Saturday was hell. I spent most of the day being prodded and measured and hearing endless talk about flowers and cake and bow ties. Note to self: hire a wedding planner.
When we were finally done with the dress sizing my mother, sisters and I went out for dinner. The talk remained around the wedding until dessert came, and then I wished we were still talking about what pose the bride and groom on the cake should be in.
"So Kimmy, tell you mother about this boy your seeing!" My mother said in that voice she used when she gossiped with our neighbors.
"Jared?" I was stalling, that much was obvious. I would rather be having the sex talk with my father than talking to my mother about my boyfriend, and lord know I was exactly jumping to do that.
"Is there more than one?" Tibby snickered.
"No!"
"Well then…"
"Well I mean he's Jared."
" 'He's Jared' this is all we get to hear about the guy who got Kimmy to make a mess in her room because she was fretting about what to wear? Unlikely." Tibby scoffed at me.
"Well he's perfect I guess. A total gentleman, so sweet and is really smart."
"Is he a good kisser?" My mother leaned over to whisper conspiratorially it didn't help.
"MOTHER!" I shrieked getting a few glances from other patrons and a giggle from a sticky Libby. My mother sighed realizing I'm sure that this was the end of our conversation. Golly I couldn't wait until tomorrow.
oxo
I woke up Sunday at eight in the morning, two hours before Jared was due to show up. I went through my entire closet again and it took me thirty minuets to pick out some black jeans and a green top without my sisters help. I ended up doing the same thing with my make-up as I had on Friday and straightened my hair. I actually ended up looking rather cute.
By the time I was ready I had twenty minuets to eat so I shoveled down some cereal. Unfortunately I was so rapped up in finding the difference between the five Leprechauns that I didn't hear the doorbell ring. And so I walked into the living room to find my father having a talk with Jared about his 'intentions'. I nearly died.
"Um hi Jared! Morning daddy, erm, we have to go or we are going to be late so…bye." I drug Jared out of the room by his hand.
"Goodbye sir, I'll have her home by nine." Jared said, the picture of polite.
"Alright kid, call if you're going to be late."
Jared and I walked out to his car and he helped in and buckled me up before getting in himself. "So Kim, where would you like to go today?"
"Um…nowhere special- shoot!"
"What, Kim you okay?"
"No, I forgot to do my portrait for art." I grumbled disheartened. But brightened suddenly. "You wouldn't want to do me a favor would you?"
"Anything."
"Would you model for me please, please, please?"
"Sure, of coarse!"
"Thank you so much, I just have to grab my stuff!" I gave him a smooch on the cheek and ran back inside quickly. When I was back in the car I told Jared where I wanted to go. He raised his eyebrows.
"The edge of the woods?"
"Actually no," I blushed. "A little ways in there is this clearing. I like to draw there because no one knows it's there, and there is this huge stump in the very center."
"Do your parents at least know where it is?" He was scowling at me.
"Look at the road Jared! And no, I just tell them I am going to the beach when I go."
"That is really dangerous Kim, what if something happened? There is dangerous stuff out there!"
"It isn't a big deal Jared, besides I go there all the time and have yet to be attacked by a grisly." I smiled weakly.
"I am talking about worse things than animals Kim." I studied his face and saw he wasn't budging anytime soon
"Okay how about a compromise?"
"Kim…"he warned.
"Just hear me out. I wont go alone anymore, but I don't have to tell anyone else, especially not my family, about it?"
"Then how would you not go alone?" I reached over for his hand as he pulled to the side of the road where I had told him to go.
"I told you didn't I?" He smiled and then reached over to unbuckle me before pulling me across the seat and kissing me.