Impossibly Love (8 page)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Branden

    
After
dinner on Sunday, Ashton and I decided
to shoot hoops out back, especially
since Mom had to run out to the store and wouldn’t be there to stop us.

     Ashton was
the more skilled player, anyway. He could dribble much better than me and even
dunk!

     “So, who was
that girl, really? It was, ah, Moya, right?” he asked. It would be a matter of
time before they’d start asking about her.

    
“A friend.”
I left it at that as he prevented me from
passing him with the ball.

     Eventually,
he got it from my hands.

     “Sure,
little brother. That’s what you said last night. I get the feeling there’s
something else between you two, though.” He could read me like a book.

     I stopped to
take a breath, sitting on the bench at the side of the court. “I know, but, I
can’t. I can’t do that to her.”

     Ashton
bounced the ball while waiting for me to recover and I thought back to last
night, seeing Moya. I noticed the look in her eyes when she hurried over to
stop me from leaving. Moya liked me. She definitely did, and was probably going
to say it last night. Would she still want to be with me if she found out my
secret?

     I shot to my
feet and began to hassle Ashton for the ball to change the topic.

     A loud
shriek drew us to a halt. “What are you two doing? Ashton, you know he’s not
supposed to get this worked up.”

     Mom rushed
over toward us.

     “Hey, Mom,”
Ashton said, a sincerity in his tone that belied his light grin. He bounced the
ball against the ground, the loud sound drawing her worried gaze from me and
pinning it on him. “Come on. Ease up a little,” he added. “I’m not going to
push him too hard. It’s just a little fun.”

     She shook
her head and took the ball out his hands. “Branden can’t run around playing
sports the way you do, Ashton. That’s why he gave up hockey, remember?” she
scowled.

     I held my
hands up as I reminded her, “Branden’s standing right here, okay.” I didn’t
stop there. Her behavior had been driving me up the wall. “You know, Mom, I can
speak for myself and say when I’m tired, when I’m hungry, and when I’m sick,
alright. So stop treating me like I’m ten.”

     “Are you
finished?” Dad yelled out at me, aggressively closing the sliding doors to the
kitchen as he marched over to the basketball court. “Because let me tell you
something, Branden, I’m sick of all that’s going on, too. You’re not the only
one going through it. This damn atmosphere is suffocating me—”

     “Oh stop,”
Mom snapped. Her pitch heightened as she scolded Dad, still clutching the ball.
“What do you mean ‘not the only one going through it’?” She widened her eyes
with amazement as she asked, “What are
you
going through? You’re not at
any of the hospital sessions or sitting in the room as they examine him over
and over and take blood after blood. Then they prescribe all these damn drugs
that have no effect on his illness except make it worse. So please, spare us
this sudden need to express how you feel, Scott, because, frankly, I don’t
think you even have the right to say anything.”

     Ashton
grabbed the ball out her hands and tossed it to the side angrily. “Stop it!” he
blurted out, his words punctuated by sharp breaths as he looked between Mom and
Dad. “This is about Branden, not you two.” The ball bounced a few more times as
momentum carried it to the grass, the sound like thunder amid the tense
silence.

     Helplessness
flashed behind his eyes. Ashton’s shoulders rolled back in an absent shrug. His
voice fell to a soft whisper I had to strain to hear. “Think about Branden for
a change.”

     Silence
filled the air.

     Mom lowered
her eyes and released soft sobs. “It’s all so tiring,” she said, a faint smile
on her lips that did nothing to erase the concern in her eyes. “It’s a little
easy sometimes to get so caught up in the exhaustion that,” she paused, looking
towards Dad with a warning glance that she seemed to think I wouldn’t
recognize, “your father and I have said a few things we didn’t mean.”

     I staggered
back, feeling tired of their ongoing fights. “Well, don’t worry then. Soon you
won’t have to deal with me at all.”

     All three
glanced at me in sync with a grim look on their faces. I didn’t mean to say
that out loud. But I couldn’t stop the words from coming.

