by Lee, S. G.
***
When the class was dismissed for lunch, Evan sprang from his seat. Emma was reviewing the back page of their itinerary for lunch suggestions when he took the paper from her.
“Don’t bother with that! I’ve got something better in mind.”
He took her by the hand and escorted her outside to a secluded spot near a cluster of trees. While she held their place, Evan dashed to his car and retrieved the cooler and a blanket. Basking in the sunshine, they sprawled out on the blanket to enjoy cold fried chicken, homemade potato salad, and fresh fruit salad. The crisp autumn breeze danced through Emma’s hair as they talked, ate, and laughed. Their brief reprieve from the dreary classroom flew by and Evan found it difficult to go back inside. He was tempted to suggest cutting class but knew Emma wouldn’t approve. Instead, he reviewed the campus map while Emma scribbled more notes. To Evan’s delight, the second half of class and the Q&A session wrapped up quickly.
Taking advantage of the gorgeous weather, they walked to the other side of campus to view the art exhibit. Since Emma had not objected earlier, Evan felt brave enough to take her hand again. Though she didn’t make eye contact, a smile crept across her face. Evan’s attentiveness surprised Emma; it hadn’t occurred to her that Evan found her attractive. After years of Jillian’s criticism, she believed she was completely unappealing to boys. Still, she relished the attention and marveled at how natural it felt to hold Evan’s hand. It all felt natural; their conversations, the shared laughter, and even the way he touched her arm while he drove to the restaurant.
Snuggled into a corner booth, Evan made a mental note to give the restaurant a high rating on Yelp.com both for excellent service and atmosphere. Their only disappointment came when the waiter finally brought them the check, signifying their evening was drawing to a close. Emma reached for her bag but Evan playfully slapped her hand.
“I don’t know what kind of dates you’re used to, but you’re not going to pay when you’re out with me.”
Emma’s flushed cheeks were partially concealed by the dim lighting but she assumed Evan still noticed. In truth, she wasn’t used to any kind of dates. Evan was her first, though she wasn’t entirely sure if it counted as a date. Emma’s thank you was barely louder than a whisper.
Her silence on the ride home had Evan worried. Idiot! Why would you slap her? Do something or you’re gonna blow your shot with her. Gently taking her hand, Evan raised it to his mouth and placed a delicate kiss on the spot he had slapped.
“I’m sorry. Even playing, I never should have hit you. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
In the middle of an internal debate over whether or not she was on a real date, Emma hadn’t noticed her prolonged silence. Evan’s lips brushing against her skin roused her from her inner monologue.
“I’m not upset. Why would you think that?”
“You haven’t said a word since we left the restaurant.”
“I wanted to ask you about something but I wasn’t sure how to say it. I was wondering … when you said ‘date’ … is this really a date?” No sooner were the words out than Emma immediately regretted it. Why did you say that to him? Now he’ll know you’re a total loser. Feeling foolish, she muttered, “Never mind.”
Slowing to a stop at a yellow light, Evan put the car in park. He turned to Emma, cupped her face in his hands, and looked meaningfully into her eyes.
“Yes, I considered this a date; hopefully the first of many.” He’d planned to lean over and kiss her, but the light changed too quickly and the car behind them blared its horn. Just like that, the moment was gone.
Once Evan’s attention was back on the road, Emma’s breathing resumed. Making a conscious effort to keep the conversation going, she chatted superfluously as he drove.
During a quick pit stop to fill the gas tank, Emma grabbed some drinks and attempted to pay for the gas.
“Seriously? What part of ‘you’re not paying when you’re out with me’ did you not understand?”
Emma made a dramatic show of hiding her hands behind her back, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. For the rest of the ride, their conversation was lighthearted and punctuated with laughter.
