Eleven Years

CHAPTER 7

SADIE

HE held my hand. Jared held my hand. I would never ever forget that moment. That was just a dream...

A dream for someone like me who had been empty for quite some time.

It wasn't love. I never wanted to believe in love anymore. I just wanted to be with him. That was it. No love just emotions. No attachment just interaction. No kiss just holding hands. I felt like I was having a gorgeous brother... right beside me.

But deep inside...it wasn't just a brother. Because my heart kept contradicting my mind.
'Mom and dad...I ended up like this. I have this strange feeling for someone who's eleven years older than me. I hope you two are happy of how you put me in this position to have a belief that love isn't true and it will always meet...its end'

*
Jared asked for my phone number when we were heading back to the cafe. I gave him mine and next to that...we exchanged numbers but after that day, he didn't bother to text any single word. He was a busy hardworking man and by that I understood.

Once in a while, I could still feel his palm covering my hand. I tried to erase it in my head but a single touch could never be fade with just one instruction. This was it. I had no time to let go from him and I had no chance to glance at fate towards me and him.

*
My Aunt Molly was standing closed to the door. She seemed helpless and exhausted. Not even one of her friends visited her in the house. Her plants were dying but when I had time, I watered them. She used to talk to her plants but right now as things were blurry...she just ignored them. I felt sorry for those lovely plants. They were dying as well as their owner was slowly feeling the same too.

"What happened to Daniel?", I asked out of nowhere.
I saw my aunt shook her head from left to right. I sat on the couch and took a deep breath. The tension was roaring inside the living room. I knew that her husband was ill but she just couldn't say it to me.

"Where's Daniel?", I asked again. Hoping for her to speak this time.

"Hospital", she muttered.

Just one word and I knew another pressure built in me. Their funds were empty now. Daniel's little fortune was completely gone. My aunt tried to telephone some of Daniel's relatives but none of them answered the damn call. That left my aunt in a nightmare. That also left me in the same situation. Who would help my aunt? Who else was there?

Nothing...

Nobody...

Just me.


I woke up exactly 3 A.M. when I heard my phone's ringtone.
There was a message...from him.

Jared: "Hi. I know you're sleeping but I just wanted to let you know that there would be a simple lunch in my apartment. My mom would be there. I guess I will see you then."

My pillow felt uncomfortable, so I stood up and fixed it. I wanted to lie again in my bed but his text was a little confusing. Not because I didn't understand it...it was because...his mother would be there. Why would he even bother to invite me?

I typed a short statement.
Me: "Why are you inviting me? That supposed to be a family lunch, I guess"
Not even a minute when he replied.

Jared: "Please"
I sighed. I wasn't sleepy anymore. How could I even go back to sleep? He was inviting me...like this wasn't just a simple lunch.
I opened and closed my phone. My clothes were not even that formal. I mean I had lots of clothes but I didn't have those formal ones. My shoes were all sneakers too. What should I do?

Me: "I will think about it"
Seconds later.

Jared: "You will be there. I will pick you up. I already know your address. Go back to sleep now. Sweet dreams"

I was left with my mouth opened. I never had the chance to say no or yes. So, this was it, I would be there in his apartment tomorrow for a simple lunch. My mind should stop reminding me about his mom because that added a little bit of pressure in my bones. 'Sweet Dreams', those were the final two words of his text. Somehow, it made me smile and I didn't bother to reply to him.

"Sweet dreams...Jared", I whispered in the air.

*

My phone call with Miss Morgan lasted for just five minutes. I told her that I should come to work by tomorrow because I had a lunch with Jared today. Her voice was quiet and didn't even ask me about how this lunch turned to a possibility. I never wanted to think that Miss Morgan was pissed off but her tone just explained it all.

I watched my appearance in the mirror. White sneakers, gingham dress and a little bit of makeup. I couldn't believe that I would look like this. Sometimes it made me hard to accept that I had this beauty in me. It took so much strength to appreciate what I had but only one painful judge might demolish the appreciation I'd put into it. I guessed some of us were like that...some teenagers were afraid of judgements from other people because somehow it would ruin their beliefs and their confidence. That would be an ugly situation to be in.

