Takes You

by Nicola C. Priest

  “I’ll let you decide.” I smile up at him, and for the first time I realise just how tall he is. I’m by no means short at five feet eight, but I only come up to his chest. He has to be several inches above six feet, with broad shoulders and a trim waist. His love of sports is evident in his physique and the way he carries himself. God, he’s hot, and I begin to understand why all the girls want to be with him.

  The look on his face tells me he’s pondering where we can go for lunch, and I see the moment he thinks of somewhere as he looks me in the eyes, smiles, and grabs my hand. “I know the perfect place. I hope you like pasta.”

  “I love it.”

  “Great. Let's go.” Before I can respond, he pulls me along beside him, and all I can do is follow as I throw a wave over my shoulder at my friends, wishing I could see the expressions on their faces. Caleb Roberts is holding my hand and taking me to lunch. Me. Not the most popular girl, or the prettiest girl.

  Me!

  Caleb leads me over to the new Ford Focus his parents bought him for his birthday, and, like a gentleman, he opens the passenger door for me.

  “Milady,” he says as he gives me a small bow and a sweep of his arm.

  I can’t help it; I laugh as I climb in the car, only now understanding what people mean when they go on about a new car smell. I know Caleb hasn’t had the car long as his birthday was only a couple of weeks ago. The scent of leather and polish fills my nose, and there’s not a speck of dust to be seen. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think it was the first time he’d driven it.

  The opening of the driver’s door pulls me from my musings, and I turn my head to see Caleb climbing in next to me. He fastens his seatbelt and looks at me, a huge grin on his face.

  “So, I take you to lunch, and you’ll go to the party with me?” I can hear the uncertainty in his voice as he seeks confirmation, and I realise he’s just a normal guy. Because of his popularity, I'd always had him up on a pedestal, believing him to be confident and sure of himself. Looks like he has the same worries and insecurities as everyone else. I smile at him and nod.

  “That’s the plan,” I say as I fasten my seatbelt. “Let’s go. I’m famished.”

  Caleb grins at me again as he puts the key in the ignition and starts the engine. Pretty soon, we're heading into town, and I still can’t quite believe I’m going to lunch with Caleb Roberts. My friends will be so jealous.

  When did I become ‘that’ girl?

  Chapter 2

  Crissie

  “You have to go with the red. Red makes you more appealing to men, or so I’ve heard.”

  “No, you absolutely have to wear the blue. It matches your eyes, not to mention his. His eyes are so dreamy.”

  “Actually, scrap the red one. I think you should go with the silver. It’s simple and understated, but makes you look hot at the same time.”

  Oh my god! My head is spinning. I knew inviting these three on a shopping trip to help find my outfit for this evening’s party was a mistake as soon as the invite left my mouth. So far, I’ve tried on close to a dozen dresses, and they haven’t been able to agree on any of them.

  The three of us are all crammed into a large dressing room at the local shopping centre and there are dresses hanging up, covering every space against the wall, in every colour and style imaginable. None of them felt right to me when I tried them on, and I want to cry at how difficult it is to find something to wear.

  At this rate, I’ll end up going to the party in jeans and a t-shirt, which is not what I want to wear on my first official date with Caleb Roberts. I’ve always believed that when you find what you're looking for, you just know it, which is why I know when I find the right dress, it’ll all but slap me in the face and scream ‘buy me!’.

  “Guys, please, you’re not helping. I’m nervous enough about tonight without all of you arguing about what I should wear.” I tug my jeans up my legs and fasten them at my waist before slumping down onto a nearby chair. I’m about to give up completely when Pippa come barrelling back into the changing room, fighting with the curtain and clutching a mass of black fabric in her hands.

  “I think I’ve found it; the perfect dress for you to wear tonight. If Caleb’s jaw doesn’t drop when he sees you in this, then the guy needs a good slap.”

