Exerpt of chapter 1

Chapter 1
Jackie Austin, was having a nightmare just before her tom and jerry alarm clock went on one of it’s beeping tangents forcing her to open her eyes and realize that she was in the ferocious grasp of her pink flower printed blanket. After a few moments of struggling in the confines of the fabric, she was able to get free and wriggle out of her cocoon and slip into a standing position on the pink carpeting of her room.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
“Oh, shut up!” she said, forcefully hitting the off button on her alarm clock, which then led to mumbling before she dragged her self to the hall closet to get a towel and head into the bathroom. At this point of this Monday morning, her pajama pants caught on a nail tearing the cloth and scratching her leg.
“Ow, mother, gur,” Jackie instinctively clasped her hand over the small wound, almost stumbling into a wall. After a few moments of trying to ease the pain with a strand of incoherent curses, she wobbled into the bathroom, taking a very hasty shower, seeing that she instinctively set her alarm clock thirty minuets ahead of her normal time so she could get a little more sleep, but this only resulted in being slightly late, and Jackie Austin was never late.
It took her a total of fifteen minuets, to clean, blow dry and straighten her light brown hair, beating her record time of twenty one point seven minuets. She had set a very particular outfit upon her dresser, faded blue Capri and a plain green shirt with a random arrangement of buttons, that served no purpose.
Tying her hair up in a half pony tale, she realized that her closet door was open. Now she knew she’d closed that before she went to bed, for Jackie had a perfectionist taste when it came to how her room must look at all times, and leaving the closet doors open, well it was unheard of. Straightening her blouse she walked defiantly to her closet, shoulders back, jaw line clenched. But a strange surge prickled her skin, and she could feel a trail of Goosebumps form upon her arms, she had a hand each of the white closet door knobs.
“Hello,” she felt silly talking to herself like this, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched by close eyes.
“Hurry up,“ her Dad’s voice yelled from downstairs, she was quickly broken out of this silly little mind game, “your gonna be late for school.“
“Coming.” She called back down, just as she was closing the closet, and slipping her shoes on that sat waiting at the front of her bed, where she had left them.
Her father was standing over the oven in her mothers red frilly apron, humming the “Price is Right!” theme song.
“Morning,” He chimed with an overly enthusiastic attitude.
“Good morning, dad,” Jackie responded, putting a dab of syrup atop her pancakes he placed in front of her, before cutting it to tiny bites that she would eat at a reasonable pace.
Mr. Austin slipped into the seat beside her pulling out the daily paper, turning to the sports section and began to read, his lips moving silently with every word. Jackie’s mother was already at the gourmet restaurant her parents owned, and wouldn’t be seen until later that night, so as she finished her breakfast, she kissed her dad on the cheek goodbye, and left grabbing her back pack that was sitting by the door, just where she had left it.
She could hear the rumbling of music coming up the street, before she saw the car. She had just reached Katie’s front door as the red convertible shot past beeping and yelling as it went. The passengers hanging out of the windows, hands raised up to the sky, hair flinging into there god like faces. It was the “in crowd“ making their way to school, the same as the rest of us, the not-so-cool kids, riding the 7:30 bus to Peterson High School.
Rolling her eyes profusely she brought her finger to the door bell and pushed it, she could her the load chiming vibrating through the house, before the door was quickly pulled open revealing Kate. Now Jackie has been Kate’s best friend since, well forever, it was funny how they are so different, Jackie being the class valedictorian and Kate being the fashion-ista.
To prove this point, Kate swung open the door, flipping her straight chestnut hair behind her shoulder as she strutted out of the house, in a pair of skinny jeans, and a lacy blue baby doll shirt.
“Hey,” she said gleefully she slung her matching blue tote bag over her shoulder.
Jackie replied with a polite, “Morning,” with a roll of her eyes.
“What’s that look for? It took me three hours to pick out this outfit,” Nervousness quickly flickered across Kate’s face, “Do you think it’s too plain? Should I change. I think I should go change.”
“Kate you look good in about anything. So stop worrying so much, my goodness.”
“You sure now?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Ok?”
Katie just sighed, nodding.
