Betty's Cardigan

Get in the Car

Lorraine dreamed of James.

She dreamed that they were at the cinema. The sky was overcast with clouds. 

The two of them were leaning against the closed shutters of the ice-cream joint. She was smoking a cigarette, and James was looking up at the sky.

Lorraine stared at him. in her dream no one could stop her from taking in those icy-blue eyes. The wind picked up and James' hair waved in the most poetic fashion. Lorraine had never been one for romantic poetry, but she felt the urge to read some while playing with his dark locks.

James caught her staring, but Lorraine didn't look away. He didn't even need to speak for her to understand him. They were completely comfortable in each other's presence.

It started to rain.

"Let's ditch this place," James suggested. He took the cigarette from her lips and drew a puff. Lorraine had never seen him have a cigarette before, but in the dream he did it with ease. He extinguished the butt with his white converse shoes and leaned into her.

In mere moments, his lips were upon hers.

Even in the dream, she was too shocked to kiss him back. But when he drew away, she grabbed the collar of his stupid flannel shirt with both hands and kissed him deeply.

*****

Lorraine woke up with a strange happiness the next morning. She remembered the details of the dream vividly, as if her mind had deliberately saved a copy of the imaginary film reel. 

Ever since the incident at Inez's party, her skin had been crawling. Her wrist had bruised slightly and she could almost feel the jerk's fingers wrapped around her. Her dream had been a blessing. She thanked her brain for rejecting the nightmare fuel of her experience and going with the good stuff that could never happen.

Lorraine convinced herself that it was enough to want James. He was pretty enough for her to quench her thirst. She could go on without stroking his delicate jawline, bordering on sharp. She would definitely not touch his curls. She would steal glances of him everyday, and that would be enough until...

Until who? Prince Charming? Like that's ever going to happen.

"What do you really want to do?" Lorraine pondered aloud.

I want to kiss James.

"No, that's wrong!"

But, if he kisses you back...

That would be everything.

So, while Lorraine was getting ready for her morning shift she decided two things:

1. She was going to hold James Parker to his word of experiencing the best summer ever.

2. She was going to shoot her shot. It was time to end this angst.

Right or wrong, she didn't care. 

*****

Lorraine's morning shift had just finished. She had the rest of the day off. Instead of going back home, she headed for James' place. 

Lorraine almost passed by him. James was walking in the opposite direction on the sidewalk. Lorraine backed up her car and stopped before him.

"I was just walking to the cin-"

"Get in the car," Lorraine said before she lost her cool. She had visualized this moment in her head over and over until she had got a splitting headache. 

James did as asked. His grin was a little sheepish. Maybe Lorraine had been too forward, but there was no stopping now. 

"I need to talk to you," James said.

"Me first," Lorraine insisted. God, he looks just as handsome as he did in my dream. 

But, Lorraine didn't speak a word. She simply leaned toward him. She was ready for rejection and she could almost feel her heart beating against her ribs. 

Lorraine felt James' lips against hers, so much softer in reality. She melted and all logic went out of the window. They held on for a minute before breaking away.

"What did you want to say?" Lorraine said, her breath uneven.

James seemed ruffled too, but he gave her a roguish grin. "Now? Nothing at all."

Lorraine smiled back. She hit the gas and they drove off.

Summer was definitely going to be the best!