by RJ Gonzales
“Yeah, it’s colder down here, because of the lake.” He leant over the wooden railing and pointed to the moonlit lake behind the cabin. Its still, dark water—a mirror, reflecting the night sky. “It’s the best way to spend the hot days,” he laughed. “You should try it sometime.” He finally opened the front door, stopping midway. The golden light from inside wrapped around his body and cast itself down the porch steps and onto the dirt and stones. “You coming, Rini?” he asked. “Or are you just going to stay out here by yourself. Whatever’s fine by me.”
I bit my lip—listing all the pros and cons of both situations in my mind. He could be part of a Mafia or gang in there that’ll sell my parts or even me as a whole to the highest bidder, or something else cinematically sinister. Another rustle from the bushes behind me sounded. He wins.
“Fine.” I stepped into the cabin—warm air rushing past me.
“Take a seat,” he motioned to the living room, complete with old couches and a warm lit fireplace—the reasoning for the heat I felt. Sitting on a sofa across the room, a younger looking guy with short dark hair, played around with a laptop. “That’s Max. He’s a really smart guy, but loses himself in that computer all day, every day,” Jett told me before disappearing into a hall lined with doors.
“Hey,” I said, sitting on a lumpy mold-green colored couch across him.
Max peered over his screen for a little bit and twitched his nose as he looked at me. He was dramatically different than Jett, almost scrawny. His black shirt had the picture of several female comic book heros with the words My kind of woman! above them. He was cute. In that cute, awkward, techie guy way. “Hey. How’s it going?” he said in a soft voice. Shy maybe?
“Oh. Um, good,” I said. “I’m waiting for uh, Jett, to take me back home.”
“I see.” His eyes were drawn back to the screen and he began typing profusely.
“Yeah. That’s a pretty cool computer,” I nodded toward the small compact computer on his lap.
“Her name’s April,” he said. “She’s a MacBook Pro.”
“That’s cool, I have one too. I got it as an early graduation present from my parents. I don’t have a name for it yet, though.”
Just then, a loud slam from the kitchen to the right of us sounded, making both of us jump. Another male, dressed in a black tank top and khaki shorts, made his way in with a beer in his hand. When he caught sight of me, anger quickly filled his eyes. What did I do? I asked myself.
He put a hand to the back of his head. “You, chick, whoever you are, you’re in my spot,” He told me—lips pursed. “Move!”
What a dick! “Oh. I’m sorry,” I apologized, yielding a fake smile. I slid across to the other side, giving him plenty of space. He plopped himself down and dug a remote from within the couch cushions. Dick guy switched the channel to a basketball game, already in its third quarter and took a sip from a brown bottle of beer.
“Ray, where are your manners?” another male, this time older and familiar entered the room.
“The same place where you head is,” he stated—feet up on the coffee table.
“Mr. Luna?” I said, facing my substitute that had just entered the room. What the hell? I thought.
“Sarina, is it?” He rubbed his chin as if he were intrigued by something. “I suppose you aren’t here for tutoring?” he laughed.
“What are you here for?” Ray called from the couch as he scratched his testicles through his shorts with one hand and took a sip of beer with the other. Gross.
Mr. Luna held out his hand to signal him to settle down, then sat in the futon next to Max. “So tell me, what brings Alice to this part of Wonderland?”
He probably knew, I wouldn’t be caught dead this far into the forest. It was hidden, mysterious, and at night—scary. Hell, during the day it was still scary. I already told one of them my reason for venturing to these parts. Might as well tell them all.
“A wolf.” I heard the words before my mouth stopped moving. Jett’s voice had answered the question for me from behind a closed door in the hall. The shower sputtered to life in the background.
The men exchanged a look with each other. Even Ray removed his hands from his shorts—for a few seconds, that is.
