Carrying the Torch

Chapter 9: Open Umbrella

I tap on the steering wheel lightly, watching as pieces of the sky fall to Earth. They seem to always fall into place, like pieces in a puzzle, as if everything is meant to be. Things are so simple.

Finally, the light turns green and I continue to drive down the busy street to the university. I easily find a parking spot, turning off the engine and grabbing an umbrella from the passenger seat. With my book in hand I get out the car and open up the umbrella, walking in quick large strides to reach the lesson room.

I slip into the classroom and take my seat just as Taylor bumps into one of the guys in the class. I watch as the dark-haired boy quickly apologizes and his eyes fall onto her chest. He quickly takes in her scant breasts and her slender figure.

I open my locker putting away my history text book, ready to go home, while two boys are down the hallway snickering at some joke.

"I would so fuck Taylor and squeeze her boobs until she screams." The kid in the orange makes a wisecrack to his friend who immediately bursts out in laughter.

"What fucking boobs? She's flatter than pancakes. Right, Tay?" His friend in the blue snickers, softly elbowing Taylor who was hidden from my view before. Her face seems to fall not bothering to cover up the after effect of the teasing boys' words.

I frown and walk over to the boys surrounding her. "Can you guys shut the fuck up? You're just mad because she's like the only girl here who isn't stupid enough to fall for your dumbass tricks."

"We were just joking around Styles, no need to get so angry. It was just a joke, take it as one." They mumble while walking away from me, and I turn to face her.

"Hey, you okay?" I question her, unsure now that she's masked her emotions.

Annoyance and anger settle onto her features and I watch as a deep frown etches in between her eyebrows. "What do you want, huh? What do you want from me? Boobs? Well guess what? I've got none!" Silence falls on us as I take in her reaction to me getting the cruel boys away from her.

A giggle falls from my lips involuntarily and soon enough loud guffaws are heard all through the hall. Her frown deepens but gradually a small smile creeps onto her lips and next thing I know she's laughing along with me. We both hold onto our stomachs because we're laughing so hard it hurts.

After a bit we finally calm down and gain control. "Alright that one, I didn't think through." She giggles lightly.

"Ya think?" I smile warmly at her. "I don't know if you remember me but, I'm Harry. The guy-" She interrupts me mid-sentence.

"Yeah, I remember you." She says softly, smiling up at me.

"Well yeah that's umm great. Maybe when I see you around in the hallways we can chat for a bit,or, like, something since now we're like... " I softly chuckle at my own expense. "Well umm, I'll see around. In the hallways.." I wave awkwardly and return to my locker shutting it and making my way down the hall towards the stairwell.

"Actually, umm Taylor wait. Would you like to, I don't know maybe go grab something to eat? Like right now?" I turn to her scratching my scruff awkwardly.

She smiles softly at me and nods."Yeah,  I'd like that." She walks towards me and not like how she was walking with the boys, like she was walking on eggshells and glass. No, she was walking to me like she was walking on solid ground.

I remember, that day we walked down to a nearby Bertuccis and gorged on a large pizza. We were laughing and making jokes and conversation came easy although sometimes it would die down as it does with new people. We were afraid to fully drop the masks, but we were comfortable enough to slide it down a bit and show each other a bit of the person behind the mask.

"I've always wanted to grow my boobs out so I could tell the weather like Karen from Mean Girls." She tells me laughing at herself and I join in. "But yeah it never quite worked out. There's still hope though. The world does need a woman who can tell if it's raining with her boobs." She laughs even harder.

"We do. Don't let me die without it alright?" I join in chuckling.

"Promise." She grins widely and takes a bite covering her mouth until she finishes chewing. "By the way I'm so sorry I freaked out on you in the hallway after you helped me. I was just still agitated and all."

"It's fine I understand." I smile warmly at her finishing what's left of the pizza. "I should probably get you home. Don't want to be a bad influence and have you not doing your homework and missing dinner."

She laughs. "Oh you're already a goner. Trouble with my dad already big time."

"Shit." I laugh and we both arise, pushing in our seats and making our way to my car. I open the door for her and close it as soon as she gets in then jog over to the driver's side and drive her home.

It was a nice drive it was mostly silent but we still had Chasing Cars playing in the background as we indulged in light conversation.

As soon as I open the door for her and she gets out the car, I start walking with her up to her door. "Hey wait, can you hold something for me please?" My clenched fist hovers over her hand.

"Uh yeah sure." She opens up her hand for me and I slip my hand into hers, intertwining our fingers just as we reach her door. A deep rosy blush colors in her cheeks and she looks down and my grass on her hand tightens.

"I had an amazing first date. Can't wait until the next one." I grin and place a soft kiss to her forehead. She looks up at me in shock; not quite sure of what had occurred. I squeeze her hand lightly before removing mine from hers and walk away to my car.

Our unofficial first date. I watch as the guy gives her a small smile before walking away to take his seat and she takes hers.

•••

The class ends and it's my only one today so I grab my belongings and notice my still open umbrella. I take it up with me and walk to my car.

"Harry?" Her small voice says to me. It would've been lost in the wind if she hadn't repeated it once again. "Harry? I know you hate me but, could you please maybe give me a ride home?" I turn to see her damp from the rain and a broken umbrella in hand.

My dizzy head goes numb and I feel as if my legs are melting into the ground but the ground goes against my prayers and doesn't open up and swallow me as I wish it would. Yet somehow, I manage a slight nod and get in the car and she follows suit. I reach into my trunk through the passage way from the back seat and hand her a sweater of mine. She gratefully takes it and I drive.

"Thank you." She tells me and I turn on the radio to drown her out before she can say anything else to suffocate me anymore than she already has.

Chasing Cars starts playing on the radio and everything sounds wrong. The notes are wrong or missing and the lyrics are just jumbled up words.

I clutch onto the steering wheel as pieces of the sky fall to Earth. They don't fall into place anymore, they fall into the wrong places just causing chaos. The puzzle isn't solved, instead it's become a disoriented mess, nothing is meant to be. Things are so complicated.

They were right, it's bad luck when you have an open umbrella indoors. And, I seem to always leave mine open.

I take a glance at the open umbrella that's in the car.