This was the most excited Milly had been in her entire life.
Eric was going to be able to spend Thanksgiving with her.
Once Eric strained and said her name, she kissed his cheek, causing him to smile, and let his entire body relax. His tears dired, and his color returned. Milly took his hands and had him stand with her on the porch. Hearing him speak sent butterflies down into her stomach. She smiled the biggest smile she could ever make before she stood with him gazing up into his eyes. "I love him." She thought. She wanted to say it so badly, but knew now wasn't the time. Instead, she brushed back off his bangs, before he gently took her hand and turned it over, lightly rubbing her knuckles against his soft cheek. One thing Milly noticed was if Eric did indeed shave, she never felt any stubble against his skin, just smoothness. He nuzzled her hand, before she smiled, and took a step closer to him.
"Isn't this great Eric? We can spend the whole holiday together! You can help me in the kitchen!"
Eric just smiled, looking to be lost in his own world as he nuzzled her hand. Stepping a little closer, she kissed the corner of his mouth lightly, before pulling back. His expression made Milly smile as his eyebrows rose, and he tilted his head to the side. Making a face, Milly took his hand and squeezed it, before pulling him inside.
Later...
Her mother was in the other room talking on the phone, and Luis was content with Max on the couch watching the parade. Milly had brought Eric into the kitchen, and pushed up her sleeves, and walked over to the sink to wash her hands. "Gotta wash our hands good before we get started. See?" She used the warm water and soap, and Eric stood beside her doing the same thing as she squirted soap into his hands, and showed him by rubbing her hands together. She knew Eric knew how to wash his hands, since she watched him do it whenever he was leaving the bathroom. She figured this was a habit that Uncle Hugo taught him. The two scrubbed up, soap bubbles floating as they rinsed. As they did so, Milly faintly thought back to the night before in the bathroom, how she had seen Eric naked for the first time, and how he had covered himself, and simply kissed her, before he began to dress. She smiled faintly, as she looked up and eyed him. Eric eyed her back and smirked, before they finished washing up. Once done, they dried their hands, and Milly pushed up his sleeves slightly better, before handing him a large bowl and potato masher. Smiling, she hummed as she took out the bowl of peeled potatoes her mother had already peeled the day before. Taking them out along with the milk and butter, she showed Eric how much butter to slice and put in the bowl, as well as how to use the measuring cup to dump some milk in.
"Mom always taught me to put two dashes of salt, and one of pepper for. taste."
Eric watched her fascinated, as she used the salt and pepper shakers. She then demonstrated using the masher.
"You hold onto the bowl with one hand, and hold the masher like this, and start using it to squish down all of the big chunks. Up and down, up and down. Watch me."
She showed him how to use the masher, before handing it over to him.
"Now show me."
It took Eric a second, but she had started to notice ever since her stay at the hospital after falling, he seemed ten times more willing to actually try new things, and to please her. Sure, he could still be stubborn when he wanted to, and Milly saw him shut down more than once. Still, it was rarely with her. In fact, every Tuesday and Thursday when she would touch base with Mrs. Sherman to go over her entries on Eric's progress, Mrs. Sherman would explain that she had started to notice not only Eric communicating better, such as nodding and shaking his head for yes and no when asked questions, he was showing better emotion, which Mrs. Sherman claimed was much happier since Milly moved to town, and the only times he did get stubborn, shutting down, or pulling a tantrum, was never with Milly, and usually triggered when Milly couldn't work with him since she had other classes, or when the tutors pushed him, making him get frustrated since they didn't have what Mrs. Sherman claimed was Milly's magic touch. She also noticed that Eric, like she guessed very early on, that he understood much more than what everyone else thought he did. He listened closely, and would follow directions mostly to the numbers if it was Milly giving them.
Also, there were things such as the day in the gym when she started her first period. Being a teenage boy, who lived with his uncle, she didn't think Eric even knew what a woman's period was. Still, he must have sensed that she was embarrassed, and more than a little nervous and scared that day when she discovered her stained shorts. She knew as always he had been closely watching her, and saw how she kept glancing behind at herself, and looking down at the blood staining the crotch of her shorts. How she had tried covering herself with her hands, and then touched the dampness of her shorts, horrified at the faint stain of blood on her fingertips, before Eric silently handed over his hoodie. As embarrassed as she was, she had confided in Mrs. Sherman in this, and Mrs. Sherman warmly smiled, hearing what Eric had done for her.
"Like I said my dear, Eric sees things most people don't. Almost like...he sees how people are feeling. His five senses are heightened in some areas, while others might be lower, but he's tuned in on you Milly. Sure it started off with him wanting to mimic you, but we've both seen it's so much more than that, and it's gone to such wonderful new heights. You've brought him out of his shell, and I feel you're the first person ever he truly feels comfortable to be safe with. Some therapist might have claimed that you were scared that day in the gym, and maybe you were shaking slightly and Eric caught it and thought you might be cold, and that's why he offered his hoodie. I don't believe that. I don't think he knew what was happening to you, but knew that somebody he cared for was in trouble, and that was his way of comforting you."
Milly had blushed slightly at this, but deep down inside knew that Mrs. Sherman had been right. It seemed as though since the day on the field trip when Eric saved her life that he had gotten so much better. In fact, she had noticed he was making huge strides especially since they had officially started "dating", and even more after he shared his secret with her and flew. To others, whenever Eric would blankly stare forward, arms extended, flapping his hands, eyes drifting up towards the sky. To Milly, she knew what this really meant, and ever since the night of the Halloween costume contest, she was now a firm believer in the impossible becoming possible. She knew there was no denying it. She was in love with Eric...the boy who could fly. Eric started to use the masher. Twice Milly had to have him hold the bowl better, but he actually started putting a little strength into it, before fully getting the hang of it. Milly grinned standing beside him, watching proudly, and actually feeling as if this holiday might not be depressing like the few that had followed her father's death. She wasn't so sure how her mother was feeling about Eric staying over tonight, but nevertheless she had allowed him to stay which truly meant the world to Milly.
"I'm going to chop up the celery for the stuffing, you keep mashing. Once we get stuff going, you can make some paper airplanes at the table. Mom already put the bird in early this morning..."
