by J. A. Titus
When he opened his door and sat down, I didn’t give up.
“Time for what?” I repeated.
He wiped his forehead and brushed some of his hair away from his face. His once slicked back style was now letting go, springing some of his blonde locks every which way.
I poked his shoulder. “Hello?”
He turned to me, his left hand squeezing the steering wheel. “What?”
“Where are we going now?”
He laughed. It wasn’t his usual, best friend laugh; it was throatier, so much more masculine. Something inside me ached, but I didn’t know why exactly.
“You’re not going to do this to her, right?”
“You already asked me that didn’t you?”
“You keep avoiding my questions with more questions, just answer me!”
He shook his head.
“You can’t do that to a girl!” I growled. I wasn’t really angry, more irritated than anything. Me and surprises don’t mix. I don’t like them and he knew that. Why was he purposely being this way, it was so out of character.
He turned the key in the ignition and revved the engine. “I promise you, I’ll tell you when we’re just about there.”
I folded my arms across my chest and jutted out my chin, pouting. “Fine.”
He laughed again, obviously relishing in this little game of torture.
“Don’t laugh at me,” I grumbled.
“I can’t help it, you’re just too cute.”
Whoa! Whoa, what was that?
“I’m what?” I asked, hoping he’d repeat himself.
He looked at me blankly for a second and then turned his attention back to the road, “I said, you’re funny.”
Not wanting to push the subject, I flipped on the radio and sat back in the seat watching as twilight began to set in the sky. The colors were so beautiful. Pinks and blues and purples, there was even a hint of orange in there. It was like one of those gorgeous Bob Ross paintings you’d see him teaching you how to create on PBS.
I sighed.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
I opened my eyes and twisted to face Keith, to watch him as he drove. “I was just thinking, that’s all.”
“Thinking about what?”
I shrugged my shoulders indifferently. “Nothing important.”
We sat in silence. Only the hum from the engine and an old song by the Beatles faded in and out from the speakers.
Before I knew it, we were parked and he was tapping me on my shoulder.
“Sheesh … I didn’t mean to put you to sleep,” he joked, holding out his hand for me to take it.
I yawned and stretched my arms out, not even realizing I had fallen asleep. When I looked out the door where he stood, I realized it was now too dark to see anything. I missed sunset. I was a little disappointed.
“I’m sorry.” My voice was thick with sleep still and I tried to clear my throat, but couldn’t.
He continued to laugh at me.
“I don’t care,” he said shutting my door and once again looping his arm though mine. “I get that you had your excitement with seeing The Phantom, you needed some shut eye, no biggie.”
I couldn’t help but yawn again.
“The night’s almost over,” he whispered, his voice low and husky.
“I think you’re really going to impress her,” I said, trying to walk but I kept stumbling over what felt like bricks. My feet felt so heavy. They tingled slightly like they had fallen asleep.
“Can you walk alright?”
I nodded, forgetting he probably couldn’t see me all too well in the darkness. “Are we almost there?”
“Mmhmm.”
I stumbled again, this time my knee slammed down upon the gravely surface.
“Ouch!” I cried out in pain. I knelt over and tried to feel around my knee to see if the fall had sliced open my jeans. I could feel little bits of pebbles imbedded in my skin and the cool air kissed the scraped flesh. “Damn it,” I muttered, squeezing my fist in frustration.
“Oh, crap, I’m sorry! Are you ok? I didn’t see that there!” he bent over me and tried to see what had happened.
The throbbing pain in my leg began to ebb and was once again replaced by the annoying tingling sensation in my foot.
I got to my feet and hobbled forward, trying not to put any pressure on my wounded leg. Just stepping down on my tingling feet, the pins and needles sensation went coursing through my body like lightening.
“Do you need me to carry you?” Keith asked, a hint of worry escaping from his tone.
I brushed his hand away as he began to slide it up my back, guiding me towards him. “Nah, I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine.”
We continued walking side by side in silence. Up in the distance a light could be seen filtering through a partially opened door.
“There it is,” Keith stated and I could tell in the darkness he had been pointing. The rustling of his jacket gave it away.
“What is it?” I asked.
“You’ll see.”
We continued further and I hobbled along trying to match his pace, which as soon as he saw the light ahead he had started to speed up a little. I tried to keep up, but he kept going faster and faster. Luckily the pins and needle sensation was all but gone, the only aching feeling came from my skinned knee.
“Here.” He stopped abruptly. Before I could protest, he grabbed my arms and flipped me onto his back, piggy-back style. I clung to his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist, as he loped down what appeared to be a sand bank. Mid-way during our descent, I could smell the scent of the ocean water and hear the waves lapping against the shore. We were at a beach.
