by Ingrid Diaz
Chapter 6
“You’re home early,” I stated, kicking closed the dorm room door with my foot. I yawned and took a seat at my desk, booting up my laptop as I did so.
Nicole mumbled something unintelligible from behind a book.
“What was that last word after ‘bleh’?” I asked, leaning my chin on the back of the chair so I could look at her without expending any unnecessary energy.
The book lowered to reveal Nicole’s face. “I said I came back last night. Where were you?”
“I spent the night at Jessica’s,” I answered, turning my attention to the computer.
Nicole raised an eyebrow. “I thought she was on her honeymoon?”
“Yep. She’s in Paris all right. I had a date of sorts last night and we went to Jessica’s to watch some movies and then I just spent the night there.”
The book was shut, and Nicole was leaning forward in her bed. “Alone?” she asked carefully.
I didn’t bother turning around. “Yes, alone.”
“Did you kiss at least? Is he or she cute?”
“No and yes.”
“No and yes what?”
I sighed quietly, signing on to America Online. “Welcome,” sang the computer, followed by, “you’ve got mail.” I clicked on the mailbox icon, then remembered I still had to clarify my answer to Nicole’s question. “No we didn’t kiss and yes she’s very cute.”
“What’s her name?”
“Valerie.”
“Valerie what?”
I searched my head for the answer. I knew she’d told me her last name when she’d introduced herself at Pride Factory. “It starts with an ‘s,’ I think. S-s-skye! Valerie Skye.”
“Sounds like a porn star.”
I looked around my desk for something soft to throw at her, but came up with nothing. I resigned myself to the very mature response of, “It does not,” then scanned down the row of e-mail, deleting junk mail as I went. Finally I came across what I’d been looking for.
From: Dreamer Subject: bonjour
I smiled to myself and clicked on the letter.
Hey Al,
Well, we made it to Paris in one piece. We’re about to collapse, we’re so tired, but we wanted to let you know we’re okay. I’ll email you again in a day or two and catch you up on our exciting French adventures. We miss you. Please let me know how your date with Valerie went. I’ve been dying to know. Take care.
Always,
Jess
I finished reading and clicked on the “reply” icon.
Jess,
Hey, glad to hear from you. Don’t mind the subject line. It was the only French thing I could come up with. Anyway, I hope Paris is treating you well, and that you’re having fun on your honeymoon. No need for details in that department though. ;)
As for my date with Valerie, it went well enough. We’re going out again tonight. I’ll keep you posted on any juicy details, if any arise. Nothing happened last night. We went for a walk, then to dinner, then rented some movies and watched them in your room. Thrilling, huh?
Well, I’m off. Say ’ello to the Mister for me. Hope you’re being a good little wife. Cook him dinner, and put his feet up. Oh, and don’t forget to bring him a nice cold beer while he’s watching the game. I’ll shut up now before you smack me from Paris.
Love always,
Alix
I closed down AOL and glanced at the time on Nicole’s alarm clock. It was only four-thirty; plenty of time left before date number two.
Ò
At seven-fifty I walked through the doors of Whispers and stood off to the side trying to locate Valerie. I caught sight of her behind the bar, speaking intently with some woman whose back was turned to me. I wasn’t sure what to make of the situation, so I stood where I was until I saw Valerie move on to another costumer. I took a deep breath and made my way to the bar. I didn’t know why, but I was nervous.
I took the nearest available stool and waited for Valerie to notice me. It didn’t take her long. A cocktail napkin was placed before me, and I glanced up into her gorgeous blue eyes.
“I was afraid you’d change your mind,” Valerie said, leaning against the bar so I could hear her over the music.
“Sorry, you’re stuck with me another night,” I responded.
She smiled. “Would you like a drink before we go?”
“No, I’m good, thanks.” Truth was, one drink and I’d be table hopping in the nude. Not good for a second impression, or third, whichever.
“Okay give me a minute and we can get out of here.”
I nodded and took that moment to look around the club. It was a little less crowded than it had been the last time I’d been there, but it was lively enough. I glanced up as I noticed that the song playing was one I’d heard in Valerie’s car the previous night. I felt warm breath on my ear, sending chills down my spine. I almost missed what she’d said. “Yeah I’m ready,” I answered, turning to face her. She’s so beautiful, I thought for what felt like the millionth time. I jumped off the stool and followed Valerie out of the club.
Once outside, she looked at me a bit sheepishly and said, “Do you mind if we make a slight detour at my apartment? Someone threw their drink at me and I don’t feel like smelling like Sex on the Beach all night.”
I started laughing as I followed her down the stairs. “Sorry that just sounded perverted.”
She laughed too, then motioned down the street. “I live really close by.”
“Lead the way, milady.” I fell into step beside her as we made our way through the busy sidewalks of downtown Ft. Lauderdale. “So, um. Why did someone throw their drink at you?”
Valerie shrugged. “A small fight ensued and I stepped in to stop it.”
“I see. Do you get fights in there often?”
“Not really. Hadn’t had one in a while.”
