Solo (7 page)

"Did you need something?" I asked.

"Do you have a pencil I could borrow?"

I dug through my bag for a pencil while he walked over to my table. "How's your day going?" he asked.

"It's going fine. I know I have a pencil somewhere in this endless bag."

Lucas sat at my table. "Take your time. It's not like I've got anything better to do."

I was shocked that he was talking to me. "Here you go." I pulled a pencil from my bag and handed it to him.

"Thanks."

I went back to fiddling with my iPod, giving him a chance to make his exit, but he didn't leave.

"How do you like Myrtle Creek?" he asked.

"It's just dandy."

"So, it's that bad, huh?" He grinned.

"Lucas, are you trying to have small talk with me?"

He looked confused. "Well, it's Friday and I don't have anything else to do this period. I figured I'd keep you company."

"Thanks, but I don't need your pity," I snapped.

"Who said anything about pity?" He shook his head and started to get up. "I can tell you want to be left alone. I'll talk to you another time."

"No, stop. I'm sorry. I've just had one of those days. It's not fair to take it out on you."

He sat back down. "Sorry to hear that."

"Well, it's only my third day and I don't know how much more I can take."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, it's nothing that I want to bore you with."

There was an uncomfortable silence and then he said, "So, you like to run?"

"Yeah, I love to run."

"Do you have any other hobbies?"

"Nothing right now."

"I see you like music. What's your favorite type?"

I looked up from staring at the table. "Well, I'm into all kinds of music. It depends on my mood."

Lucas smiled. "So, what are you planning on listening to right now?"

With a straight face, I said, "Well, if I told you—I would have to kill you."

"So it's going to be like that?" he laughed.

"Enough questions about me. What about you? What are your hobbies?"

"Oh, you don't want to know about me; I'm pretty boring."

"That's not fair. Okay, what's your favorite type of music?"

"I don't listen to music," he chuckled.

"Wow—you're really not going to tell me anything are you?"

"We have study hall together every afternoon; there'll be plenty of time to get to know each other."

"I'm going to remember that."

"Sorry, I can't be an open book like you"

Oh, if he only knew.

"So did you run around the entire town yet?" Lucas laughed.

"You're really funny. No, just up in the mountains near my grandparents' house."

"Do you run every day?"

"I have every day since I've been here, but I'm taking today off."

"Because of the weather?"

"No, I've got a date with my…" I stopped and cringed with flashbacks from lunch.

Lucas raised his eyebrows. "Oh, you have a date? The guys around here move fast. You haven't been here very long."

"Oh no, it's not like that."

It was obvious that Lucas was confused.

I shrugged. "I have a date with my mom. We'd planned to see a movie before we moved here and it hits the theaters today."

"There's nothing wrong with that. There'll be plenty of guys asking you soon enough."

"Well, I don't plan on dating while I'm here. It wouldn't be fair since I'm not looking for anything serious." I waited for his reaction.

He sat with his arms crossed and very little expression on his face. I wondered what was going through his head. I thought about Casey's comment about his casual dating.

"I just plan to have friends."

"You have a lot of plans. I hope they work out for you."

"Oh, I don't have a problem sticking to my plans."

"So, you're telling me there is no one in this school that you would consider going on a date with?"

I looked him straight in his eyes. "I didn't say that. I just don't
plan
on dating."

The bell rang.

"Saved by the bell," Lucas teased. He got up and went to collect his things from the other table.

I quickly grabbed my bag and headed toward the door. "See you around," I muttered, while passing by.

"Yeah, see ya."

I couldn't get out of the building fast enough. It was Friday and the weekend had arrived. My mind was still wrapped around the conversation I'd just had with Lucas and I didn't pay attention to the rain soaking my clothes. It was the perfect ending to my chaotic week. I was shocked when I didn't have butterflies in my stomach. It was also the first time I didn't feel stupid after talking to him. Maybe I was getting used to his irresistible charm.

When I got to my car, I turned to see if Lucas' truck was still in the parking lot. He was standing by his truck door drenched and staring at me. Even though my normal instinct was to quickly turn away, I felt compelled to return his stare. I was afraid to blink; the last thing I wanted was to lose that moment. Unfortunately, our gaze was broken when someone walked up to talk to him. He turned back in my direction as I pulled out of the parking lot.

"Hey, give me a minute to freshen up," I called, making a mad dash to my room.

"Okay. I'll finish my tea with Grandma while you get ready."

Heaven forbid Grandmother should miss one afternoon of tea with my mother.
I changed and refreshed my makeup. I wanted to look good just in case a certain hottie happen to be out and about.

"I'm ready when you are." I entered the kitchen.

My mom looked at my grandmother. "Don't plan on us for dinner. We might be out late." She turned and winked at me. Before my grandmother could react, we were out the door. I wondered what Mom had up her sleeve. I had planned on a matinee so we'd be back before dinner, but I wasn't going to pass on anything that would help me avoid my grandmother.

"So, what else are we doing besides the movie?" I asked, as we got into Mom's SUV.

"I thought the two of us could have a quiet dinner. I'd like to know what's going on with you. I figured you'd feel more comfortable talking to me alone."

"That sounds like fun."

"After dinner, I thought we could go bowling. I don't know how long it'll be before you start hanging out with your friends, so I want to make the most of this evening."

"I always have time for you, Mom." I flipped through the CD case. "Where are the oldies?"

