Heart Waves

by Danielle Sibarium

  A wave of anxiety and guilt came over Reece. He didn’t want to scare me off, as if that were any longer possible. I could never shy away from him again. I belonged to him.

  Reece tried to pull away, I wouldn’t let him. I wound my fingers into his hair and hoped he could feel my emotions too. I wished in this way I might pass to him my most intimate thoughts. At the very least I wanted to ease his uncertainty. Reece needed to know, to feel beyond a doubt I was okay, better than okay, much, much better.

  His hands made their way under my hair. He took the lead, forgetting we were the main attraction in his friend’s living room; he lost himself to a torrent of yearning. Reece’s heart raced against my chest, keeping in time with my own. A rush of heat swept through me followed by a groundswell of desire.

  Slowly, delicately, Reece eased himself away from me. He looked as short of breath as I felt. For a moment he stared at me dazed, searching my eyes, before bestowing another quick, gentle kiss on my lips.

  “Let’s get out of here.” He took me by the hand and led me out the front door.

  Like when you wake a sleeping giant and have no idea what to expect, every nerve cell in my body had been awakened. I felt giddy. I laughed and jumped up and down like an excited child at the circus.

  “You were right; last night was like a coming attraction. That was awesome!”

  “You didn’t have to do that you know,” he said almost as if her were scolding me.

  “You didn’t like it?” I teased raising an eyebrow, knowing full well he more than liked it. “And earlier I thought you were just exaggerating about your kissing abilities.”

  He took a deep breath, “Just when I think I have you figured out,” he shook his head.

  “Don’t try,” I squeezed his hand. “Just take it as it comes.”

  He smiled, and stroked the sides of my arms gently, “As much as I’d like to think you can’t keep your hands off me, I know you didn’t show up just for that. So what can I do for you?”

  “Oh.” I giggled coquettishly, “I almost forgot. My phone must have fallen out in your car.”

  “Lucky for me it did.”

  Chapter 13

  Still soaring from the massive adrenaline rush, I bounced back home. I decided to send Grace a quick text from the front stoop, knowing I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do so once I went inside. My parents were not going to be happy with the way I left and how long I took.

  I closed the door gingerly, tempted to pretend I’d been home all the while. A long shot, at best. Deep down I knew full well I couldn’t pull it off. Toe walking, so they wouldn’t hear my footsteps, I snuck up the stairs hoping my parents disbanded from the kitchen table.

  No such luck.

  “He seemed like a nice enough kid to me.” My father reassured my mother. “Besides, you don’t know if she even wants to see him again.”

  My stomach dropped.

  “Mark my words; she wants to see him again.” Mom sounded displeased.

  “You’re kidding right?” It wasn’t my mother’s words, but the tone of her voice that send a ripple of panic through my body. I couldn’t believe she already disliked Reece. For no reason. She spent a total of one minute with him.

  Mom looked surprised at the sound of my voice. “It’s about time. Come have a seat.”

  All attitude, I plopped down in the chair with a huff, arms crossed over my chest.

  “I’d like to hear more about your date. In fact we both would.” Although her voice was level, the wide eyed look she gave my father foretold of a battle to come. She was communicating the need for solidarity between them, which left me out in the cold.

  “What do you want to know?” I asked understanding this would be my best chance to open her mind.

  “Where did you meet the boy,” my father said looking serious with his hands folded.

  “He’s a friend of Mike’s.” I answered. “He’s staying there for the summer. We met at a party last week.”

  They exchanged a wary look.

  “What?”

  “This is the same boy who drove you home last night I presume?” My mother asked in her disapproving voice.

  “I didn’t know about that.” Dad chimed in. “You know I don’t want you getting in cars with strange boys.”

  I shook my head frustrated. “Yes Dad, I know. But seeing how Grace sort of ditched me, I didn’t have much of a choice. But that’s not the issue. I really like him and I had a phenomenal time today. So if you don’t like him that’s your problem not mine. And you didn’t seem to mind me getting in the car with him this afternoon.”