It was well before Emma’s curfew when they pulled into the Wexleys’ driveway. Evan took her hand as they walked to the front door, his eyes fixated on Emma’s cherry-red lips. The Slushie Emma drank in the car had turned her lips a deliciously vibrant shade. Evan couldn’t help but wonder if they tasted like cherry too. Longing to find out, Evan leaned in and lightly touched his lips to hers. He paused, waiting for a slap. Since she didn’t object, he pulled her closer. With their bodies pressed tightly together, Evan’s kiss became more demanding. Emma’s head was spinning and her knees felt weak but she didn’t want it to stop. Though her eyes were closed, flashes of light seemed to flicker overhead, reminiscent of old movies where fireworks went off during the lead couple’s kiss, only it lacked the swell of orchestral music. She suddenly realized the flashing was not from imaginary fireworks; someone inside the house was flicking the porch light and Emma suspected it was Matt.
Still holding Emma, Evan paused to look around after having noticed the lights as well. They flickered again, but this time Emma threw open the front door and hissed through her clenched teeth, “I swear to God I’m going to kill you, Matt!”
Only it wasn’t Matt standing there …
“Dad? What are you doing?”
“I was waiting for you to get home, honey.”
Emma knew it was parent-speak for, ‘I wanted to make sure you were home before curfew.’
“Yeah, well, I’m home so you can go to bed. Good night!”
Outraged, she slammed the front door. Evan was shocked that Emma would speak to her father so rudely. He had no doubts his father would have planted his size eleven boot in Evan’s rear if he even thought about mouthing off like that.
As if magnetically attracted, Evan’s lips were drawn to Emma’s and he put everything else out of his mind except her. His hand caressed her cheek and Emma felt deliciously dizzy again. Softly kissing the length of her neck, Evan murmured an invitation.
“I’m going to take Lucy to the park tomorrow. Do you want to come with us?”
Unable to verbally respond, Emma nodded her head in agreement.
“Then it’s a date … until tomorrow.”
With a final deep kiss Evan said good night and watched her go inside. Emma’s lips tingled as a smile crept across her face.
Patiently waiting upstairs, Matt was sitting on the edge of Emma’s bed, ready for details. As she shared highlights from her date, Matt silently congratulated himself on his matchmaking prowess. He hadn’t seen Emma that happy in a long time. In return, she listened as her twin rehashed almost everything that happened at the dance, although he kept his intimate details private.
***
The next morning, Matt was raiding the fridge when he heard a knock at the door. He was surprised that Emma had agreed to an early date; she had never been a morning person. Evan seemed disappointed that she was still sleeping.
“Could you get her for me, Matt?”
“Even if the house was on fire, I don’t think I’d wake Emma up. You want her, you get her … but if I were you, I’d stay out of arm’s reach.” Noticing the worried look on Evan’s face, he added, “Relax, my dad’s at work and Jillian won’t be home for hours. Go!”
Reluctantly, Evan climbed the stairs while Matt flippantly hummed Taps. Paying no heed to Matt’s warning, Evan brushed Emma’s hair back and kissed her cheek. With a contented sigh, Emma turned on her side. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open as she bolted upright. She stared wide-eyed at Evan trying to determine whether she was dreaming or if he was really sitting on the edge of her bed.
“I thought you were coming with us to the park today?”
“Oh my God! What time is it?”
“Time for you to wake up. I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
***
Impressed that E
van was still in one piece, Matt offered him some breakfast. Within fifteen minutes, Emma was showered, dressed, and headed downstairs. Unlike most girls, she didn’t need three hours to get ready. Emma snatched a couple of strips of bacon from Matt’s plate and poured herself a glass of juice.
With a scowl, Matt protectively picked up his plate and left the kitchen.
“Leave my food alone. Make your own if you want some, brat.”
Emma’s sly smiles made Evan suspect that it was all part of her plan to encourage Matt’s departure. Taking full advantage of their privacy, Evan’s lips were pressed against hers as he pulled her closer.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
While Emma munched her stolen bacon, Evan leafed through the newspaper left on the kitchen table. Scattered between the usual doom and gloom, two curious headlines caught his eye. The first described a recent outbreak of viral infections claimed to be the cause of death for nearby high school students.
