Forever Altered

by D. J. Pierson

  “I’m sure it’s very rewarding,” she says.

  “Yeah. Some of those kids are pretty awesome. There are these twins that we are pretty close to. My mom helps their mom out all the time. She has no family left. Her husband has been gone for a few years.” Alyssa is starting to get a little upset about the conversation. “So, your turn. Tell me something that I don’t know about you.”

  She’s trying to think of something to tell me. “There really isn’t much to tell. You know about my family. My mom took off. Dad raised me along with the help of my aunt and uncle. He and Jill married a few years ago. That’s about it.”

  “Your aunt and uncle?”

  A sad look crosses her face. “My uncle, my dad’s only sibling, and my aunt uprooted their lives to move near us after my mom took off. My aunt quit her job to take care of me while my dad went to work. She didn’t want my dad putting me in daycare. We were all very close. About nine months ago, they were coming home from a long weekend away. It was a drunk driver. They both died instantly.” Her eyes have filled with tears again and she is taking a deep breath to get herself under control. My hand covers hers. She opens her eyes when she knows she won’t cry.

  “I’m so sorry.” What else could I possibly say?

  “Me, too,” she says and then is quiet for a minute longer. “What is your major, anyway? I guess it’s pretty crappy of me not to know that.”

  “No it’s not. We’ve only known each other a week. Like you said, there is plenty of time to get to know each other.” She smiles up at me, but she is playing nervously with the green napkin which is now sitting on the table next to her plate. “Forensic Science.” I take the last bit of my chicken.

  “Forensic Science?” I acknowledge her question. “Like CSI?”

  I laugh a little and nod at her again. “Yes, kind of like that. My mom didn’t want me to be a cop, obviously. This is my way around it. Of course, my stepdad wants me to follow after him and head into the financial world. Sitting behind a desk or in board meetings at all hours of the day isn’t my thing.”

  “I learned a lot about you tonight, Rocco Matthews.”

  “Yes, you have. And you didn’t even run out of here screaming. That’s a good sign.”

  “No. I don’t plan on it either.” Hearing that makes me feel pretty awesome.

  “Ready to head back?” She nods her head and we stand to leave.

  Another waitress comes over to us. “The couple whose bill you paid would like to say thank you, if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all.” We walk over to the table and the woman looks up at me.

  “Are you the kind, young man who paid for us to eat tonight?” the woman asks me. Her hair is almost pure white, like a puffy cloud on a beautiful sunny day.

  “I am. I hope you enjoyed it.”

  “We truly appreciate what you did, but if you don’t mind, could you please tell me why you did?” My gaze shifts quickly to her husband. Alyssa was right. It does look like he isn’t in the best of health. When I look back to the lady, she is waiting for me to answer. I really hadn’t planned on telling Alyssa why I did it, but now I don’t have a choice. In all honesty, I’d like for this lady to know.

  “Well ma’am, you and your husband have managed to restore my new girlfriend’s faith in love in a matter of a few minutes. I could really never repay you for that.” I know Alyssa is looking at me and I see the lady in front of me shift her eyes to her.

  She smiles at Alyssa and reaches over to take her hand before speaking. “Sweetheart, it’s still out there. You just have to find the one person who makes you feel it.”

  Alyssa puts her other hand on top of the lady’s small, fragile, wrinkled hand. “I think I might have, but don’t tell him that. It will go right to his head.” I start to chuckle next to her. “May I ask, how long you have been married?”

  Her husband speaks up before she does. “Fifty seven years last month.” Alyssa is watching the two of them as they hold hands across the table and stare at each other for a few moments.

  The wife turns back to Alyssa. “Whatever happened to you before, dear, don’t ever let it hold you back when you find the right one. You’ll know, trust me.” She stands up and gives Alyssa a hug.

  “Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your night,” she says to the two of them before looking up at me.

  “You’re very welcome. Thank you again, young man. Please, take care of this beautiful girl you have.”

  “My pleasure. I definitely intend to,” I assure her and take my girl by the hand leaving the restaurant.

  When we get out to my car, she quietly waits for me to open the door for her. Once I do, she doesn’t climb in right away. Instead, she turns to me putting her hands on my chest. “You are truly the sweetest guy ever. I’m not sure why you chose me, but I’m so glad you did. I’m the luckiest girl in the whole entire world!”

  My mind cannot think of an appropriate response to answer her. She has no idea the lucky one here is me. The only thing I’m able to do right now is exactly what she deserves. I kiss her like she is the only girl in this crazy, messed up world.

  Chapter Twelve

  Alyssa

  After closing the door for me, Rocco practically runs around the front of the car to get in the driver’s seat. As soon as he slides in, he leans over touching my cheek with his lips leaving the same blazing sensation that is still lingering on my lips from his last kiss. My eyes close. My breath catches. It has been entirely too long since feeling like this. I’m trying to remember why I promised myself to refrain from sleeping with Rocco for now. It had something to do with not wanting to be like all the other girls he’s been with. Stupid, slutty girls. My breath releases and he pulls away from me. He’s shaking his head.