She said as she opened the fridge to grab the thin paper bag holding the celery in the crisper. She hummed as she worked, knowing that she would have to get dressed soon. She was originally just going to wear jeans and the white button down blouse Geneva had talked her into getting, but she now wondered if maybe the blue velvet turtleneck dress might be a better choice? Her mother always nagged her to wear more dresses and skirts, so she figured it couldn't hurt. Geneva had gone shopping with her one afternoon when Eric was at a doctor's appointment, and it was Geneva's idea to help her pick out a few new clothes using old holiday money she had saved up. She ended up buying some Calvin jeans, which took most of her money, but Geneva said she would look just like Brooke Shields wearing them. The rest of the short blue velvet turtleneck dress, with a pair of black tights. Since Geneva and her were almost the same shoe size, both had traded some pairs between the two of them, and Milly was thinking as she washed the celery over the sink, breaking the stalks, that maybe the short white fake leather boots would go well with the outfit she had been planning in her head. She took the large kitchen knife, and started to chop up the celery, thinking maybe she outta flat iron her hair someday like Geneva had shown her in the Cosmo and Seventeen magazines they flipped through. She knew her hair was wavy, and wild, and had never straightened it before. She wondered if it would look cute...
That's when she forgot what she was doing, and accidentally ran the knife over her finger while quickly chopping the last of the celery.
"Argh!"
She jumped back, holding her hand, where a thin slice had been taken out of her finger, where blood trickled down onto the cutting board. It wasn't a bad cut, and it wasn't the first time she had cut herself in the kitchen. She was actually going to run it under some water, curse herself for being so stupid day dreaming when she should have been paying attention, then grab a bandaid upstairs. Instead, when she turned, her face puckered by the stringing of the cut she had given herself, she bumped right into Eric. She saw his eyes were zeroed in on her cut. His brow was wrinkled, his eyebrows raised, and his eyes worried. Right away, he took her hand, before struggling and saying...
"M...M...Milly?"
Milly hated seeing him worried like this, and tried to brush it off.
"It's nothing Eric, just cut myself by accident I just need to..."
Before she could finish, Eric leaned down, and gently kissed her cut finger. It stung a little, but something about how gentle, and tender he was being, made butterflies swirl in her stomach, before he lifted his eyes. His lips were faintly stained with her blood, before he smirked. Leaning in, he nuzzled his nose against hers, before she smiled up at him. Without saying anything, he turned with her, and led her over to the sink. Turning the water on, he tested it with his other free hand, the other gently holding onto hers, before he brought her cut finger underneath the water washing it out. Watching him, Milly was fascinated. He gently nuzzled her head as he washed her cut out, before ripping off a paper towel, and gently drying it. She stood back, as he wrapped up her finger, which had stopped bleeding, before leaning down and kissing it. Milly smiled, staring up at him before they locked eyes.
"I love you Eric Gibb."
Eric smiled, staring into her eyes. Both not noticing Milly's mother standing in the kitchen doorway, holding the phone, holding for Garry. She originally wasn't so happy with how Eric behaved, clinging onto Milly. She knew she had been through a lotl, and had been putting a lot of effort into this boy, who clearly had many issues. Still, there was no denying it...the two looked at each other like they were the only people in the world. The same way...Donald and her used to stare at each other. Sadly smiling, she turned and gave them their privacy.
Later that night...
Milly had ended up showering, and using Geneva's flat iron she had left at her house the week before. Her mother was impressed with how much Milly and Eric had actually gotten accomplished. Luis spent the whole morning watching TV with Max near him. Finally around eleven, after Milly put out the crackers, and cheese, her mother had insisted that Luis do the dishes, and set the table. While Milly showered upstairs, her mother stayed in the living room on the sofa with Eric. Max laid between them, as Eric petted him, and they watched reruns of the parade. Eric watched the floats transfixed, and even Milly's mother couldn't help it but smile as she sipped her tea. When Milly came downstairs, she circled into the living room and knew she certainly looked different at the reaction she was getting. Her mother's eyes widened, as she set her tea down on the coffee table and smiled.
"What did you do to your hair?!"
Milly was wearing a high ponytail, tied back with a black headband, she wasn't sure if it came out okay since that's what took her the longest upstairs. She knew it was stupid putting this much effort into how she looked since she wasn't even planning on leaving the house today, but in the back of her mind this was her first Thanksgiving with Eric...boyfriend to be correct, and she actually wanted to feel pretty for herself. For Halloween she dressed as a punk rocker, why not dress herself up for this holiday. As she got ready, she joked to herself that for Christmas she might need to try a new look to stick with the holiday dressup theme. She stood wearing the blue velvet short turtleneck dress, black tights, and her usual crazy curly wavy hair now straightened, and looking very different held back with the band. She wasn't used to wearing makeup, but wore enough to make it noticeable. She actually caught herself staring at herself in her bedroom's vanity mirror, and kept smiling. She had to hand it to Geneva, this look actually worked for her. She blushed a little nervously, touching it.
"I used Geneva's flat iron. Do you like it?"
Her mother smiled staring up at her. "I do. It's different! Must have taken you forever..."
Milly smiled, rolling her eyes when the phone rang. Seconds later Luis called from the kitchen to their mother that it was Garry again. Getting up, taking her tea, her mother smiled, and gently touched Milly's head.
"You look nice honey. I love it. Let me grab that, and I'll see how the sides are doing..."
She winked at her, before walking out of the room. Left alone now with Eric, she got to fully see his reaction and she loved it. He was sitting on the sofa, still absently petting Max, all the meanwhile not taking his eyes off her. Milly nervously smiled, doing a little twist in the dress.
"I got the dress at the mall with Geneva, it was her idea to style my hair this way. You like it?"
Eric blankly stared up at her, and for a brief second Milly wondered if he hated it. She herself wasn't so sure about how different she looked, but it was exciting to look at her reflection and not see the same old Milly. Then again, it was the same old Milly she guessed he had fallen for. Standing there in her velvet dress, she nervously laughed.
"You hate it don't you?"
Eric slowly shook his head, before he rose from the sofa, and looked her up and down. She noticed his eyes lingered on her breasts, which were perkly in the dress. Usually Milly felt that if she laid down flat her boobs would disappear, her chest pretty flat compared to the other girls in her class. She smirked, before she reached, and took his hands, gently swinging them. Her finger now with a bandage wrapped around it.
