by Marie Cole
"Wha...With Kent? No!" I shook my head, furiously, hands up in the air in defense. "No, no, we're just friends. He doesn't like me like that." I looked at Jen, the blush still warm on my cheeks. "I've never done that. Never even kissed a boy. Who would I kiss, really? How about you?"
A sly little smile played along her lips as a finger raised to twirl one of those golden locks. "I've kissed boys before. And then some."
She put the car into gear finally and backed out. As we drove the wind flew over us, making it impossible to talk. We finally arrived at her mansion and saw Kent sitting in his car on the street in front of the house. He didn't look happy, nor did the police officer who was standing at his window.
"Uh-oh," I said quietly. I turned around in the seat to stare at Kent as we passed by.
Jen parked the car in the driveway and gracefully got out, leaving me in the car, making me feel as inconsequential as her bag in the back.
She approached the police officer and offered him a sugary sweet smile. "Excuse me sir, is there a problem?"
The officer turned to Jen, his eyes regarded her underage body quickly. "We caught this young man loitering outside this house. We ran his plates and he's not registered in this neighborhood." Kent looked extremely displeased inside his car.
Jen laughed, the sound thick like honey. "No sir, these are my friends and I invited them over to see the house. My parents and I just moved here. My father is Dr. Derby."
With a nod of his head the police officer addressed her. "Alright, ma'am. If you're sure there isn't any trouble then we'll get back on patrol."
Jen shook her head. "No, no trouble officer. Thank you." She lightly touched the officer on the arm and gave him a warm smile. As I watched I recognized that Jen was used to getting what she wanted. And a part of me had a very bad feeling that what she wanted was Kent.
"Uh-oh." I said quietly again.
I grabbed my bag and headed towards the commotion. I opened Ken's car door, throwing my book bag in there so I wouldn't forget it later. "Man, I wish I had a camera so I could take a picture and send it to Mama Lyle." I was grinning as I came around to witness Ken and the police officer. I made a frame with my fingers and then made a camera shutter noise.
"Very funny, Elly. I'd be grounded for a week even if I didn't get arrested by the cops." The frown was hanging on his lips as he got out of the car.
Jen waved as the police officer got into his cruiser and left. Kent was scratching at the wild chocolate brown mop of hair on his head.
I waved him off, trying to wipe away his bad mood. "Such a sourpuss. Perk up, Kent, we're at our future nerdy-palace!" I grinned at him and smiled sweetly to Jen, trying to show her that I was not an opponent as she wrapped her fingers around Kent's hand and pulled him up the driveway. Because I knew from experience that the prettier the high school girl, the more vicious they were...
Chapter Eight
ELLY
Jen had been getting too close. She'd had her paws all over Kent every time I turned around. It was so annoying. Doesn't she know that he isn't into girls like her? Is he? Yeah, he probably is! Ugh! Stop it, Elly!
I looked at my reflection in the mirror and shook my head. Was this really the outfit that was going to get Kent to say yes to being my boyfriend? I closed my eyes tightly and took a deep breath. Oh my god. This was crazy.
"This is the craziest idea you've ever had, Elly Palmer!" I yelled at myself and it only made me want to cry more than I already did.
No, I was going to do this. And tonight was the perfect night. I would just do it right away, as soon as I saw him. Yeah.
I put the finishing touches on my lips and then left my room. My mom was in the living room and stopped me just before my hand opened the door.
"Elly, don't stay out too late."
"I know, Mom. Midnight. I'll be back on time, I promise."
She smiled a half smile as she looked back at her magazine in her hands. "I know you will. You're an angel."
I wasn't sure I'd go that far. "Okay, weirdo. Love you, Mom."
"Love you too. You look nice. Tell Kent Happy Birthday for me."
I felt my cheeks blaze up. I was obvious. I ripped open the door and yelled over my shoulder, "Okay, I will."