“A wolf, you say?” Something had caught Mr. Luna’s attention—there was a twinkle in his eyes, “in Austin?” I didn’t feel comfortable being alone in a house, scratch that…cabin, with a bunch of men, each about twice my size. Something Lifetime movies had taught me to avoid.
“Interesting,” He said, his voice all-too interested.
The front door flung open, hitting the outside of the cabin with a Smack!
“I can’t believe you did that to me—again!” a booming female voice blurted. Finally another girl.
“Baby, come on! I couldn’t help it! I had to tell the chef what he did wrong with the soup.” A masculine voice followed. “Please forgive me!”
“I’ve told you! I don’t like to be embarrassed in public!” her voice grew closer, as well as her footsteps. “Everybody in the restaurant was looking at us!”
“Oh boy, here comes the fireworks!” Ray laughed to himself. “Hey Del, please give Mark his huevos back!” He called from over his shoulder.
“Stay out of this!” The woman named Del yelled. A shoe came flying from behind the wall sectioning off the living room and front entrance. It hit Ray square on the back of the head. I had to keep myself from laughing.
“Perra!” he growled rubbing the area. “We have a guest you know!”
Both pair of footsteps, the girl’s and the man that was with her, came around the corner. “What do you mean we have-“ she stopped the moment she saw me and her dark eyes as sharp as knives pierced into mine. “Who the hell is this?” she pointed to me as if no one had seen me standing in the room before. It was a little too frank.
Del stood with her arms folded in her chest, studying me from head to toe. Her orangey-red hair fell past her shoulders and over a black tank top. Her curves were hidden behind short denim shorts. Behind her, a golden-haired Mark looked over her shoulder. He looked equally as brawny and built like Jett, and seemed friendly—smiling a welcoming smile. Del, on the other hand, I wasn’t too sure about. She looked as if she could either be your best friend, or kick your ass—probably even both.
“Hi, I’m Rini,” I extended my hand to them. Instead of receiving a handshake, Del reached for my sticky meat stained arm and brought it to her nose.
“Um,” I uttered with a nervous laugh. Okay?
“Sorry, you smell like meat,” she loosened her grip from my hand, then shook it. “I’m Delilah, but these idiots call me Del.” She moved out of the way so Mark could greet me as well. In his hands, he held a small baby girl. I could of squealed at the incredible cuteness, but I had to keep in mind that I didn’t know them. A stranger asking to cuddle your baby is sort of awkward. Even more so when they smell of meat.
“Hi there. I’m Mark, and this little girl right here is named Kaylee.”
“Aww, how old is she?” I asked.
“Ten months.”
The baby in his arms began to squirm as she looked at my unfamiliar face. She opened her mouth, and her face tightened as she began to let out a cry.
“Martin, why don’t you take her for a bit,” Mark strode over to Mr. Luna and passed her over to him. Kaylee fidgeted for a second before cuddling in the warmth of Martin’s chest as he began to rock her. Aww.
“Ready?” Jett appeared by the opening of the hall, “Let me take you home, Rini.” He took a second to look at the others that arrived and nodded, then he looked back at me to give me a nod toward the door. “Come on.”
He had changed into some khaki shorts and a black Rolling Stones T-shirt. His hair had been tamed and the dirt that was once marked on his skin, was gone, along with the stubble that was once on his now clean-shaven face.
“It was great meeting you all,” I said, waving goodbye and ducking out of their family meeting.
“Yeah, they’re all right.”
“Well, Mr. Lun-Martin,” I corrected, “is actually my substitute.”
“Really?” he laughed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Why?”
He stuck his hands into his wide pockets, “He can be quite a handful sometimes.”
“He’s all right,” I smiled.
There was utter silence as we continued through the forest, side by side. So close in fact, that I couldn’t help but notice the delightful scent emanating from his body. Woodsy, fresh, musky and clean, with an undertone of cinnamon or something else with a kick. A mysterious scent I’d never gotten a sniff of before.
“So Rini,” he began. “I hear it’s supposed to be hot this weekend.”
