by D. M. Cupp
I opened the entrance door after swiping my membership card and waved to the desk clerk as I put on my headphones and selecting a song on my playlist. I found an available machine and I had my choice of any machines as I was the only one in the gym at this early hour. Thirty minutes later I was wrapping up the cooling off period of my workout and I stepped off the machine to find a clean towel to wipe off the perspiration and an extra one to wipe down the machine.
I waved goodbye to the same desk clerk who seemed bored to tears that there was little activity to keep her awake. I felt sorry for the young lady and wish that I had more time to chat, but by the time I got back home it would be six and I still had to shower, get dressed, and eat a light breakfast before leaving for school.
I opened the car door to my Mazda and pulled out my phone still feeling energized after my brief workout and texted Javier: Good morning papí cannot wait until our date tonight. See you at school. I sat the phone down, put the car in drive and headed home with a smiling on my face thinking…only thirteen hours until my date.
****
The morning seemed to go by rather quickly and before I knew it second period was ending and was time for lunch. I got my phone out of my desk turning it on and walked to the closet and retrieved my lunch tote. I had not received a reply from Javier before I shut off my phone before the start of first period and was a little disappointed, but I did not let this dampen my good mood.
My phone buzzed several times informing me that I had incoming messages. I picked up my phone and looked at the screen and smiled seeing that Javier had texted several times after I had turned off my phone.
I cannot wait until tonight either. 8:15AM
I thought about you all night. 8:20AM
Is this moving too fast? 8:21AM
I cannot stop smiling. 8:30AM
Ten hours :) See you at lunch. 9:00AM
I felt bad that I had turned my phone off early and was not able to respond, and knew that he would understand that I was not ignoring him but that I was probably with a student, and that was true I was. I had two students this morning stop by for a makeup exam that they had missed due to being out for a school trip.
I pick up my lunch tote and headed for the door turning off the lights and locking the door behind me. I had to remind myself to maintain a normal pace and not to run down the hall towards the lounge.
I opened the door to the teacher’s lounge and saw Javier already sitting at our table that we had sat at yesterday. I smiled to myself…we have a table. I was a sentimental dork, but I was okay with that. I exhaled and calmed my nerves and proceeded to walk towards the table.
Lunch was uneventful and thankfully Marcy received Javier’s message yesterday and did not attempt to sit with us again when she walked into the lounge. The two of us laughed as we talked about a show that both of us had watched the previous evening. I loved this time of year as the television networks would release previews and trailers of new shows that would start in the fall. Javier had tears streaming down my cheeks as he was reenacting on of the lines from another show that I had not watched, but now wished I had.
“I’ll have to watch it on Hulu or something,” I told him wiping a tear away. “I doubt that it will be as funny as this though.” I said muffling a laugh.
“Oh it will still be funny. I’m not that great of an actor.” Javier reassured me placing a hand on my forearm but then quickly removed it remembering that he was in the lounge and not in private.
“Well this seems like a fun and lively table.” Ken Winters said walking up to the table.
“Afternoon Ken,” I greeted.
“Good afternoon Mr. Winters,” Javier said.
“Javier, please call me Ken. Mr. Winters is so formal.” He said smiling.
“I’ll remember that next time, Ken.”
“Good. I’m glad you and Daniel are hitting it off. He’s been here a long time and I know he can help you settle in.”
“Yes, he is a great guy and real easy to get along with,” he said looking over at me giving me a wink as Ken looked at me and wouldn’t notice.
“Daniel do you think you could come by my office after school. It’s nothing urgent just wanted to chat with you.”
“Sure Ken. That won’t be a problem. It’s been awhile since one of little heart to hearts.”
“Okay, about four-twenty or so?”
“Sounds great,” I said confirming with a slight nod.
Ken smiled and turned to talk to some other teachers in the lounge.
****
I had known Ken Winters for years. I had first met him when I was in college and had to do a research paper about school administration and how their roles affect the classroom. One of my professors recommended that I contact Ken because of his role with the local community and his success at Nasworthy High. The two of us just seemed to hit it off and after a few friendly meetings I asked Ken if he would consider being a mentor.
Ken immediately agreed without any hesitation and since then we had met regularly for chats to see how I was doing both personally and professionally. When it was time to conduct my student teaching I didn’t even have to ask because Ken had already arranged it with one of his seasoned teachers, and when I graduated and started to submit applications for positions. He called me and told me that he had a position available and waiting for me.
Ken Winters had truly become a friend to me over the years and was always available when I needed some sound advice. I had talked to him about my strained relationship with my parents and the reasons that we never spoke, and it was that reason why I guess he made himself available to dispense fatherly advice was the fact that I basically was fatherless.
At four-twenty I knocked on Ken’s office door and he looked up from his computer screen and smiled, “Right on time Daniel.” He said turning off his monitor.
“I’ve always been punctual. You know that.” I said smiling and taking a seat in one of the chair opposite of his desk.
