“Well, Bill and Andy might not have been so lucky, Isis. Have you thought about that?” She made her point very clear to me.
Suddenly it dawned on me that I never took that into account. Gabriel could have killed someone in his demented state. I had to admit I had used poor judgment. It was unpardonable.
I could feel the muscles in my neck starting to burn from the tension.
“I screwed up,” I admitted. “How long am I grounded for?”
“For the rest of your natural born life.” Claire walked out of the laundry room fuming.
I walked after her.
“Mom, wait.”
“What?” Claire let out an annoyed sigh.
“I’m sorry.”
“That just isn’t good enough right now.” She gave me her back and walked up the stairs. “You have no consideration for me as your mother. Go to your room.”
My mother was disappointed in me. I knew that. It was one of the worst feelings I had ever experienced. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have thought I could control someone that was obviously emotionally unstable? I was so wrong to do so.
“I’m grounded,” I told Andy over the phone. “I haven’t been grounded since I was like twelve.”
“Why?” she loudly snapped her gum.
“I told my mom that I already knew Gabriel was carrying a gun since before he threatened you guys.”
“I told my parents after the police report was filed. They weren’t too happy either, but they didn’t ground me. I guess they thought having a gun pointed at me was punishment enough.”
“Well, my mother made me see things from a whole new perspective. You guys could have been seriously hurt.”
“Gee, why didn’t I think of that?” Andy was being sarcastic.
“I’m sincerely sorry I didn’t listen to you, Andy. We should have gone to the police immediately.”
“Well, we all learn from our mistakes. We’re young. What do you expect?” She tried to make me feel better.
“That doesn’t excuse me. I should have known better than to keep it a secret from all of our parents. I’m an idiot, and I almost got you killed because of it.”
“Don’t put the blame all on yourself. We have brains too and we chose not to say anything. We’re all a bunch of idiots.”
“Well, thanks for making me feel better. I have to go start dinner and score points with my mom to see if I can have my freedom back someday.”
“Later.” Andy giggled.
“See ya tomorrow.” I said, ending the call.
While I split the chicken breasts for my special apology dinner, I heard steps descending the stairs. Claire sat at the table tapping her fingers.
“You’re not grounded for the rest of your life anymore,” she started the conversation.
“Thanks.” I said smiling to myself. “How long is it for?”
“You’re too old to be grounded. What would I gain from it?”
“You’re the parent. You know what’s best. I’m not arguing the punishment.” I cracked an egg into a glass bowl and began to beat it.
Claire sighed. “What good would it do you? You’re a young adult. Deal with the aftermath of your poor decisions. That’s what’s going to discipline you when you’re on your own—trial and error. You might as well start learning now.”
There was nothing I hated more than having my mother teach me a lesson by making me feel even more conscious of my errors. I couldn’t complain, however; her parenting skills worked like magic on me through my teenybopper phase.
“Ah… the old psychological and emotional torture route. Thanks. I love that about you, Mom. Adding to the guilt always works on me.”
“I know,” she said modestly. “Remind me to reward myself with something cute next time we’re out shopping.”
The Chicken Parmesan was quite good. Claire noticed my promise ring during dinner. She didn’t make a big fuss about it, because she was still upset with me, but I knew she wanted to know when and how David had presented it to me. The questioning would probably come after the storm that was brewing inside my mother.
I tidied up the kitchen and finished the laundry for Claire. She retired early, and most of the laundry was mine, so I felt it was only fair for me to finish up.
I took a long shower and wrapped myself in David’s blanket once I was in bed. I held the throw to my nose and inhaled. The fragrance was delicious. I wished it was his arms around me instead of the blanket, but for now this would have to do.
The buzzing sound of my phone’s vibrate setting prompted me to reach for it. I had a text message from David asking if I was still awake.
“Only for you,” I replied.
His call came through a minute later.
“Hi,” I answered.
“Hello, my lovely. How was your evening?”
“Dreadful,” I began. “I’ve been psychologically tampered with.”
“Oh?” He asked.
I proceeded to tell him how I had come forth with the truth about the whole Gabriel dilemma to Claire and how she had not taken it lightly.
“I would expect nothing less. She is in her right.” He took Claire’s side.
“Why do you always say that?” I was annoyed. “Can’t you take my side for once?”
“Should I?”
“No, I’m on her side too,” I tittered.
“What plans have you for the weekend?” he asked.
“Nothing at the moment. My agenda is completely blank.”
“I’d like to invite you to dinner tomorrow night. Do you think your mother will mind after that discussion you two had?”
“I think she’ll just lay a guilt trip on me again. No biggie. How should I dress?”
“Semi-formal.”
“Ooh la la.” I smiled. “We’re going on a real date.”
“That we are, my love. Are you as thrilled as I am?”
“Absolutely.” A grin extended across my face.
“I have to confess something to you,” he sounded serious.
“What’s that?”
“I miss you every second we are apart.”
“I adore you,” I whispered.
“And I you. Good night, my lovely. May all your dreams be sweet ones.”
“If only you were in them, they would be.”
“Oh, be still my beating heart. I offer no contest to your words. You are she that I hold sacred to my life, my one and only true love.”
I decided to test my own intelligence and began a game of wits with speech. I hoped William Shakespeare had taught him well.
