Dream Chaser

by Angie Stanton

  “More?” he asked holding the bottle ready.

  “More,” I answered.

  He poured a couple more glugs of the amber liquid.

  “A little more.” I grinned and crinkled up my nose. “No inhibitions. If we’re gonna do this, let’s do it right.”

  Eli winked in response, and my heart did a little flip. He added more to each cup, then capped the bottle and put it away. We swirled our cups.

  “Here’s to going for it.” Eli raised his glass.

  I bumped my tumbler to his, and we drank. I shivered as the strong liquid burned. I took a breath and began to cough. I exhaled as much air as possible to cool my throat then tried to take smaller breaths so I wouldn’t choke on the fumes.

  “I think it needs to be mixed up a little more,” I coughed.

  Eli cleared his throat. “I’d say.” He stuck his finger in his cup, stirred and took another sip. “Much better.”

  I did the same and raised my cup for another toast. “Here’s to living life on the wild side.”

  “Here’s to taking chances.” We drank.

  “Here’s to what happens in the back seat, stays in the back seat,” I said.

  “I’ll drink to that.”

  And we did.

  “And no judging,” I added.

  “What?”

  “No judging. I mean, I don’t want you to judge my kissing skills. I haven’t had a lot of experience in this department.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “You are bent, you know that?”

  “I’m just saying.”

  “I thought you and that Rick guy were a thing.”

  “Yeah, but it hasn’t been for very long.” What a total liar I am! Girls always loved Eli. He had girls trailing after him all the time. I just couldn’t admit my love life was less than awesome.

  “So, are you two going out?”

  “Ah, yeah. We go out with the squad all the time. Or I guess I should say we used to.”

  I got quiet knowing how pathetic that sounded.

  “That must be really hard, having them all pissed off at you. Especially after all you did for them.”

  We sipped again.

  “What’d I do for them?” It was more like what I did to them.

  “You are clueless sometimes, you know that?” he said with a laugh. “They never would have gotten to Nationals last year without you, let alone won it.” He leaned back and took another drink.

  “How do you know about Nationals?” I asked.

  “I know things,” he said with a sly glance. I chose to ignore his comment.

  “I would hardly say that. I’m just one cog in the wheel of that team. We worked our asses off to get there.”

  “Yeah, and who worked the hardest? Who did the hardest tricks and the highest flips? Who was always first to practice and last to leave? Hmm?” He knew me so well.

  “How did you know I did the hardest tricks?” Eli had been pushed so far out of my life, I hadn’t even thought about him much during that time, or at least I tried not to think about him. Yet he knew all about me.

  “How could I not know? You guys were plastered all over the news. You performed at every possible sports event. I saw you perform during halftime of the Wisconsin Ohio college football game last fall. Your flips in the air were insane. You must have been twenty-five feet high. Plus, I spent most of my life dancing with you. You don’t do anything halfway. Look at this show. You’ve had to catch up on weeks of missed rehearsals with almost no help. I know a lot of the girls have been giving you a hard time.” His voice softened with that comment.

  “That’s an understatement. They hate me.”

  “True.” He grinned.

  “Thanks!”

  “Well, it is true. You walked in and got the lead. They don’t think you deserve it, but they’re wrong.”

  “How’s that?”

  “You’re better. You always were. It doesn’t matter that you stopped dancing for a while. You have more talent in your little finger than they’ll ever have, and you keep getting better.”

  What was he talking about, and why was he saying such nice things? He was wrong. I didn’t have that much talent. That’s why I kept working so hard. But I wouldn’t turn away a rare compliment from Eli. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome,” he said matter of fact. “I can’t imagine having to walk around with all your old friends mad at you, and what should be your new friends mad you too.”

  “It sucks, but I’ll live.” I hadn’t realized how much the girls’ animosity hurt. I tried to let it roll off, but after a while they had really gotten under my skin.

  Silence filled the car as I took another sip and contemplated his words.

  “So what happened with us?” he asked, his eyes filled with the pain of what I’d done.

