June 19th, 9:00 AM
April slept over that night, and we watched about six movies before we both collapsed from exhaustion. April always slept in the guest bedroom, and I, or course, in my own room. The night seemed long, like I’d been sleeping for days, but eventually I woke up.
After tossing and turning for 30 odd minutes, I realized that there was no used in trying to get back to sleep. I sat up, yawned, stretched, and then, realized what time it was.
It was 9:30.
Elliot would be picking me up in half an hour, and it would be close to impossible to take my shower, blow dry my hair, do my makeup and then choose an outfit in the remaining 30 minutes I had. I needed April to cover for me.
“April!” I burst into her room without warning.
“What!?” she sat up in her bed. “What do you want!?”
“Cover for me if Elliot gets here before I’m done my morning routine.”
“Fine.” And she slumped back into the comforter with a sigh.
I ran back to my room, grabbed some of my new clothes and then headed into the bathroom while thinking, “What am I going to do? What am I going to do? I have half an hour...half an hour.” I pulled bags over my casts, catapulted myself into the shower, turned on the hot water, burned, turned on the cold water, froze, and then actually took the time to find a happy middle. I used the two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, since I didn’t have the time for both, then used some body wash, rinsed, and jumped out of the shower.
I dried myself off in 5.6 seconds and reached over for the blow-dryer.
I somehow managed to blow-dry and straighten my hair at the same time, while outside April shouted, “June! There’s someone at the door!”
“Well go answer it!” I shouted back, while hopping into my capris.
“But I’m still in my pyjamas!” she groaned.
“So help me god April-“
“Fine, I’m going!”
I pulled the yellow tank top over my head then picked up my eyeliner and smeared it all over my eyes (well, in the neatest way possible). Some mascara, some lip gloss, blush, and I was done.
A squirt of perfume and I was out the door.
I was so relieved that I’d be getting my casts off in less than a week; it was impossible to get around in them.
“Hi June!” said April.
“Hello April.” I said rather sourly.
“So I’ll see you two later at the movies?” April grinned.
“Absolutely.” Elliot replied.
“You bitch.” I mouthed, nobody saw.
“Okay June, you two have a good time! I’ll house sit!” April declared, and she pushed (not literally, it was actually more like a gesture) the two of us out the door.
“Hello.” Elliot laughed, after the door had been slammed behind us.
“Hello Elliot.” I replied.
“So, how’s it been?”
“Well, pretty decent. Since the phone call nothing much happened.” I explained to him.
“Good.”
I couldn’t help but notice that his cast was already off.
“Elliot, I couldn’t help but notice that your cast is off.” I declared.
“Yeah, apparently I’m all healed up.” He grinned.
“Well that’s hardly fair.”
“Don’t worry; yours will be off soon too.” And there he went with the consoling again.
I was then helped down the walkway and into Elliot’s car.
Once we began driving I didn’t feel like asking where we’d be going that day. Anywhere was fine as long as I could spend some time with Elliot.
It was unusually cold outside for summer. I had almost wished that I had brought a sweater.
As if he’d known what I was thinking Elliot asked, “You look cold, do you want my jacket?”
“Of course not.” I lied.
“Oh.”
Despite what I said Elliot managed to shrug off his jacket while driving and handed it to me. I looked over but didn’t say thanks. I pulled the jacket over my shoulders and almost melted into its warmth.
Elliot was wearing a three-quarter sleeved grey sweater underneath, so I couldn’t have imagined that it would be that cold for him. I took a moment to study the rest of his outfit. He had paired the grey sweater with some dark blue straight leg jeans and for shoes; I’m almost certain they were black sneakers, Converse maybe...
Elliot pulled into a driveway.
“We’re here.” He announced.
“Where’s here?” I inquired.
“My house.”
Elliot’s house was very similar to mine, and Clarks. It was bigger though, by about one floor. Its roof has the same castle-like characteristics and it had the same large windows on its face. The front lawn, on the other hand, was filled with flowers of all colors and trees and bushes. It wasn’t over-done though, it actually looked really beautiful.
I got out of the car on my own this time and handed Elliot his jacket, and then we walked up to the front porch.
Out of Elliot’s pocket came the key to the house, and soon enough we were inside a very grand stairway, and might I mention, even grander a stairway than mine. It was a rich red color with a white trim, and there was a giant mural on the ceiling of a night sky with planets and stars. The chandelier on the ceiling was huge, made with jewels that looked so expensive I’ve probably never even heard of them. “If you could do anything today, what would it be?”
“Anything...” I paused. “Well... More than anything I’d just like to rest. Just take some time off for myself and forget about it all.” I explained, and it was probably the most truthful thing I’d said all week.