"I don't know how girls do this everyday. This took so long. Geneva is crazy..."
Eric closely stared at her, closely studying her face, before she laughed.
"It's still me Eric. Do you think I look pretty?"
Eric smiled, acted as if he was thinking about it before nodding yes. Lightly chuckling, she stared into his big brown eyes, and saw how curious he seemed. She could faintly hear her mother talking to Garry on the phone in the kitchen, and Luis yelling something about going outside for a while. Max's ears perked up, before he barked and ran out of the room to follow him through the back door. She heard the screen door slam open and close, before she got an idea, and clicked the TV off, before turning on her mom's record player. Van Morrison was in it, and she slowly dropped the needle, as music started to softly play. She had great memories of her parents dancing to this album in their old house. She offered her hand.
"May I have this dance?"
Eric looked confused, before she giggled, and positioned his hands on her hips, as she loosely put them around his neck.
"Like this, and we just sway back and forth..."
It took Eric a second, before they slowly swayed back and forth. Eric smiled, staring down at her, as Milly then showed how to twirl her out, and even tried to have him dip her. Losing her footing, she felt herself fall back, thankfully onto the sofa, before she squealed, and pulled him down with her. Both fell back onto the couch, him on top of her. She laughed, before she stared up, his face less than an inch away from hers. She could still hear her mother talking on the phone to Garry, but knew at any second she could walk out and see them like this. Breathing heavy, she laughed, before she smiled and nuzzled her nose up against his. She then tilted her head to the side, and softly kissed him. Smiling through it, she ran one of her hands through his wavy hair, before whispering...
"Happy Thanksgiving Eric. I love you."
She stared up at him, before Eric smiled. She knew he wanted to say it, but instead, he smirked, kissed her cheek, before helping her back up. She laughed as he actually even helped fix the skirt of her dress, smoothing it down, before both continued dancing slowly back and forth to the record player. To Milly, it was the perfect Thanksgiving.
The next day...
Geneva had convinced her to join her at Skateland, the giant indoor skating rink on the outside of town. Geneva had called her early that morning, telling her that her mother and aunt were going to the mall for Black Friday deals, while she got to borrow her dad's car, since he was staying home watching the game with her brother. Bored out of her mind, she asked if she wanted to head to Skateland later that night, and maybe get a pizza? She was dying to try out the new skates she got from her grandmother, and told Milly now that the weather was getting cooler, Skateland, and the mall would be the place to hang since it was too cold to go to the drive-in or lake. Milly hadn't skated since last year, but figured it might be fun to do. She was even pleasantly surprised when Geneva asked if Eric might want to come? She was stunned. Geneva was warming up to Eric, and hadn't called her any names ever since Milly was very upfront to her about how much she cared for him. Geneva said even though he was odd, she could see it now, Eric was cute, and she felt Milly would be good for him. She had slipped up calling him a retard a few times, and Milly would always shoot her a look, and ask her to please stop. She knew Geneva wasn't being cruel, but a little uneducated when it came to autism. She actually had asked Milly to bring him to the movies when she asked her to hang one Saturday. Milly figured it was because she wanted to double, now that she was "talking" to Alex York, a cute seventeen year old that lived behind Geneva, whose sister went to school with Geneva. He was nice enough, and was actually really cool with Eric. He explained to Milly that his cousin was the same way, and went to a special school upstate.
He wasn't rude or cocky, and at the movies showed Eric the genius idea of mixing sugar babies with popcorn. Eric didn't talk the entire time, but had smiled at this, and midway through the movie, Milly was stunned to see Alex and Geneva making out hot and heavy. Listening to the soft sounds of their lips smacking, and sucking. Suddenly the Charlie Sheen movie was ignored, as both Milly, and Eric stared in disbelief through the darkness of the theater at them. Milly knew they were sitting in the back row, but couldn't believe these two. Sure, she felt much better after that disaster the whole thing with Todd went. Alex was a little older, and a really nice guy. Sandy blond hair, green eyes, and was on the basketball and hockey team. As Eric and him walked ahead earlier, Alex pointed out all of the movie posters to Eric, who listened, hands in his pockets. Milly liked how awesome he was with Eric, treating him like any regular person. It clearly showed he had a family who were like Eric to some degree. He had even made Eric laugh...or as close as Eric could get to laughing, which was when his eyes got tiny, he smiled from ear to ear, face would brighten up, and he would shake his head. They were walking, carrying the girl's sodas, and popcorn buckets to their theater, as Alex talked about some new basketball movie him and Eric should totally go and see. He seemed to really like Geneva, who was nervous. Milly could tell since instead of talking his ear off, she mostly just giggled, and kept blushing. As they walked behind the guys, Geneva had nudged Milly.
"Man, they both have cute butts huh?"
Milly's eyes widened, as her cheeks filled with color before she playfully hit Geneva.
"You're terrible!" "Yeah, but I'm right. Man, why hadn't I ever noticed Alex before. He's perfect!"
Milly smiled, before Geneva smiled, walking arm in arm with Milly, giggling like two school girls.
"Man, if this works out we're going to have to double more. Stare at our boyfriends' really cute butts."
Milly rolled her eyes laughing, and throughout the movie she kept glancing over, and smiled at how Alex and Geneva were turned into each other, laughing, singing along to some of the more popular songs on the soundtrack, sharing their popcorn mixed with candy, and finally holding hands. It was...at least until Milly looked over again and saw them heavily making out. Looking back at Eric, she made a face, causing him to raise an eyebrow. Milly had to bite down on the insides of her cheeks to prevent her from laughing. Rolling her eyes, she leaned down sipping the Dr. Pepper she was sharing with him, before leaning in and whispering.
"I guess they are hitting it off."
Eric smirked, and continued watching the movie. That night after Alex drove them all back home, he said goodbye to Milly and Eric, before walking Geneva up to her back steps to say goodnight. Milly and Eric walked back to their houses hand in hand, Milly wearing the green hoodie Eric had given her, as the cold wind blew, causing dried leafs to swirl, and dance down the sidewalk. They had all gotten pizza after the movie, and Geneva looked as if she was on cloud nine. Now alone with Eric, she turned towards his house, seeing the flickering light from Uncle Hugo's TV through the living room curtains. Her mother's bedroom light was on, since she had remarked she was studying that manual for the computer program she was cramming for, which sadly had put her in quite the mood. Milly had checked her watch, seeing she was still over a half an hour away from her curfew. Luis had a friend named Adian sleeping over, and she figured the two were probably playing video games in the living room. The walk back, Milly had talked about how exciting the movie was, and how awesome the car was in it, before nudging Eric, and asking if he thought Alex was cool?" Eric thought about it for a second before nodding.
