Chapter Twelve
The black BMW was parked in front of the third house from the corner. At first, it appeared as if it were empty, but after looking at it more closely, I saw an arm resting out of the opened driver’s window. Brushing away my tears, hope trickled from my brain to my feet. My heart rate increased. Trying to stall and slow my breathing, I pretended to search for something in my bag. Why is he parked here? Is he here to see me? Does he know someone else on this block? Is he just parking here before he has to go to work, like he did before? Even if he wasn’t there to see me, I was happy to see him again.
Be coy, Mandy. Act like you don’t see him. I straightened my shoulders, made sure I wasn’t crying anymore, and held my head high as I walked up the street. My heart fluttered faster as I approached the car. Don’t look! Make believe it’s just any other car. I walked passed him and stopped at the stop sign. Looking both ways, I checked for traffic, even though I knew caterpillars traveled that street more often than any cars ever did. I crossed. Not daring to turn around to see his reaction, I was more conscious of the engine. I heard the window close. Please don’t drive away. Please don’t drive away. Please don’t drive away. I considered turning, but I kept my steps steady and focused hard to filter out the sounds of nature.
I strained to hear the car again, but the only sounds that filled my ears were the screeches of the blue jays and the rustle of the leaves of the trees dancing with the breeze.
I continued for another half of a block before giving in to my curiosity. Quickly, Mandy, or you’ll lose your nerve. With a deep breath, I whipped my head around so fast that the tip of my reddish-blonde ponytail poked me in the eye.
Three feet behind me, Rob stood with his arms crossed over his broad chest. One eyebrow was arched on his forehead. “I was wondering when you were going to turn around.” An attempt to hide his wonderful smile failed when his dimple appeared to the right of his mouth. The small stubble on his chin was gone. “Why’d it take you so long?”
“I… I didn’t think you were here for me.” I braced myself for the truth: he was parking before going to work; he was lost; he was waiting for someone else–another girl. I strained to remember who lived on the block. Perhaps he was here to talk to my father about some part for his car, or my brother for the list of hot girls who wouldn’t be as bad at this as I was.
More of his dimple showed. “You said you’d take me to your creek.”
He was here to see me! Tingles raced through my body. My mind went blank. A smile stretched across my face as my spirit floated towards the clouds. I hugged my bag close to my chest to keep my insides from exploding with joy.
“Can I carry that for you?” he asked, pointing at my bag. I handed it to him. It made me think that part of me was touching him, even if it was only my sketchpad.
“This way,” I said, tipping my head to the left. I waited until his gait was in step with mine, and we walked towards the creek.
No words were spoken at first. It was awkward. Everything I wanted to say sounded stupid in my head. Then he broke the silence. “I had a very nice day with you yesterday.”
“I did too.”
“Will you go to the beach again sometime soon?”
“Um, I’m not sure.”
The silence returned. I tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t sound stupid, but my self-consciousness sacked everything.
Again, he broke the silence. “Is it far?”
“Just a few more blocks.”
“How’d you find this place?”
I stole small glances at him while he kept his eyes on the street ahead of us. What could he find so interesting in me that he’d want to spend the whole day with me? He could be with hundreds of other girls–pretty girls.
“I help Mr. and Mrs. Hanley, doing little things for them. They let me wander over their land, which happens to be several acres wide. They know I like to draw and suggested the creek. When I first saw it, it was the most beautiful place I’d ever been. I’ve been coming here ever since.”
It wasn’t long before we had to replace the paved road for the path I had made by wearing down the grass and weeds. Rob followed without a word as I trudged through the brush until it thinned out near the creek. Only a few feet wide, and not too deep, the water streamed continuously. Our arrival startled a small chipmunk that scampered away without satiating his thirst. “I’ve sketched some deer and small animals that come to drink here,” I said. He followed me to the edge of the creek.
Rob stood with his foot a few inches from the water. He looked around, absorbing the nature that surrounded him. He scanned the glittering water, the rocks, and overgrowth. He stretched his neck and looked up at the canopy of trees that shaded most of the area. His eyes traveled over the moss-covered boulders that gathered in one spot. Welcoming calls of the birds and wildlife sang their lyrics to the creek’s harmony.
“Wow. It’s beautiful here.” He sounded sincere.
I pilfered my bag from his muscular shoulder and perched myself up on the rock that I always sat on. I pulled out my sketchpad and began drawing. “Now you know why I come here,” I said, not looking up from my busy pencil.
I stole a quick glance at him. His cool blue eyes locked on me. “What are you drawing?”
“You in nature,” I said. I hurried not to lose the moment, to capture him on paper so I’d always have him. Since I had drawn him at the beach the day before, I was familiar with his form.
After a few minutes, he stepped in my direction. “No. Stay there. I’m not finished.” His large shoulders dropped, but he obeyed my command. Switching my attention between him and the page, it took a few more strokes before I was done. “Okay, now you can move.”
With four large steps, he came to sit on the rock next to me. Leaning in close, his chest barely rested on my shoulder as he considered my work. . His slight touch sent ripples down my back. The smell of his shampoo wafted in the air between us. It was faint, but masculine, like a salty ocean breeze. Intoxicating. I hoped he couldn’t feel how clammy my skin had become. I had to fight myself to stay focused.