  I laugh at Pippa’s words as she thrusts the dress towards me. It’s hard to see what it’s like on the hanger, but I dutifully slip out of my jeans and t-shirt and take the dress from my friend. It takes several minutes to pull the dress over my hips and fasten it at the back, but I have to admit, Pippa was right.

  The bodice is fitted and makes my waist look impossibly tiny. It has a sweetheart neckline that shows off a hint of cleavage and little cap sleeves. The skirt flares out over my hips and stops a few inches above my knees. The fabric is soft and silky, and I have never felt prettier.

  I was right. This is the one. I just know it.

  “I figured you could wear your black ballet pumps with it, the ones with the sparkles along the sides,” Pippa says as she fastens the last button at the small of my back. “Caleb is going to love it.”

  I smile at my friends as they all nod, finally in agreement that I’ve found the dress to wear for my first official date with Caleb Roberts. I look back into the mirror and turn, glimpsing the back of the dress for the first time. I now see why it took so long to fasten. Instead of a zip, there are about two-dozen tiny buttons that start at the small of my back and go up to stop just between my shoulder blades.

  “You can wear your hair down for once as you always have it in that damn ponytail. Straight or curly, either will look fab with this dress. Blonde hair and black clothes always go really well together. You’ll look epic.”

  I look at my reflection and imagine my hair in a cascade of curls around my shoulders and down my back. The overall effect is just what I’m looking for, and Pippa is right: Caleb is going to love it. At least, I hope he will.

  I feel the doubts begin to creep in, yet again. Ever since Caleb dropped me back home after our lunch date two days ago, I’ve been wondering why he asked me. With so many other girls, including many his own age, why ask a girl two years younger than him? A girl who is by no means the prettiest one out there. What is it about me that Caleb likes?

  I take a deep breath and tilt my head, my hands smoothing down the skirt of the dress. Suddenly, I feel the need to be alone.

  “Hey, could you guys take all of these dresses back outside? I’ll change and join you in a few minutes.”

  The girls all nod and grab the dresses currently hung up around the room before vanishing through the curtain. I close it after they’ve gone and sit down, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

  Why am I only now feeling nervous about tonight? We had a lovely time on our lunch date. I was a bit quiet to start with, unsure what to say or ask, but after about ten minutes, we were talking about all sorts of things, and we found we had quite a bit in common.

  I’m just being silly. Caleb wouldn’t have asked me to go out with him if he didn’t want to go with me. Would he? No, I need to stop second-guessing myself, and Caleb, and just buy the dress, go home and get ready for tonight. Yes, that’s what I need to do.

  After a lot of manoeuvring and twisting, I finally unhook the last button on the dress and step out of it, putting it back on the hanger. Retrieving my clothes from the floor, I quickly get dressed and grab the dress before leaving the changing room.

  As I look around for my friends, I hear them before I see them. Rounding a corner, I stand and watch as they argue over what’s going to happen between Caleb and I tonight. My eyes widen in amusement when I hear Missy say we’ll have the make-out session to end all make-out sessions, and I have to admit the thought is rather appealing.

  I feel myself blush when I hear Pippa question, in a not so quiet voice, whether or not we’ll actually have sex. Seriously? I’m only sixteen. I’m nowhere near ready for that kind of stuff. Kissing is one thing, but actually getting
it on with someone and seeing their private parts… No way—not to mention, ewww!

  “Have you decided, Miss?”

  I turn to see the sales assistant smiling at me and hand her the dress I’m carrying. “Yes, I’ll take this one, please. I’m sorry about them,” I say, indicating to my friends. “They can get a bit carried away sometimes.”

  She peers over my shoulder to see my friends laughing and giggling, and smiles at them. “Oh, don’t worry, dear. It’s not the first time we’ve seen an excitable bunch of girls in here. I take it this dress is for something special?”

  I follow her over to the till as I ponder my response. Is the dress for something special?

  “I suppose so.” I look at the assistant as she scans the dress and begins to fold it for me. “It’s my first official date with a guy I like tonight.”

