The Art of Life

by Carter, Sarah

  “Tell him,” she answers. “Tell Jeremy the truth.”

  “How?”

  Cassandra looks off to the side and taps her chin. “Do something nice but not super, over the top romantic. Make a nice dinner.”

  “I will make him lasagna. He loves it,” I say, nodding my head. “I can do that. Then he can eat and I will keel over from nervousness.”

  “You will be fine. Just take deep breaths and tell him. When do you think you should do this?” Cassandra inquires hesitantly.

  My eyes get wide, “I have no idea. I guess today. I mean, why put it off, right?”

  “Probably sooner the better,” she replies.

  “So tonight,” I whisper, trying to pump myself up. “Tonight is it.” I pause and then say, “If I don’t die of a heart attack, tonight I will tell Jeremy that I am in love with him.”

  With a curt nod, Cassandra retorts, “Good.”

  We eat and go over what I am going to say, and how I should say it. I finally have a finite plan, as long as Jeremy goes along with it. Hopefully, he doesn’t try to change the subject.

  When I get to school, I am a nervous wreck. I can’t pay attention in any of my classes. Between fourth and fifth period, my phone goes off. It is a text from Jeremy: Do you have plans tonight?

  Frowning, I text: Kind of have something in mind, why?

  Just curious, is his text back. The next text says: I will see you later then.

  Confused, I text: Okay. And that is the end of the conversation. That was a little bizarre. Well, if he thinks I have plans and isn’t home, then I can cook dinner and have it all ready when he finally gets there. Now, that is a good idea.

  So, after school, I go to the store and get all the ingredients. As I suspected, Jeremy isn’t home when I get there. So, I immediately get to work. Making a lasagna is not a quick thing. When I finally put it in the oven, I go into the bathroom to check myself out. I am not going to go over the top, but I want to actually look somewhat desirable.

  After that is all done, I go into the kitchen to check on the lasagna. As I am closing the oven, I hear the door open. I turn around and smile, and then freeze. Jeremy is walking in…..with a girl. Please lord, shoot me now.

  Jeremy looks at me a little surprised. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to be home.”

  I can’t even say anything. Finally, I whisper, “No, I am.”

  He looks into the kitchen. “Wow…..you are making a huge dinner. Did I forget about something?”

  “No,” I reply, trying not to choke on my words.

  “Are you okay?” Jeremy asks, looking at me with a serious face.

  Nodding vigorously, I answer, “Yeah.” My hands start to shake, so I grip them tightly together. “Umm, I didn’t know....you…were having company over.” Pointing to the oven, I stutter, “I, uh, just wanted this for dinner, so I made it.” My chest is tightening more and more as the seconds pass. “You guys are more than welcome to eat with me.”

  “Oh,” Jeremy says slowly. “Umm, we….”

  “Yeah,” I exclaim. “How stupid of me. Of course you have plans. You know what, this has to cook for another half an hour and then after that it has to cool.” I start choking on my words, so I start to speak rapidly. “I will go in my room, so you can have privacy. If you leave before the lasagna is done, let me know, but if the timer goes off, just take it out.” The tears start welling up. “So, I will give you some privacy. Excuse me.” I brush past Jeremy and go into my bedroom, slamming the door. Immediately, the tightness in my chest breaks and I start to cry.

  How could I have been so stupid!? What was I thinking? I was right. How could Jeremy ever be interested in me? How could he ever be in love with me?

  There is a knock on the door, and I hear Jeremy. “Isabelle?”

  “What?” I gasp, trying to sound okay.

  “Can I come in?” He asks.

  I shake my head, even though he can’t see me. “No, please just go do your thing. I need time to myself.”

  “Isabelle,” he says seriously. “Open the door.”

  “No, Jeremy please, just go,” I plead.

  Ignoring me, he opens my door and walks in. As he shuts the door again, Jeremy asks, “What is wrong?” When he looks up and sees me, his facial expression suddenly looks concerned. “Izzy, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

  “Please Jeremy, just leave. I can’t do this, please just go. I need to be by myself, okay?”