“What… do… you… think?” I panted.
He stroked his chin with two fingers. “It’s very good. I told you yesterday, you’re talented.”
A nervous laugh escaped my lips. I had to look away from him so he wouldn’t see me blush. My lack of exposure to compliments made hearing his praise awkward and uncomfortable.
He looked at me. “What?” he asked.
“No one’s ever told me that before, aside from the Hanleys. They compliment me on everything, but I think it’s because I help them with their groceries and chores around the house.”
“Do you want to do something with art when you finish high school?” His question was serious.
My spirit deflated. “No. I want to be a neuro-scientist,” I said, stealing another glance of his perfect face, before looking away in shame. I knew a good college was not in my immediate future.
“That’s wonderful,” Rob said. “Is that because of Dillon?”
I nodded.
His body altered so that he was facing me. Peering into my face, he seemed interested in my plans. “What schools are you applying to?”
Another nervous laugh came from my lips. “I won’t be able to go to college, at least, not right away.”
His smile faded. The lines in his face melted, his expression serious. “Why not?”
“I mean, I’m going to go to community college at night once I get a job after high school, just to get the prerequisites out of the way. My dad can’t afford to send both me and Bryan to college at the same time.” Without being prompted, I defended my brother. “Bryan has a shot at a football scholarship, so his tuition won’t be as much. He’s the better choice for college. He’s not just another empty-headed jock, you know. He had a 92 average this year. If a career in sports doesn’t work out for him, he has other options.”
Rob’s body stiffened. “What about your options
? You’re gifted.” His tone was angry.
“Well, I’ll start with the two-year community college plan, and work my way up. I’m going to apply for some academic scholarships; I have a 98 average. That would take care of the bulk of the tuition.” At that moment, despite my intellectual accomplishments, I felt worthless. Rob shook his head, but remained silent. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized all of the things I was missing, like working on my career, having a non-dysfunctional family, and a boyfriend who cared about me. What could I do? Dillon needed me. Mom needed me. Dad needed me. Even Bryan needed me. But my brain yelled that I needed Rob. At least, I did at that very minute.
Being near him made me feel as if I could accomplish anything,
That’s all that mattered. He could have agreed with how pathetic I was, and I wouldn’t have cared.
“I’m sorry.” His voice was low, and the lines around his eyes softened.
“For what?”
“It’s none of my business. You don’t even know me and I’m getting angry about your personal choices.” He bowed his head and rubbed his thumb against the boulder beneath us.
“That’s okay,” I said. “I know I have limits to overcome, but I’m trying to get around the road blocks.”
“Let’s change the subject.” His upturned lips altered the mood.
I smiled back. “Okay, what do you want to talk about?”
“Anything you want to.”
I thought for a moment. “So, what’s your favorite color?”
“That’s what you want to talk about, my favorite color?” His eyebrows climbed high on his forehead. He tried to hold back a laugh.
“Yup, that’s what I want to talk about, at least to start with. Then I’ll move on until I’ve learned everything there is to know about you.” I straightened my back, turned my head towards him, and waited for his reply.
His shoulders relaxed before he answered. “Black. What’s yours?”
I looked into his eyes. Their power took me over. “Blue.”
His laughter chimed like bells.
“What’s so funny?”
“Together we’re black and blue.”
I laughed, too.
Chapter Thirteen
While taking turns asking each other questions, we discovered we had a lot in common. We liked the same movies, had the same taste in music, both appreciated nature, and we each wanted something meaningful in our lives. My invisible barrier crumbled. It surprised me how easy it was to share my thoughts so freely with him. I wasn’t the least bit uncomfortable.
When he wasn’t looking, I actually pinched myself to make sure I really was in a very beautiful place with a gorgeous guy who was interested in me. This was the furthest my self-confidence had ever stretched, at least in a real life situation. Everything was perfect. I wondered how long it would last.
His next question caught me off guard. “So, are you allowed to date?”
My body stiffened as my insecurities returned. “Of course I’m allowed to date. What kind of question is that?”
“Well, Eric said that you don’t have a boyfriend. I was wondering if your father didn’t allow you to date.”
I guessed anyone might think that, considering I hardly ever went out anywhere. “Contrary to what Eric might think, my father lives in this century, not the Middle Ages. He doesn’t have a say on whether or not I have a boyfriend. So, to answer your question, yes, I’m allowed to date.”
His stare silently urged me for the reason why I didn’t have a boyfriend.
The inside of my mouth felt like I had swallowed a whole bag of cotton balls. “I don’t date because… well, to be honest, no one has ever asked me.” There, I said it out loud. I pictured the big neon “L” flashing over the top of my head, the one that branded me a loser.
He smiled. “Good. Then I’d like to take you out on a date.”
I didn’t even try to hold back my smile. “I would like that very much.”
“Great. How about this Saturday? I’ll pick you up at six. That way I can meet your parents, so they know that you aren’t going out with a psychopath.”