The bus stop was located at the Chimney Lakes subdivision sign, besides Kate and Jackie, there were three others standing there, Cindy Coffer the gossip, James Luke the nerd, and the new guy, he leaned against the sign his bag leaning against his leg.
“Oh, cutie by the sign,” Kate giggled, “Don’t you think Jack?”
“Mhmm…sure…“ Jackie didn’t even look as the boy as she watched the street for the yellow bus that will soon take them to school.
The boy ran a hand through his blond hair as he let out an exasperated yawn.
“We should go over there and talk to him.” Kate said playfully.
Jackie once again, ignored her friend as she checked her watch for the time, it was two minuets past the time the bus should be there. She tapped her foot on the ground impatiently adjusting her book bag that was hanging off of one shoulder.
“Come on Jackie, look at him…”
“Look at who?” Jakie finally turned her attention to her friend.
“Have you been listening at all?” Kate asked.
“Not really…” Jackie was a truthful person, and even if she said she were her friend would have caught the lie before it was out of her mouth.
“The boy over there.” Kate pointed towards the tall blond and handsome new guy who was still casually leaning against the entrance sign.
“Don’t you have a boyfriend already?” Jackie asked.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I can’t check out what’s on the market from time to time.” Kate giggled again.
Jackie shook her head finally spotting the big yellow bus. It pulled up a to the bus stop, Jackie and Kate were the first ones to take the three big steps onto the big huge yellow vehicle. They sat in the third seat back on the left, their seat since they could remember. As if they were routinely drawn to the same place every morning and every afternoon. When everyone was on bored the bus driver grunted as he started speeding down the road again towards James Peterson High.
With reaching school, Katie pulled out an apple from her bag and began to munch on it, waiting for her boyfriend Jaxon to show up, while Jackie flipped aimlessly through her text books, since she already memorized her schedule and Kate wasn’t much up for conversation. They had taken resident on a bench near the out door lockers, where the sun just could reach it.
The apple slipped from Kate’s grasp, falling to the cement with a soft thud, Her face flushed of all color and she seemed frozen in place.
Jackie peeled her eyes from the intro to physics page, to give her friend a puzzled look, “What is it, you look as though you’ve seen a ghost.” she laughed slightly as she followed Kate’s gaze towards the fountain, where the “in crowd” hung out. There in the giggling of superficial blonds and steroid stuffed jocks was Jaxon, and get this, Amber. Amber Macintosh, she basically owns the school, sitting on her throne in the presence of the populars, had her tongue stuffed down Jaxon Adams throat, Kate’s boyfriend.
Tears sprang to Kate’s eyes as she turned around and hastily made her way to the bathrooms to hide from shame.
“Katie wait!” Jackie bite her bottom lip, split between, smacking some sense into Jaxon, and comforting her best friend. She quickly gathered her thing, before racing towards the girls restrooms.
“Katie?” she opened the door tentatively before walking in, setting the books on the corner of one of the sinks. There was a sniffel from the end stall where a pair of blue pumps could be see from under the door. Jackie tapped upon the door, that creaked open slightly.
“Oh, Kate…“ Jackie hugged her friend rubbing her back comfortingly, “It’ll be
ok, you never really loved Jaxon anyways, remember you told me…he wasn‘t the one.”
“I know what I told you, and it isn’t because I did love him, that I’m in here. I’ve been completely humiliated.” She banged her fist into the side of the stall.
“What are you talking about, it wasn’t like he was kissing Ellen Comer, think about it this way, yes he cheated on you with the most popular girl in school, but it just proves that your close to that standard. Now if he was making out with Ellen then you can say you were humiliated, and even…it‘s Ellen Comer.”
Kate laughed as she dabbed at the corner of her eyes with a piece of toilet paper.
“So can we get out of here, the bell just rang, and I rather not be late to my first class,?”
“Ya, we can go,” Kate followed Jackie out of the stall they grabbed their books and both headed out into the hallway, where everyone was now in a frenzy having not yet located their classes.
Mrs. Carter was a fat old aging women with a unwomanly deep voice. She taught English Literature and talked in an overly proper voice. The broken piece of chalk she held in her chubby fingers hit the board in quick thuds. The overly obnoxious dress she wore did not lighten her very peevish mood, or the grimness of the class room attitude.
