Learning to Fly (6 page)

Last night, we became a couple. He made it official by updating his relationship status online.  I officially have a boyfriend; that fact alone makes me feel like a completely different person.

All eyes are on us as we walk into school together.

“’Sup Alex?” Jake and Alex high five each other in the hallway. I step back and watch as he interacts with his male friends.  The bell rings, signaling the start of the day. 

~~*~~*~~

During homeroom, Stacey comes over and leans her hip on the edge of my desk. “Sophie, so I hear congratulations are in order?”  She says in her fake, high-pitched voice.  I hate the way she looks down at me.

“Yes, Stacey; Alex and I were able to finish our history project in one night.”  I say, playing coy. 

Seeing Stacey, Jake comes over to rescue me, “Morning, Stacey. Since you can’t seem to get any offers from the football team, I hear the guys on the chess team are all single.” We all laugh as Stacey walks off huffing, flipping her hair behind her. Stacey’s personality may have rubbed Alex the wrong way, but something about her had to attract him in the first place.  I would love to know what it was. 

Seeing her and remembering her comment about me being plain makes me feel like I need to fix myself up.  I duck into the girls’ room and take my brush out of my bag.  I pull the sloppy ponytail loose and shake my head.  I bend over and brush my hair out while I am upside down.  There, that looks a little better.  I have blue eyes, not as piercing as my mothers, but still crystal blue.  I knew I needed to find the right clothes to wear to the pep rally.  I take advantage of free time during study hall to look up places for shopping. 

“That’s a killer dress.”  A girl takes the screen and turns it so she can get a better look.  “The color is all wrong for you, though; it would make you look washed out.”  That’s interesting; I never knew that colors could do that.  “With your blonde hair and skin tone, you would look so much better in a purple.”  I take a moment to consider the color, and all I can think of is the color of that kid’s dinosaur on television.  “I’m sorry for being so rude, I’m Melissa Jean, but everyone calls me MJ.” 

We exchange phone numbers and spend the rest of study hall talking about shoes, nails, and hair.

Chapter Seven

  I was still preoccupied with my appearance on the ride home.  “Alex, can I ask you something?”  I have my head down and I am wringing my hands on my lap.

“Sure, babe, anything you want.”  He takes turns glancing from the road over to me. 

“Do you think I’m pretty?”
He reaches over and places his hand on top of mine. 

“Sophie, I think you are beautiful. You have eyes the color of the ocean and I get lost in them every time I look at you.” I feel like I am the main character of a book. 

“You say the sweetest things I have ever heard,” I admit. “No one has ever told me I was beautiful before.”  I feel stupid admitting that to him. How can he understand what my life with Angie has been like? 

“You’re kidding, right?”

“I wouldn’t make up something that pathetic.” I look at him nervously, wondering if I should have kept that information to myself.

“Your other boyfriends didn’t know how to treat a lady, then,” he says letting his anger show. 

“I’ve never had a boyfriend before; you’re my first.” Alex pulls over to the side of the road and cuts the engine. 

“Let me get this straight; you’ve never had a boyfriend before now?  Are those boys where you’re from blind?” I can see recognition in his eyes, as he understands the full meaning of what I just said. 

“I wish I had known; I would have made your first kiss more memorable.”  I put my finger to his lips to quiet him.  I grab his collar and pull him closer, kissing him with all that I have. When I move back, I notice his eyes are still closed. Touchdown!  “That was the most amazing kiss.  I promise to make sure you know every day, how amazing I think you are.”

I feel tears coming, what a girl thing to do. “Let’s get you home,” he says, briefly pressing his lips to mine once more.

We get to my driveway entirely too soon.  Being with Alex makes me feel happy and I don’t want it end.  “Do you want to come in?” I hope I don’t appear too eager to him. 

“No thanks.” I feel like a kid holding a bright red balloon that someone just popped.  “Don’t give me that face, babe. I don’t want to come in because I want to pick you up for a date later.  Would you like that?”  Instead of just nodding once like a normal person, I nod my head yes, repeatedly.  “Alright, I will be back at 5:00 to pick you up for dinner and a movie.”

Wow, my real first date; I run into the house so exhilarated.  I don’t know what to do, I’ve gone out with groups of friends or tagged along with Heidi and Matt, but this is different and I can’t mess this up. Before I figure out what to wear, I need a plan of attack for this unruly mess on my head and makeup for my face.  I try to remember what MJ said about colors.

