First Love

by G. L. Snodgrass

  The fact that my mom thought a guy like John could be interested in somebody like me and that we had stayed out all night on purpose gave me a small thrill.

  I sort of wished I didn’t have to burst her bubble but it couldn’t be helped. I told her about getting in the wreck, John rescuing me. My longtime friend John, I quickly added. The second tree. And about having to wait until we got cut out.

  As the story poured out of me, John nodded at the strategically important parts.

  “I assure you, Mrs. Jacobson, Amber was never in any danger. I would never let anything happen to her,” John said.

  Mom stared at the two of us, her head whipping back and forth between us. I knew what she was thinking. I could see the possibilities being tallied up behind her eyes. I became worried that she was going to make a scene. I could see it now, half the neighborhood listening to her accuse me of sneaking out at night to spend it with some wild boy.

  Instead, she looked me in the eye then smiled and seemed to accept our story, at least for now.

  “Come on, you need to get inside and warm up. A good hearty breakfast will help,” She said as she tried to herd us inside. “You too John, you should come in and warm up, get something to eat.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Jacobson, but I’ve got to get this load delivered and get home. My uncle will be worried about his truck,” John said.

  Was that all his uncle would worry about. How could somebody go through life without someone caring whether you were trapped in a snowbank? I looked over at my mom and smiled to myself.

  “I’ll be inside in a second mom. I just need to say goodbye.” I looked at her meaningfully, waiting for her to get the hint. Finally, understanding seemed to register and she shot John another long look then back at me.

  “Okay, but don’t dawdle,” she said.

  Her leaving us and going into the house re-introduced the heavy silence again. John looked at me with that silly smirk and cocked an eyebrow and my insides melted. Why did I feel like we’d gotten away with something when we most definitely didn’t do anything worth getting away with? If that makes any sense.

  “E.J. will call you the next couple of days with an estimate for your car,” John said as a way of breaking the silence. It wasn’t much, but at least, he tried.

  I nodded my head. “Thank you so much for rescuing me. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along. I’d still be sitting in my car, frozen solid.”

  Without thinking, I reached out and pulled myself into his arms. The man was as big and strong as one of those fallen trees.

  Holding on I felt my heart beating against his chest and a tear began to form in the corner of my eye. The thought of losing him, of losing the possibility of us, those thoughts twisted at me, turning my world into mush.

  “Of all the dumb, stupid, screwed up things in my life,” John said. “And believe me, there have been a few. Last night made up for them, washed the slate clean.”

  A flash of warmth ran through me as I thought about helping him.

  He smiled at me, leaned down and gently kissed me. It wasn’t a heated, devouring kiss like early. It was a soft, caressing, caring kiss that sent shivers to my toes.

  He looked into my eyes and smiled. “Thank you, Amber.”

  I loved it when he said my name like that. As if it was one of the important words in this world.

  “Thank you for rescuing me and setting me free.” He continued as his eyes twinkled letting me know just how important it had been for him. “Now hurry up and get inside. I’ve got to deliver this load.

  With that, he turned and walked away. Getting in his truck, he backed out, threw me a quick wave then left.

  My world felt like it had come to an end. I wouldn’t see him at school. We didn’t exactly socialize in the same groups. When would I see him again?

  Chapter Six

  Amber

  Unfortunately, my town knows how to deal with snow which meant school was on for the next day. That meant I’d be riding the big yellow monstrosity known as the school bus.

  As I got dressed that morning, I thought about the indignity of being a senior and having to ride the bus. Most girls my age would have had a boyfriend who could give them a ride.

  My mind shot to John. He seemed to be all I could think about. He hadn’t called and I couldn’t find him on any of the dozen social networks. How did a person go through life without Instagram or Pinterest? You’d think he’d at least be on Facebook, but nothing.

  Mrs. Carter gave me a strange look when I got on the bus, as if I should be ashamed of myself. Several of the older girls giggled and whispered to each other. I realize it was funny but it wasn’t that big a deal.

  I hadn’t gotten a dozen feet into the school building before being cornered by Cindy. She looked royally pissed. I had totally forgotten to call her. I’d spent all of yesterday sleeping, recovering really. I just couldn’t seem to drag myself out of bed. If I was honest, it might have been because my dreams had focused around John and the last thing I wanted to do was get up and face reality.

  “Is it true, I can’t believe it, wow,” she said in her normal thousand miles a minute voice.

  “Yes, I got in a wreck, and yes I rode the school bus. I’d have asked you for a ride but you’re on the other side of town.”

  “Not that, silly, is it true about you and Johnny Benson. You guys spent the night together. It’s all over school. You are his latest conquest. Nobody would have thought much about it, but it’s you! Miss perfect, sleeping with Johnny Benson then being dumped.”

  WHAT!

  “He didn’t dump me,” I said with a little too much loudness.

  “So it is true, you guys slept together and what, you’re his girlfriend now?” The look of doubt on my best friends face was not very supportive. I guess the idea of John Benson caring for someone like me must have been beyond belief.