“Jackie Austin!” she turned on her heal to gaze straight at Jackie, yet still not to fully see her.
“Umm…y…yes…” It amazed her that, Mrs. Carter already knew her name already.
“Do not stutter at me girl,” she said sharply, slamming the chalk onto her desk.
“I’m sorry…”Jackie tried to apologize, but was soon cut off by the sharp jeering voice of Mrs. Carter.
“Never, say I’m, always I am. When you speak to me, speak to me as though you are writing an epic on the war, that started on April 12, 1861. Do you know what war that was Miss. Austin?”
“I believe it was the Civil war Mrs. Carter.”
No reaction played upon the teacher’s face as she turned away, back towards the board. “Do you know any world renown authors who have written about this war, Miss. Austin?”
“Army Life In A Black Regiment by Thomas Wentworth Higginson, that is one of my personal favorites,” Jackie said folding and unfolding the corner of the piece of paper that she had set in front of her.
“Mhmm,” was all Mrs. Carter said to that, almost displeased that her little game was not in the slightest going in her way.
Jackie heard a cough of sniggering and then a quick “nerd” and more sniggering. As Mrs. Carter moved on, more questions to unsuspecting prey.
When lunch came around, Jackie met up with Kate in their usual spot at the little round table in the corner of the cafeteria. Unfortunately for Jackie and Kate, Jaxon had the same lunch with them. He was the tall dark and handsome type, the one everyone wishes they could have but really can’t, or something like that. He set his tray down in taking the seat next to Kate, giving her a peck on the cheek, which she responded to by moving her chair closer to Jackie, and further away from, him.
He didn’t seem to notice, scanning his eyes over Kate and then taking a huge bite out of his pepperoni pizza, giving the same look to Jackie. “How have you sweet little bunnies been?” he asked, giving them a sly smile.
Kate set down her fork that she was using to pick at the apple cobbler, she returned the smile, “Well, sweetie, I’ve been just dandy, minus the fact that, well let’s just say,” she gave a very fake giggle before looking around and continuing, “were over.”
“What are you talking about?” he look taken a back at the forwardness.
Kate stood up very suddenly, almost pushing over her chair, “Well asshole, did you think I didn’t see you?”
“See what?”
“Don’t play dumb with me.”
“I seriously don’t know what your talking about.” Jaxon was trying to pull Kate back into her chair by tugging slightly on her shirt, but she wasn’t going to have anything to do with that.
Jerking away from his reach, she practically shouts, “You.., Amber.., at the fountain this morning! Your faces were suction cupped together so that I didn‘t know where one face began and the other one ended.”
People were starting to stare now. You could hear questions of, “what’s happening” and replies of, “I don’t know.”
“Kate, ummm…I think we should…” But Kate quickly interrupted her friend
She turned towards Jackie, her face red and blotchy with emotion. “Jackie, I’m going to say this right here and right now,” she turned back to Jaxon, “We’re over you, you son of a bitch.”
With that Kate grabbed Jackie’s hand, pulling her toward the exit. They left Jaxon sitting open mouthed, staring blankly at their backs as they left him in that dark corner of the cafeteria.
“I can’t believe him, that…that…that jerk!”
“Calm down Katie,” the two of them were now standing outside next to the fountain. Jackie sitting in one of the benches, Kate pacing back and forth, a look of total rage upon her face.
“I can’t! Did you hear him,” Katie imitated Jaxon’s voice, “I don’t know what your talking about…blah blah blah blah blaaaaaah.”
“Still he’s not worth getting all worked up over,” Jackie stopped Kate’s pacing pulling her down onto the bench, “Just cool off for a sec.”
“You’re right, He’s not worth it. Not worth it at all.” Kate finally released the last of the steam and just watched the splashing water of the fountain. A few moments passed before Kate started talking again, “Hey Jackie, did you hear about those murders that happened during the summer?”
“Yeah, why do you ask?” Jackie pulled at a lose string at the bottom of her shirt.
“Well it did happen just over there in those woods, wouldn’t it be, like, really freaky if they hadn’t caught the guy yet?”
“Yes it would, but he was caught, it was that deputy guy,” The girls looked past the fountain towards the trees.
“Yeah, the papers said he tried to make a run for it, do you remember who he killed.”
