by Jenna Payne
***
“Do you mind getting the eggs?” her mom asked and Alison nodded before making her way through the store, recalling it as though no time had passed since she was last here.
Alison hummed softly to herself, scanning the shelf with eggs before reaching and grabbing a carton.
“I didn’t know Debbie and Ryan had a daughter,” Alison heard a woman say from not too far away.
She froze immediately, feeling the familiar sinking feeling in her stomach.
“They don’t. Apparently that’s Adam,” a second woman continued.
Alison swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing she should leave and not listen to the conversation anymore but unable to bring herself to move.
“Really?” the woman exclaimed, her voice aghast. “Poor Debbie and Ryan, I can’t imagine what they’re going through.”
Alison could feel her grip on the egg carton tightening as she licked her lips nervously, a pang in her chest.
It was clear the women talking knew she could hear, but it seemed that didn’t bother them as their conversation remained loud and proud for anyone to hear.
“I know. Ryan was always so proud of his son. It must be terrible-”
“Alison,” she heard, looking up to see her mom coming towards her, shooting the women further back a look of loathing. “There’s a café across the street. Why don’t you go get us something from there?”
Alison, knowing what her mom was doing, sent her a grateful smile before nodding. She placed the eggs in the basket her mom was holding before setting off, not sparing a glance in the direction of the women.
Even though she was a grown woman herself, it felt nice to have her mom come to her defense. As she neared the shop exit, she heard raised voices further back and couldn’t help but smile.
When her mom wanted, she was surely someone to be reckoned with and she didn’t envy those women at all.
Sighing as she made her way towards the café, Alison tried to ignore the words she’d heard. It wasn’t the first time she’d been disrespected and it definitely wouldn’t be the last. It was the price to pay for being herself apparently and as a result, Alison was accustomed to distancing herself from others.
Just before Alison could reach the café, she heard a voice calling out her name.
Looking up in confusion, her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Trent making his way towards her in an easy jog.
When he stopped before her, he gave her a lopsided grin that made her heart soar as she looked up into his storm-gray eyes.
“Alison,” he breathed, the way he said her name sending chills through her body.
“Trent,” she nodded, flushing slightly when her voice sounded slightly shaky.
“I was just heading to the café over there and it seemed like you were too,” he began, rubbing the back of his neck.
Alison could’ve sworn he was slightly nervous and she raised a brow, regarding him carefully.
“I was wondering if you’d like to join me for some coffee or something,” he asked, shrugging nonchalantly despite the way he still rubbed the back of his neck rather sheepishly.
Alison raised a brow in surprise, not expecting that from Trent. She swallowed as she looked around, as though the answer would present itself in her surroundings.
When she couldn’t think of a reason why this would be particularly bad, she turned to him and nodded, offering him a smile.
His face broke out into a wide grin before he seemed to catch himself, his grin turning into a lazy smile.
***
Alison would be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous. As she regarded Trent in front of her without his football equipment, he looked even more beautiful if that was possible. His black long sleeved shirt seemed to hug his torso, his broad shoulders and muscular arms on display. His blonde hair was ruffled from running his hand through it repeatedly, making him seem younger.
He scratched absentmindedly at his barely-there stubble, the action bringing Alison’s attention to his plump lips.
Trying to distract herself, she cleared her throat before going back to mixing sugar into her coffee.
“So, how come I’ve never seen you around?” Trent finally asked.
Alison looked up to see him looking at her with a curious expression and she couldn’t help but flush slightly under his scrutiny.
“I don’t live around here. I’ve come to visit my parents,” she said, avoiding his intense gaze as she stirred her coffee which definitely didn’t need any more stirring.
“So how long are you visiting for?” he asked, leaning forward slightly, disregarding his own coffee in favor of staring at Alison.
“As long as I want, really. My job allows me to work from home,” she replied, daring to look up at him and feeling her heart stutter at his proximity, slight freckles visible on the bridge of his nose and apples of his cheeks.
He gave her another smile, this one far more genuine than the usual smirk as he nodded softly.
“That’s great because I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go on a date with me sometime.”
Alison stared up at him wide-eyed, not believing that Trent Graham was asking her on a date.
She could sense the stares of others in the café every once in a while, clearing recognizing Trent and she realized how many people would wish to be in her position.
Trent was not only attractive, but appeared to be a good guy too, and Alison felt that’s exactly what she needed.
Just as Alison opened her mouth to respond, Trent’s gaze flickered upwards, focusing on something behind her.
Her brows furrowed in confusion before she turned around to see what had caught his attention.
She smiled slightly when she saw two men seated further away, sitting rather close to each other as they shared a muffin. The one man leaned forward to place a kiss on the other’s forehead and Alison smiled wider at how in love they appeared. She’d always wanted that.
“It’s disgusting,” Trent said, his voice snapping her out of her reverie.
She looked back up at Trent in shock and surprise to see him glaring at the couple with a look of loathing and repulsion.
