It's a Love Thing

by Cindy C. Bennett

  *****

  Monday night I started getting ready for the carnival around five thirty, and unfortunately mom was actually home for a change. The last thing I needed was for her to meet the ‘hot guy’ next door, especially when I hadn’t even told her about Jason yet.

  When the doorbell rang—it was becoming a regular thing—promptly at six, mom didn’t miss a beat rushing to answer it before I could stop her.

  “Hello. I’m Mel’s mom, Doreen,” she said, offering a hand like he was a business associate or something.

  “Hi. I’m Lucas.”

  “You live next door I understand?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “That’s lovely,”—insert groan here—“we will have to have your parents over for dinner sometime to get to know them.”

  “Well . . . they’re away on business pretty often. I’m not really sure when they’ll be back,” Lucas explained awkwardly.

  “And they just leave you home alone?”

  “Mom,” I tried to interject, but she was having none of it. Once she was on a roll there was no stopping the woman.

  “You must be a very mature young man to be trusted with such responsibility.”

  “I try,” he offered.

  “I expect that you will be the same kind of responsible with my daughter tonight, then.”

  Annnd . . . there went the line.

  “Okay, mom, time to go. See you later,” I called over my shoulder as I pulled Lucas toward the door with me.

  “Your mom seems—” he started as we crossed the lawn toward his driveway.

  “Don’t,” I interrupted. “Don’t even go there.”

  Lucas laughed and then did the strangest thing. He opened the car door for me. I think maybe I saw that in an old movie somewhere once, but I had definitely never experienced it before. It was nice.

  The roads were crowded and slow going thanks to a three car pileup further ahead. I hoped everyone was alright. Lucas seemed more agitated than anything. As we finally started moving again a dark blue sports car whipped into our lane, cutting us off. Lucas had to slam on his breaks and I slapped the dash to steady myself.

  “You okay?” Lucas asked.

  “Fine,” I assured him

  “Some people just don’t know how to drive. They think they can just . . .” he grumbled, but it was beginning to sound like the start of a tirade.

  “Maybe it’s an emergency,” I cut him off.

  “What?”

  “Maybe his pregnant wife was in the backseat going into labor and he’s trying to get her to the hospital,” I offered.

  “Do you really believe that?” he asked, incredulously.

  “What’s real doesn’t matter. Doesn’t it just make you feel better to assume it?”

  Lucas considered that for a minute and then glanced over at me. One corner of his mouth was quirked in this adorable little half smile.

  “Yeah, it kind of does,” he agreed. “Ya know, you’re really something else.”

  The remainder of the trip passed quickly, without any more grumbling from Lucas. When we pulled into the parking lot I was surprised to see he was still smiling. Once we managed to find a spot to park, he was out of the car and around my side so fast I didn’t even have a chance to reach for the door handle before he had it open. Okay then. I took his offered hand and he helped me out of the car, promptly letting go once I was on my feet. It was all very proper, and weird, and . . . nice. I couldn’t help smiling at him and when he returned it I was even more stunned. Cheese and crackers! I'd known he was good-looking, but when he smiled it reached a whole new level entirely. Suddenly the phrase ‘weak in the knees’ started to make sense. I had to remind myself that this wasn’t a date. In fact, I was dating someone else, kinda, maybe . . . I think.

  The carnival was precisely the mental image you conjure up at the word ‘carnival.' Dinky rides with bright flashing lights which are likely to make you puke, rows of rigged games with carnies hocking their impossible-to-claim prizes, and people everywhere. Every age group, from toddler on up to grandparents, was represented in the shuffling masses that filled the small spaces between stands, rides, and ticket booths. Lucas reached for my hand and I let him take it . . . just so I wouldn’t lose him, of course.

  “Where to first?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Are you more of a ride girl or a game girl?”

  “I just ate,” I explained.

  “Ah, games it is then.”

  Apparently he wasn’t eager to see my meal come back up either. A man in a blue jumpsuit stood just inside the booth for a water gun game.

  “Here, son, why don’t you take a chance and win something nice for your girlfriend there?” he called to Lucas. I thought about correcting his assumption but what was the point? “I’m sure she would love this cute little bear.”

  “What do you say? You love that bear?” Lucas asked, with another one of those devastating smiles.

  What bear? Forcing myself to get a grip, I nodded without thinking.

  “Alright, then,” Lucas told the man, pulling a couple dollars from his pocket.

  The carnie handed Lucas a water pistol and pointed to a clown face with a target in its mouth.

  “The more water you get into the target, the bigger the prize.”

  Lucas took aim and as soon as the water started flowing the target jerked into motion. No one had warned us about that little complication, but it didn’t seem to matter to Lucas in the least. He nailed the target the entire time and filled the plastic tube all the way to the top. I had my choice of any prize in the booth. Apparently they were not as impossible as I had come to believe. I chose the small stuffed bear the man had hassled us about earlier; easier to carry than one of those oversized things that would just end up taking up space in my already cramped bedroom.

  I was teasing Lucas about his inhuman skills as we turned away from the booth and ran smack into Jason, Jenna, and Kyle.

