Walking the Crimson Road

by Perrie Patterson

  “Let’s go sit down.”

  We walk down the steps of Gorgas Library and inside the little rotunda. We sit on the floor with our backs against the wall. Lane puts one arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. I lay my head on his shoulder, and he takes my hand in his, slowly bringing it up to his lips, gently kissing it. Then he brushes his lips across my hand and over my fingers. His lips are so soft, and I notice he has his eyes closed. I close my eyes, too, and we sit there for a few minutes just being quiet and still.

  He turns toward me, looking a little sad, and says, “I will wait for you as long as you need me to.”

  When he says that I kiss him. My apprehension is gone, and I only want what I want in this moment. He pulls me in tight, holds my face with one hand, and pulls me in tighter with his other hand. I feel like I can’t breathe, and my heart is beating wildly in my chest and I am breathing heavy as I pull him closer. With our hands clasped tightly together and our lips locked, I think how much I never want this to end. I want him so much. As we slow our kisses down and try to catch our breath, he whispers my name, grips the back of my head, pulls me toward him, and he kisses me passionately until my phone starts ringing and interrupts us. I pull my phone from my pocket and lay my head on Lane’s chest to look at the screen. Lane is stroking my hair and kissing the top of my head. I notice the caller ID say’s Bella. I answer it.

  “Just checking on you. Are you okay?”

  “Yes. I’m good. Everything is going well.”

  “The bonfire is about over. Lexi and I are walking back to the house. Do you want to go with us?”

  “I’ll get a ride back with Lane, and I promise I’m fine.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure, we’ll head back.”

  “Thanks, Bella. I’ll see you back in the room later. Thanks for checking on me roomie.”

  I set the phone down next to me. Lane is smiling at me, and I smile back. I curl up into his lap, and he tilts my head back and strokes the side of my face with his hand then runs his fingers down my neck to my shoulder and follows it with a trail of kisses. I close my eyes, pull his face to mine, and kiss him passionately. His tongue moves slowly, entangling with mine. It’s soft, and sexy and feels amazing. I stop for a second and look into his eyes and whisper, “I wasn’t expecting this to happen, but now I may never want to let you go.”

  “I never want you to let me go.”

  Leaning into my neck, he places sweet kisses just above my collar bone then kisses the tip of my nose. “But I know I better get you back before you turn into a pumpkin, and we can’t have that.”

  I giggle. “Yeah, it’s getting late, and tomorrow is a big day. I only have one class, but I’m meeting my parents around lunchtime, and the dance team is performing at the basketball game tomorrow night.”

  “I know I’m planning on being there, and I’m staying the whole time.”

  “Grant will be there.”

  “I’ll give you as much time as you need with that situation. I want you to deal with it on your own time. I don’t want to interfere. When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting.”

  We stand, and I notice all the windows in the rotunda are fogged up. We walk toward his car, which is parked near the library. He opens the passenger door. I get in and smell the familiar leather. He gets in on the other side, reaches out, pulls me toward him then whispers in my ear, “You’re perfect, sexy, and beautiful.”

  We pull up in front of Phi Mu. He gets out and opens the passenger door for me. It makes me feel so special. He takes my hand in his, and we walk hand-in-hand to the door. He stops, leans in, and kisses me on the cheek.

  “Goodnight, Rebecca, sweet dreams.” He turns and walks back to his car.

  I open the door and step inside but watch him from the window. My eyes follow the car as he drives away. I float up the staircase into the bathroom. I go about brushing my teeth and washing my face, but the whole time I’m floating on a cloud and can’t stop smiling. I quietly sneak into our room and look to see if Bella’s awake. She’s asleep. I look at my phone to see what time it is, and I can’t believe it is almost midnight. I set my alarm for 9:00 since I have a late Friday morning class. I drift off to sleep dreaming about being somewhere with a roaring fireplace, a special someone, and happily ever after.

  15

  #Goodvibesonly

  The alarm wakes me from a beautiful dream. I hit snooze. Ten minutes later it wakes me again, this time I turn it off and look at my phone to see that it’s almost 9:30 and I have a text from Lane.