  “What?” I ask him.

  “You’re very lucky I think so highly of you,” he says backing out of the parking space.

  “What do you mean by that?” The question flies out of my mouth before thinking about if I really want to know the answer or not.

  Rocco doesn’t answer right away. He’s trying to make a left out of the parking lot on a very busy multilane road. Eventually there is an opening and he pulls out safely. “What I mean by that is, it’s taking every ounce of self-control I have not to throw you in my back seat. Unfortunately for me right now,” he glances over to me then quickly back to the road, “you deserve so much better than that.” The fit of laughter that bursts from me is completely involuntary. He’s looking over to me again. “What the hell is so funny about that?”

  Once I’m finally able to gain control of my laughter, I dry my eyes on the sleeves of my dark gray pea coat and look over to him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh.” I almost lose it again at the expression on his face. “It’s just that I am now thoroughly convinced you have the ability to read my mind.”

  “You were thinking about me throwing you in my back seat?” There is that mischievous sexy grin.

  “No,” I answer all too quickly. He laughs. “I was thinking how I don’t want to be like any of the other girls you’ve been with.” My tone is serious causing him to change his immediately.

  “Alyssa,” he starts talking as he’s reaching for my hand. I simply slide my hand into his like it belongs there. He brings my hand up to his lips. “You are nothing like any other girl in the world, let alone anyone I’ve ever been with. Don’t you see? You’re the only girl that has ever meant anything to me. The only one who will ever mean anything to me.” His lips touch my fingers that have become entwined with his. “And like I said. You deserve better than being crammed into the back seat of a car.”

  “You mean you don’t want to expose your car to a girl being in your back seat.” I try to tease him, but all I did was encourage him to mortify me again.

  Rocco starts chuckling because he knows exactly what he’s going to say and exactly how I’m going to react. “Absolutely not. Sunshine, you are worthy of nothing less than being spread out on the finest sheets mon
ey can buy in my bed where I can worship every part of your perfect body before…” Extremely thankful for the darkness in the car, I tear my hand away that he was still holding to cover my ears and as much of my face as I possibly can. His chuckling has grown into roaring laughter. “You’re so friggin adorable,” he manages to get out.

  “I need to learn to keep my big mouth shut,” I say out loud instead of to myself.

  He laughs again. “It’s ridiculously cute how you get so embarrassed whenever someone mentions anything about…” I almost break my neck turning it so fast to shoot him the nastiest look I can pull off. “Okay. I’ll stop. But seriously, when the time comes, everything about it will be absolutely perfect. Like nothing else either one of us has ever experienced before.” Suddenly, the feeling running through me has nothing at all to do with embarrassment.

  “You’ve thought about it?” The hard look falls from my face. I’m stunned at how it sounded like he was so sure of himself.

  “Not only have I thought about it, I’ve planned out every single detail to guarantee that by the time I’m done with you, you will never doubt again how I feel about you.” The confident tone he says that with makes me want to ask him to prove it right now. “Don’t worry. It’s not tonight,” he winks at me.

  “Guess you aren’t able to read my mind after all because that is definitely not what I was thinking,” I say without regretting it.

  “Sunshine, you are going to be the death of me,” he says shaking his head.

  Fortunately, we’ve reached the parking lot back at school. I make sure not to get out of the car before Rocco can open my door this time. When he reaches out for my hand, he’s grinning like he just won the lottery. He closes the door behind me and leans me up against his car becoming serious again. The jerk has intentionally pushed himself up against me to make his point perfectly clear of what he is about to say. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t throw you in my back seat. I said you didn’t deserve it. Don’t think for one second that I don’t want you right here, right now. You’re friggin torturing me.”

  I force myself to swallow before I choke on the lump that has unexpectedly formed in my throat. “You’re going to scratch the paint on your car.”

  “I really don’t give a shit about the paint on my car. Come on,” he says pulling away from me. “I need a cold shower now.” That makes me giggle and he shakes his head at me. “Pure fucking torture,” he mumbles.

  He seems to have regained his composure by the time we make it to our floor. “You sure you feel like coming in here? You might be grossed out.”

  “It’s fine. I’ll just make sure to take a shower when I get back to my room and burn any of my clothes that may come in contact with any surface in here,” I say sarcastically. “Seriously? Do you think that I’m going to freak out because it’s not as neat as my apartment? I live with Leah. Nothing will ever be as neat as our apartment.”

  He doesn’t even need his key card because the door is propped open. His apartment isn’t nearly as bad as he made it seem. It is the typical college dorm room. Nothing fancy. The sink has dirty dishes in it and there are empty beer bottles on the counter that would make me twitch if it were my room. I know if I took my coat off and started cleaning it up, Rocco would never let me come back again. The difference between me and my roommate is that I’m able to refrain from actually doing it and she’d already have it half way cleaned up by now. They have posters of half-naked women on the walls, but that doesn’t bother me. It’s the one of New Jersey’s hockey team on the wall over their table that has me thoroughly repulsed. He sees me staring at it and laughs.

