Would you look at her, she looks at me

She got me thinking about her constantly but she don't know how I feel

And she carries on without a doubt, I wonder if she's figured it out

I'm crazy for this girl, I'm crazy for this girl

Chapter 2 – I Paid my Girlfriend Fifteen Bucks

The flight to Boston was awfully slow. Once the plane touched the ground, I turned on my phone again and dialled Sarah’s number.

“Sarah… Pick up, pick up, pick up…” I muttered under my breath. Ringing… Still ringing… No answer. Damn!

Before the pilot could even announce that it was safe to unbuckle, I’d already hoisted myself out of my seat. The old lady sitting beside me tugged on my sleeve and said, “Sit down. The plane’s still running,” so I did.

I glanced at my navy blue celestial wrist watch, which was a gift from Sarah during my eighteenth birthday. It was ten to two in the morning. Clenching my teeth, I looked outside the window, thoughtlessly tapping my fingers on the arm rest. Maybe Sarah was already asleep, but still…

When a stewardess announced that we’d landed safely on the airport, I got up as quickly as I could, slipping the gray beanie over my head before snatching my backpack from the luggage compartment. I nudged my way against the throng of passengers and jogged to the exit where I hailed the first taxi I laid my eyes on.

“Can’t we go any faster?” I told the cab driver once we reached the outskirts of Boston.

“We’re already running at eighty, kid,” he replied smirking.

I cursed, fixing my eyes on the road. How could I explain things to Sarah? My eyes slowly drooped but I fought it. I was tired as hell but I shouldn’t sleep.

From a distance, I could see lights from a nearby theme park, a giant Ferris wheel being the most noticeable figure.

Sarah wanted to go there. She told me many times but I guess I never really gave much thought about it. When I came back from my concert tour a year ago, I thought I’d surprise her. Instead of going to some theme park like she asked, I thought I’d make it grand. A year had already passed since then but it was still fresh in my memory.

Dear Sarah,

Did you miss me? But before you answer that, will you find me first? And wear something nice.

xxx

Leon

That was the note which came with the black limo I sent to pick her up that day.

There I waited for Sarah. I took a glance at my watch. Eight ten PM. She was ten minutes late.

“Guys? Everything set?” I asked the crew who waited patiently at their assigned places. The supervisor straightened his coat and gave me a gloved thumb up.

The yacht bobbed gently with the ripples of the mid-summer tide in Gloucester Beach. There were a few people on the beach but they wouldn’t be much of the problem since I planned to cruise a bit once she got here. The moon wasn’t full, waning a little bit on the left side, like a toenail.

I paced the floor, tugging on my waist coat, loosening the bow tie around my neck, wondering whatever happened to Sarah Littman. A slight gust of salty wind blew towards my spot. It left a weird taste in my mouth. The thousands of small flickering lights along with the bouquets of blue hydrangeas lining the deck were a little dishevelled but they’d have to do. I remembered her mentioning how she loved those flowers. Said they were the color of my eyes.

In the middle of the deck was a small table for two. Oh crud, the wine bottle was facing the wrong way. I should…

The supervisor straightened as he looked down from the ledge of the yacht.

“Target at twelve o’clock,” he said tilting a head to some of the waiters who scurried back to their places. He held a finger up, signalling for the musicians to wait a bit longer.

Taking a few deep breaths, I waited at the back, panicking. I didn’t know where to put my hands. To the sides? Behind me? I ended up pocketing them. Keep your cool, I breathed.

“Miss,” the supervisor lowered a hand when I saw her climb up.

With a timid smile, Sarah took the supervisor’s hand, her storm-gray eyes sweeping the area with one unsure look. I felt my lips pulling up on their own as she treaded lightly to where I stood and as she did, the sound of violins filled the air.

Perfect timing.

The supervisor winked. I made a mental note to give him a bonus.

My smile widened as I fixed my eyes on her, sweeping every detail of her from head to foot and burning it to my memory. I’d never seen anything more beautiful. Her long brown wavy hair was tied on the side of her neck, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. The simple beige dress she was wearing complimented her eyes. She was even wearing a bit of makeup, though it really won’t matter if she didn’t.

