Lifting the paper aside, Katie just stared in amazement at the tiny pink dress within the box. It was exactly as she’d described, however it was only a fraction of the size...just big enough for a newborn baby.
“I hope it’s the right one,” Mark broke the silence, pulling Katie’s gaze away from the gift. “I remembered you mentioning lace but I couldn’t remember if it was pink or white.”
“It’s perfect,” Katie spoke as she returned her attention to the gift before her. It was almost exactly as she’d described it. At the time she remembered wondering to herself why she’d been telling him about the dress. He was a guy and probably didn’t care about some stupid dress but, staring at the tiny article of clothing, it was clear that he’d memorized every detail, right down to the tiny bows on the end of each shoulder length sleeve.
“I know she can’t wear it yet, but I was wondering if her mother would mind wearing it to the prom.”
Looking up, Katie saw Mark holding another, similarly wrapped but larger box. Since her mother’s death and her unplanned pregnancy, her future had been questionable and she’d done everything in her power to push away those who she feared might sink right down beside her. “Maybe it was time to stop pushing,” she thought. Maybe this was all part of her mother’s grand scheme from up there in heaven. Staring into Mark’s hopeful eyes, the only answer she could give was, “yes”.
SIXTEEN
“Herpes? Really?” Derek finally broke the long silence that had loomed over them since their unforgettable ride into town.
An elderly man sitting in the booth behind Jason lifted his head from his bowl of soup to look around his wife and shoot Derek a disgusted look.
Ignoring the old man’s disapproving stare, “I mean, you could’ve said that I forgot my inhaler or something not so...cock blocking.”
This time the old woman turned, joining her husband in the silent scolding.
“And what girlfriend? I mean, what were you trying to do?”
“I couldn’t allow you to sleep with any of those girls and the way that it was heading, I almost expected the car to suddenly pull to the side of the road so you could toss me out while you took turns banging each one of them in the back seat.”
“That’s ridiculous...there’s no need to take turns.”
Apparently no longer hungry, the old man signaled his server for the check.
“Besides, just in case you weren’t aware, I was selling you like crazy to the cute southern chick who definitely seemed interested,” Derek continued to defend his behavior.
“Was she?” Jason thought. His lack of skill when it came to the opposite sex wasn’t a shock, but was it really so bad that he couldn’t even tell when a girl was genuinely interested in him? “That’s not the point,” he snapped out of his introspective detour. “The point is you, me, neither of us can risk disrupting the past just so we can get our rocks off.”
“Get our rocks off?” Derek chuckled at the expression.
“Yes. Us being here already poses a potential threat to the future. Everything we do, every interaction we have with the people of this time could potentially have time altering affects. Something as simple as a passing conversation on the street could lead to a mosquito killing a future Nobel prize winner or worse.”
“You lost me,” Derek stared at Jason confused.
“The person you talk to might be distracted from killing the mosquito that otherwise would have been dead and unable to bite someone who…never mind,” Jason gave up, realizing that his explanation made perfect sense in his head but wasn’t coming out in a logical, coherent manner.
“So what you’re saying is that we should make sure to wear insect repellant while we’re here?”
“No,” Jason sighed. “What I’m trying to say is—”
“—I know. I’m just screwing with you. I understand. I don’t know how I figured it out since that was the worst example I’ve ever heard, but nonetheless. And this is the U.S.. Who gets killed by mosquitoes?”
Annoyed, Jason picked up his menu.
“Nothing was going to happen you know,” Derek pulled Jason’s attention away from the laminated list. “I’m not an idiot. I may act like it at times but remember who built that thing,” he motioned to the case on the seat beside Jason. “I’m well aware of the risks inherent to us being here. I wouldn’t have taken the conversation in the car any further than just that, a conversation.”
“Well, good. I’m glad to hear that you were at least thinking with the right head this time,” Jason spoke as he returned to the menu once again.
“It doesn’t hurt to have some fun and flirt every now and then though,” Derek continued. “Just because you can’t do something doesn’t mean you can’t test the waters to see if it might have been possible.”
“And what would be the point in that?” Jason glanced up from his menu again.
“I don’t know...fun. Jason, not everything in life has to have some predetermined outcome. Sometimes the most memorable things in life are those that happen spontaneously; you know, when you’re just kicking back and having fun. A conversation with a girl doesn’t have to lead to a relationship and marriage and children and houses with white picket fences. Sometimes it can just be an enjoyable conversation with a person you find to be both interesting and attractive, regardless of whether or not you’re looking to batter dip the corn dog.”
Jason watched as a couple with two young children, in the booth behind Derek, lifted their gaze skyward at the off color remark.
“Mommy, I want a corn dog,” the youngest of the two boys suddenly announced from the other booth, causing both parents to look Jason’s way.
Awkwardly, Jason mouthed, “sorry,” as the parents returned their attention to performing damage control.
“All I’m trying to say is that you need to let go,” Derek continued his lecture. “Stop being so uptight with your constant need to control each and every aspect of life. I think you’ll find all social interactions much more fulfilling, not just the ones with the taco vendors.”