Alison immediately felt her stomach drop, biting her lip at the ache in her chest.
It was then that she realized it wouldn’t be that easy for her. Even if she was a woman one hundred percent in both mind and body, she knew the kind of person Trent was all of a sudden.
He was the kind of person that would hate her if he found out the truth. He was the kind of person that wouldn’t respect or understand her.
One look at Trent’s disgusted expression and she knew she deserved better than someone so narrow-minded and unaccepting.
“I have to go,” she said suddenly, standing up and catching Trent’s attention.
He looked at her in confusion, slight hurt evident in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, but Alison just shook her head, reaching into her purse and placing the money on the table for her coffee.
She turned around and walked off, ignoring the way Trent called for her to come back.
Just before she left the café she caught the eye of the couple and saw the two men looking at her, it appeared the whole café was.
Almost as though they knew why she had done what she did, the two men smiled at her and she smiled back before opening the door and stepping out, not bothering to spare Trent a glance despite how much it hurt her to leave.
*****
“Are you coming to practice today?”
Alison looked up in surprise to see her dad standing in the doorway.
He regarded her, perhaps with a little concern considering she hadn’t been herself since yesterday.
“I’m not really feeling that great today. How about next practice?” she offered, knowing that her dad seeking her out and asking if she was coming was a huge step for them. She didn’t want to ruin that.
He looked at her one last time before nodding hesitan
tly and stepping out of the room.
The moment he was gone Alison sighed, rubbing her face in defeat.
“Are you alright?”
She looked up again to see her dad staring at her, this time, his worry undeniable and she felt her heart soar knowing he was concerned.
“I’ll be okay,” she said, offering him a reassuring smile before he left.
She told herself not to get torn up over Trent. She hardly knew the guy but she knew it was deeper than that.
It wasn’t just about Trent. It was about the fact that it seemed whoever she met was unaccepting and it made her feel so alone.
She hated that the one person she actually felt an instant connection to was ignorant. It made her feel as though it would always be this way.
Tired of feeling sorry for herself, Alison got up, grabbing her purse and heading downstairs.
“I’m going for a walk, mom,” Alison said, poking her head into the kitchen to see her mom baking.
Her mom looked up, her brows furrowed with concern as she looked at her.
“Alright. Are you okay?” she asked and Alison nodded, smiling before heading off.
She ignored the car in the driveway and instead opted to walk. She wasn’t sure exactly where she was going but appreciated the way the slight breeze cleared her head.
It was perhaps twenty minutes later when Alison found herself back in the same café. She didn’t know why she was back here but decided against leaving, opting for an isolated seat in the back.
After ordering her usual coffee just the way she liked it, she sat down, wrapping her hands around the warm mug.
Alison had just taken her first sip of coffee when someone walked right up to her. She looked up in confusion to see Trent standing in front of her.
He didn’t say anything before taking a seat in front of her, a frustrated look on his face.
Alison ignored the rapid beat of her heart, opting for a nonchalant expression.
“Why did you leave yesterday?” he asked, a hint of vulnerability in his voice that Alison refused to succumb to.
Alison sighed, leaning back in her chair as she ran a hand through her hair before looking up at him again, shaking her head slightly.
“You’re not who I expected you to be,” she said, watching the way he frowned in confusion.
“What do you mean? You don’t even know me,” he argued, leaning closer.
“Yet yesterday was still enough for me to figure out that you’re homophobic,” she said calmly.
His expression changed into one of disbelief as he raised a brow at her.
“Are you kidding? What the hell does that have to do with anything?”
“That’s problem number two. You don’t even see a fault,” she sighed, reaching for her coffee and taking a sip.
“Alison, come on-”
“I won't go on a date with a person who’s narrow-minded and unaccepting. I won't,” she said firmly, looking at him directly.
He looked confused as he bit his lip, looking away slightly.
“Okay,” he finally said, nodding to himself before looking at her rather determined.
“What?” she asked, confused at his sudden resolve.
“Okay, I won't be like that anymore.”
“It’s not that simple, Trent. You can’t just suddenly decide to not be that way,” she sighed, shaking her head.
“I can promise to try, though.”
At those words, Alison looked at him to see the honesty and sincerity in his eyes. He seemed nervous too and it made slight hope flutter in Alison’s heart.
“Go on a date with me. Give me a chance to prove that I’m not a bad guy,” he pleaded.
Hesitantly, he reached out and grabbed Alison’s hand in his.
She looked down to see his hand swallowing hers, the rough texture of his hand oddly comforting.
Alison could feel her mind racing as she contemplated her decision. Perhaps giving Trent a chance wasn’t a terrible idea if he was willing to try and be better.
Maybe being with Alison would be good for him, but she had to wonder if being with him would be good for her too.
“Alright,” she finally said, deciding to give it a go. If it didn’t work out, she could always tell him it wouldn’t work out.
“You’ll go on a date with me?” he asked, a small smile creeping onto his face.
