Healing Rain (9 page)

“He has that effect on me, too, Ty,” I whispered to myself with a smile.

 

 

I'm not sure who had more fun at the Plainview Fall Festival car show – me or Tyler. And I'm not into cars at all. Ethan obviously was; he was able to tell us all about the different models of old cars that were on display, and he practically drooled over them. He told us all about the 1967 Chevy Camaro and the 1957 Ford Mustang, explaining how they were made up and where they originated. I tried to pay attention, but I wasn't as interested in the information about the cars as I was just watching Ethan and daydreaming about kissing him again. We stopped for a long time in front of the baby blue 1957 Chevy Convertible, Ethan's dream car. He stared at it for a long time before he finally tore himself away to see the rest of the show. Tyler was right beside him the whole time, soaking in every word he said and copying his movements. I knew this was an experience he would remember for a long time.

Ethan had left after breakfast to go home for a while, which gave me enough time to shower and get myself and Tyler ready. I had a little trouble picking out what to wear – what do you wear to a car show? – but I ended up settling on a white flowy skirt and an orange tank top with my favorite flip-flops. I regretted that decision later in the evening when it started to get a little chilly, but Ethan, being the gentleman he was, went out and got his NCHS letter jacket out of his vehicle and draped it over my shoulders. It was huge on me, but it smelled like him and I could have curled up inside of it and stayed forever.

After the car show we were all starving, so we went to one of the food stands set up at the festival and got corndogs. Ethan paid for our dinner. I tried to convince him to let us pay, but he smiled and said, “Today was my idea – my treat. No more arguing.”

After dinner, we took Tyler to ride some of the amusement park rides. We got on the Ferris wheel with him, even though I wasn't one to normally ride rickety old carnival rides; they made me nervous. Somehow, with Ethan, I didn't feel nervous; I felt safe and protected. Tyler sat in between us, of course, but Ethan reached behind him and ran his fingertips up and down my shoulder. My whole body tingled from his touch.

When we reached the top, I looked around incredulously. For such a small town, there sure were a lot of people at this festival. Across the fair, I noticed a bunch of cheerleaders, and remembered that one of the girls had mentioned a competition they were in tonight. “So, this is obviously where the girls are competing,” I observed.

Ethan nodded. “Yeah. The competition here is always a big deal, and our girls pretty much dominate it every year. They have another competition in about a month between all the local high school squads. They're pretty competitive.”

“So I've heard,” I said with a smirk. Alexis had made that all too clear. Ethan didn't seem to pick up on my sarcasm as the Ferris wheel ride came to a stop at the bottom, letting us off the ride.

When it started to get dark, Ethan took us home. He pulled up into our apartment complex and hesitated. “Oh!” I said, “Do you want to come in for a while?”

“Sure, unless you're sick of me,” he said, flashing a grin that made my legs weak.

“Well, I'm a
little
sick of you, but I guess I could tolerate you for a little longer,” I teased.

“Oh, well, as long as you're only a
little
sick of me, I still have some time!” he said, parking the car and getting out with us.

We went inside, and I could tell Tyler was tired. He wanted to watch a movie, but I told him he had to take a bath first. He finally agreed when I told him I would run a bubble bath and put some of his favorite race cars in there with him so that he could play with them. Once I had his bath all set, I left the bathroom and let him get in.

“Don't forget to wash your hair really well, Tyler. And behind your ears,” I called.

“Rain, I'm not a baby. I know how to wash myself!” he yelled back.

“Yeah, I know how you wash yourself, though. The same way you brush your teeth – as fast as you can,” I pointed out.

He didn't reply. I could hear him making car sounds, so I let it go for a while so that he could play. I turned my attention to Ethan.

“Thanks for today. He really had a good time. It's good for him to be around guys once in a while instead of me and Mom,” I said. As soon as it came out of my mouth, I regretted it. I hadn't meant to mention anything related to losing Dad, and I tensed up immediately.

Ethan was watching me. I think he read my body language, because he didn't push the conversation any further. “I'm glad he had a good time,” he said with a pleasant smile. Then he pulled me down next to him on the couch. “What about you? Did you have a good time?”

I laughed. “You know, I really did. Maybe I'll become a car buff,” I told him.