I run into Angie and Larry’s bedroom to search for my favorite blouse and find it hanging in their closet.  In the bathroom, I pull out Angie’s makeup bag and take it back to my room.
I sit on the floor, dumping all the contents out of bag:  cover up, foundation, blush, eyeliner, lipstick, mascara, and pressed powder.

It should be a simple thing to figure out, but there are so many colors and shades.  I try a few combinations, but somehow instead of looking smooth and flawless I look more like a clown or drag queen.  I wash my face so many times that it is red and blotchy.  The clock on my nightstand flashes 4:30; I only have half an hour left.  It isn’t fair; this is something every girl learns from her mother; just another way Angie had failed me.
My phone chirps with a text from Alex; his words make me smile. The phone chirps again and I read the last part of his message.

A: Sophie, it’s you that gave my heart a song to sing.

Come fly with me xoxo

I hold the phone to my chest. That boy knows what to say to make me swoon. I want tonight to be perfect but I can’t do it on my own.  I heard the garage earlier so I know she’s home now. 

There is a loud combination of barks, shrieks, and laughter coming from the kitchen.  Duke is in the sink getting a bath and seems to be giving them one in return. I stop at the doorway to watch them laughing together.  “I love you, Larry,” my mom says and he kisses her.  I feel angry at the ease in which she tells her new husband she loves him and is unable to say it to her daughter. 

“Hey, guys.”  I walk out and simply state what I need.  “Alex is coming to take me out for dinner and a movie and I could really use your help.” I swallow hard, waiting for her to say something to make things worse. 

“Of course honey, I’ll be right there.” She wipes her soapy hands off on the towel and smiles as she lays it on the counter.

“Oh my, what happened here?” Her reaction is very calm considering all the contents of her makeup bag are strewn all over my floor. 

“I tried to figure out how to put it on, but it was either too dark or too much.”  I throw my hands up in frustration.

“Well, first things first, what are you going to wear?”  I look around at the items on my bed.

“I was going to wear my favorite blue blouse.”  She reaches out a hand to stop me from grabbing my choice. 

“I have just the thing, I’ll be right back.”  She hurries out of the room to get something for me.  I wonder if it is a bad idea to ask for her help.  She’s back with a black and ivory chevron print dress. I put the dress on and it fits perfectly at my waist and hovers slightly above my knee. 

“Thanks.” I smile at her in the mirror.

“You’re welcome honey.”  She takes the brush and brushes all my hair into a messy ponytail on the top of my head.  It looks good.  The doorbell rings and I start to get up.  “Shhh, just relax; we’ll be finished here in a few minutes.

“Look up at me.”  She dips the brush into the bronzing powder and dusts my cheeks forehead and chin. “You are very pretty, Sophie, you don’t need much; just a little enhancement.”  She calmly grabs the eye shadow.  “Now close your eyes.”  I feel her put a dab of color to my lids.

“Very good, now put your lips together.”  I watch the thin beads of MAC gloss add a shimmer to my lips.  I slip on my shoes, taking one last look before going to see Alex. “You are absolutely beautiful,” she says, looking into the mirror with me. In the living room, Alex and Larry are deep in conversation about sports.  When he sees me, he stands up and walks over to me. Alex is wearing blue jeans, a gray t-shirt, and an opened plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

  “There’s my girl. You ready to go?” Alex laces his fingers in mine and squeezes. 

“Thanks again, see you guys later.”  My girl.  I’ve never been anyone’s girl before.  Those words warm me from the inside out.

In the driveway, Alex presses me against his car to kiss me.  “You look so beautiful; I could kiss you all night.” He is so close I can feel his heart beat against my chest.  “I could kiss you forever, too.”  I am feeling so good; I don’t want it to end.

He opens my door and I slide into the passenger seat and feel my hands shaking as I put my seatbelt on. 

Just breathe, Sophie. Everyone has first date jitters and you’ve already kissed him.  There is no reason to be nervous.  I mentally repeat those words again and again, hoping to make them true.

I am unaware that Alex is talking to me; he taps my shoulder to bring me back to the moment.

“Sophie, I was saying I hope you like Italian food.”

“Yes, I like Italian food.  Are we going the place from the other day?”

“That’s the one.  Not only do they have the best pizza, they make the most amazing penne a la vodka.”  I push my brows together and look at Alex.

“What does it taste like?”