  Good morning beautiful.

  It’s a good morning now that I’ve heard from u.

  Good luck tonight. You’ll be awesome.

  I shower, throw on a hoodie, jeans and my Converse. I braid my hair quickly down the right side and secure it with a hair tie, grab my backpack and walk out the door to my Friday Spanish class. As I’m walking across the quad I check to see if our professor canceled class for today. I mean— it is the day before Homecoming. It’s not canceled, but he graciously cuts it short by fifteen minutes. After class on the way back to Phi Mu I text my parents to see if they’ve arrived on campus yet. Bella’s at band practice, so I do a quick room clean and look for the tickets for tonight’s basketball game and tomorrow’s Homecoming football game, and the calendars that my parents want.

  Mom texts back. About 5 min. away. I pick up the tickets and calendars and head down to the main living room to sit and wait. Mom and Dad walk into the house, and we greet each other with hugs and kisses. They chat with some of my Phi sisters while I pop into the kitchen and grab a couple of glasses of tea.

  I hand Mom her glass. She says, “We need to check into the hotel at 3:00. Before we do, we want to take you to lunch.”

  After a short walk to the strip, we’re seated at a table at Buffalo Phil’s. Mom says, “It’s been almost three months, and even though you’re good about texting and emailing, I know there’s more going on. We want to hear all about it.” Mom pats Dad on the arm to get him to set the menu down and pay attention, as if I’m going to tell her something she doesn’t already know.

  I start with our busy Homecoming week. “We came in second on our lawn decoration, and we lost the basketball game to the Tri Delts but won the choreography dance competition.”

  Dad asks about classes and assignments. I tell him about some of the filming, and writing I’ve had to do for some of my classes. Mom wants to hear about Bella, dates and parties. I explain how I was set up for a date back in September.

  “His name is Grant. He’s a Chi Phi and is on the swim team, and he’s really nice. You guys will get to meet him tonight after the basketball game, and he’ll be my date at the Homecoming game.”

  “I know you’ve shared a lot with us over the phone, but we love hearing it all again in person. I remember you telling us about meeting Grant and that Bella and Lexi set you guys up. And you guys seem to be still getting on?” Mom says, giving my arm a squeeze.

  I smile and nod without saying anything, because I know I’m not being a hundred percent honest about my feelings for Grant. I don’t say anything about Lane, and I don’t dare mention that I’ve been chosen for a secret society.

  On the walk back to the house after lunch, I text Amanda about getting a ride and head up to my room to change into my uniform.

  Before the game Mom and Dad stop by the Crimson Cabaret fan table. I give them a big smile as they approach.

  “Remember to meet by the entrance after the game,” I say, leaning in for hugs.

  “We’d like to take you and Grant to dinner afterward,” Dad says, pecking me on the cheek.

  “Can we talk about this after the game?” I ask, thinking I don’t want to make this into a parents-meet-the-boyfriend thing. I have a feeling after this weekend I’ll to need to have a serious talk with Grant, and I am dreading it like the plague.

  After our fan meet-and-greet, our team heads to the locker room to change into a different uniform for tonight’s performance.


  Amanda nudges me. “I saw Lane and a group of DKE’s in the stands.”

  “That’s cool,” I say nonchalantly, trying to act like it’s no big deal.

  After she gave me advice to stay away from him, I don’t want her to think I like him or anything. I shake it off and wrap my mind around the performance and pretend like I won’t know anyone in the crowd. That’s about the only way I’m going to get through this night. I say a quick prayer and take a deep breath. We line up, hit the floor, and blow our routine away. We’re pumped up, excited, and high fiving each other as we walk off the court.

  After the game, I text Grant to meet me upstairs near the entrance. I change quickly and walk out to see Grant with one of his friends. My parents are on the opposite side, talking to some of the other dance team parents. I walk over to Grant first, give him a hug, and tell him thank you for coming. He introduces me to his friend Parker. Dad waves at us from across the way and we walk over. When I introduce Grant to my parents, he reaches out to shake hands with Dad.

