Save Me

by Jenny Elliott

  “Let’s make a little go a long way,” Cara said. “Only, I don’t want to look too young.”

  Rachel swiped at Cara’s cheeks with a tissue. “Doesn’t David know how old you are?”

  Cara continued to stare into the mirror. “It didn’t really come up.”

  “Cara. Marie. Markwell.” Rachel drew out her full name in mock chastisement, grabbed the mirror, and set it down on the desk. “What if you guessed his age wrong and he’s in his thirties or something?”

  Cara envisioned David’s emerald eyes, dark hair, bright smile, and pink cheeks. “No, I’m sure he’s not much older than us. I just don’t know how he’d react to my still being in high school.”

  “Well … I assume you don’t plan to sleep with him anytime soon?”

  “Definitely not.”

  “Then your age difference shouldn’t be that big of a deal, right?”

  “Right.”

  Way for Rachel to say just what she needed to hear.

  FIVE

  At precisely seven o’clock, Cara pulled up to the Cove and drew in a deep breath. She walked inside on unsteady legs. Her gaze immediately fell on David, and her heart stuttered.

  David stood beside a familiar brunette girl with blunt-cut, shoulder-length hair and starkly drawn-on eyebrows. Lori Johnson. She’d been a senior at Seaside a couple of years back. And at the moment she sure looked a lot like David’s date.

  Cara’s first instinct was to turn around and walk out. Then she noticed Lori’s nametag and how she posed next to the hostess stand. She must be a new hire.

  Cara relaxed and approached David.

  He held his hand out. “It’s great to see you again.”

  His crooked smile and rosy cheeks caused a tickle in her chest, as if her heart had sprouted wings that fluttered against her rib cage. She smiled and placed her hand in his. Warmth flowed between them, but she didn’t look him in the eyes yet, for fear of swooning in front of Lori. Instead, she admired the contours of his chest underneath the white button-down he wore with khakis and casual brown dress shoes.

  Lori eyed Cara. “Kathy has a table set up for you by the back window.” Her words were polite, but Cara sensed an underlying gruffness in them.

  Lori had been one of the popular girls that befriended Cara when she’d dated Chris and then axed her when he’d broken up with her. Apparently, Lori didn’t leave those types of petty things behind with high school.

  “Thank you,” David said, his tone neutral as he led Cara by the hand and followed Lori through the large dining area.

  Lori left them at their table without another word.

  Not wanting the warmth between her and David to end, Cara fought the urge to cling to him. He gave her hand a light squeeze and let it go to pull her chair out for her.

  Breathing in the scents of baked bread and fish, she sat and peered out the window beside them that framed a breathtaking view of Seagoer’s Cove. David did the same. It was Labor Day weekend, the last weekend before school started. The restaurant was full of hushed chatter and clinking silverware.

  David must have made a reservation. She hoped he felt as comfortable as she did here. It was as though they were cradled in the belly of a boat, its wooden sides adorned with peepholes and life preservers.

  “So, what will you be doing…?” Cara meant to add “while you’re here?,” but just then Kathy, a middle-aged waitress with copper curls and a maternal smile, stopped at their table with pen and pad in hand.

  “I worried you’d grown tired of our chowder, Cara,” Kathy teased.

  “Never,” Cara said, then introduced Kathy to David.

  Kathy took their orders for diet soda, water, and chowder. Then she unsuccessfully attempted to give Cara a clandestine thumbs-up.

  Glancing at David, Cara saw him struggling to suppress a smile, and she couldn’t control her own as it spread across her face. She rolled her eyes at Kathy’s back as the waitress walked away.

  Then she pointed down at the cove. “Recognize that rock wall?”

  “We were in the water just outside of it.”

  Cara shuddered at the memory.

  At the cove’s outer edge, tall white spray spouted high in the air. Another shorter spray shot up beside it.

  Her jaw dropped. “No way.”

  “That’s not Crossback and Bobbi?” David asked.

  She turned from the view to look into his eyes. “You remember their names.”

