A Life Plan Without You.

by Christine Wood

  “Oh why didn’t I think of that damn it! No, I posted the card on my way to uni, and had the flowers delivered to your house on your eighteenth birthday, from the little flower shop at the end of the road by your house? I wanted to bring them myself, but chickened out.” I looked shocked.

  “No, I didn’t get any card or flowers sorry. Oh wait but Mum did! That was what Dad had been arguing with Mum about, on my birthday. Who had sent her flowers, and why there wasn’t a card? That one caused one of Dad’s more legendary rages.

  Two weeks he spent at Aunty and Uncles until he calmed down.” He looked worried, but I just laughed. “What I asked pray tell, was on the card, that was missing from my beautiful flowers? They were really nice, the prettiest white, pink, and purple roses, they are my favourite colours and flower.”

  “Well, I’m glad you liked them, I had to guess the flowers and the colours you really liked them?” He was fumbling with his hands. “The card it well… I wrote… It was soppy really, please don’t laugh it was how I was feeling at the time, ‘one day you would be mine, when that time was right for us to be together, I will come and claim your heart, with all my love your secret admirer, for you Michelle, I will dance with you, to heaven and back!’ I’m glad you liked them, and I hope your mum wasn’t too mad?”

  “Wow.” Now, I was laughing, well shocked and laughing. He looked miffed at my laughing, after he had said not to too! “I would have been flattered, but shocked Sam, a bit serious don’t you think, to send that message to a stranger? No, she actually thought they were from a secret admirer, but don’t worry I won’t tell her they were for me and from my secret admirer, sorry for laughing, I do crap like that when I’m nervous Sam, really thank you secret admirer! You should have signed them from your Secret Super Stalker! You also said ‘at the time’ have you changed your mind?” More tiny kisses to my warm neck…

  “It was and is how I feel, and I really want you to go out with me, and be really greedy and get these kisses and hold you like this more often? I don’t want to push you into anything Michelle, but I really would love it if you gave us a try?” With that my lips were about to get another mind blowing, tongue involved kiss and this in his arms, so strong. I had one almighty serge of body aching lust, with each and every tender touch, the electricity pulsed straight to my sex, phew. He moved on to kissing my neck.

  Don’t stop you had me with the first kiss Sam. It was oh, wow, I didn’t ever want it to stop. He actually did like me, I was in seventh heaven and so, happy, Curly Shirley Geek Girl had her man, and he wasn’t for letting go, I had to pull away there was a strange feeling down there, and it was frightening and strange and wow kind of wonderful?

  “Shit, I’m going to be late. I’ve got to get home, now... Please, oh shit you’ve got to stop… Please, I don’t want you to… Umm Sam, please stop because, oh hell I have to be home…” His onslaught, of my neck continued.

  “This,” he whispered in my ear, gently kissing my neck again, “I. Could. Do. All. Day. And. Right. Through. The. Night…” Each word came with a kiss lower down my neck wow he was dangerously close to my boobs! “You are my Shelly, right?” I don’t think that I’d let that one stick, but I didn’t mind being his Michelle.

  “No Sam, I’m nobodies Shelly. I don’t actually like my name shortened to Mish, Shell, or damn Shelly. Except, well there are a few exceptions to my keep it long name, the kids in class call me Mishy, my baby brother calls me My-isshy and one person only calls me Missy, and that’s his name for me nobody else can or does call me that.” He looked at me, he looked hurt, and confused.

  “Who calls you Missy, him?” He looked worried. I needed to explain and quickly.

  “No, I can honestly say I don’t think he and I have ever spoken more than a few words in all the time I’ve ever known him, let alone long enough to call me anything other than Michelle, even that kiss was an out of the blue thing to have happen and strange. It was a good day out and we’d had fun and I was a little giddy, and I hung around with him and we sort of got close, erm well hence the kiss, but after he kissed me I thought he actually liked Sasha and was doing it to wind her up, a joke and using me to get her jealous.

  No Michael doesn’t call me anything other than Michelle! The person who calls me, Missy by the way, you have every reason to be worried about, he’s the number one man in my life, my darling, my lovely Grandpa, my Gramps, the love of my life and he’s the one man who I trust, love and adore, I love my Dad, but even he can’t hold a candle to my Gramps!” He let out a sigh. I noted from this bit of our chat he had a jealousy thing too. Laughing, he pulled me up, put on his wet jacket and grabbed my waist close he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me.

