N.S.
Marissa blushed, “Thanks.”
“I just have one question. Why UCLA? It’s so far from home,” asked Nick with genuine interest.
Marissa wasn’t ready to talk about Daniel. “There are several reasons. But one reason is the weather. And another reason is because I want to become an actress. Now may I ask you a question?”
“Shoot.”
“What magazine are you reading?” she asked.
Nick flipped to the cover. “Cosmo.”
“Cosmopolitan?” Marissa laughed mockingly.
“Yeah, what’s so funny?” Nick smiled.
“Nothing, it’s just that Cosmo is a chick magazine.”
“So? It’s fun to read. Here I’ll read you your horoscope, when’s your birthday?”
“November 1st.”
“So you’re…”
“A scorpio.”
“Scorpio…Big changes lie ahead in the next few weeks.’ Nick read.
“That sounds about right,” said Marissa.
‘Why?” Nick asked with curiosity.
“Well, I’m turning eighteen. That’s a big change.”
“I’d say it is. Now my turn again, what are you reading?”
“What am I, uh I’m not reading anything.”
Nick pointed to the book in her arms.
“Oh, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I like it, but it’s a little long.”
“Would you mind lending it to me when you’re done? I haven’t read it in a long time. I’d be curious to see what I get out of it now,” Nick asked.
Marissa smiled warmly, “Sure, I’m almost done. I can bring it by tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” Nick grinned.
Marissa bounded out of the room beaming with happiness. Her instincts were correct. Nick wasn’t treating her like a student, but like a friend. He was unlike anyone she had ever met. At once she found herself wanting to know everything about him. To Marissa he was mysterious and different. He was particularly different from any boy she had ever met. Because he wasn’t a boy, he was a man; a man who made her feel more like a woman than she had ever felt before. And she wanted him. She wanted him to hold her and to kiss her. When she was around him, it seemed that time stood still and no one was around but the two of them. She craved that feeling again and again.
The next day Marissa stopped by the art room to drop off Wuthering Heights. The nerves she suffered from, the first day they met, had returned. She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to act around him. It made seeing him again especially awkward. She planned on dropping off the book and leaving.
Nick was standing on a chair hanging up artwork. Marissa held up the book.
“Thanks. Would you mind handing me that paper there?” Nick asked.
“Sure.” She answered.
He reached down to take the paper. “Do you want to help me hang these up?”
Marissa shrugged, “O.K.”
“Good. Then grab a chair and a stapler,” he instructed.
Marissa pulled a chair up next to Nick and handed him the next paper. She was so close she could smell him. They worked for some time without saying anything. Then Marissa blurted out, “So what does your girlfriend do for a living?”
Nick was stunned. “Girlfriend?’
“Yeah, the woman who was with you at the football game. She is your girlfriend isn’t she?” inquired Marissa.
Nick laughed out loud, “You mean Ann? No. Ann and I go way back. She’s a friend from high school.”
“Oh.” said Marissa quickly and turned back to stapling the paper on the wall.
“No, uh, I don’t have a girlfriend.” Nick said shaking his head in disbelief at the question.
“Oh.” She said again trying not to show her contentment.
When they were done working Nick said, “Thanks for your help. Hey if you’re interested, I planned a field trip this Friday evening from six-thirty to eight with my photography students. We’re meeting to see an art exhibit downtown. As a budding photographer, you’re free to join us.”
Marissa wondered what kind of invitation that was. Did he invite her because he was interested? Or was he just being nice? “Yes, I think I’d like that,” she answered calmly. But inside Marissa was anything but calm. A storm of emotions whirred inside of her.
On Friday at sixty-thirty sharp, Marissa stood in front of the art gallery and wondered what the evening might be like. She had dressed up to look her best but not too flashy or sexy. As she opened the gallery door, she didn’t know whether to approach Nick or not. But she didn’t have to worry, for when she walked in, Nick noticed her and motioned for her to come over with the other students.
