Chapter 8
We Are Just Sixteen
(I don't have to tell you guys that it's a continuation of where Chapter 7 left off. LOL)
Megan's eyes teared up and she didn't want to take off her glasses because she wanted to see Hunter's beautiful face. He was the most sweetest boy ever.
"Hunter—"
"Can I say two things before you respond?"
"Sure."
"The reason for the earrings is—"
Megan had to interrupt him, as she knew why he proposed with earrings and what the secret code meant.
"I know why. To fool our parents which is good because your Father might have another heart attack and my Mother will KILL me. And Hunter, I love you, so much, really, but WE are just sixteen years old!"
He tried to smile, but just picturing their parents reactions made him almost reconsider the whole idea.
"I know. I was hoping you'd like to have a long engagement. I figure when I can progress from giving you engagement earrings to a proper engagement ring is when we'll both be ready."
"My Dad gave my Mom—it doesn't matter, we're us. Yes, Hunter, I'll marry you—Someday." They weren't that much older than Megan and Hunter but then Megan thought of all the problems they had and continue to have. But she thought her Father's romantic proposal to her Mother at the water tower was beautiful.
He sat on her lap so she could kiss him as the tears flowed down BOTH of their cheeks. He gently took her glasses off so he could clean them with his shirttail he kissed her on the nose before putting them back on. She wiped away his tears with her tender hand.
"Thank you, Megan. You just made me the happiest young man. May I?" He held up the earring box
"Yes. At least we don't have to hide this from Eric and Donna."
"Or Jackie and Steven."
He took out her old earrings and put her new ones in, his touch was so soft. He put her old earrings in the purple velvet box and threw them in the pouch in the back of her wheelchair.
"I can't believe you proposed! Most guys our age don't even want to THINK about marriage. While the girls think about it from the time we're little."
"I march to my own beat. No one has checked up on us, yet."
"Are you complaining?"
"No, just observing." He rested his head on her shoulder and played with her hair.
"Hunter, aren't you dying in that windbreaker?"
"I forgot I had it on! I was going to take you for a stroll and propose outside. But I kind of got sidetracked." Even without the zipper up it was still too warm in the room to leave it on, he stood up and took off his jacket and threw it on her bed.
"Do you want to---"?
Before Megan could finish her sentence Donna called the kids from upstairs to tell them lunch was served.
"I knew that was bound to happen sooner or later. By the way, what were you going to ask me?"
"If you wanted to watch a movie?"
"Sure. Do you think Sgt. Donna will let us take our food in the living room?" Hunter asked
"Yeah, they'll probably want to sit around the table and talk. I love my earrings and the thought behind them, thank you, Hunter."
Before they got to the ramp he stood in front of her and bent down to kiss her.
"I love you." He whispered, as he didn't want the parents to hear. He's said it before with them in the room and even mentioned it to them, but he didn't want them in on every waking moment between him and Megan. Hunter was always big on privacy, but now even more so because of Megan.
"I love you, too," She whispered back, "Do you want to push my chair?"
"Of course. Let's see how long it takes for them to notice YOUR earrings."
"Your Mother will notice." Megan said
Hyde and Hannah just got back from her shopping trip ten minutes ago, she gave Megan a dirty look, which Hunter saw as he tightened his grip on the bars of Megan's chair before releasing his hands.
"OH! Those are pretty earrings," Jackie gushed noticing right away, "Is this your gift from Hunter?"
"Yes." Megan blushed
"My boy has excellent taste." Jackie hugged him; he tried not to push away. He did love his Mother he just was not a public affection kind of person, except for when it came to Megan. She made all of the difference.
"Very nice, son." Hyde nodded
"You look very pretty, Megan."
"Thanks, Mom. Where's Dad?" They couldn't have lunch without him.
"I'm right here," Eric came through the kitchen door with a set of Christmas lights tangled up in his hands.
"You really ought to give it up, Forman." Hyde happily smirked.
"You were supposed to help me, Hyde!"
Megan laughed, "I'll untangle you, Dad."
