Soaked

by Courtney Elliott

“He’s not just giving me a ride. He’s picking me up and we’re going to hang out. Just the two of us. Together.” I waited for each word to sink in, and I saw it the moment it clicked. Her brows widened in shock as she looked back at me.

  “Wait…” she began. I could practically see the wheels of her mind turning with what I had just told her. “West…and you? Since when?”

  “There isn’t anything going on,” I said quickly. “We’re just gonna hang out for a bit.” She looked skeptical, and I knew I needed to fess up entirely. “Okay, so a couple of days ago…we kind of…kissed.” Her face morphed slowly into a wide smile.

  “Lennon,” she said happily. “He kissed you? So, are the two of you together now? Why can’t I say anything? Does anyone else know?” She started firing off questions at me, and I couldn’t answer one before a second fell out of her mouth.

  “Mom,” I said, trying to calm her down. She kept asking me things about us dating now. “Mom, we’re not dating.” She stopped and looked back at me.

  “Why not?”

  “Well for one, he’s almost twenty and I’m only seventeen.” Her face fell, letting me know that was in fact an issue. I hadn’t really thought so before that moment right there. To me, it was just a number. We were only three years apart, and even that was only for part of the year.

  “Oh, right,” she said simply.

  “Do you think it’s really so bad though? I mean it’s not like he’s that much older than me.” She frowned and reached out to touch my hand. I knew that couldn’t be a good sign. She was going to tell me what I knew but didn’t really want to hear.

  “I wish it were different, Lennon. Maybe in another year or so when you go away to college, but for now, I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “But Mom…”

  “Lennon, I understand, really I do, but I need you to think about West for a minute. If the two of you were to continue into whatever kind of relationship you’re having and for some reason someone saw that didn’t agree with it, West could go to jail.”

  “Jail?” I asked perplexed. Mom just nodded.

  “Yes, jail. It’s against the law for an adult to be in any kind of relationship with a minor, and unfortunately that’s what you are.”

  “But, if I’m okay with it and you and dad are okay with it, then why does it matter to anyone else?”

  “It just does Lennon. I’m sorry, but you can’t see him anymore. At least not while you’re still seventeen.” I was shocked. Not even fifteen minutes ago, she was thrilled about the idea of West and me. Now, she was telling me that I couldn’t even see him anymore?

  “But…”

  “That’s final Lennon.” Her tone left no room for argument. As if things couldn’t have possibly gotten any worse, I heard a knock on the front door. I knew that was West. Mom looked from me to the front door. “I’m sorry Lennon,” she said, letting me know she wasn’t going to change her mind on this. I had to tell him goodbye. Again.

  I opened the door to his handsome smiling face. He was wearing white, and a pair of khaki cargo shorts. He looked every bit the carefree college student that I knew he was. Some girl was going to scoop him up when he went back to college, and I was just going to have to deal with it. I had never hated the fact that my birthday was in April more than I did in that moment. That meant I still had almost one year before West and I could even discuss the idea of being together. I didn’t even want to flirt with the idea of asking him to wait for me. It wouldn’t be fair to him.

  “What is it?” He asked, his smile falling. I stepped out onto the porch and closed the door behind me. I knew Mom would give me a few minutes at least to say goodbye. I was thankful for that. Had it been Dad, he would have been the one to tell West to leave while I watched from the window.

  “Uh, I can’t go with you,” I said slowly. I looked down at the boards beneath my feet because I couldn’t bear to look into those stormy blue eyes of his.

  “Are you okay?” He asked. I could hear the concern in his voice and it made my eyes start to water. I didn’t know why I was crying. It’s not like I was ending anything. We hadn’t even had a chance to begin. I took a deep breath and looked up. His hands were in the pockets of his shorts as he looked back at me with concern.

  “I can’t see you anymore.” His brows rose up in confusion.

  “What? Why?”

  “You were right. All people see is our ages.” His brows dropped as he caught onto my meaning.

  “Your parents.” It didn’t sound like a question, but still, I nodded my head. “What did they say?”

  “It’s just my mom that knows. She just thinks that it’s not a good idea for me to be seen alone with you. She said that if the wrong person saw, then you might go to jail.” He frowned.

  “I won’t go to jail for hanging out with you,” he said simply.

  “I know that, but she said that if we continue into a relationship and someone doesn’t agree with it, then you could.”

  “I’m not going to go to jail Lennon.” He seemed so sure of it.

  “I’m sorry,” I said because I really was. He frowned again as he looked back at me.

  “It’s not your fault. I get it.” He flashed me that smile. “It’s not the end of the world.” It sure felt like it. “Besides, I was gonna be going back next week, and it’s not like we could have done any kind of long distance thing.” I perked up.

  Did that mean he had been thinking of offering something long distance before? He gave another sad smile before he looked back toward his truck.

  “Alright, well I should probably head out then. I don’t want to get you into any kind of trouble.” I didn’t want him to go, but I couldn’t ask him to stay either.

  “I really am sorry.” He shook his head.

