Totem (7 page)

              “Jake, I believe we have been hoodwinked,” I say dramatically.

                  “Oh, No! Not HOODWINKED!” Exclaims Jake “Whatever shall we do?”

              He leans into me. His hand goes over his head dramatically like a damsel in distress. I giggle at the sight and place my hand on his shoulder. For a brief second our eyes meet. Jake makes it so easy to like him. He has such an endearing quality about him. I feel butterflies begin to creep up in my stomach. Shrugging them off, I turn serious.

              “Of course, you know what we need to do now,” I state.

              “What?” States Jake

              His face matches my pseudo serious look. At the sight of his, I falter letting a smile and laugh slip out. He brings his face close to mine. I reach out and grab his face. This startles him.

              “We have to pretend like this past conversation never happened. For the sake of their future relationship, they must never know that we know.”

              I shake his head as I say the last few words. Jake laughs then nods his head in agreement. I look him in the eyes. When I am satisfied with his answer, I lean in and quickly kiss him on the cheek. I let go of his face as I begin to laugh harder. Jake joins in as we both laugh at the situation at hand.

              “What’s so funny?” Daniel asks as he walks hand in hand with Michelle back to our spot.

              I look at the two schemers in front of us and laugh even harder. Jake has a huge smile on his face as well. It was a private joke that the two us share. One day perhaps we will tell them that we found out what they were up to, or at least what Daniel was up to. I shake my head and start heading for the door searching in Michelle’s purse for the keys along the way. We step outside and the two guys walk us to our car. I pop the lock and open the door staring at the seat. Michelle was so tiny that the seat was all the way up.

              “The seat is motorized you have to turn the key first.” Michelle instructs.

              I sit in the seat with my legs hanging out of the car. There was no way my knees were going to clear the steering wheel. Jake stands beside me, laughing at my misfortune. I turn the keys and find the button. The seat could not move any slower. This made Jake laugh even more. Michelle and Daniel walk off to the grassy area beside the bar talking and holding hands. I shoot Jake a look as the seat continues its snail like motion. Not only is the seat too far up to the steering wheel, but my head also hit the ceiling. I find the button to adjust that simultaneously with the seat button being pulled back.

              “Almost done… I think.”

              I shoot a glance over in the direction of Daniel and Michelle. My mouth drops and I flutter my hand for Jake to look. There in the grassy area under the dim glow of the streetlights is Michelle and Daniel in a lip lock. If that wasn’t proof that we were the cover up for their date, then I don’t know what was. I let out a laugh.

              “Figures,” Comments Jake.

              The seat is back far enough for me to stick my feet under the steering wheel. I continue to adjust the seat until I am comfortable and can touch the pedals properly. I adjust the rear view mirror quickly before standing up to wish Jake a good night.

              “All systems go,” I comment. “I cannot believe how long that took.”

              Jake smiles. I smile back milling around unsure of what to do right now.

              “Well, I had a lot of fun tonight.”

              I could not tell if he wanted to kiss me or not. I was pretty sure that I was not ready for him to kiss me. My insides were knotted up in anticipation for whatever came. He leans down and gives me a hug. As he is hugging me he gives me a kiss on the cheek. It wasn’t the New Orleans greeting type and it wasn’t a passionate kiss but one somewhere in between.

              “I have a rule about kissing on the first date.” He states as he continues to give me a hug.

              He pulls away and gives me his greatest Jake smile. I smile back. Quickly I lean forward and give him a kiss on the cheek as well.

              “I think it’s a good rule,” I reply.

              “Most of the time it is,” winks Jake. He turns toward the happy couple. “Hey Dan! You ready to go?”

              The couple, startled by Jake’s voice, separate quickly. They look in our direction. Michelle smiles at us as she begins to walk back with Daniel. I see the blush rising up on her cheeks. She smiles sheepishly at me.

              “Get in the car,” I say with a smile, “good night Daniel.”

              I wave to him as I hop in the car. I turn the key one more time to turn it on. I quickly look over the car before putting it into reverse and backing out of the spot. Michelle waves good bye to the guys as we pull out of the parking lot.

              “So, good double date?” I ask slyly.

              “Good double date.” Replies Michelle.

              She turns up the music and looks out the window. It was not a full on splash but it was a toe in the water for me. I had a great time tonight with a great guy. It was a night of firsts. It was my first date while in college. It was my first double date ever and it was my first time in a sports bar. Not just that, but I got to know someone better. Where our relationship would go, I had no idea. Something inside me though made me lean towards friendship, but still there was a part of me that questioned if something greater could ever come about. I pondered the two options as I drove back to our campus.

              Michelle kept revisiting the double date
time and time again throughout the week. It was a fall back topic when we had nothing else to talk about. She tried to blame her new obsession on me, but I knew it is her uncertainty with Daniel that brings it to the forefront. Just the thought that they tried to set me and Jake up even though the whole time there was some ulterior motive made me smile whenever I think about it. To a degree, it did work. Jake and I have become closer and text all the time. We even had lunch together. It is nice getting to know a new person. What makes it nice is because it is Jake. He is easy to talk to. He is just comfortable. There is no other way to describe it.