“Luke and Audrey, and the sheriff,” Jackie bowed her head in a quick moment of silence, remembering the two lovers that would have been in there class. Yes, they were part of the “in crowd“, but it seemed as though there deaths hadn’t effected the overly high spirits of the click. Jackie spotted a flash of red passing threw the trees. Jackie stood up taking a few steps forward, adrenaline suddenly spiked her blood “Did you see that?”
“Huh?”
“Someone’s over there,” Jackie started walking in the direction of the trees.
“What are you talking about? There’s no one over there Jackie. Jackie? Jackie!”

to be continued...

Prologue

Caution tape was wrapped around tree trucks, securely surrounding the crime scene beyond the woods of James Peterson High school. Where two twisted bodies of a girl and boy were entangled in each other, a look of perpetual fear was placed upon each of their faces, as blood oozed out of the puncture wounds that gaped open where the victim’s hearts should be. Sheriff Cornelius stood over the bodies, poking and prodding them with a long stick that he had found a few feet away. He cocked his head to one side, like a curious puppy, as he staggered a little closer, making sure not to lose his balance and fall over.
“This here was a sure stabbing,” he grumbled ferociously under his breath. Cornelius was a big man that had obviously eaten too many donuts in his lifetime. His brown curly hair was sticking to his glistening forehead in the late summer heat, as the shinny golden badge he wore on his shirt, glinted off the early morning Floridian sunrise. He gave the resemblance of a grumpy grizzly bear awoken from hibernation, but as his cadets knew, the sheriff was softer than a roasted marshmallow.
“Sir, should you be messing with the evidence?”
“You worry too much Benson,” Cornelius dropped the stick wiping his hands upon his pants before he turned to struggle over the yellow warning tape.
Benson, seem to choke each time his gaze fell upon the two teens laying in the grass, with sweaty palms he held a red bandana to his gasping mouth, trying desperately to push the image out as he looked towards the school. All the windows were dark, giving the school that eerie sense of vacancy, until suddenly a light was switched on at the far right of the third floor. From this far away, you could just make out a shadow of a person peering through the window, before the outline melted into the room.
“Ummm…s…s…sir.”
“Benson, stop your fidgeting, it’s giving me the hebee-jebees.” The sheriff shook his body slightly, like a dog would after a bath, as he sat in the driver seat of the little police car. In a gruff voice he talked into the microphone where an incomprehensible voice responded back, “where’s the, fucking CSI creeps…well tell them to move faster…I don’t care…I want them here now, before the trail is lost…Bring the dogs ASAP…got it?…good…oh, and I and congratulations on the new edition to your family…of course, I can‘t wait to come over to see the little tike…”
“Sir, look!” Benson pointed towards the window.
“What?” when Cornelius finally set his gaze to the school, the light was cut out leaving the building looking empty as ever. “Are you feeling ok?”
“But I saw…”
“Come on Benson, it’s ok to admit it, you look completely drained. When CSI gets here take the cruiser and go home? Go sleep in your bed next to your wife… what’s her name again?”
“Lillian,” He replied.
“Right, Lillian…” But the sheriff was distracted as flashing lights could be seen pelting over the grass towards them.
“You know what, I’m going to take that offer, Chief…”
“Oh, yeah, right…I’m glad you see it my way.” he grunted, before directing his next comment towards the black cars. “Finally those sons of a bitches are here, took them long enough.” Cornelius placed his hand defiantly on the butt of his gun, as he turned around.
The unlabeled black cars came to a stop, leaving tire marks in the grass. A group of people, who resembled much of “men in black”, started spreading out around the perimeter of the murder scene.
One of the black suits, took notice of Ben, and started to make his way towards him, giving a head jerk greeting as he said, “Hey Benny, late night isn’t it, where’s the sheriff? I thought Cornelius was going to be down here,” he started to take off his black suit jacket before rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt, studying the crime scene from afar.
“Hey John,” Benny replied absentmindedly as he turned his head, and realizing that the sheriff was no longer next to him.
Jonathan took not of Bensons precarious glances, “What’s wrong?”
“Huh? Oh nothing…hey, I’m going to head home, if you see Cornelius tell he took the cruiser, he’s here by the way, probably fiddling with the crime scene.”