I couldn’t think of anything else to say, so I fell silent, enjoying the cool breeze blowing in from the ocean. A few minutes later, Valerie turned to an apartment building, and I followed her inside. At the elevator, I paused.
“Something wrong?”
I bit my lip and looked hesitantly at the elevator. “What floor do you live on?”
“Uh, the fourth.”
“Mind if I meet you there?”
She frowned. “Why?”
I wasn’t sure which date was appropriate for phobia revelations, but I doubted the second was it. “I like . . stairs.”
Valerie looked at me as though I’d grown three heads, then a small smile edged its way across her features. “You’re scared of elevators.” It wasn’t a question.
I sighed to myself. “Terrified is more like it.”
Valerie exited the elevator and opened the door leading to the stairs. “After you,” she said, bowing slightly.
I passed through the door, feeling relieved and embarrassed all at the same time. “Thanks,” I said, as we began our ascent.
“Feathers.”
I glanced at her, my eyebrows narrowing in question. “What?”
“That’s my phobia.”
“You’re scared of feathers,” I said, a bit incredulously.
“Terrified is more like it,” she responded with a smile.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “You’re kidding?”
Valerie shook her head. “Nope.” She smacked me lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t laugh, Miss I-Like-Stairs.”
I smiled. “Sorry. I should have more respect for a fellow phobic.”
“Thank you.” She smiled back.
When we reached the fourth floor, I followed Valerie down the hallway to her apartment. The number on the door read “413,” and I memorized it for future references. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was hoping it wouldn’t be the last time I ever saw that number.
Valerie’s apartment was small, but cozy. Kitchen to the right, living room to the left, and a small hallway leading to, what I assumed, was the bathroom and bedroom. The hall ended with a window tha
t overlooked an alleyway.
“I guess I could say sorry for the mess, but I’m not really sorry for it,” Valerie said, shutting the door behind us.
“Good. I hate it when people are sorry for their mess. I think a mess is something to be proud of.” I looked around and scrunched up my face. “Although, I gotta tell you, Val, this place is kind of a pigsty.” The apartment was spotless.
Valerie laughed. “Yeah, I pride myself on that.” She motioned to the couch. “Take a seat. I’ll be out in a flash.”
Valerie headed for what I guessed was the bedroom, and I took the moment to get a better look at the apartment. The living room featured a black couch facing a wooden wall unit, on which rested a 19” TV, a DVD player, and a stereo system. On the bottom shelf, there was a row of CDs, and I crouched down to look at the selection. I smiled when I saw that she had an Aerosmith CD. Her collection contained mostly bands I’d never heard of, although I recognized Dance Hall Crashers and Save Ferris from the conversation we’d had the night before. On the shelf above, was a row of movies. The box for Labyrinth was empty so I guessed she’d been watching it recently. I loved that movie.
“Do I pass inspection?”
Her voice startled me, and I jumped slightly. “You need to stop doing that,” I said and turned around. My breath caught in my throat. She’d changed into a pair of tight blue jeans and a black tee. I did my best not to drool all over her carpet. Somehow, I found my voice. “Feel better?”
“Yeah, I even managed a two second shower, so I feel brand new.” She grinned and stepped closer. “So, what would you like to do tonight?”
Oh, it would’ve been so easy to kiss her, and to hell with the “factors.” Instead, I gathered up my raging hormones and spoke sanely. “I’m kind of hungry.”
“Dinner it is. I can heat up some frozen dinners . . . or we can go to this great restaurant a few blocks down. Your choice.”
Ò
It was an Italian restaurant, and it smelled wonderful. My stomach growled in complaint, and I sent down a message telling it to shut up and be patient.
I was in the process of mentally calculating how much money I had in my wallet when Valerie said, “Dinner’s on me.” I must have looked surprised, because she quickly added, “You paid for the movies last night, so I thought I’d pay for dinner.”
I glanced down at the prices, thinking it was kind of an unfair trade.
“You can take me to McDonald’s some other time and we can even it out,” Valerie suggested, reading my thoughts somehow.
I looked up. “McDonald’s?”
“Well, I like McDonald’s.”
I laughed. “Okay. Deal.” She smiled and returned to the menu, and I was hit with the sudden realization that I’d just agreed to a third date. Third. How many until one stopped counting?
“Are you ladies ready to order?” the waiter inquired, pen and notepad in hand.
Valerie ordered first; she chose the lasagna. I still hadn’t decided what I wanted so I just went ahead and ordered the lasagna too to avoid any further embarrassment.
When the waiter walked away, Valerie folded her hands on the table on and regarded me curiously. “So what would you like to do after dinner?”
“Do you always like to think ahead?” I asked.
Valerie smiled. “I like having something to look forward to.”
“You’re not one of those ‘live for the moment’ types, then, I take it?” I asked, taking a sip of Dr. Pepper.
“I didn’t say that,” Valerie said. She studied me silently for a moment. “What are you?”
I shrugged. “I guess I’m a seize the moment type of person, though I rarely know what I’m seizing half the time.”
Valerie started laughing.
I liked making her laugh. It lit up her face. “Do you work tomorrow?”