She was just… what’s the word? Yep. Perfect.

And she got no clue about it.

When she was finally in front of me, I blinked and dropped my gaze for a while to shake away the daze.

“High heels, huh,” I teased, unable to erase the smile on my face.

She pouted and looked up at me through her long lashes. “Jerk,” she murmured giving me a nudge. “You know I hate wearing these.”

I blurted out a silent laugh and faked a wince. “Oh, so you’re hurting me now? If I were you I’d be a lot more careful,” I said searching for her hand, pulling her to me.

“I see… you’ve become a wimp,” she stuttered with her face pressed on my chest.

“Nope,” I cupped her face with my hands and pushed the loose locks of hair from her eyes. “But if you break me, you won’t have a spare.” I let out a chuckle.

Her hands were trembling when I took it. I seemed to have that effect on her. Not sure if that was a good thing though. Her eyes were wide. I noticed she wasn’t breathing and that just made me want to kiss her. So bad. So I did.

I kissed her parted lips, then her eyes and god knows how much I wanted more. But I told myself, that was enough. For now at least.

Offering her a hand, I said “May I have this dance?” taking no for an answer, not minding the protest on her face as she tried to open her mouth.

“Don’t you think… this is just a bit… too much?” she mumbled eyeing on the whole of the deck as we danced slowly.

We weren’t really dancing though, much like stepping left and right while I held on the back of her small waist. I guess she didn’t want her shoes to go flying off anytime soon. I twirled her around and caught her again. She winced, gasping a little. That couldn’t be good.

“Nothing’s too much for you,” I whispered to her ear and she cringed again. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it? I said I’d make it up to you for not taking you to the Prom, didn’t I?”

She shook her head, a light hue of pink making its way to her cheeks again. I sighed. What should I do with her? I thought everything was perfect. Wasn’t it enough?

“No,” she said, a tender smile playing on her lips. “It’s just like… just like a dream. Not like my seven horrible dreams about Prom, I mean. But way, way more… perfect. T-technically, I had half a mind to wear bubble wrap just in case, since in theory, I would probably attract more disasters tonight because it’s a full moon and—“

I concentrated on what she was saying, not really having any idea what she was getting at. Then my gaze trailed to her lips. I cut her rambling with another kiss, pulling away when I realized that she wasn’t breathing. Oh, come on!

Sarah blinked with a look on her face like “Who are you? Where am I?” I tried hard not to but I laughed anyway. It was funny but in a cute way only she could pull off. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed. Here she goes again, I thought. I could never tell why the hell I fell for her. Maybe the water system had mind control drugs in them.

She was just… too complicated. I couldn’t care less if she bewitched me or put lots of MSG in my ketchup-free French fries. All I knew was that I’d rather be by her side than anywhere else in the world.

“Leonard Daniel Walden!” Her shaky voice went up a notch in my shrill meter. “I was trying to say something. Would it kill you to listen for just a bit? D-do that again or I swear I’ll—“

Before she could go on and on about me being a jerk and what not, I crashed my lips on hers again, this time with a little more intensity. I took a deep breath when we parted, sporting a smile when I lifted her chin.

“You were saying?” I said watching her blink.

I was woken by the sudden jolt of the cab stopping. Rubbing my eyes, I replaced the thick glasses on my face and handed the cash to the cab driver. I got out of the cab looking up to Sarah’s window. The lights were off.

The rumble of engines faded into the street before I dialled her number again.

No answer.

After pacing in the sidewalk for a few minutes, I picked up a pebble and aimed at her window. It ricocheted back near my sneakers. I picked it up again and threw. Before it hit the pane, the window opened followed by a muffled cry from Sarah’s room.

Sarah had a hand clasped over her forehead when she leaned over her window to look.

“What do you want?” she hissed angrily.

I thought, oh no, Hurricane Katrina part two, gulped then pocketed my hands.

“Let’s talk… Please?” I replied in a careful undertone.

A minute later and I heard her silent footfalls. I tapped my foot on the first landing of the front porch while waiting. What was taking her so long?