“Yes you have,” he said with a chuckle. “Well I wanted to talk to you for two reasons: first to talk shop and the second to check in on you.”
“Okay,” I replied. “Shoot.”
“Well I see that you have not yet signed your contract for the upcoming year and wanted to see where you were at in your thinking. I would hate to lose you as a teacher but I would also understand.”
“Well you are right that I was hesitating signing because I was unsure as to what I wanted to do. With everything that has happened in the last few months I wasn’t sure if I wanted to remain in San Angelo and risk running into Charles, but recently I think that I might have found a new reason to stay.”
“Well that sounds promising. I mean Daniel we’ve known each other a long time and I feel pretty confident knowing when you are happy and when you are hurting. You didn’t have to tell me anything happened with Charles that day because I knew that something was wrong when you walked into my office that morning. I can also tell you this past week I’ve seen a change in you and you are finally getting back to the Daniel that I knew years ago. You are truly happy and smiling, and the way you were laughing today at lunch well I can’t remember the last time you laughed like that.”
My face reddened and I smiled inwardly but I knew that I was unable to hide it from Ken. He was able to read me like a book.
“You’ve met someone.” He claimed.
I looked up at Ken and then looked away. Ken was awesome he never pushed for information that I was not ready to give, but knew that when I was ready I would share it.
“Daniel I know that you and Charles were together for a long time and there is not a designated amount of time that you need to wait before moving on. Only you can decide that and if this guy makes you happy then great, and if he makes you want to stay and continue to teach here then that’s a plus for me.” He said laughing.
I laughed at his humor and knew that he was not trying to pressure me into staying but attempting to ease my nervousn
ess. “Yes Ken, I have met someone and I don’t know what it is because I’m not ready to label it. Right now I just know I’m having a great time hanging out with him and getting to know him. He isn’t the only reason I want to stay, but he has given me the confidence that I could continue living here with my friends and my self-made family and I don’t have to run away out of fear of running into Charles.”
“That’s great to hear, and I hope that you and Jav- I mean this new guy will continue to have fun together and hopefully it will work out.”
I noticed that Ken had cut himself off and I had to think if he already knew who my mystery guy was. He did not press for further details and I wished him a great weekend. I told him that he would receive my electronic contract before I left for the day.
I rushed back to my classroom and scanned my email for the contract. I signed it electronically pressed send and powered down my computer for the weekend. I grabbed my keys after I was sure I had not forgotten anything, turned off the lights, locked the door, and rushed down the hall to head home and get ready for my date with Javier still smiling.
Chapter Eight
I sat on the couch fifteen minutes until seven drum rolling my fingers on the arm of the couch as Donna sat next to me flipping through channels. I got up and walked to the kitchen and picked up a rag about to wipe down the counters when I sat it back down and returned to my previous place on the couch.
“I don’t know why you’re so nervous. You’ve seen Javier every day this week. What is there to be nervous about?” She asked stopping on a channel and turning to look at me.
“Because this week Javier has only been a fellow teacher, and Monday thru Friday during normal school hours he has been off limits for me. No kissing, no hugging, and no sexual tension.”
“You may tell yourself that crap all day long but at the end of the day that’s bullshit, and you know it. True, you may not have been able to kiss or hug him while you two were at school, but that does not mean that there has been no sexual tension.”
I sighed and admitted to myself that she was right. All week I had wanted nothing more than to take him right then and there, but at the same time it made me nervous at the thought of being with another man. It had been a little over a month since Charles and I had ended things and I did not know what the respectable amount of mourning period should pass before getting physical with another man. I had felt a spark shoot through my entire body when Javier had placed his hand on my forearm today at lunch. It was funny how a simple touch could ignite so many feelings.
“What are you nervous about…really?” Donna asked her voice become more concerned and caring at the same time.
“How do I know when I’m ready? I mean it’s only been a little over a month. Is this moving too fast? Charles and I were together for five years and…”
“I know that it’s scary moving onto a new relationship no matter how long the last one was, but you will know when the time is right, and Javier does not seem like the type of guy that would force you to do anything that you aren’t ready to do.”
She was right Javier was not that type of guy, and I just had to be honest with him and let him know what I was feeling, and maybe he was feeling the same way. I mean we have laughed and talked about many topics, but we really have not spoken about what we wanted out of this…friendship…possible relationship? I guess that was the first thing that the two of us needed to decide what we wanted this to be, but that did not have to be decided tonight. It was nice being able to build a relationship out of a possible friendship. It was something that Charles and I had not done. We had been physical the second date and eventually ended up not seeing anyone else. We never did label it, but it just sort of happened.
Our conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door and I assumed that it was Javier. I had told him that I could meet him, but he insisted that a gentleman always picks his’ date at the door. I had smiled when he had said that, and figured it was his way of telling me that he was going to pick me up and take charge of the date arrangements and planning. It was nice for a change not to have to plan anything and allow myself to be wooed.
