How we fell in love

Chapter 2

We arrived at the local seven-eleven at exactly 12:43 am but that didn't matter because our seven-eleven is open 24/7 (praise). Clara and I got out of the car in our pajama shorts and tank tops and headed for the door. I noticed there was one other car in the parking lot. We walked in and headed for food. I had a bag of fritos and donuts in hand while I perused for a gatorade flavor when I heard my name. "Elise?" I swiveled to find you staring at me with a mix of amusement and fantasy while I stared back trying to calculate the odds of seeing you here; they were small. "Christian. Just getting a late night snack. What are you up to?" I said trying my best efforts to channel Blair Waldorf and epicly failing. " Same actually. I was gonna go for a night swim, thought I would bring snacks." Before I knew what i was saying I replied. "Night swimming? This late? Where are you going?" My voiced spewed filled with curiosity and intrigue. Your eyes lit up, and I lost my breath. In that moment I knew, a mix of orange bouncy plague and Christian charm hit me square in the face; I was under your spell. "I have a lake at my house. Do you wanna come? Clara can come too. It would be fun. Waddaya say Elise?" You said this and my mind raced, thoughts of us together, and the plague upon me thickened. "I would have to ask Clara.." I mumbled when she swooped in beside me. "We would love to Christian." Clara said with no idea of the affliction I was under. I had contracted a fever of Christian, of you, and she was giving me more fuel for my plague.

We checked out, you gave us your address and said to meet you at your car. I was driving in my ford to the address you had given and my heart was doing somersaults. My mind bouncing in a million directions.But most of all I was excited. A new side affect of Christian-itis was excitement and confidence. It felt weirder than the orange bouncy haze.

Your house was beautiful in the summer night light. White with blue accents I noted the boat house vibe it gave me. Somehow it made my view even more orange tinted. I noticed your car and pulled up beside it. Getting out my heart felt like it was in my throat and my ankles all at once. I had known you for 2 years Christian and within 12 hours you gave me a disease with no cure. " Ladies, glad you made it." You said the last part with your vision directly on me. "Us too, now are we swimming or not?" I say managing a solid channel of Blair. You grinned, and I think my heart grew 8 times larger then retreated to half its original size, still in both my throat and ankles. You took my hand and began leading me to the lake, Clara in tow. Your fingers felt like ice cold fire on my skin, and all I wanted was for you to touch me everywhere. I gulped away the thought and instead focused on the sky. It was a beautiful June night, stars shining bright crisp through the cool night air. "Here we are, lake a la Attly." you said motioning to the lake. It had a dock lit up by lanterns. There was a picnic table and chairs set up before a long section extended into the lake. Not letting go of my hand you moved us onto the dock and placed down your food, and I using my free hand placed down mine. "The waters probably cold, but it will feel nice. Feel free to jump in whenever." With this you let go of my hand and began to strip. It in this moment occurred that we had no swim suits, and would be striping or swiming in our clothes. I swallowed and thought of my options. I was 18, just out of high school, and the most I had done is kiss a boy. My life preoccupied by getting into a good college I didn't have many opportunities to be wild and young. Now staring me in the face was one. You stripped to your boxer-briefs and ran into the water. Giving a confident smile to Clara I embarked on my plan. No turning back now. I took off my shorts and tank top leaving myself in my underwear. You looked at me with pure intrigue. My heart was racing let me tell you, but I needed this. I needed to be stupid and young. Clara looked at me with terror and admiration and I dropped my pile of clothes, I then quickly sprinted into the water. It was cold, but it was like an ice cube on tanned skin, it felt like the chill brought upon all new insights. I emerged from under the water to find you smiling. " I didn't think you had the guts for that Elise. I was thankfully wrong". You whispered to me as Clara jumped in the water, her underwear exposed as well. I felt liberated and great. The water and lack of coverings brought a temporary relief to my plague, and I seized the opportunity and my new found confidence to flirt. Yes real live flirting. "There is something about you Christian that makes me want to be young and dumb, and I have to say I really like it." I smiled and dove under the water.

At the end of the night you turned away for me to get dressed again, then got out yourself, and grabbed my hand. Pulling a sharpie out of your shorts pocket you wrote down your number yawning. I smiled, grabbed my uneaten food and departed with Clara to my car.

We crashed in her bed when we arrived home 3:30 am. When I woke up I had sharpie all over my face, I had slept on the hand you wrote on. I copied you number into my phone and then crawled into Clara's bathroom and washed my face. It was noon when we woke up. I walked back into Clara's room, threw a pillow at her and told her to wake up. "What the hell Elise, I'm so tired". You whined. " It's noon, come on. Get dressed and we can go to cafe at the club." I said reaching into my overnight bag. Clara and my families own a membership at the country club. She finally hauled her body out of bed and made her way to her bathroom. It was 1:15 by the time we were both finished getting ready, and we took off in my ford to the club. I was wearing high waisted shorts and a pink flowy blouse, Clara was wearing a sundress with blue ombre. We walked into the cafe and sat down awaited to be served. "So, are we gonna address last night? I mean it was hella fun, but not really like you El." Clara said after we had both ordered iced teas. "I don't know what came over me, but it felt great. Clara, I got into NYU, my future is set. I have a ballet scholarship all set up. This summer, this summer is my chance to finally be stupid and crazy and have fun. We have both spent most of our high school experience studying or at the dance studio. Isnt it fun to get a break?" I finish my lecture and return my gaze to the menu, already knowing well what I was going to order. "El, as always you are right. We do deserve some fun." Clara said also turning to choose her food. We ate lunch for and hour or two than I dropped her off at home. I wanted to head to the studio and dance for an hour, my head getting dizzy yet again with the orange bouncy plague.