Color Blind

by Gardin, Diana

  When Lit is over, I’m determined to walk her to her next class. But she is up and out of her seat before I can grab my bag, and I lose track of her in the crowded hallway. Shit. Now how am I going to find her again?

  The rest of the morning is uneventful and boring. Just like I have expected my whole day to be. I keep a lookout for Camryn, but I don’t see her again.

  At lunchtime, I walk into the cafeteria and my luck strikes again. I spot Camryn sitting at a table not far from the lunch line.

  As I walk to her table like being drawn toward a magnet, I tear my eyes away from her and finally notice the huge behemoth of a guy sitting next to her.

  A whole slew of words I choose not to say aloud swim through my mind when I se her sitting next to him. The luckiest day of my life, and then I have to find out that she has a boyfriend.

  Why does this have to happen to me?

  I realize I have stopped walking, and I make myself continue on to the table.

  I pull out the chair across from her and sit down. She stares at me like I am a hamster in a goldfish bowl. I decide to cheer up. He could just be her brother, right?

  “Hey, Cam-Short-For-Camryn Grimes,” I say, making myself right at home. My eyes flit to the gargantuan sitting beside her, and his eyes narrow.

  Good.

  Let him squirm a little. Who is he anyway? The guy is huge. I wait for an introduction.

  Two more chairs scrape the floor around me, and our little threesome becomes five. I didn’t even notice them coming. One pretty blonde and a tall, lanky dude who has his hand on the small of her back. I recognize right away that they’re a couple. The girl assesses the situation quickly, and I can tell she’s sharp. She reads every intention I have on my face, even as I think of them.

  I’ll have to watch this one, because she’s definitely going to be watching me.

  “Well hey there, Cam,” she greets Camryn. “Looks like we got here just in time to meet your new friend. Hey Luka.”

  Luka is his name. Good. I like to know who my rivals are up front. I grin at the girl, who is introduced to me as Dara, and her boyfriend Brandon. Luka sends me a glare across the table, and my grin only grows wider. He’s worried.

  He should be.

  I still don’t know who he is to her. I’m going to have to ask if they don’t---

  “What’s up, Coop,” he says, sticking out a huge hand for me to shake.

  Coop?

  “I’m Luka Caliper,” he says. “Cam’s…” He trails off and glances at Cam.

  Yes!

  He can’t be her boyfriend, or he’d come right out and say it. She’s mine.

  Mine!

  Then Cam finishes his sentence. “Date for this Friday night,” she explains.

  She smiles at him like she smiled at me earlier, and I wish death in many forms on Luka.

  So they aren’t an item yet, but they’re on their way there. That is a train I look forward to derailing. Camryn Grimes is going to be mine. I don’t know how I know this, but I know it has to happen.

  By the time lunch is over, I have worked up enough nerve to complete my goal for the day.

  “Hey, Camryn,” I ask, making a point to touch her arm. “Can you put your number in my phone? You know, in case I have a question about all that literature I’m supposed to be analyzing tonight.”

  There, that should do it. I’m not giving too much of my crazy away, but I let her know that I want to talk to her again. Soon.

  She nods, taking my phone and programming her number in.

  Mission completed.

  Chapter 5

  First Date

  Camryn

  “Five, six, seven, eight!” I shout as I watch the dancers move in unison to the strains of “I Have a Dream.”

  “Stop!” I yell, shaking my head. “Donavan, you can’t miss the lift there. Everyone has to be up at the same time and down at the same time. Try it again, from the top!”

  Rehearsals for “Mamma Mia” are going really well. I finished the choreography for most of the musical numbers. I hope the experience from choreographing this musical will help get me into a fabulous dance department in a performing arts university somewhere. I’m not sure yet exactly where I wanted to go, but I’ve always known what I want to do. Dance and performing are everything to me.

  I grab a water bottle when rehearsal ends, and sit down on the studio floor to take off my jazz shoes.

  “Girl, you’re a tough teacher. I’d be scared outta my mind to mess up in front of you.”

