Teachers Pet

69: On The Sidelines

        The drive-in was quiet and peaceful. Snow piled on top of the entry sign that advertised a movie that came out over ten years ago. Almost every junction speaker was covered, snowdrifts along their poles. The concession stand was nearly unrecognizable under the mound it was buried beneath. The slight whooshing from the biting wind was almost haunting. There was a beautiful eerieness lingering in the air. I wondered if I was alone in that thought.

        "There he is," I whispered. I pointed a gloved hand towards the familiar blue car. It was parked in the first spot in the first row. The lights were off but the car was running. How long has he been here? I swallowed, trying to mentally prepare myself for the walk from Tanyas' car to Jakes. She had let us borrow it without question. She only asked that we bring her a milkshake back.

        "How can you tell?" I couldn't imagine anyone else would be here tonight. I don't think anyone else even came here. Not many would find peace in a place like this. Then again, Jake was so different from everyone else. At least, to me he was.

        "It's his car... I'd know it anywhere." Jill only nodded, tucking her chin into her jacket. I closed the door and made my way to the front of the car. Jill did the same. She closed the distance between us, looping her arm around mine. I felt a slight shiver come from her.

        "I'll walk with you so you're not alone." I wanted to verbally express my gratitude towards Jill, but words failed me. I offered her a small nod and a weak smile instead. It was all I could muster, but thankfully she seemed to understand. Together we walked side by side, the only sounds being our breathing and snow crunching beneath our feet. Each step we took made my chest hurt. I tried to focus on the big screen ahead, but my heart was trying to pound right out of my chest. It was trying to escape, but there was no escaping this.

        During the drive here, it had been silent in the car. I hadn't said anything and Jill didn't try to make me talk. I think she knew I needed the short amount of time to gather myself. I tried, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the time on the dashboard. Each minute that passed by was nearly unbearable. Would my life revolve around an invisible timer? It was like waiting for a bomb to go off, only... No one else would feel the impact when it detonated.    

        "Where did you get the gloves from?" I blinked, losing my train of thought. As I looked down at my hands I couldn't help but smile at them. I hadn't told her about the interaction I'd had with David. I never told her about any of the interactions I'd had with him actually. It never seemed relevant enough to mention.

        "David gave them to me. He said he had an extra pair and that I could keep these." She nodded and though she didn't say anything, I could see she wanted to. Her lips pursed as she faced forward. I knew that look well enough to know something about what I said bothered her. What that was, I had no clue. I debated on whether or not I wanted to know.

        "What?" I pushed. She shrugged, composing herself when she noticed me staring at her. The smile she wore was clearly feigned.

        "Nothing... They just seem like they don't fit." There was a small space where my fingers didn't fill the gloves completely. From her tone though, it seemed as if she were implying something more. Was there a double meaning to her words? They were only gloves. I wouldn't admit, however, that in the moment David had given them to me... They were so much more than just gloves. They were a kind gesture in a time of need. But I knew Jill. And I knew how she would take things out of context. Now was not the time for this.

        "I think they fit me just fine. Perhaps better than you think." I wanted to take back the words the second they left my mouth. All I could do was stand by them now. Jill made a tsking sound at my words. I started something that I didn't want to finish. I should have just said that I found them while packing. That I thought they were Deans because they had been buried in stuff I hadn't touched since the end of sophomore year.