“Imagine a creamy spaghetti sauce over pasta.”

“That sounds interesting, I like spaghetti sauce.”

“You can try mine.  It just might be your new favorite.”

We arrive at the restaurant and Alex runs over to open my door for me. 

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

We get inside and Alex tells the hostess that he has reservations.

“Come this way.” The hostess walks us through the main area of the restaurant and into the back where there are smaller, more intimate tables.  At our table, he slides my chair out for me and places a napkin on my lap.  “Thank you for dining with us; your sever will be with you momentarily.”

I take a deep breath and look around.  Beautiful hand painted murals cover the walls. The ceiling is curved and painted to resemble a cloudy sky.

“This place is beautiful, Alex, I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

“It is something, isn’t it?”  He smiles at me.  I wonder if he can tell that I am nervous. 

When our drinks arrive, Alex tears a small piece off one end of the straw wrapper, points it my direction, and blows.  It hits me on the tip of my nose.

“Alex. “

“What?” He pretends innocence.  I really like how playful he is and I start to relax.

“I hope you like 80’s movies.”

“I do.” 

“Good.  The old downtown theatre is playing The Princess Bride.”

“Really?  That movie has always been one of my favorites.”  We compare lists of our favorite movies from the 80s.  We stop talking long enough to eat our salads; when we finish, he starts again.

“Can I ask you something personal?”  I look at him and shrug.

“Sure.”

“We talked all night the other day, and you didn’t mention it.  I know Mr. Pennington is your step-father, but where is your dad?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“Never.”

“Never?” I shake my head.

“He’s never been a part of my life.” I say and quietly mourn the loss of someone I have never met.  I feel tears pooling and fight them back.

“I’m so sorry, Sophie.  I didn’t mean to upset you.

“It’s alright, Alex.  It’s not your fault.”

Thank God, our meal arrives and we have something to keep us busy so we can’t talk.

“How is your chicken parmesan?” 

“Good and your penne?”

“Awesome as always.  Here, try it.”  Alex stabs some of the penne pasta with his fork and holds it in front of my mouth.  I don’t open it.

“Come on, try it.  It’s really good.  Please, just one bite.” 

I give in and take the bite.  I am pleasantly surprised at the taste.

“That is good stuff!”

“Didn’t I tell you?”  He stabs more noodles with his fork and feeds them to me.  I open my mouth without hesitation.

The flavors dance on my to
ngue. “Mm, I can see why that’s your favorite.”

I eat until I am full.  Alex finishes his dinner and the rest of mine.
He pays the check and we head to the downtown theatre.

“So, I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

“You’re the star of the football team, but you talk about it like it’s your job.  If you don’t love it, why do you do it?

“That is the question.  I used to love it; football was my favorite thing to do with my dad.  We would toss the ball on the weekends; then one day he saw how far I could throw it and everything changed. 

Over the years, with all the camps every summer, diets, and training, he took something fun and turned it into a job.”  His face is full of disappointment as he says this.

“If it isn’t what you want then why do you play?” 

“I do it to make my dad happy. He doesn’t think I should waste a God given talent. He regrets not being able to make it when was younger and wants to see me succeed.”

“If you could be anything you wanted, what would it be?”

“I was always fascinated by science, and I love taking things apart.  Maybe I could be a Physicist?  Who knows?”  His expression is solemn. I feel so close to him. If anyone understands what it’s like to be forced to live someone else’s dreams it’s me. 

We pull into a parking space in front of an old stone building.  There is an old-fashioned marquee sign that reads Playhouse. Even in the dark, I can see the intricate design of the architecture.  This is a place I want to see in the full light of day.  Inside, there are winding staircases on either side that lead to the balcony.  We walk straight ahead through the double doors.  The main room is full of original décor.  My mind wanders to its earlier days as an opera house.  I wonder how many famous actors performed on this very stage.  Red curtains are drawn back as a screen descends from the ceiling.

“Come over here.”  Alex asks and I slide over in my seat and curl against his side.  He puts his arm around me and gives my shoulder a squeeze. He smells so wonderful.  The lights dim and the movie begins. 

Although I have seen this many times, with Alex with me it feels like the first time.  “That movie gets better every time I watch it.” I say when the movie ends.

“I know what you mean.  I never get tired of it.”

We get up from our seats and make our way through the exit.  Alex takes my hand and laces our fingers together.

“You want to go home now?”  He turns to me and our eyes meet.