Sonny with a Chance

by JJ Ross

  “No. Not yet, and they won’t either, okay Drew?” I asked as I looked up at him.

  “Deal. My lips are sealed. Now, whether my parents say anything, I can’t say. Our parents have all been friends since high school. I doubt they keep secrets…”

  “They know?”

  “Well, I don’t know how much they know, but they have been teasing Chance about you two since I got home. I figured they knew something.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “It’s no big deal, you know. You two are almost 18 and free to do what you want. Plus, your parents let you date, so I can’t see a problem with it.”

  “I don’t think my parents would see it that way.”

  “Of course not, you are their daughter. Their baby girl. It’s always gonna be different when you have the girl instead of the boy. I always thought you would date more, but Chance said your head was definitely in the books. So, how did it happen?”

  “What?”

  “You and Chance.”

  I smiled, “He didn’t tell you?”

  “Yeah, he did. I just wanted to make you blush again. You’re kinda cute when you get embarrassed.”

  “You suck, you know that,” I joked as we continued to dance.

  Finally, they announced the Snow King and the Snow Queen. Chris and Ashley. No surprise there. After word got out that Chance would not be there, I guess it was obvious who would win. I rolled my eyes as I watched them take their solo dance.

  “You wanna go, or do you wanna stay and watch this?”

  “Please get me out of here,” I smiled as Drew took my hand and we walked out of the building.

  When we were back in his truck, we waited a moment for the truck to warm up. Finally, he put the truck in gear and began to drive me home.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked as he glanced at his watch.

  “Yeah, but I really don’t want to go out to eat in this dress.”

  “No problem. How about we both go home, change and then go get something to eat?”

  “That sounds fine to me.”

  We both met back up at his truck, with more casual clothes on. He had on jeans with a green sweater embellished with his fraternity logo. It accented the green in his dreamy hazel eyes. I pushed the thought away as I tried to concentrate on the road while he was driving, nowhere in particular. Every time his truck passed underneath a streetlight, the faint glow picked up the golden flecks in his eyes.

  I tried to shift my focus and not think about how handsome he was. I promise I did. I didn’t want to feel butterflies every second that he looked at me, but I did. My teenage hormones were definitely working overtime. I was trying so hard to not focus on him, that I didn’t even notice the awkward silence that had built up in the cab of his shiny black truck.

  “So, where do you want to go?” he asked me finally, bringing me out of my thoughts.

  “I don’t care. Something quick and easy.”

  “Like drive thru or do you want to go sit down in a restaurant to eat?”

  “Whatever, you pick.”

  “Of course. Such a typical answer,” he laughed shaking his head.

  “Fine, Andrew. I want a cheeseburger. A good one too. Like from that diner out by the lake,” I crossed my arms as I looked at him, grinning. I got a smirk in return.

  “Burgers it is. Call it in.”

  We picked up our brown bag specials and Drew drove to the park close to the diner. He pulled his truck into a parking spot and turned to me.

  “Is this fine?”

  “Sure,” I shrugged.

  We munched quietly with only the sounds of burger wrappers rustling in the cab of his pickup truck. I glanced at Drew. He looked as if he was deep in thought as he stared out of the truck’s windshield, chewing on his burger.

  “What are you thinking about,” I asked, curiously.

  He was quiet for a moment and then almost choked on his words, “Nothing really.”

  “That doesn’t sound like nothing to me,” I pried.

  “Well,” he threw his unfinished food into the paper bag and turned to me. He hesitated for a moment as he studied by face, but then took a deep breath and started, “I feel pretty crappy saying this, but I’ve wanted to say it for a long time. There’s never a right time, so, well, I’ve, well, okay, here goes…I always kinda had a thing for you. So taking you tonight, probably meant more to me than you. I mean, Chance and I never talked about it, me and you, that is, because I knew how he felt about you. He admitted he had a thing for you, and I never admitted it, so I guess he beat me to it. Even when he didn’t admit it, I know my brother better than anyone, and he has definitely had a thing for you for a long time. So, then, I figured going to college and meeting new people, I could shake that, well, this feeling, but seeing you tonight just brought back a lot of feelings I had tried to keep buried deep inside. Do you remember that…the time that...”