  “Don’t be.” He stepped off the porch and a little ache in my chest began to form. “I’ll see you around, Len.”

  “Yeah, have fun at college.” He smiled before slipping on a pair of sunglasses. Then he gave one last little wave and turned around. With each step away from me, the ache grew. By the time his truck pulled out of our driveway, I felt like I would be better off if my heart wasn’t even in my body anymore. I didn’t understand why it hurt that badly to lose something I hadn’t even had in the first place.

  When I went back inside, I walked straight to my bedroom and closed the door. I didn’t come out for the rest of the night. I knew I was being a bratty little teenager, but I didn’t care. I was upset and I just wanted to be alone. Mom tried to talk to me, but I wouldn’t let her get past the door. She apologized again and I told her it was okay and that I understood, but those were both lies.

  In truth, I didn’t understand. West was a good guy. They knew he was. They knew that we had grown up together…sort of. They knew that he wasn’t that much older than me. So, why were they acting like he was some forty year old stranger trying to date me? It didn’t make any sense at all.

  That night, I was reading before bed when I heard something scrape the glass of my window. I looked up and waited, but the sound didn’t come again. So, I went back to reading. I’d made it a few more sentences down the page when it came again. I looked up.

  It came again. Followed quickly by another scrape. I tagged the ear of my page and walked over to my window. I squinted to try and see out into the darkness. I faintly made out a shape there and it took another second for my eyes to adjust and West’s shape to really come into view.

  I unlatched my window and opened it quickly. He stepped up to the frame and grinned that dimpled smile.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, partly surprised but mostly excitedly.

  “I had something I wanted to give you,” he whispered. “I figured if I came back at night, then I might have better luck of it actually getting to you.”

  “What is it?” He leaned forward and planted a quick kiss to my lips. I barely had time to feel his lips against mine let alone actually enjoy them. “You came all this way just to giv
e me a little peck on the lips?”

  “Actually, no, but you just look so stunning standing there that I couldn’t resist.” I blushed at his words. It didn’t matter that they were cheesy, they were for me. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. I watched with one brow raised as he flipped it open and pulled out a small piece of folded up paper. He held it out to me. I opened it and saw in his messy handwriting, a phone number.

  “I was thinking that just because you can’t see me, that doesn’t mean that, we can’t still talk. That’s my number, and I expect you to use it.” I ran the pad of my thumb over the numbers like they might not be real. Then I looked back at him.

  “You want me to call you?”

  “Or text, or email, or really anything you want.” He stepped even closer and tucked a hair that had fallen from my braid back behind my ear. “I’m not going to let someone else tell me that I can’t be your friend.”

  “Just your friend?” I asked without really thinking about it. He looked a little taken aback by my question and I quickly apologized. “I shouldn’t have asked that.”

  “I’ve liked you for a while Lennon. I also happened to really enjoy kissing you, and if I’m not mistaken, I think you liked kissing me back.” I let out a small laugh.

  “I did.” He grinned as he stroked my cheek with his thumb.

  “I can’t promise you anything right now,” he said. “You’re still underage, and I’m all the way in Houston.” My face fell. I gave a little nod as I looked down at the space between us. He put his fingers under my chin and brought my eyes back up to meet his. “But, I can be your friend. Please let me be at least that much.”

  I nodded again. He pointed toward the paper with his number.

  “Use it. Don’t worry about what time it is. I’ll be up whenever. Anytime you want to talk, Lennon.”

  “Okay.”

  “Alright, I’m gonna go before your dad catches me out here.” I smiled and he grinned too. “Bye Lennon.”

  “Bye West.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine again. That time though, I had plenty of time to enjoy it. I felt his hand wrap around the back of my neck as he held my mouth against his. I wanted more, but he pulled back before I could even attempt it.

  He flashed one more dimpled grin my way before he disappeared into the night just the way he had appeared. I quickly saved his number into my phone.

  I fell asleep that night with a smile on my face that lasted well into the next morning.

  Twelve

  As expected, West went back to school the following week. I was sad, but I tried not to let it bother me the way it had the first time he’d gone. After all, he had left his number behind and made me promise to keep in contact with him. I kept telling myself that I was going to text him, but I kept finding some excuse not to.

  I was afraid that he had moved on in the few weeks since he had gone back to Houston. I just knew that I was going to text him like he had asked and he would respond telling me that he wasn’t interested in staying friends anymore. I figured I was safer by just not messaging him at all. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about rejection.

  That plan lasted all the way until about mid October. I was busy checking my new social media account that Katie had insisted on me getting when the a little notification popped up telling me I had a new friend request. I clicked on the link and there was West’s smiling face looking back at me.

  I hesitated for a minute before I finally just clicked the accept. Not even thirty seconds went by before the messenger window popped up. I saw West’s name there with one word.

  West: Hey

  I didn’t respond right away and I saw a small little blurb that said he was typing. I waited and the ping sounded just as a new message appeared.

  West: You there?

  My hands seemed to take on a life of their own as they typed out a message back to him.