  He looks at me thoughtfully. “What have you been hiding from me?”

  “Nothing,” I spit out between breaths. “Please, Jeremy, just go back out there!”

  “Did something happen with Eric?”

  Somewhat laughing and choking at the same time, I say, “It has nothing to do with Eric. I came to the realization of something, but in the end just realized I am an idiot.”

  Jeremy looks at me seriously. “Isabelle, talk to me. Tell me what is wrong.”

  “Jeremy,” I cry. “I can’t do this. I can’t tell you this one thing. Please, just leave it alone.”

  His facial expression changes again. “Isabelle,” he says quietly. “Just tell me. You need to tell me.”

  “I…” I start. “I…just.” Shaking my head, I stutter, “I am sorry, but this one thing, this one thing I can never say to you. I will never let it come out. Just please, leave it alone.”

  “No, Isabelle,” he articulates, stepping forward. “Say it.”

  With my heart breaking, I exclaim, “I can’t! I can’t! Please, just let me be!” I quickly push past him and run out of my room. I go into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. Now sobbing, I put my face in my hands and cry. A minute goes by and then the bathroom door opens. “Jeremy!” I gasp. “What are you doing!?”

  “Coming in here,” he replies, shutting the door.

  I shake my head and wipe the tears away. “What if I was going to the bathroom!?”

  “Well, you aren’t. I knew that.”

  “You have a date out there. You can’t be in the bathroom with me!” I hiss.

  He nods his head to the side. “She is a guest and a guest is to be entertained. The TV is on, so she is fine.”

  Crying, I say, “What are you doing in here?”

  Suddenly, his eyes are very serious. “I HAD to come, because…..there is something I love very much in here.”

  “Oh my god,” I gasp, covering my face. “Please, right now, don’t say that. This very moment, don’t say that.”

  “Isabelle,” he whispers. I pull my hand away and look at him, with tears streaming down my face. “Listen to me.” Jeremy takes a step so that he is right in front of me. Breathlessly close, he whispers, “There is something in this bathroom that I love.”

  Quickly, I back away and hit the counter. “Jeremy, please, stop.”

  He chuckles and steps forward again. Our bodies are touching now and I can feel the heat of his breath on my skin. I start to say something, and he puts his finger on my lips. “Shhhh, listen to me. There is something in this bathroom that I love very much.” I actually whimper at those words. Jeremy looks me right in the eyes, and says, “I am….in love….with something in this bathroom.”

  With those words, I stop breathing. “What?” I whisper.

  Jeremy gives me a gentle smile. “I am in love…..” he murmurs, bringing his face towards mine. “I am in love…..with this toothpaste,” he says, reaching behind me.

  That is not what I was expecting. In shock, I turn to look where Jeremy is reaching. When I see nothing there, and watch his hand plant on the counter, I look back at him, and in that second, his lips are on mine. It is perfect and like it should be, everything falling into place. Every second that our lips are touching, my heart grows bigger. I press myself against him, as hard as I can.

  Time feels like minutes but is probably just seconds. When Jeremy finally pulls away, he whispers, “Isabelle, I am in love with you.”

  As if it were the easiest thing to say, I reply, “I am i
n love with you, too.”

  He smiles and kisses me ever so gently. “I have to go do something,” he murmurs. “Wait here, don’t move.” With that, he gives me another kiss and then leaves the bathroom.

  I stand there in shock, with my fingers pressed on my lips. Happy, relieved tears are now streaming down my face. I can’t help but giggle. A few minutes go by of me just waiting there. Then I start to wonder where Jeremy is. Another minute goes by, and now I am frustrated. Finally, I go to the bathroom door, and whip it open. Jeremy is leaning in the doorway, with a huge grin on his face. “You do not listen very well.”

  “No, no, I don’t,” I reply.

  “Come here,” he growls, as he pulls me against him tightly.

  Chapter 26

  Jeremy pulls me out of the bathroom without removing his lips from mine. We kiss each other with a blind fury. It is like the night we spent together to the tenth magnitude. He spins me around and pushes me up against the wall. Suddenly, the one picture he has up, falls and the glass shatters.

