Cruiser (19 page)

Cruiser

My heart is dancing.

I’ve got a date with Lex Woods.

Don’t know why it makes me all giddy. Maybe because we’re doing things the right way this time. Giving each other a real chance. I want her in so many ways, but mostly in an emotional way. To be able to tell her everything, share everything. Just like we did years ago. To give to her and expect nothing in return. Because she’s my girl and I love her. So much it makes my limbs ache.

That’s what I want.

I head back down to the basement and inspect the place. I think I got rid of all Rey’s boxes. My cell phone rings when I’m climbing the steps. I smile. “Rey, how’s it going?”

He
chuckles from across the country. “Hey, Cruise. Didn’t catch you at a bad time, did I?”

“Nah, got about half an hour ‘til my date.”

“Ah, your date with Lex. Excited?”

Sure as hell am. “Yeah…you’re okay with this, right?”

“Everyone keeps asking me this. Yes, Cruise, I’m okay with it. I told you already—I think you and Lex are perfect for each other. You guys deserve to be happy.”

Hell. That brings tears to my eyes. I rub them away. “Thanks. It means a lot to me, bro.”

“No problem.” I feel his smile through my phone.

“How’s L.A.?” I ask.

He goes off telling me everything. The sights, the school. Says he loves his class schedule. Along with the music classes, he’s going to take business and poli-sci courses. He’s even made a few friends at orientation. Gets along with his roommate. Even caught the eyes of a few girls.

He sounds great. Too great. I thought he’d be a little miserable there, at least for the first few days. ‘Course I want him to be happy. All I want is for him to be happy. Guess I thought he’d miss me. Because I sure as hell miss him. It’s like a big part of me has been severed. Like an arm or a leg, maybe a vital organ. Yeah, how sappy does that sound? But it’s the truth. I wonder if Rey feels the same. Wonder if… if he’ll realize that he doesn’t need me anymore.

It’s different from when I left to New York. Sure I missed him like hell, but I was dealing with so much shit. Guess it’s harder for the guy who’s left behind. Just like it was harder for Rey when I left.

“I’m glad you’re happy,” I tell him.

“Thanks. You want to talk to Mom?”

I’m about to say no. Not interested in talking to her.
Then I change my mind. “You know, yeah. I’ll talk to Mom.”

I exchange a few words with
her. It’s different talking to her when she’s across the country. Not as threatening. I guess…I guess I kind of miss her, too.

I hang up and head to the living room. Dad’s on the couch, reading the paper. I watch him for a few seconds. T
hen I take a step inside and sit down near him.

He glances up. Raises an eyebrow. Yeah, I don’t normally do this. But things are different now. Rey’s moved on. Lives over two thousand miles away. He’s making something out of his life. I’m moving on with Lex. Patching up our relationship. Still
got one more thing to fix.

“I’ve been thinking,” I say.

Dad continues to stare at me. I’m losing my balls. Want to bolt. I press myself onto the couch. I won’t bolt.

“I know Mom doesn’t approve,” I say. “And I know I haven’t been responsible. My grades suck. But I really want to join the Navy. I don’t see myself doing anything else.”

Dad sighs and closes the paper. I know what he’s going to say. I know I won’t like it. Wish he would say yes. Because that would prevent future arguments. I don’t need their permission. Don’t need them to tell me what to do. I just want their support.

“
Elvis—”

“And that’s another thing. My name is Cruiser. I’d like for you and Mom to call me that.”

Dad rubs the back of his head. “I never disapproved of you joining the Navy, Cruiser.”

I stare at him. That’s news to me. I mean, yeah he always takes the back seat and let’s Mom make the decisions. But I didn’t know he actually approved.

“It’s your mother. She loves you, Cruiser. She wants what’s best for you.”

I shift in my seat. Not used to getting all mushy with my dad. I’m ready to bolt, but stand my ground. “What’s best for me is what I want to do. I get that she felt like she missed out growing up because Gramps was never around. But this is what I want to do.”

He studies me. “And when you have a family?”