"Thanks, sweetie," He kissed her on the cheek, "Are those earrings new?"
"Yes, Hunter bought them for my Christmas present."
"They look sparkly on you," He smiled, "What's for lunch?"
Eric wondered how come it was his daughter who was untangling the Christmas lights from his hands and NOT his wife?
"We're cleaning out the refrigerator to make room for the Christmas food." Donna said
Translation: Make it yourself
"And Hunter, I went to the store earlier and I got you a carton of regular milk."
"Thanks, Mom. What do you want to eat, Megan?"
"You don't have to make me a sandwich, Hunter. I can do that myself. There, Dad. You're free." She didn't realize how ironic that statement was to her Father.
"Thanks. Hyde, let's say after lunch we put these lights up."
"Let's say we don't."
Hannah sat quietly, wondering when someone would pay attention to her and not about stupid Megan and her stupid earrings that her stupid brother wasted his money on.
"Who wants a grilled cheese?" Jackie asked
"That sounds good." Hyde replied
"Ah-no Steven, you know the doctor doesn't like you to have cheese. It's not good for your heart."
"Mom has the imitation healthy cheese." Megan smiled as Hunter made a face.
"Oh, I bought real cheese at the store, too."
"I'll have one, Mom." Hunter and Hannah said at the same time proving that even though they weren't on the best of terms either, that they still shared their twin bond.
"I'll have cereal." Eric said
"How does that help clean out the refrigerator, Eric?" asked Donna knowing that, that statement DID sound rather bitchy.
"By using the up the milk. DUH."
"I had to throw away the milk because it was left open last night in your room, Megan."
"Sorry, Mom."
Hunter mouthed, "I'm sorry" to Megan. He forgot to bring the milk back upstairs. She smiled and mouthed, "Okay" to him back as Hyde caught the exchange between the two but pretended not to look as he knew his son was down there last night and he also knew the two of them made up last night but didn't tell anyone else, even Jackie, and that their argument was about THEM. Everything was okay now so why screw the kids' future by bringing it up?
"And you didn't go to the store to buy some?" Eric didn't know why he said it, but the words just came crashing out of his mouth. After all Jackie WENT to the store FOR HER FAMILY.
"Eric, do you want me to go the store right now and pick you up a carton of milk?" Donna asked frustrated
"No. I'll have something else for lunch."
"Relax, Eric. I'll make you a grilled cheese and you're not having one, Steven. Not if you want to splurge on Christmas dinner."
"Here, Hyde." Donna just made a whole-wheat tuna sandwich with healthy organic mayo for herself but she gave Hyde her plate she could easily make herself another one.
"Uh, thanks Donna."
"Did you want a grilled cheese, Megan?" Jackie asked, she liked cooking for a big Army of people.
"No. I'll have some of Mom's."
"It won't kill you, Megan."
"Can you put it on Wonderbread?"
"Ask your Father."
'Geez, Donna, like I won't share my bread with my own daughter!'
"You don't have to ask, sweetie."
"Hannah, you're very quiet. Are you okay?" asked Jackie
"I'm fine, Mom."
Jackie looked at Hyde as the frying pan sizzled in the background. Donna and Eric were in full time bicker mood again and neither one of them was in the mood for it.
"Hyde, can I see you outside for a moment?" Eric needed to get out of the house for some air in the worst way.
"Now?"
"Yes, it's important."
"You're coming back, Dad?" Megan asked out of concern
"Of course, sweetie. Keep my sandwich warm, Jackie."
Hyde didn't mind leaving Donna's sandwich behind as he wasn't going to say anything, but it tasted gross and that was why when Jackie was asleep he would get up in the middle of the night and eat things that he knew he shouldn't.
"Okay, Forman, what's your problem, man?" Hyde leaned against the siding.
"This." Eric pulled something out of his pocket that
Hyde thought he'd never see again.
"F***! Tell me you haven't."
"I haven't. I bought it last week, but I didn't take it. Donna gets me so angry!"