There were four students from the photography class; two with whom she was acquainted and two others whom she hardly knew at all. Nick introduced her to the others then urged them to enjoy the exhibit at their own pace.
Marissa strolled through the gallery browsing over the photographs. The black and white photographs that made up the exhibit were attractive but she couldn’t concentrate on them. She was only aware of Nick’s presence. She couldn’t help but wonder if he wanted her there, if he cared. At times she felt him move nearer to her but then he’d drift away, making comments to his students. She was envious of the attention he gave them. But then again, she wasn’t really part of their group. She was an outsider, like many times before in her life.
She knew she didn’t want to leave the art gallery without having spoken to him. She longed to talk with him, to share, to laugh. But this was hardly the place nor time. Part of her satisfaction was in knowing he was near, so she lingered hoping the opportunity would arise for them to speak.
Around 8:00 p.m., the others headed for the door and said their good-byes. Marissa waited until the photography students left to say, “Well, thanks for telling me about the outing, I really enjoyed it.”
Nick smiled and said, ‘I’m glad and thanks for the book, I’m nearly done reading it.”
Marissa was surprised, ‘Wow, you read really fast.”
“Well, I do read fast and I don’t sleep much.”
Marissa had parked her Volkswagen next to the navy blue pickup truck. When they arrived at their vehicles, they stared at each other for a few moments smiling. Marissa had never felt so uncomfortable. She didn’t know what to say. Nick finally broke the silence. “So, are you hungry?”
Marissa couldn’t believe what she was hearing, “Um, yeah.”
“How about pizza?’ Nick suggested.
She thought she might faint. “O.K.”
“But not around here. I’m not crazy about us running into students or teachers. Any suggestions?”
Marissa thought quickly, “Uh, my dad lives about twenty minutes from here, completely far away from St. Mary’s territory. We could get the pizza to go and I know this great park where we could eat and hang out.”
Nick’s eyes twinkled. “Sounds good. Why don’t you lead the way and I’ll follow you?”
“O.K. We’ll stop to get the pizza first,” said Marissa beaming.
Marissa got into her car and drove off. Nick followed in his truck behind her. She couldn’t believe it. They were actually going to spend time together, alone. Her body shook with nervousness and excitement. The whole scenario was so dangerously delicious that she couldn’t contain herself. She was grinning from ear to ear.
They pulled into the pizza place parking lot. Nick got out of his car and came to her window. “What do you want on your pizza?”
“Um, pepperoni and ham?” suggested Marissa.
“Do you mind if we do half and half? Because I don’t eat meat.”
Marissa shrugged, “O.K. I don’t mind.” And she didn’t because pizza was the least of her worries. She wondered if she would even be calm enough to eat.
With pizza in hand, Marissa led them to a playground in a park. The park was mostly a fitness trail that closed after dark and even in daylight hours it was sparsely populated. So apart from the i
nsects and night creatures, they were virtually alone.
They crawled to a plateau at the top of the play structure and sat, each one leaned up against a wall of the structure and placed the box of pizza between them. Marissa giggled.
“What?” said Nick. Although he knew perfectly well that her laughter was out of nervousness. He felt it as well.
Marissa shook her head, “Nothing. It’s just, this,” she said pointing to the play structure, the pizza box, and to him. “This is crazy.”
“Yeah, I know,” admitted Nick. “So why are we here?”
Marissa looked straight at him, “I don’t know. Why are we here?”
“Because we’re curious maybe? Because we’re curious about each other, is that why we’re here?”
“I think so. That’s why I’m here.”
“Well, why don’t we eat and demystify this curiosity,” Nick smiled.
“O.K.,” began Marissa,” just one thing, I can’t call you Mr. Smith, it’s just too weird. If we’re going to talk like friends what can I call you?”
“You can call me Nick.”