  “More fool him using you, I am not using you to get any other girl jealous, but I’m a little possessive of you already Mi cello, really I am, so there’s nothing between you two?”

  “No nothing, I promise. Only a kiss on a train back from London, I was there to go to the national gallery and the Egyptian exhibition at the museum there, and he went to photograph the landmarks with the photography class, he attends college once a fortnight, he’s an apprentice photographer! We had a fun weekend spent in a cold youth hostel! I was busy drawing and sketching for art class, to be honest I don’t even know why Jimmy and Dave even bothered going, he missed all the exhibitions he should have gone to? I think Jimmy only went with Dave to go to some clubs in Soho, but I don’t think they got in any, they were too young!” He smiled and as he did he pulled me in for yet more kisses, moaning my name into the sweet kisses, umm!

  “The winning kiss, for the race to grab Michelle’s heart, do we have a winner?” I was the one laughing now.

  “So you like to win then Sam?” He slapped my bum.

  “I always do Mi cielo.” One more kiss, and a hug that stopped my breath and we crossed the field, home. We had reached the road when he asked again.

  “Are you up for the pictures tomorrow then?” Oh, I’d forgotten he needed a definite yes or no.

  “Yes, that Sam is a definite yes, to the pictures and to being your girlfriend, if you still want me?” I kissed him, returning the kiss, which surprised him and I slapped his bum. He was smiling, as I pulled back from his lips. “Shall I meet you there, and what time?”

  “Damn, Michelle… Err I mean wow... I’ll call for you at seven, is that all right?”

  “Shit, no my dad will flip, I’ll meet you here at the side path please don’t argue, my dad’s still a bit over protective. I am still Daddy’s-Little-Girl and he has a mean right hook. I will tell him in a few weeks, if, you still want to be with a very inexperienced and very nervous girl for that long?” He was laughing at me again.

  “No problems and you’ve only got a few weeks left at college, your dad has a right to be protective, your beautiful and you are past the age of consent baby, and damn right I want to be with you, and you really do want to see me again?” Another hug and kiss.

  “Umm I do want to be with you Mr Todd and yes I’m well past the consenting thing, but still his little girl and yes I do everything Daddy says. Beautiful, really do you need glasses?” He laughed.

  “No, I’ve got perfect eye sight, so off home with you, before I walk you to the door and sod the right hook.” He had watched me disappear into the house and waited for a good ten minutes before he left. I know, because I’d sat and watched him from behind the curtain, before he turned and headed for home. All this was too much, I wanted to jump up and down on my bed and scream his name. I was seeing him again tomorrow, wow bed I have to be up for work in the morning, yeah right, as if I’m going be able to sleep tonight? Sleep I did though, and wow what dreams I had that night.

  I didn’t normally stop to the socials after classes because the need to get home to sort Mum out, had over the previous couple of months been my priority, but tonight was a do or die night and Aunty Allison has taken Mum to the opera, giving me enough time to sort out the rushed mess I found myself in.

 
I’d been for a drink with Andy the day before and bumped into Lana she asked me if I was any nearer asking my mystery woman to the dance? I laughed and finally told her who the mystery woman was and she was a little shocked and surprised hearing me tell her it was Michelle Welles and I was going to pluck up courage to ask her out On Friday after class, what did she think my chances were? After she composed herself she spoke!

  “What Michelle who helps with the classes upstairs, she’s a bit young for you isn’t she Sam? I mean she’s not your usual love ‘em and leave ‘em thing. She’s a great girl though and nothing is too much trouble for her. Lee rates her as a teacher too and she loves her kiddie classes and has a whole lot of patience with them. He’s giving her them because of that, we other teachers hate teaching the brats!

  I suppose I owe her one, she’s teaching my last lot you know the ones I nearly killed last week? She’s offered to do those kids tomorrow, before her lesson, her first class on her own! Watch it though Sam she is only young, she’s just had her eighteenth, she’s a nice girl, but quiet and shy are you sure she’s the one for you?” I knew how old she is, that’s what’s been worrying me.

