Rain Drops On Roses: Chapter 2

With his arm around her shoulder the two walked into the kitchen and then the den to find Claudia's mother watching the Dover Downs horse races.

"Mom."

"Hey, Claud, who was at the door?" Her mother didn't bother to look up from the television.

John smiled. "Hi Mrs. Destler."

Claudia's mother looked up right away. Not recognizing the deep voice, it took her a few seconds to remember the young man.

"Johnny?" Mrs. Destler threw her arms around him. "I haven't seen you in so long! I almost didn't recognize you. You're all grown up and handsome."

"Isn't he?" Claudia thought.

They all sat down and talked for a while. Claudia couldn't help but blush every time John flashed her one of his heart-melting smile. Her mother asked a million questions about his new college life. After a while their conversations began to run dry. John decided it was time for him to leave.

"My mother is waiting for me," he said. "She'll be wondering where I've been."

"Will I see you tomorrow?" asked a saddened Claudia.

"Of course!"

"Promise?"

John reassured her, "Yes, I promise."

He returned home and Claudia laid down on the couch next the window she had spotted him from. Her mother sat next to her.

"He's changed," her mother stated.

"Yeah, but for the better," Claudia sighed.

"He's quite a handsome young man."

"Mmm." She was quick to agree. "Remember when he was younger? He was eleven, and I was seven...maybe. It seemed like John's head used to be too big for his body. He used to be kind of awkward. Now, he's—"

"Hot?" Her mother interrupted her.

Claudia laughed. "Exactly."

The next morning Claudia woke up early and spent some extra time on her hair and make-up. She made sure that her bangs fell perfectly over the left side of her face and that her outfit made her eyes stand out. As soon as she was done she hurried down the two flights of stairs.

"Claudia, where are you going in such a hurry?

"Um," Claudia hesitated. "To see John."

"Someone has a crush."

"Mom, please!"

Her mother smiled, "Your secret is safe with me, Claudia."

There was a knock on the door, and Claudia was quick to react. There he was. John wore dark jeans that lay on the top of his white sneakers perfectly. He had on a dark brown t-shirt. A matching rope necklace lay around his neck. Looking through the glass in the door Claudia took a few seconds to look him over.

"He's gorgeous." She thought, mentally swooning over him.

She opened the door. John looked up and smiled.

"Hey Claudia."

"Hi."

"You know," John began, "Since we haven't seen each other in such a long time, I thought it would be a good idea to spend some time together." He was a natural at sweet-talking. Everything he said sounded so…smooth was the only word for it.

"Sounds great," she said. "What did you have in mind?"

"The St. Matthew's Carnival."

The carnival? No way. Every year Claudia and her friends when to that carnival. In fact, the whole state went! Before John had moved for college he used to go, but once he had gotten to the age of fifteen he was "too cool" to be seen with Claudia.

"That'd be awesome."

"Great." John winked at her. "I guess, I'll see you tonight at seven."

Claudia nodded and swallowed hard, trying not to faint in front of him.

"Alright then." John continued as he walked back to his car, "I've got some things to do and some people to catch up with. So, I'll talk to you later?"

"Okay. 'Bye, John!"

Claudia tried to hold back her smile. John got into his car and drove off. She shut the door and let out a squeal of excitement.

"Yes! God, thank you!"

Then she ran to the phone and quickly dialed her best friend's number.

"Katie, guess what!"