              Now here I stand Thursday morning on a volleyball court listening to Michelle obsess about Saturday for what feels like the hundredth time. I roll my eyes as she talks freely even though the game has begun. Secretly I wish we were on opposite teams today.

              “I just don’t know what that kiss meant,” states Michelle as she finally finishes her sentence. It is a sentence set on repeat for the past five days.

              “Michelle,” I begin my lecture then suddenly stop. “No, you know what? Screw him.”

              Michelle’s expression is priceless. For once, I did not care what came out of my mouth as the blood boiled up inside of me. I remove the filter that I had been working so hard to keep in place these last few weeks and let it all out.

              “You have been complaining about this since our double date on Saturday and I am tired of it. I am tired of it because you are a strong, beautiful young woman. So what if Daniel didn’t text more than twice this week. He is stacked up on classes trying to graduate early. So what if you guys had a hot kiss. There are plenty of guys who would jump at the chance to be in Daniel’s position and if he can’t appreciate or make time for what he has in front of him. Then screw him. Kick him to the curb.”

              Resolved in my bold answer, I rotate leaving Michelle on the front row puzzled and pondering. I have tried lulling Michelle hoping she would stop talking about Daniel but that did not work. Tough love it will have to be. Hopefully she gets the point.

              I grab the ball and head back to my spot still fuming from my brief soap box stance on Daniel and Michelle. The little streak of Irish in me had come out and I feel my cheeks turning red as I try to cool down. I yell out the score before hitting the ball sending it over the net. In the brief time it took the ball to travel in the air, I scan our opponents for the day. I look for Ty’s handsome face out of the crowd. It was now a programmed response for me. 

              However, most of the time, when I look for him, he is not staring directly back at me. I meet his eyes as he shoots me an award winning smile making my insides melt. Someone on the other side hits the ball, but I am not paying attention. I am frozen on the spot caught in his gaze as I return his smile.  He nods his head at me then breaks our gaze as he hits the ball up in the air. With his stare no longer holding me in place, I am free to move once more.

              Why does he affect me so? It is a question that has no answer. The only slight answer I can give to it is lust. I am infatuated with this man and it is my first case of hardcore infatuation. Each time I see him, I long for his touch, but it is all physical. I did not know the man that rested inside of him. Not knowing him personally made it easier to keep my hormones in check knowing that he seems immune to me. From what I can tell, I do not affect him the way he affects me. Class after class, I watch him. I disguise it as if I am scanning the crowd or calculating a move against the other team, but it is all for him. It is all so I can see his face. I don’t know what would happen if I found out Ty felt otherwise about me.

              After a long game and very little talk from a pondering Michelle, I grab a drink of water from the fountain. Since the one in the hallway has become the common one to use and is always crowded, Michelle and I ventured away discovering the one in the women’s locker room off the side of the gym. It’s a little further away, but usually by the time we get water and head back, we are quicker than the line at the fountain. We walk together through the double doors.

              “You’re right,” states Michelle breaking the silence. “Screw him.”

              I smile as I sip the cool water. I nod at Michelle then turn and open up the door out of the locker room. Immediately I am drawn to a halt as I am face to face with the one person who makes my heart skip a beat. He smiles. I am so close I can see the little beads of sweat that form on his perfect forehead. My mouth opens allowing more air to fuel my quickening heart. His eyes are locked on me.

              “Oh hi Ty,” states Michelle nudging me as she walks out the door.

              She shoots my one sly smile as she walks away leaving me alone with Ty. Secretly I wish she would have stayed, but at the same time, I want to be alone with him.

              “I heard what you told Michelle on the volleyball court,” states Ty.

              “How?”

              “You were kind of loud,” replies Ty with a smile. “It was actually kind of funny. Yet, it was awesome to see how much you care for her.”

              I feel my heart pounding in my chest. I open my mouth slightly to allow more air to pass into my lungs. Ty keeps his gaze on me. His face is unreadable. My mind races over all the possibilities that could be lurking behind his handsome guise.

              “What are you doing after class?” asks Ty.

              “I have a break until two.”

              “Want to go grab some lunch?”

              The words left his mouth and I had to will my mind to believe I was not dreaming. Emphatically, I nod my head. It is all I could do to keep from grinning like a crazy person. He shoots one more brilliant smile before walking back into the gym. I pause a few seconds before I follow. As soon as I return to class, Michelle is immediately by my side.

              “What did he want?” asks Michelle

              “He wants to go to lunch,” I disbelievingly state the words.

             
After class, Michelle seems
to be back to her normal self. She smiles and laughs as we grab our bags. Once again, we are the last ones to leave. This time though, we have company. Ty waits patiently for us to collect our belongings beside the gym door.

              “Hey, Ty,” greets Michelle as she gives me another nudge.

              “Hey,” replies Ty as he looks at Michelle.

              His eyes lock back on to mine. I feel myself melting all over again.

              “So Kimber,” he begins.