  “Sweetheart, you’re jumping to conclusions. We never said we don’t like him,” Mom said. “The problem is we don’t know him. And you seem to be spending an awful lot of time with him. You were with him until late last night. You spent almost the entire day with him, and then ran back to him after only minutes of being apart.”

  “I needed my phone. Besides, isn’t that what people do when they like each other? Spend a lot of time together?”

  “That is precisely why I’m concerned.”

  “I understand you being concerned, but that’s not what I see. It feels like, for some reason I can’t figure out, you decided not to like him.”

  She shook her head. “That’s not it at all. Just the way he looked at you unnerved me.”

  I couldn’t imagine what she meant. He looked at me different than anyone else ever had. With such warm loving eyes. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Jenna, he lit up when he saw you this afternoon.” My father explained.

  At least I didn’t imagine it. “How is that bad?”

  “This boy is serious about you, and you hardly know each other.” my mother explained. “And it looks like he spent a great deal of money on you today.”

  I nodded. “He did.”

  Again the disturbing looks passed.

  “You haven’t dated much, sweetheart.” Mom tried to explain. “Boys don’t spend that kind of money without expecting things in return.”

  “Reece isn’t like that! He didn’t even try to kiss me,” I defended. “And Mom, boys expect things even when they don’t spend a penny on you.”

  “Stop twisting things Jenna,” my father interjected.

  “By the way, I haven’t dated much because the guys I’ve dated have been jerks. Reece isn’t. He’s different.”

  “You don’t know him well enough yet to decide what he’s really like.”

  “Your mother is right.”

  Of course he sided with her.

  I could see the apprehension growing on both of their parts.

  Why did they insist on putting a damper on one of the best days of my life?

  I stood, “I’m going to go upstairs and call Grace. You made up your minds and there isn’t anything I can do to change it.”

  “Jenna, I don’t want you alone in that house full of boys. Understood?”

  “Yes Dad.” I rolled my eyes.

  “I mean it.”

  I stomped up to my room pounding the steps as hard as I could on the way, and called Grace. I rambled on for an hour about the previous night and the wonderful day I had, interrupting her every time she tried to change the subject. Like a good friend Grace listened. She owed me that much, if not for leaving me to fend for myself, then for talking my ear off about Mike.

  Still wide awake and energized after we hung up, I turned my computer on and started a journal. I wanted to remember every detail, every moment of my time with Reece. Just as I finished and changed into pajamas, my phone beeped. A text message.

  Hey beautiful can’t wait to see you! <3

  I closed my eyes and smiled. I wanted to mentally send him a happy image of me. Once I turned the lights out, I replayed our amazing day, and fell asleep with a smile on my face.

  Chapter 14

  I woke the next morning shortly after ten. My parents were working, as usual. The silence was maddening. I had nothing to do and thought I
’d enjoy being alone and day dreaming about Reece, about seeing and kissing him again. That didn’t last long before I became obsessed with watching the clock. The time spent waiting to be together felt endless.

  After a really late breakfast, I did the laundry and picked up the book sitting on my night table. I looked forward to getting lost in the love story, imagining Reece and I as the hero and heroine. I opened the book, pulled my bookmark out and began reading. The dialogue and images playing in my head, had nothing to do with the words on the pages.

  I called Grace ready to pick up where we left off the previous night. She couldn’t talk and promised to drop by when she finished shopping with her mother. I turned my computer on and read my newly started journal after accepting a friend invitation on Facebook from Computer Geek aka Reece. Around one o’clock in the afternoon, just when I thought I would lose my mind to the monotony of the day, Grace finally made it over.

  We spent the afternoon listening to music, and texting our boyfriends, making plans for the evening. Mike dominated Grace’s end of the conversation and Reece mine. The muscles in my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

  Dinner had been the hardest time of the day. Alone with my parents, I waited for the torment to begin again. I begged Grace to stay, to no avail. She didn’t want to be anywhere in the vicinity of my parents after I described their reaction the previous night.

