Watercolor (Dragonfly)

by Moore, Leigh Talbert

  I caught his wrist and then laced our fingers. “The short skirts again? You love those, don’t you.”

  “Find me a guy who doesn’t.”

  Just then I saw Summer and called out to her.

  “Hi, Anna. Julian,” she said in her typical burned-out manner. Then she walked over to meet us.

  “I really appreciate you loaning me your notes,” I said, releasing Julian’s hand. “I’ll have them back to you tomorrow.”

  “Sure, no problem.” She handed over the papers. “So what in the world were you doing this morning?”

  I shrugged. “Just overslept.”

  “That’s funny.” Her forehead creased. “I thought I passed you on the road. Headed toward Hammond Island.”

  Shit! I coughed. “What? Are you sure? Because I…” I breathed a laugh, glancing at Julian’s frown. “I wasn’t out there.”

  Her brow was still lined, and she wasn’t backing down. “Don’t you drive a green Civic? I know it was you. I recognized your hair.”

  It was a cool day, and I was literally sweating. “There’s just no way,” I said, laughing weakly. “Unless I was driving in my sleep.”

  “Whatever,” she said with a shrug. “What did you think about the book? For tomorrow we’re supposed to write about our favorite scene and why.”

  “Oh, thanks,” I smiled. “I missed that.”

  “Yeah, you were totally spaced in class.”

  Julian coughed a laugh beside me, and I glanced at him, shaking my head in disbelief. “I had a lot on my mind,” I said.

  “So what’s your favorite?” she charged on, unfazed. “I liked the part where Cohn got all steamed up in the restaurant about Brett, and then Jake told him not to go all prep school. Or the part about the road to hell being paved in stuffed dogs.”

  “Those are good ones, I guess.” I had what I needed and was ready to go.

  “You got that Jake’s impotent, right?” she continued.

  “What?” I frowned, thinking. “No, I totally missed that.”

  “I didn’t catch it either,” Summer went on. “Mrs. Bowman told us in class today. It’s the war injury they keep talking about. Why he can’t sleep with Brett.”

  Julian perked up. “What book are you reading?”

  “The Sun Also Rises,” I pulled my copy out of my bag and handed it to him.

  “What’s this—200 pages?” He pretended to be annoyed. “And you guys are AP? Why are we reading A Farewell to Arms?”

  “Oh, you’ll like that one,” I said, but Julian just stared at me. “I mean, if you read it, you’ll like it. You should give it a try.”

  “It’s a doorstop,” he said.

  “It’s not that bad once you get into it.” I could feel what Jack liked to call my librarian side coming out. Only he called it my sexy librarian side… I froze. Why was my stupid brain thinking about Jack? “But it’s sad,” I finished.

  “Um-hm,” he said.

  Thankfully, the bell rang, and I could get away from Summer and obnoxious, sneaky Jack memories. We said goodbye, and Julian and I started walking back to the building. He was headed to the technology center, and I had American history.

  We walked a few steps in silence, and then he stopped. “What was all that about you driving to Hammond Island this morning? That’s where the Kysers live, right?”

  I shook my head, trying to be convincing. “I didn’t! Summer is so weird. I don’t know why she said that.” He didn’t seem convinced, but I changed the subject. “So I’m meeting you guys in the parking lot this afternoon?”

  He nodded. “Blake said he’d drive his truck in case we don’t get my car going.”

  “Sounds great,” I jumped forward and kissed his cheek. “I told Nancy I’d start at the paper next week.”

  “We should have it fixed today,” he said, catching my mouth with his. “You won’t have to drive next Friday.”

  “Will I have to push?” I grinned, tightening my arms over his.

  “Please. No post-mortems.”

  I laughed. “It wasn’t that bad. I found it very… educational!”

  “Great. That’s exactly how I’d like you to think of me.”

  I let him go. “See you this afternoon.”

  I took off for class, thinking about my plan to visit Mr. Kyser’s office and strategize. If he and Ms. LaSalle were seeing each other again, I could let him know about the car breakdown and see if that had any influence on their decision to tell Julian the truth.

