by Bria Starr
“And you never told me because …? You always tell me everything!”
“He and I are not feasible. You know, the whole clique thing. I knew it would never happen, that he’d never like someone like me, so it didn’t matter. I didn’t want to tell you and have you go running off trying to set us up or something. It would have ruined everything when he turned me down.”
“You don’t know that he would have,” I tell her.
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, what about now?” I suggest, taking my turn.
“Don’t even think about it. I will never forgive you.”
“Laura, it’s been years. You’re all grown up and neither of you are part of any clique the last time I checked. Why don’t you try going for it?”
“I don’t feel comfortable. And I’m just fine with where I’m at, so don’t you dare, Paige. I know what you’re thinking. You’re not setting us up.”
I feign a look of innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’d never.”
“I know you too well. Please don’t.”
“Okay. I won’t.”
“Promise me.”
I hesitate. “I promise.”
I promise that I won’t try to set you up, but I don’t promise not to make Eli do it. I tap my fingers together as I ponder about how to get Eli on board and what information I could possibly get out of him. I mean, we’re friends now, right? We could talk about getting our heterosexual life-mates together. I point to her cards so she can take her turn. “I still can’t believe you never told me. You’re a shitty friend, you know that?”
She smiles and throws down an eight of clubs. “The shittiest.”
***
Sitting at work, I’m so nervous. It wasn’t so bad before when he was the one asking me to come over. But this time, this time it’s different. I just have to get it over with. I’m doing this for a friend …
Me: Hey do you want to hang out soon? There’s something I want to talk to you about.
Eli: Is everything okay?
Me: Oh yeah, everything’s fine. It’s not even a big deal, just something I’d rather discuss in person I guess.
Eli: Sure. Did you wanna stop by tonight
Me: I’m off at 6. I’ll head over around 7?
Eli: Sounds good. See you then.
There. It’s done. I’m seeing Eli tonight. No big deal.
So why does it feel like a big deal?
I look through my full closet and there’s nothing. I hate wearing the same thing twice. Not that I’m spoiled like that, it’s just that when I love an outfit, I wear it on special occasions and I feel dumb if I wear it again once everyone has seen me in it. I could dress casual tonight. I should dress casual. I opt for a light yellow top and white shorts. I grab my white sandals and look myself over. Hair is brushed, clothes are stylish, yet comfy. I’d say I look pretty good. Maybe a little cuter than I was going for, but cute will have to do for tonight.
I’m on a mission.
Mission: Laura and Patrick.
Since I still have about a half hour until I need to be there, I decide to walk. He doesn’t live far away and it’s still hot out with plenty of sunshine left before dark. I cross the street and turn down his road and keep to the side, listening to the gravel crunch underneath my sandals. I can smell that someone nearby is having a fire, maybe burning leaves, and it smells awful. I grab a handful of my hair and smell it, hoping it doesn’t stink up my hair and clothes. That shit lasts for days and I’d smelled so good after my shower, spraying myself with my new Victoria’s Secret perfume.
Eventually, his driveway comes into view and I steadily make my way towards it.
I knock on the door and remove the hair that’s sticking to the back of my neck. Maybe I should have driven so I wasn’t a hot, sweaty mess. Guys are attracted to women who are glistening, not drowning in their own fluids. Humidity is a bitch.
Eli, clad in shorts and a Coors Light shirt, opens the door and welcomes me inside. I walk passed him, hoping I don’t reek. It’s nice and cool in here so I hope to dry off soon. I remove my sandals and set my purse down next to them before standing up and looking to Eli for further instructions. I stand there, and stand there, waiting for him to say something as we look at one another. This was such a stupid idea. I don’t know why I’m even here.
Okay, yes I do. It’s for Laura …
Eli waves to come with him as he walks towards the kitchen and I follow him, reassuring myself that my being here has nothing to do with his cute butt, nice sized calves, and tan skin that’s right in front of me.
“Are you hungry?” he asks me.
I’d never once thought about food. I was so preoccupied with thoughts of coming over that food was the furthest thought from my mind.
“Um, a little. But I’m fine,” I say, taking a seat on one of the bar stools.
“I can make something quick. It’s really no big deal.” He strides to the refrigerator and pulls out a pitcher, pouring me a tall glass of lemonade. He hands it over.
“Thank you. I’m dying of thirst.” I guzzle down the sweet liquid. It’s gone within seconds and he takes the glass from my hand, pouring me another. I take a sip and set it down, resisting the urge to take another giant gulp.
I look at him, drinking his own glass and wonder how I can have such two different but strong emotions when it comes to him. The first being incredibly comfortable around him, almost like I’ve known him forever, which I almost have, and the second being that I’m more nervous around him than I am anyone else. Two huge pulls in different directions. Why is this happening?
“What are you thinking?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I answer too quickly, not wanting him to have any clue that I was, in fact, thinking about him.
“You were supposed to figure out what you wanted to eat.”
“Oh. That.”
“How about some stir fry?”
“Sounds great.”
