by W.J. May
Chapter 7: The Transformation
Ryan heard pounding in the faint distance and pulled a pillow over his head. When he heard the knock again he opened his eyes. He jumped up out of bed when he realized the knock came from his front door.
“Okay, I’m comin’,” he shouted, pulling a shirt over his head and tripping over the covers hanging off the edge of his bed.
He looked out the peep hole and saw Sal, standing outside. He opened the door. “Hey man, what’s up?” He ran his hands through his matted hair.
“Hey dude, I’ve been texting and calling you since last night. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“Sorry, I guess my phone died.”
“Can I come in?” Sal took a step forward.
“Yeah.” Ryan opened the door further. “What time is it?” He walked to the kitchen, squinting to see the clock on the microwave.
“It’s noon. Were you still asleep?” Sal shut the door behind him.
Ryan picked up his phone from the bar and plugged it in to the charger. He yawned and shook his head. “Yeah. I guess my body needed sleep from the busy week.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t from last night with Natalie?” Sal took a seat on the couch and leaned forward with his arms hanging over his knees.
“What?” Ryan winced and rubbed his eyes with his hands.
Sal let out a slight smirk and shook his head. “Oh come on, man. You don’t have to lie to me. You didn’t answer your phone all night and you’re just waking up. So much for keeping to your word.”
Ryan walked to the living room and leaned over on the back of a chair. How could he convince Sal that he spoke the truth? “Man, I’m not lying. My phone died. I got home around eleven last night. And yes, I kept my promise.”
“So, if I go and check your room, I won’t find her in there?” Sal narrowed his eyes at him.
Ryan stood up, surprised that Sal didn’t believe him. “No man. Natalie didn’t come home with me.” He pointed toward his bedroom. “Go and check if you like.”
“So, you didn’t spend the night with her and she didn’t come home with you. Nothing happened.” Sal furrowed his brow, apparently not convinced.
“Well, I wouldn’t say nothing happened. In fact, things got really heated and… I almost gave in. This is harder than I thought dude. I don’t know how my parents or your parents did it.”
“I know, it’s not easy.” Sal shook his head.
“I can’t explain it. When it comes to Natalie, I can’t seem to control myself.” Ryan leaned back over the chair and buried his fingers in his hair. Why was this so difficult? He held out this long and never did it with Jen. Why was it harder when it came to Natalie?
“It’s hard with any girl. You know that, but I’m proud of you. You kept to your word and walked away.”
He did feel proud about keeping to his word, but every encounter with Natalie proved to be harder. His attraction for her pulled from deep inside of him. It stirred every emotion and ignited a need that teetered on the edge of uncontrollable recklessness. His love for her spread like a wildfire, consuming him entirely.
Ryan lowered his hands from his face and looked up at Sal. “Thanks for being my accountability partner.”
Sal got up and patted him on the shoulder. “That’s what cousins are for.”
Ryan let out a slight smile, thankful for having Sal not only as his cousin but as a great friend too. They grew up together and were practically brothers. They were there for each other, through good times and bad. Sal supported him when he had his football injury, encouraging him not to give up. He also helped him move on with his life after Jen broke up with him. When Ryan decided he needed a fresh start, Sal urged him to transfer to UT with him. If not for Sal, Ryan didn’t know where he would be today.
For a second, Ryan felt bad that he hadn’t been supporting his cousin in return. Back in high school, they both pledged to wait until marriage to have sex, following in the footsteps of both their parents. Ryan kept to his promise but Sal slipped when he became serious with his high school girlfriend. After they broke up, Sal decided he would refrain until he married. He wanted to try again and do what was right.
“What about you and Lise? She seems a little wild and adventurous if you ask me.”
Sal rolled his eyes. “That’s an understatement. She’s a wild one alright. It’s been a struggle for me too. Since I already know what it feels like, it makes me want to do it again. She’s no virgin either and turning her down is harder for me than it probably is for you turning down Natalie.”
