Chapter 11: Disaster Date
Meg was anxious. Inside she was like a giant firecracker. She had so much built up and shut up inside her with just the right spark she could blow any second shooting up so high, bursting out so wide, and making the loudest noise anyone had ever heard. The letter from Jimmy had her confused to the fullest. She had so many different ideas packed in her head she could barely think straight to do even the simplest tasks.
All day the only thing she had wanted to do was talk to Roxanne. Yet unfortunately she had done everything but. She called Roxanne, no answer. She waited for her at the stage door at Bandstand, no show. She was worried. As bad as she felt about the bombshell that fell on them last night, she knew Roxanne had to be feeling even worse dying with curiosity to find out what Meg was going to do.
She stood in front of her mirror wringing her hands and studying her outfit she'd picked out. It was a white thin pink-striped sundress with a light pink sweater with the top clear button buttoned to cover her bare shoulders. Her mother had convinced her it was a good match saying she looked nice in pink; it brought out her rosy cheeks. Normally she would ask Roxanne for advice, but with her not around her mother had to do. Her hair was pulled half-way up with some golden ringlets framing her face. Her mom said it brought more attention to her beautiful blue eyes.
She didn't even feel like going out with Luke tonight. There was too much on her plate right now. But she couldn't cancel on him. He had been so excited about this when he'd asked her.
"Meg, Luke's here." Meg broke away from her gaze and saw her youngest brother Will standing at her door. "Wow, you look real pretty Meg," he gawked.
"Thanks Will," Meg giggled and grinned. "Would you escort me down the stairs?" she asked reaching for his hand.
He nodded eagerly and with a giant smile slowly led her down each step.
Luke was waiting at the bottom. Hearing the stairs creak, he looked up. Wow! Meg's a vision, he thought. Meg's eyes sparkled and her bright smile lit up her face watching her little escort. Luke stood with his hands deep in his pants' pockets his eyes smiling.
"Thanks Will."
"You're welcome," Will said letting go of Meg's hand and hopping into the living room.
Meg turned around from watching her brother leave to see Luke standing patiently.
"Meg, you look…" Luke said nodding his head in astonishment.
Meg just smiled. "Are you ready to go?"
"Uh, yeah. Here let me…uh," Luke stumbled opening the front door for Meg to walk out.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"What are we doing here?" Meg questioned when Luke parked the car at the Vinyl Crocodile.
"You'll see," said a very secretive Luke as he hopped out of the car and ran around the front to open Meg's door.
He reached out for her hand and Meg slid her's into his giving him a curious look. He pulled her over to the locked door. Dropping her hand he put his key into the keyhole, turned the knob, and swung open the door.
Stretching out his arms he said, "After you."
With his left hand he touched the small of her back guiding her inside. Quickly turning around he shut the door. Going back to Meg's side, he slipped his hand into her's and pulled her farther into the store.
The store was dark except for a faint light coming from somewhere. Meg soon found out where it came from when Luke walked her into the listening booth. On the floor were a blanket and two burning red candles.
Grabbing her other hand Luke instructed, "Here, have a seat," while helping her down to the floor.
Luke then climbed over to sit opposite of her. Opening a picnic basket he pulled out triangle-shaped sandwiches and placed them on napkins. He then handed Meg one and laid his in front of him. Reaching back inside, he brought out cheese, carrot, and celery sticks that were arranged on a plate.
"Go ahead. Eat up," Luke directed.
They ate in silence: Luke too nervous to speak, Meg with too much on her mind to. After they were full, Luke got up and walked over to the record player. Soon after putting on the record he went over to Meg reaching out to help her up. As she rose off her spot on the floor, she recognized the song and forced a smile towards Luke.
"Out of My Head," said Luke as he took Meg into his arms.
"Our song," Meg and Luke said simultaneously.
Meg giggled and looked down at her feet. Luke placed his right index finger under her chin lifting her head to close the distance between their lips. Luke had kissed her like this many times before. This time it felt different though. She heard the music but didn't feel the music. Luke pulled her even closer their bodies pressing together. As Meg continued kissing Luke, she thought, Meg the only reason you're not getting into Luke is because your mind is stuck on Jimmy. Think about Luke. Luke, Luke, Luke…
Luke broke away for a second and started kissing a line of kisses along Meg's cheek. Coming to her ear he whispered, "I love you." He leaned back and looked into Meg's surprised face. Before Meg could give a response, Luke's glowing face dove in once more to give Meg a passionately deep kiss.
Meg's head started to spin. This can't be happening! Not now! she thought as she pushed herself off Luke's chest.
"Luke…I…," Meg stammered trying to find the right words.
"Meg what's wrong? Is it what I said? 'Cause I mean it. I really do," he told her. When he tried to pull her close again she turned her head, pushed away, and walked around him with her arms crossed.
He rushed over to her and wrapped his arms around her pressing his chest to her back. Leaning forward he kissed her cheek and asked, "Meg?"
Meg leaned her head back to rest on his left shoulder feeling the comfort in his arms. I have to tell him about Jimmy. It's not fair to him if I don't. No, I can't; it will hurt him too much, she battled inside.
Breaking away again from Luke's arms, she turned and looked him in the eye. I can't do it! Yes, you can. Just say it already. "Luke, we need to talk," she managed to get out.
A worried expression crossed Luke's face. Oh no, she thinks we're moving too fast. I knew it was too soon to tell her I loved her! Luke had his own battle going on inside.
"Luke," Meg tore away from his gaze, "I'm confused."
"About what?" Luke didn't know where she was going with this.
"Well, you see…uh well," she took a deep breath trying to steady herself. "You know that Jimmy has been sending me letters? Well I got one and it had some shocking news. He…he – Jimmy that is – he wrote that he…uh…loved me." There I said it.
Meg studied Luke's unwavering gaze.
"So?" Luke answered. When Meg just stood there continuing to wring her hands and shift her weight back and forth from foot to foot, Luke went on. "What are you confused about? Do you have feelings for Jimmy? You're confused because I said I love you? What?"
Luke rambled on and on with questions getting redder and redder in the face with each one. Meg couldn't take it anymore.
"I don't know!" she yelled over his rising voice.
"C'mon Meg, what is it?"
"I don't know!" she repeated. "I need some time."
"You need time?" Luke began to get defensive. "This is great. Why do you need time?"
"Luke, I need some time to think. I have a lot on my plate right now. I'm not sure about all of this. I need time to come to a firm decision on where I stand."
"How can you say that Meg?!? This is a great time to find this out. Right after you tell your girlfriend you love her she tells you she's not sure about your relationship!"
"Luke, please," Meg attempted to calm him down tears building up ready to fall any minute.
"Let's go, Meg. I think I need to take you home," Luke spun around and stormed out of the room.
Meg's bottom lip began to quiver. How could I do this to him? she beat herself up inside. I should have kept my mouth shut. I need to talk to Rox before anything else happens and things get too much out of hand.
Meg walked out of the store and let herself into Luke's car. Luke slammed the door shut when he got in. He gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white. Meg stared out her side of the window thinking, What have I done?