The Life And Times Of Rachel Grape

First Date

   It was a simple shift dress, popular twenty years ago, but still looked beautifil.   It was at the thrift store by the interstate.   Her mom found it and she loved it.  "You should buy this one," her mom said.   "Oh my God, mom.  I didn't see that one."  She put her hair up in a messy bun.   She missed her mom and missed being able to talk to her any time she wanted.    Her roomate was out with her "stylish friends".    It hurt her feelings, but soon Karma would be served to her piping hot.  "How cute.   So, 2004," her roommate said under her breath.   She envied her roommate as her parents were married and loved each other.   Her parents hated each other and her mom was married because the "right one" wouldn't leave their spouse or she wasn't interested in who she was into anymore.    

    She walked downstairs.  It was hot and humid.

     "You look pretty," Westin said.

"Thank you."

"Now, let's go see the movie."  He took her hand.

    The  movie was blah.   They left early and walked around and talked.    Westin talked about his life, being the good looking pastor's son and expected to date the perfect girl in the congregation.   "I didn't want that.  My mom thinks of me as a show pony," he told her.   She siad, "My church is full of old people.   My family is the only group of kids."  He said, 'I would actually welcome it."   

    "Is it hard going to a church like that?"

"Yeah.   My mom is sort of about image.   She's always about image and 'We are the pastor's family'."

"My family is sort of the pariahs of the town.   My mom was married to someone else and conceived me during the marriage.   My mom is not a whore, she is so in love with my dad.   They still do it."

"I wouldn't judge you.   It sounds like a really good movie."

"Movie?"

"Well, her ex got another woman pregnant, too.  My parents were just not happy but found happiness in others.   He married a Michelle."   

"I think people have their ones and are lucky enough to find them."

"I believe that, too."

    She was in awe.  He was so handsome and so kind.  Boys at school were not as nice, calling her "skinny" and "fish face".   They made fun of her because she was poor to her face, but her sister got laughed at behind her back.   Part of the reason she slept around was that she hoped people would find her desirable.   

    "Did you know that you are my first real date?"   She asked Westin.

"Really?"

"Yeah.   I never had a date in high school."

"Really."

"I would have dated you."

"That's sweet."

   He paused.   He looked in her dark brown eyes and kissed her.   It was her first, real kiss.  It was nice and sweet.   He asked her out again, for Sunday night.   He wanted to get some ice cream.   

    She was in heaven when she came back to her room.    However, that was ruined when Arianna came in with a guy and they had sex.   She just covered her head.  

    "Won't your roomate care?"  The guy asked.

"I don't give a fuck.   She probably won't know what it is."

"Okay, here goes."  

   She knew what sex was.   Her parents had it a lot.  In the middle night you could hear the moans and bedsprings.    You could see the two figures doing the horizontal mambo in the night.   He left at three.   Rachel just slept towards the edge of her bed, earbuds in, and cried herself to sleep.   

     She was happy she had a boyfriend and was ready to experience a lot of "firsts".