When Alison nodded, his face broke out into a bigger grin as he nodded to himself, seemingly pleased.
“Don’t you have practice?” Alison asked, remembering her dad was out on the field with the rest of the team.
Alison resisted the urge to laugh, seeing his eyes widen in horror as he stood up, almost tripping over the table in the process.
“How about I pick you up tonight at eight?” he asked.
“That sounds good,” she replied, not resisting the urge to smile.
Trent smiled back before realizing how late he was, sprinting off after giving her one last look.
Alison hoped she was making the right decision.
***
“Who is the date with?” her mom asked, watching Alison apply the last of her makeup.
“Trent Graham,” she replied, focusing on applying her eyeliner with precision.
“Trent Graham, the football player on your dad’s team?” She asked, her voice raising in disbelief.
“Yeah,” Alison replied.
“Alison, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said.
Alison turned to look at her mom, noticing the frown on her face.
“Why not?” she asked, moving to take a seat beside her on the bed.
“Well, for one I don’t think your dad would be okay with it,” she replied and Alison resisted the urge to groan.
“Mom, I won't turn Trent down just because it’s what dad wants,” she said firmly.
“It’s not just that. I don’t know if Trent’s the best guy,” she sighed.
Alison nodded, knowing where her mom's worry was coming from.
“I get that. This is one date, mom. If it doesn’t work out then it doesn’t work out and that’s that,” she replied, smiling at her mom in reassurance.
With a sigh, her mom nodded knowing there wasn’t much she could do to deter her daughter.
It wasn’t long afterward that Alison heard the doorbell ring. With one last look in the mirror, making sure her hair and makeup were okay, she nodded to herself.
She was wearing a white dress that was knee length and clung to her, making her feel rather good about herself. The white of her dress contrasted with the jet black of her hair which was wavy, resting on her shoulder. She wasn’t wearing too much makeup, just enough to make her eyes pop, her lips a nude color that complimented her outfit.
Grabbing her purse from her room, Alison made her way downstairs hearing the doorbell ring again.
She didn’t see her parents anywhere and just shrugged to herself, knowing her mom probably left with her dad so he wouldn’t know. She made a mental note to thank her mom later, not feeling like dealing with her dad’s foul mood at this moment and, therefore, glad she didn't have to.
When Alison opened the door, her breath hitched as she looked up at Trent, taking him in completely.
His hair was still styled in the windswept manner he always seemed to have but that she loved. He was wearing a gray button up shirt that complimented his eyes tucked into black slim fitting pants.
The dark color looked good against his tan skin and she felt her heart race just by looking at him.
It seemed he too was taking her in, because he flashed her a smile before reaching his hand out for hers.
“You look beautiful,” he said, leaning down to press a kiss against her cheek. Alison felt her face flush as she looked down, her heart hammering in her chest.
“Thank you. So do you,” she said, looking up at him to see him smiling softly.
“Thanks,” he replied, seeming perhaps a little embarrassed which made Alison laugh.
Turning around, she shut the door behind her before making her way to Trent’s car hand in hand with him.
She eyed the BMW before her, taking in the sleek car with admiration.
“Nice car,” she commented and Trent immediately lit up at the mention of it.
“It’s the BMW 7-series,” he replied, voice laced with pride.
Alison chuckled to herself before getting into the car, thanking Trent for holding the door for her.
“So where are we going?” she asked as Trent reversed out of the driveway, driving surprisingly carefully down the street.
“It’s a surprise,” he said, flashing her a smile before turning to face the front again.
Alison resisted the urge to groan as her curiosity grew, watching the smirk that grew on Trent’s face, noticing her frustration.
“Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure you’ll love it,” he said confidently.
Alison raised a brow at him, deciding against telling him that she could be rather picky sometimes. He seemed relatively at ease and she didn’t want to change that.
“Where are we?” Alison asked, eyeing the dark and deserted surroundings with distaste.
“You’ll see,” he replied, turning the car off and opening the door.
He went around to open the door for her, holding out his hand to help her out.
She took it gratefully as Trent shut the door for her, eyeing the trees around her. She could hear the distant sound of crickets as a slight breeze made her shiver.
“You’re not bringing me here to kill me are you?” she joked, but as she eyed the surrounding woods it seemed less funny.
“Come on,” he laughed, shaking his head as he tugged her by the hand into the woods.
As the two tread further into the woods, Alison was suddenly grateful she’d decided to wear flat shoes. There was no way she would’ve been able to make the walk in heals without injury.
The further the two got into the woods, the more nervous Alison grew. She wasn’t fond of the outdoors and being nighttime, she was certainly having her doubts.
Before she could voice her concerns, Trent led the way into a break in the trees, an opening that made her gasp softly in surprise.
It was a small field, with lush green grass covering the earth. A small table for two was placed in the center, lanterns hanging in the surrounding trees which offered enough light to see, but still dimly lit to add softness to the setting.