  “I remember everything about that day.”

  Warmth brimmed in her chest and spiraled toward him through the invisible tether. He held her gaze and she felt sure he sensed the connection between them. If she mentioned it, though, he might think she was overly emotional, or crazy.

  Steadying her breaths, she said, “That has to be Crossback and Bobbi. They’re the only mother and calf I’ve seen out there in a long time.”

  They kept a lookout for more whale spouts, all the while sneaking glances at each other, until Kathy tottered over balancing a tray. Kathy set their drinks, chowder, rolls, and a bowl of butter on the table. This time, she gave Cara a not-so-clandestine wink.

  David hid a laugh by coughing into his fist. Cara just shook her head. They cut and buttered slices of bread, then scooped spoonfuls of chowder into their mouths.

  “You weren’t kidding,” David said, after he swallowed another mouthful. “This is the best clam chowder I’ve ever had.” He pointed at his pot-size bowl, then held up his roll, which was the size of a small loaf of bread. “And also the largest portions I’ve ever had.”

  Cara chuckled. “You’ll leave here full, that’s for sure.”

  “I’m already full,” David said, and blew out a breath. Then he gave her his lopsided smile and took another bite of chowder.

  They looked down at the cove, but there was no further sign of the whales.

  “I still can’t believe we fell overboard into that frigid water,” she said.

  “You didn’t fall. You were knocked in, remember?” David said, his voice soft.

  “Yeah, for a second it felt like the orca was attacking us, but I’m thinking it was probably just curious.”

  “Maybe. Doesn’t make it less scary.… I was startled myself, and I wasn’t the one falling overboard.”

  “Wait…” Cara’s lips parted and she stared at him as his words sank in. “You jumped in? To save me?”

  He nodded and his cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink at the same time that she felt the heat rise in her own.

  “You could’ve just thrown me a life ring.”

  “I saw you go under. I didn’t realize until I was in the water that I needed to take my life jacket off to dive down after you, though. I was trying to get out of it when you suddenly came to the surface.”

  How amazing of him to risk his life for a stranger. “I got a boost.”

  “From a whale?”

  “Yep, probably Crossback.”

  “Those whales really are highly intelligent, aren’t they?”

  “They are.”

  “They’re also humongous.” His lopsided smile returned.

  She laughed. “True. And those transient orca teeth are like five inches long. Weren’t you scared to jump in the water with them?”

  His expression turned serious. “Not as scared as I was that you’d drown.”

  She looked into his eyes again and worried she might melt into a puddle in her seat.

  Kathy brought David their check. He insisted on paying and held Cara’s hand again on their way out of the restaurant. Lori eyed them curiously, almost with hostility, as they left. Cara brushed it off. Tonight was too perfect for pettiness.

  Outside, the sun had descended toward the horizon. A muted, pinkish-blue hue filled the sky. Twinkle lights sparkled along the edges of the restaurant’s awning, imbuing the lot with a fanciful luminescence.

  David walked Cara over to her car. She faced him, leaning against the driver’s-side door, and drew in a deep breath of courage. “Did yo
u notice something unusual when we both touched Crossback?”

  A light smile touched his lips and he nodded, but said nothing. Most likely, he didn’t want her to think he was nuts, either.

  She gazed into his eyes and basked in the warmth that radiated between them. It felt as though a tropical spring bubbled up within her.

  “Can I take you out again next weekend?” he asked.

  Her heart rate sped up, silently answering his question. “I’d like that.”

  “I’ll call you.”

  The ocean breeze blew wisps of her hair in her face and David ran his fingers through a few tendrils. She glanced at his mouth and he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was light, but the flood of warmth between them was the greatest yet, like a fire that turned her bones to ash and set her skin aflame.

  His lips sought hers again, first her bottom lip, then the upper. Kissing him back, she pressed her body more fully against his. Her fingers touched his cheek as he buried his deeper in her hair. She was molten lava in his arms.

  He pulled back and looked at her with a soft glint in his green eyes. “This might sound crazy, but I’m glad we ended up overboard together.”