“Jesus!,” the mother in the other booth responded. Again Jason mouthed an apology, though no one looked his way to receive it. The mother, though offended, kept her back to Derek and instead appeared to be complaining to her husband for him to do something about the situation. Based on the timid, beaten down expression on his face, Jason assumed they were safe.
“I need to be more spontaneous?” Jason returned his attention Derek’s way.
“God yes.”
“I need to just let go and do something wild.”
“Well I don’t think I said wild but, yes, I guess.”
“Okay. I can do that.”
“Good, now let’s eat,” Derek sighed, glad to shift his attention away from Jason’s shortcomings and onto the menu before him.
“Excuse me!” Jason suddenly called out. “Excuse me, miss!”
Derek looked up to see Jason waving at someone behind him. Moments later an attractive young girl wearing black dress pants, an eye matching, hazel colored top and holding a long white cloth of sorts, stopped at their table. She just stared at Jason confused as he appeared suddenly nervous to place his order.
“Can I help you?” the girl finally spoke with a bit of an attitude.
Closing his eyes, Jason whispered, “spontaneous,” before reopening them and asking. “So, who’s a guy gotta fuck to get some God damned service around here!?”
The café fell silent, other than the sound of utensils dropping to their plates. Derek too, sat stunned at what he’d just heard.
“Excuse me?!” the girl replied.
As if shocked himself by what he’d just heard come out of his own mouth, Jason began melting into the brown, vinyl bench. Derek, along with the rest of the restaurant’s patrons, turned their attention to the girl.
“One, I don’t work here,” the girl addressed Jason with a more appropriate, hushed tone, her voice dripping with venom. “Two, if I did, I wouldn’t
...how did you so eloquently put it...oh yes...fuck your scrawny ass if my life depended on it.”
Derek just stared at the girl as she leaned closer to Jason with each biting word, forcing Jason even further into his seat.
“Get some fucking manors, prick,” she ended the verbal assault as she took a step back and made a b-line for the exit.
Jason remained two inches tall in his seat as the smile on Derek’s face grew.
“That was awesome,” Derek announced. “I think I’m in love.” Excited by the encounter, he leapt from his seat, to follow the rapidly departing girl.
Jason remained motionless in his seat as the rest of the customers began clapping.
“Will there be anything else? sir,” their real waitress approached the table, addressing Jason in a condescending tone that suggested he leave as well.
Fumbling for his wallet, Jason pulled out a five to pay for the sodas and quickly scampered for the door.
*****
“Hey, wait! Ma’am!” Derek shouted as he crashed through the café doors and spotted the annoyed girl hurrying down the sidewalk.
“Ma’am?” the girl stopped in her tracks. “First you insult me, and now you’re calling me old!,” she turned, surprised to see Derek without his obnoxious friend.
“Whoa, whoa,” Derek slowed his approach, afraid that the hot headed girl might actually take a swing at him or pull a can of pepper spray from her purse.
“I’m sorry. I thought you were…” She finished her sentence with a hand gesture back toward the restaurant.
“I know. I’m not,” Derek spoke as he finally caught up to the now motionless girl. “I’m his friend.”
“Yeah, I saw you at the table. You should get better friends.”
“He’s a work in progress,” he joked, but got no response other than a stare that suggested that her next statement might be on the lines of, “so, what do you want?”. “I mean, he’s actually a really nice guy...probably too nice at times, which is why he said that.”
“He’s too nice, so he verbally assaulted a complete stranger...makes sense to me. Listen, I’ve gotta go,” the girl announced as she started to turn and leave.
“No, what I mean is...”
Delaying her departure, she waited for an explanation.
“I guess…I sort of told him to say it.”
“Then I guess you’re just as big a pig as your friend is. Good bye.” She turn and continued down the sidewalk.
Following, “I didn’t exactly tell him to say anything, especially to you. I was simply suggesting that he might have better luck with women if he were more…spontaneous and not so uptight all the time.”
The girl stopped. “I don’t think he understood.”
“No, clearly not,” Derek shook his head in agreement.
She continued walking.
Derek continued to follow. “He really is a nice guy though. Like I said, he’s just not good with women...or should I say, he’s terrible with women.”
The girl stopped again. “Why do I feel this conversation’s leading to you asking me something?”
Caught off guard by the girl’s perceptive and upfront approach, “I...I mean...listen, I can tell that you’re in a hurry.”
“You think?”
“Feisty, this one is,” Derek thought. “May I ask why?”
“Because my water broke and I’m on my way to the hospital.”
Sarcastic as well, but just to make sure he hadn’t overlooked something he quickly glanced at the girl’s stomach...baby free.
“Why would I tell you where I’m going? So you can follow me and kill me?”
“Well, I’ve already been following you,” Derek spoke with a grin. The look he received apparently didn’t see the humor in the comment as the girl once again began walking. “Wait! I’m sorry. It was a bad joke.”
The girl stopped again.
“Trust me, I’m not a serial killer.”
“Sounds like something a serial killer would say.”
