Читать книгу A World Without You - A. S. Peterson - Страница 11

5

Briana

Ten minutes before ten, Briana wiped the perspiration off her forehead as she entered the park. She wasn’t sure if she was sweating from the sun’s heat, her nervousness about seeing the boy again, or her fear that he might not show. She strolled to the swings. Over the past two days, her every thought had been centered on the boy. She had filled three pages in her journal with a detailed description of the boy’s unruly long brown hair, his tattered clothes, his kind and gentle eyes, and the tenderness of his voice. While she shied away from most people, this boy was different. The feelings she associated with him were comfort, safety, and excitement.

Briana sat on a swing, pushed of the ground, and felt a bit rebellious, a new feeling for her. She rarely disobeyed one of her parents’ rules. Well, I’m not really disobeying now either, she told herself.

Her parents continuously mentioned no one was allowed inside the house when she was home alone, but they never mentioned she couldn’t leave. Briana took a deep breath as her chest gave an unfamiliar twist of anxiousness. This was the first time she had a reason to be this technical about a rule, but she wanted desperately to see this boy again whether her parents approved of her action or not, even though the boy seemed like an illusion that she had created to cope with Minnie’s death. As a young girl, she had invented an imaginary friend to deal with her loneliness, and that’s what it felt like now. Briana let out an exasperated sigh. Don’t be silly. He’s a real person, and he’ll show up soon, she told herself more confidently than she actually felt.

Swinging back-and-forth, her gaze remained on the embankment where he had materialized on Monday. Positive he’d appear any minute, she pushed herself until she was soaring.

When hours appeared to pass instead of minutes, she slowed and dragged her feet on the ground. Dread crept inside of her. A quick glance at her designer watch showed thirty-five minutes after ten.

Nausea filled her stomach while tears welled up. Her fear of never seeing the boy was becoming a reality. At the same moment she decided he wouldn’t show, he suddenly climbed over the embankment. The sight of him caused her heart to leap into her throat. She swallowed and quickly wiped the moisture from her eyes.

As he approached, she gripped the chains of the swings, holding her breath. He looked more handsome today, wearing a navy-blue T-shirt that accentuated his color tone. His blue jeans were newer, although he still wore his worn tennis shoes.

They stared at one another while Scott quickly made his way to the swings. They were both relieved that the other one had showed up. Scott was especially pleased she hadn’t given up on him and left.

The girl looked attractive with her long blond hair pulled up at the sides with barrettes. Her expensive shirt was tucked neatly into her blue designer shorts, and there was a pinkish color to her cheeks. Once again, her beauty and simplicity made him feel breathless. He had seen her wipe her eyes earlier.

As Scott stepped in front of her, he casually took her hands which felt warm and soft. He asked, “You didn’t think I’d show up?”

When she looked down, as if she was embarrassed, he squeezed her hands. Since Monday, he had been waiting for this moment and longed to tell her how she had mesmerized his every thought. When she finally looked at him with her angelic blue eyes, he nearly explained that wild horses or a demanding mother wouldn’t have kept him from the park. Instead he said, “I had to mow some lawns first, three of them.”

As her eyebrows rose with interest, he wondered why mowing lawns captivated her attention.

She asked, “Were they big lawns?”

Surprised by her question, Scott replied, “No, each lawn took about fifteen minutes.”

She gasped, “You mowed for forty-five minutes before coming here?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t look tired.”

“It’s not very tiring.” Scott paused, changing the subject. “Did you get a new dog?”

She shook her head at the same time his stomach growled loudly.

He gave a humiliated grin. “I didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast.”

“Because you had to mow the lawns?”

“Yeah, I didn’t want to be any later than I was,” Scott replied as he reached into his pocket, took out the two granola bars, and handed one to her. “Would you like one?”

The girl’s eyes brightened while she shook her head. Scott inhaled hurriedly, wishing he had eaten the granola bars at the same time he had gulped down the water. His hunger was making him look odd on their first date—if this was actually a date.

The girl studied him with such an intense expression, it made his head spin. He wondered what she was thinking. Her unspoken thoughts whirled around his personal space. Maybe this is what it means by the statement “the air of feminine mystery?” Wishing he knew what was on her mind, he thrust a granola bar at her. “You can have one.”

The girl pressed her lips together, probably wanting to laugh at his spontaneous gesture, but she seemed too mannered to laugh at anyone. However, this time, she accepted the granola bar, obviously not wanting to offend him.

They sat on the swings, eating quietly. Surprisingly the consumption of food transpired a moment of intimacy. When they finished eating, they strolled over to the trash can, threw the wrappers away, and drank some water from the drinking fountain near the restrooms.

Scott rubbed his hands on his jeans before taking the girl’s hand. This simple gesture was already feeling natural. The aroma of blossoming flowers reminded him of the name poem he had written. He said, “I don’t even know your name.”