“Okay. Six.” My head floated up past the trees and into the clouds. My cheeks hurt from my mouth stretching wider than it was able. A date… at six. “Oh! What time is it?”
He looked at his watch. “Three-fifteen.”
“I have to get back. Dillon will be getting off the school bus soon.”
“Okay, but can we come back here again?” he asked. “This really is a perfect place.”
It was, especially as he wanted to come back… with me. “Absolutely.”
Chapter Fourteen
On the way back toward my house, Rob walked closer to me. Our arms almost touched. The electricity between us was almost visible. I tried to stay focused on what he was telling me. He said that working at the supermarket was okay, but he wasn’t sure of the toll it would take once school started. “I’ll have to go back to after-school hours, and I won’t be able to work as much. I’m trying to save as much as I can during the summer.”
I thought he didn’t have to worry about money. Maybe he just wanted to keep busy so he didn’t have to think about his parents. “That sounds like a good plan.”
“I don’t have to be in until five tomorrow. Can I see you?” he asked. Now I wished I hadn’t said yes to my father’s request for help at the garage.
My shoulders dropped. “I’m sorry. My dad’s asked me to work at his shop. He’s short a man and needs me to answer the phones and write up service tickets.”
“I’ll see if I can get an extra shift at the supermarket then. I might as well keep busy.”
He walked me to my door, but didn’t kiss me as I had hoped. Part of me was disappointed, but then I remembered that I’d be going to dinner with him on Saturday, on my first real date.
Once inside, I watched him through the window as he walked to his car. Sadness swelled inside me when he drove away. I ran upstairs and scrounged through my closet, trying on every combination of what I owned, searching for the perfect outfit for Saturday. I found myself wishing Cassandra had lived. Having a sister right at that moment would have helped. I knew taking a trip to the mall over the next two days might be in order if I didn’t find something I could live with Rob seeing me in. Sadly, I wished that Jennifer and I were still friends. She could have helped me put together something that would appeal to Rob. I knew I couldn’t ask my mother. She couldn’t see straight, or even follow the stream of consciousness to give me an honest answer. However, I could rummage through her closet.
I crept into her dark room, making sure not to step on the floorboard that creaked. The closet light went on when I opened the door. It made it easier to see the things she had. Her everyday clothes were in the center. I pushed them aside and searched for the more dressy things I knew were tucked away in the back. Scraping hangers on the worn pole, I came across four garment bags. The first one had a dress that I recognized. I had a similar one that we both wore for my cousin’s wedding last July. The second bag had a red chiffon evening gown–definitely too formal for a first date. The third bag contained a navy blue suit–too business like. But the last bag had a simple, little black dress. The size tag promised to fit. I snatched it off the bar, closed the closet door, and ran into my room.
Pulling the dress from the plastic, I held it up against my body. I looked in the full-length mirror on my closet door. Imagining my hair done nicely, and the simple black pumps I had somewhere at the bottom of my closet, I knew it would be perfect. I tossed my shirt and shorts onto my bed and I tried it on. The girl looking back in the mirror was very feminine. I was pleased with how it accentuated the curves I usually hid under bulky clothing.
During dinner, I kept my fingers crossed as I told my father about Rob. I didn’t want him to tell me I couldn’t go. “Just keep an open mind, okay, Dad?”
“I’ll try.” Excitement swirled inside me. I gave him a quick peck on the cheek to show my gratitude.
He tried to hide it, but a small smile flashed before he donned his serious face again.
Bryan rolled his eyes. I was hoping my mother would be sober for the initial introduction when Rob came to pick me up, but I knew better. I’d be happy if she stayed in her room. I could pretend she wasn’t feeling well.
***
As promised, I went to work with Dad the next day after putting Dillon on the bus. The guys in the shop liked when I came to work. It was a change of scenery for them. I was someone new who would listen to each accomplishment or complaint. They liked telling me about their wives and kids, and where they’d spent their last vacation. Dad yelled at them when they spent too much time talking to me, rather than fixing cars.
The morning was busy, with people dropping off their cars to be worked on while they went about their day. Some jobs were easy to write up and enter into the computer–state inspections, tire rotations, and oil changes. Others were more complicated–break jobs, tune-ups, and air conditioner repairs.
By noon, Dad told me he was going to walk over to the pizzeria to pick up a couple of pies. “That way the whole crew can eat all at once, and then get back to work,” he said. “You’re in charge, Mandy.” He winked at Al, his second in command.
While he was out, Mrs. Sutton, Jennifer’s mother, walked into the shop. She looked very out of place in her light yellow blouse, white Capri pants, and high-heeled sandals. The fresh smell of hairspray, and the bouncy curls over her shoulder, told me that she had just come from the beauty salon.
“Oh hi, Mandy.” Her fake friendliness was obvious.
“Hi, Mrs. Sutton. How can I help you?” I can act, too.
“I was looking for your father. He was supposed to take a look under my hood.” She flipped her blonde hair from her shoulder with her newly manicured fingers. The curls bounced upward before they hit her back.
Fractured ( Fractured #1) Page 7