“Your not going to stay and watch?” Jonathan raised an eyebrow.
“Uh, no thanks, I don’t do well with dead bodies, I’ll see you around.” Benson got into the police car, starting the engine, John just waved him away as he stepped over the yellow tape heading to the investigation spot. Benson drove silently home, you could say he rode away into the sunset, since the sky started to brighten slightly and the clouds were a pearly pink color in the sky.

Exerpt- Chapter Three

The Big Bad Wolf comes to Pleasantville
(Excerpt)
The next few days were nothing really special, same classes, same teachers, same people. Toby sat with Kate and Jackie at lunch, Jaxon and Amber could be found making out over by the fountain, and Mrs. Carter was just, well, her usual self, mean and crude. Finally, the weekend came around, and Jackie was stuck at home, as usual, doing nothing but reading a classic R.L. Stine book in her bedroom with plate of homemade chocolate chunky chip cookies placed next to her. The volume on her stereo was lowered to a deep drawl, where all you could hear was the melodramatic beat of the music.
Downstairs someone had pushed the door bell.
Jackie was the only one home this fine Saturday, so naturally she pulled herself out of bed to go answer the ringing call of the bell. Her visitor, was a gorgeous smile looking at her and it was attached to none other than Toby. He was holding a small flower, well not actually a flower but a little weed, in his hand that he held out in front of him.
Jackie rolled her eyes, and was slowly pushing the door back closed.
“Wait!“ she stopped, keeping the door half closed, in preparation for a fine slam of wood against wood, “I know, I know, I’m not the person you want to see at your front door, but boredom has dragged me out of my painfully empty house. So, I decided to pay a visit to my bestest friend in the whole, wide, world.”
Jackie just cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Too much?”
She nodded, “Too much.”
“I thought so, here let me try again,” Toby grabbed the door handle and closed it, before ringing the door bell, again.
Shaking her head Jackie answered the door, giving Toby a, are-you-kidding-me look, before smuggling a laugh.
Toby was bent on one knee, a hand over his heart and a hand extended out with the weed, “My dearest Juliet, how fare your soft, soft skin is, I beseech you. Take my hand and run away-ith with me, you are my only light, my heart will stop thee pounce against thy ribs, if thow shall not come out-ith with thy-ith.”
Jackie took a few steps back before closing the door in Toby’s face.
The door bell rang again, this time when she opened the door Toby took a step inside the house, leaning negligently against the door frame, an amused look playing upon his soft lips. “Hey sugar…” but he couldn’t hold his composer and burst into that hardy laugh that, well, Jackie couldn’t necessarily lie, made butterflies form in her stomach.
“So what are you doing here anyways,” She asked looking at him in subtle amusement.
“Well, I got bored of just lying on my bed, staring at the poster of Jennifer Lopez plastered to my ceiling.”
“Yeah I can see why you were bored.”
“Yep, so I decided that I was going to come over here and see if you wouldn’t mind coming with me to the park…or something.” Toby carefully watched the expression on Jackie’s face that slowly turned to thoughtfulness.
“I think I’m going to seriously regret this later,” Jackie grabbed her jacket that was hanging on the banister of the stairs, and walked past Toby, who smiled, closing the door behind them. “So how are we getting there wise guy?”
“How do you think,” he jingled some keys in the air.
Toby led her to his garage, the giant wall folded up revealing a very antique looking red mustang convertible. “Well?”
“It’s…amazing,” she breathed.
“Well get in,” Toby rounded to the passenger side, opening the door for Jackie who slid into the car.
“Thanks.”
“No problem,” Toby politely closed the door and got in on his side. Soon enough they were moving down the road, awkward silence filling in the gap between them. The wind was playing with their hair, and Jackie laid her hand tensely to the side, kind of hoping that Toby would rest his on hers. He didn’t, but he did glance at her, like every five seconds, just thinking about what she was thinking. Also, wondering if he should hold her hand, if she wouldn’t like that or even allow that.
The park that Toby and Jackie were going to was just on the other side of the woods from their school. It was just a little park that barley anyone came to anymore, with rusty old slides and swings. There was barely any grass, just dirt and wet gravel seeping into the sand box. As Toby parked his car between two fading white lines, he took a glance at the threatening sky. Then politely he rounded the car to let Jackie out, extending his hand to catch hers.