“Forget, forget...” Elliot seemed to be tossing the word around, “I know just the thing.” He smiled.
“And what would that be?” I asked him.
“Well, whenever I need to suppress some sort of awful memory, I go to my room and listen to some music.” He grinned to himself.
“Oh.” Bedrooms always seemed a little too personal to me, I mean, I wouldn’t necessarily want a stranger walking about my room judging my personal taste...not that I was a stranger to Elliot, or that I was planning on judging him. And then there was the fact that I knew it would all be incredibly awkward. “That would be... good.”
Elliot game me an encouraging smile, “My room’s on the third floor... But there are quite a few stairs...” he stated, eyeing my cast.
“That’s okay, I’ll take my chances.” I responded.
“Would you mind if I carried you?”
I gave Elliot an odd look, almost an appalled look, but I knew I didn’t want to refuse. Really though, it couldn’t hurt, and I did say I wanted to relax. “If that’s what you think is best.” I frowned.
“Good. It’ll be better than climbing them, trust me.”
“I trust you.” I murmured.
Elliot lifted me off the ground and I bit my lip. I could hear him taking in breaths, in and out, then in and out and I could feel them too, and my whole body trembled. I had never been that close to anyone since I was a baby being held by my own mother, except this time the attraction was unbearable. It was as if the whole world went silent and all there was was Elliot’s lungs and my ears to hear them. I stayed completely still the whole way up and by the time Elliot put me down I found that I was having difficulty breathing, and Elliot obviously noticed and the corners of his mouth lifted but he said nothing.
Elliot’s room was the first door on the left and surprisingly wasn’t as large as I thought it would be. It was about the size of my room, but with slightly lower ceilings. It had lime green walls with a white trim and smelt of lavender, I wasn’t sure if it was air-freshener but it was lovely. The furniture set included two dressers, a queen sized bed, a desk and a mirror, and was made of wood, the same color wood as the floor, light brown. As for entertainment there was a laptop on the desk, three bookshelves and a TV on the wall, from the looks of it a 40 inch. Underneath the TV was a large stereo which I assumed was the sound system we were going to be listening to that day. There was a cream coloured sofa in front of a window, and to top it all off the bed sheets were green silk.
I entered the room and observed everything carefully, making sure not to miss a single detail; I had almost forgotten what my purpose in this room was.
“So, what is it you’d like to listen to?” Elliot inquired.
I was kind of in the mood for something light but I decided to leave it up to Elliot, he seemed to know what was best. “It’s up to you, I’m good with anything.”
He walked over to the third bookshelf, which I failed to mention was filled with CDs, and began scanning the titles; “Hmm...” he hummed as he did.
“Saosin?” he suggested, turning around and eyeing me.
I nodded, and then sat down on Elliot’s bed.
The first few notes of It’s Far Better to Learn pierced the air and I listened in contempt.
“Would you like a drink?”
“A drink?” I responded, as if I hadn’t understood the first time.
“My parents drink a lot when they’re not at work; it helps them with the stress. Don’t get me wrong though, they’re not alcoholics, but we’re loaded with all kinds of stuff.” He explained.
“Well...” I considered this for a second, because drinking safely was always a first priority for me, and though I was under-age I had done it a few times before with April, April’s family having a vast wine cellar and leaving it carelessly unlocked 98% of the time.
The first time I’d gotten drunk was November the 3rd two years ago. It was a Friday night, and we had decided to spend it at April’s house since her parents would be out on business. We’d been having a n innocent conversation about what our plans were for Christmas and what we might add to our wish lists when April had brought up the subject of ‘alcohol’. I automatically refused.
“No.”
“June, no one’s going to be home until tomorrow morning, we’ll have time to sober up and my parent’s will never notice two missing bottles considering how many bottles they already have.” She reasoned, “Plus, we’ll be at home, so it’s not like we’re driving drunk, it’s completely responsible.”
“Responsible...” I muttered, “15 year olds drinking bottles of wine; and what is it, 7%? We’ll be wasted! Who knows what kind of stupid thing’s we’ll do!”
“Well we won’t know until we’re drunk!” April laughed. “But seriously though, it couldn’t hurt.”
And she was right, it couldn’t really hurt. I needed to loosen up a little. So I frowned for a moment and then said “Okay.”
Shortly after that April rushed back from the basement with two bottles of strawberry wine.
I thought it tasted horrible, but I didn’t want to go back on my decision. I drank my first glass easily but on my second my head felt as if it was filled with fog, no, more like laughing gas. I didn’t even know what April was talking about but it was all hilarious, by the third glass (and these were big glasses here) I felt completely disoriented. Stumbling around, still laughing but getting increasingly tired.