When the clock stroke to 11:30 AM, a shiny grey car arrived in our porch. This might be him. I grabbed my shoulder-bag and wore my perfume. I left a note on the table for my Aunt Molly.
I closed the door and locked it. I placed the keys back to my bag. The wind blew my hair so much... luckily, I didn't curl my hair that long. I fixed some of the hair that covered my face and there he was...Jared Boston stepping out of his car.

I walked for like seven steps to reached his car and as I stood in front of him...I couldn't help but to admire this man. He seemed impressive with his simple white shirt and brown pants. His turquoise eyes remained placid not until he placed them on me.

"You look pretty"

I tried to ignore the essence of those words but deep inside...it made my heart beat so fast.
He opened the car's door for me and let me in, "You too Jared...you look great".

We were in the car for like twenty minutes. We hadn't talk that much. I had been wanting to open up a topic about his mother but he always changed the atmosphere whenever I tried mentioning about it. I just wanted to know him but it felt like he couldn’t open himself, well, we’re just friends.

I wondered a lot. Maybe he didn't have that good relationship towards his mother. Maybe there was a little misunderstanding between her mom and him. Maybe...maybe I was just wondering a lot.

The car stopped in a fancy building where the entrance was outstanding. There was a huge fountain outside and some people were dressed to the nines. I hadn't been into a place like this before where everything was fancier and seemed better.

I stared at Jared and spoke, "I thought we will go to your apartment"

He fixed his keys and put his gaze on me, "You're right. Let's go"

I left in awe. So, his apartment was in this massive stupendous building? This would be so much exciting. Jared went to the entrance and I ran a little just to follow him.
Room 2003

He opened the door for me. It wasn't just a normal door, it was an electric door. Just wow. His apartment was breathtaking. It was so spacious, I could dance, sing, exercise or just lay down for fun. There were monumental glass windows that showed up the whole Philadelphia. The carpets were classic in just black and white. Most of the couch were in grey color and also the tiles. He was really a man.

We went to the dining area and the food just looked so appealing. There were salad, chicken, pasta and different dessert presented on the long rectangle table. The drinks were champagne and just an amount of fresh juice.

"Where's your mom?", I asked

"She's coming", he replied.

A sudden doorbell had happened. Jared quickly went to the living room and I left standing alone in the dining area. I wanted to jump right there in these windows because my heart was beating faster. Meeting someone's mother was unusual for me. I had no time to run and I should act normal...like how I treated a normal individual.
Jared came back with a stunning woman by his side. She looked one of a kind. Her wrinkles weren't visible and her hair tied securely with a golden pin that made her look classy. I almost didn't know what to do. It had been so many years since I met someone's parent but this one was different. Meeting a matured man's mother would be bizarre.

"Good day Ma'am", I greeted the woman.

Her eyes were clashing towards mine. If this building would collapse, I would be grateful to be eaten by this ground then. Her gaze at me was something distinct that I couldn't even explain.
I placed my eyes to Jared and he was just looking down. Why he couldn't look at me? Why?

I watched the woman as she walked slowly towards me. In just a blast of second, she touched my face as gentle as I missed my mom's warmth. She just stared at me completely ...she made a glowing smile and said,
"You look someone I knew"

"Let's eat", Jared interrupted.

Someone she knew? Who?

There were only three of us in a huge table. Jared sat beside his mom and I was a little too far away from them. I placed the table napkin on my lap and softly put my hands on the plate. 'Fancy'
"We should eat. I have a meeting at two", Jared explained but his mom just nodded.

The sky went terrible and it was about to rain. This was honesty so cool, eating lunch while the whole city was about to be covered with rain.

"I would like to introduce myself to you”, she positioned herself to look at me. “My name is Emily Boston, Jared's mom. It's nice to meet you darling"

"I'm Sadie Wynn. Pleasure to meet you too Ma'am"

My voice was quite low but good enough to be called normal and proper. When we started eating, both of them were talking about different matters too. Once in a while, I glanced at them. A mother and a son. I quite missed my mom though.

