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1. The Boy
Love
is like a mountain,
hard to climb,
but once you get to the
top
the view is beautiful.
Z,” I tried to yell at my friend Zephyr but I was too tired to make my raspy voice any louder then a small child whispering. I had the worst cold in my entire damn life, but Zephyr said that it would pass. What does she know? “I really don’t want to go,” I whined wanting to get back to bed, where I was kidnapped from by yours truly Zephyr.
“Lacey,” She complained, “How are you going to have a social life if you stay in bed all day and night? Gosh, I thought you knew better then that.” I looked at her my mouth wide open. It was just like her to be like that. She was going to kill me. I sneezed a couple hundred times as she kept dragging me towards the house.
How did my parent’s agree to let me go to this party? Easy, they don’t know about it. Z told them that I was sleeping over at her house, and that her mother would take good care of me. And once Z’s parents left the house, she forced me into her clothes, and started to brag about this party. As we walked closer towards the house, I could already smell alcohol, cigarettes, and the loud music was blasting into my ears giving me a headache the size of Canada. I wanted to go home. The bright white house had come into view as well as the cars all over the lawns, girls who were obviously our age flirting with guys who looked like they were in college, a couple making out, and of course the potheads.
“This is going to be awesome,” Zephyr said with a devilish smile. She was wearing a purple see through top with a white T-shirt under it, and she had black tight jeans that made her ass look bigger then it should. She wore combat boots, and her nails and eye shadow was painted bright purple. I, on the other hand, had a simple white long sleeve wrinkled T-shirt, with a red jacket over it. I had the same blue jeans I wore yesterday, and black shoes that were even tied. I’m pretty sure I looked like a total and complete mess.
It was actually almost summer and yet I was freezing in my own skin. I just wanted to take it and tear it off so that when the sun comes up I can get warm, because God was I cold. It was the kind of cold that cut right through the bones, and tear at you from the inside out. Of course, not even Zephyr could understand this. I was freezing my ass off so that she could enjoy herself, and have a good time. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great friend, but sometimes she’s just so completely crazy.
“Hi Z,” We both turned around as we stood at the entire way towards the house, and one of the jocks from school winked at Zephyr, and she laughed loudly enough for everyone in the front lawn to hear. I pitied the parents who owned this house; their lawn is going to be a complete mess. But, before I could contemplate how angry the parents would be, or how many dishes were being crashed inside the house, Zephyr practically threw me inside. The music was worse in here.
People were all dancing in tight groups together, and drinking away without a care. Music was blasting so loudly that it was like thunder to my brain. Food was all over the floor, and there were a few people in corners making out, and one guy was fingering his girlfriend, right in front of everyone, which almost made me gag. Talk about no self respect. The lights had dimmed here, and so it was difficult to see anyone. Zephyr was leading so; I just let her, because I felt so lost. We passed the staircase where one girl was giving lap dances to another guy. And my head began to feel dizzy. This was so sick. I can’t believe that I’m part of the same species as them; they were all out of their minds.
I stumbled into the hallway using the walls as my support system, and I looked around trying to find one decent sane person. But before I could contain myself, I pushed my way into the bathroom, and slamming the door behind me I threw up. My throat was burning as my dinner came out all at once. My eyes were crying hot tears that burned the back of my eyes. I can never become bulimic since I hate throwing up. The pile that gathers in my mouth, leaving my throat raw, sends me into a roller coaster of misery.
I grabbed my stomach as I tumbled on to my knees getting rid of what I hope is the last of it. I sit there for a moment feeling my mind whirl, and seeing double of everything. My arms, my legs, my fingers; my entire body felt numb and I was having trouble standing back up to wash myself in the sink. I hate being sick like this. My face was cheery red, and my eyes were blood shot full of burning tears, and my throat hurt like a mother. Ten minutes here and I’m ready to go home.
After I wash my face, and wash my mouth with some mouth wash I found, I tumble out of the bathroom, going to get Zephyr; I was going home, with or without her. Just as soon as I find her. I went through the living room, and kitchen, which were both a complete mess. You could barely walk on the ground without stepping on something or hitting someone. The music was blasting way too loud. I couldn’t tell who was screaming, and I didn’t know why they would call this music, but I didn’t want to know either of those things.