I swallow. Never
imagined I’d ever have a family. Lex flashes before my eyes. Images of me running off to sea, leaving her behind. The tears in her eyes. Her desperate clutch as she hugs me goodbye. Never seeing her for months at a time.

Dad lays a hesitant
hand on my arm. “Maybe you’re running away,” he says. “Trying to escape.”

I stare at the blank TV. Think back to all those times I felt unwanted by my parents. How I wanted to run.

I look at Dad. Maybe he’s right.

He squeezes my arm. “We don’t have to make any decisions now. Focus on your grades and think things over. Come talk to me or your mother. I know our relationship hasn’t been that great. But we’re here for you and we want to help you.” He lowers his hand. “I don’t disapprove of you joining the Navy. But I do think you may be happier doing something else.”

Since I was a kid, all I’ve wanted was for them to accept me. They never did. But maybe things are changing now. With Rey gone, maybe they’ll get to know me. See me for who I am. And maybe I’ll get to know them, too.

I nod. “Sounds like a plan.” I get to my feet and head for the stairs.

“Elvis? Cruiser.”

I turn around.

“You’re a good kid.”

I nod and continue to my room.

The backpack is laid on my dresser. I filled it with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit, Skittles, other snacks, and drinks. I know PB and J is hella lame, but I’m going for a nostalgic vibe. Reminding Lex of all those times we ate them as kids. Together.

I grab the bag and make my way down the steps. “Going out,” I tell Dad.

He looks up from his paper. “Have fun on your date, Cruiser.”

Didn’t know he cared enough to know. Actually, there’s a lot I didn’t know. A lot I should know.

“Thanks.”

Lex is outside when I walk out. Dressed in dark pants and a
pink shirt. Looks sexy as hell. I want to push her against the wall of my house. Smash my lips on hers. I want to hold her in my arms and cuddle and listen to her talk. To tell me what’s in her heart.

“Hi,” she says, coming toward me.

I lose my voice for a second. “Hi.”

She
looks at the backpack. “What’s in there?” Her eyes shine with excitement and curiosity.

“Surprise.”

She smiles. “I can’t wait.”

I take a step toward her. Wrap my arm around her waist. Pull her close and press my lips
to her temple. “This is going to be a special day for us,” I whisper. Then kiss her cheek. Make my way down to her throat. She shivers.

With my arm still around her, I lead her to my bike. “I don’t know of any other guy who would take a girl out on a first date on his bike,” she says.

My heart pauses. Eyes search hers.

She smiles and kisses my cheek. “You’re not any other guy. That’s why I love you.”

Love.

She said it out loud.

My arm tightens around her waist. I rest my forehead against hers. “I love you, too.”

Her fingers sweep through my hair. “I know. I’ve known it for a very long
time.” She raises her eyes to mine. “I’m so sorry.”

I put my finger on her lips. “We’re not talking about the past. Just moving forward.
Starting fresh.”

She smiles again. It’s the most amazing sight ever. I want to spend every second of every day making her smile.

I hold out the backpack. “You mind wearing it? Don’t think it’s heavy.”

“Sure.” She slips
her arms through it.

I climb onto my bike. Reach for he
r hand. She settles behind me. I feel her body against mine. I swallow.

“I’m going to be braver this time,” she says, then leans forward. Lifts the hair off the back of my neck. Lowers her lips. I almost fall off my bike.

“You know how to turn on a guy,” I whisper.

Her arms come around me. “You know how to melt a girl’s heart.”

I place my hands on top of hers. “Just wait ‘til we start the date. Your heart will be steaming.”

She laughs.
“I can’t wait.”

After handing her a helmet and putting on mine, I kick into gear and zoom off. She squeezes me as we ride. Squeals when I
speed up. We yell to each other over the wind and engine. Point out sights. When we make it to the beach, I’m almost sad. Felt like that was a date in itself.

I help her down
. We slide off our helmets and I take the bag. I don’t let go of her hand. We stroll into the beach. I pull a blanket out of the bag and lay it on the sand.

“A picnic?” Lex asks.

“You told me when we were fourteen,” I tell her, laying the food and drinks on the blanket. “That your perfect first date would be a picnic on the beach.”