  “Yes I like her, I know what I usually go for but no I have changed and for her. I know that sounds sappy and love sick but I really like her. She is teaching tomorrow you say? Good I can work with that! How are the feet I’m sure that little girl didn’t mean to stick her heel in your toe quite so hard, how is Old Jonnie not out again?”

  “He’s coming down later, when he shuts the shop. We’re off to the Wind Catcher for a meal, nice and romantic he says, I say he hates my cooking!”

  “I don’t know he has a point, how do you boil water again Lala?”

  “You put the kettle on Wam Bam; do you want to fall out with me? Last lesson tomorrow are you sure your pretty damn good?”

  “I’m sure, if she says no I don’t want to stick around to be embarrassed!” She smiles gives my cheek a kiss and sees Jonnie, who waves and off they ride into the sunset, I want what they have, true love! Fuck I need this to work!

  I’d actually decided to go and watch her dance. I’m still busy trying to run through on how I would casually introduce myself? Everything, I came up with sounded lame and lord I was nervous. Perhaps I could just say hello? Could it be just so simple, or perhaps it may well be, it would be easier if I had a few for ‘Dutch Courage,’ no I’m not smelling like a brewery around her, no definitely not a good first impression, snap back Sam, your day dreaming again, I’ve been doing that a lot these past few months!

  I dressed and went to the studio, I put on my shoes and looked at that valentines card again, I know it wasn’t Karen who sent it, her writing on the notes she passed during her lessons were different writing, the other two yes they were hers and explicit like I would roll in any hay-hay with her, or any other place she mentioned, roll her down a riverbank perhaps? Yeah I could do that.

  I’d hoped it was off Michelle, but given that according to Lana half the girls here fancied me, it could be any of them. I was sure she was wrong, there were only a handful of girls here even old enough, but the verse was pretty and the drawing of an angel with the long dark wings was beautiful, quite the artist who ever drew that. Too nice to throw away and unlike the two Karen sent I wasn’t for ripping it up either.

  When she came in she looked so different, her hair was different. Had she had it done? She looks nice and it suits her, I smile and as she shakes her head, she smiles and giggles, God she sounds sexy when she giggles. I watch as she takes a box from Warren and runs off like a kid at Christmas. When she comes out she looks so happy. I watch as the bunch of a dozen or so kids all gather around her and like a mother hen they follow her and Ellie around, she really is good with them Lana was right.

  She passes me as she dances with her chicks, why is she ignoring me? Have I done something wrong, no smiles? She's dancing with a very timid little girl, she’s going to fall, hell she has and she’s at my feet looking straight up at me, she's embarrassed. Thank you dear lord, for letting her fall straight at my feet. I smile, as she looks deep into my eyes, her eyes are the bluest and brightest I have ever seen. I help her up, and as I pull her up, a little too rushed on my part, she falls into my arms, and feel her heart and it’s beating fast, the gasp from her as I hold her. She really is wonderful and we talk briefly, as Ellie helps the little girl calm down, Michelle and I have our first talk, she is quick witted and smart. Her replies have me laughing.

  As I reach down for her sweet little hand, I offer to teach her the dance, cheeky sod that I am. She can dance professionally, I heard Lee tell Lana she’s a natural but far too shy. I tell her I will see her later and catch my lesson with Lana. I’ve decided to stop down stairs until the social starts more planning needed but after our all too brief encounter earlier, I know she is the one. Her laughter and the feel of her body next to mine had me convinced she was worth the wait and was the one.

  Lana disappeared to meet Jonnie, after giving me a lecture, on safe sex, and to watch what I do with her. Lee is hovering about and I know he’s the one to help me put the last part of the plan together. Then I’m on my own, let’s hope he agrees, Lana says he’s an old romantic and will help, that’s a laugh he’s only a couple of years older than me. Don’t get if you don’t ask as Aunty Jane says, well here goes nothing Sam.

  “Lee, can you play a tango for me please a couple of dances in. It is Michelle’s favourite dance isn’t it?” He laughed, he I’m told adores Michelle, and he’s always laughing and joking with her, I have to convince her friend, who Lana informed me packs a mean punch, if you mess with his friends, that I’m serious about her?

  “It is Sam yes. I believe from Miss Lana you’re fond of Michelle then?” I think I’m blushing.

