kind of guy who notices details most people miss.
Bo: So, you’ve been profiling me?
Chelsea: Oh, absolutely. And my professional conclusion? You’re trouble. The best kind.
Bo: Hmm. That sounds pretty accurate. You’re good at this. I do like to observe rather than be the one talking for sure.
There are exactly three people I care about deeply in this world, and their opinions matter to me. The rest of the noise I can shut out. But Bo is quickly becoming someone I want to really know me, too, and I care about what he thinks.
Chelsea: And…
Bo: And what?
Chelsea: What do you see when you observe me?
Bo: I actually think we’re pretty similar in a lot of ways. I think you’re also very thoughtful about how you react and respond to people. You’re social, but don’t want to be the center of attention. You are comfortable in your own skin. You’re honest, but only offer your honesty if asked directly. You’re funny, too, although I don’t think you realize it. But you’re mysterious. You have secrets, and I respect them. Maybe if I’m lucky, you’ll let me be your vault.
His answers make me smile. He’s spot-on for the most part. Being comfortable in my own skin has taken some work though.
Chelsea: I would say that’s accurate too.
Bo: I know. And another thing I know by my observation of you is that you like me.
He’s going for it now, I guess.
Chelsea: That would be correct. Just like I know you like me. By observation, of course.
Bo: Oh, I definitely like you. Why do you have to go to Florida again? Any chance you can miss your flight on purpose?
I giggle.
Chelsea: My little sister’s birthday. But don’t you have to go to a hotel or something tonight?
Bo: Yeah…to eliminate distractions.
Chelsea: Distractions being girls?
Bo: That and partying. You remember Smith and Schuster, right? Well, they got in trouble for being late and hungover a few times last season, so that’s why we have to do this now. But also because the pressure is high this season for us to get another national title.
Chelsea: That makes sense. So do you just go to the hotel and go to bed?
Bo: Not right away, no. The schedule says we’ll eat dinner, then we get to go see a movie at the movie theatre for a team activity. I’m guessing we’ll get the theatre to ourselves, but I’m not really sure yet. Then after that, we have curfew at nine thirty.
Chelsea: Is it a lights-out-at-nine-thirty type of situation?
Bo: I don’t really know. We’ve actually always had curfew, but the coaches just called us the night before and made sure we were home. So, I don’t know if they’re coming around each room or what. I’ll let you know later.
Chelsea: Please do. I’m fascinated by this adult-curfew situation. If I had an athletic bone in my body, I would probably thrive on the structure of it all. I like knowing what to expect and what the expectations are up front.
My need for transparency is definitely related to my trauma. My parents were so unpredictable and volatile, which was literally the only thing I could count on. Their bad behavior.
Bo: So you don’t like surprises?
Chelsea: Not really, no. Although, you bringing me chai this week for our tutoring sessions was a nice surprise.
Bo: Noted. I’m glad you liked it.
A high-pitched buzzing noise comes across the speaker. “Sorry about that, folks. Flight 841 to Fort Myers will be boarding in the next twenty minutes. If you’re not already at the gate, please make your way to it. The plane has just arrived.”