"You've been off it for decades, man, why would you even think about going back?"
"I'm not going to use it, I just needed to carry it around in my pocket."
"After all your therapy and support groups which in my opinion I don't really agree with, but your mind can still justify carrying THIS sh** around. You better be honest with me, Forman, is this the FIRST time since about twenty years ago that you bought it?"
"Yes, last week, after I had a fight with Donna, and after I came back from my support group meeting." 'How ironic, again.'
"Well, come with me."
"Where are we going, Hyde?"
"Away from the window. Now get rid of it. Because you aren't going back in the house with it. And if you so much as buy it again, Jackie and I will not be coming back here anymore and YOU will not be welcome in our home anymore—do I have to remind you on what you DID TO ME?" Hyde had the urge to slap, hit, punch, or kick him but refrained, probably because of the kids, including Megan, she would always be welcome in their house.
"No," Eric put his head down, "I'm sorry. It was a weak moment."
"Get rid of it, Forman."
Eric opened up the vile and dumped the Cocaine in the snow. It blended in perfectly. He gave Hyde the empty container.
"I wasn't going to take it, honest, Hyde." Eric pleaded
"And if you believe that then all of that therapy and all of those support group meetings you go to are really just a sham." He would flush the container. It was the least he could do. It surprised him that he had it for a week and didn't use it but security blankets a [full] Cocaine vile do not make.
"Thanks." Eric said quietly
"You can do me a favor, Forman."
"What?"
"When we get back in the kitchen look at your daughter and think for a moment on what kind of start she had in life before you think carrying around Coke in your pocket is a f***ing good idea."
"I know that I let Megan down—and myself—but Donna---"
"You two need to work out your problems," Hyde was tired, he shouldn't have to lecture Eric on not to do drugs, he was over fifty for Christ sake! "After lunch, I'll help you with the lights. It's too cold out here, let's go back inside."
Eric didn't know what to say in response, he felt like such a failure.
Donna let Megan and Hunter take their soda when they finished their lunch into the living room so they could watch TV. They couldn't lie down and cuddle but she could sit with him on the sofa and rest her head on his shoulder with a blanket draped over them.
"This is nice." She held his hand
Hunter smiled, "I know. Sh**."
"What is it?"
"Megan, I didn't bring a sketchpad or pencils and when I was out shopping today my only thought was to buy your present."
He was in the mood to draw again. That made Megan very happy.
"I have printer paper in my room but I don't have colored pencils, just regular school pencils. Do you want me to get it for you?"
"No, honey, you don't have to get up just to get me paper and a pencil."
The fact that she was ready to take herself off the sofa, get into her wheelchair, go through the kitchen, down the ramp, and into her room just to get him some printer paper and pencils to draw with made his heart swell with pride.
"Are you sure? I don't mind."
"I'd rather we do this," He kissed her on the lips and didn't care if any of the parents walked through the door right now, "If that's all right with you, Megan?"
She put her hands on his cheeks, "No, it's not all right." She laughed; she had a touch of the Forman sarcasm.
"You're going to get it, Megan!"
"Not if you get it first, Hunter!" She hit him with a pillow
"Hey!"
"What are YOU kids doing in there?" Donna opened the door to peek in on them, as they were getting a bit too loud.
"Nothing." They replied in unison like the perfect angels they weren't.
"And Megan if you bust that pillow you will be buying me a new one."
"Yes, Mom."
Megan waited until the swinging kitchen door came to a full stop.
"They like to ruin our fun." Hunter whispered
"I know. Dad once ruined Grandpa Red's TV by putting a bowling ball through it and we can't have a little pillow fight."
"My Dad—well you know what he brought to the table."
Megan laughed, "So, how come we aren't allowed to have any fun?"
"It's what parents do," Hunter pulled her close, "Let's go back to kissing, it's one of my favorite activities."
"Mine too." She blushed; between her Father and Hunter she was doing a lot of that all day.
Megan didn't realize that there was a volcano brewing in the kitchen and she was going to be caught in the middle of two people that she loved very much.