He raised his eyebrows. “Is that right? Which one was your favorite?”

I searched my brain, and answered with the only one I could remember. “The 1957 baby blue convertible,” I said with a smile.

He sat back on the couch with his hand over his heart. “Oh, I know. I will definitely have a car like that someday,” he said.

I smiled and turned on the TV, flipping through the stations until I got to a TV show featuring a countdown of the world's richest musicians. I didn't care so much about the “richest” part, but it showed popular music videos of each highlighted artist, and that was something I did enjoy. We sat back and watched it together, and after a few minutes, I felt him reach for my hand. He entwined his fingers with mine, and I felt a tingling sensation where his hand touched mine. My heart fluttered again. I could not believe the effects this boy was having on me.

When the show was almost over, Tyler came running in with his pajamas on and a movie in hand. I hadn't even heard him get out of the bathtub and dry off. “Did you wash off really well?” I asked him.

He looked embarrassed that I asked him that in front of Ethan. “Yes,” he hissed at me. “Now can we watch the movie?”

“What are we gonna watch?” Ethan asked him.

“My favorite. It's about race cars,” Tyler held his choice up proudly.

“Put it in,” I told him, pretending to be annoyed. The truth was, we had seen that movie about a hundred times, but I actually loved it too. It was a really cute movie. “Have you seen this movie, Ethan?” I asked.

“No, I haven't, actually,” he replied.

“Oh, Ethan, it's awesome! You're gonna love it!” Tyler told him as he put it in and got it started. He came back and joined us on the couch, laying his head against my shoulder.

I smiled. “It really is a good movie. I have to admit, I love kid movies. Especially the cartoon ones, for some reason. I'm trying to start a collection of them, but we only have a few right now.”

Ethan smiled. “Kids' cartoon movies, huh?”

I smiled, suddenly embarrassed. “Yeah. Well, you know. I watched them a lot when I was a kid. They just bring back good memories, I guess.”

About halfway through the movie, I felt Tyler's head getting heavier, until it slid all the way down on my lap. I put a pillow under his head, and whispered to Ethan, “I can't believe he's asleep! Especially after how late he slept in today – it's only nine-thirty!”

Ethan leaned up and looked at him. “Little man is exhausted,” he said with a half-smile.

When the movie was over and I was sure Tyler was sound asleep, I picked him up and put him in his bed. As I pulled the covers up over him, I heard the front door opening. Was Ethan leaving?

I hurried out of Tyler's room, closing the door behind me, and found Mom in the kitchen, looking drained and frazzled. “Mom!” I exclaimed, surprised. “You're home earlier than I thought you would be.” It was only ten-fifteen – she often didn't get home until at least eleven o'clock.

“Yeah, I had a headache,” she said. “Ron didn't make me stay and clean up since I had been there all day. He told me to go home and rest.”

“That was nice of him,” I said, just as she caught sight of Ethan.

“Oh! I didn't know you had company. Hello,” she said politely.

He stood up quickly. “Hi, Mrs. Sawyer,” he said, coming into the kitchen with us.

“Mom, you remember Ethan,” I told her. “He actually took me and Tyler to the car show at the festival in town today.”

“Oh, how nice! I bet you're Tyler's new hero,” she told Ethan with a warm smile.

He laughed. “I really like cars,” he told her. “It was fun to show Tyler around. He got a little more into it than Rain did.” He grinned at me as I made a face at him.

Mom laughed. “So, Ethan, you're a student at Norris County High?”

He smiled. “Yes, ma'am. I'm a senior.”

I jumped in. “He's the captain of the football team, and he's the senior class president.” I figured she would love to hear that, and I was right.

“Good for you!” she exclaimed, looking at Ethan with an impressed smile on her face.

“Thanks,” he said. I could tell I had embarrassed him as he looked down.

“Well,” he said, turning to me, “I guess I better get going. You're probably way more than a little sick of me by this point.”

I rolled my eyes, pretending to be disgusted. “Ugh, you have no idea.”

He laughed. “It was nice to see you again, Mrs. Sawyer,” he said, turning to Mom.

“Oh, please! Call me Maggie,” she told him.

