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.