Reunion

I walked along the puddle ridden path back to the North campus of school to meet Dash with my iPod cranked up. Knowing that even though I got out of class five minutes early he’d be, with his classic Ray-Bans on, blasting alternative rock, waiting as usual. I could see he was driving the truck today that my friends had come accustom to see waiting in front of the main building. The black truck was super conspicuous among the beat up Hondas and Toyotas. But so was he, each day when he saw me coming he got out of the truck, gave me a kiss, and then opened the door for me without saying a word.

I walked past his window and tapped it, trying not to smile, as we started our ritual, “Hello,” I said and he just gave me a smile for a response looking beatific. His blonde curls were cascading into his eyes partially obscuring his bright blue irises. He was wearing dark Diesel jeans and his usual Hugo Boss jacket over a hunter green sweater.

He pulled me to the other side of the car and into one of his usual lingering kisses that I could feel down to my toes and gave me the feeling of floating. He opened the door with a slight bow and helped me climb into the car. I opened the Vitamin water he always had waiting for me everyday and took a drink. He walked to the other side with a slight smirk on his face. He got in the car and we were about to pull off when Jayden, Emmett, and David walked past the car.

I waved and Emmett called back laughing, “Nice ride Addams.”

“You kids are losers,” I called out of the open window, Dash kept the windows open all through the winter. Emmett punched Jayden in the arm and he avoided my gaze, “Well, see you losers tomorrow. Stop blocking traffic, Emmett!”

“Kalina said to tell you, ‘Make sure you’re on time.’ Bye,” David said as we drove away.

“Who were those guys,” Dash asked a little coolly his voice a little huskier, like it always was when he was angry.

“Oh that’s just Jayden, Emmett, and David. I’ve known them since forever. They’ll be at the competition Saturday so you can hang with them….So, Friday there’s a party Kalina’s house so we can get ready for the competition. Everybody’s boyfriends and stuff are sleeping over after the party. Will you come please, everyone wants to meet you and I know you don’t want me there alone,” I said pitching the idea to him. He kept his eyes trained on the road, I could practically hear the gears turning in his head as he made his decision.

“Yeah, babe sure I’ll go,” he said smiling; I could only see half with his dimple showing.

“Oh, great. Kalina will be pleased, they’re under the impression that you don’t want me with them and all this other bull. This is going to be a great, you get to see me get my hair curled and stuff. You’re gonna love the make-up,” I said practically bouncing up and down in my seat.

“I hate make-up you know that,” he said placing his hand on my thigh and squeezing.

“I know it’s just so much you’ll die. It’ll be so odd to you, the competition. You’ve never seen that part of me.”

“I’ve been to all the games. I’m pretty sure I have the routine memorized, now” he said pulling into my driveway.

“No, babe it’s a totally different world at competition. You’ll think I’m a total freak, but maybe I won’t be so nervous since you’ll be there I’ve never had…”

“Had what,” he asked as if he didn’t know.

“Don’t make me say it,” I said blushing.

“Say it,” he prompted.

“…somebody that I love so much that wasn’t family there. Maybe you’ll calm my nerves. But if I screw up because of you then you’re definitely not going to State.”

“Oh, I’d go but wouldn’t tell you,” he said as we walked up the path to the bright red door to my white plantation looking house. The first time Dash came over he couldn’t stop joking and asking if we had slaves out back.

“And then I’d see you in the crowd and fall out of a lib or scorpion and die.”

“I’d never let that happen. I’d run up to the stage and catch you, saving the day. And then you’d give me a kiss and we’d reconvene in a more private place and then,” He said when we got to my room. When I closed the door he trapped me between his palms, leaned up against the door.

“And then,” I breathed. He leaned in the hesitated smiled blew his always minty breath in my face making me giggle before it started. The fooling around we did before practice every day, my bag was sitting be the door ready and it only took us five minutes for travel time, so we got about twenty minutes of down time.

In about five minutes time I was already out of breath as he lifted me onto the bed and I grabbed the bottom of his sweater pulling it over his head. I traced my fingers over his defined abdomen, feeling the warmth of his skin through my shirt but not enough. I guess he felt the same way because he pulled off my shirt but thankfully didn’t fool with the bra. We both knew if we got too far—like last week—I’d never make it to practice on time.

I shivered, not because I was cold and he pulled away, “I love you, you know.”

“Me too,” I said as he lifted himself off of me untangling our legs and laid next to me on my pink frilly bed.

“I’m so glad—I don’t know what I’d do if you didn’t come that day with me to Starbucks that day. I’ve never been happier, I don’t think. You know how I went downtown last week, I got you something. Tai helped me pick it out,” he said not meeting my eyes; he got so embarrassed when talking about his emotions. He walked over to his coat lying on the floor by the door. He pulled out a small crisp blue box with white ribbon on it; I recognized it was Tiffany’s.

“What is it, Dashiell,” I said using his full name; he hates it.

“I got us matching rings, mine has your name engraved on the inside and yours has mine,” he tossed it to me on the bed trying to be nonchalant. I opened the box and slid the delicate gold ring around my finger after dragging my finger across the letters spelling out his name.

“Let me see yours,” I said grabbing his off his finger and comparing the sizes and my name to his silver and titanium. He got both our first and middle names in thin calligraphy in the inside of the rings. There was something comforting about wearing the slight gold band that only I could tell had the words Dashiell Prescott on it. It was impossibly cute, like we were in the 60’s and going steady. Ha, we’ve been steadily going for months now.

I smiled down at my bed trying to control my reaction. He sat on the bed and I climbed into his lap and adjusted so I could kiss him, “Thanks babe.”

“You welcome,” he mumbled, “I’m glad you got over that whole ‘no gifts’ thing.”

“You really shouldn’t though, I think my mom thinks we’re—you know. When she saw the purse she asked and made me promise to tell her before we…did. She said after three months they start asking. I couldn’t stop laughing.”

“Oh,” he said blush creeping up his neck, “when do you think…”

“Way to prove her right. No, I’m kidding. Soon, I’m just,” I said. I couldn’t put into words how I felt about it and I didn’t want to keep him waiting for ever.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about,” he said cradling me. I loved how slight I seemed next to Dash. He’s 6’3” to my 5’2” and strong too; he tossed me around all the time. And he’s like this amazing soccer and lacrosse player. Tai says everyone at their school is like obsessed with him because they have State titles just because of him. As many venomous looks I’d gotten with their croud I was sure of it.

“I guess I should go change now,” I said regretfully.

“Yeah, go before we get distracted again,” he said getting up and pulling his shirt over his head while I stole a last glance at his tanned toned chest and stomach. Tai figures our kids will look just like her because of the whole mixed thing.

We rode back to school in silence, sharing smiles as I held my hand up in the light to admire my ring, and he watched me sing along to Rooney laughing. We idled by the curb of the sidewalk by the Field House, “We get out at six because we had the fitting during school. What’re you going to do?”

“Go pick up some food and gloves. Do you need anything? What do you want for dinner?”

“How about we do Chipotle tonight, love? I need gloves and the new Vogue. We act like a newlywed couple this is so fun,” I said giggling.

“Yeah, your parents should go out of town more often. Can I sleepover tonight?”

“Yeah, of course Dash. Remember you have to pick up Millie at five,” I said, Millie my 13 year old sister had gymnastics tonight. She’d probably be happier to see Dash than to see me.

“Sure, she likes steak tacos, right?”

“Yes, see you at six,” I said leaning over for a goodbye kiss.

“I’ll be here,” he breathed in my ear.

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