My eyes were trying to adjust to the changing lights, and I could see on the couch, someone making out with what I hope was Zephyr. God, she could be such a whore when she wanted to be, but at the same time she could be so damn unbelievable. I walked – or really stumbled – forward, and tapped on her shoulder. Her lips let go of the guy she was making out with, who I bet she didn’t even know his name.
“What’s up?” She asked casually as if it weren’t obvious that I felt like I was going to drop dead any time soon.
“I wanna go home,” My nose was stuffed up, which made me sound even sicker then I already was. She looked at me with her head tilted to the side as if she no longer understood English. I wonder if she ever understood the words that were coming out of my mouth.
She started laughing, which I didn’t find too surprising, “Oh, Lacey, you’re so funny.” She said as if I was really joking. “Look, you need to stop being so jaded and start getting with the program.” I looked at her not believing my ears.
“I’m not jaded,” I complained, “I’m sick,” I snapped at her feeling my headache beating against my head like a drum.
Zephyr shrugged like I knew she would, “Everyone gets sick. It’s human nature.” I rolled my eyes, wondering if it was possible to hate her even more then I do.
“Screw you,” I said stumbling away from her. There were times when I wondered how on earth I ended up with Zephyr. I, mean, I know it was back in first grade, and I know it was only because I felt sorry for her, but after eleven years you would think she would just cut and run from me already. I’m dull, my only interest is filming, I’ve never had a boyfriend, I’ve never had a life; paper is more interesting then me, water is more interesting then me. I’m just so plain and I live a plain life, unlike Z who lives life in the fast lane.
I think I must have made a full circle or something because I was back in the same hallway as I started with. I leaned my forehead against the wall trying to stop the dizziness because I felt like throwing up.
“My fair lady,” I looked around wondering if I had hallucinated the sweet voice. “You look… like you have one great hang over,” I looked down, or at least tried, and sitting on the floor was a blond haired boy. His back was to one side of the wall, and his boots were on the other side. He looked easily relaxed like he wasn’t in a house full of zoo animals. He gave me a half smile when he saw me looking at him, and holding out his hand he said, “I’m Reid,”
He was handsome. He had baby blue eyes, high cheek bones, his body looked like he worked out almost everyday, his hair was a golden blond, and his lips were full. I opened my mouth not sure on what to say. In all my years I’ve never spoken to anyone as handsome as him. Before I could say anything at all, the first words that spilled out were, “I’m sick,” I leaned against the other wall by his boots, looking at him stupidly. He must think I’m an idiot.
He looked at me, as if trying to determined weather I’m worth wasting his life on, or what. I did another stupid thing by yawning, and I was sure the smell of vomit reached him. “Well,” He said unexpectedly as he sat up, and I was sure he was going to leave, and heck, I wouldn’t blame him either, but instead of getting up and leaving he switched sides, and was sitting next to me, our shoulders touching. “I guess it’s up to me to make you feel better.”
I blinked at him, “Y-you don’t have to,” I said shyly wondering where Zephyr was when I really needed her. She knew how to speak to a boy, I knew squat about them. They were probably the strangest human beings that I knew of.
“I don’t have to,” He agreed, “But I want to,” I think I was blushing even deeper then I ever had in my life. Boys’ really weren’t the ones who spoke to me; they actually spoke more to Z, because she was the attractive one.
“That’s… that’s really sweet of you,” I complimented.
He shrugged modestly, “I’ve been told that before,” That’s when a frown formed my lips. Does he have a girlfriend? I wonder how many girls he’s been hitting on with tonight. I swallowed feeling pile build up in the back of my throat again. “But,” He continued, “no one as cute as you ever told me that.” My face was really hot now, either because of all the blood rushing to my face or because the cutest boy that I have ever seen just called me cute.
“T-Thank you,” I whispered looking down at my lap. I love Zephyr; if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be here. Best friends are the greatest things in the world. “No one has ever called me cute,” Mm, no boy really, unless you want to count my dad, but I wouldn’t.