     “Bran,” Dad
shook his head, and Mom sobbed even more. She reached for my arm. I moved out
of her grasp, walking quickly into the house and without retracting my words.

Later that night, I heard a light rap
on my room door as I lay exhausted in bed. I hadn’t eaten dinner so Mom snapped
into worry mode, especially after I threw a fit earlier.

     “Honey,” she
called. “Can I come in?”

     I nearly
told her to go away, deciding against it after remembering what my grandfather used
to say when I was little. That some kids had none at all, so I should always
appreciate and respect my parents.

     Getting up,
I sat on the side of the bed and rubbed my bare feet against the carpet. “Come
in,” I replied.

     Mom snuck
her head halfway and reassured me with her earnest smile. She wasn’t mad at me.

     Stepping in
further, she placed a plate of pasta on top of my end table and sat down beside
me. “You really should get something in your stomach, honey. You barely had
anything all day.”

     I didn’t say
a word. Nor did I look at her.

     Mom cupped
my hands into hers and continued, “I wasn’t blaming you for our problems,
Branden. That wasn’t my intention. I guess we’re all mad at the situation and
each other for not being able to do more for you.”

     I looked at
her then. “I’m sorry I said that. I know it’s not only me. It affects you guys
as well.”

     She tipped
her head and raised her hand to brush my cheek. “It’ll be alright, honey.
You’ll see.”

     I doubted
those words.

     Dropping my
gaze, I glanced over at the plate of pasta. “Mmm…smells good.” It was my
favorite.

     Mom got up
and walked over to the end table, picking up the plate. “You don’t have to
finish it. But it’ll make me worry less if you eat some.”

     Reaching
over, I took the plate from her hands, wrapping the fork around a chunk right
after.

     Mom sighed
in relief and turned to walk out of the room. Before leaving, she swiveled with
an afterthought, “Branden, who was that girl last night, really?”

     I swallowed
what I had in my mouth and answered, “A friend. I told you.”

     She squinted
with suspicion, brushing her long hair from the side of her face. “Yes,” she
said, questionably. “You’ve said that.” A coy smile appeared briefly.

     I went back
to eating but Mom still had something to add. “She seems like a nice girl.”

     Not waiting
for my reaction, she walked out the door and closed it behind her.

     Was that a
sign of her approval of Moya?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Moya

    
By
Monday, I was relentlessly searching
every face that I passed in hopes of
catching sight of Branden. I really wanted to see him to clarify my complicated
feelings. It was a decision I made after tossing and turning in bed the night
before.

     Towards the
end of the day, I concluded my best bet would be the library. Scanning the
area, from lounges to passages and between shelves, Branden was out of sight.
 There was only one other place left to look.

     I walked
down the path that ended out by Severn River, my heart racing the closer I got.
There, sitting on the grass watching the stillness of the water as the evening
sun created dazzling effects, was Branden as I’d predicted.

     I stopped
midstride as he turned and absorbed my features, a questioning look developed
in his eyes. “Moya…?”

     He jumped to
his feet as I approached.

     “I never
thought it was possible, I just…I thought if I stayed focus on studying then
I’d never get trapped into anything. But I can’t seem to stop myself from wanting
to be around you.” My voice came out rasped and completely pure. Not to mention
my heart was pounding inside my chest.

     I leaned
from one foot to the other, waiting for his reaction and nothing at all,
peering unabashedly into his captivating blue eyes. I had no problem with the
silence around us. Like he’d said when we sat on the bench in that little park
in downtown Berlin Heights, silence between us was indeed comforting.

     Branden
reached his hand out for mine, and without any resistance I slid my fingers
slowly into his palm. It felt strong, safe. Energy streamed through my veins,
sending jitters even down to my toes.

     He guided me
gently down on the grass. We sat close enough that our arms brushed against
each other. “I can’t stop thinking about you, either,” he finally muttered.

