The Art of Life (27 page)

               
“Jeremy keeps saying that to me,
too.
 
Just to let you know, I haven’t had
any real friends in a long time, and Jeremy is the first person I have ever
even opened up to.
 
I am shy and have no
self-esteem.
 
So, no, I do not think he
is into me.
 
I don’t think he could ever
be into me.”

               
“Would you want him to be?” She
asks.

               
I don’t even know what to say to
that.
 
I just shake my head.
 
“No, I couldn’t even imagine that happening.”

               
“Well, I think you are great and
will make a guy really happy when you find one you want to be with.”

               
Smiling, I reply, “Thanks.
 
So, how long have you been with Kent?”

               
“Two years,” Cassandra
retorts.
 
“We met through Joshua
actually.
 
Josh and Kent went to high
school together, and then Josh and I met when we worked together at a
restaurant downtown.”

               
“How old are you guys?” I ask.

               
“I am 22, and Josh and Kent are
23.
 
Jeremy is the
youngin
.
 
Well, no, you are actually.”

               
Bashfully, I smirk.
 
“I am not part of your group of friends.
 
It’s probably a little weird for Jeremy to be
hanging out with me anyway.”

               
“It would be weird if you were
12, or even 16.
 
You are a senior in high
school, right?”

               
“Yeah,” I reply.
 
“I am 18.”

               
Waving her hand, she says, “See,
you are an adult.
 
It’s all good.
 
Don’t think we are going to let you drink
though.”

               
That makes me burst out
laughing.
 
“Don’t
worry,
you will never catch me drinking.
 
Let’s
just say I have dealt with enough that in my life to not make me want to drink
ever.”

               
“Eh, I understand.
 
My grandfather was an alcoholic and it made
me realize I never want to get that way.”

               
I bite my lip.
 
“Yeah, I have dealt with an alcoholic,
too.
 
It makes you think twice about
things.”

               
“No doubt,” she retorts.
 
“Jeremy and the guys don’t get out of control
and they definitely don’t drink and drive.
 
Once you get your license, don’t be surprised if you get a call in the
middle of the night.
 
They will go out at
all hours, but if they have more than two beers, they don’t drive,
aaannnnddd
are way too lazy to walk anywhere.”

               
“Well, that will be tough
because I don’t have a car,” I reply.
 
“So, they are stuck walking.”

               
With a heavy sigh, Cassandra
goes, “
No, that
means I am stuck picking them up.
 
Jeremy should leave his car with you, so that
you can do it.”

               
Laughing, I say, “
Yeah, that
will happen.”

               
Cassandra smiles, “Hey, a girl
can wish.”

               
Jeremy comes up next to us with
pizza.
 
“Alright, this was quick and
easy.
 
I am starving.”

               
“Yeah,” I reply, “You are
wasting away to nothingness.”

               
“Hey,” he snaps playfully, “I
have an awesome physique and need to keep it nourished.”

               
Rolling her eyes, Cassandra
groans.
 
“They are ridiculous.
 
Joshua is a black belt and has Kent and
Jeremy here fighting every chance they get.
 
They are absurd.
 
I mean, don’t
get me wrong, they are in awesome shape, but it gets old, watching them wrestle
around all the time.”
                     

               
“I run too, every night,” Jeremy
draws out as though he is annoyed, but then he gives that awesome smile of his.

               
“You need to bring her around,
then
maybe I will have something to entertain me other than
watching you bone heads,” Cassandra counters with a smirk.

               
That makes me very nervous.
 
“No, he sees me enough.”

               
Suddenly looking at me, Jeremy
asks, “Are you growing tired of me?”

               
“What!?”
I gasp, “No!
 
I just…I don’t know.
 
Aren’t you getting sick of me hanging
around?”

               
Furrowing his eyebrows, Jeremy
retorts harshly, “No.
 
Trust me
Isabelle,
you will know if I don’t want you around.”

               
“Okay,” I whisper.

               
Since he is sitting next to me,
he nudges me with his shoulder.
 
“I have
fun with you.”

               
“Yeah, you are fun,” Cassandra
adds on.
 
“One day you and I need to go
shopping on our own.
 
I need to take you
to get some new bras and stuff.”

               
Jeremy slams his hand down on
the table, and exclaims, “I have to miss that, too!”

               
“Yes,” I hiss.
 
“I am not going underwear shopping with you.”

               
“Why?” He laughs.
 
“I can tell you what looks good.”

               
I turn to Cassandra.
 
“Are all boys like this?”

               
“Pretty much,” she answers with
a sigh.

