Guarding the Colors

Chapter Three

It was one of those evenings that was a little chilly, but it was still perfect. The leaves had all fallen and changed colors.

Other than the marching band field, Clair's favorite spot was right under the Weeping Willow tree right across the street from her trailer home. Clair usually brought a blanket and a good book to read. Her favorite was always The Catcher in the Rye because Holden Caulfield was "perfectly imperfect" Clair always thought.

It was under this tree that she had her first kiss. It felt just like yesterday . . .

***

The sun was as strong as ever beating down on Derek's face. He looked stunning. His scent lingered in the air. He smelled like home, but not that home Clair was familiar with. This was the home she always wanted. In his eyes she could see it. His hazel eyes matched Clair's almost exactly.

"Clair? What do you think?" Derek asked.

It was as if she were always in a different world. "I'm sorry. I was zoned out again . . . What did you say?" Clair admitted, regretfully.

"I said I was going to cut my hair. Is that okay with you?" he repeated once more.

Clair gave him this look of longing. "I love the way you spike it to the side" she said, abruptly. "I really don't want you to, but if you're happy I'm happy!" Clair announced.

It was then that he knew it was time. They had been holding hands for a few minutes. Derek let go and gently raised his palm to Clair's cheek slowly. Clair mimicked the move and looked into Derek's warm eyes.

He leaned in.

Her world exploded into a trillion fireworks going off at once. It was as if someone cut open her heart and attached firecrackers to it, causing it to feel unstoppable.

He felt the butterflies hit the pit of his stomach. His palms were sweaty, but it was not exactly something he could control. He had kissed one previous girl, yet nothing could compare to this.

The quilt underneath them became a safe net as the two plummeted into hopeless love. It was known then: the two of them would be together forever.

***

Donna felt like there was no escape. The world was closing in on her at every turn. The bills had piled up higher and higher. There was no way she could pay the last few month's rent she had pushed off. Cable and electricity were already shut off. Soon to follow would be the water. Of course, none of that matters when you have no home to live in.

She thought about Pete every day. He was her first and only love. They were their high school's class couple, and they thought that they would have eternity together. Eternity fell short about ten years ago.

She was lying in bed with a glass of vodka on her nightstand to the left and a stranger to her right. Donna knew it was wrong to bring odd people in and out of the house, but there was no other way to support her children. Bella and Clair must understand life cannot always be easy.

"Get out of my house before I blow you to nothing with my shotgun" Donna shouted at the stranger. Just a few hours ago she had called this man "Honey". Now here she was calling him many other names that were the opposite of partner. She was disgusted with herself.

Out the door he went, and in went his wallet to the fake bank account Donna stashed for alcohol.

Bella and Clair would never know.