Breathing heavy, I heard him say, “We’re almost there.”
The closer we got to the light, the more I realized where we were. Standing before us, in the darkness, was a tall white structure.
“A lighthouse,” I breathed. “You brought me to a lighthouse?”
“Mmhmm.” He didn’t open his mouth, instead my hands felt the vibration from his Adam’s apple.
A thrill rushed through me. I felt so special. But just as quickly I remembered, this wasn’t really for me. This was for his date. He was practicing for his date.
He stepped up the stone pathway that lead up to the lighthouse entrance, leaned backward to let me down and stretched his arms out above him. I smiled as I heard his back crack and pop with his bones set back in place.
“You’re getting old,” I joked.
A light rounded passed us from the lighthouse lantern and I could tell he was smiling.
“Shall we?” he asked, holding his arm out for me to follow.
I took his hand and followed him up to the entrance of the lighthouse. Inside sat a romantic table for two. A lit candelabrum sat in the middle of white linen tablecloth casting shadows along the walls and up the winding staircase. Matching plates, sterling silver utensils and crystal stems glistened.
“Wow,” I whispered, partially covering my mouth with my hand. I couldn’t believe how romantic Keith really was. This was definitely a side of him I’ve never, ever seen before.
He grinned at my surprised expression and pulled a chair out for me to sit.
“Did you make everything yourself?” I asked.
He nodded and pulled out a large wicker basket from beneath the staircase.
I couldn’t take it anymore. Emotions clouded my judgment and hormones took hold of me. Before he could set the food on the plate, I got up and stood in front of him. I took his hands into mine and searched his eyes.
“Today has been wonderful, Keith. I…I don’t know what’s coming over me…”
Before I could finish my thought, I felt Keith’s lips on mine. His hot breath caressed my skin and I closed my eyes, giving in to him.
He slowly pulled away from me, but kept his arms tightly wrapped around my waist. “I have wanted to do that for so long, you don’t even know.”
I felt warm, fuzzy, and knew instantly I felt the same
way. Perhaps I’ve always been in love with him, but never realized it. Can someone be friends with someone for so long and not even know they were meant to be together?
“This will change everything,” I whispered, longing to feel his lips upon mine again.
“It doesn’t change anything, just makes it so much better.”
“But what about your date?” I asked. My head cleared slightly and my conscience kicked in riddling my thoughts with guilt.
He stared into my eyes and softly chuckled. “Don’t you get it yet?”
I shook my head; obviously I missed something very important.
“It’s been you all along,” he stated, his voice low and throaty.
Before I could speak, he was once again kissing me. With one quick motion, he carefully lowered me to the floor. I didn’t even think. I could only feel…
Rrriiinngg…
My eyes shot open. What was that sound?
Rrriiinngg…
I stared up a little surprised to see everything seemed so bright, so…so sunny. Groggy, I sat up and rubbed my eyes.
Rrriiinngg…
When I opened them, it only took me a second to realize I was no longer in a beautiful lighthouse kissing Keith. I was in my bedroom, on the floor as I must’ve fallen out of bed. A feeling of sadness swept through me. I pulled my knees to my chest and saw that they were pretty banged up from the fall. It all made sense now.
Rrriiinngg…
With a sigh, I lifted myself up using my bed frame to steady myself. The phone was ringing…
It had all been a dream.
I shuffled to the phone and stared down at the receiver before I finally whispered, “Hello?”
“Hey…”
I closed my eyes and crumpled to the floor disappointed it wasn’t who I had hoped for. Disappointed it wasn’t Keith on the other end. “Hey, Blake.”
“I’m sorry–” he whispered.
“No, you’re not,” I whispered back before he could finish his thought. I placed the handset back in its cradle, hanging up, not wanting to hear anymore.
Talk about déjà vu, and I knew exactly what I needed to do.
I lifted the handset and dialed a number that was all too familiar to me. My heart fluttered in my chest as I set it against my ear.
Riiiinnng
Riiinnnnggg
Riinn—
“Hello?”
I swallowed hard, and remembered the dream. Remembered how good it felt being in his arms, the feeling of his lips on mine, his breath against my neck…
“Hello?” he asked again. “Squirt?”
“I love you, Keith, and I think I always have,” I cried.
Silence…
My throat tightened and my heart no longer fluttered; it raced, beating frantically within my ribcage. I never thought I’d feel this way about Keith, and now the fear of rejection was almost too much to bear.
I heard him clear his throat and with a cracking voice he said, “Took you long enough, Stace.” He paused. “I’ve always loved you too.”