  I jerk my head up, looking for the source of the voice. Luka stands in the doorway, watching me. His arms are folded across his broad chest, and a wide grin spreads over his face.

  I smile and wave him in. “I’m almost done. You didn’t tell me where we’re going?”

  “I know,” he replies, his grin growing even wider. “I want to surprise you, Princess.”

  “Okay,” I grumble. “But I’m warning you, I’m not very good with surprises. I like to know everything right now. As in, before it even happens.”

  He bursts into laughter. “And in what world does that happen for you?”

  “Not this one,” I say. I grab my bag and stand. “Let’s go, then.”

  He leads me out to his car, a black Mercedes SUV.

  A Mercedes? Really? I stop walking.

  “Is something wrong?” he asks.

  “No,” I answer, and continue to the ridiculously expensive looking vehicle.

  He opens my door, and I climb in.

  “Um, Luka?” I ask as he gets into the driver’s seat beside me.

  “Yeah?”

  “I need to ask you this. Please don’t be offended. But why in the hell do you drive a Mercedes?”

  “What do you mean?” He glances at me, amusement warming his features.

  “Well, in case you haven’t noticed, I drive an old Corolla, Dara drives a beat-up Civic, and Brandon drives a regular—albeit, nice—Jeep. All very regular-people cars. You, in this Benz? Not so regular. What do your parents do?”

  He laughs. “You noticed, huh? My dad owns The Caliper Corp. It’s a real estate investment company. That’s about all I know about what he does. But it has nice perks for me and my sister.”

  “Gotcha,” I hope he doesn’t ask me anything about what my parents do. I don’t feel like getting into the whole one-parent thing and it’s effect on me on a first date.

  As we drive, I try to discover our end destination, but I can’t. Luka was taking me to an unfamiliar part of the city, much closer to the oceanfront than where we live, and away from the busy, commercial sector I’m used to.

  We pull into the parking lot of a two-story brick building that resembles an old church, complete with a bell tower and a steeple.

  I get out, gazing up at the cute little bell on the top of the tower. “Are you trying to tell me something, Luka?”

  “Like what?”

  “Like maybe I need Jesus?”

  He laughs and taps his index finger on my nose. “Everyone needs Jesus, Cam. Even angels like you. But this is a restaurant. My dad used to bring my mom here every year on their anniversary before she died.”

  I gape at him. “Luka, your mom--?”

  “Passed away? Yeah. It’s just me, my dad, and my little sister Lara. My mom died of breast cancer two years ago.”

  I step closer to him and wrap my arms around his waist. “I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”

  I can’t imagine what it would be like, losing a parent. I never had a dad to lose, so it’s not the same thing. He’s never been a part of my life. But losing my mom would be like cutting a gigantic, jagged hole into the center of my heart. My heart aches for Luka, knowing he’s been through such a loss.

  I look up at the old church building again. It is remarkably quaint, with tall wooden double doors marking its entrance, and old, worn shutters framing colorful stained-glass windows. A worn block of wood above the doors declared the name of the restaurant: “Pier 51.”

/>   We enter the restaurant, and I fall in love as the beautiful, whimsical ambiance of the place overwhelms me.

  “Luka,” I breathe.

  “Amazing, huh?” He says, smiling. “My dad told me this was definitely the place to take you. It looks like he was right, if the look on your face is any indication.”

  The exterior of the restaurant betrays no hint of the assault the interior is having on my senses. There is no overhead lighting. Instead, strings of large, white twinkling lights hang above us in lengthy rows. Sconces made from what looks like thin wisps of driftwood adorn the walls next to each table. Light blue lanterns hang on tall metal poles haphazardly throughout the cavernous space. The old, wooden beams on the ceiling are dressed with filmy cotton cloth in white. Tablecloths in the same blue as the lanterns sit on intimate round tables, and the polished wooden floor is gleaming as it reflects the dim lighting.

  I love it.