The air in the room was so thick as Hyde couldn't finish his lunch. He stood up and whispered something to Jackie who was trying to help out Donna by cleaning up, as she was the one who did most of the cooking today. He figured they could take Hannah out, as he was sure Hunter would want to stay here and think he was sneaking kisses with Megan under the guise of "watching a movie".
He knew a big shouting match was about to take place in the kitchen and quite frankly he did not want to be caught in the throngs of it. This was clearly Forman and Donna's problem.
'F***, don't leave me, Hyde—and Jackie---alone with Donna'
Eric thought this wasn't the right time to have a big blow up as it was almost Christmas, didn't Megan deserve all the happiness that they could possibly give her? Was it fair to her after feeling miserable for a month when her and Hunter were in their broken up mode that this also be tossed on her plate? He figured not to say a word; maybe it wouldn't explode if he didn't say a word. He took his plate to the sink; he hardly touched the sandwich Jackie made. He thought to wrap it up, as he didn't want Donna to scream at him over "wasted food".
"How dare you, Eric." Donna began
'Oh, sh**.' "How dare I what?"
"You son of a bitch!" She pushed him
"I can see where this is heading. Need I remind you, Donna, that our daughter is in the living room?"
"DON'T YOU even think of using her as an excuse."
"You are doing a lot of screaming but you AREN'T telling me anything. Which is unlike you as you like to point out every little thing that I do wrong."
"Why did you talk to Hyde and NOT TO ME?" She pushed him again, backing him into the wall.
"I—" He started to say, but Donna cut him off much like when a Mother asks her child 'why did you do that?' And when the child starts to reply the Mother stops them before they get a chance to defend themselves.
"I found your Coke, Eric. For some reason, I didn't dispose of it myself, thinking you would do the right thing. WHY? After all these years WHY would you bring it back into our lives?"
"I DIDN'T take it, Donna. I just NEEDED to possess it." He ran his fingers through his hair.
"What kind of f***ing lunacy is that?!"
"Donna, do we need to have this fight right NOW? I KNOW it was wrong. And I know there are OTHER things on your mind besides this regarding our marriage. But I want our daughter to have a nice holiday, please. Don't you want that, too?"
"F*** YOU!"
She pushed him once more grabbing her coat that was on the chair by the telephone, before running outside as she didn't want to run into the living room and ruin Megan and Hunter's make out session. They were only going to be young once and Donna didn't have the heart to explain to her daughter that no matter how much you try it always goes downhill with the man you love.
"Daddy," Megan wheeled herself into the kitchen, "Did you and Mom have a fight?"
She debated for a good five minutes as to whether or not she should go in the kitchen or not, Hunter told her she should go if she wanted to.
"Yes, but just a small one, lollipop," Eric knew he couldn't lie to her, he went over to her and hugged her tight, "Don't you worry about anything, Megan, we both love you, and you are going to have the best Christmas ever."
"O—kay." She almost had trouble getting the word out of her mouth.
"Everything will be fine," Eric kissed her on the head, "I'm going to talk to your Mother right now."
Megan watched him as he went out the back door without his coat.
"Megan, is everything all right?" Hunter came in after a few minutes.
"No. Sit on my lap, Hunter."
She needed his shoulder to cry on. He hugged her tight.
He almost repeated word for word regarding what her Father said, "Don't worry about anything, Megan. I love you." He kissed her softly on the lips and held her as she cried on his shoulder.
"I love you, too, Hunter."
The only thing that Megan Forman was sure of at the moment was her undying love for Hunter Hyde.
"Do you want to go back to watching the movie?" he whispered, a few moments later.
"No, I just want you to hold me--tighter—and Hunter can you promise me one thing?"
"Anything, Megan."
"Promise me that you'll never let me go?"
She made it a question.
"I promise," he hugged her as tight as he could and still be tender, "I will always promise that." He kissed her on the head.
'We are just sixteen, it's not fair that we have to carry our parents burdens as well as our own.'~M.F.