Arousing Love, a teen novel (9 page)

“Uh, actually I wanted to ask you
something.”

“What’s that, Zach?” He gave me his full
attention, which made me nervous.

“Do you think I could take Joanna out to a
movie sometime
. . .
like, maybe
tonight?”

He raised his eyebrows. “You mean on a date?”
He glanced at his wife, who was obviously listening in. “Zach,
she’s not allowed to date—”

“Yeah, I know. I just thought, since you’re
loosening the rules a little, you might let us go on one date.”

He gave a quick laugh. “I admire your
boldness, Zach, and I’d like to say yes, but I’m not about to
abandon our rules. They’re there for a reason.”

“Maybe we should let them.” Joanna’s mother
surprised us both. Her parents stared at each other for a moment,
as if silently communicating with their eyes, then they went off
some distance from me and talked quietly. I heard her mother say
something about young love and not wanting to look like they were
coming between us. Joanna’s father came back and stood there
looking me over as if trying to make up his mind about me.

“Can I trust you, Zach?”

“Yeah.”

He sighed. “Alright, we’ll let you take her
out on one date, but I want her back here as soon as the movie’s
finished.”

Wow.
“Okay.” I nodded, almost in shock
that he’d said yes.

“And no fast driving, or going anywhere
dangerous.” Joanna’s mother added.

“I won’t.”

“What movie will you take her to?” She was
starting to sound anxious now.

“I donno, I’ll let Joanna decide.”

Joanna came out of her tent wearing a short,
little dress.

“What?” She looked at us all staring at
her.

“Nothing.” I smiled. I wanted to keep our
date a surprise.

After lunch, Joanna and I went down to the
beach. The ocean looked beautiful, with big sets of waves coming
in. We climbed a sand dune, and sat and watched the surfers. Wisps
of Joanna’s golden hair spiraled and fluttered around her in the
breeze.

“I’m so lucky I have such a beautiful
girlfriend.”

She smiled. “Am I your girlfriend?”

“Yeah?”

She giggled happily. “I’ve never had a real
boyfriend before.” She looked off into the distance, her smile
fading. “I want us to have a future, though, Zach. I’m leaving in a
few days and I’m scared we’ll never see each other again.”

“I thought you were here for two weeks?”

“It’s already been a week. We’re going home
on Saturday.”

I felt a fist tighten around me. I didn’t
want her to go. I didn’t want to lose her.

Joanna must have sensed what I was feeling.
She leaned over and kissed me, gently at first, then with growing
passion, pressing me back against the sand until she was on top of
me, her legs straddling me, and I could feel her inner thighs
pressing up against me. My hands slipped under her dress, and she
sat up.

“We shouldn’t be doing this.” She climbed off
me. “We have to honor my parent’s trust in us. They gave us time to
be alone together, but not to do this.”

I just looked at her. I knew she was right,
but I loved doing this with her.

“I’m sorry, Zach, I know it’s hard, but we
need to do what’s right.”

I sighed. “Yeah, but it’s literally hard for
me.”

She smiled sympathetically. “Poor Zach. I
wish I could do something for you.”

“Poor me.” I pouted.

She lay down beside me, resting her head on
my chest, and I put my arm around her, closing my eyes to the sun’s
glare. It was peaceful lying there, with only the sounds of the
surf and the occasional cry of a seagull. I felt contented with her
in my arms. I didn’t want to think about anything else, especially
her leaving.

“I wish we could stay like this forever.” I
whispered.

“Mmm, cuddling up like this in your bed all
night.”

“Yeah.”

“Naked.” She giggled.

“Yeah.” I laughed.

She sighed. “We shouldn’t talk like this. It
just makes it harder, I mean more difficult.”

“I have a surprise for you.” I changed the
subject.

“What is it?”

“I asked your parents, and they said I could
take you out on a date tonight.”

Joanna sat up. “Are you serious? My parents
wouldn’t let me go on a date?”

“Your mom doesn’t wanna keep us apart. She
knows you’re in love.”

“How does she know that?” Joanna blushed.

I laughed. “I guess she can tell
somehow.”