"Geneva and him make a cute couple. I know it's moving fast, but they said they might wanna double with us again. I'm happy for Geneva, I know she's wanted a boyfriend so badly, and Alex seems perfect for her..."
She then stopped at the back porch, it was screened in, and sadly unused. There were old faded stacks of newspapers that Uncle Hugo hadn't gotten around to getting rid of, along with baskets of empty beer and wine bottles. There was an old patio loveseat with faded torn cushions, and an old snow shovel and rake. Milly had only really walked through here, and didn't like the stale smell of wine from there. Still, the backdoor was always left unlocked for Eric to be let inside, even though she figured he would easily get to his bedroom, or attic window. Standing in the shadows of the porch, she walked in with him, and both stood, before Milly smiled and shrugged.
"I can't believe they were making out like that in the theater. I know a lot of people do that, but what if somebody saw!"
Eric stared at her, before Milly started feeling that fluttering feeling deep in her stomach. She nervously tapped her foot, before she looked around. They were standing in the darkness of the back screened in porch, and Uncle Hugo most likely was passed out inside. Looking at Eric in his cord pants, and red hoodie, she smiled, before shrugging.
"You ever wanna do that?" Eric raised an eyebrow, before Milly laughed and shook her head.
"No, not at the movies...but...have you ever wanted to...you know...make-out?"
Eric looked surprised, before Milly smiled, color burning through her cheeks.
"I mean, I don't need to get back yet...you...wanna try?"
She motioned to the dusty patio loveseat, before Eric gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. Milly knew this was uncharted waters for the two of them. They had kissed plenty, but nothing like this. Eric looked a little confused, but she smiled and sat down, coughing at the cloud of dust that was kicked up when she flopped down on it. Eric took a second, before sitting down beside her. He coughed as well at the dust, before silently laughing. She then saw the way his sneakered foot was tapping on the floor. He was nervous. Reaching over, she touched his jean clad thigh, he stiffened for a second, before looking over. She smiled at him.
"We don't have to, we don't have to do anything you don't want to do. It's just the two of us okay? Do you wanna do this?"
Eric took a second before he nodded, softly smiling. Milly now felt excited as she leaned in closer.
"You do? You really do?"
He nodded quickly, before she smiled.
"I gotta get home before curfew, but we're just next door and have plenty of time. If we hear Uncle Hugo inside wake up and start walking around we'll stop. If you feel uncomfortable, or want to stop at any time we will. Okay? We'll..."
She motioned to herself.
"I guess stick to just kissing, and on top of the clothes stuff? Second base? Geneva explained it to me and I..."
She knew she was nervous and rambling. She took a second before laughing. That's when she unzipped her green hoodie, leaving it open. It was a chilly night, but she was already starting to feel flushed. Opening her purse, she knew she was being silly, but didn't care. Opening her lip gloss, she quickly applied it, smacking her lips, tasting the maple syrup flavor, before tossing it back in her purse. Her hair was pushed back by her headband, and she could feel her heart hammer through her chest. She looked at Eric, who looked just as nervous as she was. He unzipped his hoodie, before he smiled, and Milly knew she might need to kick things off. She took hold of him, before awkwardly pulling him down against her, as her mouth opened and closed. They had kissed before, even with their mouths open, but Milly was determined to prove to herself that she knew what she was doing. Eric sd always allowed her to take the lead, before responding. Their mouths opened and closed, Milly feeling his tongue in her mouth, as the taste of syrup from her lip gloss filled her, as she suddenly heard Eric moan. This alone had excited her, as her hands snakled into his hoodie, grasping onto his sides, as the other one pulled at his hair. He rolled over, pinning her down completely to the dusty patio, when his mouth went down. First to the sides of her mouth, then her chin, jawline, and throat. Eric had never kissed her going down her throat, and it sent bolts of electricity up and down her body. Geneva had asked her if she ever touched herself before? Milly had blushed with embarrassment at this, but admitted that yes, she had really just started, but it was something she could sometimes do in the bathtub. She did it here and there, and the first time ever was the year before after reading a pretty steamy exotic romance she had stolen from her mom's collection. Sure, she had seen some pretty intense sex scenes in movies, but something about reading and using your own imigiation made things so much more intense. She knew about orgasms, but told Geneva besides a little bit of tingling, she didn't think she had experienced one yet. Geneva had grinned at this, and told her it was absolutely wild. That once she got the hang of it, she wouldn't be able to stop. Of course Milly had a million questions, ones she knew she would die from embarrassment if she asked her mother. Instead, she looked at Geneva as the older sister she always wanted, and had been going to her for advice ever since she started "officially" dating Eric. She knew the two of them were experiencing a lot of these things for the first time ever, and that with Eric, things were different, but to Milly that's what she loved about him.
She knew though, as special as he was inside and out, the ability to actually fly like in some fairytale...he was still a teenage boy. She tilted her head back, as he started sucking on the thin skin of her throat, making her break out in goosebumps. She had never been kissed like this, and as ticklish as she usually was there, suddenly the chilly screened in porch, felt as if it wasn't on a chilly November evening, but a warm sticky July night. She closed her eyes, breathing heavily, and felt his lips and mouth suck on her skin, causing her to breathe heavy, as one hand pulled at his hair, as he bowed his head, and returned his mouth to hers. She grabbed onto him, kissing him even deeper, before one hand found his lap. It twisted there, inexperienced, before she felt the bulge forming there. She knew that he knew she felt that, and pulled back a little panting, his hair a mess, and his face flushed, before they both stared at each other. His hand had been cupping her breast over her shirt, and the second he saw her look, he dropped her hand embarrassed. Smiling, she could see the shimmer of her lip gloss all over his chin and lips. Laughing, she used the sleeve of her hoodie to wipe his mouth. He smiled back at her, his hair a mess, before she nodded and grabbed him gently by the collar, pulling him back down on her. That night, when she returned home, fixing her hair, and making sure her makeup wasn't a mess, she got home a little before curfew, before poking her head into her mother's bedroom. She had her books spread out on her bed, and was currently drinking a glass of wine. "I'm home mom, I'm gonna go to bed." Her mother looked up and smiled.