  Then I thought about the Audi Mr. Kyser drove and Will’s BMW. Jack said he wasn’t into cars, and he drove Will’s old Jeep because he preferred a sailboat. But even Lucy had a new car. Surely Julian’s dad would spring for something reliable for his other son.

  But it was more than cars, I thought, my brow creasing. I saw how it stung when Wade made that crack about Julian’s dad. It hurt me seeing Julian’s face. I had no idea what it would be like to grow up without one of my parents—without even knowing who he or she was. Clearly, it bothered Julian, and from the tone I heard in Mr. Kyser’s voice this morning, it bothered his dad, too. We had to get through to Ms. LaSalle.

  Chapter 8

  Blake Fausak was a big guy with light brown hair and a friendly disposition. He was also a pro at fixing cars, and Julian and I sat back and watched as he skillfully took the T-bird apart piece by piece at my house.

  “Seen that new Lexus?” He happily chatted as he worked. “LFA? Zero to sixty in three point six seconds. It’s their flagship model now. Four hundred thousand dollars.”

  “That’s crazy,” Julian said, twirling a socket wrench. He looked at tools as potential objets d’art, and I absolutely loved him for it. “Who spends that kind of money on a car?”

  “Man, I’d love to get my hands on one,” Blake continued. “Light, too. I read it’s a little over three thousand pounds. Got a V10 engine.”

  “What’s it made of?” That got Julian’s attention, and I tried to listen and learn, although I didn’t plan to suggest his dad buy him a four hundred thousand dollar car.

  “They started with some spaceage aluminum,” Blake went on. “But switched over to carbon fiber.”

  Julian nodded.

  “Think you could work on that?” Blake asked.

  “Probably,” Julian said. “You think they’ll get one at the showroom in Sterling?”

  Blake snorted a laugh. “Doubtful. But maybe. I’ll check on it and we can get dressed up and see if they’ll let us give her a test drive.”

  Julian laughed. “Think we can beat them to the border?”

  “With 552 horsepower?” Blake cried, pulling out another tool. I was clueless as to what he was doing. “No sweat. You like margaritas, right?”

  “Tequila,” Julian answered.

  Blake continued working a moment in silence.

  “Hey, Blake,” I jumped in. “What’s your ideal car? Like if you could drive anything?”

  “Anything?” He pulled out a hose and examined it.

  “Within reason,” I added quickly.

  “Hmm… probably a BMW 3-series. That is a sweet ride.”

  “Really?” My brow creased. “Why?”

  “Just a good all-around car,” he said, bending the black hose and looking closely. “Positive steering, rear-wheel drive, fast, but decent gas mileage. And it looks… so fine.”

  At that last part, he looked up, and his eyebrows rose. His face took on a dreamy expression, and I grinned. “I’ll have to start paying more attention.”

  “Okay, here’s the problem.” Blake showed us the hose that even I could tell was bad. “Fuel line. You’re lucky you made it home. When this goes, nothing happens.”

  “Got what you need to fix it?” Julian asked.

  “Yep, hang on.” Blake walked back to his truck, and I looked over at Julian.

  “Dad was right,” I smiled.

  Julian leaned over and bumped my shoulder with his. “Your dad knows more about cars than I do.”

 
I bumped him back. “I bet even a four hundred thousand dollar Lexus won’t run with a bad fuel line.”

  His brow relaxed, and he kissed my head. “You’re sweet,” he breathed. “Angel.”

  Blake had the car fixed in less than an hour and then took off. Julian stuck around a few extra minutes to thank Dad and kiss my nose before taking the T-bird back to his house in Dolphin Shores.

  It was late, but I had time to run upstairs and finish copying Summer’s notes after dinner. Mom stuck her head in and said goodnight before going to bed. “Hey, hon,” she said. “How’s it going with Julian?”

  I dropped my pen. “Great!” I jumped up smiling. “He’s taking me to the dance next Friday if that’s okay.”

  “Just like last fall.”

  I laughed. “I guess Julian’s my date to every dance this year.”

  “You met Jack at the dance last fall, didn’t you?” she asked.

