Rebels Never Smile

Elvis: A Small Argument

I walked home by myself. I felt damn guilty about how I made her feel. Usually I don't feel this way but them tears that girl done shed made me think about how I been acting. I marched up the stairs, and got to the last stairwell. As I was walking to the end of the hall, where my house was I heard laughter. I stopped and turned around and saw June and Lady. There they was, sitting beneath the tree just laughing. June looked like she never even cried earlier. She was cracking jokes with Lady and their twinkling laughter filled the halls. I stared some more until June looked up and saw me. Her smile immediately disappeared. I moved out of vision and leaned against my door, looking up to the sky. She sure knew how to make a man feel guilty.

I sighed and opened the door to find mama standing in the kitchen washing dishes. Daddy was sitting on the couch fanning himself with the newspaper in his other hand. " mama, daddy, I'm home." Daddy merely nodded when mama turned around and smiled. " I ain't seen you for a long time son!" She beamed. I glided across the room and took her into my arms. I kissed her forehead and chuckled " Mama, you seen me this morning." The lines around her forehead disappeared as she giggled. " Thats a long time, baby." I let her go and she stood watching me as I walked towards my daddy. I sat on the couch next to him and took some of the newspaper he read and looked over them. Mama sighed and went back to washing the dishes.

" Son, you got a girlfriend yet?" He said. Taken aback I answered " uh, no sir." He nodded and I asked " why you asking?" And he looked up and sighed " Well, I think it's bout time you get one." His voice dropped to a whisper and he leaned in close and breathed " Your mama been telling me lately how much she wants them grandchildren." He winked at me and smiled " You best get busy son." I was overcame with hysterics as I realized what he was trying to say. Oh man. Mama peeked her head out the kitchen and narrowed her eyes at us. " What you boys up to now?" She questioned. Daddy chuckled lightly " Don't you worry none baby, it's just men talk." And he turned his head slightly to wink at me. Mama eyed us both suspiciously and said " Alright." And went back into the kitchen. Me and daddy silently laughed and I was relieved I was able to spend time with them.

Later on I decided it was time for me to go wait for June at the park. Mama and daddy retired to their room earlier and you can hear them giggling like schoolgirls in there. Not wanting to disturb them I walked towards the door and yelled " I'm going out! I ain't going to be back till late." And without waiting for a reply walked out.

The sun was nearly down and the air smelled fresh. I took a minute to succumb to the weather and started walking down. I walked down the street and crossed the street to the park. The park was a big wide open space, filled with grass and trees. The grass was always trimmed and the trees were always cut. There were picnic tables and I decided to sit on the nearest one to wait for June.

It was late and I was still waiting. The temperature had dropped and I could see the vapor from my breath in the dim light. I huffed and got up. I was nearly frozen in that position and I had a hard time walking. As soon as I got to the sidewalk I fell on my knees and my hands couldn't do anything as my head landed on the concrete wall. I turned over on my back and groaned. That's when I heard a gasp. I couldn't see who it was because it was too dark but as soon as she spoke I knew who it was. It was her. It was June.

She rushed towards me and put my head in her lap. She slapped my cheeks hard and consciousness came back to me. I opened my eyes and I quickly got up. I looked down at my knees and saw my pants had ripped and it was bleeding. June quickly said " come with me. My parents aren't home." Still stunned she took my hand and I complied without hesitation. We walked quickly, me behind and her wiping tears. She opened her door and she pushed me onto the couch in the far left corner. Her house was warm and homey. It was a little larger than mine and filled with pictures of who I guess was her family. It reminded me of my house for some reason and I was relaxed and felt absolutely comfortable.

She walked into her bathroom and moved around in there, looking for the first aid and she walked towards me. She sat real close to me and like my body, my mind blanked out. She wiped a piece of cloth in alcohol and started with my knees. There was a deep gash in both of them and she started with my left leg. As soon as it touched me my mind woke up and I grabbed both her hands and pushed her back into the couch with me on top of her. She blinked in surprise. Then in a low voice she breathed " Get off me." Immediately I realized the position we were in and I got up. I whispered back an apology and I got up when I felt her hand grab mine. I turned back around and she said " You didn't let me clean your wounds. That nasty gash on your forehead isn't going away by itself." As soon as she mentioned my head I felt the pain in my head. It throbbed and I needed both hands to cup it. She grabbed one of my hands and sat me down on the couch, her beside me. Again she started with my knees. She touched the cloth to my skin and it burned my flesh. " OW!" I barked. Her eyebrows furrowed and she said in a annoyed tone " Stop being a big baby." Annoyance hit me too and I challenged " I waited in the cold for you. This is your fault." And she stopped and looked me in the eyes " I wanted you to feel stupid for a little while so you could feel how I felt when you said those mean things to me earlier." " I already told you I didn't mean it." I shot back. " You didn't apologize either." acid clear in her voice. Her words broke my protective barrier and I let those words sink in, they were absolutely right.

I sat and let her clean my knees and finally she had to clean my head. Her face was close to mine and I could see the small hair on her cheek. I could smell her and she smelled of vanilla and lilacs. I felt her breath on my chest. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concentration and her lips were pursed. " I know I'm pretty but your staring pretty hard." She said. I reverted my eyes and croaked " Don't flatter yourself." she smiled and pressed the cloth onto my head. My eyes closed in pain and I groaned a little. I gripped the couch arm and something else. " That hurts you know." She said in an annoyed tone. I opened one eye and saw that my hand had gripped her thigh. I immediately released and tired by all of this I decided to leave.

Like the first time she put her hand out to stop me. I tried to push her out of the away but she stubbornly held on. I turned to face her with my jaws clenched and growled " let. Me. Go." She let go but she said " When are we gonna talk about the project?" Remembering my Saturday night was occupied with a night out with the boys and since my parents are gonna be out on Sunday I said " We'll discuss everything on Sunday. I'll come pick you up and we'll walk to my house-" " wait a minute" she intervened. " Your... House?" She said, her voice high. Rolling my eyes I said " Like I said, I'll pick you up at about 4:00 and the rest will be decided." And with that I left.

I found myself thinking often of June for the next few days. I kept thinking about her lips and how her face looked so pretty when she's concentrating. Suddenly, I can't wait for Sunday.