LS: The Beginning (27 page)

T
hinking I would be asleep, Julie, who had spent the
night in my house, rushed in my room wearing a black, skimpy, satin
nightwear that was transparent.

“Couldn’t you at least knock?” I asked with aggravation.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I wanted to surprise
you.”

As she drew closer, I could see her cu
r cu
rvy body through her sheer gown. I looked away and let my other senses do the communicating. She knew how to mark her territory.

“So how was your night?” I
asked.

“It was peaceful,” she replied. “Why didn’t you join us for dinner?”

“Oh, I’m sorry about that. I had already eaten at
Lisa’s
.”

“All right, that’s cool.” She grinned, appearing unfazed about my
involvement with Lisa, while her subconscious was screaming the complete opposite.

“Do you have any plans for today?” she asked.
 

“Actually I do,” I lied.

She glared. “So can you spare any of your time?”

I knew where this discussion was heading after I read her mind, but
I decided to act ignorant.
“It depends on what I’m sparing my time for.” I wished I’d never said those words. My big mouth!

Julie walked
up to me and sat across my thighs. “You’ll be sparing your time for me.” Her accent was as tempting as her
outfit. Spending a day like Christmas with Julie didn’t look seem a good idea;
lust was written all over her.

“I’ll ask my diary and let you know what she thinks.”

She chuckled. "What type of morning person
are you?”

“Why do you ask? By the way, could you please stand up? I feel a bit uncomfortable.”

She stood up and pretended not to view the
 point I’d just made. “Are you an eggs
kind of guy or a cereal kind of guy?”

“Oh, that’s what you meant? I’d
say cereal. Why do you ask?”

“So I can prepare breakfast for you,” she answered honestly.

I couldn’t give her my consent, but at the same time I couldn’t
tell her I’d make my breakfast myself because I was pretty sure she would stick around to
see if I did. Julie was a pain in the neck; in fact, the entire human body. Gosh!

“So thoughtful of you, but I don’t eat so early, maybe some other
day.”

“That’s okay. I’ll be around all day, so whenever you’re hungry, let me
know,” she muttered.

She was getting closer and closer to the line; I just hoped she wouldn’t cross
it. I really couldn’t understand what she wanted with me. However, psychologists say what
man
can’t
have
he
pursues
the
most.

“I was planning on taking a shower before you came in,” I said, hoping she'd leave.

“Okay, let me go get my towel,” she said.

What!
I thought. English was meant to be her first language, yet she couldn't understand those few words.

“No, that’s not what I meant. What I’m trying to say is would you please excuse me. I would like to take a shower…
alone
.”

“I see." She scowled. "Well, I’ll be downstairs if you need me.” With that she left the room
,
looking rejected.

Spending a considerably large amount of time in the bathroom
seemed like the best thing to do to avert passing time with Julie – but then,
like destiny; she could only be delayed, not denied.

After several minutes in the shower, I heard my phone ringing and also the sound of a heartbeat. It
sounded like the vessel in which the heart resided was close by. Just to be
on the safe side, I quickly tied my towel around my waist and went into the
bed
room.

“For goodness sake, what are you doing here?” I angrily asked Julie,
who was sitting at my office chair, playing with my laptop.

“I just wanted to check something,” she answered.

Recalling my reason for
getting out of the shower, I grabbed my phone.

“Hey Steph,” Lisa said. I was very excited to hear her voice,
hoping she’d have plans for us.

“Lee, what’s up? Sorry about my sudden departure online,” I said, carrying
the phone back into the bathroom.

“It’s okay. I just thought something bad had happened.”

“Thanks, but everything is okay,” I assured her. “What’s the
plan for today? Before I forget, merry Christmas.”

She chuckled.

“Again, same to you and the plan starts with you getting your butt over
here.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said and hung up the phone.

Lisa had granted my wish, saving me from staying in the same house with Julie. Secretly, after dressing in the closet, I dashed
out through the open door, leaving Julie in the room alone. I was hundreds of meters away from the house when I heard the
complaints she issued to Stacey.