  “Sort-of.” I couldn’t figure out where she was headed. “I actually met him at his house the night I went to study with Lucy. But he was in my English class, so I’d been seeing him before the dance.”

  “It seems like it wasn’t so long ago,” she said, looking down. “Have you had enough time to get over that?”

  My brow creased, and I thought about the picture Lucy had given me for Christmas. It was of Jack and me at that first dance, and it used to be under my pillow. But I’d stuffed it in my drawer a while back. I hadn’t looked at it in forever. Seeing Jack’s face still stung a little, but I was determined it didn’t.

  “I think so,” I said, trying for humor. “Jack only sneaks into my brain when I’m not prepared.”

  Mom came over and sat beside me on the bed. “Sweetie. You need to give yourself time to recover before starting something new.”

  “Well,” I exhaled. “I sort-of suggested we take it slow before Christmas. But now, I don’t know. It feels like school’s ending, and… I don’t want to waste time.”

  Her eyes were concerned. “But do you still have feelings for Jack?"

  I shook my head. “I don’t,” I said. “Trust me, Mom, I really like Julian. Really. And, well, Jack broke up with me. I’ve got to let him go.”

  She didn’t look convinced, and I couldn’t figure out what else to say. “It’s just so easy being with Julian,” I tried. “And he makes me feel good. I mean, we know each other so well, and the way we talk, it’s like… I don’t know.”

  She patted my leg. “Just keep a handle on your feelings.”

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to do.” I said.

  She kissed my head and went to the door. “Don’t stay up too late.”

  I finished copying Summer’s notes and changed into my nightshirt, but my dumb conversation with Mom… Before I climbed into bed, I stopped at my desk and slid the top drawer open. The picture of Jack and me together greeted me like an unwelcome intruder. It was the first time I’d looked at it since moving it from my nightstand to my desk, farther away from me, on its way to my closet. His perfect smile and bright blue eyes still made my stomach hurt. I remembered his kiss, the feel of his hands, me sliding his blond hair back with my finger…

  Like an idiot, I wondered what he was doing, and if what Lucy said about him not dating anyone was true. My stupid eyes actually got warm.

  “Ugh!” I growled, slamming the drawer shut. Even if what Lucy said was true, I didn’t care. We broke up, and he didn’t say we were waiting for each other. We weren’t waiting for each other. I wasn’t waiting.

  I was pissed now. That old memory left me feeling heavy, and I was about to crawl under the covers hoping I wouldn’t cry when I heard the faintest tapping sound on my window. I froze, glancing at my clock—11:35.

  I heard it again and tiptoed over to the window, easing back the sheer curtain not knowing what to expect. Julian! I reached up to unfasten the lock and silently lift the glass.

  “You keep scaring me,” I whispered. “What are you doing here?”

  He was sitting in the giant live oak tree right outside. “Mom left again,” he said. “Can I come in?”

  “Hang on,” I whispered.

  I crept over and turned off my lamp, then cautiously opened my bedroom door. I could hear my dad snoring down the hall, and I closed the door again, turned the lock, and tiptoed back to the window. He was still sitting there, waiting.

  “If Mom or Dad catches you, they’ll lose it,” I said.

  He looked down. “Okay—I’ll take off.”

  “Wait,” I said, remembering falling asleep in his arms last night, how good it felt. His lips on my skin. “I mean, you can come in. But just be quiet!”

  He grinned and climbed through, dropping softly to the floor. I sat facing him. We looked at each other for a few seconds. I wasn’t sure what to do.

  “What were you thinking?” I finally said.

  “I don’t know.” He reached for my hand. “I heard Mom leave, and I was just lying in my bed all alone in that house. I thought I’d come see if you were still up.”

  “You’re lucky I had to copy Summer’s notes and do that assignment.” I let him lace our fingers. “Or I’d have been asleep.”

  His blue eyes flickered to mine, and it was all I could do to stay where I was. “Would you have got up and let me in?”

  “Yes.” I didn’t hesitate.

  We stood, and he followed me to the bed. “I thought about following her tonight,” he said. Then he let out a brief laugh. “It’s so weird. I kind of really want to know what she’s doing.”