  “Drew, I had no idea. I mean, really? Why would you have a thing for me?” I interrupted. Why would he feel like that? Or maybe I was just fetching for a compliment. I liked the way he made me feel. I liked the way he looked at me, but no matter how many likes I had at that moment though, I started to feel a tinge of guilt. Chance.

  “Are you serious? Can’t you see how amazing you are? You are smart, and funny, and completely gorgeous.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

  “Because I was sure you and Chance would end up together and who am I to mess with destiny, right? I could never date a girl my brother was interested in. Well, it turns out, I guess I was right. You two make a cute couple and are pretty good for each other.”

  Another awkward silence, then he cleared his throat looking out the window again.

  “He told me you two have been talking about having sex…” he changed the subject and paused, waiting for me to answer.

  “I can’t believe he told you about that,” I whispered mortified.

  “Sonny, don’t be embarrassed. It’s not like I’m gonna tell your mom,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Still, it’s kind of private.”

  “But can I ask you something?”

  “Okay, but I won’t promise to answer.”

  “Are you ready to have sex?”

  “That’s pretty personal, Drew.”

  “So don’t answer then.”

  If I could talk to any other guy besides Chance, it was Drew. I sighed, “I think I’m ready, but it’s like there’s never a perfect time, you know?” I looked to him for understanding.

  “Sonny, there won’t be a perfect time, but there will be a perfect guy. The question is, have you found him?”

  “I think so.”

  “Sounds like you might want to wait until you know so.”

  Another awkward silence. I was trying to process everything. Drew had a thing for me. Had? Has? Does it matter? I have a boyfriend. His brother.

  “I had no idea how you felt, you know.”

  “I know. I just figured that you and Chance were the better fit, so I left it alone.”

  “Oh.”

  It got quiet again.

  “And why are we a better fit, Drew?”

  “It’s an age thing, I guess. Your parents would never approve of us. And I was trouble back then. You know that. I’m the guy that moms dreaded seeing their daughters with.”

  “Age. So it bothers you that I’m younger?’

  “Not really. Well, yeah, kinda. I mean, if you were 18 and moved out, I guess it might be different. Your dad would kill me if I even looked at you as if I wanted you.”

  “Oh.” I slumped back into the seat. So, Drew never pursued me because of Chance and my age. In a weird way, it made me want him more. It was as if I wanted to prove myself. I wasn’t just some kid that lived next door. I was older. Dare I say more mature? That might be pushing it. Plus, he was absolutely right about my over protective father.

  He huffed loudly, “Anyhow, I guess I better get you home…”

 
“Okay.”

  We rode quietly back to my house. When we got to my house, Drew pulled the truck into his parent’s driveway.

  “Let me walk you to the door,” he offered. I nodded as I met him outside the truck.

  He slowly walked me to the front step. The porch light was off and the house was dark and quiet. I guess my parents had gone to bed already. Apparently they felt I was in good hands with Drew.

  “Well,” he reached over and hugged me quickly, “Good night Sonny.”

  “Drew,” I started.

  “Yes?”

  “I really wish you would have told me before…maybe things could be different.”

  “Sonny, just, leave it alone. I shouldn’t have said anything. Please don’t say any more about it. Okay?” he asked. I nodded.

  He leaned in to hug me again and then he lightly kissed my cheek. As he was pulling away, he paused just an inch from my mouth. I felt him breathing on me. I was holding my breath waiting for him to kiss me, but the moment quickly passed, to my disappointment.

  I exhaled as I took a step back from him.

  “I’m sorry,” he said as he nervously ran his hand through his short sandy hair, “I guess I will see you later or something. Goodnight Sonny.” He turned to leave.

