Hoax

by Lila Felix

  We sat there, not speaking or talking for what seemed like hours. I didn’t know what was going through his head but it was ok. Just sitting without talking was perfect.

  He turned to me after a while, “You have plans today?”

  “Yeah, I do.” Did I really have to spell it out for him?

  “I was planning on spending the day with you.” There , I said it.

  “You don’t have any secrets do you?” He said and I shrugged.

  “Nope. I guess I just don’t bullshit. What you see is what you get.”

  “Thank God.”

  Abel

  I sat there, swinging next to her, trying to get my head around how—well for lack of a better word—easygoing she was. It continued to surprise me. I doubted she ever got angry or pissed off. She probably didn’t hold grudges or get revenge. She just was who she was.

  “I’m starving,” I finally said.

  She got up and said, “Come on.”

  Within fifteen minutes she had four grilled cheese sandwiches going and they smelled like none I had ever tasted. And just to watch her glide through the kitchen was a treat. It was truly dinner and a show. The way she cocked her hip out while she stood at the stove was enough to make me want to forget my hunger and forget my resolve to take things slow with her. Forget everything but letting my hands rest on her curves while she rocked them back and forth as she did her culinary magic.

  The ‘clink’ of the plate on the island in front of me snapped me out of my daydream.

  “Quit looking at my ass and eat.” She giggled and I had to laugh back but didn’t argue—couldn’t argue with the truth. And it was that brutal honesty that I was falling for, hard and fast.

  I took a bite of my sandwich and it didn’t disappoint for one second. I groaned out a ‘mmmmm’ and she turned around smiling at me.

  “It’s so good.” I said and she sat down across from me.

  “Yeah, but how is the sandwich?” We both cracked up at that and ate joking about the zombie movie. She remembered the mistakes she saw and where there were errors in continuity.

  I could listen to her talk for hours and that’s exactly what I did for the rest of the afternoon. She started talking about the book she was in the middle of and it sounded interesting. I convinced her to get it out. We sat next to each other on the couch and she started at the beginning but after four or five pages I could see that I was a much faster reader than she was. I kept waiting for her to turn a page and she was still reading. I took the book from her and she gave me a ‘what the hell’ look.

  “What are you doing?” She said.

  “Lay down Corinne.” She gave me a look that said ‘you’ve got to be kidding me.’

  “What, you don’t trust me?” I gave her my innocent face.

  “Ok, ok.” She lay on the couch and crossed her feet and put her arms over her chest.

  I sat on the floor in front of the couch with my back against it and opened the book to where we had left off. I read four or five pages to her and then passed the book behind me for her turn. While she read to me the fingers of her left hand combed through the back of my hair. It was an interesting book but between her voice and her hand doing what it was doing, I didn’t catch half of it.

  I couldn’t stand it anymore. I turned around while she read to me. She turned the page not even paying attention to what I was doing. I leaned against the couch next to her with my elbows propped on the same cushion she lay on. She turned while finishing the sentence she was on.

  “What?” She said and when she turned to face me our noses met.

  “I love the sound of your voice.” She closed her eyes not for a long time, like a long drawn out blink.

  “It’s the book, it’s really good.”

  “It’s not the book. You could be reading the dress code for the IRS and it would be like listening to a song.”

  She stared at me, specifically my lips, for the longest second in history.

  “Will you just kiss me already?” It was a simple whispered question but I could hear the longing in it.

  I made myself move slowly the few inches that separated my face from hers. I’ve never wanted to savor a moment so much in all my life. I closed in and I could feel the heat from her lips to mine—and something occurred that was unexpected. It wasn’t just the silken warmth of her mouth on mine. It was more than physical. When they touched something inside me fell into place. A puzzle piece not pushed in all the way. It was there, waiting for the right person to see its folly and return it to the place where it fit. She found it and with her kiss, emotions and feelings were unlocked and connected to each other. I was hers. For as long as she would have me, I belonged to her.

