Eden (3 page)

4

It was about three o’clock in the afternoon when I finally reached my house. I had plenty of time to get ready for my ‘date’ with Eden. I was a little excited at the prospect of having a girl in my room for the first time. I placed my newly purchased jar candle on the nightstand. Grabbing a match from the kitchen, I preceded to light the candle. I didn’t want Eden thinking that I bought the candle to try to seduce her or something, so I wanted to make it look used.

Leaving the candle lit, I jumped into the shower taking extra care to scrub myself squeaky clean. Maybe I was going a little over the top, but give me a break, this was my first date.

After exiting the shower and toweling myself dry, I put on some deodorant and a squirt or two of Polo Sport. I hardly ever used cologne, so that fact alone proved how nervous I really was. I planned on brushing my teeth just before Eden was scheduled to arrive, that way my breath would be at its freshest. I was hopeless.

The house was still empty; my mother wasn’t due home until just after five, so I padded across the hall to my bedroom, with no problem. Safe in my room, I opened my closet to pick out something nice to wear. It would be a little chilly tonight, so I picked out a nice green sweater and a pair of jeans, a pair with no holes. I was dressing to impress.

I was planning on waylaying my mother when she got home. She seemed to like Eden, so maybe she wouldn’t mind lending me the twenty-five dollars it would cost to take her out for dinner. I would really like to bring her over to the Pasta Garden, a really good Italian restaurant nearby Benny’s. The best thing about it was that it was more formal than Benny’s, and the employees didn’t really know me since my friends and I didn’t frequent the place.

All of these plans were running through my mind as I was getting dressed. When I was finished, I looked at myself in the mirror. I had to admit that I was looking good. I only hoped that Eden felt the same.

Looking at the clock, I could see that it was almost five. I hoped that my mother wasn’t stuck late at work; it would be a disaster if she didn’t get home in time. I didn’t want Eden to see me begging my mom for money.

My luck held and at ten minutes after the hour, my mother came strolling through the door. I, immediately, pounced upon her like a bobcat.

“Hi, Mom,” I greeted her, getting pleasantries out of the way, “Can I borrow twenty-five dollars?”

“What?” my mom asked as if she was hearing things, “why is it you always use the term ‘borrow’ when you never pay me back?”

“Come on, Mom,” I pleaded, “Eden is coming over tonight and I wanted to have some money just in case we wanted to get something to eat.”

“Why don’t you have her over here for dinner?” she suggested.

“Mom,” I complained, “It’s our first date. What you are talking about is third or fourth date stuff.”

That seemed to work. A smile crossed her face.

“If it’s to take Eden out on your first date,” she said, withdrawing her wallet from her handbag. She withdrew three bills, “Here’s forty, I am not sure if twenty-five will be enough for the both of you.”

I was shocked, never had my mother been so generous with money before. As she handed me the money, I swear I could detect tears in her eyes.

“My little boy is growing up,” she said wistfully to no one in particular, wiping her eyes dry.

“Mom, it’s no big deal,” I lied; it was a very big deal.

“But she’s so beautiful,” my mother pointed out and then suddenly turned serious, “Make sure you use protection.”

I could feel a red heat spread across my face, looking down I said, “We are not having this conversation.”

“Well, your father won’t get home until after you have already left. Take another ten and stop off at the drug store…,” she babbled.

“Mom!” I practically screamed. I was horrified that my mother was even considering that anything like that could happen.

Our conversation was interrupted by a soft knocking on the front door. I gave my mother a dirty look, handing the extra ten dollars back to her, and went to answer the door.

It was Eden. Every time I saw her, Eden always took my breath away and this time was no exception. She looked absolutely beautiful. I could hardly believe that this lovely girl wanted to be seen in public with a guy like me.

“Eden, you look beautiful,” my mother said, echoing my thoughts.

“Thank you, Mrs. Atwell,” Eden replied shyly, looking down at her feet.

“Come on in,” I told Eden, holding the door open for her, “We can go up to my room for a little bit, if you want.”

“Sure, that’s fine,” she replied shyly.

I escorted Eden up the stairs and down the hall to my bedroom.

“Here we are,” I said with a little flair as she entered my room.

I had tried my best to straighten up. I couldn’t remember the last time my bedroom had been so tidy. Thanks to the candle, my room was filled with the pleasant aroma of green tea and wood. The candle succeeded in adding a romantic feel to my room.

“School starts tomorrow,” I told her, “Are you going to East Harbor High?”

“Yes, I am,” she said, “My homeroom is 11-B.”

“Mine is too,” I exclaimed happily.

I couldn’t believe my luck. For weeks I had agonized over the fact that the rest of my friends were all in a different homeroom and I would be all alone this year; now I would be all alone with Eden. School had just gotten better.

“I really like that candle,” Eden complimented, “It smells really nice.”

              “Oh, thanks,” I commented nonchalantly, as if I always burned candles in my room and at this point, barely noticed it.

“I’m really glad that we are in the same class,” Eden said shyly, looking down at the floor. “I was afraid that I wouldn’t know anybody.”

I had been worried for much the same reason because none of the students in my new class were friends of mine, but with Eden’s words a flush of courage surged through my body. She was glad that we were in the same class. This was too good to be true.

“Are you hungry?” I asked her, “We could go out for dinner.”

“Sure,” she happily agreed, “do you know of a good place to eat?”

“If you like Italian food, we can go to the Pasta Garden,” I offered, hoping that it would be alright with her.

The only other options were Benny’s and Pizza Heaven, both places where I would be recognized and teased by the employees if I dared enter with Eden.