“O.K. Nick,” there she said it. She had said it so many times before inside her head but she was finally able to say it to him. “What is your middle name again?”
“Michael.”
“What’s yours?”
“Samira.”
“Samira, now that’s unusual. But I like it. Where does it come from?”
“Well, my dad is from the Middle East so that name comes from there. I’ve never particularly liked my middle name,” She admitted.
“Well, I think it’s a beautiful name,” Nick said. “But Belknapp, that doesn’t sound Middle Eastern.”
Marissa smirked. “It’s not. Barbara, I mean, my mom, was bitter after the divorce. She changed her married name back to her maiden name and began putting her last name on all of our legal documents. It’s not exactly legal but she’s been doing it for so long that it sort of stuck. My dad was pretty pissed off though.”
“Boy it sounds like a nasty divorce,” Nick said sympathetically.
“Yeah, it was. It happened a really long time ago but my mom still hasn’t let go,” Marissa explained.
They sat in silence a few minutes while they ate. Marissa looked across at Nick. She admired how sexy he looked in blue jeans and a turtleneck sweater. The dark colors made his blue eyes stand out even more. Meanwhile Nick observed the young woman across from him. From the beginning, her bold personality caught his attention but he had never taken the time to notice how pretty she was. Her dark eyes were deep and mysterious which only became more enhanced by her dark hair and olive skin. He had never before been attracted to a woman with such exotic features but now as he gazed his curiosity was awakened.
“Why don’t you have a girlfriend?” Marissa smiled at the boldness of her own question.
“What kind of question is that?” He scoffed.
“Well, you’re an attractive guy? I was wondering why you aren’t hooked up?”
“I did have a serious girlfriend in college. But when we broke up, I never found anyone to date seriously. It’s as simple as that.” He explained.
“What about you?” he mocked, “Are you hooked up?”
Marissa frowned for a minute. She wasn’t sure she wanted to tell him but she didn’t want to lie so she said, “I do have a boyfriend but he moved to California last spring. We had big plans for our future, but lately I don’t know anymore.” She went on to tell him about Daniel’s attempted suicide and his mother’s alcohol problem. “Sometimes I just get tired of the crises. You know, I want a normal relationship.”
Nick laughed, “What’s normal? Is this normal?” He pointed to her and then to himself.
Marissa whacked him with a napkin, “That’s not what I meant. But I am attracted to you.”
Nick said, “You know the funny thing Marissa, I find myself nervous around you. And when I’m monitoring the cafeteria and I see you, I can’t stop smiling.”
Marissa hesitated a minute, then asked the question she had been thinking of since the moment they met. “Nick, when I graduate in May, would you consider dating me?”
“Marissa, this is a whirlwind of craziness but I just might consider it. But for now, let’s get to know each other slowly, with clear heads.”
They breathed heavily in a moment of silence, gazing into each other’s eyes, which spoke volumes that their lips could not say.
Chapter Eight
Nick was certain about two things: one, he did not want to be jailed for pursuing a minor and secondly he had no interest in losing his job and jeopardizing his career. Even if it wasn’t a career he chose freely, it was all he had and he had no intention of tainting his reputation as a teacher. Yet he thrived on the attention Marissa gave him. Her genuine interest in him and in what he had to say was refreshing. She was the breath of fresh air in the turmoil of his daily life. He looked forward to seeing her even if it was for a brief moment. He ached to share ideas with her. Her openness and willing to learn and accept new ideas made her more attractive with each passing day. And she would visit his classroom often, so often in fact, her frequent presence in his classroom began to raise suspicion from on-lookers. Unbeknownst to them, people began to wonder why this senior girl was spending so much time in the art room, alone with the teacher.
Until now they had nothing to fear, they were completely clean. They had never touched. Innocent flirtations continued between them. Most of the time they were like children at play: sharing ideas, philosophies, books and dreams. They both embraced life so fully, they couldn’t wait to share with the other what happened or what they learned since they last talked.