  “If you don’t like it, Philly girl, get the hell out,” Logan says coming out of his room. He kisses my cheek before plopping in the chair he has pulled away from the table, so he can see the TV better. Shane is sitting in the one next to him trying to hide his laugh. Troy and his girlfriend are on the couch looking up at Rocco watching his reaction.

  “Put your lips on my girl again and I’ll remove them. Permanently.” Logan doesn’t look concerned by his friend’s threat. I look back to Troy’s girlfriend and realize who she is. “That’s Paige,” Rocco says pointing to her. “Paige, my girlfriend Alyssa. Want a beer?” I shake my head no as he walks to the refrigerator. I take my coat off and he takes it from me when he gets back. He puts his beer on the table taking my coat into his room.

  “I know who she is, Rocco. Hey,” she nods towards me. “I’m really sorry about Carrie earlier today.”

  “What did Carrie do?” Rocco is at my side instantly with a look of concern on his face. No one is paying attention to the hockey game on the big screen TV they have set up on a stand which takes up most of the small living room.

  “Nothing. It’s fine,” I say to him. He looks over at Paige.

  “Nothing Alyssa couldn’t handle. Carrie was just trying to scare her off. We heard about the two of you dating on the way over to our Theater class today. One of the girls from our sorority heard about it and made sure to tell Carrie about it right away. Obnoxious, skanky bitches,” she adds sighing.

  Rocco turns to me. “I’ll talk to her tomorrow. She won’t bother you anymore.”

  “Rocco, I took care of it. Let it go,” I say going to sit on the other end of the couch. He comes over sitting next to me and slides his arm behind my shoulders.

  “She did. Carrie was so pissed that Alyssa wasn’t the least bit bothered by her. I actually moved away from her and after class she came over to me pouting. Alyssa doesn’t need your protection from Carrie, Rocco,” Paige convinces him. “That wasn’t why I brought it up. I just didn’t want you to think that I was like her. It’s nice to be able to come over here and not be stuck alone with these guys.” She winks at me. I knew she’d be someone I wouldn’t mind being friends with.

  Shane throws a crumpled up brown bag at her, but Troy catches it. “Throw something at my girl again and I’ll let Rocco beat the shit out of you.”

  “Damn. The game just started fifteen minutes ago and I already missed a goal? Who scored?” Rocco wants to know as he finally relaxes next to me and takes a sip of his beer. I’m glad talk about Carrie is over. I hope he doesn’t approach her despite me asking him not to. I adjust myself, so my back is to his chest. His arm is down my side that is against the back of the couch and his hand is on my leg.

  “I’m sorry you missed it. Maybe next time a game is on you should just stay home,” I say over my shoulder causing Paige to look over at me with a smirk.

  Rocco leans over kissing the side of my neck. “No way in hell.”

  “Get a room, already,” Logan says. Rocco doesn’t pay any attention to him, but he does kiss my neck one more time before leaning back taking a deep breath and whispering something about still needing a cold shower. Now that he’s kissed my neck like that and is rubbing my leg the way he is, he’s not the only one.

  Over the next hour, their team manages to score two more goals. The unrelenting cheering I endure after each one is loud enough that they have to close the propped-open door because the RA walks in reminding them to be quiet. They aren’t even playing a team that I like which would at least make it more interesting. I do have a nice time, especially since I was able to meet Paige. She’s actually very sweet and fun to be around. Paige mentions how it was nice to get away from the sorority for a while. I tell her that she is welcome to come visit our apartment anytime. Troy is extremely happy to hear her say she wouldn’t mind coming over here to visit more often. He winks at me and whispers a thank you.

  During the second intermission of the hockey game, I decide it’s time for me to go back to my apartment. Rocco must have known what I was going to say because he speaks first. “Already?”

  “What?”

  “You’re leaving already, aren’t you?” he asks sadly.

  “I have to. I’ll never be able to function tomorrow morning if I don’t get some sleep. I’m sorry,” I say. He sighs, but stands up holding his hand out for me to take it.
He pulls me up to him.

  “It was nice meeting you, Alyssa. Let me know if you’ll be hanging out with these bums this weekend and I’ll meet up with you guys. Unless of course, you want to come over to the party in the Village.” Paige looks at me knowing what my answer will be.

  “I highly doubt I’d be welcomed there,” I tease her.

  “Carrie doesn’t make the rules, Alyssa. If you ever want to come over, I’ll personally make sure she doesn’t bother you.” She gets up and gives me a hug.

  “How about we make plans to do something off-campus Saturday night instead of going over there?” Troy suggests. He must really be sick of Paige’s sorority sisters if he is trying this hard to get out of going. “Do you think you’d be able to get out of the party this weekend?” Troy looks at her optimistically.

  “They don’t own me, Troy. I can leave whenever I want,” she says to him. Troy stands up brushing the light blond hair hanging over the one side of her face away before putting his arms around her waist. “It’s just uncomfortable to hang out with the four of you here. Since Alyssa is going to be around, I’ll feel better.” As he kisses her cheek, Paige’s hand goes into his chin-length jet black hair.