  “Yes very fond actually, she has that erg sort of something going on? I want to ask her out on a date, what do you reckon; I’ve been doing all these lessons for? I want to be able to dance with her, but for some bloody reason I can’t find the courage to ask her out, in case she says no.” He smiled back at me. Even to me that sounded romantic, shit I’ve not had a romantic bone in my body for months. No strike that, in forever!

  “She may have a thing for you too, I’m not supposed to say anything, but she had a teary cry over you last week, she seems to think you’re going out with Lana, for some reason? Michelle is so special Sam, don’t go hurting her though or you will have me to deal with.” He laughed and left me to think of a game plan, I thought I would have a lot longer to prepare, a lot, lot longer. She likes me? That was nice to hear though, but I wonder why she cried over me and why the hell would she think there was anything going on with Lana? Oh hell, here goes nothing as I walk up the stairs and wait.

  Lee smiles and puts on the record, she’s sat looking lost staring at her feet. Jimmy is watching me as I cross the floor, he isn’t happy, I gave him time loads of it In fact, but he still didn’t do anything, the other lad? Well I’m not risking it by waiting.

  “I believe Michelle you owe me a dance?” I take her in my arms, at last she’s here, and I don’t want to let her go now she’s here. We dance and I stare down at her, she really is in my arms after watching her forever, she is here and I can’t believe it. She smells so nice she’s explaining why as I tell her so, all about Lana. She chats away after some goading by me into doing so, she’s really shy, she’s sweet, her eyes are beautiful, and they sparkle as she talks.

  I’ve got to stop staring, but I can’t help it, should I kiss her? I want to, but here? No that’s too much in front of this lot, but soon baby girl soon. We dance as the music changes from one dance to another, is there nobody else dancing? I don’t care. My hand finds her soft skin and I get a nervous need to do more, I hold her close and hope my dick doesn’t stand to attention! I am losing all my self-control, because hell I have never felt like this about a girl before, this baby girl is meant to be.

  When the music stops, I lead her away from the rest and sit by ourselves in
the corner, away from them. I need it to be just her and I, but she looks lost as I get back with her drink. I want to pull her face to mine and kiss those lips, she panics and looking up I see why! The piranha’s on her way over, Karen. What the hell does she want? Can’t she take a hint? Weeks she’s been doing this and weeks I have ignored her. She asks me for a dance, cutting Michelle totally out of the conversation. I don’t think so, not when I’m with Michelle and never in my lifetime would I ever ignore her, ever. Karen needs to go away and leave before she’s told a few home truths…

  Michelle looks so uncomfortable and has to leave, quick explanation to Kazza! I loved the face she pulled when Michelle called it her, so I did too, when I tell her we, Michelle and I, are leaving and she leaves. Michelle looks so pleased, not like our Jim Bob, he’s throwing dirty looks my way. As she passes I touch her back and my hand ‘slips’ to her backside, she’s so beautiful and hell she has to go out with me, she has to, the chemistry is unquestionably there and I know she feels something I see it in her eyes, I feel it in her touch. My soldier is twitching he likes her, too much so; stand down soldier! I help her on with the jacket thing she has it’s as soft as her skin and as I put it on I smell her neck and yep, I twitch again damn she has me aroused a lot…

  As we walk, we talk! She speaks Italian, I’m in awe of her as she tells me mi cielo is Italian for my sky, my name for her and she likes it. Things are happening in a sort of dream state, but then I have the urge to ask her, do it just ask her Sam! What’s the worse she can say, no? I ask her to the pictures and she looks lost and surprised, I can’t resist any longer, I kiss her, her lips were just too inviting, wow, she tastes like heaven and I can’t get enough.

  Pulling her closer as she responds, her arms are around me sending shivers through my body and I deepen the kiss. Her lips are soft and inviting I hear her soft murmurs, and I fall deeper, she’s kissing me back and they are so nice. Shit I have to pull away, because my soldier is starting to parade, she had to feel that? Not a good look, getting a stiffy in front of the girl you have only just asked out, but wow what a kiss, I got a stiffy from just a kiss, fuck this is going to be a long courtship, yes I’m doing this right and he thinks he’s getting a Wam-Bam! Nope that’s never happening for this lady, this one is different the kiss is definitely a good indication of how good it will be.