  I pulled back and her eyes were still closed. Her eyelashes, one shade darker than her hair, fluttered and opened her brown eyes which smiled before her mouth showed any signs of it.

  “Finally,” she whispered.

  “It’s only been two weeks Corinne.” I chuckled at her and reached out to finally get my fingers in her honey blonde hair.

  “Feels like forever.” We stayed like that for a few minutes before she checked my watch.

  “Oh, it’s almost four o’clock!” She jumped up off of the couch and grabbed my hand, dragging me off somewhere.

  “What happens at four,” I asked, almost slamming into the door jamb.

  “Just come on.” She let go and ran out towards the barn.

  When I reached the barn she was trying to maneuver a ladder against the barn’s roof.

  “Here, let me help you. Are we getting on the roof?”

  “Yeah, we are.” She climbed the ladder and I had to keep my hands on the back of my head, forcing myself to look down, trying desperately to be good.

  “Come on Abel, you’re such a slow poke.”

  I got up to the roof and she lay there with her arms behind her head. I lie next to her but not too close, still not sure of how close to get, mimicking her posture. As soon as I looked up, she scooted closer to me so that our bodies met from toe to shoulder. Without a second thought, I put my left arm out, and she moved to use it as her pillow.

  “Ok, what are we looking at here?”

  She turned her head back and forth and then pointed to my right.

  “There,” She pointed with such a fury that I thought her shoulder was going to give out.

  I looked and finally saw what had this gorgeous girl’s attention. A pink, white, and black bubble emerged from the trees slowly and the telltale sound of fire heating air filled my ears.

  “Hot air balloons?” She giggled at my surprise.

  “Yeah, it said on the news this morning that they would be passing over this area about four o’clock. They had a hot air balloon festival in Bossier City.”

  “So this is something you like?” I baited her for more info.

  “Yeah, my Dad worked for a company that sponsored the festival one year and we spent the whole day there. We got to ride in one and everything. It’s one of my best memories.”

  “How old were you,” I asked, trying to picture an adolescent Corinne.

  “Eight, I think. I’m seventeen now, so—yeah eight.” She shrugged, satisfied with not knowing.

  “You wanna know something?”

  “Mmmhmmm”

  “I think I was at that same festival. We went when I was eight. I remember because I got lost there. My parents were doing, whatever, and I lost them. I found a policeman and I spent the rest of the day with him until four hours later my parents came looking for me. Four hours.”

  And without warning, I remembered her. Same hair color, same unbelievably warm eyes, and the most beautiful voice in the world. I remembered her from time to time but now lying next to her on the roof of this barn I knew that the voice from my childhood and the woman’s voice next to me were one in the same.

  “Now—you wanna know something really weird?” Please don’t be freaked out!

  “Yeah.” Another balloon came into view, this o
ne with a yellow smiley face with sunglasses.

  “I remember you from that festival.” I squinted my eyes shut, prepared for her to bolt.

  She rolled on her side facing me, “You what? How?”

  I turned my head to look at her, “I remember you and I guess your Dad. You were begging to go on a balloon shaped like a frog with a crown on it but he said one ride was enough. Your hair was the same color, your eyes the same, and your voice more childlike but the same too. But your Dad called you Corey, I think.”

  “Holy crap. I can’t believe you remember that.”

  Corinne

  “Yeah, he used to call me Corey when I was little. I had forgotten that. That was one of the rare times I actually got to go somewhere with them. I can’t believe you remembered me.”

  There was something there, connecting us. Like we’d known each other before and found one another again. I just wish I could remember him, too.

  “I’ve got an idea.” I sat up quickly and he reached out to catch me even though the roof was flat at the top.

  “Shoot.”

  “You go get some swim shorts and I’ll run to town and get some Chinese and we’ll meet back here in thirty minutes.”

  “Deal.”