"How was the movie?"
Milly tried to act casual, even though she felt as if her lips were swollen after tonight's activities. Eric didn't want her to go when her watch beeped, signaling her that she needed to pull the plug. By then, both were laying down on the tiny patio loveseat, crammed together. Both of their hoodies were off despite the temperatures. Eric had proven to Milly that besides making paper airplanes, and flying...there was something else he was wonderful at doing. He was a great kisser, and certainly loved making out. Somehow, he didn't need much help, and knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn't pushy, but firm and somehow on her throat, in that tender area, him kissing her drove her absolutely wild. These strange tingling feelings kept racing down her body, over her breasts, and between her legs. She found herself getting flushed with color as Eric grunted, and moaned against her skin. Her hands kept brushing up against the bulge in his jeans, lightly going across the copper teeth of his jeans. She knew to go slow, and twice as her hands twisted against the area, he snapped his eyes shut and panted. His hand had snaked up her shirt, when Milly took it, and brought it under there. At first he looked uncertain, before his hand cupped her breast over her bra. She liked the sensation this was giving, and liked how comfortable Eric was now. They kept kissing, and finally when she knew she had to leave, she sighed, before pushing him back gently. She sighed, breathless.
"I gotta get home."
Eric looked disappointed, but nodded, before Milly smiled, wiping more of her lip glass off him.
"Look at us, we're a mess."
He smirked, looking down at their wrinkled clothing, and messy hair. He climbed off her, helping her to sit up, before she looked at him and laughed, reaching over and trying to pat down his hair.
"Well...that was a nice surprise." Eric then did something that made Milly's heart swell. He very slowly signed, with only two minor mistakes. He signed...
"Are you okay?"
Milly was touched, this meant he was trying to practice, even though she knew he really didn't like to sign since he frustrated him. Here he was, after their official first makeout session, and he still took the time to stay respeful, stopped when she said time was up, and was asking if she was okay? Feeling her heart pound, she smiled at him before nodding.
"Yeah, I'm good...I'm really good. You? How do you feel?"
She signed this back to him, the best she could, before he smirked, and nodded, before offering his hand. He helped her up, helped her put her hoodie on, before walking her to her own back door. He kissed her, before she whispered to him goodnight. That night as she wished her mom goodnight, wanting to get out of her sight before her laser-like eyes might pick up on something she might have missed. She mostly talked about how Geneva and Alex had hit it off. Her mother listened, and smiled, before her phone rang. Knowing that it was Garry to give him nightly check-in, she smiled, blew her mom a kiss goodnight, before going to the bathroom. Washing up, she paused for a second before noticing that Eric had given her a few pretty bad hickeys going down her throat. Her eyes widened, as her slim fingertips touched the swollen broken blood vessels that went down the length of her neck. She then instantly thanked God that her mother had her own private line to her bedroom, before she knew what to do. She quickly changed into a baggy T-shirt, and shorts. She washed her face, put her hair up, before looking at her neck again. The skin was tender, before she grabbed the hoodie Eric had given her, and zipped it up, putting the hood up. Hurrying downstairs, she ignored Luis and his friend playing video games, before she dialed up Geneva, who answered on the third ring. She instantly wanted to gush about Alex, and the date, when Milly knew she couldn't stay on the phone long. She hated to cut Geneva off, but explained she would meet up with her tomorrow to talk all about tonight, but she needed her help.
"What's up?"
Milly sighed.
"How do you get rid of hickeys by tomorrow. I can't have my mother see."
"Wow! Way to go Eric!"
Milly held in nervous laughter, before Geneva calmed herself down, and walked her through it. As soon as Milly heard putting a spoon in the freezer., she thought Geneva was crazy, but after taking it into her bedroom, she pressed the cold metal up against her throat, and felt it actually helping. Geneva said she would have to apply a light layer of makeup to keep it covered up, and to tell Eric if he was going to suck on her skin like a lollipop it had to be someplace she would hide better. Milly was of course embarrassed, but was grateful that Geneva had walked her through it, and promised to swing by the next day to take a look at them.
"Man, he must have done a number on you if you called that late. So before you hang up can I ask one thing?"
"What?" "You said he's a good kisser, how did he perform overall?"
Milly made a face, rolling her eyes before thanking Geneva and hanging up. That night, she laid in bed, the lights off, as she looked across at Eric's bedroom window. She had moved her bed closer to the wall, in fact she had rearranged her bedroom over the course of the last month or so. She sat in the darkness, looking out the window and across the way to her boyfriend's window. She then saw his light was on. She watched from the shadows as he shuffled in, wearing boxers, and a white T-shirt. His hair was messy, and it appeared he had come back from the bathroom. She saw on the dresser in his bedroom a toy wooden 1950's airplane, along with a framed photo of the two of them dressed in their Halloween costumes. The newspaper had given her and Eric color copies, and printed them out after they won last month. Milly had framed it, and put it on his dresser. Watching him, as he clicked his overhead light off. She smiled, watching him, knowing he couldn't see her.
That's when she watched him take the framed photo of them and kiss it.
Her heart swelled, before she smiled, and carefully slid her window open. She knew Eric's was closed, but she figured it was worth a try. She cupped her hands around her mouth and called out to him from across the way.
"Eric?! Eric?!"
She lucked out, he was just about to climb into bed, when he froze, seeing her. Smiling, he opened his window, and his entire face lit up seeing her. Milly opened her window all the way, sitting back on her bed. She knew he didn't care if she watched, but still felt so strange seeing him actually fly. She turned her back slightly, before she felt the wind, and within seconds, Eric was climbing into her room, and onto her bed. He had his hoodie back on, but still just wore a T-shirt and boxers. Smiling, she shut the window behind him, before she looked at, honestly touched after catching him kissing the framed photo of them before bed.
"I'm sorry, I know you almost were in bed. I guess I just wanted to..."