Derek wanted to smile at the girl’s wit but, figuring that he’d pushed his luck enough already, he maintained a straight face. “Just humor me. What’s the big hurry?”
Reluctantly, “Well, if you must know, I have class in…,” she checked her watch, “...twenty-five minutes, and I have to run to the store on campus now to pick up a new coat, since I can’t go home to get my other one without fearing that you’ll show up at my door in the middle of the night.” She held up the white coat that she’d been holding in the restaurant. A large pink stain covered a large portion of the crumpled article of clothing.
“Are you pre-med?” Derek guessed.
“Pharmacology major actually. I have a lab and Mr. Malone requires that each and every student be dressed the part,” she sarcastically ranted before realizing what she was doing. “Sorry, but I really do have to go. Either way, home or store, will take me at least twenty minutes, leaving me only five to make the fifteen minute walk to class. So, either way I’m screwed.”
“What if I could ensure that you got your coat and got to class on time?”
“What, are you going to teleport me or something?” she joked.
“No, of course not,” Derek laughed at how close she actually was.
“Then how are you going to do that?”
“I can have a new coat to this very spot in less than five minutes,” Derek confidently proclaimed.
“Oh really,” she laughed.
“Don’t laugh. I’m dead serious. If I’m not placing the coat in your hand within five minutes from the time I leave I’ll—”
“—You’ll streak through Lilly’s dinner,” the girl interjected.
“Lilly’s Dinner?” Derek paused as he turned to look back at the restaurant from which they’d just come. Until that moment, he hadn’t noticed that the Irish pub he’d come to know as ‘The Belligerent Leprechaun’ had previously been a colorful, peace and love establishment in the nineties. “Okay.”
“Really?” the girl questioned Derek’s quick acceptance of her terms. “No backing out. A deal’s a deal.”
“A deal’s a deal,” Derek agreed. “I mean, we haven’t even gone out on a date and you’re already trying to get my clothes off, but really, how could you resist,” he joked as he looked himself up and down.
“I knew that this was all just a creative way of asking me out. And, you really shouldn’t be too full of yourself,” she flirted.
“Ouch, but no. It’s not about me. It’s my friend.”
“You want me to go out with the asshole?” her newly flirtatious demeanor returned to that of contempt.
“Remember, not an asshole. Nerdy, awkward, uptight, boring—”
“—I thought you were his friend.”
“Listen, like I said, he really isn’t a bad guy and it would really mean a lot if you just went out on one, full date with him.”
“Full?”
“I mean don’t ditch him by climbing out a bathroom window or by having one of your friends make up some lame excuse so you can cut the date short.”
“Has that happened?”
“More than once,” Derek confirmed with a nod. “He just needs a good experience with a beautiful woman to get him on the right track.”
Smiling at the compliment, “I’m not sleeping with him though.”
“Oh God no. I wouldn’t want you to. That might kill him,” Derek joked. “Just one PG date.”
“Alright. That seems fair enough, especially since I don’t think you can pull it off with only three and a half minutes left,” she looked at her watch again.
“Three and a half minutes? I said five from the time I left.”
“I’m just joking.”
“No, no. I can do it,” he assured as he turned to head back toward the restaurant. “Just wait right there!”
She motioned to the spot where she stood.
“Right there!” he reconfirmed before stopping at the realization that, “I don’t know your name
!”
“What!”
“Your name!”
“Sarah!”
“Nice to meet you, Sarah! I’m Derek! Right there!”
She smiled as he turned and disappeared into the crowd of people on the sidewalk.
*****
“Where were you!?” Jason shouted as he spotted Derek walking quickly towards him.
“Come on. We need to get out of site,” Derek insisted as he grabbed hold of Jason’s arm.
“Out of site? Of who? What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything. She thinks I’m hurrying off to get her another coat,” Derek quickly explained as he dragged Jason along.
“Get who a coat? It’s eighty degrees out here. Who needs a coat?”
“Not that kind of coat. A lab coat. You know, like the ones doctors...or pharmacists wear.”
Pulling back on Derek’s persistent guidance, Jason stopped them in their tracks. “From the beginning. Who are we talking about?”
“Sarah,” Derek answered before realizing that Jason had no idea who he was referring to. “The girl from the restaurant.”
“The girl I insulted?” Jason asked shocked.
“Yes. Her name is Sarah and she’s very nice.”
“I don’t doubt that, seeing that I was the asshole back there, but what were you doing talking to her? I came out of the café and when I didn’t see you, I picked a direction that I thought you might have gone. Apparently I picked wrong. What were you talking to her about?”
“You, actually,” Derek answered with a grin as he glanced back in Sarah’s direction. From what he could see through the moving sea of bodies, she was still waiting and still watching to see where he was going. “We need to keep moving,” he insisted as he grabbed hold of Jason’s arm again.
Jason didn’t fight.
“We need to get out of view. I told her that I would get her a new coat for her lab class.”
“That’s nice. Why?” Jason asked nervously as Derek pulled him around the corner of the building, stopping just out of Sarah’s line of sight. “You can’t sleep with her, Derek.”
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