  We both scrambled down from the roof; somehow this thing had turned into a silent race. I ran inside to grab my keys, my phone and my wallet, if I was going to speed, I was taking my newish truck, not the BMW. I opened the other side of the garage and Abel had already started his truck and was backing out.

  I used my cell to call in our order and sped to get there. I walked in and to my left saw a big group of people, mostly guys. They were loud and were openly harassing the bus boy who tried to clean the table next to them in peace. He picked up the tray of discarded plates and cups and as he passed the big guy, with a buzz cut, reached out and pushed him down. I gasped and inadvertently brought attention to myself.

  I had no experience with bullies. We were so strictly watched and regimented at Wellsley that there was no bullying or time for it. But I knew it was wrong. Anyone with eyes could see that this brazen harassment was wrong.

  “Hey you. Where have you been all my life?” I think I’m gonna gag.

  “Me?” Like I didn’t know.

  “Yeah, you. Where’d you come from?” I opened my mouth to say something snide but was interrupted by an Asian lady saying ‘hey’.

  “Yes ma’am?”

  “Your order is ready.” I let out a nervous breath. Saved by the noodles.

  “Thank you.” I pulled out my wallet to pay but she put her hand up in the air.

  “No, no, no. Mr. Collins already pay.” But she whispered it to me, her nose almost touching mine.

  “Ok, thank you.” When I turned around the rowdy table had quieted some and I was being eyed.

  I turned and quickly walked out, having no witty comeback for Buzz Cut. And as I left I heard the jab at me for not answering his question.

  “Snobby little slut.”

  I calmed myself down with thoughts of seeing Abel again. I drove slowly, willing myself to forget what I had just seen and praying I would never have to see those people again.

  I pulled into the driveway and Abel sat on the small set of steps that led to the side door with a satisfied smirk on his face. How he managed to get home and pay for the food before I even got there was beyond me.

  “How in the world did you manage that?” I said as I approached him.

  “Mrs. Chang was my nanny for a long time. I called in a favor.” He said as he shrugged as if it was no big deal.

  “That really wasn’t the deal Collins.” I pushed past him.

  “There were no rules laid down lady.” He laughed as he came into the house behind me. “What’s with the truck?” he nodded towards the garage.

  “That’s my truck. Why?”

  “I just saw you driving the other car. I thought it was yours.”

  “Nope, the truck is mine; the BMW is the Stephenson’s. So, you know everyone in town, right?” I pulled out cartons of noodles and chicken.

  “Pretty much, why?”

  “There were some pretty rowdy guys at the Chinese place—harassing the bus boy.”

  I looked at him and all the color left his face at once.

  “What did they look like?” He took a long pull on his water bottle and cleared his throat.

  “The main guy had a military type cut. They tripped the bus boy and called me a snobby slut.”

  It came out unemotional just like I wanted it to. I shrugged for effect. I didn’t want Abel to think that it really upset me. I had the feeling he was the type that would be in his truck defending my honor in a heartbeat.

  “Are you okay? They didn’t try to hurt you did they?” He was in front of me in an instant with his hand cupping my chin turning my face back and forth.

  “No, that one guy just called me a name. Who cares? I just wondered if you knew who they were.”

  “I think I do. If they ever, ever say anything to you again, you have to tell me, ok?”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  I opened the cartons and got out plates and forks and we ate without any further talk of Chinese food bullies. He reacted so strongly though. I wondered if maybe these were his ‘asshole’ friends. I decided to let it go.

  As we ate dusk fell outside and the lights in and around the pool came on automatically. I put the leftovers in the refrigerator as Abel finished his food silently.

  “I’ll be back.” I ran upstairs and changed into a burgundy two piece suit and threw my cutoffs on. I had never been one of those girls who cringed at the thought of going out in front of someone with my swimsuit on. Not to mention that Wellsley girls were kept on a strict vegetarian diet and P.E. was not optional. But even during the summer when I ate whatever I wanted, I didn’t care about the five or ten pounds. I guess I just didn’t care.