“Have you seen Stephen?” she asked.

“No. He's probably in his room,” Stacey said.

“No, he isn't"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I just don’t get him. You know what I mean?”

“Nope, is there a problem?” Stacey asked.

“No worries,” Julie lied.

It had snowed heavily overnight and so almost everything I passed on the
way to Lisa's house was covered with snow; the cars, the phone
boots, the sidewalks etc.

I met Lisa outside, lying on a cane chair and wearing red halter neck top and yellow
shorts. She looked enchantingly gorgeous. I had never seen her in
such outfit. It made me view her with a different perspective, but a good one
though. Also, it was really strange to see her wearing a swimming suit
during winter. I couldn’t still get used to the fact that her body temperature was extremely hot.

“That was quick,” she said.

I grinned. “Let’s just say I was expecting your call.”

“Come join me,” she requested.

I unbuttoned my shirt and moved to the cane chair next to hers. I left my jeans and my white vest on
or else I would have been highly uncomfortable and cold.

“Let's go out today. I'm tired of celebrating Christmas at home,” she suggested.

“Sounds like a good idea. Got any place in mind?” I asked.

“I was thinking we could go to the park or to the beach,” she said with exhilaration.

The park and beach wouldn't be lively on this day of the year. Then again, it was the perfect time for us to be alone and explore our supernatural talents. Sadly, the stadium we had our first practice on was now open for play.

“Yeah, you’re right,” I responded in a low voice. “As a matter of fact,
there’s a place I have in mind. Go get dressed.”

"Okay," she said.

Lisa spent long time getting dressed, giving me
the chance to play basketball alone. Although I did began wondering what was taking so long.
I finished playing basketball and decided to watch TV in the living room, but the more time she spent in her room, the more worried I
became. Finally, she strode downstairs, looking as captivating as ever.

“You ready to go?” I asked, stretching my hands forward.

She placed her palm into mine. “After you,” she said.

As usual, she was going to sit in the driver’s seat. It felt nice, though, having her drive me around Sloutenville.

“So where are we going?” she asked.

“This might sound odd: Derrick invited me to a beach costume party, but I told him we wouldn’t be going.”

“Why? Do you have other plans?” she asked.

“No, but I assumed you wouldn't want to go with me, to such parties.”

“If I can go with you to your aunt's place and suffer all the torment, then going to a college party won’t be difficult,” she said.

I smiled. “So do you want to go with me?” I asked.

Her left eyebrow arched in a lovely curve. Was this because of the decrease in pitch as I reached
those last two words?

“Like on a date?” she asked.

“Yeah, but is it okay with you?”

“Sure, I’m cool
with it,” she said.

I'd gone out with Lisa so many times and so this date didn't seem official. No blazers, no flowers, nothing. It was just two friends going to a beach party.

We strolled toward her car and after seeing its new state, I frowned. The roof of her car had vanished.
Now this is getting too much. Doesn't she know the difference between summer and winter?
I thought.
000000

“Before we leave, you’ll need to get some costumes,” I advised her while in the car.

She was reversing with the car so answering verbally didn’t suit her: therefore she
pointed to the yellow bag that lay on the backseat. I couldn’t understand
how she knew that we were going to the beach. Maybe Derrick had invited her as well.

“That's nice; we’ll have to buy mine though.”

“Why not pick them from your house?” she asked.

“Trust me, if I could, I would,” I answered, remembering the girl I ran
away from earlier that morning. I couldn’t read her mind, but with the look she gave me it was
obvious she knew something was up.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” This time her eyes fixed on
the road ahead.

“It’s Julie,” I admitted.

She twisted her neck a bit; a signal I failed to comprehend. “What about
her?”

“She has become a pest, disturbing me every time she gets the chance. Today she barged into
my room wearing a transparent gown and asked if she could make breakfast
for me, but I declined. Then she asked if she could join me in
the bathroom.”