“I can’t believe this. I’m going on my first
date.” She stared vacantly at the horizon. “Wow, my parents must
think it’s okay for us to be in love.” She looked at me, her eyes
wide with excitement. “So where are we going? What are we
doing?”

“I was thinking dinner and a movie.”

Joanna looked so excited and happy and amazed
all at once.

“I should go get ready.”

I laughed. “It’s not even two o’clock
yet.”

“I can’t wait!” She laughed. “My parents must
really like you, Zach.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s weird.”

She jumped up. “I’m too excited to just sit
here. Come on, let’s do something.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know.” She looked around, then
suddenly cart-wheeled down the sand dune, grinning back at me from
the bottom. I laughed, and somersaulted down the sand to land at
her feet.

She laughed at me. “Try doing this.”

She did another cartwheel with perfect
technique, flashing me her underwear in the process.

“You’re good at those.”

She did a handstand, and I caught her legs as
she balanced on her hands, her dress falling down around her. She
squealed as I kept hold of her.

“Zach
. . .
Stop looking
. . .
at my panties!”
She giggled, and I let go. She fell back on the sand, her face
flushed, giggling up at me. I smiled down at my crazy, beautiful
girl, and I felt so full of love for her. I offered her my hand and
she pulled herself up, then danced away down the beach. I chased
her and she squealed as I caught her around the middle and spun her
into my arms, drawing her giggling mouth to mine. We kissed,
completely wrapped up in each other, too in love to care about
anyone seeing us.

We held hands and strolled along the beach,
Joanna playfully bumping her hip against mine, giggling and saying
silly little things to make me laugh. It felt so good to be with
her, like everything in the world was perfect.

We saw her friends on the beach, and Lizzie
waved to us.

Joanna waved back. “Should we go talk to
them?”

“If you want.”

As we approached them, the guys started
calling out—

“Here’s the famous rock star.”

“Hey Joanna, can I have your autograph?”

Lizzie stood up. “We saw you last night, you
were amazing.”

“Thanks.” Joanna beamed.

“You were great up there too, Zach. You
really looked like you knew how to play that thing.” Matt
laughed.

“Yeah, thanks.” I grinned.

Lizzie took Joanna by the arm, and the two
girls wandered a little way from the group, talking quietly.

I sat down with Matt and his friends.

“Seriously, that was pretty cool what you did
for Joanna.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“Uh, yeah.” They all laughed.

Joanna and Lizzie joined us, and we sat
around talking and laughing like yesterday never happened.

“We’re having a fire on the beach tonight, if
you wanna come. You could bring your guitar and sing for us if you
want.” Matt raised his eyebrows at Joanna.

“Oh, I can’t, Zach’s taking me on a date
tonight.”

“Ooo, sounds serious.” Matt laughed.

“It is.” Joanna blushed and smiled a shy,
happy smile.

“You’ll have to tell me all about it
afterwards, okay?” Lizzie gave Joanna a wink.

We eventually said our goodbyes and walked
back along the beach.

“What were you and Lizzie talking about
before?”

“Oh, she told me my song really touched her
last night, and we were both sorry about yesterday. I told her I
didn’t judge her or her friend, I said none of us is perfect, but
God’s love is bigger than anything, and he forgives everyone who
comes to him for forgiveness. I am so glad I sang that song and not
something else like I wanted to. It’s all ‘cause of you.” She
wrapped her arm around mine and leaned her head against my
shoulder. “You’re such a great guy.”

When we got to the end of the beach, she
released my arm.

“I’m gonna go get ready for our date.”

“It takes you this long to get ready?”

“I have to take a shower, do my hair, choose
a dress to wear
. . .
you’re lucky
I don’t have all my clothes with me.” She giggled. “I wanna look my
best for you.”

I smiled. “Okay, well I’ll pick you up around
six.”

She gave me a beautiful smile. “I can’t
wait.”

I didn’t think Joanna would appreciate going
on her first date on the back of my motorcycle, so I asked my mom
if I could borrow her car. She was reluctant at first when I told
her what I needed it for, but after I explained I had her parents’
permission, she handed over the keys.

