That Kiss (Revised)

Chapter One - Moving on

                “Babe, I know that things have been hard. I really understand. But it’s been over a year. Donnie wouldn’t want you to be cooked up all the time. He would want you to go out and live your life.”

                Savannah stared at her boyfriend, Michael, sitting on the other side of her queen bed. He was what you’d classify as the “typical jock” and had called Savannah his girlfriend since freshman year. Their relationship was great, in the beginning. Savannah was the head cheerleader and Michael the quarter back. Everything was a match made in heaven. Savannah was living the dream of most popular girl in school, until her junior year.

                Savannah was the older sister of Donnie Nelson, a quiet and unique freshman at the time. No matter how socially awkward Donnie was, Savannah always looked out for him. She made sure he wasn’t bullied or messed with, which usually left him looked over in most cases. He became known as Savannah’s dorky little brother having one or two close friends at school.

                Donnie liked to take walks late at night. He claimed it helped him think and clear his head. Late one cool Wednesday night, when Savannah heard Donnie slip out of his window she didn’t think twice about it. Two and a half hours later, when two Duval county officers pulled into her driveway she knew something tragic had happened. He had been struck by a drunk driver, who fled the scene and never was found. To say that the death of her brother changed Savannah is an understatement. Everyone deals with loss differently; being in the center of attention at school, forced Savannah to grieve inwardly. She took a week off of school to spend alone hardly speaking to anyone, including Michael. She found herself sitting on the small ledge of roof under Donnie’s window blaming herself for not stopping him that dreadful night.

                Savannah returned to school two days after they laid Donnie to rest and fell back into the life she had before. Only now Savannah felt like she was going through the motions, her insides completely shattered.

                “Savannah?” Michael lightly dragged his finger across her bare shoulder. “You okay?”

                She snapped back to reality. “I’m sorry.”

                “Will you please just go to Joey’s party tonight? Let loose, have a good time?” He leaned down and put his face at her level. “Please?” his bottom lip perched out and his deep brown eyes pleaded.

                Savannah attempted to soften. “Joey is weird.” She sighed. “Every time I am around him he makes me uncomfortable. He’s always staring at me with these,” she paused trying to think of an accurate description. “…weird beady eyes!”

                Michael rolled his eyes.

                “Besides, he throws a party like every weekend. Can’t we just go next week or something?”

                He laughed, “That’s what you said last week, Savannah. Joey is friends with everyone that you and I are friends with. They like him. Why can’t you?”

                After a long pause and mental debate on Savannah’s side she straightened up a little. “Fine. But I’m driving and if it’s stupid I’m leaving and you can find your own ride home.”

                Michael fist pumped the air. “On one condition.” A playful smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. “You have to go downstairs. It’s where all the real fun happens.”

                Real fun? Part of Savannah wondered what exactly Michael considered real fun. Of course, she’d heard about the wild ragers Joey threw she just never wanted to go. Michael had been quite a few times before but all that he’d told her was how wasted he got and they played old school games. Whatever that meant. Curiosity bit at the inside of Savannah and reluctantly, she agreed. “Deal.”

                Michael hugged Savannah tightly. “I promise you won’t regret it! And if you do get drunk, Joey has like ten rooms we could crash in, no problem.”

                “We’ll see.” Maybe Michael was right. Donnie wouldn’t want her to stay in every weekend watching reruns of their favorite movies. Donnie would want her to live my life. A little fun every now and then wouldn’t hurt. She even might let herself drink a little. Maybe it was about time for her to move on.