“Or so I’ve heard.” I pulled a small leaf from a nearby shrub and tore it in my hand.
“And, well, I wasn’t joking about the swimming at the lake part, so—” He trailed off.
“So—what?” I said, tossing the shreds of leaf aside. Poor leaf, it was just an innocent bystander. It can thank my nervousness for why it had to die.
“Why don’t you come and swim with me and my family? That is, unless you have something else to do.”
I would be lying if I said I didn’t. I would probably have plans with Celeste and George, or even Sarah. But, something about him made me not want to pass on the idea. God, what is wrong with me?
“Well, my friend Sarah is going to come over for a sleepover this weekend for Spring Break,” I said. There was a barely there, but still noticeable hint of disappointment in his face. “—but would it be all right if I brought her along?” A refreshing swim in the lake sounded marvelous. Even better since I wouldn’t have to be alone.
“Sure,” he smiled. It was an infectious smile that I caught as well. “Sounds like a plan.”
When we arrived on the porch of my cabin, I dug into my pocket for the key. Jett stood beside me as I opened the door and stuck half of myself in. The cool air wrapped around my exposed leg.
“Thank you.” I extended a hand to him—thanking him for helping me find my way home. It felt too formal—like I had just done a business deal.
He looked at my hand, a little dissatisfied, but shook it either way. Was he expecting more? If he was, he wasn’t going to get it.
“Anytime,” he finally said, looking up with another smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
Before I could close the door, a question burned in my mind.
“Quick question, before you go,” I held out a finger to stop him on his way down the stairs.
He paused three steps down and turned to face me. “Shoot.”
“Exactly how am I supposed to find the afore mentioned lake, or you again?”
“Good question.” He hopped up the steps. “Do you have a cell phone?”
“Is that a serious question?” I raised my eyebrow slightly. Mostly everyone and their dog has a cell phone nowadays.
“Funny too? Aren’t you something special?” Jett reached into his pocket for a folded up piece of paper with a number already written on it. “Here's my number.”
“Oh, how convenient,” I laughed, taking it into my hand. “I take it you have more of these that you give out to women on a daily basis?”
He laughed. “No, I wrote it down earlier. I was going to give it to you either way, you just happened to beat me to it.”
“I didn’t exactly ask for your number,” I reminded him, bringing my hands into my chest.
“Yeah, well you didn’t exactly turn it down either.” He winked and made for the steps. “Text me your number in a little bit,” he called over his shoulder, disappearing into the woodland. Smooth, real smooth.
Inside, I cast the knife onto the end table and plucked my phone from the counter. 1 new text message, 1 new voicemail & 1 missed call
The call was from George saying that they were home and to tell them when I would be back. They probably thought I was with Sarah. I sent him a text saying that I was safely back in my cabin, and not to worry. I opened the folded paper and entered the number into my contacts before I sent Jett a text.
You (9:43pm): This is my number –Rini :)
I then opened the text message I had missed. Sarah’s name was bolded as the sender.
Sarah (7:02pm): Hey there! :) Are you dead? ?:o
You (9:44pm) : Hey! So sorry I missed your text, I was in the forest trying to find the wolf again, and then I ended up meeting a naked guy named Jett and now I have his number, and today has just been really weird!
Jett (9:44pm): Sweet! Thanks beautiful ;]
You (9:46pm): Um. You’re welcome? ?:l
I nearly dropped my phone from the sudden burst of sound it made as a call came in.
“Hello?” I said, trying not to sound too startled.
“I stopped reading your text after naked guy named Jett, Go on!” Sarah squealed.
I lied on my bed as I told her of my encounter with the wolf and how it had thrown the meat on me, then licked my hand and let me pet it when it got close.
“Are you sure it wasn’t just tasting you?” Sarah joked. “ A little sample before digging in.”
“Oh Ha-ha, very funny.”
“Okay, now proceed to the nudeness, por favor? I need details, elaborate details! How big was it?” Why is that always the first question asked?
