Creatura (12 page)

Of course David’s movement didn’t go unnoticed by Galen who was watching him like a hawk. Galen’s laugh bellowed over the crowd’s chatter. He lifted his hand to the side of his mouth delivering the occurrence to Bill. Bill glanced over at Jean, whose desperate attempt to appear unaffected was weak. Bill joined Galen in his mirth. Jean pranced over to Eryx brushing aside the boys’ laughter.

I turned my attention away from the table and back to David whose hand I felt on mine.

“Are you still sore with me?” His fingers locked with mine.

“No.” I began to remove my hand from under his. He, being quicker than I, held his clutch.

“Seriously?” He wanted reassurance.

“Seriously.” I gave him a fake smile.

David released my hand with an eased look. He glanced at our food trays and wrinkled his nose.

“Are we being punished for something?” He bantered.

“It’s not that bad,” I tittered.

“Farm animals would not eat this.” David took the apple from the tray and pushed the Salisbury steak aside.

It took courage, but I sliced off a piece of the meat and put it in my mouth. It was disgusting. I gagged. That must’ve been attractive to watch. Hurryingly, I took my napkin and spit out the piece of steak in it.

“I believe I made my point?” David teased, offering me his apple.

“I usually take a salad,” I confessed.

David was late to Government and Economics—the last class of the day. He was seated next to Eryx on the other side of the room from where he glanced at me periodically. He caught me stealing glances of him on several occasions also. He might have been off limits, but, like I said before, I wasn’t blind.

He tore off a piece of the paper on which he was taking notes and wrote something. He then pressed his lips against it and folded the note in half. He handed it to the kid next to him to pass along until I received it.

My name was written on the outer part of the half folded note. I opened the paper making sure the teacher was not watching me. A pair of gold lip imprints slowly disintegrated into a glittery powder sliding onto my desk leaving but a hint of sparkles on the paper. The note read:

“A kiss, such as this,

would look divine on thy lips.”

An overwhelming surge of enthusiasm ran through my body. My ears and cheeks felt warm with the rush of blood that circulated through them. I timidly lowered my head and pressed my lips together trying to suppress a smile. I peeked at David through a strand of my bangs. His mouth rose at the corner in a satisfied, buoyant manner.

I tucked the paper between the pages of my spiral notebook and contemplated the powdered golden shimmer on my desktop. I ran my finger through it in a circular motion, testing the consistency between my thumb and forefinger. Silky.

I was tempted to smell it, but knew David—and probably Eryx—would be accounting for my interaction with the substance. I pressed my wrist on the golden powder when they were preoccupied taking down the day’s homework assignment. I ran my fingers through my bangs and sniffed at my wrist in the process. It smelled like David—woodsy and spicy; appealing to my senses.

Trying to speak over the sound of the last school bell, the teacher reminded us to cast our votes for the nominees of the Miss Spring Pageant.

“Pfft,” I hissed. I wouldn’t be casting a vote for any nominees. I knew well that the active student body would take care of it for me. The two runners-up were already so apparent. It would be Jean Murphy, the famous captain of the cheerleading squad and Sandy Gonzalez, the student body president. Not that I had anything against Sandy. I actually really liked her. I just wasn’t into the whole “miss popularity” contest thing. And Jean, well, I’d rather not comment.

Eryx and David walked on either side of me in the hallway after class. I must have looked even tinier than I already was between those two.

“Might I offer to take you home?” David asked nearing the end of the hall where Galen stood against the wall cross-armed with an expression of indifference on his face.

“I usually take a ride from Andy and Bill,” I said, observing Eryx’s reaction. He seemed unconcerned with David’s request to me.

“Would you consider making an exception?” David posed.

Eryx, attempting to give us some privacy, gave David two firm pats on the back and whisked past us in Galen’s direction.

“I… um…” I shook my head.

“Please?” David insisted.

“Sorry.” I forced myself to look up at him apologetically. “They’re probably waiting for me. I have to go.”

David paused and took me by the arm, prompting me to stop. When Galen saw this, he took a few steps in our direction, but Eryx intercepted Galen’s motion by placing a hand on his shoulder. David and I watched as the twins walked through the busy hallway and past the school office toward the exit. Galen looked over his shoulder, giving David a look of disapproval.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I paused, “you can let go now.”

David set my arm free. “I see no harm in driving you home.”

“Don’t take it so personally. I’m just used to riding with my friends. That’s all.”

“As you are used to walking to school? And yet you accepted the drive this morning.” He surprised me with his rebuttal.

Well, that excuse wasn’t going to work on him, was it? It would all be so much easier if he were a normal guy. Then, I wouldn’t have to act like this and pretend I was heartless. This wasn’t me.

He looked down at me, waiting for a response. I sighed and turned my eyes in the direction of the front office, in hopes that Andy would be there, waiting for me. No such luck.

However, I did see Jean eyeing David and waiting impatiently for him to walk by. She was so obvious. I reconsidered his offer as I watched her, thinking that a ride home wasn’t that big of a deal.

“Isis?” David’s fingertips turned my chin to view him.

“Okay,” I voiced impulsively. “I’ll ride home with you…
for
today
.” I specified holding up my index finger.

David smiled.

We commenced our walk through the crowd and neared the area where Jean was socializing with some other kids. As Jean was about to approach David, I felt his arm wrap around my waist. Jean scowled at me and enunciated something under her breath. I sneered back at her.

I took David’s hand and removed it from my waist. He showed no sign of opposition.

“We’re not on those terms,” I pointed out. “I’d appreciate it if you kept your distance.”