  I reached the bottom and Abel was not there. The pool house lights were on so I figured he was changing. I grabbed some towels and threw them on one of the lounge chairs. I took my shorts off and waded into the shallow end and swam to the deep. I came up for air and grabbed hold to each side of the diving board. I knew he was there. Without even looking I knew that he was at the shallow end, waiting, watching.

  “Can’t swim?” I smiled at him.

  He dove under the water and swam towards me. He came to the surface slowly, eyes open looking at me the whole time. He reached up and grabbed the edge of the diving board and kicked his legs in front of me.

  “What were you saying?” He laughed.

  He inched his hands up the diving board until they touched mine and his chest was just far enough away from me for water to run between us. I remembered that my hair probably was a mess and I leaned back to let the water smooth it out. When I came back to face him he was staring at my neck and then his eyes bore a trail up my neck to my lips. I could feel every patch of skin that he looked at bloom to red like flowers coming to life under the blare of the sun.

  He let his left hand relinquish its hold on the diving board and traced his fingers across my shoulder blade and then back towards the nape of my neck. His fingers flexed and I took it as a gentle invitation to get closer to him. But that was way too easy.

  Instead, I smiled at him, straightened my body and let myself sink to the bottom and swim back towards the shallow end. I sat on the steps and leaned back on my elbows while his back was still turned to me. I lifted my face to the skies to take in the moon and the stars.

  “You suck.” He said and we both laughed. After a few minutes, I heard splashing and sloshing water.

  “Corinne” He whispered it, suddenly in front of me.

  “I don’t want to but I need to go. I have to work tomorrow, you know, here.” He chuckled a bit but I could tell that he really hated to go.

  “And I have to go to Monroe tomorrow. Mrs. Stephenson ordered some curtains and I have to go pick them up. So I’m not sure if I will see you tomorrow or not.”

/>   He groaned and I loved the sound of it because it meant that he was going to miss me.

  “Ok, well, we better get out.”

  I got out, followed by Abel and grabbed a towel to dry off. He dried off beside me and picked up his stuff to leave. He stopped in front of me and tucked his clothes under his arm.

  “Why don’t you call me when you get home tomorrow?” He said as he lifted a wet strand of hair from my face.

  “Mmmmhmmm,” and he walked away from me. I shivered, not because I was cold but because I felt bereft of his presence. How weird it was to feel a chill in the middle of the summer heat. Abel was constantly messing with my temperature and I loved every second of it.

  I walked to the fence which separated the pool area from the rest of the backyard and held on to the points of the fence boards watching him leave. How do you get so attached to someone after only two weeks? He looked back as if he heard me but continued on to his truck. He opened the door, threw his stuff in and then stilled, standing in the opening.

  Turn around, turn around, turn around. For the love of all that’s holy, turn around.

  He backed away from the truck and did just that. He walked back towards me and I held on so dearly to the fence boards that I could feel shards of wood pricking my skin, threatening to leave a splinter. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his; they were so full of want, so full of care.

  He finally reached the fence and pulled me to him, both hands on each side of my face. He didn’t hesitate—perfect. I gripped the towel that made an upside down U around his neck and used the grip to pull him even closer. His lips, his mouth, his tongue, I swear were all ten degrees warmer than mine. I found myself needing this warmth now, yearning for him to warm me inside and out.

  His thumbs began to caress my face slower and slower and they matched the pace of his mouth, coming to a halt.

  “Hmmmmm,” it was an inadvertent sound that came from my throat.

  He chuckled, his lips paying homage to me one last time by enveloping my chin.

  “I really have to go,” he said as he started to back away.

  “Ok, bye.” I watched him make a repeat trip to his car and went inside before he started it up and before I tried to stop him from leaving. I went straight into the bathroom and took a warm shower. And standing there with the water pouring down my face I found myself smiling—smiling in the shower like a goon.