I stood there staring at Katherine for a little while longer, a whole new wave of fear was coming over me and I couldn't do anything to stop it.
"I'll go answer the door." Katherine said tapping my shoulder lightly as she moved passed me, out of her room and onto the landing then down the staircase. I followed her onto the landing and waited at the top of the staircase watching as she approached the front door, my hands gripping the banister,
I turned around swiftly pressing my back against the wall my hands clasped to my chest tightly, I could feel my heart rushing up and down I felt like it would beat out of my chest.
I then heard Katherine open the door,
"Hi Race."
"Oh hiya Kath is Laura here?"
The sound of his voice made my heart beat even faster.
"Yes, I'll just call her down,"
No Katherine please don't! I'm not ready I cant do this!
"Laura!"
I took my hands from my heart praying it would calm me down although I'm not sure it helped I have never been as nervous. Come on Laura you can do this it's just Race. I walked slowly around the corner and onto the top of the staircase. Looking down I saw Katherine with a sneaky smile on her face. Race stood next to her holding two red roses tied together with a piece of newspaper string. He was wearing a pair of clean cut brown trousers with a new brown vest over a fresh white undershirt. He beamed as me as I walked down shakily trying my best not to fall down the staircase,
"Hi." I said quietly, almost silently suddenly conscious of the sound of my own voice,
"You look beautiful." Race said simply as he looked at me his eyes smiling as he handed me the roses.
"Thank you" I said taking it gently from him, my heart began thumping again as our fingers brushed for a split second.
"I'll go put these in some water," said Katherine as she walked away taking the flowers from me. She was about to walk into the kitchen until Mary passed her, "Oh wait a minute Mary can you put these in some water, I'd love to get my camera for these two." She said as she handed my roses over to her.
She went to rush up the stairs until Race stopped her,
"Actually Kath we really should get goin' the show starts in like twenty minutes." Said Race still smiling down at me, showing me he didn't like the idea of standing and waiting for a picture especially if Katherine was taking it.
"Oh" said Katherine awkwardly turning back towards us on the staircase.
"Yeah, we better go Katherine before father gets home." I said.
"Ok, I guess you're right," she said looking slightly disappointed,
I smiled, as Race went to open the door.
"Wait a minute,"
He paused turning to look back at Katherine.
"You treat my little sister well Racetrack Higgins don't you dare hurt her or you'll have me to answer to and Jack too." Katherine threatened half-heartedly trying not to smile.
"I will Plumber don't you worry." Said Race as he opened the door and gestured me to go through it, I turned to smile at Katherine who gave me a quick thumbs up before I moved through the door and out onto the street. Race moved out of the door closing it behind him before smirking,
"I think I would have rather faced Pulitzer."
I laughed at him loudly slightly shocked at myself as I was beginning to relax.
Race slipped his hand gently into mine,
"Shall we?" he gestured I nodded and we set off down the street.
It was wonderful we just talked, he actually listened to me I don't think I've ever felt so close to someone. In that short walk I told him more than I have ever told anyone in my life. We talked so much I didn't even realised we had reached the theatre.
It was unbelievable, a coloured banner stood over the door screaming The fortune Teller, in bright red writing. I stood there in awe for a moment, I had been to see plays in England but the theatres were never as wondrous as this.
Just then Race squeezed my hand bringing me back to reality.
"Come on lets go in." he said smiling.
I nodded and let him lead me inside. Although he began to surprise me when he walked around the side of the theatre.
"Erm Race where are we going, shouldn't we?" I asked still confused.
"Come on just trust me." He said his eyes twinkling with mischief.
I nodded again and we set off up three sets of stairs on the fire escape. All the way up Race kept hold of my hand constantly checking that I wouldn't stumble, I fought hard to stop my cheeks from turning red. After the third set of stairs we come to an open window, Race climbs into it first then helps me inside supporting my waist gently yet again stopping me from falling.
I came through the window and realised we were right at the top of the theatre above the upper circle. There were props, costumes and boxes cluttered all over the place. It looked like no one came up here often.
Race noticed me looking around curiously,
"Yeah Laura I may have twisted that bit about having ticket but Specs told me about this place and I knew I had to bring you here, I know it's not what your used to." He said still smiling but with a hint of disappointment.
I turned around to face him,
"Race it's amazing!" I said my face beaming.