     I turned and
glanced at Branden as he placed his hand on top of mine, squeezing lightly.
Branden gazed with affection back at me and I breathed heavily as nervousness
struck my whole body.

     Steering away
from his hypnotizing eyes, I directed my attention on the setting sun instead,
watching as orange-red colors painted the darkening blue sky, bringing forth
the soundless, peaceful night.

     We sat in
silence for seconds, minutes, hours, even, as the night got darker and darker
and there was nothing else to look at. The fireflies had left, and the water
was too black to pretend to observe. Then, suddenly, I found myself leaning on
Branden’s arm, resting my head comfortably on him.

     He eased
away slightly to wrap his strong arms around my body, pulling me in closer. I’d
never felt more safe than I did in that moment. Branden lowered himself on the
grass, and I relaxed further on his chest as he clutched me in his arms.

     No words
spoken to interrupt, no excuses made to run away.

     I closed my
eyes and began to devour his intoxicating scent. I pressed my hand against his
heaving chest and listened to the melodious beating of his heart.

     It was like a
fight to keep at bay the rising feelings within my stomach—the desire for
Branden to gently place me beneath him, hover on top and stare yearningly into
my eyes. Then he would plant his soft lips on mine and take what I’d been
saving for so long: my first kiss.

     Nothing
happened.

     We both
lingered in the still of the night, lying tightly close together, until finally
I could fight sleep no more.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Branden

     
I woke up feeling the dreadful cold
of the morning, and my eyes
flickered as they stung in the bright sunrise. A light moan resounded next to
me and I glanced over at Moya, gently stroking the side of her beautiful face
as she started to wake up as well.

     I all but
lower my head to kiss her cheek as those alarmingly gorgeous brown eyes cracked
open and bored into mine. I found myself smiling irrepressibly in admiration at
how she glowed naturally in the sunlight.

     Moya
wrinkled her forehead as she rose to her feet. I got up as well, touching her
carefully on the shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

     She twisted,
looked down at my hand and then moved out of my reach. “I don’t think I can do
this.” Her voice came out almost inaudible. “Damn it,” She shook her head and
her curls bounced.

     Moya seemed
so frustrated not knowing how to deal with her feelings. Then I remembered this
was the girl from two weeks ago, strong-minded about not falling for anyone. It
hit me. “You’ve never liked anyone before, have you?” It was so easy for me to
see who she really was then, so open and vulnerable.  

     Slanting her
body, Moya watched the water with dimmed eyes. I could see the way she
struggled to keep her breath soft; a nearly undetectable quiver to her body that
didn’t seem to be a result of the chilled air.

     She sighed
then spoke, “My father left me and my momma when I was seven years old. Before
he walked out the door, he promised me he’d always be there. That even though
it didn’t work out with my momma he’d never stop calling or stop spending time
with me. After my fourteenth birthday, though, I finally gave up on waiting.”

     She turned
fully towards the river, trying to hide the single tear that fell down her left
cheek. I moved closer and wiped it away. Seeing how heartbroken she was made me
feel so helpless.

     Moya spun
and looked me in the eye as she sobbed, “Because it took me that long to accept
the truth, that my father didn’t love me. That he was never coming back.”

     I wrapped my
arms around her as Moya sank into my chest and cried. Her suffering pained me.
I wanted so badly to make it disappear.

     “Moya, I’m
sure he loves you.”

     “No, he
doesn’t,” she whimpered. “And you know what, Vanessa’s right, hating him made
me angry with the world and at every guy I meet. Because I feel like they’ll
hurt me the way he hurt my momma. I saw how heartbroken she was. I lived
through it, and I don’t want to feel that kind of pain, Branden.”

     I eased her
away and tilted her chin up to meet my gaze. “I would never hurt you, Moya. You
have to believe me.” Then following those words was the reminder that maybe I
couldn’t make such a promise after all. “It’s just…” I lowered my head. “I have
to tell you—”

     Moya burst out
of my grip before I could finish and began to walk away. “I can’t do this after
all. I refuse to set myself up to get hurt.”