  The assistant’s face lights up as she smiles at me. She’s an older woman, probably in her forties, if I had to guess. She has chocolate brown hair that’s pulled back into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. Her green eyes are kind, and I feel like I can trust her. Weird I know, but she gives off that kind of vibe.

  “You look nervous, sweetie.”

  “I guess I am a little bit. I’m just not sure what to expect.” I hand over the cash as she grabs a bag from under the counter and puts the folded dress inside. Seconds later, she’s handing me my change.

  “How old are you? Fifteen, sixteen?” I confirm the latter and she continues, “Sweetie, you’re still a baby. All you need to do is to have fun, and don’t do anything you don’t want to do. I have a daughter the same age as you, and I know there is a lot of pressure on girls to do certain things. Just remember that if it’s something you’re not one hundred percent sure about, just say no, honey. Any guy who’s worth being with will understand you’re not ready and will wait until you are.”

  I nod and smile at her as she hands me the bag. How many times has my mum used that phrase when I’ve gone out with friends? Just say no. It’s been drilled into us at school as well. Not that I expect to have to say no. Nothing will happen between Caleb and I tonight—well, nothing that will result in my having to say no. I just don’t think Caleb is the kind of guy to ask me to do anything like that, not on a first date anyway.

  Stuffing my change in my pocket, I turn around and see my friends still huddled in a group. They’re not talking now. Instead, they all have their heads down while their fingers fly on their mobile phones. I screw up my face, almost wishing I had one of the devices too. They were all given one on their sixteenth birthdays, but my parents took the stand that I couldn’t have one until I could afford to pay for it myself.

  You’re going to be waiting a long time, Crissie.

  Unless I get a part-time job at weekends. With college and housework, there’s no time in the week for a job, meaning it’s going to be a while before I’ll own a mobile phone. Sighing, I walk over to my friends and get their attention.

  “Crissie, you’re never gonna guess what’s happened!” Pippa almost screams at me. “Josh Summers has asked me to go with him to the party!”

  I puff my cheeks as I release a long breath and look over my shoulder, seeing the sales assistant looking in my direction.

  “We’re going to need another dress.”

  Chapter 3

  Caleb

  “I still don’t get why you asked her. There are loads of girls who would kill to go out with you. Why did you have to pick one of my friends?”

  “Give it a rest, would you, Lizzie?” I shake my head at my little sister, looking at her in the mirror as she sits cross-legged on my bed behind me. She’s been on at me for the last forty-five minutes, ever since I stepped out the shower. I literally had to push her out of my room so I could get ready, but I knew she was out there, just waiting until I was decent before she could barge back in.

  Women! Now I understand what my dad’s been going on about for the last few years.

  Son, you’re too young to understand now, but when you get older, you’ll realise just how much hard work women are.

  Boy had my dad been right. I love my sister, I really do, but right now she is being a royal pain in the ass and getting on my last nerve.

  “I’m just saying. Of all the girls out there, you ask her,” Lizzie whines.

  “What’s it to you who I go out with, Lizzie? It’s not like it’s any skin off your nose, is it?”

  Lizzie shrugs as she picks at my quilt cover. I shake my head again as I finish fixing my hair. I’ve never really been bothered what people think about me or the way I look, but tonight, I actually care about what someone thinks. I care what Crissie thinks. Lizzie and I are lucky to have been blessed with attractive parents, and that has filtered down to our genes too.

  I’ve never had a problem getting women, but I always seem to attract the kind who just want to be seen with me to make their friends jealous, or the ones who only want to jump into bed. The lack of self-respect they have is scary, and, needless to say, those girls aren’t the kind I want in my life.

  I know Lizzie usually has a string of guys after her, too—some of them are my friends—but she’s so innocent that she’s oblivious to their attention. Part of me wants her to stay innocent, but I know that’ll never happen. The only thing I can hope for is that she waits for the right guy to come along before taking that big step.

  I have a feeling Crissie is just as innocent as my sister. While I don’t know her well, I know she’s not the kind of girl I usually attract, which I think is why I find her so fascinating. All her friends make eyes at me, and even though I’ve seen her smile at me every now and then, she doesn’t go all out to make me notice her, which only makes me notice her more.

