Chapter 3- Rumors.
"Jay? As in Jay Hogart, the guy who practically raped you at a party, Shannon? You're gonna go out with HIM?" I try to ignore the hint of jealousy in my voice.
"Calm down, Craig. You're, like, screaming."
"Yes! Please join me!"
"I don't ignore a date offer, Craig."
"You did when it was me." Shannon blushes.
"Only because you're not my type, darling." She pats me on the back and smiles. I turn back toward the computer and pout. "Don't pout at me like that Craig Manning. I'm not gonna break this date with Jay just because you want me to. There must be something more to him than you're seeing." She coughed slightly. "Plus, this isn't the movies. I don't date my heroes." She looks at me, and I can tell how excited she is.
As I walk down the hallway to get to my locker after class, I pass by Jay, who's talking with Sean Cameron and the rest of the Montreal Crew. "And I asked this chick Shannon out, but now that there's the party going on, I'm not gonna go out with her." I pause and lean against Paige's locker, which is right by Jay's to listen in on their conversation.
"So what are you gonna do?" Sean asks.
"Not show up. Obviously, man." Oh shit.
That Friday I sit in front of my mirror, playing with my hair. I pick up my brush and slowly start to brush it, pulling each piece straight. My cell phone starts to vibrate, and I pick it up.
"Shannon?" It's Craig.
"Craig, if you're calling to persuade me not to go, You're too late." I look out the window and see a car. "He's already here."
"That's me."
"What? No it's not." I see Craig get out of the car and wave toward the window of the loft. "Why are you here?"
"Jay, he's not coming." I buzz him in. I hear him clomp up the stairs and walk into my bedroom. I hang up my phone.
"Where is he then?"
"…Babysitting. He's babysitting."
"Oh. Babysitting? Wow." I sit down on my bed. Craig picks up my guitar and inspects it.
"Do you play?"
"No. No, I got it a few years ago and never really picked it up, you know?"
"Oh." He plays a few chords and starts to sing. "I give her all my love
That's all I do
And if you saw my love
You'd love her too
I love her
She gives me everything
And tenderly
The kiss my lover brings
She brings to me
And I love her
A love like ours
Could never die
As long as I
Have you near me
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
will never die
And I love her
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
will never die
And I love her, ooh"
I look at him and say, "Oh…I can't believe it. I'm in love. I'm in love with a young, handsome, talented poet."
I stared at her. "Wow." The doorbell rings and she gets up to buzz the person in.
"It's probably my dad." She leaves her room for a second and comes back in and leans agains the door. "It's Jay." She leaves again and yells something I can't understand. She then comes back in, and pushes me into her closet. I hear him walk into her room, and he voice tone changes. It becomes lighter, sweeter.
"No!" I open the closet a little bit. She starts reciting what she remembers from the poem. "I give him all my love that's all I do And if you saw my love You'd love him too I love him." She looks at me and widens her eyes. I lip to her, "She gives me everything And tenderly The kiss my lover brings She brings to me And I love her." She says it, changing the words. She hugs him, and point to me to go out the door. "A love like ours
Could never die
As long as I
Have you near me." She sings, looking past him at me.
"That's amazing." Jay says to her.
"It was written by a friend of mine. I finally understood the true meaning of those words. A love like ours could never die as long as I have you near me."
"And what is that?" I open the door and see her dad there as slam it closed. Shannon throws herself on the bed and pretends to sob while I try and find a place to hide. "No!Jay! Don't you toy with my emotions! You…you must know the effect you have on women… Let's make love! You want to make love, don't you!?" She waves me to the other side of the room. I go but stop as I stare at the two of them. "Oh, I knew you felt the same way!" "Get out of here or he'll kill you!" She whispers furiously to me. I don't move. "No, you're right. We should wait. Until we know each other… a little bit better." I nod, satisfied and then hide in the closet again.
"What? Wait?" Jay says, confused. Shannon stands up with him."There's a power in you that scares me. You should go." She walks him over to the door.
"I just got here."
"Oh, yes, but…we'll see each other every day during school. We must wait! We must wait. Get out." She opens the door and pushes him out. I slowly come out of the closet. She turns around and stalks over to me. "Do you have any idea…any idea what would have happened if you were found!?" She suddenly turns pale and faints into my arms.
"Oh my g- Shannon?" I shake her lightly. I look around awkwardly. "I'll put you in bed." I lift her over to the bed, and climb on top of her to put her in a comfortable position. Jay walks back in.
"I forgot my ha- What is this?" I widen my eyes as Shannon wakes up.
"Oh, Jay."
"He gives me everything And tenderly the kiss my lover brings he brings to me." Jay says snidely.
I shake my head. "No…"
"Beautifully spoken Jay. Let me introduce you, the writer."
"Craig Manning wrote that?"
She nods and pushes me off of him. "You see, Craig came over to help me with my English homework."
Jay laughs rudely and says, "You expect me to believe that, in the arms of another man, you were doing English homework?"
"Duh… why else would Craig be here?" Shannon says, proving her point.