Cold Night

"Please tell me that's not the right time!"
He chuckled at the shocked look on my face.
"It is luv. You gonna get in trouble being out past curfew?"
"Jeeze I don't know... its almost 5 a.m.!"
I still couldn't believe how fast time would always fly with him. He had had a secret smoke, grabs some groceries, baked cookies and eaten Ben and Jerry's, watched 2 movies, talked about the past, present and future... just a normal hang out with him.
"Wanna just stay over?" His face was serious but I saw a smile play around his lips. I tickled him in punishment for the thought.
"You know how bad that would look. And ******* wouldn't be happy with that either."
"Well she wouldn't have to know. And you can have the bed. I can restrain myself."
"Like hell you can!"
He playfully pulled me off my perch on his giant yoga ball and tickled me mercilessly on the floor.
"Okay! Okay! Uncle!"
He hoovered over me. We both took a sharp breath as we realized how close we were- both of us waiting for someone to make a move of some kind. I broke first and slide out from under him and clambered away from him. We flirted with temptation far too much.
"I really should go now."
He sighed and clenched his fists.
"You should. But I don't want you too... Here- I'll walk you home dear."
I bundled up, not wanting to face the cold. I stood by the door in my own thoughts as I waited for him. He appeared in front of me.
"You're so beatuiful..."
He wrapped me up in one of his intoxicating hugs that always lingered too long. With his arms still around me I started to back toward the door, finding the door knob with my mittened hands. I pushed it open and we staggered into the cold. To my relief, he pulled his arms around me to steady himself.
"Thanks babe. I'm glad you can keep me in line."
I started down the steps as he snapped the door shut. He patted down his jacket for his gloves and started to slowly laugh.
"Oh fuck... I think I just locked myself out!"
"Oh shit... you sure?"
He started to dig more through his many pockets before shaking his head.
"No keys. Man... this is my punishment for being bad." He threw back his head and roared with laughter. "You don't have a secret past of being a cat burglar do you?"
I lightly punched him in jest.
"Do I look like a nimble thief to you? Here- try my credit card. Isn't that how they do it in the movies?"
We tried everything. Hair pins. Cards. Getting into windows. Slowly our hands and hopes grew numb. He pushed his hair back in dispair.
"Ok well I'm not sleeping there tonight... Lets get you back."
It started to snow as we walked through the empty streets. We brainstormed for a little- trying to think of places for him to go. But like normal our thoughts grew absurd. I gulped and sugguested the one thing I didn't want to do. I offered to take him to her house.
"No. No luv. I really don't want to be in that awkward situation this late."
I smiled as he looked at me with adoring eyes. I knew I was in a bad place. Thankfully we reached my door.
"Ok. I'm going to try and sneak into the theatre."
"Call if you can't get in. Promise?"
"I promise I'll call if I need anything."
He kissed my forehead and walked off into the snowy haze.

The next morning he called me, not her to take him home.

Short and Happy

We snuggled up under the stars and watched Totoro. As soon as it finished we dashed to his big space ship like sedan and sang along to The Hush Sound with the highway wind blowing in our hair.

When we pulled up to the theater, we asked for two to see Ponyo. I bought the popcorn which I found out he didn't like. More for me.

Five minutes before the credits, he mustered up the courage to put his arm around me. A grin took over my face as I leaned into his side.

On the drive home he bashfully told me he kinda really liked me. I giggled and said ditto.

It was the start of something incredible.

Closer

'Yes. Please come up.'

It was the text I was waiting for. I ran to the elevator and hit the button a thousand times, willing the elevator to come faster. The ride up felt like an eternity.

I stepped out and ran toward the door- trying to decide if I should knock or ring the bell. But why was I worrying about that? I should be more worried about what I was going to say... what did one say in this situation? Could I be strong enough for him? I tried to swallow my fears and lightly tapped on the door. The wait was painful.