As soon as I was on the sidewalk I let out a deep breath. You can do this, Elly. You can do this. Kent was on time, as usual, as he pulled up beside my house. I ran down the hill and then remembered that it was the night and slowed down. I opened the car door and got in. I looked across the distance of the car at him. He was smiling, inching his glasses back into place with his pointer finger. So adorable. It was do or die. I had to make my move.
I leaned over and wrapped my arms around him. My lips going to his just before he turned his face and gave me his cheek.
Burn. Okay, maybe I just needed to say something. I cleared my throat as I sat back in my seat. He put the car in drive and started off onto the dimly lit streets.
"Happy Birthday." Smooth, Elly.
He grinned, "Thanks, Els. Ready for burger heaven?"
"You bet I am." I smiled as I took the opportunity to take him in. He was dressed in a faded t-shirt and jeans. He hadn't dressed up, that was for sure. But his hair was still damp and I could faintly smell something spicy and clean coming from his general direction.
"Good. I'm starving. Did you bring your appetite or did you leave it at home like you did on your birthday?"
"Don't worry. I brought it. Kent?" I swallowed hard. Just say it, Elly! Kent, I like you. I want to be your girlfriend. We should be more than friends. Say it!
He looked at me, the same grin taunting me. "Yeah?"
"I, um..."
He was studying me and it was making me extremely uncomfortable.
"I, um..." I gasped and put my hand on the dashboard as a red light quickly approached. "Red light! RED LIGHT!"
He stomped on the brake, the car stopped just in time. The mom that was crossing the street with her two young children glared in our general direction. I looked at Kent, who was now sweating a little, and exhaled loudly. "That was close."
"Yeah. Don't know what's gotten into me. I should've been watching the road."
Instead of me? He's right! Why was he watching me? Did he know what I was going to say?
"You better quit staring at me or people will get the wrong idea."
He laughed and shook his head, "Nope. That would never happen. Everyone knows I have the coolest best friend in the world and that's you. I was staring at you because you have something under your eye."
I yanked down the sunshade and then the cover for the vanity mirror and stared at a big blob of mascara that had somehow come loose. "Dammit." I looked around for a tissue or a napkin but there was nothing. Had he cleaned his car?
I opened the glovebox and screamed when a box of condoms fell out of it and into my lap. I held them up between two fingers and tried to get them back into the glovebox.
"Elly, th-th-they're not opened. Just st-st-stick them back in there." He grabbed for them and then threw them into the glovebox, slamming it loudly. His cheeks were burning red along with his ears. I'd never seen him so embarrassed.
"I, um, sorry." I swiped at the glob until it was gone and then wiped my dirty finger on the bottom of my black shirt. It would blend in well enough. My mind was now stuck on the condoms. Why did he have condoms in his car? Was he expecting to use them? With Jen?
The thought made my stomach tighten with disgust. I swallowed back a little bile and cleared my throat as I put the sun visor back up. We parked in the Burger Shack's parking lot and quickly got out. Neither of us wanted to talk about what had just happened. If we were good at anything it was avoiding sticky topics.
I closed my eyes, sticky making me think of Kent with his hand around his... Quit it, Elly! Focus!
I cleared my throat and followed him to the counter.
"Two doubles with bacon and cheese, a large order of cheese fries and two Mountain Dews, please."
> Kent reached for his wallet but I was already ready with a twenty in hand. I slapped it on the counter and smiled victoriously at him. He grinned and nudged me gently with his elbow. "Thanks."
"Birthday treat, you know that."
"Yeah, yeah."
I took the change and slid it into his pocket. He looked a little flustered and I smiled to myself. He was going to say yes. We would soon be Elly and Kent, GF and BF.
He grabbed the tray as I grabbed the drinks and we found our usual spot in the farthest corner away from the little shop. I put straws in both of our drinks while he set out the food and napkins.
"So, what are you going to wish for this year?" I asked him after I took a sip of my Dew.
"I'm going to wish for world peace, of course." He winked and then picked up a fry.
I did the same and we tapped them together, "To world peace then."
"To world peace." We both ate a cheesy fry and panted with mouths open as we tried to let some steam escape as the burning hot potatoes touched our tongues.