“No I’m off on Mondays and Thursdays,” she answered, then added, “I have classes.”
“What are you taking?”
“Just a couple of art classes. I’m trying to save up enough money so that next semester I can attend full-time.”
I nodded. “You should transfer to Baldwin. We’d be closer.” I don’t know why I said that. I’d always had a hard time keeping my immediate thoughts from filtering through my lips.
To my surprise, Valerie responded with, “Do they have a good art program?”
“Actually, yes,” I found myself saying. “My roommate last year was an art major so I know.”
Valerie seemed thoughtful. “I’ll look into it.”
I wasn’t sure if she was serious or not. Would she really consider transferring to Baldwin just to be close to me? What would it mean if she did? I took another sip of soda in the hopes that drinking would shut my mind up.
Our food arrived shortly afterwards, and we ate more or less in silence. By then I was starting to feel pretty comfortable around her, and didn’t find it necessary to fill each lull with pointless conversation. As we ate, I wondered what she was thinking. She seemed so in control and at ease in every situation, while here I was, cursed to be a bumbling idiot for all eternity.
After dinner we walked outside, unsure of where to head next. It was only ten, so we pretty much had the whole night to kill.
“See, if you’d told me what you wanted to do after dinner we wouldn’t be standing out here with nothing to do,” Valerie teased.
“If I knew what I wanted to do I would’ve told you at dinner,” I responded.
Valerie took my hand; a gesture that caught me completely by surprise. I felt my heart speed up at the contact, and I begged it to slow down for fear that she might hear it above the crowds of passersby and the noise of traffic. She led me to a wooden railing which divided the sidewalk and the start of sand. She let go of my hand, and I instantly missed the warmth her touch had provided.
She sat up on the railing and motioned me to join her. When I did so, she spun around so she was facing the beach instead of the road, and I followed her example.
“Have you always lived near the ocean,” she asked, breaking the silence.
Distant waves provided the background noise around us, joined on occasion by the distinct yelling of a rowdy group of people or a speeding car. “Yes,” was my answer. “I’ve lived here all my life. What about you?”
“I was born and raised in Boston, then I moved here a couple of years ago.”
“For school?” I asked.
She fell silent for a moment, then looked at me. “For a change of scenery, mostly.”
I smiled. “Say ‘car.’”
She looked confused. “Huh? Oh.” She smiled. “I don’t have an accent. You would’ve noticed it by now if I did.”
“Yeah, that’s what I figured, but sometimes I’m not as observant as I should be.” I looked straight ahead, at the nothingness in the distance, trying to picture the ocean I knew was there. “Do you like Florida?”
“It’s warm,” Valerie responded. “Can’t say I love it or hate it. Do you like it here?”
I shrugged. “It’s home. Can’t say I have much basis for comparison. I’ve never really been anywhere else, except for California to visit my cousin, Kes.”
“Do you want to stay here forever?”
“Forever is a long time,” I responded. Did I want to stay in Florida? All my friends and family were here. Where else would I want to go? “I don’t really know. Guess I never thought about it.”
Valerie smiled. “Seize the moment and don’t look ahead, that’s you.”
I smiled back. I guess she was right. I hadn’t really thought about that either. “Actually, I think I’m more of a go with the flow kind of person. Can’t remember the last time I had a moment to seize.”
Valerie looked thoughtful for a moment. “I doubt that’s true. I bet you’ve seized lots of moments without realizing it.”
“Oh?”
“Yep. For instance, if you were to just go with the flow, you wouldn’t have called me up the other night.”
> I was glad it was dark, for I could feel my cheeks getting hot. “Actually, Jessica pretty much dialed the number for me.”
“You didn’t want to call?”
“No, I did! I just probably wouldn’t have, had I not had any outside influence.” I looked away, unsure of what this revelation meant to her.
I felt the warmth of her hand on mine again and looked up to catch her gaze on me. “I’m grateful to the outside influence, then,” she said, grinning slightly.
What was appropriate to say? “Me too” seemed so corny. Again it was one of those “insert kiss here” kind of moments that seemed to arise between us every now and then. If I had indeed been a seize the moment kind of person, I would’ve kissed her. Only, I knew I wasn’t.
Before I had a chance to come up with a reply, Valerie spoke up. “Do you play pool?”
I was about to tell her I was undefeated when it occurred to me that hustling her might be kind of fun. Unless she was better than me, in which case I’d feel like a fool. I guess we’d find out. “Not well,” was my answer. “I’ve only played a couple of times.” Lies, all lies!
“I’ll go easy on you,” she said, swinging her legs over the railing and jumping down onto the sidewalk. “There’s a pool hall not far from here. We could walk, unless you’d rather take your car.” This time she said car in a way that sounded like “cah.”
I smiled at her New England accent attempt and jumped down from the railing. “Very cute.”
She grinned. “You think I’m cute?”
More like gorgeous, I thought. I kept that to myself, however, and replied with a nonchalant, “You’re okay.”
We started walking.
“I guess I’ll take what I can get,” Valerie said. She smiled. “I thought you didn’t flirt?”