  Knowing my parents were none too fond of Reece, I tried to keep the conversation light. I embellished every detail of my day, hoping to make it sound more fun and interesting than it truly had been. Unfortunately that wasn’t good enough.

  “You know Sweetheart,” Mom began. I braced myself sensing this wasn’t going in a direction I’d like. “This being your last year of high school, I think it would be a good idea for you to volunteer your time somewhere.”

  “Why? Like you said, this is my last year. I should be living it up.”

  Mom smiled, but it wasn’t her happy smile. It was more of a smirk really, her I’m-not-happy-and-I’m-a-hair-away-from-losing-it-so-proceed-with-caution smile. “I’m thinking you should invest in something that can give you an edge on college applications.”

  I almost choked. I knew the real reason she broached the subject and it had nothing to do with college. “Really Mom? You think volunteering my time is going to keep me from seeing him?”

  “I thought nothing of the sort.” She looked down before meeting my eyes with a stubborn calm. “But it seems you can think of nothing else.”

  “Whatever,” I turned and looked away.

  It’s not like I believed her and she knew it. As long as we were clear. It bothered me that she wanted to put a damper on my happiness. I had no patience for her games at the moment. I’d gone the entire day anticipating the buzz I’d get when I saw Reece in the evening, and she was ruining it.

  I glanced at the clock to be sure it hadn’t stopped. It felt like some sort of inhumane torture being without him. This trivial action did not go by unnoticed by my father.

  “Spending every waking moment of the summer with this boy could prove detrimental to you.” My father chimed in.

  “Detrimental?”

  I felt a surge of anger pump through my veins. I didn’t need a mirror to know my face was red with color and hot. Even the tops of my ears were hot. I felt like an alien ship had sucked me out of my kitchen and dropped me into a parallel universe of contradiction and hostility.

  “I have no intention of spending every waking moment with Reece.” As much as I’d like to. “And I really don’t see how after one date you could be convinced he’s a bad influence.”

  They exchanged a wary look.

  “It‘s not that we don’t like him.” Mom went on to explain in a softer tone. “He really does seem like a respectful boy. It’s just the proximity. We don’t think it’s healthy for the two of you to spend a lot of unsupervised time together.”

  “Are you kidding?” What happened to my parents? Had they simultaneously lost their minds? Were they so promiscuous as teenagers they feared I would lose all sense to raging hormones?

  “It’s not that we don’t trust you,” my father picked up where Mom left off. “It’s just sometimes things happen and, with him being only two doors away, and no parental supervision on either side for most of the day,” he cleared his throat.

  I didn’t want this conversation to go any further. The battle had been lost. I didn’t have a choice in the matter. Not really. While not in the driver’s seat exactly, I felt if I agreed I still held some bargaining power. I had to at least try.

  “I’ll go to the library tomorrow.” I rushed the words out of my mouth hoping to stop my father from getting any further in his explanation. “I’ll be happy to volunteer,” I smiled as sweetly as I could, “if you agree to lay off Reece. Make an attempt to get to know him before you declare him public enemy number one. Agreed?”

  Again they exchanged a look. “Agreed,” my mother said.

  “Good because he’s coming over after dinner.” Neither looked happy about that. “Before you have a cow, you should know Mike and Grace are coming too.”

  “Mike?” My mother asked surprised. “I thought you didn’t like him?”

  “I don’t. But he and Reece are friends. And he and Grace are together.”

  “Oh,” my father said with sudden clarity.

  I could read his train of thought. He assumed my interest in Reece had something to do with Grace and Mike. And when one waned so would the other. I watched him get up from the table with a smile and clear off the dishes. Suddenly he had a bounce in his step and he began to hum softly. I didn’t say a word. I didn’t want to burst his bubble.