Eventually April’s speech began to slur and she said something like, “I’m exhausted.” But it was really hard to make out.
She collapsed on the couch and I checked the time; it was only 12, but I managed to make my way up to April’s bedroom where I flopped onto her bed and closed my eyes.
After that we’d gotten drunk about two more times, but that was it. Sometimes I wished April’s parents would catch us so we could get some sort of punishment, I never liked getting away with anything, it always weighed down on my conscience, but they never did, not once, and it almost made me feel bad. And as Elliot gave me the choice of having a drink or not I assumed that we could sober up by the time it was time for me to go home, so there would be no risk of drunk driving, but that was only if we drank enough to get drunk in the first place, so everything was completely safe, and now that I was almost 18 it was hardly illegal at all to have a small drink every once and a while.
“Well... Sure.”
“Stay right there,” Elliot smiled then rushed out of the room.
I lifted my legs onto the bed and propped myself up against the headboard.
What Elliot came back up with was not wine, but vodka, in two clear green tinted glasses. I was relieved that he didn’t bring up the whole bottle and that (unless he was planning on getting more) he’d be able to drive me home responsibly. This took a load off my chest.
I took the glass and mouth “Thank you,” Then took a sip. It was unbearably strong, but I wasn’t going to complain. I took another sip.
Elliot sat down and began sipping as well, “So what did you buy when you went shopping?”
Sometimes I found that Elliot talked too much, not that is was a bad quality to have it was just... I guess my social skills just weren’t up to par with Elliot’s, I mean, most women liked talking about their day (not to be stereotypical) but I’m not really at all like most women.
“Clothes mostly, well, it was all clothes, bottoms, tops and accessories. I can’t remember what April got... what was that?” And I took a moment to think. “It was... never mind, I can’t remember but it was also clothes.”
“Do you like spending time with April?”
“Of course, she’s my best friend, even if she seems to be plotting against me.” I grinned, swirling my drink around in the large glass. “And since April met Clark she’s had quite the busy schedule, but I know I’ll always be priority number one until they get married and bless me with little monster nieces and nephews,” I grimaced at the thought.
Elliot smiled, “You’ll be the aunt?”
“Well, since neither April nor I have siblings we decided that we’d both be aunts to the other’s children. It seemed fine until she met Clark, and now I’m nervous about it.” I announced.
“Don’t be, you’ll make a great aunt when the time comes. You might not feel prepared now, but once it all happens everything will fall into place nicely.” Then he suddenly added, “Are April and Clark already planning on having children?”
“Um...” The question was kind of unexpected and I knew that if he was asking about April’s plans for the future he’d ask about mine next, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to answer him or just change the subject abruptly. “She’s... mentioned it. She wants a boy actually...” I sort of mumbled.
“And what do you want?” and there he went getting personal again, and I was left having to answer his questions.
“I always kind of wanted a girl, but I won’t be devastated with a boy either.” I replied.
“How many kids do you plan on having?”
“Oh, well... One? I’m not even sure if I want kids, it’s kind of early in life to be thinking of those things anyways, you don’t think?” I asked, truly wanting to avoid the subject.
“It’s never too early to start planning.” He replied simply.
By now my glass was half empty (or half full, depending on if you’re a half empty or half full kind of person) and I drank down the rest quickly. I was already beginning to feel a little strange, probably because I hadn’t drank anything in a while.
It was a few minutes before the question popped out of my mouth, “Are we going out?” Maybe it was the vodka, because usually I wouldn’t have asked anything of the sort, and I immediately regretted it.
“Are we?” he asked in response.
In a panic I replied, “Well I-I thought, you know, because, well, you took me to The Prom and kissed me and we talked on the phone too, and you invited me over and-and, now we’re here... so I just assumed...”
“It’s up to you, are we?” he was now sitting up and staring at me intensely, making me terribly nervous.
Of course we were, absolutely, I just didn’t want to say it to his face. Then again it wasn’t as if I was going to say no, so I decided on ‘sure’, sure was always a safe bet.
“Sure.”
“Okay.” And he slumped back onto the headboard.
“Okay.” I mouthed.
By then I couldn’t even tell if the music was still playing or not, I was too preoccupied with thought. I’d never gone out with anyone before, and I wouldn’t be able to know how to act around a boyfriend. I wasn’t even sure if going out meant we were boyfriend and girlfriend. What would April think? She’d probably be so excited, her little June finally all grown up; I would guess. What would Elliot’s family think about me? How judging could they be though? Elliot had had other girlfriends in the past, and I doubted I’d be the worst of the worst. I wondered whether Elliot would consider me to be just another girlfriend, when I considered him a life partner, and whether or not he loved me more than any other girlfriend. Did Elliot even consider this love? Did he actually love me?