“My fair lady, I bring you to your Palace,” he bowed kissing the top of her hand lightly.
Ignoring the sudden pounding in her chest, “Why thank you my prince,” Jackie curtsied playing along.
“It has been my pleasure, my fare princess to be able to accompany you to this brilliant place. But I dare say that the clouds are dark with the promise of storm. Shall we?” he offered her his arm, bent at the elbow, which Jackie, all to politely, took. Toby lead her to the trail that went into the forest. The branches of the trees formed a sort of arch, and the ground was covered in soggy leaves because of the morning rain.
Changing back to his normal voice Toby says, “I thought that we could take a walk. You know?” he gestured, wiggling his index and middle figure.
“Yeah sure.” Jackie was so totally unsure about this so called “walk”, but she went along with Toby and even took his arm as he held it out, like a true gentlemen from way back when.
Still arm in arm, “Be careful, the other day I saw a huge spider web on the trail, just keep your eyes open. Oh and try not to touch anything, you never know when you’ll run into poison ivy.”
“Ok, will do captain.” Jackie tried to give Toby a mocking smile but to tell the truth she did feel a little uneasy. Not about the spiders, or their silky threads, but about being alone with Toby. He smiled a reassuring smile as they proceeded down the trail.
Occasionally, each of them would look up at the sky trying to calculate if the clouds where actually going to rain, or just pass by. Half way up the trail it started to drizzle and miraculously Toby pulled out two baseball caps from the little backpack that was slung over one shoulder.
“Here,” He placed one of the caps carefully on Jackie’s head, before putting the other on his, “you look good. What do you think about me?”
“Simply fabulous.” Jackie giggled as she hesitantly grabbed his hand pulling him deeper into the forest. “So is there any specific reason we’re in here?”
“I was hoping you wouldn’t ask that,” he grinned that heart melting grin as he picked up his pace, “We’re almost there.”
“Almost where?”
“You’ll see, you’ll see.” Suddenly they were no longer on the trail, but still moving, hand in hand, practically jogging over the forest floor until Toby finally stopped, and Jackie went toppling into the brick wall of his body. He grabbed her, pulling her carefully in front of him, pointing through the trees. There standing lean and tall was a deer, antlers hung high on his head, he was nibbling on the grass that sprouted from in between the roots of the trees.
“It’s beautiful,” Jackie cooed.
“We’re here…” he whispered into her ear, pulling Jackie out of her trance, he tugged her away from the grazing creature, leading them both into a vast clearing where in the center was a huge tree holding an extraordinary tree house within it’s branches. It’s walls could barley be seen by the ivy and moss that covered them. A small rope ladder hung from the open doorway of the tiny hut. Above, the clouds shifted away from the sun, making the little home even more extraordinary, everything seemed to sparkle and glow. Toby smiled at Jackie’s opened mouth expression before urging her closer. The bark of the tree had knots, bumps, and twists and curves. It was amazing that this strong form was able to hold the tree house within it’s arms. It was like Atlas holding up the world on his shoulders for eternity.
“Can we go inside,” Jackie asked, glancing at Toby who was just standing to the side watching her touch the trees trunk with soft white fingers.
He nodded his head in reply as he came to stand beside her, “But be careful not to slip through the floor.”
“Will do,” and Jackie grabbed the ladder and placed a foot on the first notch. It took her a struggling minute to scurry up to the top, but she made it. She waved down at Toby who started his climb, making it look effortless, compared to Jackie, who’d gotten her foot caught about twelve times.
“Hey, may I come in?” Toby asked hanging on the ladder with his feet as he clutched the sides of the doorway.
“It‘s your house.”
Toby entered with a small smile. It was still sprinkling and Jackie couldn’t help herself from checking out Toby’s abs that were showing threw his tight wet t-shirt. He caught her looking, and she automatically blushed with embarrassment as she changed her gaze towards the rough walls of the tree house. Out side a red herring swooped down and slide smoothly between the thick branches of the trees. Toby set his hand on top of Jackie’s, making her jerk her head up. Dazzling blue eyes hypnotized her, sending chills through out her body.