Donna jumped up from the couch and beat me to the door, “I’ll get it.” She said as I was standing from the couch.
“Is Daniel here?” Javier asked hidden behind the opened door.
“Yes he is. Come in won’t you?” Donna asked moving out of the way and allowing Javier entry into the apartment.
Javier stood there holding a bouquet of white and purple lilies, “These are for you,” he said extending the flowers in my direction.
“They are beautiful. How did you guess I loved lilies?”
“Well you mentioned it last week in passing. We were walking and talking and we passed this floral cart and you stopped and out of all the flowers there you only stopped to smell the lilies. I took that as my cue that those were your favorite flowers. I’m just glad I was right.”
Javier was turning out to be an amazing guy. He was observant, funny, wonderful, and he was making me fall for him and we had not even had our first official date yet. If this was foreshadowing the events to come then this was a good sign.
“Would you like me to put these in some water for you?” Donna asked.
“Thanks,” I said handing her the flowers. “So what are the plans for this evening?” I asked turning my attention back to Javier.
“Well sir that would be a surprise,” he said reaching out to take my hand in his. “Are you ready for a night to remember?” He asked turning towards the door and opening it.
I certainly was ready for tonight. Donna was right I had nothing to be worried about. I would know when I was ready for the next step, and Javier was making my worrying seem silly and they were simply disappearing.
“I’m ready for anything you have in store.” I said closing the door behind us.
****
Javier would not tell me any of the plans for the evening, but only promised that it would be a night to remember. We sat in a booth towards the back of Olive Garden taking bites of our pasta and bites of breadsticks, and listening to each other’s answers to questions.
Tonight’s conversation was more intense than our previous conversations. As they were comical stories meant to make the other laugh, but tonight’s was meant to get to know each other on a deeper level. This was a conversation had between possible couples. Javier was definitely laying the groundwork for a relationship, and I liked the fact that he was taking the lead on this.
“So you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, and let me know if I am crossing a line. What did Marcy mean by me being a rebound?”
I was not ready to go into a deep discussion about Charles and that relationship. Definitely not on the first date, but I had to answer somehow. “Well you’re not crossing any boundaries and I appreciate you giving me the option not to answer. I think that the entire question is pretty deep for a first date, but you’re not a rebound.
About a month ago I got out of five year relationship after learning that my boyfriend was having an affair. I left him. I cut all ties with him and moved in with Donna while I was able to get back on my feet.”
“So you’ve just started dating again?”
“I wouldn’t say that. I’m just taking one day at a time and seeing where each day takes me. I guess I’m not sure myself when the correct time is to start dating after dating someone for five years. A week ago Donna declared that it was time for me to get out of the house and go out and have drinks. I had declared that I wasn’t ready to start dating. I guess I felt that if I started dating after only a month that would mean that the past five years meant nothing, but as fate would have it I met you.”
“Fate,” he asked questioningly.
“I guess what I mean is that it was like Donna had said to me, ‘there isn’t a set amount of time, and I would know when the time was right,’ she was right. I met you that night and something just clicked. Well for me at least. I know that chapte
r in my life is over and I’m ready to move on.”
“You’re right about two things. Something just clicked with me too. That’s why I couldn’t wait until the next day to text you. I had to text you that night when I got home and I prayed that it wasn’t too soon or seemed too pushy. I could barely sleep that night. Also I don’t want to pressure you or rush you into anything that you aren’t ready for. I mean if this turns into something more than that would be awesome, but only when you’re ready.” He said reaching across the table and opening his hand for me to place mine in his. I placed my hand in his and as he closed it he gently stoke my hand with his thumb.
He was so sweet and sincere and I was amazed how I had only known him for a week and how I might not have known him the way I know him now if Donna had not pushed me to go out. She was always pushing me outside my comfort zone, and that was one thing that I loved about her.
“I could barely sleep that night too. That is really sweet of you to say. I know you wouldn’t rush me. I like the pace that we’re going.” I agreed.
There was an intense silent moment and I had to catch my breath. His touch felt so good against my hand and it was hard to concentrate. I had to regain my composure.
“So have you always wanted to be a teacher?” I asked thinking of a new subject to venture onto that would break this tension.
“God no,” he said laughing. “I was never the brainy student and it wasn’t until college that I really got the idea of teaching. I was always great a Spanish. My parents had moved here from Mexico City a few years before I was born, and they were proud to be American citizens but they still wanted me and my sisters to know our culture and heritage so at home it was Spanish all the time. So when I got to college I tutored on the side to make some extra money and I found I really liked helping others grasp the language and finding new ways to teach the concepts. So thus I found my calling, and the perk of summers off was always a benefit.”
“That’s awesome. I took Spanish all through high school and college, but I never had a professor that made the language understandable. I mean I can understand some words, but put me next to a native speaker and I’m lost.” I said with a smile.