  Grace arrived first. She helped me set up out at the pool. We brought a tray of snacks and drinks, a deck of cards and a few board games. Imagine my horror to find Mom and Dad lounging by the pool.

  “What are you doing?” I asked mortified.

  “Getting some fresh air,” Dad answered. “Don’t mind us.”

  “You’re not staying!”

  Mom smiled. “We just want to say hello to your friends. That’s not a problem is it? Pretend we’re not here.”

  “Pretend . . .? Are you serious?”

  “I don’t see the big deal,” my father answered. “You said you wanted us to have an open mind.”

  I walked away from them with tears in my eyes and my throat constricting. I wanted to run and hide in my room. I didn’t understand why my otherwise normal parents, who even crossed the bridge to cool from time to time, suddenly took a trip down the path of insanity.

  I went back to the table muttering under my breath. Grace immediately came to my rescue. She gave me a hug and helped me pull myself together.

  And then I saw him.

  I forgot everything. I forgot about my parents and the tears. I forgot my name. I only knew the thundering of my heart. All the angst I’d been feeling eased. Just in time for the wild tumbling in my belly to start.

  Reece and Mike were chatting casually as they approached my yard. I barely even noticed Mike after seeing Reece in his swim trunks and sleeveless shirt. He already had a smile on his face when our eyes locked. The drone of noise around us, the people themselves disappeared.

  “You didn’t hear one word I said. Now I understand why your parents are freaked.”

  “Huh?” I turned to Grace, barely aware she was speaking to me.

  She looked amused. “You’ve got it bad.”

  “Gee thanks,” I answered returning my focus to Reece.

  “Not that I blame you,” I felt her staring, scrutinizing me, “He is gorgeous.”

  “And taken,” I reminded her.

  Mike opened the gate and walked over to us more comfortable than he ought to have been. Reece on the other hand didn’t look as sure of himself as usual. He took my hand in his and kissed the top of my head gently.

  Mike looked around as if he were sizing up the place. I held my breath afraid the boys would dash away once they
spotted Mom and Dad. Mike’s eyes froze on them, a confused look on his face. I couldn’t even come up with a lame excuse for my parents’ presence before they made their way over and into our business.

  “Did you boys have dinner?” Mom asked out of the blue.

  “Didn’t you smell the house burning?” Reece answered.

  I understood the humor. Mom on the other hand did not. She looked horrified he would say such a thing, and I couldn’t help but think she deserved it.

  “What are you boys eating?” She asked with real concern.

  “Not to worry Mrs. Kingsley, we ordered pizza tonight,” Mike answered.

  “And what about last night?”

  “We picked up burgers and fries.”

  “When is the last time you had a good home cooked meal?” She asked.

  “Night before my parents left,” he looked at the ground embarrassed as he answered.

  “Well that is unacceptable. I’ll just go whip something up for you to take back.”

  “That’s very kind, but not at all necessary,” Reece said.

  “You kids just have fun. Come help me,” she looked at Dad.

  He didn’t argue or protest. He just shook his head and rolled his eyes before following her inside. I had no idea where her sudden concern for the boys came from, but I was certainly grateful for it.

  “What was that about?” Mike asked.

  I shook my head, “I’m not really sure.” I turned my attention back to Reece. “So how was your day?” I asked wrapping my arms around his waist pulling him close.

  “It just got immensely better.” He smiled down at me and stroked my hair. I felt it happening and did nothing to try and stop it; I lost myself in his eyes. “I couldn’t stop thinking of you.”

  “Don’t try.”

  Mike cleared his throat and coughed out, “Get a room.”

  “Why are you so touchy?” Grace asked turning his face toward hers in an attempt to regain his attention.

  “Want to go for a swim?” I asked raising my eyebrows playfully at Reece.

  He didn’t move at first. He glanced at our friends, a strange look on his face. I wondered why he hesitated and thought I’d help speed things along by pulling my cover-up over my head and tossing it on a chair.