  Yeah, I know, that doesn’t make much sense, but the fact she hasn’t been trying to get my attention is what’s made me want to get to know her better. She strikes me as a girl who has no idea how attractive she is to the opposite sex; including me.

  “Do you want a lift to Penny’s?” I ask my sister as she looks up and meets my eyes in the mirror. “I don’t mind—it’s on my way to Crissie’s.” When she nods, I continue, “Best go get your stuff together, then. I’ll be leaving in five minutes.”

  Lizzie jumps off my bed and out the door, leaving me alone—at least for the next few minutes. I look at my reflection and nod, happy with what I’ve chosen to wear for tonight’s party. The dark jeans and black polo shirt are casual but smart at the same time. I grab my black loafers and slip them onto my feet, just as Lizzie comes back to stand in my doorway.

  The look on her face tells me she’s still not happy, and I sigh as I straighten. “Seriously, Lizzie, I don’t see what the big deal is with me going out with Crissie. It’s not like you two are close or anything.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re a guy, so I wouldn’t expect you to understand. If you start going out with Crissie properly, my life will be over.”

  I roll my eyes at her dramatics and grab my wallet and keys, before walking towards the door to my room. Lizzie has to back up to let me out, and I fight my laughter as she huffs and puffs her way along the hallway and down the stairs. Dad was right; women are hard work. At least my little sister is anyway.

  She’s out the front door before I even reach the bottom of the stairs. I see my mum sat at her laptop, her glasses perched on the tip of her nose as she squints at the screen.

  “Hey, Mum, I won’t be back too late. I’m going to drop Lizzie off at Penny’s on the way.”

  “Okay, honey,” she says without looking up from the screen. “Have a good night.”

  I smile and shake my head. Ever since Dad got her that laptop, she’s been glued to it. The only time she moves is when nature calls or she needs to eat, and even then, it’s only for a few minutes at a time. We haven’t had a proper homecooked meal in over a week, and, while it doesn’t bother Lizzie or me, my dad is starting to get a bit fed up of microwave meals.

  He’s tried his hand at cooking, but three times this
week alone the smoke alarm has sounded when he’s left something in the oven for too long. It wouldn’t surprise me if he wound up hiding the computer when she’s sleeping, just so we can get back to some normality.

  “Are you coming, Caleb?”

  I hear my sister call me from outside and leave the house, seeing her leaning against my new pride and joy. The sleek, black Ford Focus was a gift from my parents for both my eighteenth birthday and to celebrate passing my driver’s test on the first attempt, something none of us thought I would do. I’ve only driven it a handful of times, and I still smile whenever I look at it. That might seem silly to some, but to me, this car is my baby, and its mine. Lizzie thinks that when she’s passed her test, I’ll let her drive it. Yeah, there's not a chance in hell that’s going to happen.

  “Off the car, Lizzie. I don’t want you to scratch it with that bag of yours.” I point to the black bag she’s got slung over her shoulder, referencing all the metal chains that hang from it. She pushes off the car with a huff and glares at me.

  “You know, I think you care more about your stupid car than you do anything else.”

  “Oh, I don’t think I do; I know I do,” I reply with a grin as I reach out and ruffle her hair, knowing it’ll annoy the hell out of her.

  She swats at my hand and let’s out a very unladylike grunt as she tries to get away from me. I’m laughing out loud now as she dives into the back of the car as soon as I unlock it.

  I jump when I feel my mobile phone buzz against my hip and pull it from my pocket. I still can't get used to having this damn thing, especially when it’s on vibrate.

  The small handheld device was my first purchase when I got my first wage packet from the garage where I work. I figured, now that I’m working, people needed to get in touch with me.

  To date, the only people who have my number are my parents, two of my friends, and my boss, and so far, all the activity has been text messages. No phone calls have been made or received. I mean, why call when you can text?