Heart Condition

Chapter Twenty-Five: Awareness

I counted down the weeks until Christmas break.

            Sasha had done an exceptional job of hiding whatever it was my surprise entailed, and the closer we got, the more anxious I became.

            “Hey.” He said, climbing in my window at about five o’clock on a Wednesday evening, “I request permission to come inside, to kiss you, and to give you a present.”

            I didn’t look up when I replied, “Nope. You can kiss me and put the gift on my bed, then leave.”

            “Are your parents here?” He asked hesitantly, and began descending down the latter my mother had decided was a good idea to hide in the alley for events such as this. I swear; sometimes my Mom was more aware than I gave her credit for.

            I nodded, “Mom and Daniel are both downstairs watching Newsroom. You’re clear.”

            He hesitated, and made his way inside slowly. With both feet inside my room, he reached into his pocket. Pulling something small out of his pocket, he tossed it toward me.

            “A key?” I stared, turning it over; it was a car key.

            Sasha sat down on the edge of my bed, and I walked over to sit beside at him. He took my hand, smiling “My dad is letting me take the car out of the city. That is, if you still want to go on that trip.”

            “Really?” I looked up, smiling and trying not to get too excited. But this was a big deal; Sasha and I had been together since October, but we hadn’t said anything about…what it was we were. I mean, girls were still giving me the side-eye and whispering in the hallways, but every time Sasha held my hand, it felt right.

            “Really.” He said, turning over his hand. I placed mine inside, and he explained, “So I’m thinking that everyone can leave as soon as school gets out on Thursday, and drive to our destination.”

            I smiled, “Are you going to tell me exactly where we’re going?”

            “I can tell you where our final destination is, yes.” He squeezed my hand, “Remember how I told you that my grandparents lived in the mountains?”

            “Yes.” I nodded, and my heart started to beat a little bit faster.

            “Well,” He explained, his voice low and his face so close to me “I was thinking we could get a group of friends and spend the weekend out there. They’re due for snow, and I think we’d have a good time; plus, we might get another thrill attempt crossed off your list, if you can stand the dropping temperature.”

            That sounded amazing; hot chocolate and movies with our friends in the fresh air. It was so perfect.

            “Let’s do it.” I smiled.

            He nodded, “Okay.”

            Charlie and Liam came over for dinner that night, so Sasha had to be especially careful sneaking out of my window; I kissed him before opening the window and walking out the door. When I made it down the stairs, Mom’s eyes looked up at me with a hesitant glare.

            I walked toward her, and stared down at the soup on the stove. It was family dinner night, and she had to be back at the office in two hours to prepare for the ten o’clock slot. Standing beside her, she spoke softly so my brother’s couldn’t hear, “Did Sasha get home alright?”