  “It wasn’t like that …”

  “Come on spill,” Cindy said her face lighting up in pure glee. There is nothing Cindy likes more than a good story, preferably one only she knows so she can share it to those she deems worthy. I love her like a sister but sometimes she could be a real pain.

  I quickly gave her a run down. Filling her in on the facts. Her face fell when she realized that there wasn’t much to the story.

  “Are you sure that nothing happened,” she asked.

  “I was there Cindy, remember? I’m sure. He was a perfect gentleman.”

  “Oh wow, what a shame. What a waste of a perfectly good opportunity. But then, I knew it couldn’t be true.”

  “What, you don’t think someone like John Benson could be interested in me. Is that it?”

  “No, no. That’s not it. I didn’t think someone like you could be interested in Johnny Benson.”

  My fists automatically clenched, how dare she say anything negative about John?

  “Whatever. I’ve got to get to class,” I said as I stormed away.

  She gave me a strange, appraising look. Oh well, it wouldn’t be the first time we had a fight.

  For the rest of the day, people treated me differently. Not normally. A few girls gave me the evil eye, others snickered, a few even nodded approvingly. It was all so ridiculous. By the end of the day, I tracked down Cindy.

  “Haven’t you told everybody the truth,” I asked.

  “What? You’re talking to me again.”

  Taking a deep breath I told her that I was sorry.

  “I’m sorry too. I didn’t know that it had affected you so much. I guess I can understand. It was Johnny Benson after all.”

  “It’s John.”

  “What?”

  “He prefers to be called John. And why haven’t you told everybody the truth.”

  Cindy smiled at me, that Cheshire cat grin that lets me know she’s up to something. “No, I haven’t told anybody your secret.”

  “I don’t have a secret, remember.”

  “I know that, you know that, but they
don’t. Believe me, it will do your reputation a world of good. Nobody should go through high school being thought of as miss goody two shoes. This story is going to put you in a totally different league.”

  “I don’t want to be in a different league,” I said. “And I am not a goody two shoes.”

  “Oh Amber, believe me, you are the poster child for goody two shoes. Straight A’s, Honor Roll every year since 1st grade, you never go to any of the parties. You are why they invented the words goody two shoes. Believe me, this will help you.”

  I shook my head at my friend, how could she not know me. How could the whole school not know me? Only John knew me, I realized. Wow, a boy I hadn’t talked to in seven years knew me better than my friends.

  “Besides, it’s too late now.”

  “Why,” I asked my insides squeezing.

  “The story has sort of grown.”

  “What do you mean,” I asked hesitatingly, afraid of the answer.

  “The latest is that you’ve been shacking up with him in his mountain cabin for the last couple of months and that you’re going to have his love child.”

  “What?” I yelled right there in the middle of the hallway. Every head within fifty feet turned around to see what I was yelling about.

  “Don’t worry, I shot that part down. I let everyone know that you were definitely not pregnant.”

  I didn’t want to think how she had convinced them. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I said as I left her.

  I tried to get my mind around what people were saying and realized I didn’t really care. What's more, I sort of liked the idea of being thought of not such a goody two shoes type of girl. Yes, I could accept this new way people were looking at me. And besides, it wasn’t totally untrue. We did spend the night together.

  Maybe I should be quiet and see what happened.

  The next two days flew by, but slowly my story died to be replaced by something else. John hadn’t called. The garage had called and worked out something with my mom. She was pleased with the deal they’d made which took a huge load off me.

  But John hadn’t called. This was ridiculous, it was like he’d fallen off the face of the planet or something.

  By the end of the third day, I’d trained myself to go at least twenty minutes without thinking of him. My school work was beginning to suffer, even Ms. Baxter mentioned it in Chemistry. My story was still out there but no longer on the top of everybody’s conversation. With no new juicy details, it was sort of dying.

  At least, I thought so until Julie Peterson stopped me as I exited the school. She grabbed my arm and said, “Don’t get your hopes up Amber, It’s not like he ever gets serious.”

  I knew immediately who she was talking about. I halted in my tracks. The thought of her and John together made my blood boil. It took every bit of my self-control not to rip her flawless blond hair out at the roots.

  “Who are you talking about?” I asked innocently.

  She smiled. “John Benson will never even acknowledge you. If he sees you in public, he’ll run. Believe me, the last thing he wants is to be tied down. That’s who he is.”

  I couldn’t believe she was talking to me like this. The very next thought was - she’s probably right. John Benson could have any girl he wanted. Why would he ever want me for a girlfriend? The smug look on her face was enough to make me want to puke all over her new shoes.

  Instead, I smiled my sweetest smile and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I can tell you this. If John and I ever did get together, he wouldn’t sneak out of my house ashamed of who might see him.”

  The look of shock on her face was priceless.

  Smiling, I pushed my way through the school’s front door. “You’ll see,” she said as she followed me.

  No, I wouldn’t because John and I weren’t going to get together, I knew that now. A soul-searing pain shot through me. It was bad enough not having him, but people thinking I wasn’t good enough for him added to the pain.

  I’d almost made it to the bus, another embarrassment in front of Ms. Perfect Julie Peterson. I knew she was probably rubbing her hands together in joyful glee waiting to see me get on.