I sat there perfectly still, trying not to lose my mind, if that was even possible for someone who is usually so stable.
“Would you like another glass?”
“No thank you...” I said hesitantly.
“Are you alright?” Elliot inquired but I could hear the smile in his voice.
I nodded with a bit of uncertainty and smiled back.
“By the way,” he continued, “April told me that we should meet them at around 4 for the movie, so that leaves us...”
“Five hours.” I replied quickly.
“Yes, so, after the CD’s done, what would you like to do?” Elliot questioned.
“Movies, TV, I don’t know... nothing active.” I frowned.
“TV it is then.” Elliot decided, picking a remote up and off the side table.
At first there wasn’t really anything interesting on so it remained on a cooking channel.
Watching the television actually didn’t seem like such a waste of time when I was with Elliot, I mean, what else was I supposed to do? Run a marathon? That was highly unlikely. I’d much rather be here.
I could feel one of Elliot’s arms slide around my shoulders, but I didn’t dare look at him once. Again I felt tense and uneasy, just as I had on the stairs. Was there something wrong with me? If I wanted to be with Elliot then why was I so stressed out?
“What’s wrong?” Elliot asked me soon after my strange reaction.
“Nothing, I’m just... a bit nervous...” I muttered still feeling strangely uncomfortable in Elliot’s arms (or arm? Well I guess it was only one).
“What do you have to be nervous about?”
“I don’t know...” I could begin to feel heat at the back of my neck and knew that I was probably blushing, “You’re just a nice person, I guess, and it makes me a bit nervous to be around you because... because I’m afraid I might say the wrong thing.”
“What could you say wrong?” he inquired.
“It could be anything!” I replied with a surprisingly bold tone of voice, “I have no idea what might offend you or when you might take something personally!” but I immediately wanted to take it back. I didn’t mean to yell either...
It was very awkward for a couple of seconds and then Elliot slowly responded, “You shouldn’t worry about it anyways, and I don’t think there’s much you can say that can actually offend me.”
“Your bed sheets don’t match the rest of your room... at all.” I grinned, finally looking over at Elliot who was grinning back at me.
And then before I knew it we were kissing. I wasn’t sure why either, Elliot just sort of leaned over a bit and well, kissed me, and I stayed surprisingly calm on the outside, but of course on the inside I was in a fit of joy... or hysteria.
It wasn’t as if I hadn’t kissed anyone before I mean, I’d had my share of crappy dates... well, only two actually, but it would be quite unpleasant to tell you about them, so, I won’t. But kissing Elliot wasn’t at all like kissing a crappy date; it was amazing (well of course if it was a crappy date the kissing probably wouldn’t be enjoyable anyways).
Elliot had his arms around me but I stayed perfectly still, and all the while the chef on the television continued making his lemon meringue pie.
“Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, on a lightly floured surface, roll out your dough to just less than ¼ of an inch thick.”
Everything seemed to get blurry and my whole body tingled with excitement. Some butterflies awoke in my stomach and shot around so fast I was certain that I was going to burst open and they would all fly away. I actually giggled at the thought of it, interrupting our perfect moment.
Elliot flashed me a smile, “What’s so funny?” his face just centimetres away from mine.
I could feel my head start to spin as I smiled stupidly and replied, “I have no idea.”
The rest of the afternoon passed very quickly with Elliot and me watching TV and playing various board games, with me fidgeting constantly and Elliot hardly noticing.
Neither of us even realized that we were 10 minutes late when we started a new game of Monopoly.
“Crap! We’re already late for the movie!” I exclaimed, hardly concerned. “April’s going to give us hell.”
“We’d better get going then. Do you need a jacket again?”
I thought about this for a moment and decided not to lie, “Please.”
“Red or beige?” he asked while helping me off the chair I’d been sitting on.
“Red.”
“Good choice.”
Elliot carried me down the stairs once again, and I became the usual nervous wreck, my heart pounding away.
Once I was set down on my feet again, Elliot handed me my crutches and a red leather jacket with warm white fur on the inside. I shrugged it on while leaning on a wall, took in a deep breath then smiled; Elliot used the same detergent as April, or least his family did. I zipped the jacket up until I was completely enveloped in it.
By the time both of us were in the car we were already 20 minutes late for the movie. I hated being late.
I found myself twitching as we neared the movie theatre.
