Title: Shattered Innocence 6/6
Author: Amber (ambino1111@prodigy.net)
"You have two minutes before I throw you out," Donna announces as she walks into the living room. Kelly stands up and politely excuses herself, whispering a 'Good luck, Josh,' under her breath.
Donna takes a seat in one of the two overstuffed chairs next to the sofa. Her long, blonde hair is wet and dripping water onto her red tank pajama top. She pulls her long legs under her and eyes me suspiciously.
God, she really is beautiful.
I stand up and, suddenly feeling self-conscious, hold out the brown cardboard box in my hands. Her eyebrows narrow as she accepts the package.
"Before you open it, let me explain," I begin, standing in front of her and wringing my hands. Donna does not normally make me feel so nervous.
"I am sorry for everything I did. Not just that night and the next day, but everything else I've ever done to cause you any form of pain, no matter how mild. You know I don't usually do something so boneheaded as-"
Donna's loud laugh interrupts me. I fight the urge to glare at her.
"Well, you know that rashly assuming things isn't my style. And I know that the kiss was real, and was amazing, and maybe in the future we'll be able to do more of that, but I understand why you said what you did at the office, and I am thankful for it."
Donna, apparently, has had enough of my apology and is tearing into the box.
"Careful!" I admonish. She is. She breaks through the tape and opens the flaps.
I do not blink in the following seconds because I don't want to miss a fraction of the look on her face. I haven't seen the look since that Christmas when I gave her the skiing book.
She gasps and her entire beautiful face lights up beautifully. There's no other way to describe her than happy.
"Josh," She breathes, gently lifting the contents of the box out into the light.
I have to admit, I am mighty proud of myself.
"How on earth did you do this?"
She's amazed, and I feel amazing. "It's a long story. I called your mom, then the college, tracked down the class list, made some calls, did some investigating, and found a woman, living in Oregon, who had also made a music box and, more importantly, still had it. I managed to buy it from her, though once she realized how much I wanted it, she seemed to get more and more attached to the damn thing. Anyway, I had it shipped very carefully and expensively to my apartment, where I knew you couldn't intercept it."
I wish I could bottle the look Donna is giving me right now and keep it forever and ever.
"Josh." She trails off, near tears. She winds the music box and places it on the coffee table, then stands and spreads her arms out for a hug. I happily step into her arms, savoring the moment.
"Thank you," She whispers sincerely into my ear. Her breath makes me shiver.
She breaks the embrace and leads me to the door. I follow her, staring in confusion when she swings it open.
"What?"
"Your two minutes are up," She announces cheerfully.
"Donna-"
"Thanks for the music box."
"Donna-"
"You made me really happy."
"Donna-"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, she leans up and kisses me. The action takes me completely by surprise. A very pleasant, unfortunately brief surprise.
"I'll remember _that_," She announces, smiling, and shuts the door in my face.
The End Feedback is always welcome with open arms at Ambino1111@prodigy.net
"You have two minutes before I throw you out," Donna announces as she walks into the living room. Kelly stands up and politely excuses herself, whispering a 'Good luck, Josh,' under her breath.
Donna takes a seat in one of the two overstuffed chairs next to the sofa. Her long, blonde hair is wet and dripping water onto her red tank pajama top. She pulls her long legs under her and eyes me suspiciously.
God, she really is beautiful.
I stand up and, suddenly feeling self-conscious, hold out the brown cardboard box in my hands. Her eyebrows narrow as she accepts the package.
"Before you open it, let me explain," I begin, standing in front of her and wringing my hands. Donna does not normally make me feel so nervous.
"I am sorry for everything I did. Not just that night and the next day, but everything else I've ever done to cause you any form of pain, no matter how mild. You know I don't usually do something so boneheaded as-"
Donna's loud laugh interrupts me. I fight the urge to glare at her.
"Well, you know that rashly assuming things isn't my style. And I know that the kiss was real, and was amazing, and maybe in the future we'll be able to do more of that, but I understand why you said what you did at the office, and I am thankful for it."
Donna, apparently, has had enough of my apology and is tearing into the box.
"Careful!" I admonish. She is. She breaks through the tape and opens the flaps.
I do not blink in the following seconds because I don't want to miss a fraction of the look on her face. I haven't seen the look since that Christmas when I gave her the skiing book.
She gasps and her entire beautiful face lights up beautifully. There's no other way to describe her than happy.
"Josh," She breathes, gently lifting the contents of the box out into the light.
I have to admit, I am mighty proud of myself.
"How on earth did you do this?"
She's amazed, and I feel amazing. "It's a long story. I called your mom, then the college, tracked down the class list, made some calls, did some investigating, and found a woman, living in Oregon, who had also made a music box and, more importantly, still had it. I managed to buy it from her, though once she realized how much I wanted it, she seemed to get more and more attached to the damn thing. Anyway, I had it shipped very carefully and expensively to my apartment, where I knew you couldn't intercept it."
I wish I could bottle the look Donna is giving me right now and keep it forever and ever.
"Josh." She trails off, near tears. She winds the music box and places it on the coffee table, then stands and spreads her arms out for a hug. I happily step into her arms, savoring the moment.
"Thank you," She whispers sincerely into my ear. Her breath makes me shiver.
She breaks the embrace and leads me to the door. I follow her, staring in confusion when she swings it open.
"What?"
"Your two minutes are up," She announces cheerfully.
"Donna-"
"Thanks for the music box."
"Donna-"
"You made me really happy."
"Donna-"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, she leans up and kisses me. The action takes me completely by surprise. A very pleasant, unfortunately brief surprise.
"I'll remember _that_," She announces, smiling, and shuts the door in my face.
The End Feedback is always welcome with open arms at Ambino1111@prodigy.net