    
It was
better that way, just let her go,
I told myself. Moya’s protest faded in my
ears as she got further away. Then my feet started to move as if they weren’t
my own. I hurried to the path and caught up to her, gripping her around the
waist to stop her from leaving.

     Moya’s eyes
widened when I spun her around to face me. It was obvious what I was about to
do and I knew very well she wouldn’t let it happen without a fight. Her
attempts at being freed were futile as my hold increased the more she squirmed
in my arms.

     “Let go!”
she demanded.

     I blew hard,
eager to drown myself in the sweetness of her lips. Dismissing her protest—and
the little voice at the back of my head telling me not to—I shoved my mouth to
hers and kissed her hungrily.

     Moya lifted
her hands to my chest and pushed tentatively, and just as fast they began to
lower. I knew she couldn’t resist the deep passion evoking between us. Finally,
she yielded, and I wrapped my arms even tighter around her as Moya parted her
lips and allowed me to enter.

     We groaned
as our tongues collided, touching each other wildly as if the kiss was not only
our first but our last. Moya placed her hands on my lower back, touching me
sensually with her fingertips as she worked her way up my spine. She caressed
the back of my neck, and then combed her fingers seductively through my
hair.                                                

     By the time
the kiss ended, we were both panting, trying to breathe steadily.

     Moya wobbled
as she backed away. “I have to get to class,” she whispered shakily as if under
a trance.

     I released
her with regret and watched as Moya turned and started up the path, staggering
along the way.

     Afterwards,
I dragged my thumb lightly along my lips, eyes fastened on Moya as she walked
away.
I could still feel the heat of her skin on
mine, giving light to a fire of pleasure that threatened to make my hands shake
in memory of her taste.

    
Motivated by the promise of her presence, I walked up the path as well,
following
behind the girl I was indisputably
falling hard for and fast.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Moya

     
Later that night, I filled Vanessa in
on all that went
down with Branden, from falling asleep on his chest by the river, to our steamy
kiss in the morning.

     “Whoa!” she
screamed in the phone, “You guys
kissed
. Oh. My. Gosh! That’s so
romantic. So, are you officially dating now?” she giggled.

     I checked my
reflection in the mirror hanging on the closet door. “I don’t know, Nessa. We
didn’t say much afterwards because I hurried off to class.”

     Vanessa
hissed. “Oh jeez, of course you would run away. Whatever, text him now and
solve that problem, and don’t give me that bull about being the first to text
or call.”

     Sighing, I
went over to the bed and lay down flat on my back. “I don’t have his number.”

     “What the
hell!” she screeched, “Dumb, dumb, dumb. What is wrong with you two, don’t you
want to date each other?”

     I rolled
over on my side. “I’m still unsure about it all. Branden definitely makes me
question the choices I’ve made, but I don’t know. I’m still scared.” I said.

     Vanessa
crunched on chips in the phone and her words came out garbled. 

     “What’s
that?” I asked.

     “I
said
,
get your butt over to his dorm right now and get all the confirmation you
need.”

     I flew up.
“No way, I don’t want to give him the wrong impression, that I’m there to sleep
with him or something—”

     “Girl,
please,” Vanessa smacked her mouth and made a sound as if she was licking the
crumbs off her fingers. “Go get the damn number, and while you’re at it, enjoy
another kiss.” She giggled before hanging up.

     I swallowed
hard in deliberation. It wasn’t like I wouldn’t see Branden on Wednesdays in
Business Law, by the river on some nights watching fireflies, or even at the
library. Those were all chance encounters, though, and I didn’t want to only
rely on simply running into him coincidentally.

     I wanted to
talk to Branden at nights when my mind would contemplate combing my fingers
through his ash blond hair, drowning myself in those possessing blue eyes, and
kiss his sweet soft lips again and again. In spite of all I said in the past,
to be honest, I wanted that someone to call my own. Someone I could trust.

     I was
falling hard for Branden.