"Really?" he asked.
"Of course it is, who wants to be stuck in a stuffy theatre look at how much room we have up here." I said as I began to drag one of the boxes to the front of the floor to see the stage. Race grabbed one of his own and helped me turn over my own box.
We both sat down and looked over the theatre as the audience prepared for the show to begin. I folded my arms as a breeze began to blow through the open window. Race noticed immediately and went to take off his jacket then he thought better of it and walked towards the back of the space and pulled out a large red velvet cloak and draped it around my shoulders. Sure it was a bit dusty and shabby but I felt like a queen. The orchestra pit struck up, Race sat back down at the show began.
As the performance went on Race and I edged nearer and nearer to each other by the end of the performance I had my head on the crook of his shoulder and I liked it. I felt safe.
As the curtain began to fall his crystal blue eyes made contact with my own and his lips were gradually approaching mine. My head was screaming in fear telling me to run away but my heart told me to let it happen.
Suddenly a door that I hadn't even noticed before was thrown open on the other side of the room. We stood up quickly in shock. A man came striding in glaring at the two of us my heart leaped in fear,
"What are you two doing up here!" he screamed his face full of rage as he came storming towards us.
I shrugged off the cloak and didn't even have time to think as Race ushered me quickly towards the open window telling me to run. I stumbled through it trying not to fall over my skirt. Race rushed out after me grabbed my hand and began sprinting down the fire escape, I followed him still in shock a firm hand pulling my skirts away from my ankles so I wouldn't fall down the stairs.
When we finally got to the bottom of the stairs, Race pulled me down various dark alleyways gripping my hand tighter until we were back to central park its warm lamp lights calming me down. We then came to a stop, our heavy breathing being the only sound.
Just then, I began to laugh, Race looked at me slightly confused until he began laughing as well, probably just at me. I don't know why I was laughing we could have both been arrested, maybe excitement does this to a person. After a good ten minutes of insanity, Race turned back towards me walking towards me slowly trying to regain contact with my eyes.
His hand came up to touch the side of my face gently brushing away a stray curl that must have come loose when we were running. I stopped breathing as his hand began to linger on my cheek as he bought my face as closely as possible to his own and I became lost in his eyes.
His lips made contact with mine and it felt unbelievable. I've never kissed anyone in my whole life, but now I can see now why so many people talk about love and why those who are in love kiss so often.
He pulled away first his blue eyes smiling at me, suddenly I couldn't help it and I began giggling yet again.
"Why are you laughing?" Race asked smiling at me as he took both my hands in his own warming them.
"That was my first kiss." I confessed still laughing softly mostly because I was embarrassed.
"Well you're very good at it." He complimented me. He let go of my hands and placed his arm around my waist and kissing me softly yet again. The second kiss was just as perfect as the first and I wished it could last forever, but I noticed the darkness coming further in, telling me I had to go back home.
I pulled away sighing,
"Race I'd better go, I don't want my father to realise I'm not there." I swiftly kissed him on the cheek and began to walk away until Race pulled me back to him.
"Hey I get to walk you home, do you honestly think I'd let you walk home on your own in the dark?" he said rubbing my back gently. I smiled up at him happy I could spend another few minutes with him.
We walked back in silence both of us more than satisfied to be in each other's company.
My front gate appeared far too quickly and we reluctantly stopped at it.
"Well I better get inside, thanks Race tonight's been great." I said.
"Even the part where we nearly got arrested for trespassing?" he asked a mischievous look on his face.
"Even the part where we almost got arrested for trespassing." I said as for the third time for that night we began laughing.
After a few minutes I realised it was getting really late so I pecked Race on the cheek and opened the gate, walked through it and closed it behind me.
"Wait Laura."
I turned to see Race on the other side of the gate,
"Tonight's been really great, and I really want to do it again some time, I'll be in the park tomorrow morning will you meet me there?"
"Of course" I said smiling as he climbed off the gate and waved to me before he set off running down the street.
I silently snuck through the door and up to my room, careful not to wake anyone, especially my father. After a few tense moments as the floor boards creaked under my feet I finally made it back to the safety of my bedroom, closing the door as softly as I could.
I flopped on my bed, looked over at my vanity and smiled as I saw my two roses in a vase of water the newspaper string still wrapped around them in a perfect bow.