  Mom says, “How about we get dinner close by? Is Cypress Inn okay?”

  Mom and Dad follow us in their car, and I call ahead for a table for four. We’re seated along the window overlooking the Black Warrior River. Mom and Dad ask Grant about school, his major, and about the swim team. The conversation is easy and relaxing, but I start feeling a little weird. I had pushed thoughts of who was at the game out of my mind and tried not to think about Lane, even though I knew he was there. Now that everything is calm and the night is winding down, I’m feeling uncomfortable that I’m with Grant and my parents.

  Tossing my napkin onto the table, I glance at Mom, “It’s getting late, I should get back since I’ll be up early for the parade. I’ll stop by the tent after the parade ends. Grant and I plan to stop by again before the Elephant Stomp marches into the stadium.

  Dad turns to Grant and says, “It was nice to meet you. We’ll plan to see you both, tomorrow.”

  I leave with Grant. He pulls the jeep up in front of the Phi Mu house and leans over to kiss me. I know he wants to kiss longer than I really want to sit out in the jeep, so I invite him inside for a while. There are a lot of people going in and out of the house tonight. Because of Homecoming, all the families and alumni are wandering in and out all weekend. I know once inside we won’t be alone. I ask Grant to sit in the living room while I go to the kitchen. Lemonade and tea pitchers are sitting out, so I fill two glasses and carry them with me to the living room. I hand Grant his glass and sit next to him.

  “I really like your parents. They’re very nice and easy to talk with. Why didn’t your sister come this weekend?”

  “She’s on a weekend church retreat,” I say, as I lean back on the couch sipping my drink. I notice the time and say, “Look, it’s close to midnight, I need to get to bed.” I fake a yawn.

  He agrees it’s late, and we walk together to his jeep. He leans in and kisses me goodnight, and just so this doesn’t turn into a long make-out session, I give him a quick kiss then back away and turn to walk inside.

  Back in my room, Lexi and Bella are sitting on the floor talking to someone on FaceTime.

  Bella looks up. “How did meeting the parents go?”

  “It went really well. We had dinner together.”

  Lexi tells the FaceTime person she has to go and sets the phone down. “I haven’t gotten to talk to you since last night at the bonfire when you walked away to find Lane. I’m sure you already told Bella all about your secret rendezvous with him, but I want the scoop, too.”

  Bella shakes her head. “Not really, Lexi, she just told me they went and sat in the rotunda and talked for an hour then he brought her home.”

  “You’re kidding? You were able to just talk to him for that long?” Lexi asks.

  “Yes. We talked, and he was so sweet. I told him how confused I am about my feelings for Grant, but pretty sure of my feelings for him. I told him I need to confess to Grant that I may want to just be friends.”

  “How did he take that?” Bella questions.

  “He was kind and gentle and very sincere in telling me that I should take as long as I need to decide. He told me he would wait for me as long as I needed him to.”

  Lexi bursts, “Good Freaking Grief! He sounds too perfect. There’s got to be a catch somewhere.”

  Bella barks, “I agree. He looks like a model, dresses like he just walked out of a magazine, appears to be super wealthy, and he’s taking your feelings into consideration and putting you ahead of himself?”

  Lexi adds, “You forgot to mention he smells amazing, and it is intoxicating.” We burst into uncontrollable laughter at that comment.

  I finally say, “From what I can tell, he’s Mr. Perfect.”

  Bella mumbles, “Well, we could actually say that about Grant.”

  Lexi goes on, “Right, I agree with that. You seem to have two amazing guys falling all over themselves for you. I’m impressed you were able to just talk to him and nothing else happened between you two.”

  Bella asks, “So nothing else, no kissing?”

  “No comment.”

  Bella and Lexi throw pillows at me. “You are so in trouble,” Bella says, as she pounds me with another pillow.

  “Well, how does he kiss? Bella, asks.

  “It was me who caved. I kissed him first, but he most definitely kissed back, and he’s an amazing kisser.”

  Lexi insists, “This is way better than The Bachelor.

