Heavenly Habits
"Check mate!" I cry gleefully.
"And you act like it's a surprise. You know I suck at chess," Ryan says acting like a sore loser, but I know he's just pretending. I can tell because his ice blue eyes say otherwise. His eyes smile because I smile. He's happy because I'm happy. He's glad that my sadness has passed for whatever reason as long as it's passed.
"I know. But I still won," I say grinning from ear to ear.
"You did," Ryan says and pauses to smile. "And I congratulate you."
"Thank you," I say politely.
Ryan jumps out of his chair and pumps his fist in the air. "All right now that our homework is done, we can have some fun!"
"I was having fun," I murmur.
"Of course you were," he says. "But now its time for Ryan's idea of fun."
"You're talking in third person and Gabby is annoyed," I reply.
He laughs. "Ryan thinks you're hilarious."
"Gabby agrees with him."
"Ryan wants to watch a movie."
"Gabby complies."
We both laugh and walk into the Evans' theater room.
Ryan flicks all the lights off and I collapse on the huge red sofa. I watch him swiftly move about the room, getting everything ready. He is so organized. Yet, another admirable quality of Ryan's; one which most teenage boys don't possess. Then again Ryan has never been ordinary and I would never want him to be.
He runs over and turns on the popcorn maker, the kernels already in place. He powers up the projector and DVD player and settles himself beside me. Our thighs almost touch and it's extremely nerve-wracking. I wrap my arms around myself worried my hands will wander. I want to feel his feathery blonde hair. I want to stroke his cheek. I want to kiss his long eyelashes. I want to touch his muscular chest. I want to do so many things and I cannot.
"What are we watching? Funny Face," I guess, desperately trying to distract myself.
"Shhhh!" he says bringing a finger to his chapped lips. "You'll see. And no not Funny Face. I'm saving that for last."
"Well then what is-" I'm cut off by Ryan's cool hand across my mouth. His hand covers my trembling lips and his arm is wrapped tightly around me. I am well aware of his warmth, how close he is to me. His thigh presses against mine and I feel his eyes on me, yet I dare not look. "You're know fun you know. Can't I just surprise you?"
I nod quickly and sit stiff as a board as his hand leaves my face. Yet his arm still lingers, draped across my shoulders.
Julie Andrews twirling around a bright green field, mountains and blue skies behind her fills the large screen.
"The Sound of Music!" I cry happily and all tension leaves my body.
"Bravo! You guess correctly. Now shush!"
I giggle but stay quiet.
He begins to harmonize along with Julie Andrews and I allow myself to loosen up. I lean my head against Ryan's shoulder and listen to the two beautiful voices blend together.
The hills are alive with the sound of music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years
The hills fill my heart with the sound of music
My heart wants to sing every song it hears
The song fades out and Ryan leaps off the couch. I jerk up. "Where are you going?"
"These jeans are killing me. I'm gonna go change. You need something?"
I smile mischievously. A perfect opportunity to borrow an item of clothing. And possibly never give it back. "I'm cold. Bring me a sweatshirt!"
"You're always cold," he teases. He flashes a lopsided grin and salutes as he leaves the room.
My eyes rest on the screen, watching it but not really watching it. This part isn't very exciting anyway. I feel lonely in this big dark room by myself. I shiver as I wait.
A few minutes later Ryan reenters the room. He's changed into a pair of navy blue plaid pajama pants and a gray tee shirt that hugs every well-defined muscle on his chest. He throws me one of his huge gray workout sweatshirts and it smells like his cologne and this special laundry detergent Mrs. Evans imports from France. Yum. I yank it on eagerly and it swallows me entirely. I pull the sleeves over my hand pressing a palm to my nose.
He hops back on the cushion beside mine and gives me a strange look. "Were you just smelling my sweatshirt?"
"Yes," I say quietly. "It smells nice that's all." I add in my own defense. Please let this pass…
"Oh really?" Ryan questions. "And do I smell nice?" he asks a small smile playing at his lips. He leans forward as if he is allowing me to smell him.
I blush and am thankful for the darkness. My delusional heart is telling me he is flirting, but my mind speaks the truth. He's only playing with me. I lean into him and smell his neck, careful not to let my nose graze his throat. I inhale and of course he smells divine, splendid, better than any other man on the planet. As if I didn't already know that.
I pull away sharply and reply curtly, "Yes, you do."
He laughs and looks as if he's about to say something, but he stops.
"We have to act out this part!" Ryan exclaims. I shake my head no vigorously. This song is too adorable and while I would normally jump at the chance to sing a romantic duet with the man of my dreams, I don't trust myself to refrain from acting upon my desires. But he just nods yes, smiles, and begins to sing:
You wait, little girl, on an empty stage for fate to turn the light on
Your life, little girl, is an empty page that men will want to write on
He's deliciously compelling and his voice happens to be one of my many weaknesses. I sigh with defeat and sing softly:
To write on
Ryan grins excited that I am participating and stands up in front of me. He sings to me his eyes gazing into mine lovingly:
You are sixteen going on seventeen baby its time to think
He walks behind the couch, leans over my shoulder and sings into my ear:
Better beware be canny and careful baby you're on the brink
He strides back in front of me and croons:
You are sixteen going on seventeen fellows will fall in line
Eager young lads and grueways and cads will offer you fruit and wine
He winks at me and this little act he's putting on is about to push me over the edge. I think he's made Rolf a little sexier than Rolf actually is. I fidget with my hands unable to take my eyes off him.
Totally unprepared are you to face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared are you of things beyond your ken
You need someone older and wiser telling you what to do
I am seventeen going on eighteen; I'll take care of you
He takes my hand and pulls me off the couch. He places my small hands in his large, smooth ones and begins to swing me around the room in a lively little dance. I reluctantly push him away, but I must do as Liesl does. I throw him a dashing smile and sashay around him girlishly. Exuding fake confidence I chirp:
I am sixteen going on seventeen I know that I'm naïve
Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet and willingly I believe
I am sixteen going on seventeen, innocent as a rose
Bachelor dandies, drinkers of brandies, what do I know of those
He grins at me with admiration, clearly impressed by my portrayal of Liesl and though my heart is pounding, my face remains calm and I continue:
Totally unprepared am I to face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared am I of things beyond my ken
I need someone older and wiser telling me what to do
You are seventeen going on eighteen; I'll depend on you
He grabs my hands once more and we begin to waltz around the room. We're gasping for breath and laughing giddily. I'm beginning to shed my romantic feelings. Ryan is just my friend, I repeat to myself over and over until I forget to chant it and I just concentrate on this moment, on right now, on having a blast with my friend Ryan.
Ryan twirls me out like a ballerina and then pulls me back into him. Our eyes flicker to the movie at the exact same moment. Onscreen, Rolf and Liesl lean in to kiss. Our eyes flicker back to each other's. They lock. We're close, so close. Our faces are inches apart, Ryan leans closer…
A kiss?! Will they or won't they? That is the question. Find out next chapter.