“Would you argue my petition should I ask you to ride with me everyday?” He insistently held the previous subject.

“Yes,” I said flatly.

“Why?” He sounded upset.

“Because.”

“That’s an ambiguous answer. You really should refrain from being childish and immature. The two aren’t suitable companions for you.”

I hated being called that. Dramatic, maybe. I stopped at the doorway, my brows pulling down toward my nose.

“Enjoy your ride home alone,” I huffed, pushing the glass door open with full force. I peddled toward the parking lot with David calling my name behind me. He caught up to me rather quickly and blocked my way.

“What is it? What did I say?” He was unaware of my pet peeve.

“I am NOT childish.” My nose flared. I could feel my face boiling in anger.

“It will never happen again,” David apologized. “Please reconsider your words.”

Trying to settle my agitated state, I saw Bill, Galen, Andy, and Eryx huddled at the hood of David’s car. I started walking, but David just stood there.

“Well c’mon,” I said to David, with a bit of an attitude. “I’ve gotta go tell them I’m riding home with you today.”

“Yes, General.” He lifted his hand and saluted me.

I then realized how rude and overbearing I had sounded. I didn’t want that impression of me stuck in his head. I quickly tried to push away that girl and bring in the nice Isis—the one I liked.

“Stop trying to make me laugh. I’m mad at you.” I tried not to grin as we crossed the parking lot and met the new group.

“My brothah!” Bill smacked a high five at David. “Suhweet ride.”

“Yes. She’s a monster.” David said proudly running his finger along side of the car. “Drives like silk.”

“And where is that car you’ve been raving about?” Eryx asked Bill.

“Oh no,” Andy rolled her eyes. “Please don’t get him started.”

Bill pointed to his red ’67 Mustang. “Right there.” He walked with a spring in his step. We followed.

“Refurbished engine. New paint. Original interior. Original wheels.” His hand motioned to each individual asset as he listed them. “Roars like a lion, rides like a stallion.” Bill opened the car door letting Galen in to inspect it.

“I am
impressed
.” Galen admired the car’s interior. “She’s in mint condition.” He stepped out of the Mustang. “You’ve good taste.”

“Exceptionally,” Eryx added with his arms crossed.

“I hope that doesn’t apply only to cars.” Andy wrapped herself around Bill.

“We don’t doubt that.” I nudged Andy. “Do we?” I asked the brothers. No one answered. I could almost hear crickets in the background. “
Hello
?” I emphasized.

“With due respect,” Eryx looked at Bill, “your taste in girls is better than your taste in cars.”

“Thanks, man.” Bill pulled Andy closer to him, grinning at Eryx’s compliment. “She’s a real doll.”

While the boys were busy building up their egos, glorifying each other’s cars, I told Andy I’d be taking a ride home with David today. She gave me a huge smile and said, “Not your type, eh?”

“Hmph,” I grumbled and rolled my eyes.

Later, after much ado over the twins’ Land Rover, everyone said their good-byes for the day and stepped into their respective vehicles. I waved to Andy and Bill as David pulled out of the parking lot and joined the line of cars waiting to exit the school. Cars honking and stereos screaming was a usual custom for kids on their way out of the school grounds.

We were both quiet on the way to my house. David dabbled with the stereo while I looked out the window watching the kids walking home in the belligerent sun.

I admired the sky as we waited in line; it was clean. Not one cloud was visible in that heavenly blue canvas today.

This was a hotter spring than usual for south Texas weather. I could just imagine the temperatures during summer. It would surely go over the one hundred degree mark on the thermometer. It would be blistering hot. On the positive side, great beach weather.

“Have you given thought to what I asked?” David said, turning the corner on my street.

“Given thought to what?” I couldn’t recall the question.

He grimaced. “Will you allow me to drive you to and fro preparatory?”

“Oh, that.” My head twisted toward my house as we drove past it. “Hey, um, that was my house we just passed?” I pointed back to it.

“Yes, I realize that, but you still haven’t answered my question.” He pursed his lips.

“Why are you being so persistent? Am I not making myself clear enough?”

“I’m certainly not as tenacious as you, my love.”

“Oh, I beg to differ,” I argued.

“I beg you differ not.” He tapped my nose with his finger.

I swatted his hand out of my face. “Are you always this incorrigible?”

“Yes,” He snidely smirked. He turned the block and drove down another street. “Well?” He insisted on an answer.

I was reluctant to answer—not because I didn’t want him driving me to and from school. The idea of seeing him every morning at my doorstep made my stomach flutter. It was the idea of not seeing him at all, if things turned against him that I was afraid of.

I didn’t want to tell him that every time I saw him I felt a rush and that’s why I couldn’t accept a ride from him. Those words might only provoke him to pursue me more intensely. And I couldn’t tell him about the conversation I had with Nyx regarding his interest in me. That was something between Nyx and me. Yet, I had to find a way to convince him that his feelings were irrational and something he would just have to suppress.

I wanted to tell him that I too was vulnerable. I was a mere human with weaknesses and flaws, but not ignorant of the consequences that these mortal imperfections could in which result. Why couldn’t he understand?

David drove the car to the front of a vacant lot where he parked.

“Listen,” I began. “I can’t…” I stopped to think about my words, unsure of how to begin. “I won’t let you be led on by…”

“Isis, stop.” He raised his hand. “Spare me a sermon. I have my mother and brothers for that. I am not an imbecile. I know what I am doing and I only ask that you give me the benefit of the doubt.”

“David…” I sighed and twisted my head from side to side. “Your mother anticipated something like this would happen with you. She was very concerned.”