“Italian food sounds great,” Eden agreed, flashing a beautiful smile at me.

I know that I keep telling you about how beautiful and lovely Eden’s smiles are, but each time I was graced with one, it always affected me in the same way. I wondered if we wind up spending many years together, if I would ever become immune to its effect.

“Well then, let’s go,” I said, holding the door open for her.

“Shouldn’t you blow out the candle first?” she asked almost giggling.

“Oh, of course,” I said stupidly, walking over to the nightstand and blowing out the candle. My cover had been blown.

After leaving my room, I escorted Eden downstairs. My mother was sitting in the living room and glanced over as we headed for the front door.

“Are you kids going out?” she asked.

“We’re going to get something to eat,” I called to her as I opened the front door.

“Don’t keep him out too late, dear, he’s still a respectable boy,” my mother joked, looking over at Eden.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Eden promised, taking my hand. I was in shock. That now familiar fire ran up my arm, straight to my heart.

“Have a good time,” my mother called after us from the door way as we made our way down the front walk to the street.

We both turned and waved good-bye to her, before continuing down the street.

We strolled down the street, hand in hand. Never had I imagined how wonderful it could feel to hold the hand of a girl, but then again, I had never known a girl quite as special as Eden before.

We rounded the corner at the end of my street and soon found ourselves walking through the parking lot that served both Benny’s and the Pasta Garden. I was still holding Eden’s hand in a death grip as we approached the front door of the restaurant. When I realized how much pressure I was putting on her hand, I was surprised that she hadn’t complained about it and eased my grip a little.

“Table for two?” the hostess asked as we walked into the restaurant.

I was grateful that just because of our young age, she didn’t assume we had come here with adults. It could have been the fact that we were still holding hands that tipped her off.

The hostess led us to the back and seated us in a private booth with high backs. There was a candle in the middle of the table, the lone light in the gloomy darkness. It was really romantic and I was happy that we had chosen this restaurant. Giving us each a menu, the hostess informed us that our waitress will be by momentarily to take our order.

“This place is really nice,” Eden commented looking around until her eyes finally locked with mine, “It is very romantic.”

“It sure is,” I agreed, looking back into her eyes.

I still found it hard to believe that I only just met this girl yesterday and things have gotten so serious between us. In the past I had spent months cultivating relationships that never happened, and yet here I was having a romantic dinner with the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.

“Are you ok?” Eden asked with concern.

“No, I mean, yes, I was just thinking how comfortable I feel when I am with you.” I confessed awkwardly.

“I feel the same way with you, Thomas,” she said, “I don’t understand why, but I feel like I can trust you.”

Before I could reply, a waitress approached our table and took our drink order.

“What can I get you guys to drink?” she asked.

“I’ll have a Coke,” I told her and Eden ordered the same.

“Are you ready to order?” the waitress asked after writing down our drinks.

I realized that we hadn’t even opened our menus yet.

“Not yet,” I informed her.

“No problem, I’ll be back with your drinks in a few minutes and take your order,” the waitress said as she left.

“I guess we should look through the menus,” I laughed.

Returning my laugh, Eden opened her menu and browsed through the offerings. After a few minutes she seemed to reach a decision and placed the menu aside.

“What are you having?” I asked her, curiously.

“Eggplant parm,” she told me, “It’s been a long time since I’ve had it.”

I had never tried eggplant parmesan and decided that I would order the same, even at the risk of not liking it. Lately, I’ve been the recipient of so many surprises; maybe eggplant parm will turn out to be my new favorite dish.

The waitress shortly came back with out drinks and took our order.

“It will just be a few minutes,” she said before heading back to the kitchen.

“So, why did you move to East Harbor?” I asked Eden taking a sip of my Coke.

“We had people check different areas and this seemed like the best place. It seemed really safe and quiet here,” she told me.

I nodded my head in agreement. East Harbor was really safe and quiet, in other words – boring. Nothing exciting ever happened here.

“Did you find any books you liked?” I asked her, remembering that I had last seen her in the bookstore this morning.

“Yes, I did, actually,” she said smiling, “I found this new book by Agatha Christie.”

“You got a new book by Agatha Christie?” I asked. I never claimed to know everything about books or their authors, but I was pretty sure that Agatha Christie hadn’t written a book in more than fifty years.

“I hadn’t read it yet, so it was a new book to me,” Eden said quickly when she noticed my confusion.

Soon our food arrived and our conversation was placed on hold. Like I said before, I had never had eggplant parmesan and I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. It didn’t become my favorite dish, like I had assumed, but it was still good. I tried my best to eat like a gentleman, but at sixteen, it was a little harder than I thought; I was very self-conscious of everything I did. I made a point not to talk until I was totally finished with my meal. The last thing I would want is for Eden to be disgusted by my lack of table manners.

“So are you taking the bus to school?” I asked her when I finally cleared my plate.

Even though East Harbor wasn’t a big town, the high school was still a good four or five miles from my home; too far to walk everyday. As a result, the guys and I took the school bus.

“No,” Eden told me, “I have to go in a little early to meet with the principal. I think he has to give me my class schedule and stuff like that.”

I was a little disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to show up at the bus stop tomorrow with Eden on my arm. I would have loved to see the look of shock on the guys’ faces when they saw me with a beautiful girl.

When the waitress came back to clear the dishes, we both declined dessert. I couldn’t talk for Eden, but I was stuffed. I paid the check and left a nice tip for the waitress. More than the three dollars we had left for Angeline earlier that day.