              He spoke my name! My inner self leaps for joy at the sound of my name coming from his lips. I nod my head in response waiting for whatever might come next.

              “Are you ready for lunch?”

              Unexpectedly, Ty grabs my hand as he asks the question. The touch of our skin sends a surge through my body. My mind begins to wonder what it would be like if Ty ever kisses me. My imagining his lips touching mine sets my heart racing. As if he knows, he gives my hand a squeeze sending me back into the reality and the question he asked.

              “Yes, I am,” I reply with a smile. “Do we want to stay on campus?”

              “You have a few hours. We can go somewhere off campus.”

              We walk outside. Michelle shoots me one more sly smile as she waves good bye walking in the direction of the dorms.

              “I am all sweaty,” I comment.

              “So am I,” he replies. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

              A corky half smile pops across his face and all I can do is smile back. I brush the fly away strings of hair from my face as I look away from him. I scan the parking lot wondering what a person like Ty drives. For some reason, I was expecting a sleek sports car. Instead, he walks up to an old bronco with an open back. It is not what I expected, but is actually perfect for Ty.

              “This is your car?” I ask

              “One of them,” replies Ty nonchalantly.

              “You have two cars?” I ask surprised.

              “Yea, I have a few cars.”

              A few cars?! He said it so matter of fact that it catches me off guard. Who has more than one car?! I have one but rarely drive it. Here Ty is rolling around with multiple cars like it is no big thing. As I hop into the high, green bronco with large tires, I wonder what kind of mystery man Ty could be. Sure I could tell he was a few years older than me but how could anyone in their early twenties afford multiple cars without the help of their parents?

              I decide to brush off this thought and just enjoy the time I spend with him. In a way, I am happy I am in an old bronco and not some beautiful sports car. I am so sweaty from playing volleyball and didn’t want to ruin the interior. The engine of the bronco revs to life.

              “Do you mind if I have the windows down? I like to feel the breeze when I drive.”

              “No, not at all,” I reply with a goofy smile.

              Ty grins back as he rolls his window down. It has been a long time since I have been in a car without an electronic window. I grab the knob and begin the circular motion. It went down a few inches before stopping and I can no longer turn it. I give it one hard jerk but it did not budge.

              “That one always gets stuck. I keep meaning to fix it, but I can’t find the piece I need to repair it. It’s one of the down falls of having an older vehicle.”

              With that, he leans over me to help. His arm brushes my thigh as he winds down the window. His touch sends a whole different type of sensation rolling through my body. As if he knew the affect his touch had on me, he carefully moves away so as not to touch me after rolling the window down.

              “So where are we going for lunch?”

              “I have an idea of a place,” replies Ty.

              “As long as it accepts people in sweaty shorts and you get me back in time to take a shower before class, I am ok with that.”

              Ty cocks his head to the side and looks at me bemused. I feel my face flush at my attempt at sarcastic humor.

              “I think I can find a place like that.”

              He puts the Bronco in gear and zooms out of the parking lot. From this high up, every movement seems more extreme. The wind whips around my face sending the strands of my hair not tied in a ponytail in different directions. Whatever little cool air that breezes by on this hot September day catches on my skin and dries the sweat. In that moment, with Ty sitting next to me, I never felt more alive. Every part of my body pulsates with nervous energy. I adjust my posture and look over at Ty. The sun glistens off his russet skin. He is beyond beautiful.

              He turns left past the Greek Church and speeds off. To the left of us is a canal. To the right of us, golf courses. All around are the towering oak trees that I instantly fell in love with when I moved here. The sun is shining and the birds are gliding through a blue sky. It is a perfect hot New Orleans day. We stop at the light in front of New Orleans Museum of Art and I watch the people get on and off the street car.

              “I have yet to ride one of those,” I say to Ty as I point to the street car.

              “We will have to change that someday,” replies Ty.

              I blush. Future plans with Ty held promise that he might return my feelings. I look behind us at the open back and lift my hands up to touch the roof.

              “I have never been in one of these before.”

              “Well, I am glad I can be your first.”

              Ty’s comment sends a whole new wave of rouge over my face and I opt not to talk anymore. He chuckles and shifts the gears of the truck into drive as the light changes. Down the bumpy streets of Carrolton we go quickly passing the street car which had a head start on us. The great oaks that seemed stuck on the sides earlier now stretch their branches across providing a canvas of green leaves. Rays of sun break through them every few steps speckling the road and everything else it touches including mine and Ty’s skin. I stick my hand out the window and watch the speckles race across as I try to catch the wind in my hand. The breeze gently escapes through my fingers. I let out a sigh. Here, lost in this moment, in this crazy beautiful city with a guy I like is where I want to be.

              We drive to almost the end of Carrolton Street. I see a green mound in front of us which I can only assume is a levy of some sort. In New Orleans, you are surrounded by levies. A quick turn to the right sends me scooting across the seat towards Ty. I am stopped from completely going over there by my seatbelt. I let out a little laugh in the surprise excitement as I readjust myself. My adjustments are premature as Ty takes another quick right turn into the parking lot and then immediately whips left into a spot. I smile. I love driving like that.