He pulled the door slowly open. My heart lurched at the sight of his face. The hurt and confusion I could see in it... I never wanted to see a face like that again. Especially on him. We fell into a hug.
"I'm so sorry..."
My whispering was cut short by his grip. It was like a vice. We stayed in that-motionless for a few minutes before slowly pulling away. I searched his eyes but couldn't see the usual spark in them. I glanced into the room. His room mates were huddled close by the window, sharing a forbidden smoke and talking in hushed voices.
"You wanna talk?"
He shrugged.
"Come on."
I slipped my hand into his and led him back to his room. He flopped down on his bed in some emotional coma. I climbed next to him and wrapped my arms tight around him- wishing I could take the pain away. It was only until he turned around and burrowed closer that I felt like I was helping at all.

We stayed there wrapped in each other. Murmurings about death and why and us sometimes escaped our lips. But the silence and closeness of our bodies was comforting enough for anything else. Hours crept by. His room mate finally peeked in to ask if he could head to bed. We slowly unfurled and floated toward the door.

We carried on with that same closeness for a week or two. But the worry started to creep across his face and seep into his eyes. The worry that it was for the wrong reasons. The worry that he would hurt me. Slowly but surely he built his high walls up again... this time with no kinks in them.

The Other Girl- Take Two

He pushed the sweaty hair back from his forehead and collapsed down next to me. We both caught our breath in silence and kept our eyes fixed on the ceiling. I cautiously turned to look at him- bracing myself to see a guilty look in his eye. Instead I was met with a gaze of triumph and a twisted smile.
"You doing ok?"
I nodded and gave a feeble smile back.
"Want a smoke? Think I have a cigar left somewhere..."
He pulled his jeans over and started to rummage through his pockets.
"No. I'm good thanks."

I pulled myself across the car floor and pushed open the back hatch door of the van to let in some of the cool summer night air. I pulled my legs to my chest and looked out across the corn field at the dots of far away head lights traveling along the free way. He crawled up behind me and draped his cardigan around my shoulders- after planting a kiss on my bare shoulder.
"Mind if I do?"
He held a cigar and lighter up.
"Go ahead. Just make sure it doesn't blow back into the car. My mom would kill me."
"Oh good call... I won't then."
He tossed them back by his things and stretched to grab his phone.
"Shit. I missed a call from her. Mind if I call her back?"
I shrugged in indifference- still staring at the lights far away.

He talked to her for about ten minutes. He talked about his day, the wicked shoes he had found at the mall, the party they would go to tomorrow. I sat there- trying not to listen. But he and I were at a point where we really had nothing to hide from each other anymore. We had this odd, unspoken bond. A forced trust that came with knowing that you each could destroy each others lives in five seconds.

"Ok. I'll call you around noon tomorrow. Love you. Sleep well."
I glanced lazily over to him as he hung up the phone.
"Don't you feel weird saying that to her?"
"No. I do love her."
"Really?"
"Of course. I'm saving up for a ring. I just have to make sure she's ready and graduated before I propose or anything."
"Wait. No offense but- are you sure you really love her? I mean... look at what we have been doing for these two years."
"It's because I love her that I'm doing this. I don't want to cheat on her with anyone."
"Hate to break it to you- but you're cheating on her with me."
"No... you don't count.  I'm not running around having one night stands with strangers or anything. But this is just you. I know its not going to leave the two of us. And by doing this you're helping me stay more faithful."

He leaned over and pushed some hair behind my ears. I squirmed at his touch.

"You're fucked up."
"Maybe. But you like it."

He kissed me. I thought about pulling away, but decided against it. We were already damned.

The Other Girl

The director finished giving his notes for the night and dismissed us. I dashed down to the little corner I had set my stuff up in, and hastily began to gather it up. I needed to get out of there before he could find me. I peered through my thick curtain of hair to see if he was around-- no sight of him. Thankful, I hoisted my backpack onto my shoulder and made a bee line for the door.