Eric then raised an eyebrow, as he reached and touched the swollen hickeys going down her throat. Gently, his hand reached across, and touched her throat. His eyes got big, and he started to breathe heavily. It was something he did whenever he got worried, or noticed something was bothering her, or saw her hurt. Milly didn't want Eric to think he had hurt her, since knowing him he would get too scared and never want to makeout with her again. She sighed, and shook her head.
"No Eric, I'm okay. These are kinda hard to explain but they are called hickeys. It's when somebody kisses and sucks on your skin, it leaves marks. They don't hurt. Geneva said they will go away after a few days but..."
She smirked and reached for her nightstand and took the spoon out and waved it.
"You put a spoon in the freezer, and press it up against the marks and it makes the swelling go down. Something tells me Alex gave a couple to Geneva..."
She tried laughing it off, but saw that Eric still was closely looking at her throat worried. Sighing, she squeezed his hand and reassured him that he hadn't hurt her. Instead, Eric continued looking not so sure. That's when Milly smiled and shrugged.
"I guess I'll just have to give you one to make us even."
Eric didn't even blink. Instead he nodded and outstretched his throat. Milly lifted an eyebrow as if he was crazy, and gave him a playful shove on the bed. "Eric no!" But Eric shook his head and pointed to his throat again. Milly kept laughing, before she shook her head.
"No, besides Uncle Hugo will see..."
She then got an idea and smiled.
"Roll your sleeves up, I'll give you one on your arm, then we'll even deal?"
Eric smiled nodding while shrugging off his hoodie, and rolling up his sleeve. Milly felt extremely giddy with excitement as well as silly. Twice she kept stopping before cracking up as he smiled and looked on. Finally, she began to kiss and suck at the skin on his upper arm, feeling ridiculous, before finally Eric wrapped his arms around her, he laid her down with him in her bed. He laid there in the darkness, stroking her hair, before Milly smiled. "
You know that feeling when you fly? That scene of being weightless, and your heart is racing? That's how I feel when I'm around you. Eric...you make me feel like I'm flying."
Eric smiled, before wrapping his arms around her, snuggling in close, before she asked him to stay with her until she fell asleep. The whole next day as she gushed with Geneva, she told her what her plans were for his 16th birthday, and Geneva lit up.
"You really do make an awesome girlfriend Milly. You're happy. I can tell."
Milly blushed as she shrugged as Geneva lightly applied the foundation, and told her turtlenecks, and scarves would be her best friend for the next few days until they completely disappeared. Geneva said Alex was a perfect gentleman, but one Hell of a kisser. Both girls laughed, and gushed, before Geneva told her they really needed to double again as much as possible. Alex really liked Eric, and had a hoop himself over his dad's garage, and invited him over to shoot hoops with him later that week before the holiday. Milly was thrilled that more people were seeing that Eric wasn't some weird kid that outstretched his arms. He was making friends, and the idea of her doubling with Geneva on more dates sounded great. She figured if everything moved on, she could casually start asking some questions. Eric continued visiting her every night, and besides making-out, and heavy petting, that was it. Eric as always would wrap his arms around her, and lay in her arms, listening to each other breathe until one of them fell asleep. Thanksgiving had been wonderful.
They saved Uncle Hugo a plate for when he came back the next day, and Garry came over to have dinner with them. Milly and Luis both liked Garry a lot, and it seemed to loosen Milly's mother up somewhat, as she even began to laugh, and relax. That night, Milly and Eric practiced dancing in her room to her radio, listening to Air Supply, arms wrapped around each other, as they swayed back and forth. Luis had watched them, and pretended to vomit, before venturing to his own room to play. Milly and Eric had pie out back even well after dark. Both bundled up, and shared the blanket, as they picked off each other's plate, and Milly whispherd to Eric all about Garry, and how she was happy her mom had started dating again.
Later, Luis was playing up in his room, while Garry and her mom were splitting a bottle of wine on the sofa. Milly and Eric had ventured back up to her room, where her mother said after Garry left they could do up the sofa for Eric. Milly had a feeling this might be awhile, since she could faintly hear Garry and her mother laughing, as her mother's scratchy records softly played downstairs, and Milly suspected if Luis had been staying over at a friend's, Garry very well might be staying over. Milly had mentioned Eric and her were going to read some magazines and listen to music. In reality, both were making out on her bed again, hot and heavy. She had the door closed, but knew if she locked it, on the off chance her mother came up the stairs without her hearing, she might wonder why she felt the need to use the lock. She laid out some magazines, spreading them across the bed, as she played music off her clock radio. Earlier, they had gotten a few spare clothes for Eric to sleep in, and after dinner, both had changed into comfy clothes, before laying in bed, and enjoying their newest favorite pastime... She smiled through the kisses, laying back against the pillows, and staring up into Eric's big brown eyes. Garry left late that night, but Milly and her mother had done up the sofa for Eric. That night, before venturing back upstairs, Milly kissed him goodnight and told him he wouldn't be able to sneak upstairs, since she had a feeling her mom would be on high alert listening for the stairs. Eric looked disappointed, but had leaned in, nuzzling her face with his, before she smiled.
"This was the best Thanksgiving I've ever had. Thank you."
She smiled, kissing his cheek as he smiled, before she pulled back the blankets her mother had brought down for him, and tucked him in. He stared up at her, before she smirked, ready to lean down and kiss him again, when her mother called down, asking if she was coming up for bed? Rolling her eyes, she yelled back up that she was on her way, before leaning down one last time, and kissing his cheek. He smiled at her, before she sighed, and climbed the stairs, smiling that Max was fast asleep on the floor next to the sofa, keeping guard over Eric. The next morning she woke up early, planning on making homemade pancakes, when she saw that the blankets and pillows were stacked up the sofa. It appeared Uncle Hugo came home early that morning, and picked Eric up, thanking Milly's mom for having him, and for the leftover food. Milly's mom drank her coffee, and remarked that Eric honestly didn't seem to want to leave, and kept looking up the stairs, in the direction of Milly's bedroom. A few hours later, Geneva had called asking if Eric and her wanted to join Alex and her at Skateland? That was the night that Keith Milo, and Larry Fynn happened to make the massive mistake in trying to make fun of Eric. The skate rink was pretty busy, with popular music blasting from the speakers, as different colored lights, as the disco ball flashed. The age group there was mostly teenagers, and it was open skating. Anyone who wasn't skating, were either at the arcade in the back, or hanging by the snack bar. Alex and Milly had rented skates, but Eric seemed uncomfortable even trying. When Milly asked if he wanted to try, he simply shook his head, showing her that there were too many people, and he was too nervous. Milly knew not to push, and explained on an afternoon where it wasn't so busy, she could try and get him to skate. Instead, he was allowed on the rink with them, as long as he stayed in his socks. He followed close to Milly, before Geneva laced up her new skates, and instantly started to skate circles around a very impressed Alex. Milly hadn't skated in awhile, so she held onto Eric's hand for dear life, as she shuffled, or held onto the walls before they started to move, Twice Milly's feet nearly slipped out from under her, causing her eyes to widen, and Eric thankfully right beside her, holding her by the waist. She watched Geneva and Alex, and even had to laugh to herself since Alex was a great skater, and was currently trying to teach her how to skate backwards.
