Bring Me In

Awkward encounters

I looked up to see who it was. “Chris you scared me!” We started laughing. We didn’t move for a while. He had me pressed down on the ground. His hands holding my wrist by my ears, his warm body against mine; it was weird. He suddenly lost his smile. He started slowly moving down towards my face. Oh my gosh! What is he doing? I thought. Right about now he is just inches away from my face. Just when he was about to steal a kiss, another branch snapped. He jumped up letting go of my wrist and pulling me to my feet.

            “I got his flag!” Todd yelled, with Drew following behind him.

            “Only because I tripped on a branch!” Drew cried.

I had no words to say. I just gave Chris my flag and headed for the house. “I’m going to get some water. You guys can play football or something.” I suggested. And so they did. Except Chris, he followed me into the house.

            “Rachel.” He said softly, like my name was a secret.

I can’t get any words out my mouth. I just don’t understand what happened. Chris touched my hand, but I was quick to withdraw. “What was that?” I mumbled.

            “I’m sorry. It was a mistake.” Chris looked at the sky then his feet. The porch light flashing on his skin.

And those are the words I left him standing with. I went into the kitchen and got some water. I then joined Mary on the movie. She’s actually pretty cool. We like a lot of the same stuff. She’s very funny too. At around 11 P.M. Everyone started to leave. After Drew, Mary, and Chris left, it was only Todd left.

            “Have a good night?” Todd fell back onto the bean bag chair.

            “Yeah. How about you?”

            “It was fun. Rachel, I really didn’t know she was coming.”

            “It’s not a problem. She’s such a cool person.” I smiled nodding my head, trying to be convincing.

            “You weren’t uncomfortable?”

            “Why would I be?” I said as if I did not care.

            “I don’t know.” His voice started to fade.

We watched TV for a while, and then it was his turn to leave. His mom called him from the porch. “Goodnight, Rachel. Oh and that dress you had on earlier, I forgot to tell you, you looked amazing.” And with a smile just like that he was gone. My cheeks were hot! I ran up to my room to look out the window. I watched his mom pull out the driveway and around the corner.

            What a night this has been.

v  

“So how was your Thanksgiving, Emma?” I sat down at our lunch table, twisting the cap off my juice.  

            “Great! It was so fun! You?”

            “It was…weird.” Just as I said that Drew sat down.            

            “Weird how?” Drew now joining the conversation. “We had a lot of fun!”

            “Chris tried to kiss me.” I played with my food for a minute.

            “What?” Drew’s smile was gone.

            “Oh my gosh! Really?” Emma was excited.

            “When? How?” Drew questioned.

            “When we were playing man hunt. After you left I heard noises, and he came up behind me and tackled me to the floor. At first we were laughing and playing. Then his face turned serious and he started leaning in to my face, then he stopped because you and Todd came.” I was out of breathe.

            “What did you do?” Emma leaned in becoming more interested.

            “What could I do? I froze! Then he stopped me to say sorry and how it was a mistake.”

Drew stayed quiet. He didn’t say anything, or ask any questions.

            “Oh! And Chris and Mary are siblings! Todd’s girlfriend! I confronted him about why he lied, but he just said to protect me. Why is everyone trying to protect me?”

Emma shrugged her shoulders, let out a sigh, and shook her head. She then got up to get some napkins.

            “Maybe, because you’re worth protecting.” Drew mumbled, staring at me.

I got this strange feeling about his look. I guess he was upset because moments later he got up and left the cafeteria.