I made it out into the hall and almost to the door that led outside when-
"Hey!"
I shouldn't have looked- but I did. It was him. I stopped and turned to face him as he marched toward me.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
I nodded. He seemed calm. Maybe she hadn't told him.
He walked toward the stairwell and opened the door, waiting for me to follow. I shuffled in behind him, slowly sliding my heavy backpack to the floor.
"What is it?"
"I think you know."
"I haven't done anything wrong..."
"Oh really? I think you were going to. I mean, why else would you ask to hang out with ***?"
"What? I can't be friends with her again?"
"What were you going to tell her?"

Nothing betrayed his anger except his face. It slowly started to turn red as his Irish temper rose.

"I wasn't going to tell her anything. I just... people have told me I need to talk to her. Compare stories."
"And why would you need to compare stories?"
"I just want to know the TRUTH!"
I clapped my hand over my month. I hadn't planned for that word to come out so strongly.
"Why does it matter anymore? You and I are over! Move on!"
"I just want to know what happened! I just want to know why it feels like my former best friend and former boyfriend are hiding something from me! Is it true what they are saying? Did you guys... did you cheat on me?"

His eyes darted around- searching for an excuse.

"What does it matter? We're broken up."
"You're right. We are over. So what does it matter if I try and talk to *** and get her side of the story? If nothing happened, there is nothing new for me to learn and you have nothing to hide. So I'm going to call her tonight and talk to my friend *** and figure out--"

He jumped toward me, grabbed my shoulders and slammed me against the wall. His face was beet red. I had gone too far.

"If you ever, EVER try to talk to her again- I will fucking kill you. I won't let you take her away from me. I need her. I will kill you."

He gave me one last push for good measure and stormed out of the stairwell. I felt my face slowly fold into a frown and hot tears poured from my eyes. As I crumpled to the ground, there was only one question in my head. Did he ever need me that much?

Jeep Boy

The Girl found herself sitting with strangers. She had gone to this bonfire with the guy she was with- but for some reason he was being in a fowl mood and had walked off to talk to a friend. That was about 30 mins ago. So here she was. Stuck in the middle of the woods in Indiana with some backwoods folk she knew nothing about. The camo clad girl next to her passed her a back of marshmallows and smiled.
"Cheer up! The other guys will be here with hot dogs in a minute."
"Oh thanks. But I'm a vegatarian."
"Oh my gawd! Sarah! She's a vegetarian!"
"No way!"
"Yeah she is! I've never met one before!"
The girl braced herself to answer the usual battery of vegetarian questions- but was spared by blinding headlights crashing through a bush. A jeep destroyed a small tree as it roared into the clearing. The camo girl smiled.
"They're here."

Two figures climbed slowly out of the car. A small scrawny boy in an oversized hunting jacket and a large burly boy that looked more like a bear than man. They hauled a cooler out of the back and made their way over to the fire.
"Hey ladies! The party is finally here."
The big guy threw down the cooler and pulled out some beers and started to toss them around the circle. He started to toss one to the girl- but stopped.
"Well lookie here..."
He stepped over the fire and plopped down next to the girl.
"Imma gonna have to see some identification before I give you a beer doll."
"Well- I just don't hand over my id to just anybody."
"Forgive my manners!"
He held out his hand and introduced himself. The girl did the same. With a crooked smile he handed her the beer and began to work his hick flirting magic.

"I'm bored!"
Camo girl slumped back for dramatic emphasis. The boy poked at the dying flames and looked up with a glint in his eye.
"How about we go for a spin?"
"Yes please! I call Ben's lap!"
Ben and Camo girl jumped up and sprinted toward the jeep. The boy stood up and looked down at the girl.
"You've ever been mudding before?"
"Been what?"
"Oh jeeze! You weren't kidding! You really are a city gal! Stand up."
The girl rose slowly- unsure of what might happen. The boy grabbed her by the waist and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"You my dear are going muddin'"
Camo girl stuck her head out of the jeep and yelled at them.
"What's the hold up! Hey boy! You be careful. You know she's with him!"
"Well then how come he's not here? I aim to show this girl a good time!"
He smacked her on the rump to prove his point. The Girl was tossed unceremoniously in the back of the jeep. The boy squeezed his large frame in after her and wrapped his arms around her tight.
"The seat belts are broken back here. I won't let ya go anywhere." The girl began to question the safety of this proposed journey- but it seemed no one was listening. Ben was tearing the plastic covering off the jeep frame and camo girl was strapping herself in. Ben vaulted into the drivers seat and put his arm around camo girl.
"LETS RIDE!"