That's when she heard Keith and Larry wizz by, before shouting...
"Watch it retard!"
They shoved Eric, who was standing in his socks, holding out his arm for Milly. This of course scared Eric, who was shoved Eric, who's forward motion made him crash into Milly. Her skates skidded, before she panicked, and tried to recover, but it was too late. She lost her balance, her stomach leaping into her throat, when she fell, and fell hard, sprawling next to Eric's feet. Eric's eyes widened, as Cyndi Lauper's time After Time blasted from the speakers. The disco ball was on, and couples were either skating slowly hand in hand, or attempting to dance. Milly landed hard, but thankfully didn't hurt herself, but it was enough to Eric. His face turned expression, and as Milly held her sore elbow that she whacked on his way down, she saw how flushed, and absolutely furious he appeared. He squatted down, holding his hands out to help her up, when low and behold Keith, and Larry circled back, and skated over, both laughing.
"Awww! Ain't that sweet?! Sorry Eric, didn't mean to hurt your girlfriend!"
Larry chuckled, before joining in.
"Maybe you can fly her out of here so it doesn't happen again?"
Both guys laughed, before Milly glared up at them.
"Piss off!"
"Ohhhhh!"
They teased, before Keith cracked up, skating close, just as Eric carefully helped Milly to stand. Her feet were unsteady, as she held onto him. Eric ignored the two guys, making sure Milly was fine, gently gently touching her swollen elbow, when Eric's worried expression at Milly flickered and changed for just a mere moment. He was close enough to Keith, and Milly watched as Eric turned, face crumpling before he turned, gave Keith a hard enough shove. Since Keith wasn't expecting it, the shove caused him to slip, and go sprawling. Several teenagers that were skating by saw this and laughed, pointing at Keith. Keith tried to quickly pop up, but slipped. Larry then curled his hand into a fist ready to swing at Eric.
"Hey! Retard! Screw you, and that little bitch girlfriend of yours..."
Before he could take a swing, it was Milly's turn. She rolled in front of Eric, temper boiling, as her own tiny fist curled, and for the first time ever in her entire life she threw a punch. Milly ended the night icing her hand with an ice pack from the first aid station, and Keith and Larry were both tossed from Skateland with black eyes, and split lips. When they tried freaking out, Eric and Alex stood in front of her, and Alex's buddy, who happened to work as a part time manager said he saw what happened, and tossed Keith and Larry out without so much as a second thought. Plenty of people had seen what happened, and when both guys tried calling Milly crazy, and that they would sue her, Alex's friend stepped in, and explained that if they really wanted to make a big deal over this, they could. The only thing was, there were plenty of witnesses that saw them harass Eric, as well as Milly. Maybe the coach at the highschool needed to hear this, as well as the fact that Milly, a young girl kicked both of their asses totally alone. When both guys glared, Alex stepped in and said if they tried bothering Eric or Milly again, he would see to it that the entire hockey team would kick their asses. Milly was happy to come to Eric's defense, just as how he had shoved Keith. Watching him do so had sent flutters in her stomach, deep down inside thinking how cute Eric looked when he got angry with the guys, not even flinching or looking scared when it happened.
Instead, she watched him shove Keith, and tried protecting her. Some more words were shouted, before they were kicked out. Plenty of people Milly didn't even know, kept giving her high-fives, and remarked that what she did was totally awesome. Milly's knuckles were starting to swell. Alex offered to drive them home, and the entire time in the backseat, Eric kept lifting up the ice pack, and sighing, staring at her split knuckles. Alex and Geneva meanwhile cheered, telling her that come Monday, she would be a legend all over the high school. Rolling her eyes, she shrugged as Eric continued staring at her bruised up hand. Sighing, she looked at Alex and Geneva in the rearview mirror.
"Well, that will teach them. Don't mess with my boyfriend."
Alex cracked up, before Milly sighed, and snuggled up against Eric, all the meanwhile truly meaning it. If they tried bothering, or calling Eric any names again, there would be Hell to pay.
Present.
They had flown for hours, in fact, it was hands down the longest the two had ever spent out flying together, and Milly suspected that Eric did this on purpose. It took her mind off everything. Eric had taken her to a clearing in the woods after parking the bike, and tightly held her hand as they zoomed up like a rocket, zipping through the clouds, before he taught her how to somersault and slowly drift back down through the clouds. The air was cool and fresh, and at one point, they flew over a field where the scent of honeysuckle lingered in the air. Suddenly it felt like they were kids again. Nearly eight miscarriages between the two of them weren't there, or the many years of struggling, and hard work. Instead it was just them, acting like a couple of kids. She remembered the night of the Halloween contest, and how he had shown her that he really was able to fly. The impossible seemed possible, and over the past almost twenty years, Milly knew how many times Eric had taken her flying. It actually seemed that the more he was able to fly, the more he seemed to make progress, and became well adjusted, and happy. She had made him promise to never fly during the day, and to be extra careful so nobody would ever see him. He now often took his bike out into the woods, since flying over the city and neighborhoods seemed impossible due to the amount of cameras that were going up everywhere. She had nightmares before of what would actually happen to him if anyone ever found out his secret, and it terrified her. The very thought of them taking Eric away, and experimenting on him. She knew he went alone sometimes, usually when he needed it, and to clear his head.