“I don’t know man, it’s been unbearable. I’ve never struggled like this before. Not even with Jen. There is something about Natalie and it’s not all about the sex. It’s the way she smiles, her wittiness, her scent, her baby blue eyes and the way she hides behind her glasses when she’s nervous. I can’t stop thinking about her. ”
“Oh no.” Sal’s head dropped down toward the floor.
“What?” Ryan arched his neck back.
Sal shook his head. “Dude, listen to yourself. It’s all over for you, man.”
Ryan knew exactly what he meant. Although he didn’t mind admitting this to his cousin, he didn’t want his vulnerability to show. When it came to Sal, he usually figured things out on his own before Ryan told him. He was very intuitive and thought things through, kind of like Natalie.
“Don’t worry dude. She’s good for you.” Sal took a handful of shelled peanuts from a bowl on the bar. He cracked one of them and dusted off the fragments from the nut between his thumb and index finger. He popped it in his mouth.
It made Ryan happy to know Sal approved of Natalie. Sal always warned him about Jen, but he never took his advice seriously. “I tell you, she’s like nobody I ever met before. She might be the one. But time will tell.”
Sal cracked another peanut. “I can only hope that I’ll be as lucky as you.”
“So Lise’s isn’t the one?”
“I don’t know. If I can tame the wildness in her, she might be. I really like being with her. She’s so full of life, funny and outgoing, the complete opposite of me.”
Ryan walked over to Sal and put his hand on his shoulder. “Then you have a job to do because it sounds like you really like her. When you’re with her, I see a part of you that I’ve never seen before.”
Sal shrugged his shoulders. “I guess. Yeah, she does make me feel alive. Speaking of, I’m on my way to pick her up. Do you and Natalie want to hang out with us?” He tossed the last peanut in his mouth.
Ryan gave Sal one more pat and lowered his hand. “I can’t. I have a ton of homework to get caught up on. Besides, I told my boss I would go in this afternoon if she needed my help. I need to check my messages and take a shower.”
“I’m sure glad I’m in technology and not in marketing. Kronberg is working you guys too much, especially for an internship.” Sal walked into the kitchen and dusted his hands off over the trashcan.
“Tell me about it. It’s fun and I like it though.”
“Better you than me. I guess I better go. Lise is waiting on me.”
“Alright, give me a ring later.”
Sal opened the door. “I will. See ya.”
Ryan closed the door behind his cousin and then went over to his phone and turned it on. Sure enough, he had a text from his boss asking him to come and work for a few hours. He also had a text from Natalie, asking him to go to lunch and hang out with her, Lise and Sal.
He texted his boss and told her that he would be in by two and then dialed Natalie’s number.
“Hi, I’ve been thinking about you all morning.” Natalie’s voice sounded soothing.
“Hello, beautiful. Sorry, I slept in. I must have been tired.”
“That’s okay. I didn’t get up until ten. I must have been tired too.”
“So are you still at the condo or back at the dorm?”
“I’m back at the dorm, here with Lise. Do you want to hang out today?”
Ryan’s shoulders sank and his energy drained from him. He wanted to be with her more than anything but he had to be responsible and do what he needed to do. “I can’t. My boss asked me to come in for a few hours and I also have a ton of homework and reading to catch up on.”
Natalie let out a sigh. “It’s okay. I understand. I have homework to catch up on too. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow.”
“Yeah, of course. I’m dying to see ya. In fact, I’m imagining holding you in my arms and kissing your tender lips.”
“Ryan, Lise is right here,” Natalie whispered.
“Okay, I know you can’t say anything back.”
“Oh, I almost forgot. Tomorrow, Lise and I are going shopping for our costumes. Do you want to come with us? Sal’s supposed to come too.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll give you a call later when I get back from work.”
“Okay. Talk to you later.”
“Hey Natalie.”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Ryan.”