He moves back to the refrigerator and pulls different ingredients out. “It’s quick and easy. I got home kind of late today so I didn’t have time to prepare anything.”
“I wasn’t expecting you to feed me. I just forgot to eat before I came over.”
“Well, this works out perfect then doesn’t it? I don’t mind feeding you. I expect you to be hungry every time you come over here.”
“I wasn’t planning on coming over again anytime soon, but now that I know food is involved, I might start needing more random talks with you,” I tease. I watch him start chopping up some vegetables, nonchalantly glancing at his biceps while he’s doing so. “I’d offer to help but I would ruin anything I touched.”
“You just sit there and look pretty.”
Pretty? My heart skips a quick beat. He turns to the stove so I can’t see his face as a blush starts to creep up mine.
“So I wanted to talk to you about Patrick.”
He steps back and looks at me, surprise in his eyes.
“Patrick? What about him?”
I start slowly, “Well, is he currently seeing anyone?”
“Why?”
“I’m just curious. He’s a nice guy, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone snatched him up.”
He stops for a minute as he thinks about what I had asked him. “Okay, I’m just going to straight up ask you … are you wanting to know this for yourself or for someone else?”
“Oh, not for me, no. No way. He’s great and all, but no, definitely not for me.” I take a deep breath to replace the one I just used up by rambling on.
Cue the cocky grin. “Well, in that case, he’s extremely available. Besides, you already have a boyfriend.”
I clear my throat. “Um, not anymore, actually.”
There’s a long silence before he continues. “So someone likes Patrick?” I nod. “Who?”
“Can’t say. Just something I’ve heard … around the restaurant.”
“Is that so?” His full lips move into a sly smile.
Whoever could it be?”
I take slight offense to that. “I have plenty of friends, thank you very much!” I shoot back. But it was obvious, I know. Sorry, Laura. “Okay, listen. Has Patrick ever shown any interest in her before?”
He shuffles over to me and places his elbows on the counter across from me. “Who are we talking about? Of all your friends. Just so we’re clear.” He winks at me.
“Damn it, Eli. You know who we’re talking about.
I’m sworn to secrecy. Help me out here.”
He stands up and returns to the stove but leans back so he can still see me while he cooks. “He’s never mentioned anything to me.”
“Never? Not even back in school?”
“Nope, not that I can recall.”
“Crap. I was hoping he’s been secretly in love with her for years. Do you know what kind of girls he likes? I remember him dating Stefanie our junior year. I actually really liked her.”
“She was pretty cool. He was bummed when she had to move all the way to New York with her family.”
“I remember. Not that he was bummed, just that she had to move. Anyway, I think we need to set them up. I think they could be great together.”
“No.” He shakes his head.
“No? No what?”
“No, I’m not going to help you set them up.”
“Why not?” I pout. “They’re honestly perfect for each other. Don’t you want our friends to be happy?”
“Of course I do, but come on Paige. That’s what girls do. And as you can plainly see,” he poses all masculine with his hands on his hips, shoulders broad, “I’m not a girl.”
I scoff. “That’s debatable.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Want me to prove it?” he says, reaching down towards the zipper of his shorts.
I turn red. Bright red. “I’ll take your word for it.” I’m suddenly very warm again. “Is my food done yet?”
He laughs. “Yes, dear.” He scoops some out for both of us, then sets a plate in front of me, taking his own seat on the stool next to me.
“Thank you, Eli. This is delicious,” I say with a mouthful of food. “I wish I knew how to cook.”
“Maybe someday.” He gives me the second wink of the evening.
Eli and I are in a deep discussion about all things superhero and comic book related when I notice it is now dark and my ass is now numb. I glance at the clock on his microwave. “I have to go. I have to get up really early tomorrow.”
“If I had a dollar for every time I’ve used that line on someone …”
“Let me guess? You’d owe nine dollars?” I quip.
“You’re such a smart ass.”
“You set yourself up for that one.” I place my foot down on the floor and grab my plate. As I reach to grab his, he stops me.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got them.”
“Nope. As I recall, you said I could help next time.
Am I right?” He looks at me, a smile plastered across his face.
“I did, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.” I take his plate away from him and head over to the sink. I may not be able to cook, but I’m an excellent cleaner. I move over to the other counter and start picking up all the utensils he used to prepare our meal and throw them into the sink.
“Didn’t you say you had to go?”
“I do. I have a few interviews tomorrow, but it won’t take long to get these cleaned up.” I open his dishwasher and see a few items in there. “Are these dirty?” “Yes.” He starts to stand up to come and help me.
“Sit down. It’s the least I can do.” I reorganize the dishes in the dishwasher and add the rest after they’ve been thoroughly scrubbed. There’s nothing like finding food particles on your “clean” dishes after they’ve been washed.
“It’s weird how comfortable I still feel around you,” Eli says quietly.
I let go of the scrubbie and look at him. I was just thinking the same thing a little bit ago.
“It’s like the past ten years never happened and we’re fifteen again.”