  We both start laughing against each other’s lips. Jeremy starts to kiss me again. “Jeremy,” I giggle. “We need to clean the glass up.”

  “Uh huh,” he replies back, before kissing me again. I give into him. I move my foot a little and I hear the glass move. In one instant I am up in Jeremy’s arms. “I can’t have you cutting your feet.”

  “What are you doing?” I ask, as he carries me into his room.

  He gets a huge grin on his face, “Nothing.”

  “Jeremy….where is your date?”

  Giving me a quizzical look, Jeremy replies, “Who said she was a date?”

  I look at him and respond, “She wasn’t a date?”

  “Nope,” Jeremy says, shaking his head. “Her name is Rita. She is our receptionist at work. Her boyfriend just broke up with her. So, I thought I would bring her home to hang out.”

  With an appalled look, I snap, “I got all upset because I thought she was a date!”

  “No offense, but I think we are both glad that you got upset. Now, shhhh,” he hushes, setting me down on the floor. Jeremy brings his lips to mine and gives me the most sensuous kiss I have ever experienced. It actually makes me moan. I press myself up against him, and wrap my arms around his neck. We stand there for a minute just kissing each other. Suddenly, I feel Jeremy’s hand go up my shirt. He starts to pull it off and I gasp, “What are you doing?”

  All he does is smile. “Nothing.” His hand moves to my pants and he undoes the button. I smack it away. “Wwwhhaaatttt?” Jeremy whines.

  “What do you think you are doing?” I inquire, buttoning my pants back up.

  Jeremy tugs on them again. “I am taking your clothes off.”

  That makes me burst out laughing. “No you are not!

  “Really?” He asks, “Not even a little bit?”

  Giving him a stern look, I say, “We haven’t even talked about what is going on. We are not taking our clothes off.”

  “I was just making an assumption about us now. I figured…you are in love with me…..I am in love with you. I thought the next step was obvious.”

  I am trying really hard not to smirk. “And what is the next step?”

  “One of us is going to move into the other’s room,” he murmurs, pushing me back to the bed.

  “Jeremy Stoll, we are not moving in together!”

  He stops and looks at me. “Isabelle, I hate to break it to you, but we already live together. Now,” he says, pushing me down on the bed. “We are busy.” Jeremy climbs on top of me and brings his lips down to my neck. It makes me shiver. He kisses me ever so lightly. I start to move to him, but he suddenly stops. “Wait, I have a confession.”

  “What?” I gasp.

  Propping himself over me, Jeremy looks down. “I have a confession. I have lied to you two times.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask hesitantly.

  “The second one you know about, the whole me having a date on the night of your formal. The first one though, the first lie I told you was the morning I came forth with all the information about Kaitlin.”

  My mind blanks. “You made Kaitlin up?”

  “No,” he chuckles. “I don’t want you to be mad, just listen, okay?” I nod. He takes a deep breath. “I remembered. I remember…..everything.” With those words my jaw drops. “Before you get mad, hear me out. I was devastated about Kaitlin. She was my best friend and then she was gone. Every year on that day, it was just a reminder. Yes, I was drunk, but the whole night, all I could think about was you.”

  “You brought home another girl Jeremy,” I state, totally not amused.

  Jeremy bows his head. “I wouldn’t admit to myself how I felt. I had refused to open myself to anyone again. So, I did what my male ego thought I should do, bring a girl home. It was fine, I was drunk as a skunk, but when you turned on the light and I saw your face, my stomach dropped. You didn’t look mad, just shocked and somewhat hurt. You might as well have ripped my heart out. I felt so bad. I asked the girl to go home….very nicely. Then I walked to your door. I actually stood there for a minute deliberating on what I should do, but let me tell you, when you are drunk, your inhibitions go out the window. And well, you know the rest.”

  “I do not know the rest!” I snap. “Why did you lie to me? Do you know how much that hurt, you ass!”

  With very pleading eyes, Jeremy exclaims, “Isabelle! I didn’t want you to think I took advantage of you. I also never thought in a million years you would have feelings for me!”

