Waiting for Perfect (33 page)

“Oh,
honey!
 
That’s wonderful!
 
Who is the lucky girl?”

“Candace
Schratter.
 
The girl who’s been
driving me home from school.”

My
mom’s lips curl up, and her eyes get big.
 
“This Candace, is she your girlfriend?”

“Ha,
no, mom.
 
We’re just friends.
 
We’re just going as friends.
 
She wasn’t going.
 
I wasn’t going.
 
So we decided to go together.
 
Friends, mom.
 
That’s it.”
 
I
need to assure her of this fact to prevent her from thinking I’m on my way to
getting married or something.

“I’m
so happy for you, mijo.
 
You are
going to look so handsome in a suit.”
 
The look of joy on her face is suddenly replaced by one of pure dread.
 
“Ay, mijo!
 
A suit!
 
We’ll
have to rent you one tonight to make sure it’s ready by Saturday!”
 
She stands and is halfway to the
kitchen for her purse.

“Mom!
 
Slow down.”
 
She turns back to me, waiting for some reason we can’t just
up and leave for a suit this very second.
 
“We were invited to Raj’s tonight.
 
His mom is making an authentic Indian dinner.”

“Oh?
 
Well, that’s nice of her.
 
What’s the occasion?”

“A
lawyer.
 
Mr. Sekhar’s friend is an
attorney.
 
He wants to talk to us
about this lawsuit with Ryan Morgan.”

Her
face falls.
 
“That girl hasn’t
pressed charges yet?”

I
shake my head.
 
“No, mom.
 
I think it’s time we talk to a
lawyer.
 
Morgan is suing me for a
lot of money.
 
We need to get some
advice about what to do.”

She
nods.
 
“Sí, mijo.”
 
She pets my hair and pulls me into a
hug.
 
“It’s okay.
 
We’ll figure this out.” She breathes a
loud sigh.
 
“You shouldn’t have
hurt that boy.”

I
stiffen at her statement and pull away.
 
“Mom, you don’t know what I saw, what he was doing to her.
 
He deserved a lot worse than what I did
to him.”

“Don’t
raise your voice to me, young man,” she says sternly.

“I’m
sorry.”
 
I shake my head.
 
“I’m sorry.
 
I didn’t mean to yell.
 
It’s just… that guy Morgan… he drives me crazy!
 
I saw him today at school blocking
Kendra’s path just to scare her.
 
He’s cruel.
 
I hate
him.
 
Plus, I thought you said you
were proud of me for protecting her.”

“I
am proud of you for standing up to him.
 
I am.
 
But I worry about
you, mijo.
 
I don’t want anything
to happen to you.”
 
I know she’s
thinking of Uncle Franco.
 
Her
brother-in-law is spending the next twenty years in jail for killing a man that
was hurting a woman.
 
The scenario
seems all too familiar.
 
I know it
has my mom on edge.

“I
know.
 
Me neither!” I try to laugh
to lighten the mood, but it comes out hoarse.
 
“Let’s just go to the Sekhars tonight and see what the
lawyer has to say.”

The
thought of meeting with Mr. Sekhar’s lawyer friend has my nerves pumping.
  
I know I should have seen an
attorney sooner.
 
I’m scheduled to
appear in court in November.
 
I need
to figure this thing out before my mom and I end up on the street.

SEBASTIAN

The
house is empty when I get home.
 
Aunt Maria called me when I was at the basketball court earlier, telling
me she and Nick were going to Raj’s house for dinner.
 
She asked if I wanted to go, but there was no way I was
going to sit next to Nick and Raj for two hours.
 
I’m sure they both hate my guts right now.

I
met with Coach Kline after school.
 
He told me at lunch to come to the court so he could take a look at
me.
 
I think I impressed him.
 
He had me play with two of his star
basketball players, and I held my ground.
 
Coach said he’d consider letting me on the team and would tell me
tomorrow.
 
There was a gleam in his
eye when he saw how I played, so I’m sure I’ll be starting on the team next
month.

I
grab a frozen burrito and toss it into the microwave.
 
While it heats, I text Kendra.

Me
:
Hey angel. What r u doing 2nite?

I
stare at my phone for a whole two minutes until she responds.

Kendra
:
Hi!
 
I’m working.
 
Off in an hour.
 
Wanna pick me up?
 
I need a ride.

Me:
Yes, please.
 
I miss
you.

Kendra:
 
U2.
 
Rose Canyon.
 
6:30?

Me:
Can’t wait.