"Already in the CD player." Mom turned it on.

Even though we couldn't carry a tune if our life depended on it, we sang the lyrics to the Oldies at the top of our lungs. At the edge of town, we resorted to humming and bobbing our heads. When we reached the main strip, my eyes started surfing the cars. "Eliana, can I help you find something?" Mom could tell I was distracted.

"No, I'm just checking out the stores," I lied. "I can't wait to see this movie; it looks really funny."

"Yeah; I love romantic comedies."

The theater was packed. Lucky for us we were early enough to grab decent seats. The movie was great and for two hours and five minutes, I didn't have Lucas on my mind. We didn't leave our seats until the credits were over because Mom wanted to know the names of some of the songs in the film.

"Where do you want to eat?" I asked when we finally left the theater.

"I want to take you to a small Mexican restaurant your dad and I used to go to."

"It's still here?" I chuckled.

"Well, we're not that old," Mom frowned.

I turned my grin into an overdramatic pouty lip. "Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that."

"Don't worry about it. The restaurant is across the street from the bowling alley. We can walk over after dinner."

"Mexican sounds good."

"I love this restaurant," Mom said when she pulled into the parking lot. "Oh, the memories this place brings back. This is where your dad asked me if it was okay for him to join the military."

 "Wow, he asked your permission?"

"Well, he had already asked me to marry him and he knew the decision to join the military would effect both of us, so he wanted to make sure I was okay with it."

I couldn't help but smile. I knew my dad was a great guy, but this solidified it even more.

We followed our hostess to a table and got comfortable. "So spill it," Mom said.

Her abruptness threw me off guard. "What are you talking about?"

"I want to know everything." She leaned toward me with wide eyes.

"Can we order dinner before you grill me?" I tried to postpone the inevitable. I wanted time to rehearse my answers in my head so I wouldn't stumble over my responses.

"Okay, I'm ready to order when you are." She hadn't even opened her menu.

I analyzed the menu, reading and rereading each description. Finally, I laid it down, knowing I couldn't postpone any longer. "Okay, I know what I'm having."

When our waitress arrived, Mom ordered the bean and cheese enchilada with a side of Spanish rice.

"That's so funny; we want the same thing. Like mother, like daughter."

She smiled and went back to her one track mind. "Okay, we ordered. Talk."

"There really isn't much to talk about. I've only been in school three days." I felt bad lying to her.

"Well, I know that. I want to know about the friends you've made; if there are any boys of interest; if you plan to enroll in any activities."

"Okay, okay. Here it goes. Yes, I've made a few friends. A girl named Casey—she's a junior—and we have four classes together. She's entertaining. Some of Casey's friends talk to me. I wouldn't call them my friends yet. Also, there's a guy named Lucas in study hall. He's a junior. He's kind of cute. But before you get any crazy ideas—I've decided not to date this year. We're just friends."

Mom didn't say anything.

"As far as activities, I'm putting off everything. I'm not going to dance or do gymnastics this year. I don't want to be the 'freaky' talented girl. So, there you go. That's my life in a nutshell."

Mom's eyes looked sad. "Eliana, you are so talented, you shouldn't be ashamed. You've worked too hard for too many years to put your dreams on the back burner for a whole year."

To my relief, the waitress brought our dinner and interrupted our conversation.

"Thank you," Mom said, and then returned her attention back to me. "Is there something else you're not telling me?"

I hesitated, "Well, there's this girl at school. She's pretty popular. I think she's threatened by me or something. I haven't done anything to her, but I feel like she doesn't like me."

"Honey, there will be people like that throughout your life. It doesn't matter how old you are. You shouldn't let them hold you back."

"I'm not saying that I won't dance for a year. It just won't be at school or in front of anyone other than you. The girl is friends with Casey, so I'm around her at lunch. I've decided to eat at a different table." I felt like a ton of weight had been lifted off my shoulders now that I'd confided in my mom.

"That's probably a good idea. There's no sense sitting with someone who has it in for you."

"That's exactly how I feel. I don't like the person I become when I'm around her. She brings out the ugly in me."

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to get on your bad side," Mom joked.

"What? You don't think I have a bad side? I have a bad side." We shared a laugh. "Mom this dinner was a great idea. I know you have a lot going on yourself. I didn't want to bother you with my issues."

"Honey, I know the move has been difficult, but I think in time you'll understand. Just remember, I'm always here for you. I don't care what's going on; your happiness is extremely important. Please don't be afraid to come to me."

* * *

"Are you ready for me to kick your butt?" Mom snickered, as we crossed the street to the bowling alley.

"Sure, but I should tell you I'm going to be hard to beat. I do have a high score of eighty-seven." I looked at the cars in the parking lot. "Wow, this must be the hot spot on Friday nights."

Mom laughed, "This is one of the few places in town for anyone under twenty-one to go."

I froze in my tracks. The familiar F-150 was parked in the parking lot. "Oh no, I think he's here." I couldn't believe that I'd said that out loud.

"Who's here?" Mom looked around.

"Lucas." I whispered. "He's the cutie from study hall."

"Oh, I see. We don't have to go in if you're embarrassed."

I was torn. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but I also didn't want to walk into the 'Hot Spot' with my mom. I also wasn't sure I could handle seeing Lucas with another girl. "Mom, I'm not embarrassed. Anyone would be lucky to have a relationship like ours. I just don't want to see him with another girl."