Their Playground

Chapter 5

Kim was frozen in shock. She still couldn't believe he was standing on her doorstep. This was certainly the most interesting day of her life. And depending on what he had to say, it would either be the best or the worst day of her life as well.

"What are you doing here?" Kim voiced her thoughts, hoping she didn't sound too rude. She tried desperately to keep her voice casual.

"I - ah, can I talk to you?" Cole asked her, rubbing his neck. He seemed extremely uncomfortable, most likely because of what Sarah had informed him. That was enough to make anybody uncomfortable.

No! Kim screamed in her mind, dreading what might follow. "Sure," she managed to say. Was he going to tell her to back off? Or what if he felt the same? No, she mustn't think that way. Better not to get her hopes up. Was there any chance of him visiting to discuss something else entirely? Like maybe Dr. Martin's upcoming torturous exam?

Cole paused, trying to find the right words. After a long silence he finally spoke, stumbling over hsi words a little. "Sarah told me you - that is, she suggested that you might - No, I probably shouldn't say that. What I'm trying to say is, are you available tomorrow night?"

Kim almost laughed as he tried so hard to avoid the topic Sarah managed to handle so casually. Then the full impact of his words hit her. "Me?" she squeaked.

Anyone else would have seized this opportunity to make a sarcastic comment - Sarah would have rolled her eyes and said, No, the invisible person next to you! - but Cole merely nodded, far too nervous to come up with one.

"I - yes, I'm free. Why do you ask?" Kim asked, struggling to sound nonchalant. She wasn't terribly successful, but Cole didn't notice.

"Well, you see, I was wondering if you wanted to go out for some coffee? Together?"

Despite Cole's popularity at school, he clearly was inexperienced at asking out girls. Kim didn't know quite why, but it made her smile. She would have given him a hard time about it if her heart was not pounding so violently, but as it was, she was in no condition to do such a thing. "I'd love to!" Kim abandoned all hopes of maintaining a calm facade.

Cole relaxed visibly. "Great! Well, I'll see you then. I just wanted to drop by and ask you. See you, Kim." He turned and made his way down the driveway.

"Wait, Cole!" Kim shouted. He stopped and turned to face her. "Quick question. How did you get my address?" What Kim was really wondering was, had he been stalking her? That would mean he liked her, and for quite some time, too. She was undecided as to whether that sort of behavior was creepy or romantic. She would cross that bridge when she came to it.

Cole raised an eyebrow. "It was in the school directory. Why?"

Oh. Well, there went that idea. Actually, it wasn't too likely in the first place. She had probably been hanging around crazy people like Sarah too much. But surely he liked her, at least a little bit, if he had asked her on a date. Right? "No reason! See you tomorrow!" Then Cole left.

Kim let out a sigh of relief as he walked away. She couldn't stop the wide grin from spreading across her face. This was the first time luck was in her favor regarding the field of boys.

As she stood in front of the door, staring dreamily at Cole's disappearing car, her parents walked in from the garage, carrying overflowing bags of groceries.

"That's a pretty big smile you have on there, Kim," her dad said. "What's the occasion?"

Kim blushed, embarrassed that he'd noticed. "Nothing, Dad."

"Oh, I see." Mr. Foster nodded. "So it had nothing to do with the boy who was leaving our house then, correct?"

Kim froze, her flush deepening. "Dad, he's just a classmate. Nothing happened, really!"

Her dad smiled at her protests. "Remember that if he's interested in dating you, he has to fill out the application."

"Oh, Jim," Mrs. Foster sighed. "Stop teasing her. She's old enough to date. Just be careful, okay, honey? Don't let him steal your heart so easily."

"I won't," Kim promised. "I won't."