“Let’s hurry,” I got out of the car before it was even turned off and began running as fast as my crutches could take me. Elliot caught up with me quickly and we hurried inside.
We bought our tickets and walked casually into theatre 7.
Of course April recognized us the instant we’d entered the room, I’d assumed that every few seconds she had been checking the door. She waved her hand in the air urgently (though I didn’t realize what the rush was).
Once I found my seat next to Clark April leaned over him, a fierce look on her face.
“What the hell happened to you, we thought you were dead!” she whispered angrily.
“April thought you were dead.” Clark commented, seemingly annoyed.
“You’re never late! Why are you late!?” she frowned, but I did hear a hint of amusement in her voice.
“We were playing Monopoly, you know how long that game is, and why is it your business anyways?”
“Just wondering... you’ve never been late in your life you know.” She smiled, her mood changing quickly, like always, and then quickly added in, “You missed the whole intro! Let me explain!” and then she began rambling again, the other spectators, obviously annoyed, but I kept up the conversation with her just for the hell of it.
It was 10 minutes later that I finally settled in my seat happy that April wasn’t too upset. I caught a glimpse of Elliot; he looked just as amused as April.
I watched the screen with interest but my mind was focused on other things. I kept on playing back my day with Elliot over and over in my head.
I couldn’t help but feel like I was going to get struck by a random piece of space debris at any given moment. Everything was just going to well, something terrible was about to happen, I could feel it.
I sat there, waiting... but nothing happened.
Eventually the movie was over and I still hadn’t been struck by lightning or fatally injured.
I grinned to myself and sat up.
Everything was going to be okay.
Elliot drove me home and Clark and April went to the mall to look for some new video game.
The ride to my house was so quiet that I could hardly keep my eyes open. It wasn’t like it had been a long and tiring day for me. I was just so sleepy. I guess I must have eventually fallen asleep because there was a large gap in my memory between 45th avenue and my house on Elm Street.
We pulled into my driveway and I saw my parent’s matching black Mercedes parked just in front of us.
“They’re back.” I mumbled to myself and Elliot hardly seemed to notice.
As we arrived at the front porch Elliot lifted a hand to my cheek and smiled; I closed my eyes and anticipated his kiss, a few butterflies fluttering in my stomach. When nothing came I opened my eyes.
Elliot was grinning again, “Should I? Your parents are home.”
“They’re not watching us.” I laughed softly, but couldn’t help glancing around to check the windows.
“It doesn’t hurt to make sure.” He replied, then leaned forward and gave me a swift kiss, which was a little disappointing.
Just as Elliot pulled away the door flung open and I jumped slightly, wondering if my parents had actually been watching us.
“Elliot! How are you?” my mother asked flashing her bleached teeth.
“Very good; are you and Mr. Skidmore well?”
“Very. So you and June had fun today?” This question made me clench my teeth together. I hated it when she pried into other people’s lives.
“Of course, we always do.”
“That’s nice, and what about April and Clark?”
“They’re fine mother. I don’t know why you need to ask, they’re always fine.” I responded a little colder and more sarcastic than I’d wanted it to be.
My mother gave me a scowl, but did her best to hide it from Elliot. Maybe I’d pressed my luck with her.
“Well, I’m sure I’ll see you both again soon.” Elliot stated, sounding a little worried but still smiling.
“Good bye Elliot.” My mother bid him farewell.
“Bye Elliot.” And then I gave him the most loving smile I could muster without my mother taking any notice.
Giving me a wink (which literally made my heart skip a beat) Elliot left.
A fraction of a second after his car was out of sight; my mother began scowling once again, “I don’t like it when you try to make a fool of me in front of guests.”
I didn’t bother arguing about it. She always won.
Giving me an apologetic look she said, “Your doctor called, he says that tomorrow they can take a look at your bones, and if you’re lucky they can take those horrible casts off.”
My face lit up, “Really?”
“Of course, now come inside.” She told me.
I obediently walked into my house to see my father sitting in the living room reading.
“Hi.” I said to him.
“Hi.” He said back only glancing up for a second. Sometimes I doubted that we were actually family.
I slowly made my way to my room where I napped until my mother called me to supper.
“June! Estelle has finished making dinner! Are you coming?”
“Uh... no mother, I’d rather not... I think I might just go to bed early.” I decided.
“If you insist darling,” I hated it when she called me darling. “I’ll leave your portion in the fridge if you get hungry later.”
“Okay.” I slowly lifted myself out of bed grabbed a nightgown. I didn’t feel like brushing my teeth, I was too tired.
As soon as my pyjamas were on I fell back into a deep sleep.