“Briana Johnson.”

Was it the harmony of her name or the softness in which she spoke it, the reason for the loss of air? Either way, Scott felt winded again. Her name was prettier than any of the ones he had imaged. “That’s a beautiful name. I’m Scott Furman.”

As she smiled, Scott smiled in return and didn’t miss how she stared at his lips before turning her head. He wanted to mention she had great kissable lips too, but maybe she wasn’t even thinking about kissing him like he was thinking about kissing her. Scott turned and scanned the perimeter of the park, bordered by a forest of trees except where the rosebushes aligned the embankment. Opposite of the rosebushes were the restrooms. A few yards north was the entrance and the parking lot. The open lawn area and the basketball court were inviting if someone wanted to play sports, but he hadn’t come to play sports today. Scott moved his gaze further to his right.

His eyes settled on the south end where the forest of trees didn’t back up to the massive houses of North Hillside. If he was going to come to this park often, he needed to know the trails inside the woods. He asked, “Would you like to go exploring?”

“Yes.”

“Great,” Scott replied as he led Briana to the forest of maple, aspen, and oak trees. About seventy feet from the swings, there was an opening, leading into the woods.

“Do you want to see where this path goes?”

“Okay.”

They followed the narrow dirt path. Small twigs crunched underfoot as the air cooled. The farther they walked into the mass of trees, the darker it became. Annoying little insects buzzed around their heads while a flock of swallows took off in flight, rustling the canopy, disrupting the peacefulness of the woods.

Scott and Briana hiked a short distance before the path veered sharply to the right. A few seconds later, they entered a small clearing, brighter than the rest of the woods. The clearing was about the size of a small living room. A large rock was situated in the center, appearing to have been placed in that exact location for visitors to sit and contemplate the wonders of nature. To the right of the rock was a small area of grass, growing from the sun’s rays filtering through the canopy of trees. A decaying log lay at the edge of the clearing alongside the thickening trees.

Scott strolled to the rock, sat down, and made room for Briana, taking pleasure in her nearness. Her body heat burned through his T-shirt and flooded into his chest.

He inhaled the pleasant woodsy scent. Words such as tranquility, pleasure, virginity, and miraculous raced inside his brain. Briana’s presence inspired his poetic fluency, and he knew this sheltered spot was theirs. He said, “This will be our special place.”

Scott and Briana sat contently on the rock, listening to the chattering of squirrels and the humming of insects. The rustling of the leaves overhead and the cooler damp air added a feeling of coziness.

Briana shifted on the rock and glanced around. She smiled, pleased Scott had mentioned this secluded place was theirs. It was perfect. She glanced at the small patch of grass, thinking how Scott had mowed three lawns before coming to see her. She had never seen a boy her age mowing a yard. Everyone in her neighborhood hired gardeners. Briana bit the bottom of her lip. Maybe it was silly, but someday, she hoped to watch Scott mow a lawn.

It was amazing how at ease she felt with Scott. The self-consciousness she experienced earlier had vanished, replaced with a spine-tingling sensation, especially since their arms were touching. Another new sensation she’ll describe in her journal tonight.

They sat for several minutes, enjoying another moment of intimacy. When Scott unexpectedly stood up and pointed to another path, Briana frowned. She missed his body heat.

He asked, “Would you like to follow that path and find out where it goes?”

“Okay,” Briana replied as Scott took her hand.

They trekked across the clearing. The dirt path was covered with larger twigs and forest debris. They followed the trail. It narrowed. Leafy branches from the surrounding trees blocked their route. Scott led the way, moving the branches out of Briana’s way. Nearly one hundred feet into their trek, the trail began to slope downward.

Scott held Briana’s arm, glancing at her sandals and the slick dirt path. “If you grab the branches with your other hand, you won’t fall.”

Briana nodded. “Okay.”

She took a few steps and grabbed a branch that was more like a twig. It broke and her feet slipped from under her. She fell, pulling Scott with her. She landed on her rump and then fell onto her back. The next thing she knew, she was looking up at Scott who was falling too.

He quickly grabbed another branch to soften his fall as he landed on Briana. He looked down at her, thinking this was a position he could easily get used to. Their eyes met. When there was no uneasiness evident in her eyes, he wondered if she felt as comfortable as he did. Calming his racing imagination, he joked, “I didn’t think I’d be in this position on our first date.”

She laughed as he climbed off and jumped to his feet. He helped Briana up and asked, “Are you okay?”

She brushed the dirt off her clothes. “Yes.”

“Do you want to take your sandals off? This ground is pretty slick.”

“No, but I’ll be more careful.”

They continued their descent. The closer they got to the bottom of the hill, the sparser the trees became.

Briana managed to stay on her feet with the help of Scott’s firm grip on her left arm. Several minutes later, they exited the woods, strolling into the lower field.