"Jared, it doesn't bother you to visit your cousins in Florida. They would be happy if you'll go there, perhaps, play tennis with them. I haven't seen you playing tennis for years and years now"

Jared pointed to his mother, "If I have time...I will mom".

So, he played tennis. An interesting fact about him. I tried tennis when I was in grade school but it didn't work out. I wasn't really good at it.

"How about you Sadie?"

I noticed that Miss Emily was staring at me and waiting for my response. What am I supposed to say? I don't play any sport. Damn.

"I don't play any sport ma'am"
"No, I mean how about you. What are you doing in life?"

I chuckled for a second and gave her a polite answer.

"I moved here about two months ago. I came from Nebraska. I'm currently working in a cafe and that's it. I don't really do something productive or maybe chasing a dream or what"

"Where did you go to college?"

Her last question was a bomb. Not that word 'college' please. That brought me into a different, painful, memories of my life.

"She's just nineteen. She's just preparing for college Mom", Jared explained.

Miss Emily's eyes were pointed at me again. "You're nineteen?"

I nodded and maybe she was thinking bizarre things now. I didn't want her to have that thought about his son bringing a teenager in his place.

"Are you Jared's girlfriend?"

"We're friends ma'am", I said directly.

Jared just shook his head. Her mom grinned at me. That was a little awkward. We were friends, that was the fact. Furthermore, I couldn't see anything that would break that bond unless if I were to be a house of cards at the end.

The lunch went great. I should be honest with this one because I had never eaten a lunch like this where so much formality was presented. Jared stood up and made his way to the kitchen.

Now there was just me and her mom on the table.
"I hope to see you next time here Sadie"
I fixed my hair a little and said, "I hope too ma'am"

My phone bleeped. A message from Jared, seriously? We were just step away.

Jared: "Come to the kitchen"
What was that? Once again, seriously?
"Excuse me Ma'am", I uttered.

The kitchen was massive and filled with so much minimalistic arts. It was shining in grey and golden color. This didn’t feel like a kitchen.

I saw Jared standing near the pantry and confronted him, "What's the matter?".

"This is the matter"

One

Two

Three

He put his lips into mine. His hands were on my neck and mine felt like a statue hanging.

I didn't know how to kiss someone. Should I kiss him back? Holy ….

Oh God, he tasted like a fine wine. I'd be god-damned.

Just a nanosecond, he ended the kiss and placed his gaze on the sink.

That was it?

I wasn't asking for more but damn. Why would he do that? I could sense a little pedophile here. No... no ...damn no, I didn't want to use that 'word'. It wasn't just like that. I am 19, I’ll do anything I want...

Fine ... it's okay. I took a deep breath and crossed my arms.

"Why did you kiss me Jared?"

He was still on that sink. His eyes were there and not on mine.

"I don't know Sadie. You can go back to the dining area now."

He didn't know. Was that his reason? Was that a proper reason?
"You kissed me", by my word, he finally glanced at me. There were questions in his eyes and even if I had all the answers for it...then it would never be enough. It appeared a little disturbing but deep inside it wasn't. His kiss was fire and unique.

He washed his face with the water in the faucet and faced me. "Would you hate me now for doing that?"

I could see that he was taking a deep serious breath. As I looked at him, my knees were shaking and I wanted to pass out like I needed to demolish this current situation I was in.

"No Jared", I replied quickly.

I heard him swallowed his breath and asked another tremendous request. "Can I kiss you again?"

I wasn't even moving on after that kiss and now he wanted for another one. Oh Lord, what should I do?

Four.

Five.

Six.

For the first time in my whole life, I got my first two kisses in one moment, in this kitchen, in a classic apartment, in a rainy afternoon by the same man who held my hand in the scenery woods...by the same man who was eleven years older than me...by the same man with a turquoise-eyes named Jared.