Kendra:
:-)

She
texted me a smiley face.
  
I
wonder if there is an emoticon for “You’re amazing, and you make my life
complete.”
 
I’d send it.
 
I swear.

After
my burrito, I jump into the shower.
 
I wonder why she didn’t drive herself to work in her Benz.
 
I’m glad I have a reason to scoop her
up in the Mustang.
 
She hasn’t even
been in it yet.
 
Maybe I should
take her out to dinner.
 
But she
might have already eaten at the restaurant.
 
Maybe we should go to the movies.
 
But then I might get her home too late, and her parents will
hate me.
 
I want it to be
perfect.
 
I haven’t taken her on a
proper date yet.
 
But maybe she
doesn’t want to go on a date right now.
 
Maybe she just needs a ride home.
 
Ugh!
 
I’m driving myself
crazy.

Stepping
out of the shower, I grab my towel and drag it over my head before wrapping it
around my waist.
 
Pulling a comb
through my hair, I stare in the mirror and think about where to take
Kendra.
 
By the time I’m done
getting dressed and tying up my shoes, I think I‘ve figured out the perfect place
to take her.
 
I grab my phone to
make the arrangements.

At
6:10, I’m in the Mustang, driving toward the Canyon.
 
Trabuco Canyon Road is the windiest street I’ve ever driven
on, and I remind myself to come back here later when I have more time to run
this Mustang hard through its curves and twists.

When
I pull up to my girl’s restaurant, I’m five minutes early.
 
I walk inside, hoping to watch her work
for a little while.
 
I love seeing
new sides to her, and I’ve never seen her serving the public before.
 
I’m sure she’s sweet and helpful and
gets awesome tips.

I’m
proven right when I step into the bar area and see her laughing with an older
couple at their table.
 
She looks
happy.
 
A smile spreads across her
face when she spots me.
 
She says
something to the couple and walks in my direction.

“Hi,”
I say.

Without
a word, she throws her arms around me and nuzzles her face into my neck.
 
I lower my head until my nose is in her
hair and I’m breathing in strawberries.

She
pulls away, still wearing a grin.
 
“Thanks for picking me up.
 
My car is at the shop.
 
Let
me get my stuff.
 
I’ll be right
back.”
 
She walks toward the
kitchen, turning around once to look at me before disappearing through the
door.

My
hands are shoved in my pockets as I wait for her by the hostess desk.
 
The blonde girl at the desk is batting
her eyelashes at me.
 
Her lips turn
up when she sees I’m looking at her.
 
She fiddles with her necklace, trying to draw my attention to her
low-cut blouse.
 
It’s amazing she
thinks I could be attracted to her when the most perfect girl for me is right
behind the kitchen door.
 
I almost
laugh, but I try to be a gentleman and smile back casually.

When
Kendra emerges from the kitchen, she’s loosened her bun, so her hair hangs in
waves past her shoulders.
 
She’s wearing
tight black jeans and a cream-colored cashmere sweater that is begging to be
touched.

“Damn.”
 
It’s all I can say.
 
She always dresses casually at school,
and other than that, I’ve only seen her at the gym.
 
I really love those tiny spandex shorts she wears, don’t get
me wrong, but this – this is beautiful.
 
And the fact that she’s paired the ensemble with simple
black Converse reminds me of why I’m so attracted to her – simple style
without the need for flash, plastic, or anything unnecessary.
 
I’m glad she’s in tennis shoes.
 
She’s going to need them for our date.

She
lowers her head and hides a grin.

I
reach out my hand and take hers in mine.
 
“C’mon.”
 
I lead her out of
the restaurant to my car.
 
I walk
her to the passenger side and open her door.
 
She giggles and hops in.
 
I want tonight to be perfect.
 
This is, for all intents and purposes, our first date, and I
want to prove to her that I can be the man she thinks I can be – the man
I want to be.

When
I get in the car, she’s checking out its interior, running her fingers along
the smooth leather seats.
 
She
gives me an approving nod, and it makes me proud.
 
I absolutely love this car.

“This
is really nice, Sebastian.
 
I love
it.”

Ego
soaring, I beam.
 
“Thanks.
 
My dad and I fixed it up.
 
I’ll show you the ‘before’ pictures
sometime.”
 
I stop myself from
saying any more, remembering that those photos, along with everything else that
was in my house in San Antonio is probably long gone by now, taken by the bank,
or whoever we owed money to.

She
recognizes the change in me.
 
“Sebastian?
 
Are you
okay?
 
I’m sure it’s hard for you
to remember the good times with your dad.
 