  “What!? Why wouldn’t I have feelings for you!? Have you seen yourself or met yourself?”

  Raising his eyebrow, Jeremy retorts, “When did you realize you were in love with me?” I shut my mouth quickly. He narrows his eyes. “Isabelle, when did you figure out you were in love with me.”

  “I have been in love with you since the beginning I think,” I whisper.

  “And why did YOU never say anything?” he asks with a grin.

  Pouting, I reply, “I don’t know. I didn’t even REALIZE it until last night.”

  “Wait…..on your date? WHOA, you need to elaborate!” Jeremy exclaims, rolling to the side and lying next to me. He looks at me with a very mischievous smile. “I need to hear this.”

  “It was horrible! Poor Eric, he is the one who pointed it out to me!”

  Of course, Jeremy thinks this is funny. “Was the date that bad?”

  “No, not at all,” I answer.

  With a frown, Jeremy replies, “Okay, didn’t need to hear that.”

  “It ended badly though. He stopped me, said you know you are in love with Jeremy. I denied it and argued about it. So, you want to know how he proved it?”

  “How?” Jeremy asks.

  “He kissed me and then asked who I was thinking about,” I say quietly.

  Snorting, Jeremy tries to contain his laughter. “You honestly thought about me when kissing another guy.”

  I glare at him. “It’s not funny. I am sorry I am not what you think about when you kiss other girls.”

  “You are actually what I think about when I kiss other girls,” Jeremy whispers. “Especially at the club, it was tearing me up that you had to see that. That’s why I danced with her. You were so adamant that I do it, that I figured you didn’t care at all.”

  “That was probably one of the suckiest moments of my life,” I admit.

  Jeremy takes his finger and traces little circles on my arm. “But I was in love with you, so madly in love.”

  “So, what does this mean for us?” I ask quietly.

  “I would think that the obvious option is for us to be together, unless you don’t want to be with me?”

  Rolling over to face him, I whisper, “Of course I want to be with you, but…..I am worried that you are not as in love with me, as I am with you. Look at me. There are much prettier girls out there. You may grow tired of me after a while, and then what will we be? I don’t want to lose you as a friend or….boyfriend.”


  Jeremy rolls me back over and props himself over me. “There isn’t a girl on this planet that would make me change my mind. I don’t open myself up for anyone, but you, Isabelle, have me wide open. You have my entire heart in the palms of your hands. I am going to trust you not to break it.”

  “I would never,” I whisper, “But I expect the same out of you.”

  “I promise to always protect you and be there for you. I am in love with you and would never do anything to hurt you. Now, since we are past all that, and now you are my girlfriend, there is something I have thought about every day, multiple times a day.”

  “What’s that?” I ask.

  He bends down so our lips are an inch apart. “I remember every touch and kiss of that night, and I would like to relive it, if not outdo it.”

  I wrap my arms around his neck and whisper, “I think we can do that.” With a grin, Jeremy kisses me. It is soft and delicate at first, but then turns heated.

  Sometime later, Jeremy stops and pulls back. “What in the world is that noise?”

  Suddenly, I push him off. “The lasagna!” I jump up and dash out into the kitchen. Coming up to the glass, I jump over it. When I get into the kitchen, I whip the oven door open and check the lasagna. “Thank God, it’s fine.”

  “That looks really good,” Jeremy states, as I pull it out of the oven. As I set the lasagna on the counter, he comes and wraps his arms around my waist. His breath is hot on my neck. “There is something much more appetizing though.”

  “You are horrible!” I laugh, as I turn around. He just smiles back at me. Jeremy pushes me back to the clear part of the counter. “What are you doing?” I ask.

  He grabs me by the thighs and lifts me up, setting me on top of the counter. “I am enjoying your company.” Jeremy leans in and kisses me again. We stay that way, desperately pressing up against each other. I have no idea how much time goes by, finally I pull away. “Jeremy, we need to stop and eat. It’s getting late and I have school in the morning.”

  “Fine, we can eat, but I think we should call in tomorrow,” he murmurs.

  That makes me burst out into giggles. “I should miss a day of school to make out with you.”