  Bella looks at the clock on the desk and says, “Guys, it’s almost 1 a.m. We have to be at the parade in line ready to march at 9:00.”

  Lexi walks to the door and says, “Goodnight girls.” With a wink she’s out the door.

  I throw on an old t-shirt and climb into bed, making sure my alarm is set for 7:30 a.m. Bella clicks off the lamp and rolls over, mumbling something that sounds like “Get some sleep, girl.” She’s right, I need to sleep, but after our conversation about kissing Lane and with the excitement of Homecoming tomorrow, I’m suddenly not sleepy. I think about texting Lane, but don’t. I fall asleep while contemplating how to break the news to Grant.

  16

  #Gameday

  Homecoming morning is a buzzing. Everyone’s rushing around in and out of the bathrooms. The house is overflowing with parents and alumni downstairs taking pictures and reconnecting with old friends. Since Bella, Lexi and I will be near each other in the parade, we can leave at the same time. I fix my hair, add some red glitter to my eyes, and look at myself in the mirror checking to make sure my uniform is straight. I grab my silver pom poms and walk outside with Bella to wait for Lexi.

  My phone dings with a text message. I look at the screen. Its Lane. U looked beautiful last night.

  Thx, ur not so bad either. I add the wink emoji.

  Bella notices I’m smiling at my phone and not watching where I’m walking and yells at me.

  “Bex! you’re going to walk off the curb into traffic again.”

  I reply in a sing song voice, “Just got a sweet text from Lane.”

  She rolls her eyes, and Lexi just shakes her head.

  The parade marches down University Blvd. For miles there are thousands of students, families, children and alumni lined up along the road to watch. The cheerleaders, band, Big Al, the Crimsonettes, Crimson Cabaret, the fifty sorority and fraternity floats, the law school float, and local dance teams come cheering their way past the fans. The rush of excitement and elaborate pomp and circumstance from the parade feels like a spiritual high.

  Once we get to the end of the parade route, I quickly make my way to the quad to say hello to my parents and our friends who share their tent during home games. The tent is festive with balloons and Bama flags. Their catered meal smells delicious. I fix a plate and sit with Mom and Dad to eat a quick bite. After taking a few pictures with my parents and their friends, I remind them I’ll be back a little later with Grant. I meander my way through the thousands that have gathered today, finally making my way back to my
sorority house.

  When I get back the house is packed, and people are spilling out onto the front lawn. Since Amanda was voted Homecoming Queen this year, the local Tuscaloosa News is here filming and interviewing her. I walk past the camera crew and a large group of people. I say, “Hi” as I pass them on the way to my room. Walking inside, I close the door to the noise, then change into something more comfortable. I get a text from Grant asking what time he should come by to get me. I text him back, Is 3:30 okay?

  Bella walks in with half her band uniform off, looking hot and sweaty. She plops down onto the bed and looks at me sadly. “I need a nap before we have to play for the Elephant Stomp.

  Laughing, I say, “You don’t have time for a nap.”

  She slips off her shoes and her band uniform. She gives me a pleading look. “Will you fix me a plate for lunch and bring it up?”

  “Sure thing, since you’re my favorite roommate.”

  When I get back to the room with Bella’s lunch, I pull out what I am going to wear tonight, hang it on one of our hooks on the wall, and select a pair of boots to go with my dress. I’ve chosen a solid crimson, soft knit with long sleeves that has flow and movement around the bottom. I re-curl my hair, touch up my makeup, add a strand of pearls, and matching earrings. I work my feet into killer, knee-high, black, suede boots.

  Bella slips her band uniform back on and looks at me before she walks out the door. “You look amazing,” she says.

  “Don’t forget to stop by my parent’s tent on the way over.”

  A few minutes later, Grant texts me he’s outside, so I meet him on the sidewalk.

  He greets me with a kiss. “You look incredible.”

  “You look nice, too.”

  In reality, all the fraternity guys look the same, navy blazer, khaki pants, white shirt and red tie. We walk to the quad and over to my parent’s tent, arriving as they’re putting some food away. We sit and talk with them for a few minutes before Mom asks Grant if he’d like something to eat.