The Other Side

Chapter 7

  Drumming fingers against the steering wheel, Darry tried to calm his nerves. "It's just lunch," he kept repeating over and over in his head like a mantra.

It didn't seem to help. His fingers trembled as pulled into Audrey's driveway and the cut the ignition. Getting out of his truck, Darry took a quick survey of his outfit. Groaning, he brushed uselessly at the dust that seemed to cling to every part of him. Why didn't he think of this before? He couldn't go into town with Audrey looking like this.

Jerking his seat forward, he plundered through the back seat searching in vain for an extra shirt to throw on.

"Darry?"

"Audrey!" Darry exclaimed, straightening in surprise.

A loud thunk reverberated through the air followed by a string of colorful words.

"My Darry! Did the doorjamb jump out and get you?" Audrey teased, choking back her laughter.

"Can it," Darry mumbled sullenly, rubbing the side of his face.

Here, let me see," Audrey said as she brushed his hands away. Her brow furrowed in sympathy when she saw a red line running from his temple down to his jaw.

"Oh that's going to bruise, she murmured softly. Her finger lightly traced the mark, the tip tingling as it brushed over his skin.

Snatching her hand away, Audrey turned back to the house. "Let's get you some ice."

Darry trailed behind her, following her through the house and into the kitchen. Leaning back against the counter, he watched as Audrey scurried around the kitchen, seemingly unable to find a sandwich baggy. Her ponytailed bobbed behind her as she scoured through her pantry. Cheeks flushed with exertion and slight embarrassment, Audrey held up the box of sandwich bags triumphantly. Quickly throwing some cubes in a bag, she thrust the bag with a paper towel at Darry.

"Here," she said in a rush, her voice high-pitched.

His fingers brushed against hers as he reached for the bag of ice and Audrey nearly dropped it in her haste to let go.

"I don't bite," Darry joked as he tenderly pressed the bag to his face.

He let out a hiss as the cold burned his skin like fire. A feeling he was used to when he was around Audrey. The girl lit him up like a yule log. She always pretended not to notice. Even now she was turning away from him to straighten up the invisible mess she had made while getting him a bag of ice.


"Make sure you keep the paper towel between the bag and your skin, otherwise you'll have a burn mark on top of your bruise," Audrey commented as she wiped off an already clean counter-top.


Darry removed the ice and rubbed his hand along his jaw, "I dunno, a nice burn scar on the side of my face my not look so bad. Give me more of a rugged look."


Audrey snorted and continued to wipe her imaginary mess.


Straightening from his casual lean, Darry edged closer to Audrey, "What? You don't think I'll look good with a scar?"


"You're dripping water on my floor."


Scowling, Darry shoved the bag of ice back up to his cheek and plopped back against the counter.


Hiding her smile, Audrey moved to place the dish rag she used to wipe the counter, in the sink.


"So how long do I need to keep this ice on my face?" Darry asked as he watched Audrey.


"Just a few minutes more you temperamental baby."


"Temperamental baby?"


"Yes. Over there pouting like temperamental baby," Audrey replied as she turned and leaned back against the sink, facing Darry.


"Pouting?"


"Never-mind. You're a temperamental parrot."


"This is burning my face," Darry muttered as he tossed the bag ice behind Audrey where it landed in the sink with a plunk.


"What? Now you don't want a scar?" Audrey laughed as she reached to empty the bag of the ice.


Pushing away from the counter, Darry was suddenly in her space, with arms braced on the sink on either side of her.


"Know what I want?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.


Rendered mute, Audrey shook her head.

"I want to know why you came back. I want to know if you thought about me while you were away at college. I want to know how you can still make feel like I'm back in high school every time I look at you. I want to know how you can make so angry then wanna hold you in the next breath. But most of all..." Darry paused and took a deep breath while Audrey stared him, eyes as wide as dinner plates.