“Well that’s a shame,” He said almost sadly, “Such a beautiful smile and no one to appreciate it.” He put his arm across my shoulder, and pulled me closer. “It’s a good thing I’m here, because I’m loving that smile of yours.”
There was a feeling growing in the pit of my stomach, it wasn’t a vomit feeling, it was something else, something I never experience before. I sensation that you get when your on a roller coaster, when your all the way on the highest point, and your heart is accelerating with adrenaline rush knowing that the best part was coming when you go down, and the excitement was just too difficult to contain. That was how I felt. I wanted to rocket up to the sky with excitement being this close to the guy.
“I love yours too,” Did I just say that? Did I, Lacey Underwood, the plainest person in the world, just say that? Not even Zephyr would believe that I would say that. I felt so out of place, and I liked it.
Reid laughed, and it was music to my ears, “No one has ever told me they loved my smile,” He said, and I frowned. Did I just mess up? I knew I would. I felt my stomach dropped, wondering why it was that I always get it wrong when it comes to guys. “And I actually like it,” With great relief, I smiled. Maybe I wasn’t doing all of this wrongly, maybe I need to just loosen up, or maybe I’m just way over my head.
“Well, I’m glad you like it. I don’t normally give out compliments to men,” That’s because I never had a guy to give a compliment to, “Except the ones who are as handsome as you,” He smiled, and I bit my bottom lip. Was I doing all of this right?
“I am going to have a hell of a good time getting to know you,” I was sleepy, maybe it was with all the medication I took earlier or maybe it was his blue eyes that were sparkling at me like stars twinkling at night. He was perfect in every way possible. His eyes were shaped in the most perfect way possible, and his cheeks sparkled in the right light. It was like I was looking at an angel or something.
“You know what; I think I want to get to know you much better.” No guy as ever told me that before. I smiled silly at him, before I passed out.
I looked up, and I realized that I was looking at the sleepy face of the boy I met last night. I looked around seeing that I was lying on top of him, like a pillow. We were still in the same hallway as last night, but the music was off – thank god – and the place was a mess. There were plastic cups all over the place, food crumbs covered the entire floor, and the place smelled a mix of alcohol, cigarettes, and ass. I dared to smell my jacket, and to my embarrassment it smelled like throw up. I couched smelling it. How could this guy stand to be so close to me? I looked down at him, and half smiled to myself. He looked so peaceful, like a child, his face was soft and relax and his breathing was like a slow melody. I tried to get up, but looking down at my waste I realized that he had a protective hand over me, as if he were afraid I was going to leave. I smiled at myself. This is the first time I’ve ever really slept with a boy – well, you know what I mean.
But, I needed to find Z; I needed to get my ass home, before my mother decides to call the army. Slowly, but steady, I tried to get up. I pushed his hand off me, and with great regret, I got up. The minute I was standing on my own two feet all the blood rushed to my head, and I tumbled over, smacking my head on the wall.
“Owe!” I screamed as I tangled my own two legs with each other and was back on the ground before I could breathe.
The boy sat up straight, and looked around as if trying to remember where he was, he looked over at me, as if seeing me for the first time, and after a while smiled.
“You fell asleep on top of me,” He said with a yawn. His words spilled out like sweet honey, and that made me even dizzier. I cannot believe someone as perfect as him could exist.
“I did?” My voice was raspy, probably from all the throwing up I did last night. “I’m sorry,” I said clearing my voice. I had already humiliated myself enough. I reached up to a nearby table, and tried to pull myself up. “I was really out of it last night,” I kept talking instead of shutting my mouth. “I was sick, and my friend thought that I was just tired, and… I’m boring you right now.” I laughed nervously at myself. I was such an idiot. I couldn’t even form three words without going on and on and on.
“Ah, no, no, it’s no big deal,” He said running his hand through his golden blond hair. “So, you never told me your name last night,” He pointed out, and I blushed when I remember what I said to him instead of my actual name.
“Yeah, it’s Lacey,” I answered nervously.
“Lacey, huh?” He said nodding his head approvingly, “That’s a nice name,” I smiled at him, but not too wide, I was afraid that my teeth might look nasty. “How are you feeling this fine morning?” He asked me.