Tonight, he knew how badly she needed this after having the dream of their son who never was, and spent the next hour holding hands, and laughing as they soared through the night air. When they finally came back to the ground, Milly's hair was a mess from the wind, and she laughed, still wearing Eric's jacket. He quickly signed to her...
"Better?"
Milly smiled, nodding as they walked back to the bike. "Yes. Much better. Thanks babe, this was exactly what I needed." Walking hand in hand towards Eric's bike, she stopped for a second, and looked up past the tall pine trees, and up at the star lit sky they had just been currently flying through. It was absolutely beautiful out. Sighing, she stared at her husband, and could still clearly see the young fifteen year old boy she had fallen in love with sitting outside his window sill. Now nearly forty, his hair was shorter, a little thinner, and he was tanned, and his arms a little muscular after years of working on engines, and construction jobs. Here he was, her husband of the past almost ten years. He was her best friend, and the two had faced everything together. He truly had changed so much, and for the better over the years. He signed all the time now, and still worked on trying to speak more even though she knew it was a constant struggle. Shortly after Mrs. Sherman passed away, she told Milly that for years she had worried about Eric, but once he met her, she showed him that he was fully capable of striving to be a fully functional adult, and live a happy normal life. The key was that he had somebody who loved him, and believed in him. Something made Milly believe that deep down inside, Mrs. Sherman knew how special Eric really was. His eyes dropped from looking up at the sky, before locking with hers. He smiled as she stared up at him.
He signed... "What is it?"
Milly took a deep breath.
"I think we should keep trying for a baby. At least until I turn forty. If it hasn't happened by then...I need to accept it's never going to happen. We'll start keeping our options open and maybe consider doing foster care or something. I just..."
She sighed, controlling her tears as her heart ached. She blinked, and looked in her husband's eyes.
"I just want to have a baby so badly with you. Maybe we can talk to that specialist Dr. Weaver from the city that Geneva mentioned. Who knows, maybe there's something we're not doing right. Those dreams are so real...I know you would make such a wonderful father..."
She gently placed her hands on his chest, feeling warmth, as well as the steady beat from his heart. Eric sadly smiled before he signed...
"Okay, we'll do this...I want to give you a baby so badly, but if it doesn't happen, and it starts affecting you mentaly, or your health is at risk...we're stopping okay?"
Milly smiled, sniffling tears of happiness.
"Okay. Deal. I'll throw my pills out tonight."
"Didn't the doctors say you needed to wait from last time?"
"No, I've waited long enough. Remind me tomorrow to start making calls. I know Dr. Weaver is hard to get an appointment with..."
Before she could keep rambling, Eric leaned down slightly and pressed his forehead against hers.
Softly he whispered... "I...love...you...Milly..."
Blinking tears away, Milly closed her eyes, leaning against her husband as the wind continued to pick up around them.
The next day...
Milly had surprised Eric, who had gotten up early to shave and shower. She walked in behind him, and paused for a second, admiring him. They had gotten home late last night. Both too tired to barely move, they fell asleep fully dressed, before Milly woke up to Eric bringing her coffee in bed. He mentioned that he was going to shave and shower, before heading to work in the garage for a little bit. Milly and him had their coffee in bed, before she told him she was planning on calling Geneva in a little bit, and get Dr. Weaver's number. Besides that, she had plans on sitting on the back porch, and work on her book for a little bit. Now less than a half an hour later, she stood in the doorway, looking at Eric in his sweats, and baggy T-shirt. He was finishing up shaving, and that minty smell of shaving cream lingered in the air along with the scent of his aftershave. She smiled before she walked up behind him, slipping his arms around his waist, and playfully bringing his ass up against her groin, as she moved her hips grinding against him as he laughed, and used a towel to wipe his face. Looking at their reflection in the mirror, he smirked, before she held up what she wanted to show him. It was her birth control pills. Smiling, she tossed them into the wastepaper basket Eric smiled, as she kissed his shoulder. Eric smiled, gently squeezing her hand, before bringing it up and kissing it.
Later...
Eric decided to wait to take the shower as he laid on top of Milly in the missionary position.
It was Milly's idea to start fooling around, and this resulted in Eric working up a good sweat, as he thrusted into her, sweat beading down his forehead. The bed creaked, before Eric snapped his eyes shut, and started quickening his pace. Milly grasped onto his arching shoulders, moving faster, he pushed her down into the pillows, as an orgasm began hitting her, sending bolts of pinpricks through her body. Her eyes rolling back in her head, she cried out, back arching, as Eric deeply kissed her, then pumped into her once, twice, before crying out as he finished. Collapsing on top of her, Eric painted, trying to catch his breath, before he kissed her, and stood up, completely naked. Milly laid back, smiling, before he leaned down, and kissed her forehead before signing...
"Gonna take a shower? Care to join me?"
Milly lazily smiled before shaking her head.
"Now, gotta assume the position."
She then sat back, holding onto her legs, holding them up in the air. Smirking, Eric looked at his alarm clock, before he shrugged and sat back down on the edge of the bed. He reached down, pulling his boxers up. He then signed to Milly...
"I'll sit with you."
"It's okay, you can shower..."
Eric smirked, shaking his head, before he reached, and held onto her legs, helping her keep them up. With his free hand he signed...
"Hey, it's the least I can do. I shouldn't be having all the fun."
Laughing, Milly rolled her. eyes, before she sat back, Eric holding onto her legs, as she gazed up at her husband.
"You think we might be able to do this Eric?"
Eric shrugged before signing...
"Who knows, maybe. We just need to remember why we're doing this. Not drive ourselves crazy."
Milly nodded, before she smiled, thinking back to the night before as they flew. Closing her eyes for a second, she remembered soaring over the forests and mountains, hand in hand with her husband. She silently prayed if Eric, who loved long enough, and believed hard enough was able to make himself fly...maybe, just maybe they could use some of this magic and solve the missing piece from the puzzle otherwise known as their life's.
Opening her eyes, and staring into her husband's big brown eyes, she thought of this dream teenager they had Jet. She wanted a baby with him so badly, she knew that she was determined to make this happen. Staring at her husband she smiled, before taking his free hand, giving it a. gentle squeeze, and kissing his fingers. She knew they could do this, she was determined.