  “Mel, what are you doing here? With him?” Jason asked, as surprise flashed in his eyes and then something else, but it was gone so fast I couldn’t identify it.

  “Lucas invited me, so I agreed to check it out with him . . . as friends,” I added quickly, noting how awkward the situation was.

  Jason did not look happy. “I tried to call to invite you myself actually.”

  “I lost my phone,” I explained. “I can’t find it anywhere.”

  “Then let’s make plans for tomorrow right now so you won’t have to worry about finding it. We’re going to this club in the city. You should check it out with us.”

  “I don’t think the club is really her style,” Lucas interjected.

  Cripes, Lucas, like it wasn’t already uncomfortable enough. What was he trying to do?

  “Are you saying you know my girlfriend better than I do?” asked Jason with a definite sharp edge to his voice I hadn’t heard before.

  Note to self, Jason called me his girlfriend. Guess it's official now.

  “I’m just saying I don’t think the club is a good idea. You won’t enjoy it,” Lucas said, turning to me.

  He just heard Jason call me his girlfriend, I told him already that we were together, so why was he being this way? I should have known. Once a jerk…

  “I’d love to go, Jason. Pick me up at eight?”

  “Sure thing, babe. I guess I’ll let you two lovebirds get back to your game. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Jason stuck around long enough to plant a quick kiss on my lips before retreating into the crowd with Kyle and Jenna on his heels. They were like lost little puppies around Jason. I overheard Lucas mumbling something about ‘a bad idea’ as he headed back towards the parking lot.

  “What the hell was that all about?” I shouted when I was sure Jason was out of earshot.

  “What?”

  “You know what. Why are you always such a PITA around Jason?”

  Lucas stared at me strangely and I realized that my PG lingo mus
t be below him as well, so I decided to clarify.

  “Pain in the . . .”

  “I get it.”

  “So?”

  “I just . . . argh,” he stomped off in frustration, but I caught up to him easily.

  The one and only benefit to being small is the ability to easily travel through crowded spaces.

  “You just what?” I demanded.

  “I can’t.”

  “You can’t what?”

  “I can’t tell you, so why don’t we just leave it at that?”

  “Why don’t we not? What the heck is up between you two? It’s like you're mortal enemies or something.”

  “Or something,” he grumbled.

  “It’s ridiculous,” I declared.

  “You don’t understand.”

  “Then enlighten me.”

  “I . . .”

  “Can’t?”

  “Right.”

  “That’s also ridiculous.”

  “You don’t . . .”

  “Understand? We’re talking in circles now, Lucas. Why don’t you try a different direction?”

  “If I offer you some friendly advice, would you take it?”

  “Depends what it is.”

  “Stay away from Jason.”

  “No, probably not.”

  “I didn’t think so. I should probably take you home now.”

  “Yeah, you probably should,” I agreed.

  The ride home was tense and the silence in the car was nearly deafening. Finally Lucas decided to grace me with some more words of wisdom as we pulled into his driveway and he threw it into park.

  “Just be careful tomorrow. Use your head while you’re at the club. Don’t be stupid.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Just remember what I said.”

  He climbed out of the car and without waiting for me to do the same, headed off towards his house. This time I opened my own door and cut across my lawn towards home, still trying to figure out what had happened tonight.

  *****

  The next evening mom was at work again. Good thing because otherwise she probably never would have let me out of the house in what I was wearing: a red sequined top over a denim short skirt with fishnet stockings underneath. For a moment I considered if this was part of the ‘don’t be stupid’ advice that Lucas had given me, but shook it off. I had no idea what he was talking about. He was probably just trying to mess with my head, and I wasn’t about to let him ruin another night for me.

  Jason arrived promptly at eight looking fantastic in a pair of tight jeans and another sexy button down shirt. His hair was artfully mussed and he looked downright delicious. I wondered if it would mess up all his hard work if I kissed him right then. I decided not to risk it and settled into the seat beside him instead. The drive into the city took less than half an hour and it was still early when we arrived. The club didn’t even open for another hour.

  “Why didn’t you tell me eight was too early? You could have picked me up later.”

  “And miss spending extra time alone together?” He looked aghast at the very thought of it. “Never.”

  A smile crept onto my lips. He was charming in an entirely different way than Lucas.

  “So what are we supposed to do for the next hour?”

  “I have a few ideas,” he said, waggling his eyebrows at me.

  What exactly was that supposed to mean? The thought of kissing him came back to me and I wondered if we could keep that up for an hour. Probably. Who was I kidding? Definitely. At least an hour. Before I could make my move though, he reached into his glove box and pulled out a glass bowl and a small baggie.

  “Want some?”

  Was he serious? Drugs? Right there in his glove box?

  “Um, no thanks.”

  “Come on. It’ll help put ya in the mood. I have a joint if you’d rather that.”

  If it took drugs to put me in the mood for this place then maybe Lucas had been right, maybe the club was a bad idea.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “It’s alright. I’m not going to tell anybody. Here, just have a hit. You’ll like it. Go ahead,” he insisted, shoving the bowl in front of my face.

  “No. Thanks, really, but I’d rather not.”

  In fact, I’d rather get the hell out of there. I pushed the door open and climbed outside.

