quietly down the stairs. Dad and Sue whispered. A door closed. I chuckled. Whoever it was got scared off. Yah! Not having to deal with him calmed me.
Crawling over to the basket, I found a package of cookies and crept back to my spot near the light. I was back to reading while stuffing my face. I love Oreos.
After inhaling half the bag I dug for something else to eat. A quiet tap at the window froze me in mid-reach. With a smothered gasp, I jumped up and turned off the light. Fear caused hesitation. Sucking in a deep breath, I peeked through the curtains. I shouldn’t have done that. I was weak and couldn’t resist.
Kevin was in a small tree just outside the window. He motioned for me to open the sliding glass. I’d never had a boy at my window before. Tracy Walton in Oklahoma last month didn't count -- he was only thirteen and his voice cracked so much I could barely understand a word he said before our neighbors called Sue.
I slid the window open and whispered, “Are you crazy? What are you doing?” I barely kept a giggle from escaping.
He whispered back, “I noticed your light on and thought maybe you couldn’t sleep, either.”
I shook my head as I grinned at him. It was so cute the way he tried to look nonchalant while perched precariously on a small limb that surprisingly held him. What I wouldn’t have given to have been able to climb out the window and go for that moonlit walk I’d thought about earlier. My fantasy of walking hand in hand played out in my head again. My heart twisted as my duty and my wants warred, each pulled in drastically different directions.
I liked him here and couldn’t keep that out of my voice. “You’re going to get caught.” It sounded too playful.
He put his finger to his lips. “Not if we keep it quiet.”
I made my voice stern and knew from experience talking would only encouraged him. “You shouldn’t be here.”
He frowned and looked down. “I know … but you leave tomorrow and I wanted more time with you. The short while in the car wasn't enough.”
Playfulness bubbled to the surface and I needed to keep this light. “I thought Huskers were supposed to hate Sooners.”
He grinned. “Nah, that’s a horrible myth spread by Longhorns.”
I had to put my hand over my mouth to muffle my laugh. With effort, I quieted myself. “Well, you’re too late. I was just about to turn out the light and go to sleep.”
“Don’t go yet.” He looked at me with such a pound puppy sadness, I froze.
With all my heart I wanted so desperately to reach out to him. He’d touched my heart and now I couldn’t do what I knew I should. I should’ve said goodnight, closed the window, turned off the light and gone to sleep. I should have, but I didn’t.
“Okay, a few minutes, but that’s all.” Yes, just a few minutes to feed my heart, hungry for love and attention. I hoped he couldn’t see how pathetic I was.
His smile returned. “So, are you excited about moving to Alaska?”
My whole face dropped. “No.”
I hated the idea. I hated that I didn’t matter enough to my dad to stay put at least until after The Change. I couldn’t tell Kevin that.
“Why not?” He looked concerned.
Something to say, something to say. “I don’t know anyone there.” Sigh. That was true. “I’m already homesick.” I couldn’t explain about feeling vulnerable and frightened. I wished that I could tell him these things and let him put his arms around me and comfort me just like I knew he would.
He reached his hand out and touched the screen. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
That simple gesture quickened my heart. He was so kind. Maybe after The Change he would be able to see me as someone he could consider being with.
I shrugged from that thought. “Thanks.” Sigh. “But I’m okay.” I took a theatrical stance with the back of my hand against my forehead and my eyes shut. “I’ll survive.” I smiled as I opened my eyes, trying to look light-hearted and was glad
Crawling over to the basket, I found a package of cookies and crept back to my spot near the light. I was back to reading while stuffing my face. I love Oreos.
After inhaling half the bag I dug for something else to eat. A quiet tap at the window froze me in mid-reach. With a smothered gasp, I jumped up and turned off the light. Fear caused hesitation. Sucking in a deep breath, I peeked through the curtains. I shouldn’t have done that. I was weak and couldn’t resist.
Kevin was in a small tree just outside the window. He motioned for me to open the sliding glass. I’d never had a boy at my window before. Tracy Walton in Oklahoma last month didn't count -- he was only thirteen and his voice cracked so much I could barely understand a word he said before our neighbors called Sue.
I slid the window open and whispered, “Are you crazy? What are you doing?” I barely kept a giggle from escaping.
He whispered back, “I noticed your light on and thought maybe you couldn’t sleep, either.”
I shook my head as I grinned at him. It was so cute the way he tried to look nonchalant while perched precariously on a small limb that surprisingly held him. What I wouldn’t have given to have been able to climb out the window and go for that moonlit walk I’d thought about earlier. My fantasy of walking hand in hand played out in my head again. My heart twisted as my duty and my wants warred, each pulled in drastically different directions.
I liked him here and couldn’t keep that out of my voice. “You’re going to get caught.” It sounded too playful.
He put his finger to his lips. “Not if we keep it quiet.”
I made my voice stern and knew from experience talking would only encouraged him. “You shouldn’t be here.”
He frowned and looked down. “I know … but you leave tomorrow and I wanted more time with you. The short while in the car wasn't enough.”
Playfulness bubbled to the surface and I needed to keep this light. “I thought Huskers were supposed to hate Sooners.”
He grinned. “Nah, that’s a horrible myth spread by Longhorns.”
I had to put my hand over my mouth to muffle my laugh. With effort, I quieted myself. “Well, you’re too late. I was just about to turn out the light and go to sleep.”
“Don’t go yet.” He looked at me with such a pound puppy sadness, I froze.
With all my heart I wanted so desperately to reach out to him. He’d touched my heart and now I couldn’t do what I knew I should. I should’ve said goodnight, closed the window, turned off the light and gone to sleep. I should have, but I didn’t.
“Okay, a few minutes, but that’s all.” Yes, just a few minutes to feed my heart, hungry for love and attention. I hoped he couldn’t see how pathetic I was.
His smile returned. “So, are you excited about moving to Alaska?”
My whole face dropped. “No.”
I hated the idea. I hated that I didn’t matter enough to my dad to stay put at least until after The Change. I couldn’t tell Kevin that.
“Why not?” He looked concerned.
Something to say, something to say. “I don’t know anyone there.” Sigh. That was true. “I’m already homesick.” I couldn’t explain about feeling vulnerable and frightened. I wished that I could tell him these things and let him put his arms around me and comfort me just like I knew he would.
He reached his hand out and touched the screen. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
That simple gesture quickened my heart. He was so kind. Maybe after The Change he would be able to see me as someone he could consider being with.
I shrugged from that thought. “Thanks.” Sigh. “But I’m okay.” I took a theatrical stance with the back of my hand against my forehead and my eyes shut. “I’ll survive.” I smiled as I opened my eyes, trying to look light-hearted and was glad
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