  I’d hurt him bad and he wanted to know why. I didn’t blame him. I took a gulp from the tumbler, then gripped it like a lifeline in a turbulent sea.

  “I got scared,” I said softly and looked him in the eye. All my memories of fear and regret flooded back.

  “Of what?” he asked, confused.

  “Of losing your friendship. That day you kissed me was so out of left field. You were my best friend in the world. I didn’t want to lose that. I’d never thought of you in any other way.”

  I saw the hurt in his eyes and why shouldn’t he be? What was wrong with me? He was totally gorgeous and the nicest guy on the planet. Girls always wanted him, but he and I had been glued at the hip, which I guess affected my perception. I just didn’t see him the way they did. “Sorry, I just didn’t. I trusted you. You were my everything, and then you changed the rules.”

  “You were afraid of losing our friendship, so you shut me out, and ended it yourself? Doesn’t make a lot of sense.” He looked so vulnerable and tortured.

  “No it doesn’t, but who says I ever made much sense?” My words slurred a bit and my head started to fuzz from the booze.

  “This is true.” He held up his cup in toast.

  A plane roared overhead and came into view as it approached the airport. Its lights filled the windshield. We watched it land and make its way to the other end of the runway.

  “So now you’re in a car with me, back at square one.”

  “Pretty much. How did I let that happen?” We laughed at the irony.

  “Only this time you have to let me kiss you.” He flashed his eyes at me.

  “Lucky me.” I drank, my throat now numb from the booze. “So what’s with Tyson and all the making out in the show?”

  “He does seem a bit obsessed with it.”

  “Do you think he’s gay? Cause why would a gay guy want all the kissing?” I asked.

  “He’s not gay,” Eli said with certainty.

  “How do you know? He’s totally hot, he dresses great, and he’s a dancer.”

  “I’m totally hot, I’m a dancer and I’m not gay.” He said.

  “Are you sure?” I giggled.

  “Want me to prove it?” His eyes sparkled in the dim light.

  “Yeah, I do.” My heart began to pound.

  Enjoying my buzz, I sank into the buttery soft leather seat, and lolled my head to the side. I watched Eli. I’d forgotten how good looking he was. He must be the nicest guy on the planet; and he had the greatest smile.

  Eli leaned forward; his warm breath caressed my cheek. He placed his parted lips on mine. I thought maybe he forgot why we were here, but apparently not. This time it didn’t feel like kissing a brother. It was all Eli. He took my face in his hands and kissed me, his moves slow and gentle. He tasted like citrus and booze. I turned my body to him. I couldn’t believe I’d been so nervous.

  We parted and gazed at each other. We’d figured it out. The alcohol took our inhibitions away. He took me in his arms and kissed me again. His fingers trailed up my back and into my hair, mussing it to his liking. I sighed. His other hand moved down over my hips to my lower back. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I let his hands roam
and had never been so turned on in my life.

  “We’re pretty good at this,” I murmured.

  “Yeah, I’d say. Still think I’m gay?” His breath tickled my neck.

  “Not so much.”

  I played with his sun-touched hair. I’d wanted to know how it felt since we started dancing together again, but never had the nerve. Its rumpled perfection created a golden halo. With alcohol-induced bravery, I combed my fingers through the thick strands. They were silky soft.

  I looked into his eyes, and he smiled with a sexy twist at the side of his mouth. Never had anything felt so perfect. I leaned down and met his lips again. I ran my hand over his shirt, feeling his solid chest. He felt firm and strong. No wonder he could lift me with such ease.

  “Do you think Tyson would approve of this for a stage kiss?” he murmured in my ear, sending tingles down my back.

  “Yeah, pretty sure,” I breathed.

  “I think we can do better.”

  “You think?” I turned my head to expose my neck.

  “Only if you’re game,” he whispered and nuzzled. Warm trills danced upon my skin.

  “You jump, I jump,” I said and moved my hand from his lean hip, to his waist and the bend of his back.

  Without another word, he leaned back on the seat and pulled me with. My body rested on top of him, connecting our bodies from hip to breast. I sighed. His right leg rested against the back seat. His other foot stayed on the floor. Between the angle of the seat and our position, my body nestled close to his.