One day when Barbara was out for the evening, Marissa phoned Nick at home. She wanted him to come over and talk. Nick freaked out at this proposition. He felt she was crossing the line by phoning him at home. He told her that seeing her anywhere near her home wouldn’t be prudent.
They longed to see each other but had to be extremely careful. Nick suggested they meet at the Folk Arts Festival downtown but he urged her to park far away from his truck. He did this to err on the side of caution just in case anyone recognized their vehicles and associated them with one another. Marissa saw it as nothing more than paranoia but agreed and parked her car a few blocks away from the venue. They browsed the festival for hours talking and laughing. Late in the evening, when they were about to leave, they noticed it was pouring rain. Nick offered to drive her to her car to avoid the rain. They ran across the street, through the downpour, laughing like crazy, to get to Nick’s truck first. But even in that short distance, they got completely drenched. They climbed as quickly as they could into the cab of the truck. Nick turned on the ignition to warm up the car.
They turned to face each other and noticed they both looked like drowned rats. They burst out laughing.
“That was crazy!” Marissa exclaimed. “I’ve never seen so much rain at once.”
Nick continued to stare then started singing, “Young teacher, the subject, of school girl fantasy. She wants him so badly, knows what she wants to be…”
Marissa blushed. “You don’t want me standing so close to you?”
“Sometimes I don’t,” Nick said playfully.
“Is now one of those times?” Marissa asked flirtatiously.
“I’m not sure,” he answered hesitantly. Then he spied a cassette tape on the bench beside him “This is Cat Stevens,’ he said putting the tape into the tape deck, “I wanted you to listen to it.”
They sat face to face with their backs to each door, their legs stretched out on the bench seat. Nick took one of Marissa’s feet and started to massage it gently, slowly. She felt herself melting into the seat and into his hands as he massaged. Then he was massaging her feet with his tongue in between her toes. Her breath got heavier and deeper. After a few minutes, he stopped and put her foot down. They stared into each other’s eyes like so many times before. Without a word, he drove her to her c
ar. As she opened the door to leave, feelings of passion overwhelmed her; she leaned in to kiss him. He backed up, startled again by her boldness, he froze. “Marissa, kissing is too intimate. We can’t.”
Marissa was hurt and utterly confused, “But licking my foot is not intimate? I don’t understand.”
Nick was flustered, “It’s just, I can’t.”
Marissa stepped out of the truck. “But you will Nick Smith,” she shouted into the pouring rain, “You will kiss me, someday!”
In school on Monday, Marissa went by the art room. Nick was lending her his copy of the Tao of Pooh. As she left the room book in hand, Mrs. Kowalski stopped her. “Marissa, you never got back to me about tutoring. So are you coming to tutor?”
“I don’t think so Mrs. Kowalski,” said Marissa evasively.
“Well, why not? You do need the service hours,” Mrs. Kowalski insisted.
“I think I’d like to do something else with my service hours,” answered Marissa clutching the book to her chest.
“That is very disappointing,” stated Mrs. Kowalski harshly.
Marissa left the corridor but saw that Mrs. Kowalski wasn’t going back to her classroom. Instead she went into the art room. Somehow Marissa had a gut feeling that Mrs. Kowalski’s frustration was not about tutoring.
Nick was preparing to leave for the day. It was a good day. He had decided to go out and search for that second job he needed so desperately.
Mrs. Kowalski entered the room with a determined step. Her husband had been the principal of St. Mary’s for the past twenty-five years and he had worked hard to maintain its impeccable reputation. She was not about to let rumors of a teacher-student love affair ruin her husband’s glory.
“Mr. Smith!” snapped Mrs. Kowalski.
Nick turned around in astonishment; first at the abrupt entrance of his unexpected visitor, second at the tone in which she addressed him.
“Mrs. Kowalski?”
Forbidden Fruit: An Unlikely Love Story Page 7