  “Where are you going?” Jason asked.

  “Just for a walk. I haven’t seen the city yet. I thought I’d take a quick look around.”

  “Hold on, I’ll go with you,” he said, stuffing everything back into the glove box. “The city can be dangerous at night. You shouldn’t be walking around by yourself.”

  He took my hand and led me down the sidewalk toward a more populated street with wall to wall shops along both sides. Most of them were closed, but there was still so much to look at. We strolled up and down the street looking at window displays and joking around. By the time nine thirty finally rolled around all the awkwardness from earlier had been forgotten. Jason was just so easy to talk to, so funny and laid back. I loved being around him.

  Despite arriving practically the minute the doors opened, the place was already hopping. The only lighting in the place was track lighting on the floor and flashing strobes across the ceiling. It made it almost impossible to see, and the music made it almost impossible to hear. It pounded out of the dozens of speakers, sending a pulsing rhythm through my body. It was more of the techno stuff that Jason loved to play in his car. It was actually starting to grow on me and I swayed my hips to the beat as Jason led me through the jam packed dance floor. We pushed our way through hundreds of bodies all gyrating to the music. At a back table we met up with Jenna and Kyle who were already waiting for us.

  “Hey, guys,” I called loudly to be heard over the music as we slid into the booth opposite them.

  Jenna waved with a smile and Kyle nodded. Not exactly the spot for quiet conversation. A few minutes later a woman in a half-apron approached the table and pulled out an order pad.

  “What’ll it be tonight?” she shouted.

  “Whiskey sour,” Jason ordered and then turned to look at me.

  Drugs, and now alcohol? Who did this guy think I was?

  “Diet Coke,” I told the waitress and Jason eyed me dubiously.

  Once Jenna and Kyle had ordered their drinks, both alcoholic as well, the waitress left without ever once asking to see an ID. Interesting place. By the time the drinks arrived the temperature in the room was skyrocketing and my shirt was starting to stick to my back. The ice cold drink Jason passed me was just what I needed. I gulped it down and Jason ordered me another before pulling me out onto the dance floor. It started out innocently enough but after a couple of songs Jason was inching his way closer and closer. Where exactly did he think he was going to go with that hand? Yeah, not there. Pulling away from him, I excused myself to get my drink and plunked back down in the booth. Kyle and Jenna took a turn out on the floor and we babysat the table for a while.

  “So, how do you like the place?” Jason asked as I sipped my second soda.

  He'd ordered another whiskey and was well on his way to polishing that off as well.

  “It’s cool.”

  Dorky, I know, but I really didn’t know what else to say about the place. It wasn’t the most relaxing venue on earth.

  “I knew you’d like it.”

  He was leaning in so close to talk to me that his lips brushed my ear as he spoke. He shifted closer and suddenly his tongue was there instead. Alright, hold your horses, pal.

  “I’m going to go use the restroom,” I told him, sliding out of the booth.

  “Alright, hurry back.”

  My head was starting to feel fuzzy as I pushed my way through the crowded hallway. I was pretty sure the lights and noise were starting to make me light headed. How can guys even ask why girls go to the bathroom in groups? Have they ever seen the line? It was about five miles long, but I waited even though I didn’t
really need to go. I just needed a break. Besides, if you waited until you actually had to go then you’d never make it in time.

  A month later I tossed my balled up paper towel in the overflowing trash can and headed back out to the table. Jason was still waiting for me, as was another glass of soda.

  “You were almost out so I ordered you another. Diet, right?”

  I nodded. That was nice of him. After my brief respite in the bathroom, the club was feeling pretty stifling again. When I saw Kyle and Jenna headed back our way I gulped the rest of my drink before Jason could pull me back out on the floor again.

  We danced together for a long time, slowly getting closer and closer to one another until he was practically on top of me. His hands were getting friendly again but this time it didn’t feel quite so grabby, it actually felt kind of nice. I leaned into him, my head spinning and pressed my lips to his. He responded eagerly, pulling me closer, wrapping his arms around me and strategically placing his hand on my butt. I didn’t mind.

  “Come on,” he said into my ear after a few minutes of making out right there in front of everyone. No one seemed to notice.

  I followed him willingly into a dark hallway. I had no idea where it led and I really didn’t care. All I cared about was when Jason pushed me back against the wall and lowered his lips to mine again. His hand traveled south, caressing my thigh, but when he started fiddling with the hem of my skirt, Lucas’ voice unexpectedly rang clear in my mind. Don’t be stupid.

  “Wait, wait.” I pulled away from him and steadied myself against the wall. “I’m feeling dizzy, I think something’s wrong with me.”

  “That would be the vodka,” Jason said off handedly.

  “What vodka?”

  “The vodka I put in your Coke to help you to loosen up. Come on, admit it, it’s better this way isn’t it? More fun?”

  “No. No, Jason. It’s not ‘better this way.’ I feel sick. I want to go home.”

  “Alright fine,” he looked disappointed; maybe even a bit angry. “I’ll take you home.”

  “No, you’ve been drinking. You can’t drive.”

  “I hate to point out the obvious, but so have you, honey. How else are you going to get all the way back home?”