“This school,” Evan pointed at the headline, “they’re the team that didn’t show up for Matt’s football game, right?”
Emma shrugged and poured herself more juice. The article stated that the virus caused violent outbursts that made the infected teens attack family members and medical professionals. The reporter suggested that it could be a resistant strain of the swine flu. The second story was about missing campers near Green Lane Reservoir. A search party had been organized, but instead of finding the lost victims the volunteers never returned. In Evan’s mind, red flags waved frantically and his eyes narrowed suspiciously as he made a mental note to speak with Matt later about the article; he realized it was time to start preparing. Matt needs to read Uncle George’s book, Evan decided. I’m going to need someone else in my corner when the shit hits the fan! He folded up the newspaper and set it aside. Emma was waiting … and not very patiently. Evan’s concern was placed on hold so he could focus his full attention on Emma. The couple shouted goodbye to Matt before heading out to the car. Again, he opened the car door for her and she blushed.
“So, how come you’re up so early?”
“Early? It’s nearly noon, Em. I’ve been up since seven.”
“Seven A.M. on the weekend? Ugh, why?”
“We go to the eight o’clock service every Sunday so I have to be up by seven. Besides, my dad would never let me sleep the day away like you do.”
“Seriously? You really go to church every Sunday? That’s so sweet.”
There wasn’t even a hint of Emma’s trademark sarcasm but Evan still rolled his eyes at the audacity of being called ‘sweet.’ His annoyance faded when she rested her head on his shoulder and snuggled closer as Evan drove. What a difference a day makes, Evan thought as his smile broadened.
Rainclouds cancelled their plans of taking Lucy to the park; instead, the new couple popped in a movie and snuggled together on the sofa. As part of Evan’s plan to have Emma all to himself, he selected a movie that he knew Lucy would hate. Eventually, his younger sister’s boredom outweighed the novelty of having a guest and she went off in search of her own entertainment.
Pleased that his plan worked, Evan’s lips gently brushed Emma’s cheek. Forgetting all about the movie, her lips met his, tenderly at first then growing in desire. She sighed as Evan’s mouth traced the contours of her neck. Interlocking her fingers in his hair, Emma pulled his mouth back to hers.
Encouraged by her passionate response, Evan pressed his body against hers until she was lying back with her head on the armrest. Clinging tightly to his muscular body, Emma felt shivers up and down her spine. Again, her head was spinning, stifling her inner voice of reason. Considering they weren’t alone, common sense should have dictated a greater restraint. Under the delicate caress of Evan’s hand, Emma’s skin rippled with goose bumps. Fervently, his lips crushed against hers.
“EVAN!”
At the sound of his father’s voice, Evan shot upright. Horrified, Emma sank low into the sofa cushion. She had assumed that Frank, like her father, would be at work. The major curled his finger beckoningly and Evan quietly excused himself. A few moments later, Evan was back and the picture of self-control. The worried look on Emma’s face made him chuckle.
“Relax, it was nothing,” he whispered.
“What did he say?” Emma’s eyes were as wide as saucers and her face burned with humiliation. Already uncomfortable around Major Stone, her lack of self-control only made it worse. She couldn’t help but wonder why the men in the Stone family put her off-kilter. Just then, Kate and Lucy came into the family room.
“Emma, dear, can you stay for dinner?”
Lucy looked at her with hopeful eyes and Evan whispered, “Please?”
“I wouldn’t want to impose.”
“Nonsense! It’s no imposition.” Frank tried to make his gruff voice sound inviting but it didn’t stop Emma from jumping when he spoke. “Why don’t you call home to make sure it’s okay?”
Emma wondered when the major had popped back into the room. She assumed it was his military training that made such a solid man so stealthy.
Despite the earlier embarrassment, dinner with the Stones was much more comfortable than she had expected. Not only did they enjoy each other’s company, but she was amazed that the major was so attentive. Emma couldn’t help feeling envious; it had been ages since the last time her own father spent that much time with her. Since it was a school night, Evan took Emma home right after dinner but he took his time saying goodnight.