Her eyes meet mine. “I don’t remember telling you that.”

“You did.” I sit down and pull her onto my lap. Whisper into her ear, “I promised myself I would do that for you one day.”

She twists around to look at me. “You’re amazing, Cruiser.” She threads her fingers through
mine. “I love you so much.”

I push her closer to my chest. I don’t want to let go of this girl. Never again.
“I have something for you.”

She raises her eyebrows in surprise. I reach for the bag. Dig out a jewelry box.

Lex gasps. “You didn’t.”

“Open it,” I say softly.

She does. Pulls out a necklace with a pendant of intertwined hearts. The letters “C + L” are engraved on the back. “Oh, Cruiser.” Her eyes fill with tears.

I take it from her and fasten it around her neck.
Lower my lips to hers. “I will love you for the rest of my life.”

That’s one hell of a fire.

X-Ray parks the jeep on the side of the road and the three of us pile out. The heat latches onto my skin. Smothers me. Maybe this
isn’t such a great idea.

“We doing this?” Stretch asks, scratching his eye mask
.

I stare up at the apartment building. They’re alive, the flames. I’ve seen infernos on TV, but standing fifty feet away from one is something totally different. Saliva gathers at the roof of my mouth, under my tongue, between my teeth. But I don’t swallow, because I’m not afraid. I came here for one purpose and one purpose only: tonight, I’m going to be a hero.
Yeah, I’m fourteen and saying that makes me sound like a little kid. But I can dream.

“Let’s go,” I say.

The guys follow me as I edge closer to the last place any sane person would think of nearing. They huff behind me. Some firemen stand around, others hose the place down, a few are on a ladder. A group runs inside. Bystanders are around, too, as well as the cops and news reporters. Lights flash from the trucks and police cars.

I nod
to X-Ray. “Anyone inside?”

He
steps forward and squints his eyes. They get as black as his uniform. Looks freaky, like he’s possessed. He raises a hand to the top floor. “A girl and a baby. Trapped in the bathroom. Firemen can’t find them.”

“Is there a window?” I ask.

“Backside.”

We’re not supposed to be here. If word
gets out, we’ll be in a crapload of trouble. But the guys and I are sick of sitting on the sidelines. Tonight we’re doing what we were born to do.

“Hang on,” Stretch says. He raises his arms over his head, stretching them
along with his torso up the back wall while his lower body stays on the ground. X and I climb him like a ladder.

“Hey, you kids!” a fireman yells. But we
’ve already reached the top of the wall, so it’s not like anyone can stop us now.

Phase one, complete. Now on to phase two.

I cough as smoke enters my lungs. Stretch slides over to the bathroom window, with X and me hanging onto his shoulders.

“Hurry up,” he says.

The heat makes me sweat in my uniform. Ashes cover us. It might be a problem having to explain the conditions of our uniforms to the League’s housekeeper, but forget about that now. I’ve got to focus on the civilians trapped inside. The baby’s screeching and the girl’s yelling for help.

I’ve got to do this, save them. Be a hero.

Sticking my fingers under the window’s ledge, I heave it open. The girl is crouched in the tub with the baby on her chest, and the shower curtain is wrapped around them. There’s hardly any air in here.

I jump down and am about to push out my chest
and announce, “Kale Zenith is here to rescue you!” But I stop. Now’s not the time to show off.

I
take the girl in my arms and she clutches tightly onto the baby. Her eyes are big and terrified, but I’ve never seen anyone so thankful. Like I’m her guardian angel or something. I hand them over to Stretch, who makes a blanket out of his body and tucks them close. X reaches for my hand to help me up, but just as I’m about to haul myself out the window, the flames blast the bathroom door open with so much force that I’m knocked off my feet.

My back crashes against the tub. Dammit! That hurt. My head rings like a million bells
are vibrating against my skull. I can’t move anything. Are my bones broken? Crap. This wasn’t part of the plan.

“Get him out!” Stretch yells.

Too late. I’m burning all over. My arms, my legs. My face. I’m smoldering like the coals from last night’s barbecue.

At least I did one thing right tonight. I was a hero.

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