You must miss him.”

She
totally gets me.
 
I’m happy I
decided to tell her about my parents.
 
Yeah, it’s a messed up story, but now that it’s out in the open, it’s
nice that she can understand.

“It’s
okay.
 
Working on this car with my
dad is a good memory.”
 
I smile to
let her know I’m alright.
 
With her
by my side supporting me, even when she knows my messed up history, I’m totally
alright.

“So
when do you have to be home?” I ask, pulling out of the parking lot and onto
the canyon road.

“Ten.”
 
Kendra makes a face like she’s
embarrassed.
 
“My mom likes me home
early on school nights.”

I
enclose her hand in mine.
 
“Me
too.
 
My aunt likes us home by ten
on school nights too.”
 
I think
that makes her feel better.

She
perks up and asks, “Where are we going anyway?”

A
devious smile creeps across my face.
 
“You’ll see.”

She
squeezes my hand, and my body reacts instantly.
 
I realize that every moment I’m with her, I fall harder for
this girl.
 
She makes me feel
things I’m not used to, things I’m slightly scared of.
 
If she can make me feel like this when
we’re together, what would it do to me if we were ever apart?
 
I’m getting used to her being with
me.
 
She’s become a part of
me.
 
What if she left me?
 
What if something happened to her?
 
I would be an empty shell, walking
through life without a heart, without a soul.

“I’m
excited for the dance on Saturday.”
 
She breaks my trance, taking me back to the here and now, making me
realize she’s here beside me.
 
She’s not leaving.
 
I don’t
have to worry about losing someone else I love.
 
Shit.
 
Love
?
 
Do I love Kendra?
 
I’ve never loved any girl before.
 
I don’t even know what love feels like.

“Sebastian,
you’re really quiet tonight.
 
Are
you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah.”
 
I clear my throat.
 
“Yeah, fine.
 
Just a little tired.”

“We
can do this another night if you want.
 
I mean, we’re going to the dance on Saturday anyway.
 
If you’re tired, maybe we should just
get to bed early tonight.”

“Are
you kidding?
 
No way, angel.
 
I’m taking you somewhere special.
 
We’re almost there.”

Two
minutes later, we pull up to my favorite Thai food restaurant.
 
I secretly pray she loves Thai food,
like I do.
 
I park the car and rush
around to open her door before she can.

When
she stands, she looks at the building skeptically.
 
There isn’t one other person in the place, which to me means
it’s still my favorite secret place, but to her could mean that it sucks so no
one eats here.

“I
love Thai food!
 
And I’m
starving.
 
This is perfect.”

Hallelujah.
 
I may have just fallen even harder for
her, if that’s possible.
 
We walk
to my corner booth.

“Ah,
Mr. Sebastian,” one of the waiters announces in a thick Thai accent.
 
“So happy to have you back.”
 
He rushes over to our table and places
menus in front of each of us.
 
He
looks to Kendra, and then to me.
 
“And you brought your beautiful friend this evening.”

“My
girlfriend,” I say proudly.
 
It
sounds so weird coming out of my mouth.
 
I’ve had girls that are friends.
 
I’ve had girls that I’ve screwed.
 
But I’ve never really had a girlfriend.
 
“Jaruk, this is Kendra.
 
Kendra, this is Jaruk.”

She
gives the man a kind smile.
 
“It’s
very nice to meet you, Jaruk.”

Jaruk
eyes me and exclaims,
 
“Mr.
Sebastian!
 
She is very
beautiful.
 
You treat her
nice.
 
She is nice girl.”

I
laugh.
 
“Yes, Jaruk, a very nice
girl.”
 
I see Kendra blushing.
 
I don’t take my eyes off her when I
say, “I’ll do my best to keep her happy.
 
I promise.”
 
It’s more a
promise to her than an assurance for Jaruk.
 
And I mean it.

We
order chicken curry and iced teas and share an awesome dinner together.
 
This is the best Thai restaurant I’ve
ever been to, but it can’t hold a freaking candle to the way I feel about the angel
sharing it with me.

When
we’re almost done with our meal, she says, “So do you take all your dates
here?”
 
I know she’s fishing, and
I’ll gladly oblige her.
 
There is
nothing to hide in this case.

“Nope.
 
Actually, I’ve never taken anyone here
before.
 
This is my special
place.”
 
I motion to the empty
booths next to us.
 
“As you can
see, there is never any wait.
 
The
food is amazing.
 
The service can’t
be beat.
 
I love this restaurant.”