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Rosalie's POV (Sal)
Moments later, I was out the door, closing it behind me. The sudden movement captured Elvis' attention, who leaned up against the hood of his car. The sun had a grip on the eyes he let rest on me. While trees partially cast cloudy shades stretching over the rest of his tall frame, car, and road, I got a move on.
A few feet away from him, I felt a bit uneasy. I didn't really know Elvis. Technically, I had only spent one round trip in his pink Cadillac and watched him eat two burgers over rather challenging conversations.
«I talked it out with the girls...» I kindly told him, pointing behind my back. «We're soon alone,» I said carefully.
Nodding, he sent me an appreciative smile while I saw his whole posture starting to relax. It was then I saw a genuine smile show up on his lips. Less tense than before, I go around to the passenger side of his car.
«Where are you going, Sal?» He asked with a slight chuckle.
«Well, you can't just park your car in the middle of the road,» I said in a jokingly scolding manner, getting in the car. It took him a second, but he burst out a short laugh. Straight away, he pushed himself off the car's hood, taking his place behind the wheel next to me in the passenger seat.
Looking over at me and my dripping hair and wet bathing suit, he had a judging look on his face.
«What now?» I said, mirroring his expression.
«I don't really care if my jacket gets wet, but my car seat is somethin' else.» His growing grin turned into laughter as he continued. «Well, it wouldn't be the first thing you ruin in this car.» He exclaimed, with a satisfied look on his face—applauding his inside joke with a smile.
«Ha, ha.» I dryly said, trying to keep my composure before letting go to join in on his infectious laughter. «Those cassettes were a disaster waiting to happen, Mr.» My laid-back voice stated my honest truth as I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. He chuckled loudly in response. «You can park on the left side of the house. There's a wide path we use for parking.»
«Okay, ma'am.» He said over the sound of turned car keys. His choice of exaggeratedly pronouncing the title he'd given me had me picture him humorously smiling. There was no need to second-guess; he made it perfectly clear; he found my way of leaning back to order him to go ahead amusing.
As we started rolling, Elvis took control of the car and made his way forward. Out of nowhere, a hand appeared on my thigh softly, and a concerned Elvis came forth.
«You have a scar?» He asked curiously, not letting go of me—making my eyes pop open. I met this August's daylight and observed him awake, watching the road ahead with a goal-set concentration on what he was doing. I shifted in my seat and kept glancing at his profile.
«It's nothing. I got it when I was like ten years old.» I said nonchalantly, gesturing to where he could park as we got close. The overgrown grass had taken over most of the gravel road near the end. We had an old garage up ahead used for storage, but it was unstable and quite the fixer-upper.
Fully parked, he turned off the engine with his free hand. A ticking sound could be heard as he pulled the handbrake to secure the car so it couldn't take its own stroll. Turning his upper body, he looked down at my scar in wonder.
«Oh boy, that young. Would you tell me how it happened, girly?» He gently traced my scar with his index finger. I was never really a very touchy-feely person with just anyone. And I was reminded as much when I felt my body tense up. Clearing my throat, Elvis must have detected my strained reaction to his touch. Almost as if it didn't happen—his hand was gone.
«Well, I was an adventurous child. I would climb every tree and every roof I could.» I sighed humorously over my reckless past. I looked over at him with a clever smile. «My mom wasn't too amused by her only daughter's unladylike manners.»
A boyish expression appeared on Elvis. The corner of his lips had turned up its game. «I can imagine.» He said, with a slick tone to his voice. I chuckled at his quick remarks and playfully shoved his arm. I had him grinning before patiently listening to the rest of the story.
«So... I climbed the roof of my school once... and... I didn't actually fall from the roof, but this was the day I got known as the Slip'n Out girl of the school.» I said, laughing softly at the almost sexual indication, now that I'm grown. «At the time, it was far from amusing.» I glimpsed in his direction. Elvis had raised his hand with two fingers slyly covering his lips to keep me from seeing his entertained smile. Obviously, it didn't work, though.
«I loved and still do love heights. It makes me feel like I'm flying, and I have a dream of getting on a plane—going wherever. See the world from up there.» I smiled sweetly before jumping back to finish up the story. «Anywho, on my way down, I chose the fire escape ladder...not a good choice for me,» I shared boldly. «It's fall, it's wet, and I wore a long skirt, reaching my heels. Stepping on my skirt, I sort of slipped while holding on for dear life. Sliding down, every step cut into my thigh because of loose nails... and the weight of me straining the old ladder made it lose its grip on the wall—and out I go.» The whole thing seemed like a joke, and I could feel my cheeks' thermometer level up several degrees. Aware he tried to hide his amusement, I met Elvis' gaze.
Lowering his hand, he gestured out in front of him. «Just curious, does chaos somehow follow you?» He asked genuinely. And in comic relief, he looked out the window, pretending to look out for sudden surprises. Once again, I lightly slapped his arm, laughing.
«I might be happier about mine now. Elvis the Pelvis doesn't really sound too bad up against Slip'n Out girl, other than the whole world knowing mine.» He uttered with loose laughter. He might be right about that, I thought to myself. Luckily, I'm just me, and it did seem like everyone forgot the nickname growing up. As empathy shone through my eyes, he picked up on it with a shy smile, reminding me of how he looked just after dragging me through those curtains in June.
Elvis quit joking around, switching his gaze to the car mirror—looking out to his right. Behind us, he caught my friends heading out to get in Regina's red car. A 1956 VW Type 1. They had parked a bit closer to the mansion.
«Tell me, are those two the ones who were at my concert? I swear I recognize that red-haired one.» He asked strangely, with a priceless look on his face.
«You're right about that,» I confessed.
«Guessin' that apology of yours worked wonders.» He grinned with his baby blue eyes, directly capturing mine while getting his car keys and heading out of the overheating car.
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Author's note:
Well, I hope no one has to endure Sal's nickname! To be honest, I look back on this chapter and laugh at Sal's accident as a ten year old. It's a bit far-fetched, but oh well, I don't have the heart to change it. It's what I originally wrote, even though I do cringe a bit. I adore Elvis's reaction to her story though.
Chapter (8/64)
This chapter is slightly edited with Grammarly—hoping it's okay written.
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Girl of Mine
FanficAll stories, good or bad, begin at the right place. In 1956, during an Elvis concert, a girl's proposal turns chaotic when three of her boyfriend's other lovers are also present. Amid the turmoil, she catches Elvis' eye, igniting a flame that sparks...