I shrugged, “Tired.” That was the first word to come out of my mouth before I laughed again, for no apparent reason. “I mean, I’m doing a heck of a lot better then I was last night,” Now, that wasn’t much of a lie either. I wasn’t sneezing my life out, and I wasn’t coughing until I passed out. I smiled at him, trying to stand up straight. Ok, so I was still dizzy, but who wouldn’t be? He stood up too, and this time I really got the chance to see what he was like from this angle. He was really tall, between 5’9” and 6’1”, but he was still handsome. His eyes were so captivating that they almost made me a little tipsy just looking into them. “I…I… I should get home,” I said nervously holding on to the wall for support.
He kept smiling at me, and I noticed the way he had dimples, “Why don’t I walk you? I don’t want you to accidentally walk out into the street,” He said carefully putting his arm across my waist and pulling me closer to him. I felt myself hold on to my breath as he held me close to him, and when he looked at me I had to force a smile. When I looked down at his gray shirt, that hugged him in all the right places, to my great embarrassment I notice that I drooled all over him. I felt my breath getting caught in my throat and wanting to throw up again, when he saw where I was starring, he looked down and laughed. “Well,” He said running his hand through the small wet spot where my saliva was, “hopefully this will dry up soon.”
“You’re… your not mad?” I asked softly. Zephyr was always yelling at me that I drooled all over her pillows each time I slept over at her house, and it got to the point where I just began to bring my own pillow, where I can happily drool on it without having someone screaming at me because of it.
“Nah,” He said, as we began to walk out of the hallway. “You drool in your sleep, well, I sort of talk in my sleep,” I started to chuckle a little, and he just kept smiling at me. “Let’s keep that between you and me.” I will keep anything between the two of us. He was amazing.
“Lacey!” I turned around, and starring at the top of the stairs was Zephyr. She looked like she had a hang over, but then again when she’s at parties; she always has a hang over. She slumped over the top of the stair railing, and a guy – not the one she was making out with – came out and smiled down at me. “Art youz flad yov… phayed?” Her words were all slurry that it was difficult to understand what she was trying to say.
I looked back at Reid feeling embarrassed, “I think… I might have to walk Z who,” I said putting my arm over my nose to stop the sneezing before it began. I had already embarrassed myself enough.
“Noz, noz, noz,” Zephyr said leaning over the guy, “Ilz just stick aroued with himz,” The guy smiled cheerfully as he began to take her away. I wonder what it felt like to be completely careless, and still enjoy yourself; to be able to just give yourself up to a man with no regret and not having to worry about any consequences in the future. I wish I could be like Z; she always can do something extra ordinary.
“Well,” Reid said bringing me down to earth, I looked over at him, smiling, “Let’s get you home.”
I don’t know how, but somehow we found our way to my house, or at least I hope it was mine. We came upon almost ten wrong houses, and knocked on a million doors, even after I swore that that was my house, and turned out it wasn’t. I kept leaning against Reid, and laughing each time someone opened the door telling us we had the wrong house. I think we walked all over town, me almost falling over a million times, and Reid catching me each time.
This had actually been the funniest day I had ever had. Zephyr and I never really use to do this kind of thing before, it was usually me who had to drag her around, and we never really have fun doing so. But being with Reid felt so nice, and me being in his arms, it was like I fit into them perfectly
By the time we actually got to my house it was already mid-day and Reid had dragged me all over town trying to find the right house. He walked me to the door with a proud smile, and I dug around for my keys.
“Wow,” I said breathlessly. I looked over at Reid, as the sun made his hair glister, taking my breath away, “this has been some… morning.”
He laughed at me like I had said something funny, “I had never had to drag a girl around town before,” He said and I started to laugh along with him, “This has been the most fun I’ve had in a long while.”
I looked away as a cough, hating myself for being so sick, “Well,” I started, “hopefully we’ll see each other again,” I hated goodbyes. They were the worst. I was having so much fun being dragged around town like some sort of drunk, with Reid carrying me like a doll, and people starring at us, questioning our sanity, it was great. Most people look at me, and see the perfect daughter, well there’s a time to be perfect, and then there’s a time to just be like Z.