We laughed when we finally got them down and started in on our burgers.
"So, I have something that I need to tell you. Or ask you. Or both." I chewed slowly, watching him as he ate.
He wasn't lying, he was hungry. He barely took a breath between large bites. He watched me expectantly while he devoured his food.
"Um... well. You and I have been friends for a long time and--" I watched as the crinkly paper underneath our food started to move. I blinked and looked up at the sky and then winced when two large raindrops landed on my face. "Oh god. It's going to rain. Like bad. We have to get our stuff to your car. Like--" It was too late. The sky opened up and started to hit us with everything it had.
By the time we'd gathered our things and gotten into the car we looked like two pathetically wet street dogs. I was angry, sad, bitter. Why had it chosen right now to rain when I was about to pour my heart out?
I looked over at Kent and he was smiling.
"Why do you look so happy?"
"Look." He pointed and I struggled to see what he saw. And when my eyes finally landed on Meghan trying to calm Frank down after he stepped into a huge muddy puddle, I laughed too. He was shaking out a very brown leg.
"Happy Birthday from the Heavens."
Chapter Nine
KENT
I was still watching Frank sink into a large puddle on instant replay in a loop in my mind as we stepped up to my front door, my sneakers squishing with water. Just before I put my hand on the door knob I felt Elly's hand around mine, pulling it towards her.
I squeezed her hand and nodded towards the door. "Come on."
"Wait..." she said softly. Something was wrong. My smile slipped, matching her serious expression.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, I just..." She was staring at our hands, some of her hair falling into her face. I reached out and put it back into place and at that moment she looked up at me. Her large hazel eyes filled with fear? Anxiety? Uncertainty? She was freaking me out.
"What?"
"Kent, I like you a lot and--"
The front door opened and Jen stepped out. I blinked and stuttered, to my annoyance, as I let Elly's hand go. "J-J-Jen! Hey. Wh-What are you doing here?"
"I wasn't about to miss your birthday. I hope it's okay that I came over?"
I was ecstatic and relieved. I hugged her to me, her hands went to my back, they felt so good and sent goosebumps over me. I pulled back and looked between Elly and Jen. Both seemed so uncertain of the other.
"It's absolutely okay. Elly and I were just going to play video games until her curfew was up."
I nodded to Elly, silently hoping she would understand that I wanted Jen to join us. I wasn't weary of her anymore. She had opened up to me a few days ago about her past. About all the douchebag jocks she'd gone out with that she didn't have a taste for anymore. She'd told me she wanted to try a good guy. I figured she was talking about me but I wasn't completely sure. She kissed me and then I ran as fast as I could away from there. I wasn't sure what was going to come next.
Elly smiled at me and I felt the tension in my shoulders ease considerably. She understood. Thank God. She was such a good friend. I was afraid she wouldn't play the wingman part so well because she was a girl but she was doing a great job.
"Shall we, ladies?"
I reached for the door handle again and this time we entered, me at the rear. My eyes had to adjust to the darkness but once they did I saw a well-lit cake in the middle of my kitchen table.
Jen's hand touched my back and, despite the cold fabric against my skin, I felt my cheeks sizzle. "Happy Birthday, Kent. Your mom told me about your tradition but I noted that it didn't involve any cake."
That was because Elly wasn't a huge cake fan so we usually skipped it, but I wasn't about to tell Jen that. I hugged her tightly before pulling away and looking at the glowing cake. It was magnificent. "Thanks, Jen. I've kind of missed cake."
Elly walked away from the table and into the kitchen. If the set of her shoulders was any indication she was pissed.
Shit.
"One minute, Jen." I jogged into the kitchen just in time to save my mom's dishes from Elly's anger. "Woah, hey there. What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing." She wasn't looking at me and I knew that meant that she was definitely mad about something. Avoidance was her go to. I grabbed her hands and tried to stop her but she forcefully pulled her hands from mine.
"Don't!"
I frowned as I stared at her fiery eyes. What was her problem?