               
We eat our pizza and talk about
random things.
 
When we are done,
Cassandra looks at her phone.
 
“I really
need to get back.”

               
“Okay,” Jeremy retorts.
 
“Let’s go then.”
 
We make our way outside and shove everything
in the car’s trunk.
 
“Here you go,” he
says, tossing me the keys.

               
“I am NOT going to back up your
car!
 
That’s worse than pulling into a
spot.
 
We haven’t tried reverse yet!” I
yell in fear.

               
Ruffling my hair, Jeremy takes
the keys back.
 
“Fine, I will drive.”

               
“I will get into the back,” I
say, fixing my hair, “You have to get out first Cassandra.”

               
“Won’t argue with that,” she
replies.

               
When I get into the back, I
close my eyes.
 
I haven’t done this much
in a long time.
 
Spending time by
yourself
is not very stressful.
 
A while goes
by,
when I suddenly feel fingers run down the side of my face.
 
I open my eyes to find Jeremy in front of
me.
 
I jump up.
 
The car is stopped, Cassandra is gone and
Jeremy has the front seat forward.
 
“Oh
my gosh
, I fell asleep!” I cover my face.
 
“That is so embarrassing!”

               
“No, you drooling
was
cute,” he says with a smile.

               
“Dear lord, please tell me I
didn’t do that.”

               
Jeremy laughs.
 
“No, you didn’t.
 
You slept soundlessly and
rather cute actually.”

               
“Where is Cassandra?”

               
“I dropped her off a few seconds
ago.
 
Do you want to go home?”

               
“No,” I stammer.
 
“I am sorry.”

               
Squatting down, Jeremy
smiles.
 
“There is no reason to be
sorry.
 
I am rather narcoleptic
myself.
 
We can go back to my place and
take a nap if you want.”

               
Shyly, I say, “No, that’s
okay.
 
If you need to, you can take me
home.”

               
With a smirk, Jeremy replies,
“Nah, I am fine.
 
You up and ready now?”

               
“Yeah,” I answer.

               
“Good, because
you are driving.”
 
Groaning I
climb over the front seat into the driver’s side.
 
“Hey,” Jeremy yells, “be careful climbing all
over the interior.”

               
Oops.
 
“Sorry.”

               
“Be nice to my baby,” Jeremy replies
running his hands on the dash.

               
“Do you two want a moment
together?” I ask.

               
Jeremy laughs and answers, “No,
we have lots of alone time already.”

               
“Oh jeepers.”
 
I start the car, and slowly drive out of the
parking lot.
 
“Where are we going?”

               
“The cell store is on Lincoln.”

               
Suddenly, I jump up and down and
shout, “Oh! Oh! We have to stop at the coffee shop on Hickory!”

               
“Dear lord have mercy!
 
Why!?
 
You just scared the hell out of me!” Jeremy exclaims.

               
“There is this guy named Jack.
 
He is a good friend of Eric’s.
 
I couldn’t remember what kind of car this
was, and he wanted me to bring it by so he could see it.
 
We get free coffee if we do, and it may make
me a little bit cooler to someone.
 
So, PPPLLLEEEASSSEEE?”
I beg.

               
A snort and chuckle come out of
Jeremy.
 
“Yeah, go ahead.
 
Next time, bring it down a few notches.”

               
“Thank you!” I gleefully say, as
I jump over, and try to hug him, but for some reason our lips come
together.
 
It is quick and I pull back
right away.
 
I cover my mouth.
 
“I am sorry.
 
That is not what I meant to happen!”

               
“It’s alright,” Jeremy laughs,
putting his arm on the back of my seat.
 
“I know how hard it is to resist me.”

               
My eyes probably couldn’t roll
any farther back than they are now.
 
“Yes, Jeremy, you are the heart to all my deepest fantasies.”
 

               
As I start to drive again,
Jeremy leans against the door.
 
“So, tell
me about these deep dark fantasies.
 
What
am I wearing exactly?
 
Oh, much better,
what am I doing?”

               
“You are fully clothed to start
with.”

               
Scoffing, Jeremy says, “You
fantasize about me with my clothes on?
 
What kind of fantasy is that?
 
Do
I at least take my clothes off?”

               
“I don’t know!” I snap.
 
“I was joking.
 
There is no fantasy and you better keep your
clothes on!”

               
“But I look really good with
them off,” Jeremy teases.

               
I can’t help but look at
him.
 
“I don’t doubt that you do, but
that is not for me to see.”

               
“It would ruin any other guy for
you.
 
I am quite hot if I do say so
myself.”