Scott scanned the field. “I can take this path if I want to come to the park unseen.” He noticed a log lying on the ground. “Do you want to rest before heading back up the hill?”

“Yes,” Briana replied, disappointed he had released her arm.

They sat in silence on the aging log, staring at the tall grass in front of them. Scott placed his hands on his lap which now felt bare without the warmth of her touch. He leaned forward, plucking a tall grass stem while racking his brain for something interesting to say. His knotted tongue frustrated him. He usually didn’t have a problem talking to girls.

He wiped the sweat off from his forehead. He wasn’t sure why he felt so hot since the wind was more powerful down here than inside the park. A sudden gust of wind blew Briana’s hair into his face. He inhaled. Her hair smelled like the lilacs growing in his backyard. He had an urge to run his fingers through it.

Briana gathered her hair. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay. Your hair can blow into my face any time.”

Briana smiled as Scott asked, “Do you need to get home at a certain time?”

She glanced at her watch and sighed. “Noon.”

Hearing her sigh, Scott nodded in agreement. Time was passing by too quickly. He studied her hands as she twisted them self-consciously. He had never met a girl as quiet as this one. She never spoke unless he asked her a question or to apologize for something. Most of the girls in school were talkative, and if they weren’t, it didn’t take much of an effort to get them chatting; but Briana was the opposite. In fact, being around Briana made him feel like a freefalling meteor, hurtling through space without any navigational coordinates.

He redirected his thoughts toward his town and asked, “Does it bother you that I live in South Hillside?”

The wind blew powerfully again, and Briana quickly grabbed her hair. She answered without hesitation, “No.”

Their eyes met and held, and Scott noticed her dreamy expression. It was as if she was having a secret conversation with herself. He just wished she’d open up and reveal some information about herself.

When she gazed at him longer than usual, he moved his attention to her lips. Captivated by her innocence, an urge to kiss her swept through him. He leaned forward, hoping to satisfy his longing, but she moved her attention to the path.

Scott followed her gaze, wondering if he had misread her, but then, she might not even be thinking about kissing at all. However, she did look at the path. Was she giving him a hint she needed to leave? He asked, “Will you get in trouble if you’re late?”

“Yes.”

Scott stood. “Then we need to get you back up the hill.”

Their climb to the top took longer than he anticipated. The slickness of her sandals on the smooth terrain slowed their ascent. He held her arm firmly to keep her from falling. When they reached the clearing, he led her to the large rock for a chance to rest. He hadn’t realized hauling a girl with slick sandals up a hill could be this much of a workout.

He pulled out his second-hand watch from his pocket. It was ten minutes before twelve. Their date was over. As Briana’s breathing returned to normal, he asked, “When can you come to the park again?”

“Ten o’clock next Thursday,”

“Will you be able to meet me every Thursday at ten o’clock this summer?”

“Yes.”

Scott smiled. He had a date with Briana every week.

He returned his watch to his pocket and pulled out his poems. He handed her the folded pieces of paper. “I wrote two poems for you.”

When he observed her surprise, he kicked himself for his boldness. After all, this was merely their second meeting. “You can read them when you get home.”

Scott rubbed his hands on his jeans before reaching for her hand. “I’ll walk you to the entrance.”

They strolled through the park slowly, each not wanting their time to come to an end. Briana focused on their hands as the entrance loomed closer. Waiting for two full days to see Scott had been grueling. Now she had to wait for an entire week. She was grateful for their hike up the hill. Her heavy breathing had been mistaken for exertion instead of the nervous energy she felt from their near kiss. The vision of Scott moving forward replayed in her mind. His gaze had moved from her eyes to her lips, and a brief look of vulnerability existed before he gave an intense look of devotion. If she hadn’t glanced at the path, she would have kissed a boy she had barely met three days ago; and a kiss with Scott—Briana stopped her thoughts, refusing to think about that very idea.

She had been surprised earlier when he asked if she minded he was from South Hillside. She had wanted to say, “Why would I be? You’re the nicest person I’ve ever met. I don’t care if you live in a shack.” To her, Scott was caring, funny, and good-looking, but most importantly, he had missed his breakfast just to come and see her.

Her belly contracted with anticipation. Would Scott try to kiss her again at the entrance? When he simply squeezed both her hands and said, “I am looking forward to next Thursday,” Briana wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or relieved.

She smiled shyly. “Me too.”

Briana hurriedly walked away. Her mother and sisters would be home soon and she had to be there first. She could feel Scott watching her all the way to the corner of the block.

After Briana turned right and was out of sight, Scott waited a few minutes before heading home. He thought about his first date with Briana which had been simple yet fascinating. His longtime question—would he kiss a girl on their first date—was a definite no. He shimmied down the embankment, telling himself that maybe next Thursday, they would kiss. While crossing the lower field with long quick strides, he plucked at the tips of the grass. He had always thought after his first date, he would know more about the girl than just her name.