"Don't try to figure out what's wrong with you? I'm just trying to have a nice birthday, Elly. I'd like you to be a part of it but not like this."
She looked at me, determination and hurt in her eyes, staring at me, punching me in the gut.
"I'm sorry that I've ruined all your birthdays because I can't bake a cake and never had extra money laying around to buy one. And I'm sorry that our evening was going to suck. But I'm glad that it's not anymore because Jen is here to save it."
Oh. So she was jealous of Jen. Because I was giving attention to Jen? Probably I'd spoken too soon about the wingman thing.
Shit.
"Elly, come on. I didn't mean it like that. And what was I going to do? Tell her to go away?"
Her eyes were on mine, searching and finally she looked away and shook her head. "No, you wouldn't do that. I'm sorry. I'll try to be in a better mood. Go ahead and start on the cake, I'll be right back."
I watched her leave the kitchen without acknowledgement from me and rolled my eyes. She always had a bit of a flair for the dramatic. Jen and I were becoming friends and Elly needed to get used to that because I didn't see it going away anytime soon. At least I hoped it wouldn't.
I took the plates into the dining room just as Jen was grabbing her purse. Her eyes met mine and my gut clenched tightly.
"Where are you going?"
"I didn't mean to ruin your birthday thing. I'm sorry."
I set the plates down quickly and wrapped an arm around her and quickly took my arm away once I realized I was still sopping wet. "No, you didn't. Don't worry about Elly. She'll be fine."
Jen looked over her shoulder towards the bathroom, "Are you sure?"
I shook her gently until she looked back at me. "I'm sure."
She smiled and set her purse back down, "Alright, if you're sure."
"I definitely am."
"Then blow out the candles and make a wish, they're almost all the way melted."
I bent over and blew out the candles in one easy breath and then stood back up and smiled at her. Make a wish. I wished for Jen to want something more. I wanted something more. I wanted to kiss her and touch her. Even if it was in secret. I knew she was the kind of girl who would be worth that.
"Make your wish?" She asked, eyebrow raised with grinning lips.
I nodded once. "Yeah."
"So are you going to ask me or are you going to make me ask you?
"
I pushed my glasses up my nose after I'd stared at our shoes for a moment. Was she talking about what I think she was talking about? What if she was talking about helping her with Trig homework or taking her to a football game or something? I was eighteen now. Do or die.
"Will you go on a date with me tomorrow night?"
I'd never seen her smile so big as she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly. She squealed lightly, "Yes!" And then she pulled back and stared up into my eyes. Hers were so blue, I wanted to swim in them. And I forgot about everything.
"Kent, I have to go. I'm not feeling so well and I'm all wet." Elly's voice cut through our moment and out of instinct, as if I were doing something terribly wrong or taboo, I pushed Jen away from me and rubbed the back of my neck with my hand. My cheeks were on fire, I knew it.
"Um. Okay. Let me give you a ride home?"
"No, that's okay you are busy and stuff. I'll just walk."
"No. You're not feeling well, and it's raining, I'll take you home. It's my birthday and what I say goes."
She at least had the decency to look humbled. "Alright."
I looked at Jen and then Elly and then back at Jen. What was I going to do with Jen?
"Do you want to come along or wait here?"
"I'll just wait here." She smiled and my heart skipped a few beats. I couldn't wait to get back and see what was going to happen between us. I grabbed my keys and then headed for the front door, opening it so Elly could go through first.
"Alright. I'll be right back."
Once we were in my car I turned to Elly, we were both shivering from the cold. "Are you going to throw up?" I reached out and turned the heat all the way up.
There was a pause as she rubbed her each fingernail on her left hand. "No."
"Is this because of Jen?"
Another pause as she did the same to her right hand. "No."
I didn't believe her but I didn't have time to argue with her right now. Jen was waiting on me. I pulled away from the curb and headed for her house. "So I think Jen and I are an item. Or maybe we're just going on one date tomorrow. I'm not sure but either way I wanted you to hear it from me first."