  Me: Yeah, I’m here. Hey yourself.

  West: How are you?

  Me: Fine. Just been busy with school work. How about you?

  The conversation was easy. Just simple small talk. I expected it to end after a few seconds and then we would go back to the way things had been since he left for Houston. Apparently, he had a different idea.

  West: Why haven’t you called?

  Me: Just been busy. School has been crazy.

  West: How about we go with the truth this time?

  Me: That is the truth.

  I waited for his response, but after a few seconds without even seeing the note telling me he was typing, I knew my window was closing.

  Me: Okay, I was scared.

  West: Of…

  Me: That things had changed when you got back to Houston.

  West: What would have changed?

  Me: You still wanting to be friends. I don’t know, it sounds dumb now, but that’s why. I didn’t want to call you and you tell me that you had changed your mind.

  West: What’s your number?

  Me: Why?

  West: I’m not going to change my mind. I know I can say that over and over and you’ll still have your doubts. So, this way, I can call you or text you and reassure every time you do.

  Me: How do you always know the perfect thing to say?

  West: It’s a gift. Now, don’t change the subject. What’s your number?

  Me: I don’t want to put that on this thing. What if it gets released into the internet or something?

  West: Then call me.

  Me: Okay, I will. I promise.

  West: No, right now.

  Me: It’s late.

  West: And? I’m awake.

  Me: I’ll call you tomorrow.

  West: Given your track record, I just can’t take that chance. Call me.

  Me: My parents could hear.

  West: Then whisper. Hell, you don’t even have to say anything. Just call.

  Me: You’re not gonna let this go, are you?

  West: Things to know about me, I don’t give up when it comes to something I want.

  Me: I’m something you want?

  West: …

  I couldn’t erase the smile on my face because that was as close to a yes as I could get. Not that it was really anything new, but it was nice to hear him say it. Or read him type it. I glanced at my phone that was sitting on the desk next to me. Another ping came through on the computer.

  West: Are you calling me?

  I picked up my phone, let out a breath, pulled his name up and hit the button. I heard the dial tone and after only two rings, his raspy perfect voice came through the line.

  “Lennon?” He asked and just like that, my heart started hammering against my chest. Just from him saying my name.

  “Yeah,” I whispered back.

  “Finally.” He chuckled and it brought a new smile to my face. “For a second, I thought I was going to have to drive up there and call myself.” I laughed again. A silence settled between us, and I wasn’t sure what else there was to say.

  “Well, I called so…”

  “Don’t hang up yet,” he said.

  “We’re not even saying anything though, and it really is late.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk. I had a game yesterday. We played against Rice. We won thirty-four to seven. It was a complete cake walk.”

  “I saw that.”

  “You watched?” He sounded surprised and I felt like I had said something I shouldn’t.

  “Dad was,” I said quickly. “I only saw a few minutes of it.” In truth, I had brought up the fact that the game was even on to Dad. Then I sat there the whole time. I didn’t even take a restroom break until there was a commercial. West had played the whole thing and scored three touchdowns.

  “Uh-huh,” West said before he chuckled. “It’s okay to admit that you watch me play Len. I kind of like it.” That brought a smile to my face.

  “I might have watched half of it.”

  “One of these days, I’m gonna have you sitting in the stands watching the whole thi
ng.”

  “Promises, promises.” I was loosening up. I guess it was because I wasn’t actually with him face to face. Something about having just his voice to go off of made it easier to be myself with him.

  “It’s gonna happen. I’ll make you wear a jersey with my name on it and everything.”

  “I’d rather have a Sam Ryland jersey if you’re taking requests,” I said with a wide smile. There was a beat of silence on his end and for a brief second, I thought maybe I had lost him.

  “You know he’s not even that great of a quarterback? I could have easily gotten two more touchdowns if he would just learn how to throw a damn spiral.” I wanted to keep pushing his buttons. There was a new little thrill to it, and I wanted to see how he would react.

  “It’s not really his skill that makes him worth watching.”

  “I’m gonna hang up,” he threatened. I laughed out loud. “You just think you’re hilarious, don’t you?”

  “A little.” I glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearing on one in the morning. As much as I hated ending our conversation, I really did need to get to bed. “It’s late, West.”

  “Yeah, I know,” he said. It might have just been wishful thinking, but he didn’t sound all that thrilled to be ending our little chat either.

  “It was nice talking to you.”

  “Just think of all the phone calls you’ve missed because you wouldn’t freaking call me.”

  “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

  “No, cause now I can call you.”

  “Goodnight West.”

  “Goodnight Lennon.”

  The following Saturday, my phone pinged. My code word for West, ‘Sam Ryland’ popped up. I smiled. Since our little chat the week before, we had either talked or messaged each other every single day. Usually several times a day. I quickly pulled up his message.

  West: Saw this, and thought of you.

  Under the message was a picture of a group of girls in the stands of one of West’s football games. They were holding up a sign between them telling Sam Ryland that they wanted to have his babies. I grinned before I sent my reply.