He nodded. “Good night,” he told her. Then he turned to me. “Good night to you, too.”

I didn't want to say good-night in front of my mother. “Wait, I'll walk you out,” I told him. I grabbed a jacket and followed him outside.

Once we were by his vehicle, he turned to me. “I had a great day with you.”

“Me too,” I replied, “even though we had to spend it with Tyler.”

He smiled. “He's a good kid,” he said. “Maybe soon we can get that date.”

“I'd like that,” I told him.

“Well, we have a football game Friday night. It's the first home game. Will you come? Then you could hang out with all of us after the game.”

“Sure!” I told him. “That sounds like fun.”

“Good,” he said, turning to open the door. Before he got in, he turned to me. “Good night, Rain.”

“Good night, Ethan,” I replied. I wondered if he could hear my heart pounding as I looked into his eyes. He leaned in slowly, keeping my eye contact. We didn't close our eyes until just before our lips met. His kiss was slow and sweet as he took my hands in his and wrapped them around his neck. He then put his hands around my waist, pulling my body against his. I kissed him as long as I possibly could until I had to catch my breath. We pulled away, both breathing hard, and rested our foreheads against each other's. I didn't want him to leave, but I knew I had to let him go. My mom would probably be wondering what was taking me so long out here.

“See you on Monday,” I told him, finally pulling my head away from his.

“Yeah, Monday,” he said. “Could I come by here and give you and Tyler a ride to school?”

“Oh, Ethan, you don't have to do that. It's out of your way,” I told him.

“Out of my way? By what, two blocks?” he snorted. “You guys live so close to the school. I know you could just walk, but I'd like to take you.”

“Well, sure, if you really want to,” I said with a smile.

“Cool,” he said. “What's your cell phone number? I'll text you when I get here.”

I winced. “I actually don't have a cell phone anymore.” It was an embarrassing admission. Most people our age had a cell phone.

For as surprised as he probably was, he hid it well. “Oh, I shouldn't have assumed that,” he said, sounding as uncomfortable as I was. “But you do have a house phone?”

“Yes,” I told him. “Do you want that number?”

“Sure,” he said, getting out his cell phone. As I programmed our number into his phone, he said, “I'll just call you Monday morning when I'm pulling in.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Oh, but I have football practice after school, so I won't be able to take you guys home,” he added.

“You mean driving me home from school is not more important than football practice? You're going to make me walk two whole blocks?” I asked with mock irritation. He laughed, and I grinned. “Ethan, that's fine. We don't expect you to take us everywhere. We'll walk home,” I said, secretly relieved. I had an appointment with Dr. Hope after school. I didn't want to have to explain
that
to him.

He leaned in and kissed me again, quickly this time, and then got into his SUV. Waving, he drove away, and I waved back as I watched him pull out of our apartment complex and back onto the street.

When I got back inside, Mom was sitting at the kitchen table with a huge smile on her face. “Rain, he is such a cutie! Tell me everything.”

I rolled my eyes, pretending to be annoyed by her questions, but the truth was, I couldn't wait to tell her all about him. Mom and I had always been so close, and I had always told her everything. She was easy to talk to when it came to boys or friends or anything else in my life. Over the last few months, I felt like I hadn't been able to talk to her about anything, other than pleasant small talk. She was never home, and I basically had no social life all summer, anyway. I definitely didn't feel like I could talk to her about all the issues that were going on inside my head; I didn't want her to worry about me any more than she already did.

But, for now, all those issues took a back seat as I sat down next to her at the table and gushed about Ethan. I explained how we met, and told her about going to lunch and the party yesterday, and how he had spent the day with me and Tyler. I told her about the whole group – sweet but ditzy Anna, the beautiful Melissa and Brooke, Scott and Ryan, and the awful Alexis. I even told her about the fact that Alexis and Ethan used to date, and how Alexis made sure to let me know that she was the cheerleading captain to discourage me from trying out for basketball season. We talked for hours, and Mom listened carefully, throwing in opinions and advice. I stopped a few times, offering to let her go to bed because I knew she was tired and had a headache, but she swore it was gone. I think she was just so happy that we were talking again, and so was I. Telling her about my life again was wonderful. It made me feel…normal.