“Kiss me,” She didn’t know what she said until after she said it, and she regretted it as soon as it left her mouth.
“Wha…” Toby was mildly taken a back as he stared at Jackie. He wasn’t really sure of what he just heard. He didn’t know how to react, if he should actually kiss her or not.
Turning a deep crimson red Jackie stuttered out, “n…never mind…I…um.”
Toby made up his mind, gently taking Jackie’s face in his hands and started to lean in. The sky chose that moment to open up. Lightening flashed and the sky crackled. The noise grew into a low rumble and with another quick flash of lightening there was a load snap like a whip. It startled both of them, ruining the moment as the rain started to pelt downward, splashing their faces as it seeped through the holes in the roof. They scooted away from each other getting deeper into the house until they found a safe place where the rain didn’t drip onto them.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking,” Toby said avoiding Jackie’s eyes.
“No…no it was my fault, I shouldn’t have said that, it kind of just slipped. I guess you could say, I got lost in the moment.”
“Same here,” he laughed a small laugh, allowing himself a glance into Jackie’s soft brown eyes.
She laughed to, still blushing under the memory of her big fat mouth.
“As soon as the rain lifts up we’ll go.”
Jackie nodded as she folded her arms, shivering slightly as the wind blew droplets of rain through the gaps in the wooden wall. Toby caught that and slowly scooted closer to her, carefully placing an arm around her shoulder. Stiffening at first, she reprimanded herself he said he doesn’t bite, and allowed herself to snuggle against his warm chest.
They’d sat silently side to side for almost half an hour, each one entranced in their own thoughts. Finally Jackie spoke up. “Ok, since were waiting out the rain, let’s talk.
“Uh…o.k.… Toby swiped at a splash of water that was slipping down his nose. They both looked at each other expectantly. One, two, three, four, Toby counted. No one spoke. Nine, ten, eleven… fifty five, fifty six, fifty seven… they just kept looking around as if the other would say something. Fifty five, fifty six, fifty seven… “Ok, ok, I’ll go first.” Toby busted out, frustrated with the uncomfortable silence. “What do your parents do for a living?”
“Well, Mom and Dad own a Italian restaurant, their both really great cooks.”
“Do you ever help out at the restaurant?”
“Sometimes,” she cuddled closer to him trying to warm up and get more comfortable. “It was a lot of fun when the place first opened up, but to be honest, I’m kind of sick of gourmet food… I guess it’s like that old saying, “the grass is always greener on the other side of the street.” Noticing Toby’s confused expression, “Like when girls with straight hair wish they had curly hair and girls with curly hair get a flattening iron.”
“Sort of like kids who spend their child hood wishing they were grown up and then when they do grow up, they start wishing they were kids again?” he interjected.
“Yeah, just like that. So, tell me about your family.”
A strange look crossed his features. “I don’t think I want to talk about them,” he said, his jaw clenching.
“Why not?”
“I’m just not in the mood, ok?” He snapped, more roughly then what he had intended. Then, “Sorry, I guess I just don’t really like to talk about them.”
Wow, Jackie had never known anyone to be so touchy about their family. Thinking it was best to change the subject… she looked up grinned, jabbing him lightly with her elbow, “hey, look up, the rain is finally stopping.”
He brightened immediately and held his hand out to her.
It seemed to take them no time at all to return to Toby’s car and drive back home. Each of them were both silent, off playing in their little worlds of, what-if’s. The cloud was finally moving away and the sun was out, shinning off the red paint of the car. On this car ride, Jackie kept her hands in her lap, as she stared at the landscape zipping by in a perpetual blur across her window.
“Umm…do you want to get something to eat?” Toby asked, hearing the gurgling and grumbling coming from Jackie’s stomach.
“No it’s ok, I’m good.” She tried to silent her stomach but all she managed to do was make it groan even loader. Grimacing she held her stomach, yelling at it mentally to stop the complaining. It didn’t comply and went on with its tantrum.
“You know, I’m a great cook,” Toby said proudly as he turned down their street.
“No it’s ok, I promise it is.”
“Don’t lie to me,” he laughed, pulling into his drive way, turning to give his movie star smile that just seemed to melt Jackie into a puddle, “Let me at least make you some mac and cheese.