***
Later that evening, as he wrote in his journal, Evan scrawled his father’s words onto the page: Son, there are two kinds of girls. There’s the ones that you only want to mess around with, and the ones you marry. Don’t try to make one out of the other. In case you’re confused, Emma is the latter. So, if you’re going to be with her you need to show some restraint. Understand?
Easier said than done, Dad.
Just thinking about Emma made his heart beat faster but he’d promised his dad he would do better.
***
Monday morning saw Emma filled with concern. Boys often acted one way when they were alone with a girl, but completely different once they were back at school surrounded by their friends. Countless times she’d overheard brokenhearted girls bawling ‘but he said he loved me.’ Evan had not said anything of the kind, but there was still a chance that he was just as fickle as other boys.
Evan was leaning against his car, chatting with some of the uniforms as Emma and Matt pulled into the parking lot. Pangs of jealousy gnawed at her insides but before she’d unbuckled her seatbelt, Evan was opening the car door for her. As they crossed the parking lot hand in hand, there were more than a few gasps and several outraged huffs. Whitney stomped over to Matt, demanding to know what was going on. She had been planning a double date with Jessica and Evan but Emma had ruined everything.
Evan found it difficult not to gloat, especially when Tyler looked so miserable. Emma however, did not enjoy being gossip fodder. The whispers were getting on her nerves but it did not stop her from allowing Evan to take her hand when they met in the hallway. Likewise, she did not refuse his peck on the cheek each time they parted.
By the end of the week, Evan and Emma were old news. Few bothered to gawk at the couple anymore, especially since most of the junior class was eagerly anticipating Brittany’s party. It was already being heralded as the party of the year and everyone who was anyone would be there. Matt had invited the new couple but, to Emma’s relief, Evan declined. The buzz in the hallways was that Brittany’s parents would be out of town leaving behind a stocked liquor cabinet. Other kids saw it as an opportunity for unbridled fun, but not Evan. The thought of countless classmates running around like drunken idiots and most likely getting busted by the cops was not remotely appealing. Evan liked to think it was because he was more mature, but knowing that his dad would ship him off to military school in a heartbeat played a primary factor.
Saturday couldn’t arrive soon enough for Matt. His
afternoon football game was against their biggest rivals and, as an added bonus, the party afterward was going to be legendary according to the rumor mill. Matt had never tried anything more than a few sips of beer with his older cousin, but according to his teammates there was nothing like a few drinks to loosen inhibitions. His relationship with Whitney had progressed and she had hinted that maybe they were ready to take things to the next level. Matt wasn’t exactly sure what the next level entailed but he was ready to give it a try.
***
Sergeant Scott Raines had just returned to the station after breaking up a bar fight. His patience was exhausted, one straw away from breaking the proverbial camel’s back. Grown men getting drunk and fighting was typical, but to actually revert to childish behavior like biting meant they needed to spend the night in the drunk-tank to sober up.
Dad is giving the kiddies a timeout. He would have shared his clever comment but the station was relatively empty. Simmons had left to handle a domestic violence report and Lorraine from Dispatch was manning the switchboard. Sighing, Raines dove into the mountain of paperwork on his desk. Moments later, his thoughts were interrupted by shouting.
“Listen, you little punk. We are very busy over here. Did you know Pennsylvania State Law carries a fine of up to five thousand dollars and up to two years in jail for prank calls to 9-1-1? Still think you’re funny?”
“Lorraine? Everything okay?”
“Yeah, thanks, Scott. Some kid called … said there were zombies in his backyard. Like we don’t have enough crap to worry about without kids being idiots.”
“If I wasn’t so tired I’d drive over there and haul him into the station.”
Raines and Lorraine shared a laugh before going back to work.
***
After watching Matt’s team crush their opponents, Emma and Evan went their own way while the rest of their classmates descended on Brittany’s house like flies on a carcass. After a romantic dinner, a double-feature at the cinema and a return visit to the ice cream parlor, it was nearly Emma’s curfew.