  It is the most beautiful place I have ever laid eyes on.

  The maître ‘d leads us to our table, dropping off menus and naming the specials.

  “Did you know that seafood is my favorite?” I ask Luka.

  “A little blonde birdie gave me that information,” he replies with a twinkle in his warm, light-brown eyes.

  I stare at him, amazed. I have never been on a date like this, ever. I’ve never really been on a date period. And for Luka to take this much care with it makes me feel…special. Cared for.

  Secure. And security is a scary thing, because it can cause a person to lose sight of any other feelings they may or may not be having.

  “What do you want to eat?” he asks.

  I scan the menu and find the lobster. I raise an eyebrow at Luka and point. He nods, smiling encouragingly at me.

  “Good choice. If you want that, please order it. Money is no object tonight.”

  In my entire seventeen years, the phrase “money is no object” has never, ever graced my lips, or my ears.

  Unsure, I instruct the waiter to bring me the lobster. Luka orders a surf-and-turf of steak and shrimp, and a crab dip appetizer for us to share. I shake my head, not believing this is my life right now. I am being swept away on Luka’s tide of magnanimity.

  Which sends red flags waving wildly across my vision, because girls like me don’t get swept away. Girls like me get what we work for, what we earn. I’m not the girl who gets to be with Prince Charming at the end of the story. I’m more like Cinderella before she gets to go to the ball.

  “So, Cam,” Luka says. “Why did it take us until senior year to get together like this?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know, Luka, you tell me.”

  “I’ve always noticed you, you know. You dance at all my games. You’re a star in all of those dance performances you guys do. I think I was just too nervous to say anything to you. The guys at school think you’re…unattainable.”

  My eyebrows rise again. My forehead is beginning to ache from all the sudden moves my eyebrows are making. “Unattainable?”

  “Yeah, like no one has ever seen you with a boyfriend, so everyone assumes you don’t want one. You sort of glide above everything at school. Dara was the same way. But Brandon was brave enough to get past all that. His bravery inspired me.”

  “Well, that’s about the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” I reply, calmly taking a sip of my drink.

  Luka laughs out loud. “Point taken. But that’s what everyone thinks. That you’re above it all.”

  “And what do you think, Luka?”

  He studies me. “I think I’m lucky to be sitting across from you right now.” He reaches out and takes my hand across the table.

  I feel my face grow warm. “I think I’m the lucky one.”

  I’m thankful our food arrives before I have to interpret the look that flashes in his eyes.

  As we eat, we talk about school, our families, and just about everything else. I feel comfortable enough to tell Luka about my mom and our apartment, but I don’t talk about my absentee dad. The candle on our table burns lower, and when dinner is finished, I feel like I really know Luka Caliper.

  Better than I have ever known any boy.

  He does well in his classes at school, and has been playing basketball since he was seven. He’s on track for a scholarship to a really good school. He adores his ten-year old little sister, and he attends church every Sunday. I start to think Luka is too perfect.

  In my experience, if something seems too good to be true, it just is.

  “Well that was delicious,” he says, wiping his hands on the napkin that lay in his lap.

  “It was the best seafood I’ve ever had,” I admit.

  “Now what?” he asks, standing and stretching.

  “Um,” I stammer. “Dinner is over. Don’t you want to go home?”

  “Not really in a hurry for this date to end,” he answers, looking into my eyes.

  Wow.

  “Well, since we’re down here at the oceanfront…we could go for a walk,” I suggest.

  “A walk it is,” he says, seeming pleased. He leaves the tip on the table and places his hand on my lower back to guide me toward the exit.

  ***

  Luka pulls his SUV up to my building and kills the engine. As he opens his car door, I place a hand on his arm.

  “Hey,” I say. “Thank you so much for dinner. This was really fun.”

  “It was,” he replies. “And now I’m going to walk you inside.”

  “You don’t have to,” I smile at his chivalry. He’s proven to me the practice definitely isn’t dead, even among teenage boys.