  * * *

  Cara’s mom called out from the family room when Cara shut the front door behind her a little after ten o’clock. Cara practically floated down the hallway and rested her weight against the family room doorframe.

  “Looks like you had a good time,” her mom said from the love seat.

  “David’s a great guy. He loved the chowder at the Cove as much as we do.”

  “Who wouldn’t?”

  “You’ll like him. We’re going out again next weekend. I’ll introduce you.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  Cara could tell by the way her mom inclined in her seat that she hoped to get more details. Not sure whether she wanted to share, Cara paused. Even though this was all new and wonderful, the idea of talking to her mom about this kind of personal experience with a guy seemed awkward.

  “Clam chowder always makes me tired,” she said, and yawned for effect. “I’m going to head up to sleep. ’Night, Mom.”

  “Good night.”

  Cara winced at the disappointment in her mom’s tone.

  SIX

  Texting Rachel as she navigated her way through a throng of students on the first day of school proved difficult for Cara. By the time she’d crossed the blacktop and reached the school’s metal double doors, she’d only managed to tap out a brief text:

  Are you here yet?

  Inside, sounds of anxious first-day banter and sneakers squeaking on linoleum echoed all around. Cara’s phone vibrated in her hand. She flipped it around to read Rachel’s reply:

  I’m at your locker.

  Cara rounded the corner to find Rachel leaning against the bank of lockers beside hers.

  “I’m dying to meet the guy you almost killed at Liberty Charters,” Rachel teased.

  Cara playfully shoved Rachel aside and spun the combination on her locker. “I told you, I just tapped him.”

  But Cara had trouble truly believing that. The way she remembered it, she’d definitely hit Garren hard enough to hurt him.

  She opened her locker door and set two soda bottles on the top shelf. When she turned around, Rachel was gawking at Garren, who stood there looking godlike in a casual white henley and jeans.

  “Garren. Hi,” Cara said. She had an irrational inclination to reach out and hug him, probably because she was still relieved he was alive. He looked out of this world, as perfect as the first time she’d met him. Yet, oddly, her pulse maintained a steady pace in his presence, not even a blip to hint at physical attraction.

  Rachel, however, was undressing him with her eyes.

  “This is my friend Rachel,” Cara said, smacking her arm. “Rachel, this is Garren.”

  Garren flashed his brilliant smile. “Nice to meet you.”

  Rachel breathed out a hello.

  “I hope you ladies will join me for lunch.”

  It was odd that he phrased his request as a statement rather than a question, but the invitation was nice.

  “Of course,” Cara said.

  “I’ll meet you on the stone wall,” he said, and left them with one last dose of his mesmerizing smile.

  As he slowly walked away, Rachel pulled out her phone and held it up to aim the camera lens at Garren’s backside. She snapped a picture.

  “What are you doing?” Cara said, snatching Rachel’s phone away.

  “Getting that photo I wanted.”

  “You can’t even see his face.” Cara shoved the phone back in Rachel’s bag.

  “His face isn’t his only asset,” Rachel said, continuing to appreciate the view. “You must really be into David to not be hot for this guy.”

  “I told you, David and I really connected.”

  “And I really am happy for you. But I’m also happy you’re not interested in Garren. You won’t mind if I go for him, will you?”

  Garren would likely have plenty of options for girlfriends, but Cara would happily take this opportunity to give Rachel an early shot at him. He seemed like an exceptionally nice guy. “Have at him.”

  Rachel groaned. “You’re not going to believe this, but Garren wasn’t the first guy to ask me to eat lunch with him today.”

  Cara masked what must have been a look of surprise on her face with a smile. Rachel receiving two lunch invitations before the first day of school started seemed as unlikely as Cara meeting two new, good-looking local guys on the same day.

  “Who’s the other guy?” Cara asked.

  “Ethan Thomas. He’s in our class. You know, the cute, quiet, mysterious musician.”