I went back to the shack, took a quick shower
to wash off the sand, and changed into my best casual clothes. I
checked myself in the mirror.
Looking pretty good there Zach, if
I do say so myself
.

I still had some time to kill before I had to
pick her up, so I got on the computer and started looking up art
schools in Colorado. If I could get into college there it would
solve everything, and we could still be together.

At six o’clock, I drove to her campsite.

“Hi Zach.” Her mom greeted me with a warm
smile. “Joanna’s still getting ready but she won’t be long. She’s
very excited.”

Joanna’s father was sitting at the table, and
gave me a little wave without getting up.

I heard the sound of her tent zipper, and
turned to see Joanna coming out, her hair tied up in a pretty way
revealing her slender neck. She had bare shoulders and a low cut
dress that showed her cleavage, the long dress hung sleek against
her body. She looked so elegant and sexy.

“Wow, you look amazing.”
She’s treating
this like the prom or something.

“You look good too.” She smiled.

“Let me get a photo of the two of you.” Her
mom waved a camera at us. “Move a little closer, Zach
. . .
put your arm around her.”

She took some photos, and I turned to Joanna,
her eyes bright with excitement.

“Shall we?” I took her by the hand and opened
the car door for her.

“Zach, remember, straight home after the
movie.” Her father called after us.

“Yes sir.”

Her mom had tears in her eyes as we drove
away.

“Your mom gets pretty emotional.”

“Yeah I know. I guess it’s hard for her
seeing me grow up so fast.”

I kept glancing at Joanna as I drove. “You
look so beautiful. I didn’t expect you to get this dressed up with
your hair and everything.”

“You like it?”

“Yeah!”

She smiled. “My mom helped with my hair.
She’s such a romantic, she was almost as excited as I was.”

“She didn’t mind you wearing that dress for
our date?”

“No, why?”

“It’s very sexy.”

She looked down at herself. “You think it’s
too sexy?”

“It’s sexy in an elegant way.”

“Well that’s alright then.” She giggled.
“Where are we going for dinner?”

“There’s a great, little Italian restaurant
in town. It’s got a nice ambiance.”

“Ambiance? Really?”

I laughed. “It means atmosphere.”

“I know that.” She laughed. “It’s just that
I’ve noticed you have a good vocabulary, but you don’t always use
it.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“I think you’re very smart, Zach, and I
really like that about you.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I like not conforming to
the typical surfer stereotype. You’re not exactly the stereotype
pretty blonde, either. You’re smarter than all the other girls I’ve
known, even though you’re still only fifteen. I love that about
you.”

She smiled. “Have you known a lot of other
girls?”

“Uh, yeah, I guess.”

“Have you dated much?”

“A few times, nothing serious.” I stopped
myself from adding ‘like this’
.

We turned into the parking lot and parked in
front of the restaurant. I went around and opened the passenger
door for Joanna.

“Such a gentleman.” She beamed, putting her
arm in mine, and we walked into the restaurant.

Everyone seemed to notice Joanna as we
crossed the room to be seated. We ordered some drinks, and Joanna
took a look around our dimly lit surroundings.

“This is nice. It’s very romantic.”

She looked beautiful in the soft candle
light. She looked across the table at me with large eyes, holding
my gaze for a few seconds before glancing away.

“You’re not nervous are you?”

“A little.” She smiled sheepishly.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. It feels different being on a
date with you. It’s more romantic and special.”

“I’m the one who should feel nervous. You
look stunning.”

She smiled shyly, taking little glances at me
while she studied her menu.

When the waiter came back, I ordered the
stromboli, and she ordered the grilled chicken spinach salad.

“You eat healthily.” I smiled.

“Yeah, I even exercise sometimes too.” She
giggled.

“Do you do any sports?”

“Um, I do ballet, if that’s a sport?”

“I guess it is.”

“I think it’s more of an art, but it’s still
athletic.”

“Yeah.”

She took a sip of her drink. “I can’t believe
I’m actually on a date with you. My parents have changed their
whole attitude, and now my mom’s even helping me get ready for a
date with you. It’s unbelievable.”