Below the Sky

Chapter 4: Luke

Chapter 4. Luke

"Luke sweetie, come downstairs and help me clean up the kitchen," Mami called down to me. I sighed, having just escaped to my room after a hard evening with my parent's friends, the Mathews. Never less, I dragged myself off my bed and trotted downstairs. Who knows what punishment I would have gotten for disobeying Mamie.
"Wash the dishes, then you can go up to bed," Mamie said when I finally made it into the kitchen. I looked around at the mess. The Mathews hadn't left yet, and instead were sitting in the living room, chatting up Papi. The kitchen table had all our dishes on it still, waiting to be picked up. The sink was full of plates and silverware, but I didn't think it would take too long. So I got to work, scrubbing away at all the grime on the glass.
As I worked, I thought about Lila. I'd liked her for years, and by the way she acted around me I could tell it was very obvious. Still, I didn't expect that she felt the same, so originally I wasn't going to make a move on her. Except that day, when I was out for a walk, and I spotted her running, everything changed. She seemed to glow as she jogged down the street, as if she was being possessed by an angel. The glow radiated, infecting me, and making me feel brave enough to ask her out. You can imagine my dismay, as much to my surprise, she agreed to go out with me. Fueled by my sudden success, I leaned in, and kissed her.
Let me tell you that kiss was unlike anything I've ever felt in my lifetime. The second our lips touched, it fell like a bolt of electricity was lighting up my veins. I sunk into the kiss, drowning in Lila's lips, feeling in every way as if I really was on top of the world.
Whenever I take Lila out on our first date, I really hoped that she would want to kiss me again. Or maybe, more...

Later that night, I laid in my bed, dreaming. Not surprising, I was dreaming about Lila, like I had most nights ever since I realized that I was in love with her. In my dream me and Lila were in a dark forest. It was pouring rain, and within seconds the both of us were drenched. I didn't mind though, and neither did Lila. I grabbed her, clutching her in my arms, and kissed her. This was different though than our kiss before hand. She grabbed my hair, and pulled in harder, trying to merge our bodies into one. I ripped her shirt off, and laid her on the soggy ground...

I awoke from my dream, sad that it was over. I've been having similar dreams for a long time now, all ending before we got to the good part. Maybe though, I'd be able to get to the good part in real life, and not while I was asleep.

Later that day, I decided to go for another walk, hoping that I'd run into Lila. I moved down the street that I'd last run into her on, admiring the forest off to my side, remembering my dream from that night. I willed with all my heart for Lila to be there, for me to see her again. However, I walked for hours, passing the acres of land her family owned, and still didn't run into her.
After walking for so long with no luck, I decided to just turn around. As I was passing Lila's house again, I caught something out of the corner of my eye. A flash of blonde hair, jogging down the road.
"Lila, Lila!" I called out to her. She whipped around, noticed me, and jogged back. "Hey Luke," she said, still trotting.
"Hi Lila, you know, I still need to bring you up on my offer of a date," I told her with a twinkle in my eye. I thought I noticed Lila's body seem to deflate a little, but I brushed that aside and reminded myself that she had in fact agreed to go out with me.
"Ya, I remember. I have some free time, so is right now good?" She asked.
I probably had to be home, but this was Lila, the girl of my dreams. How was I supposed to say no to her.
"Ya, now's good. I'll show you the way." We began to walk down the road.
As we walked, I assessed her body language. Was she inching closer to me, did she want me to take her hand?
"Hey Lila, can I hold your hand?" I asked, just to be safe.
She considered it for a second, then nodded her head, saying yes. Happy, I gently grabbed her hand, and fit it into the palm of mine.
As we moved farther, and farther down the road, I thought of what we should do. We were on the side of the forest, and the sky looked very gloomy.
"Come on Lila, let's go on an adventure," I gladly led her into the trees.
We walked for a little bit in the woods, mainly just exploring. It was peaceful, but I also ached for more than just quiet traveling and a little small talk. I remember my dream last night, and I felt a buzz of electricity jolt me in parts of my body.
Suddenly, overhead, I heard the sky rumble. Were the heavens really answering my wish? Was my dream not really a dream?
Lila, however, did not share the same thoughts when she heard the sky.
"We should probably turn back," she said as the first drops of rain began to fall.
"Wait," I said. I looked her deep in her eyes, staring into her soul, begging her to stay.
"Stay," I said. My words must have been enough, because she decided to continue to follow me along.
We continued walking, the sky starting to open up, letting big, heavy drops of water fall onto us. I pushed forward though. The rain was like a blessing from the gods.
Soon it was a torrential downpour, not just a little sprinkle.
I looked back at Lila. She looked cold and uncomfortable. I felt the entire opposite of this.
"Hey Lila, do you want to stop for a little bit?" I asked her. She looked at me for a second, then nodded. "Okay," I said.
We stopped walking, and I finally let go of her hand. I eyed her soaking wet body hungrily, hoping she would understand what I wanted. She must have felt my stare though because she crossed her arms over herself, suddenly feeling self conscious. I wanted to tell her that she didn't need to feel insecure around me, that I was in love with her no matter what. I didn't say any of these things though, and instead continued my eyeing.
After what felt like forever of basically nothing, I advanced. I moved closer to her, leaned in until our lips were inches apart, then went the rest of the way. She stilled under my touch, but reluctantly leaned into the kiss. I put my hand in her hair, gripping her closer.
Lila seemed a little hesitant, but still I pushed forward, willing her to want to go the extra step.
I ripped off Lila's shirt as we were still kissing, mine following. I laid her down in the soggy ground, just like in my dream.
Except this wasn't a dream, this was really happening.
Something wasn't right though. Lila was reluctant, almost as if she didn't want to give herself to me. As if she didn't want to. The Lila now versus the Lila in my sleep were two entirely different people. The one that I saw while I was unconscious was eager, excited. She grabbed at me, needed me, couldn't let go.
This Lila was the polar opposite. She didn't do any of the advances, let me do all the work.
"Stop, stop," I yelled after a while of us getting no where but just kissing, of her blocking me off every time I tried.
"This isn't working, do you even want to?" I glared at Lila, and she fell back under my gaze.
"I guess I'm just not entirely ready," she said.
"Fine, be that way." I stood up, and put my shirt back on.
"You can find your own way home then," I told her. Then I stomped away, too angry to even look back.