  My body flexed against him, revealing a hunger I’d never known before.

  I looked at his face in the moonlit backseat. Deep pools of desire met mine. I leaned forward and kissed him; my tongue peeked out and he welcomed it.

  His hands roamed my back and traveled low over my hips. I couldn’t get enough of him. His touch, his taste. I felt like I’d been living in a cocoon and was now transforming and finally coming out of my chrysalis to a brand new world. Heaven, better than heaven.

  Eli’s hands caressed my bottom, my thighs and everywhere. I was afraid to breathe and ruin the moment. We lost ourselves in hot hungry kisses that explored our new connection. His kisses tasted so good I didn’t want it to end. I never knew making out could be so addictive. So we kept going.

  Chapter 22

  I woke up warm and a little sweaty on my front side, but really cold on my back and legs. When I tried to sit up I couldn’t and realized I was draped on top of Eli. The car felt very cold and quiet. I didn’t know how long we’d been asleep. The car windows had frosted over on the inside and it was eerily quiet. Eli’s arm wrapped over my back. I strained to peek at the clock on the dash; the clock was dark. I fumbled to grab the strap of my bag and pulled it into the back seat. I dug through to the bottom as I still lay on Eli, he moved and grumbled. I pulled out my phone.

  3:12 am!

  “Eli! Wake up, we fell asleep!”

  He blinked his eyes open. “What?”

  “We fell asleep! It’s after three!” I tried to scramble off of him, but gravity and the angle made it difficult.

  “Oh, shit!” He helped push me off and sat up. “We’ve gotta go! My dad will kill me if he finds out I was out this late.”

  Eli clambered over the seat, plopped into the driver’s seat, and slipped his shoes on.

  “We are in so much trouble.” I crawled over after him and slid into my coat. I had never stayed out past one before, and that was with my parents’ blessing.

  “Maybe he won’t hear me come in.” Eli rubbed his face with both hands to shake the sleep out. He grabbed the keys, still in the ignition, and turned.

  The engine turned over slowly once, ert.

  Then slower the second time, errt.

  And ground to a stop.

  “No, no, no!” He looked at me in panic and tried again. One slow errrt, not even a complete turn of the engine and it stopped.

  Dead.

  He pounded the steering wheel. “My dad is gonna go ballistic.”

  I bit at my lower lip. Eli’s dad had a temper. He’d always seemed to be barking orders at Eli whenever I’d been at his house. It’d always made me appreciate my own dad more. “What do we do?”

  “We’ve gotta get a jump. The battery’s dead.”

  I could see his thoughts darting around trying to figure out who to call.

  He studied me for a moment. “Can we call your dad?”

  “What?” I did not want my dad knowing about this night. What was I supposed to say we were doing? Messerschmidt Road? That was pretty self-explanatory.

  “Your dad’s cool, he won’t get mad.” Eli looked hopeful.

  I have the most laid-back parents on the planet, but making them aware I’d been drinking and rolling around the backseat with Eli was the last thing I wanted to share. “I guess.” God I did not want to make that call. “Can’t we call someone from the cast? Maybe Jason?”

  “We’d be asking him to sneak out of the house and hope he didn’t get caught. I really don’t want to get anyone else in trouble.

  “You’re right. I’ll call.” I picked up my phone and began to press the numbers. “Oh no,” I stopped. “The car is in the shop. He can’t come get us, he has no car.”

  “I am a dead man.” He pushed his hands through his hair.

  “There’s gotta be someone.” We had to figure out a solution and fast. The car was freezing. I could carve our names in the ice crystals on the inside of the windshield, but I doubt his mom would appreciate it.

  “Well, there might be one person,” Eli said.

  “Who?”

  “Tyson.”

  I considered it and giggled, apparently still a little drunk. “You’re right. It’s because of him we’re here in the first place.”

  Eli smiled in agreement.

  “Do you think he’ll be mad? Would he kick us out of the show?” I really wanted to do the show.

  “Yeah, he’ll probably be mad, but how can he kick us out? Without two leads, he’s screwed.”