“I bet that’s the only thing you can make,” she said eyeing him, uncertain if she should let him make her food.
“Ok, ok, you got me, that is the only thing I can make, but when I make it, nothing can compete with it.”
“Right…”
“I can,” he said trying to pull the hurt card on her.
“I bet you, you can’t.”
“Another challenge? Oh your on Missy, I bet you I can make the best mac and cheese you have ever tasted.”
“Five bucks you can’t,” Jackie said, reliving their previous bet.
“How about, one kiss, I can.” At this part, both of them were blushing and all Jackie could do was just nod her head once as she got out of the car.
“Your on.”
Jackie was seated on one of the black bar stools in Toby’s kitchen, watching him as he banged pans together trying to look like he was actually accomplishing something, while the water heated. He chopped up a tomato and was soon putting the noodles into the bubbling pot. He drained the contents into a strainer, and was then mixed in the key ingredient, the powdered cheese that came in the box with the supplied noodles. Completing his work, he set the same amount of mac and cheese on two glass plates, placing three fine sliced tomatoes around the dome.
“Tah Dah,” he announced placing one of the plates in front of Jackie, a gleaming smile on his face as he gave her a fork.
Before taking the deciding bite, she gave the substance a little jab with her eating utensil. Then with shaky hands, she dug her fork in, scooping a bite of the mac and cheese onto her fork before taking the first bite.
“So, what do you think.” Toby asked watching Jackie with unsure eyes.
She just shrugged, and that was it.
“What was that,” Toby mimicked Jackie’s shoulder shrug.
Jackie shrugged her shoulders again, just shaking her head, “I don’t know. It’s good, but not great…” she stopped, spotting the pitiful face Toby was trying to play off, “I’m kidding, it’s wonderful, it’s more than wonderful, it’s fabulous.” Which wasn’t really true, it just tasted like, well classic macaroni and cheese.
He laughed that hardy laugh, “Your lying.”
Jackie just rolled her eyes, “Ok, fine I am lying.” she stuck her tongue out at him in annoyance.
It just made him laugh some more as he came to stand in front of her, he started to lean in again, and Jackie leaned in also, towards him. Yet, they were befuddled again, as the door opened and Toby’s mom walks in holding three big brown grocery bags.
“Umm…” Toby glanced at me awkwardly as he walked towards his mom, “Here let me help you with that.”
“Thanks hun,” she said, giving him the bag. When her arms were no longer full she finally caught site of Jackie, who had switched to a standing position in front of the stool she’d been sitting on. “Oh, hello.”
“Hi…” Jackie said unsure what to do but introduce herself, “…I’m Jackie Austin, I live just next door.”
“Oh, so you’re our neighbor, I was debating on if I should stop over and say a quick hello. It’s nice to finally meet you, Jackie.” Toby’s mom had a nice southern accent. She also had that movie star smile that Jackie had become so accustomed to lately, short blond hair that almost seemed to sparkle, and the bluest eyes, that seemed to resemble pools of water glimmering in the sun.
“Well I better be going then, “ Jackie started towards the door.
“Ok sweet heart, you take care now.”
And Jackie was outside, walking down Toby’s driveway to her house, the memory of him leaning ever closer to her, stuck in her head. She had no doubt that she wanted to kiss him. Twice that day she’d almost gotten her wish. Almost. Maybe it was a sign that it wasn’t supposed to be, no, she didn’t believe in that sort of things, it was just bad luck, and that’s it. Her parents were still not home, so Jackie was forced to retire to her room, again, to read her book and eat stale cookies.
After a while, she was slowly losing interest of her book, slowly drifting into sleep. Jackie had always been a dreamer, a fan of all things, well, dream like. Her mind loved to wander off to different places in the world and meet right back in the middle. When she dreamt this time it went sort of like this: Flashes of red light, then glances of green, screams, and pleads, then silence, a bird chirping, then total black out.
When Jackie woke up, it was pitch black out side, and she was lying face first on the floor, the book she was reading before was thrown across the room, and there was a foul taste in her mouth. Staggering up she headed towards the bathroom to splash some water on her face, she had a pounding headache and at the moment, everything seemed to feel smaller than it really was. Downstairs she heard laughing as a car door slammed and shortly after that, the front door opened.