  “Drew?” I stopped him.

  He turned to me with hope in his eyes.

  “Umm…Goodnight Drew,” I whispered. I quickly went inside, pulling the door shut behind me. With the faint click of the door, I leaned against it and took a deep breath as I collected my thoughts.

  I felt my head swimming with thoughts of Drew and as much as I tried to shake them, it was no use. I was dizzy as I thought about him, just like the first time I had locked eyes with him and I knew that he was the epitome of sexy.

  The way he held me on the dance floor came back to me too. I had not given it much thought until just tonight. The way his cologne smelled sweet as I leaned into him and most of all…the way he lightly kissed my cheek and had paused as if to kiss me on the lips.

  The more I thought about it…the more I wondered, what would it be like to kiss Drew?

  What would it be like to kiss a guy like Andrew Mitchell?

  I quietly rushed up stairs to settle in for the night. I changed in my dark room and then stood by the window, looking into Chance’s bedroom. It was dark. Still. I shrugged as I snuggled into my bed from the cold night.

  That night, I dreamed about his lips on my neck and the way he held me. I dreamed about dancing with him and the way he gently wrapped his arms around me gliding me across the floor, whirling past all the faces causing them to blur…I imagined the way he had lingered for a kiss, and then…in my dreams…his lips crashed into mine. Finally.

  “Oh Drew,” I breathed with satisfaction.

  Chapter 9

  “Sonny?”

  I jerked up from my sleep and turned around.

  “Chance? What are you doing here?”

  “I came to see you. I wanted to know how the dance went.”

  “Oh. Hey,” I leaned in to kiss him. He sat back to stop me.

  “Were you dreaming about my brother?”

  “What?”

  “I was trying to wake you up, and you called me Drew.”

  “No I didn’t,” I argued.

  “Yes, you did. You said Drew…clear as day…”

  “Chance, you must be wrong.”

  “I don’t think so, Sonny.”

  I tried to laugh it off, “Chance, I was asleep. I can’t help what I do in an unconscious state of mind!”

  “I realize that, but you were dreaming about my brother. That’s….that’s kinda weird.”

  “Umm….I’m sorry?”

  “You don’t have to apologize. It’s not really your fault, I guess. It kinda caught me off guard that’s all. It’s cool, whatever. So, tell me about your night.”

  I told him about the dance and then how Drew and I went to eat at the park. Of course, I left out a few little bits about Drew. The little bits that could easily be misconstrued, of course. After all…it meant nothing, didn’t it? The way he had held my hand to rescue me from the dance and even the way he had kissed me on the cheek. Totally platonic, right?

  I ended with, “He gave me a hug and I came up here, completely exhausted and fell asleep.” I stopped and watched his face, “I missed you,” I said as I reached up to touch his face softly.

  “I missed you too, babe,” he said as he leaned in to kiss me. I pulled him close to me. He grinned as he snuggled closer to me, “I mean, I really missed you.” I giggled as I pulled the blanket over us.

  The next day was a quiet Saturday morning. Less than two weeks until Christmas. I was beginning to get so excited I could barely contain myself. Christmas was my favorite holiday.

  I was sitting on the back porch in the cold weather wrapped in a blanket, drinking hot chocolate, staring into the woods at nothing in particular. There were two squirrels that seemed to be playing tag with each other. A smile crossed my face.

  Every year, my parents hosted a holiday party, so my parents were busy at the grocery store buying food and supplies for that evening. Our friends and family would be there later this evening. I sighed as I watched the squirrels. They didn’t seem in any rush to do anything. I smiled at the simplicity of it.

  “Can I join you?”

  “Sure, Drew, have a seat,” I smiled as I patted the chair next to me.

  “Whatcha doin’?”

  “Not much,” I laughed as I pointed toward the woods, “Just watching the squirrels. Look…”

  He followed my eyes and laughed. We sat quietly for a few minutes as we watched the woods and its activities. I didn’t dare bring up our conversation from the night before.