“Oh, we will,” Reid’s voice made it sound like a promise, “I’ll come by around either later today or maybe even tomorrow to see how your doing,” I smiled at him like I’ve never smiled before. Only Zephyr as ever cared about how I’ve been, and not only does he care about me, but he’s a boy. I’ve never had a boy care about me. I think I’m dreaming, or maybe just going completely out of my mind. There was something in my chest that was tightening up, and it wasn’t in a bad way either. It was like the feeling you get when you wake up Christmas morning, and you see a package under the tree with your name on it, and you know right away what it is, and there’s a feeling in you that you just can’t contain.
“You promise?” I asked him pressing my lips together hoping that he really would come. I remember when I was in middle school and girls would get all giddy each time a cute guy they had a crush on came to speak to them. Then I think about girls my own age, who have already had every kind of sex known to man kind, and will most likely end up pregnant before graduation, and I wonder how on earth I had fallen so far behind. At the moment that was how I felt, like I was in middle school again, and the cute star soccer player or basketball player came up to me and started talking to me like it was something he did everyday.
I held my breath, as Reid leaned in, and kissing me on the cheek, but dangerously close to my lips, “I promise,” His hot sweet breath sent chills down my spin as he spoke in my ear, his lips brushing against my skin making it tinkle with excitement. My heart was beating twice as fast as it normally did, and for a moment I almost thought that it was going to burst out of my chest with joy.
As he pulled away, I smiled like a nitty, and I opened the door looking at him stupidly. I kept missing the lock because I was paying attention more to him then to what I was doing. But, luckily I found away in, and still looking at him and smiling I closed the door as he winked at me.
I was taking a nice nap, dreaming of Reid of course. I couldn’t stop smiling the entire time as I dreamt one of those silly dreams that girls my age had when they had gotten their first crush centuries ago. I know that I spent more time with technology then I do being an actual girl, which is why I feel so silly.
My cell phone, or at least one of them, had ringed, and it woke me up. I looked at the floor at the piles of cell phones I have were all tied together in a nice ugly mess. I stumbled out of bed, and looked through them all. Blackberry’s, sidekicks, chocolate phones; you name it; it was here, of course not in working condition. Each time one of the cell phones broke I took it and started to poke around it. Technology is my thing, I know how to hotwire a car, or disarm an alarm system; people at school say I’m probably the most dangerous human being around. I can hag into computers, I was able to change all of my grades and Zephyr’s from C’s and D’s to A’s and B’s, I never get caught.
Finally, the blue chocolate phone was the one that was ringing; I put it to my ear, with the wires and the other phones coming with. I stuffed them all down, as I stumbled up trying not to trip over the wires that covered the floors. My mother loves to bitch at me over the damn equipment that I carry, like it’s a crime to have a hobby.
“Hello?” I asked sleepily has Zephyr’s frantic questions came out all at once. I didn’t catch a thing she said to me, and I was too tired to do so anyways. She was asking endless questions about Reid and what we did last night and why I hadn’t mentioned him earlier to her, and it was on and on. I sat on my bed as the questions came out all at once wondering why she couldn’t have called the house phone.
I yawned and when she went silent I finally asked, “Are you done?”
“Noooo, you are going to tell me what I wanna know,” I rolled my eyes as I lay back in bed with my eyes closed.
Slowly I answered all her questions, “His name is Reid, I don’t know his last name, how old he is, he didn’t give me his number, we didn’t screw each other last night, we met on accident…” As I answered I got more sleepy and sleepy, up to the point where I did fall asleep and Reid came back.
I dreamt we were back at the party, but this time he was holding me closer, and kissing me all over the place, telling me how much he loved me. I dreamt that his soft hands were trailing every inch of my body so smoothly and with care; his warm hand touching me in all the right places. I dreamt that each time his soft delicious lips touched my skin in would get softer and tender, and I could feel the love pouring out from him and to me. I dreamt that he held me with such care, as if I were glass and if he held on too tightly he might break me, but if he held on to loosely I would fall away. I hugged myself, as if for a moment it was Reid that I was holding. His body pressed against mine; me fitting into his arms as if that was were I belonged all along, and it only took me just know to realize that.
I smiled to myself as my heart kept beating with joy, and I realized that for the first time in seventeen years I was in love.