  “Actually, I do,” he replies. “I haven’t met your mom yet, since I picked you up from school.”

  “Oh yeah? You want to meet my mom after one date?” I smile, teasing him.

  He grins, exiting the car. He walks around, and opens my door for me. “After you, Princess,” he says, gesturing grandly.

  When we reach my front door, I turn to Luka. “Thank you for walking me to my door, but you can’t meet my mom right now.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because she’s not here. She works third shift four nights a week.” I study the welcome mat, knowing he won’t understand.

  “You mean there’s no one home right now? But it’s almost midnight!” Disbelief clouds his expression.

  “I know. It’s fine. She’ll be home in a few hours.”

  “Cam! I’m not letting you stay here by yourself.”

  I level my gaze at him, feeling fiery. Who does this boy think he is? I don’t need to be rescued.

  “Luka, I stay by myself at night all the time. I’ll be fine. My mom will be home in a few hours. I’m just going to go to bed.”

  He looks at me with eyes just as steely as mine. “I’m staying. You can go in and close the door if you want. I’ll just sit down out here until your mom gets home.”

  I sigh, exasperated. “Just come in then, if you’re going to be that stubborn.”

  He accompanies me into the apartment, and I close the door behind him.

  I gesture toward our threadbare couch. “Sit. I’ll get us something to drink.”

  I walk the ten feet to the refrigerator and pull out two sodas. Luka takes one, and smiles at me.

  “I guess since we’re here, we might as well take advantage of the situation…”

  I stare at him, one eyebrow raised. “Luka—“

  “And watch a movie,” he finishes. His eyes crinkle in the corners and his mouth twitches.

  I laugh. “A movie. Okay.” I turn on the TV, flipping through channels until I find a Lifetime movie.

  Luka groans.

  “You’re the one who insisted on coming in to babysit me. Now you can watch what I want, or you can exit to the left.” I grab a blanket and snuggle under it.

  Luka grabs the corner of the blanket and pulls half of it onto his long legs. “I’m not going anywhere,” he says.

  The challenge in his voice, combined with the comfortable demeanor with which h
e sits on my couch makes it evident that he’s telling the truth.

  I believe him.

  ***

  We wake to the sound of a key in the front door. I’m too sleepy to feel the panic I should about the fact that Luka and I feel asleep on the couch when my mom wasn’t home.

  “Mom?” I ask groggily.

  “Hey, baby girl,” she said as she closes the door behind her. Her eyes land on Luka.

  “You have company, Cam? At three in the morning?”

  Luka stands, extending his hand. “I’m sorry ma’am. I know this is inappropriate. I’m Luka Caliper. I just didn’t feel comfortable leaving Cam here all by herself when I dropped her off.”

  “I told him that was ridiculous,” I grumble.

  My mom smiles in spite of herself. Luka just has that effect.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Luka. Thank you for being such a gentleman. We’ll have to have you over for dinner sometime soon.”

  “Your welcome, ma’am. Dinner would be great.” Luka grabs his jacket and walks to the door.

  I walk him outside. “Thank you for staying. Just so you know, I stay by myself all the time. You can’t come running every time I’m on my own. Our lives are very different. You’re going to have to learn that about me, and accept it.”

  He frowns. “I don’t have to accept anything, Cam. If I feel you’re in any kind of danger, I will always protect you. That’s who I am, and you’re going to have to accept that about me.”

  He leans down, and for a moment I think he is going to kiss me.

  I’m not ready! The panic creeps up my legs and into my stomach, causing it to lurch violently.

  He gives me a hug, and kisses my cheek. “Goodnight Cam,” he says softly.

  I sigh. “Good night Luka.” I close the door behind me.

  My mom stands there, arms crossed. “That was your date tonight? Where’d you find him? I’m assuming that was his Mercedes sticking out like a sore thumb in the parking lot.”

  “You’re assuming right. He’s Dara’s boyfriend’s best friend, and he’s on the basketball team at school. I probably just had the most unbelievable night ever, Mom.”