  “Hey Amber,” a deep male voice yelled.

  I’d know that voice anywhere. After spending a night together talking, it had burned its way into my soul.

  John Benson was leaning next to my car with his arms folded across his chest. My repaired, totally fixed car. Of course, all I could see was him. He looked so big, so handsome, so dangerous, and oh so male. My entire body came alive. Every nerve ending on high alert.

  He smiled, pushed himself off and walked up to me. Kids were staring, waiting to see what was going to happen. I could hear Julie gasping for breath like a beached carp. There is no better sound in the world than the sound of an unhappy Julie Peterson.

  John came up to me and looked into my eyes, giving me that silly smirk of his.

  “I’ve missed you,” he said before he bent down and gently kissed me. Kissed me like a boyfriend does in front of a bunch of other people. Kissed me enough to let everyone know that I belonged to him.

  It may not be right or politically correct. A possessive, he-man type of act. But I didn’t care, I liked it and wanted it to go on. The look on Julie’s face alone would have justified it.

  “I figured you were tired of taking the bus so I thought I’d deliver your car. Can you give me a lift back to the shop?”

  Speechless, I was completely and totally without words. A first for me. He hadn’t called me for three days and then kisses me like that. Right there in front of everybody.

  “What? - What was that all about?” I said, obviously talking about the kiss.

  He smirked again then shrugged his shoulders. “The truth? I saw the way some of the boys were looking at you and I figured I’d rather kiss you than beat the crap out of them. You know, sort of put you off limits.”

  “Off limits! What gives you the right? How dare you,” I demanded, literally stomping my foot.

  He turned red and for the first time in his life, he actually looked a little sheepish. “Well you know, after that night we spent together …” Everybody around us seemed to freeze in place as they tried to hear the next part.

  “Anyway,” he continued. “I sort of thought we were going to be you know – an US. A couple.”

  Did I hear him correctly? “Boyfriend? You want to be my boyfriend. You haven’t called me for three days,” I said, my voice getting louder with each word.

  “I’m sorry, I thought you’d understand. I figured your mom would tell you. I’ve been working on your car on my off time. It’s been almost two in the morning before I could get out of the shop. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get parts out of the junkyard at night with everything buried under two feet of snow? I swear, I thought your mom would tell you.”

  My heart stopped and I forgot how to breathe. I looked up into those devastatingly blue eyes of his and melted inside.

  What does any smart, semi-sensible girl do when the guy she loves works himself half to death to make her happy then kisses her like that and says he wants to be her boyfriend. I don’t know about you but I threw myself into his arms and kissed him like he was the most important thing in the world.

  Besides, I wanted everyone to know that dangerous Johnny Benson was mine.

  The End

  Love’s Winding Road

  Chapter One

  Michael

  A beat-up straw cowboy hat, white tank top, cutoff denim shorts, and long tanned legs. If I didn’t stop for her they’d revoke my man card. A guy couldn’t pass someone like her and live with himself.

  It was the face though that tugged at me to stop. Angelic with a touch of wild. Blond hair to the shoulder. Pale blue eyes that stared back at me, daring me to keep on driving. To ignore the possibilities.

  The face haunted me. It was too much like Alicia’s. Bringing up too many regrets, too much pain. If I didn’t stop I’d wonder f
or the rest of my life. What was her story? Did she need help? What if I failed her like I’d failed Alicia?

  I touched the brakes and brought my pickup to a stop. I didn’t even bother pulling to the side. This flat desert road hadn’t seen a vehicle in the last hour. What in the hell was she doing out here all alone?

  She bent over to retrieve her backpack and sauntered towards me with a wiggle in her walk that made it hard to swallow. – Someone that pretty shouldn’t be out here in the back and beyond – Someone like that should be on the cover of a magazine or a billboard a dozen feet in the air.

  Shaking my head at the obvious mistake I was making I lowered the passenger side window.

  “Need a ride?” I asked as she poked her head inside.

  “No, I was thinking of starting a poker game,” she said as she opened the door and stepped up into my truck.

  Her crystal blue eyes watched me to see how I’d react. She reminded me of a scared kitten trying to pretend to be a mama lion. She was younger than I’d thought. Around my age, maybe eighteen, could be as young as sixteen. Her skin had that smooth tautness of pampered youth. Her lips were full and begging to be kissed. But it was the eyes that told the story. Hard with a hidden hurt. Intelligent and very aware of where she was and what she was doing.

  I laughed and put the pickup into gear. We headed down that barren Arizona road as a waft of vanilla and coconut hit me. Interesting, definitely interesting.

  Once we started she turned to stare out at the passing sage and occasional gnarled sequoia cactus. There is nothing as boring as an Arizona desert in April but it seemed she found it fascinating.

  She sat as far from me as possible with her hand resting next to the door handle. Not as tough as she liked to pretend I realized.

  Swallowing hard, I tried to keep my eyes on the road. I had to fight to stop them from drifting over to look at those long legs. She was showing enough skin to tempt a Buddhist monk. I swear the girl had everything. Even her tough, sulky mood was enticing. As if to say, no way bud, keep your distance. It was enough to drive a guy crazy.