I carried on, giving every single detail I could, from his body description to his family, and even the wink he gave me before leaving. But I left out the size or guesstimate of what I assumed was his—aghem!—penis.
“I’m so jealous right now!” Sarah gawked. “You got a hot love interest ripped straight from a movie, and I’m over here Photoshopping pictures of me and Johnny Depp together.”
“Well, don’t be. He has brothers, and he invited me and you to go swimming at the lake behind their house this weekend.”
Silence.
“Hello?” I said. There were only the muffled sounds of a drawer being opened and stuff being shifted around. “Sarah?” I asked, hearing the phone on the other end hit against something. “You okay?”
“Oh, sorry about that,” her voice finally broke through.
“What are you doing?” I questioned on the random bit of silence.
“I’m looking for my bathing suit so I can start packing already!”
“You’re such a dork, Sarah!” I laughed.
“And proud of it!”
Beep, beep, beep
I looked at the screen of my phone and saw the words: New Text Message. “All right, I’ll let you go then—I got a text.”
“Laters, lucky!” I ended the call and read the awaiting message:
Jett (10:00pm): So, if you’re still awake we can carry on that conversation we were having.
You (10:01pm): Hmm, like what? :P
Jett (10:02pm): I don’t know. Let’s just ask each other questions. That’s what people usually do.
You(10:04pm): Okay, but it’s gonna take a while by text. I’m a slow typer :
Jett (10:05pm): Hmm, well there is another alternative.
My phone suddenly rang to life again as I was in the middle of typing a message to send. “Hello?” I answered, a little disoriented.
“Go on with your questions,” his deep refined voice, which sounded even more alluring over the phone, came through. “This way is a bit easier.” Jett sighed a relaxing sigh, like he was stretching somewhere comfortable, like his bed. Just like I was. Lying down and staring at the ceiling.
“True. Hmm, let me think,” I kicked off my shorts and pulled the covers over my legs. “What’s something you like to do for fun?” I shut the lamp off—letting in the darkness, but somehow it felt less lonely and eerie. I didn’t feel the need to read tonight. I didn’t feel the need to triple check that everything was locked up, either. No. Tonight, I wanted to stay right in this moment.
&n
bsp; “That’s easy. Swim, watch movies, play sports,” he laughed, “—eat. All that good stuff. How ‘bout you?”
“I love movies as you saw with my DVDs, and of course I love to read. I like to swim too. I can be in the water for hours. When I was younger they used to call me a fish.” I could hear him laugh again quietly on the other end. “And apparently, I like to meet nude guys in their early twenties in the middle of a forest and exchange numbers.”
“Oh yeah?” Jett laughed, filling in the silence. “What else ya’ got?”
“I like to bake.”
“Bake what?”
“Cakes, pies, pastries, cookies, you know—bake-able things.” I yawned.
“Sounds good. Are you tired?” he asked.
“Well, remember the wolf I talked to you about?” I said, hoping not to annoy him by how persistent I was about the bipolar animal that tried to kill me for some reason, then liked me all of a sudden and let me pet it—then sprinted off and lead me to a nude man. The same man on the other line.
“Yeah,” he said slowly. Almost cautiously. He might as well of said, “oh great, what now?” and hung up. Instead I heard, “Well, what about it?” from the other end. I was surprised that he actually sounded like he cared about what I had to say. Even if it seemed a little farfetched.
“Well, call me crazy, but for the past few days I’ve gone to sleep by hearing its howl.”
“You’re crazy,” he said bluntly.
Wait a minute. “What?”
“You said to call you crazy,” he laughed.
“Yeah, but I didn’t mean it,” I said, taking offense.
“Neither did I.”
I was glad he couldn’t see me. I was blushing.
“What about you?” I asked, returning to the questions.
“Uh,” he thought for a long moment before finally saying, “I’m a collector, so I like to collect things.”