     Building up
the courage to march over to his dorm, I jumped up from my bed determined to
get Branden’s number, and also, like Vanessa said, possibly indulge in another
heated kiss. I wasn’t sure where my braveness was coming from, but in this
moment I wanted to take the risk and not think about the consequences.

     I made it to
the exit and walked down the steps. As I got outside and began heading up the
concrete path towards Branden’s dorm, I noticed a familiar figure coming
towards me. From a far, the darkness casted a shadow over his face, once he got
closer I made out the attractive features I’d grown to adore.

     “Where are
you off to?” Branden grinned, stopping once he’d seen it was me.

     “Um, to
your…library,” I lied. “Where are
you
heading?”

     Branden
laughed knowingly. He filled the distance between us. “I can’t believe I forgot
to ask for your number.” A feeling of relief ran through me.

     Reaching in
my pocket, I took out my cell phone and handed it to him. “Put yours in and
I’ll ring you afterwards. Oh, and does your friend still need someone to work
on weekends? I keep forgetting to ask for the number.”

     Branden
touched my fingers as he took the phone out my hand. I couldn’t help smiling at
the brief connection. “I wonder why,” he teased.
But yeah, he’s still looking. I’ll add his number as well. He owns a jewelry
store in Berlin Heights called
My Love’s Finest
. You probably already
know where it is, though.”

     I shook my
head. “The name doesn’t ring a bell.”

     “Really?” he
narrowed his eyes while handing me back my cell phone. “The necklace you wore a
few nights ago looks a lot like the ones from his store.”

     I shrugged,
“Beats me. My momma gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday. No idea where she
bought it.”

     “Oh, I see.”
Branden nodded, then pulled me in close and enclosed me with his arms. “So, any
plans for the rest of the night?”

     I pressed
into his chest. “No, no plans at all.”

     “Let’s go
have some fun,” he said, taking my hand into his as he led me to the parking
lot.

     “Wait, fun as
in what?” I asked, slipping into the passenger seat of his car when he opened
the door for me.

     “You’ll
see.” Branden bent over and kissed me on the cheek. His lips sent shivers down
my spine.

     He closed
the door and hurried around to the driver’s side, starting the engine as soon
as he got in. I’d never seen Branden more excited. The entire drive to wherever
he was taking me he kept glancing over, smiling each time our eyes would meet.
And always my heart would flutter and I’d look away shyly. All this was new for
me, because I’d never had such feelings before. And for that, I was happy
Branden made me change my mind about opening up to someone. It also made me
fearful I’d someday end up regretting it.

As soon as we arrived, my
anticipation for adventure quickly vanished when I saw what Branden meant by
fun.

     He parked
along the side of the street, and I sat timidly in the car staring at the sign
Sound
Box
, hesitant to even dare enter the dark red, multi-brick building in
downtown Harrington.

     Branden
sprang out of the car and hurried around to my side, opening the door for me.
“Come on, Moya. It’s not that bad.”

     I cringed.
“No, uh-uh, I don’t do clubs,” I explained. “Besides, we’re still
nineteen
.”

     He laughed.
“This isn’t that type of place. It’s more for college students. They don’t even
serve alcohol here much less check
your
ID.”

     That was
good to hear, because the only thing I grabbed from my dorm room were my keys
and cell phone.

     “Come on, I
promise you’ll like it,” Branden insisted. I decided to trust him, as he was
right about me liking Charley’s restaurant the first time we went out.

     Placing my
hand into his, I got out of the car and walked with Branden to the entrance. As
we entered the
Sound Box,
Rihanna’s ‘
Where Have You Been?’
boomed
loudly from the speakers. It was quite an old building, much bigger on the
inside than it appeared to be on the outside.

     I peered
around to get a feel for the setting, spotting a stage towards the back for
live performances, and a high-low section where people could dance. The dimmed
light made the atmosphere sexy as it complimented the dark ceiling and gritty
espresso interior. Indeed, Branden scored another point with me because I liked
Sound Box
after all.