  “Cute” might be a stretch, “quiet” was common, and “mysterious” struck Cara as code for “drug user.” “Musician” called to mind a guy who always carried around a guitar case. “I’ve never talked to him, but I know who he is.”

  “I’ve never talked to him, either, until this morning.”

  “Did you tell him no?”

  Rachel gritted her teeth. “I said yes. But I’d hate to miss out on a chance with Garren.”

  “You could always reschedule with Ethan and give Garren a chance first,” Cara suggested.

  Rachel was quick to bite on that option. “Good plan. Game on.”

  * * *

  At lunch, Cara and Rachel hunkered down on the low stone wall bordering the upper-level lawn. Most of the students around campus either clustered at the few picnic tables on the school’s lower level or sprawled on the grass. Sun hid behind wisps of clouds and cool air blew across campus. Animated voices and laughter carried over to where they sat.

  Garren approached and shared his dazzling smile as he sat on the rough area of stone beside Cara.

  Rachel sighed. Loudly.

  Setting a messenger bag on the wall beside him, Garren said, “It’s not a great feeling to be the new kid in town at a small school.”

  Cara had felt the same way when she’d been the new girl as a freshman. After Chris and the popular clan rejected her, Rachel had come to her rescue sophomore year. Their “group” had consisted of just the two of them since.

  Grinning, Cara nudged Garren with her elbow. “It’s probably not such a great feeling to almost get run over by the first classmate you meet, either.”

  His laugh was resonant and harmonious, just like his voice. He pulled two shiny, red apples from his bag and held them out in offering. They looked like pieces of waxed fruit. Their heart shape and deep ruby skin reminded Cara of the Red Delicious variety.

  “No thanks,” Rachel said. She didn’t like to eat things that mussed up her lipstick, especially in front of boys.

  Garren’s face fell. He held up an apple for Cara.

  “Thanks.” She accepted the apple and bit into it. It was the crispest, sweetest, and juiciest piece of fruit she’d ever tasted.

  From her backpack, she pulled out chips and a diet soda. She
uncapped the bottle and took a drink, then tore open her chip bag and tilted it toward Garren.

  He thanked her and selected a single chip. Twisting it back and forth in his fingers, he observed it. Then he held it up to his nose and sniffed at it.

  Rachel giggled into her water bottle.

  “It’s jalapeño cheddar,” Cara said. “Spicy, but tasty.”

  Garren bit into the chip and took his time chewing and swallowing. “Nice.”

  Cara held the bag out for him again. He took several this time.

  Rachel had spotted Ethan, who stood a short way down the wall. He was brawny and his eyes remained narrowed, as if he was perpetually suspicious. He wore his chin-length brown hair parted down the middle.

  Cara pictured him in her mind as she’d seen him in past years. He’d always worn hoodies, jeans, and sneakers, and he often carried an acoustic guitar case. Now he wore black clothes that matched his combat boots, and he’d ditched the guitar. His jaw was taut, his lips pinched together.

  “Ethan looks creepily upset. Didn’t you tell him you were eating with us?” Cara asked Rachel.

  “He wasn’t happy that I decided to eat with you instead of him. But it’s not like he’s my boyfriend,” Rachel said, glancing at Garren to check his reaction.

  His expression was unreadable.

  “How are you liking Seaside?” Rachel asked him, twirling a silky strand of hair into a curl around her finger. It stubbornly bounced back into its favored straight state.

  Cara registered Rachel’s flirtatious grin, but wasn’t sure if Garren did.

  “There’s good and there’s bad,” he said. “You just have to make sure to choose the good.”

  Garren prompted them to fill him in on their plans for the next year. After listening politely to Rachel, his attention turned back to Cara, who did her best to answer his questions between mouthfuls of apple. Cara tried to steer the conversation toward Rachel, but Garren always ended up switching the focus back to her.

  It flattered her to think he might be attracted to her. Since she’d met David, she’d taken more care with her appearance, happy she’d finally found a guy she didn’t want to hide from. Each day, she applied light makeup, tousled her hair with mousse, and wore clothes that revealed her curves.