  “I don’t know, he kicked Jessica out for getting him high on pot brownies.”

  “That was the school’s policy. I don’t know if Tyson would have kicked her out. I don’t really see any other option. Should I make the call?” Eli waited for my decision.

  “What the heck.” I held my fist up, and he bumped it.

  Eli reached for his phone and brought up the number, but before pressing send he laughed. “I can’t believe we’re doing this. I’m gonna put it on speaker.” He pressed send.

  With my heart in my throat, I covered my mouth with my hands. Tyson was going to kill us. It rang three times. We shared a worried look. What if he didn’t answer?

  “Hello?” Tyson’s groggy voice answered.

  We looked at each other in panic.

  “Hello?” Tyson sounded irritated.

  I motioned at Eli to speak.

  “Ah, Tyson?” Eli stuttered.

  “Who is this?” Tyson paused. “Eli? Is that you?”

  “Yeah, sorry to wake you.” He looked at me. I held back a giggle.

  “What time is it? Hang on a minute.”

  We heard fumbling on his end.

  “Christ, Eli, its after three a.m., why are you calling? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. I need a favor. Actually, Willow and I need a favor.”

  I glared at him. Great, he had to drag me into it.

  “Fine, anything you want, but tomorrow. Go to bed Eli, I’ll talk to you tomorrow, we’ve got a big day. Good night.”

  “Wait!” Eli said.

  “What?”

  “Willow and I are stranded. The car battery is dead and we need a jump. Willow’s dad doesn’t have a car right now and my dad, well, you haven’t met him, but if he finds out about this, I’ll be grounded ’til graduation.”

  We huddled over the phone and waited. I could picture Tyson coming fully conscious.

  “Fine. I’m up. Where are you?”

&nb
sp; Eli looked at me. I pinched my lips shut to keep from laughing.

  “Messerschmidt Road.”

  “What are you doing on Messerschmidt...never mind. I’m on my way.”

  Tyson clicked off. Eli leaned his head back against the seat, and we burst into laughter.

  A while later, the flash of headlights illuminated the parking lot as Tyson pulled in next to us. We looked at each other for a brace of courage then got out of the car into the frigid night. Tyson stepped out of a black SUV wearing jeans, a heavy black leather coat and a cool scarf tucked around his neck. He even looked great in the middle of the night.

  Tyson aimed a stern glare at us. I guess it was supposed to scare us. Instead, we just grinned.

  Tyson shook his head. “Messerschmidt Road? I thought they closed this place down.”

  “Hey, you told us to go out and...figure it out,” Eli said.

  Tyson sighed, since he couldn’t argue with Eli’s logic.

  “Alright, let’s get this over with.” He walked past Eli to open the back of the SUV. “I’ve got cables right here.”

  Tyson paused then turned back. He leaned close and sniffed. “Have you two been drinking?”

  Suddenly it was all very funny. I tried to stifle a giggle, but failed. Eli nodded with a shit-eating grin.

  Tyson threw his hands in the air. “You two are killing me.” He opened the front door of the car looking through the darkness. “Where is it?”

  “What?” Eli said.

  “The booze.”

  “Oh. It’s in the back, driver’s side floor.”

  Eli and I huddled close in the freezing air. Tyson opened the back door, pulled out the bottles of brandy and purple stuff.

  “This is what you’re drinking?”

  We nodded.

  “Kids today. Don’t even know how to drink.” He grabbed the bag and shoved the mostly empty bottles in and then rifled around and found the tumblers. Before he closed the door, he paused and looked at the large backseat then back at us, taking in our messed up hair. He shook his head. “You’re killing me.”

  Tyson opened the back door of the SUV. “Get in,” he said, defeated.

  “We’ve gotta jump the car. I can’t leave it here,” Eli said.

  “You’re not driving intoxicated. That would go over real well with the school board. I can’t believe I’ve brought in the biggest thing to happen in Madison theatre history; and what happens? My first leading lady makes pot brownies. Then my dream team goes out drinking and almost ends up wrapped around a telephone pole. Not going to happen. Get in.”