As soon as the door opened, I snatched Sarah’s hand and pulled her to me. When she struggled, I tightened my arms around her a little bit, burying my face on her neck. Her hair smelled of green apples.

“I missed you so much,” I whispered, not letting her go when she tried to push me away.

She didn’t answer. I realized she was trying not to cry, the way her shoulders shook against my arms.

“You’re late,” she rasped.

“I know, I know. I’m so sorry Sarah. About missing your birthday, the graduation… About everything. I really am sorry.”

“Don’t forget homecoming. And this,” said she pointing at the swollen lump on her forehead where the pebble hit her.

That was my cue—she was still angry but not I’ll-pulverize- you-with-a-bazooka angry and that was the best I could do— so I let go and took her hand instead.

“I thought you hated to go to the homecoming?”

She bit her lip. I had the sudden urge to kiss her, but not just yet.

“Yeah, b-but I just had to point it out,” she mumbled avoiding my eyes.

Oh for the love of—

“Well, in that case, sorry about that too…”  Guilty, your honor.

The corners of her lips slowly pulled up but she held them back. “That’s fifteen bucks total. And I’m not counting those via phone so you’ve got a discount. Pay up.”

We had this private joke that every sorry said would charge five bucks each so I reached for my wallet, rubbing the corner of my brow. And since I had a lot to be sorry for, I might as well consider being a hobo as a future career.

“I was kidding, dummy,” she muttered, giving me a nudge on the side when she took the cash from my hand and put it back inside my wallet.

 She wasn’t smiling, meaning she was still upset. Why was it so hard to make her smile? My jokes worked well with other people… even if they weren’t that funny. Maybe she had the PMS… or something.

“The phone call…” I mentioned as we leaned side by side on the balusters. “That was Megan—you know, Moira’s niece, my P.A.? I didn’t know she’d be like that, Sarah. I had no idea she was such a bi—“ I held my tongue and pinched the bridge of my nose.

My shoulders tensed. I gripped on the wooden railing until my knuckles turned numb and white. Megan had no right to talk to Sarah that way. Clenching my teeth, I took a deep breath and swallowed hard. I had to control myself, for Sarah’s sake.

“I already told Moira to fire her. And shut her up,” I said putting up a composed front.

She leaned her head on my shoulder, sighing. “You’re Leon Walden… It can’t be avoided that some girls go crazy about you. It’s not what bothers me.”

I searched for her hand and placed it inside my jacket pocket. They were cold when I weaved my fingers through them.

“Go crazy?” I scoffed with a cold chuckle. I was about to ask her what was bothering her when I heard a high-pitched cry from upstairs.

“Oh shoot,” Sarah jumped from the baluster, palm on forehead. “Jeremiah must’ve woken up.”

Her eight month-old baby brother, Jeremiah cried angrily again. Louder this time. Very nice timing Jer!

It was Sarah who named him. And yes, he was named after my first lead movie role, Jeremiah; the boy who changed the world. She thought the name was unique and cool. Right… Not like I’d argue with her.

“He’s really irritable now. Another tooth eruption. And Mom’s having a beauty sleep for the big day, you know.” She shifted uneasily on the balls of her feet and looked urgently to the door. “I really have to go, Leon. Sorry.”

Only then did I realize that the big day would be tomorrow. It was Freddy and Emma’s wedding. As Freddy had always said, it’s better late than never.

Placing the blue box on her hand, I nodded and kissed her on the forehead.

“Belated happy birthday,” I said, watching a smile lit up her eyes. “Go,” I urged and she darted back to the house. But before she reached the door, Sarah ran back to me, got up on her toes and gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

“Good night,” she said smiling, her cheeks turning a bright pink while she walked away. “Oh, and I owe you five bucks.”

Note to self: Sarah had just learned a new trick—initiative.

The door closed with a soft thud. I stood there smiling, thinking if I’d still be able to fall asleep.

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Uh... yeah I know. It's a late update. I'm having one of those crazy days. Haha. And well, I'm glad to see that people are still reading this. If there are questions or errors or anything that bothers you, don't hesitate to leave a message ok? Oh and yeah! Thanks so much to all of you for reading my works.

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~shim :)