  That idea was intriguing. What would happen if Julian caught his mom going to Bill Kyser’s house?

  “Maybe you should follow her,” I said.

  “Yeah, but then what?” he sighed as I turned back the blankets. “I guess she’ll tell me when she’s ready.”

  “She should tell you now.” I sat on the bed facing him. “Who do you think it is?”

  He slipped the long-sleeved flannel shirt he wore off his shoulders as I watched. “I don’t know. When Wade said that today about her being at the building center, I thought maybe it was some guy he works with.”

  “Somebody like Wade?” My brow lined as I admired his physique, standing there in only a white tee.

  He sat on the side of my bed, pulling off a Chuck. “That would be…” he breathed a laugh. “Unexpected.”

  “Well, it’s not,” I said, shaking my head.

  “What?” He frowned, pulling off his other shoe.

  I jumped, trying to cover. “I mean, I’m sure it’s not. Somebody like that, I mean.”

  We sat for a few seconds facing each other. I couldn’t help it—I had to cover a yawn with my hand.

  “You getting tired?” he asked, pushing one of my curls back.

  “It’s almost midnight.”

  “Get in,” he said, standing up. “I’ll sit beside you til you fall asleep.”

  I stood and stepped into my bed. Then I stopped. “You want to climb in for a few minutes?”

  He grinned and slid in behind me. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  I turned so my back was pressed into his chest. One of his arms went around my waist, and the other was under my head. I felt him kiss the top of my shoulder, and warmth flooded my body.

  “Will you fall asleep?” I asked.

  “Probably.” His breath against my neck tingled my skin. “But I can set my phone to vibrate early.”

  He took his arms away, and I scooted around to watch him set the alarm. He slipped it in his back pocket and looked at me.

  “It’s nice being here with you,” he said, stroking my cheek with the back of his finger.

  “I like you being here with me.”

  He cupped my cheek and kissed me softly. I kissed him back, and he rolled above me kissing me deeper as I wrapped my arms around his neck. I felt his hand slide slowly down the front of my nightshirt. My heartbeat picked up, and I slid back.

  “Wait…” I whispered. “I… I mean, are you sure?” I hadn
’t told him it would be my first time, and I was actually kind of afraid to tell him after how Jack had responded to the news. Jack had completely shut down and taken me home. It was about the most humiliating thing that had happened while we were together.

  “I mean, Mom and Dad are right there,” I finished softly.

  He looked at me for a second and then nodded, lightly kissing me again and resting his hand on my stomach. “I can wait.”

  I rolled so that my back was pressed into his chest again. He was softly stroking my arm, and I could feel his warm breath on my neck. It was the best I’d ever felt in my life, and I was just starting to drift when I heard him whisper. “What was your favorite part of the book?”

  My forehead lined. “What book?” I whispered.

  “The Sun Also Rises,” he said, nuzzling against my shoulder.

  Chills skittered down my arms, and I laced my fingers through his, thinking about my homework assignment. I’d forgotten he’d heard it.

  “The part where Brett leaves Jake’s apartment early in the morning, and he’s watching her walk away, up the street.”

  I could feel Julian’s brow furrow against my skin. “I thought he was impotent.”

  “He is, but they’re in love. She keeps coming back to see him, and they kiss each other and they want to be together, but they can’t. They keep trying to play it off like his injury should be funny.”

  Julian lifted his head, and in the darkness I felt him frowning at me. “That’s your favorite part?”

  “No.” I breathed a laugh. “Not that part. The part I like is when he watches her leave. He’s very sad, and he says something like ‘It’s easy to act hard-boiled during the daytime, but at night it’s a different story.’”

  We were quiet for a minute.

  “When was that written?” Julian asked.

  “Right after World War I.” My eyes were heavy. “A long, long time ago.”

  He nodded. “It’s still true.”

  “Mm-hm.”

  He hugged my middle and leaned forward to kiss me behind the ear. I pulled his hand up to my lips then I closed my eyes and fell asleep warm and not the least bit sad anymore.