“I have no words to surpass yours, but in my chest lay the same truths you speak of.” I began the game.
“Love me always?” he asked of me.
“And forevermore,” I replied.
“Adore me more?”
“By the passing hour, I do.”
David laughed as he saw I was challenging him and continued the game of words.
“Good night. Sweet kisses on thy lip. Excuse my absence; my prudence holds me captive, or I would be there now.”
“Come then. Be my vigil lover and you’ll have many.”
I heard David gasp in surprise.
“Isis, do not speak to me that way. It makes me think you are serious.”
“And if I am?” I asked.
David held silence.
“Are you there?” I asked wondering why he wouldn’t speak.
“Do not speak of such things. Your lips are both venom and nectar combined.”
“I’m sorry. I was caught in the moment.” I wasn’t really sorry at all.
“Alas, let me bid thee good night, my love, before I forego my impulse.” David continued the game.
“Don’t say good night, say good day to me instead.”
“Isis, please, my dear, stop. If your plan is to incite this love I feel for you, then you are victorious. Do not lead me any further.”
“And if I beg?”
“My blood boils for you. Stop this, at once. I know you are not playing.”
“Good night then.” My disappointment was unsubtle.
“Good night, my love.”
A chill of excitement ran up my back as I waited on the porch to see his car drive up to my house. I couldn’t wait to see his agonizingly beautiful face today.
I ran to the car as soon as I saw it pull up to the driveway. He flung his door open and embraced me without a word. My back was flat against the car and I could feel his ribcage expand as he breathed while he kissed me. His hands ran through my hair and down my back. I wanted to remain this way forever.
“Let’s not go to school today,” I said kissing his neck.
“Isis, please, refrain from such words. You weaken my sense of reasoning.” He kissed my face. “Do you know how catastrophic that can be?”
“I’m very aware.”
“Then stop. I beg you, precious. Do not put those thoughts into words for I am not without emotion.”
“I’ll stop,” I nodded.
He looked deep into my eyes and brushed the back of his hand against my cheek. “Dear, dear, girl… I’m lost without you and lost with you as well. A lost cause is what I am.”
I smiled and hugged him before he peeled me away—literally—then we set off to school.
David parked close to the campus today. He stared at me after he turned off the engine, pulled me quickly toward him and kissed me in the same feverish manner he had when he arrived at my house. I let my hands wander over his chest. I loved this boy with all my heart. I wanted him for me and only me.
“We’re going to be late again.” He gently took my hands and placed them on my lap. “We should go inside.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Definitely.”
David held me tightly as we entered the school. Our group was already assembled at one of the long rectangular tables in cafeteria.
Andy was feeding Bill a piece of apple. The twins socialized with some people whose faces looked familiar, but whom I did not know personally.
We sat at the far edge of the table with Andy and Bill where it was less crowded. David offered to buy me something for breakfast. I had only had an orange juice this morning, but I wasn’t very hungry.
I probably should have had something to eat since Fridays were test days and seemed to carry on forever. My stomach would be rumbling by mid-morning.
I remembered that today was also the day the DNA results for the body they found in the fields would be released. While observing the group in their normal routine at school, I wondered if anyone remembered that today was the day we would find out if our former friend was gone forever. I could only imagine what his family was going through. I cringed as I wondered what time I would get the call from Claire.
I must have had an awkward expression on my face, because David asked me what was the matter.
“Nothing.” I smiled crookedly not wanting to ruin the day that had started off so perfect.
We walked to first period, where we were presented with blank sheets of paper at the door. Grunts and moans came from the students receiving the sheets. We all knew it would be an essay question test.
David sat behind me in his usual spot and Andy beside me. We awaited the test instructions eager to get it over with.
I took my time answering the two questions provided by the teacher. I needed to ace this exam to keep my grade point average up. I had been so preoccupied with life—meaning David—that my class average had slightly dropped. The scholarships I had applied for would be at stake if I didn’t get at the very least an “A” minus overall.
Our teacher, while awaiting the rest of the students to finish their exams, kept the class quiet. I was bored.
I lay my head on my arm and started thinking of how wonderful that trip to Greece would be if I accepted. Would my mother let me go? Just the night before she was talking about how I needed to learn things on my own. I wondered if this qualified as a learning experience.
David touched me lightly on the shoulder so that I would turn to face him. He puckered his lips blowing a kiss at me and winked.
I giggled silently and mouthed “thank you”. He smiled and blew me another kiss.
“Everyone is watching you,” I whispered.
“Jealous bastards,” he grinned.
I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
“No talking,” the teacher warned us. And that was the end of first period.
David was very expressive today. Between classes, he held me so tight that it impaired my breathing.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I gasped.
“Not if I have a say in it,” he jested and squeezed me tighter.
“David, you’re suffocating me again.”
“Oh,” He released his clutch and laughed. “I didn’t realize how much pressure I was placing on you.”
“Plenty,” I said rubbing my ribs.
He walked me to my class, gave me a peck on the cheek and two on the mouth and ran toward his own classroom across the hallway. The bell rang just as he stepped inside.
During lunch Eryx sat with us. Galen wasn’t with our group today. He wasn’t anywhere in sight.
“Where’s Galen?” I asked Eryx.