The Girl could only remember one thing from the next 2 hours. Sheer terror. She had no idea there was that much mud in Indiana. Nor that a jeep could travel at such high speeds on two wheels. Her throat was sore from screaming.

The jeep climbed slowly back into the clearing. The girl stumbled out- covered in mud and shaking. The boy followed her- laughing to at her.
"Here- you dropped this"
He was holding her cellphone. The girl went to snatch it, but the boy just held it up above his head- far out of her reach.
"Ask nicely."
The boy who originally brought the girl to this wretched place stormed up.
"Give it back to her."
The boy chuckled and complied. He slunk toward the fire- glancing back at them. The first boy was not pleased.
"Where were you? You're covered in mud."
"I know. They dragged me with them- I'm sorry I really didn't-"
"Save it. We're leaving."
He grabbed her by the arm. The Girl gulped and yelled a goodbye to the people still around the fire.

He finished yelling at her and went off to bed. The Girl curled up on the sofa and glanced at her phone. A new message. The boy had programmed his number and nickname into her phone. She flipped her phone open to view the message.
"Hope he's not too mad. Let me know if you need help. I loved meeting you- even if you are a city gal. ;) Hope I can see you tomorrow."

The girl smiled.

The jeep boy traveled two hours to see her at school the next weekend.

First Post/ First Kiss

The three 5th grade girls backed the poor boy into a corner. Bethan, Gemma and the girl all looked seriously into his face.
"We've all decided that we like you. So you have to decide which on of us you want to make your girlfriend."
The boy searched their faces and gulped.
"Do I have to pick now?"
"No. But you have to pick by the end of the night."
"Ok."
The girls tried to contain their glee. They couldn't believe the plan had worked.

"I'll spend time with each of you tonight and decide who I'll go steady with. Bethan- would you like to dance?" Bethan jumped up and dragged him out to the floor to the beat of a Spice Girls song. Gemma and the girl gave a comforting smile to each other and shuffled off to find some Panda Pop bottles to nurse during their torturous wait.

In about 5 minutes, the boy came back panting.
"Gemma? A slow dance is about to come on." He held out his hand to her, and she took it- blushing beneath her glasses. They scampered off, leaving the girl alone.

She sat there quietly, twirling a piece of hair around her finger. The boy was cute. He had always would let her look at his pokemon cards and would give her the cute ones that he was too embarrassed to keep. But she didn't want to get her hopes up. She was still considered 'the new girl' and he had known Bethan and Gemma since he was little. What chance did she have with him?

There was a light tap on her shoulder. It was him.
"Can I dance with you now?"
"Sure."
They danced to Mambo number five and shimmied through the Macarna. They were about to dance to another song when Bethan found them.
"It's time."

The Boy grabbed one of his friends and they all filed out into the hallway. The music thudded behind the closed doors as the girls lined up- eagerly awaiting their fate. The boys muttered to themselves for a few moments and then turned to face the girls. And then- imatating a pokemon trainer catching a exciting new pokemon- the boy yelled-

"I choose you!"

He pointed at the girl. The girl was shocked. Bethan and Gemma tried to hid their frowns and scuttled off to find some other friends.

The boy's friend left- and the boy and the girl were left alone. The boy broked the silence first.
"So... want to go out with me?"
"Um sure... I mean what does that mean?"
"Well- we hold hands. And sit next to each other on the way to school trips. I carry your heavy books to class. And I will give you presents."
"Wow. I never knew having a boyfriend would be so cool!"

The DJ crackled over the loud speaker announcing the last dance of the night. A Backstreet Boys song floated into the hall. The boy smiled and led the girl to the dance floor.

And just as the song ended and before the lights came up- he kissed her on the lips.

That Monday the boy meet her at the drop off point and carried her books to class.