I smile at the memory as I add the soap, close up the dishwasher, and push start. “Ah, to be fifteen again. Life was so easy back then, even though at the time it seemed so hard.”
“It was hard. At least for me.”
I frown. Poor Eli. Even when he had it rough, no one was ever able to tell when he was hurting. Except for me. I always knew.
I dry my hands and walk over to his side. I hesitate before putting my arms around him, and give him a long hug. He waits a moment before his arms wrap around my waist and we hold each other in silence. When we finally break, I look into his eyes, his lips only inches apart from mine. It would be so easy to kiss him. His soft, full lips, the scruff on his jaw begging for my hand to graze over it. I take a deep breath and swallow, then let my hands fall from around his shoulders. I quietly walk over to my purse and pull it over my shoulder.
I look back at him. “See you around.” He’s still sitting on his stool, not moving.
“Bye, Paige.”
I close the door behind me and walk out to my car, which is non-existent in his driveway. Fuck me. Why didn’t I drive again? Oh well, it won’t take me too long to get home.
The light from his porch is bright enough to guide my way to the end of his driveway. I take a right onto the road, swatting at the most annoying, blood-thirsty mosquitoes I’ve ever encountered. I can hear those bastards buzzing in my ears. I slap the side of my head as fast as I can, hoping I killed the one that was persistently trying to get inside of my eardrum.
I hear a vehicle coming up behind me and a small part of me wishes it was Eli so he could bring me home. I move closer to the side of the road to let them pass. As they slow down and drive along side of me, I don’t look over in case the driver just so happens to be a serial killer, because my subconscious tells me that if I don’t make eye contact with him, maybe he will come to understand that I’m not in the mood to be murdered at the moment. Although there’d hardly be any blood left since these mosquitoes will have sucked me dry. “Paige, get in.” Eli!
I turn and make a beeline for his truck and hop in.
“Oh my gosh, I can’t thank you enough! Those mosquitoes are ruthless tonight!” I look down at my arms and try to see if I have any noticeable bumps in the light coming from the dashboard.
“It’s no problem. Want me to turn the light on for you?” I put my arms down.
“No, that’s okay. I’ll look at the damage when I get home.” Which just so happens to come into view at that very moment. He pulls up to the front and puts the truck in park.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were walking? I looked out my kitchen window and saw you halfway down my driveway. I’d have driven you home.”
“I honestly forgot I had walked until I got outside. It was so nice out earlier, I thought it would be a good idea to walk over.”
“Okay.”
I get out and close the door as he rolls down the window. I step up to it. “Thank you so much for rescuing me.”
He returns my smile. “I owe you a lifetime of rescuing.”
Chapter 10
14 Years Old - Eli
Summer vacation equals freedom! I’ll be spending all my time with my three favorite things; My car—that I hope to have running the way I want it—my fishing pole, and my little bookworm. Patrick is leaving to go to Mexico with his family for most of the summer so I won’t get to hang out with him until August, but then we’ll spend the remainder of the summer cooped up playing video games.
What more could a fourteen-year-old boy want?
This will be the greatest summer ever.
It’s dark outside when I climb out of my window and jump down the few feet to the ground. I run my fingers through my light colored curls to get them out of my eyes. It’s kind of chilly out tonight and I’m wondering if I should have grabbed a sweatshirt.
I glance over at my window and quickly try to decide if I should run back in or not. Forget it, I don’t want to risk waking up my dad. I head towards my backyard and through the woods, over the little bridge above the creek, then through the woods again. When I get to the open field, I know I don’t have much farther to go.
I see a soft glow coming from her bedroom window. She’s always staying up late to read, and she’s such a smart person because of it. I throw a small rock up at her window. I don’t see any movement so I throw up another pebble. I recognize her shadow against the wall and I wait. I take a loose coil and push it to the side of my forehead.
Paige and I have spent nearly every single day together for the past two years. It started out as constantly talking on the bus, to occasionally talking on the phone, to hanging out every day after school. Either she comes over to my house or I go to hers. But most of our time is spent in the woods or down by the river, just being together. We hardly see each other in school because we’re always put in separate classes, but as soon as I get on the bus, I know she’s waiting in the third seat back.
After waiting for a few minutes, I hear rustling from around the corner. Paige finally comes into view wearing green plaid pajama bottoms and a large black T-shirt with the Batman logo on the front, her long, silky black hair flowing behind her. I smile as she approaches me.
“So where are we going this time?”
I look down and I’m relieved to see her holding a sweater under one of her arms. “My place. I have something I want to show you.”
Her eyes glimmer with mischief. “Ooh. I’m intrigued!” She pulls her sweater on before I take her hand in mine and we sprint across the field.
“Did your neighbor’s horse finally have her baby?” she asks me as we make our way through the woods.
“Nope. Guess again.”
“The big tree by the fence fell down?”
“Keep guessing.”
She makes a face. “It’s not a dead animal, is it?”
“Wrong.”
“I give up.”
We enter the clearing that leads up to my house. I take her towards the back by our old barn and lift the sheet off of my black 1970 Chevelle SS.