  “When is the last time you were up in that tree house,” he asked noting the wooden fort my father had built for me years ago.

  I laughed, “Too long to remember. Remember when we were kids and we used to have sleepovers up there? My parents would build us a campfire and we would roast marshmallows and then later that night we would go up and sleep in the tree house? Man that was a long time ago.”

  “I remember. And you would never sleep out there all night. Me and Chance would tell scary stories and then next thing we know, you would find a reason you needed to go inside,” he was laughing hysterically.

  “You were so mean,” I laughed, “Like the time when we went camping and you put a frog in my sleeping bag!”

  “Whoa! That was not me! That was Chance,” he laughed.

  “No way! That was sooooo you!” I laughed harder.

  We were both catching our breath as we slowed our laugh and I stared into his eyes. He was starting to have an effect on me that I was unsure about. Did I like the way he made me feel? Did I like the fact that he made me wonder what it would be like to be with him? He stood up suddenly and broke our uncomfortable moment.

  “Hey, you wanna go see what that club house looks like now?” he held his hand out to me.

  “Sure,” I grinned as I stood up.

  “Race ya!” I yelled over my shoulder, getting an unfair head start, as I sprinted across the backyard to the edge of the yard. When I got to the edge of the woods, I stopped under the tree that held my childhood sanctuary. I made a huge gesture as I tagged the tree dramatically.

  “I win.” I teased.

  He knocked me down when he made it to me. He laughed as he lay on top of me, our chests heaving against each other. Then, he stopped laughing and locked eyes with me. I’m pretty sure my heart was in my throat and I didn’t trust my voice to even get a word out.

  Say something, Sonny!

  Nothing.

  “Sorry for knocking you down,” he said as he stood up quickly as if I had an infectious disease. He held his hand to me, pulling me to my feet, “I guess it’s the jock in me. Come on,” he said down to me as he began to climb the ladder to the tree house.

  I brushed off the dried pine needles and quickly followed him into the wooden s
tructure. We stood in the one room shack looking out the front window of the fort at my house.

  “Funny, it used to seem a lot bigger,” he joked.

  “Yeah, I know what you mean.”

  He stepped up behind me and was practically breathing down my neck. I felt a chill run down my body as I envisioned how close he was to me, without turning around to face him. If I had turned around just then, I would be close enough to kiss him. Our lips would practically smash into each other.

  “You should ask your parents to remodel this and see if you can move out here,” he walked to another window in the room, “I mean look at the view? And rent would be cheap!” he teased as he noted the creek below surrounded by woods.

  “Funny. And I guess you will be my roommate? To make sure I make rent and all, of course.”

  “Sure. Absolutely. I hope you like bunk beds!” He laughed. After our laughter died down, we stood quietly for a moment. It was uncomfortable again.

  “Umm, Drew, last night…” I started.

  “Sonny, can we not go there? Just forget it.”

  I walked toward him and stopped in front of him. I reached up and gently stroked his cheek as I looked at him with so many questions in my eyes. I leaned in and gently kissed his cheek, then stopped and looked at his face. He reached up and grabbed my hand to stop me before I could settle my curiosity and kiss his pouty lips.

  “Don’t.”

  “But Drew…” I protested.

  “Sonny, listen, we should probably go. Being up here alone is not a good idea,” he said as he dropped my hand and turned to walk away.

  “Aren’t you the least bit curious?” I pushed, wanting him to claim me, “I mean, ummm…”

  “Are you kidding?!” he raised his voice as he spun on his heel, “Of course. I think about moments like this all the time! But, what are we doing here? What is going on between us? The answer should be, nothing! You are my brother’s girlfriend! You belong to Chance!”

  “I don’t belong to anyone,” I said angrily.

  “You know what I mean, don’t be like that,” he said calmly.

  I sighed, letting the rage melt away quickly, “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just mean that I don’t belong to him. I am my own person. I am not property.”