The Haunting of Norville Rogers
Chapter Three: Football and ballet
November, four months later...
Norville
A million stars twinkle over head; the snow is glistening, small trees with bare, snow covered branches sparkle. We're dancing alone, soft music seems to float around us. She is in a full vanilla colored ball gown with matching opera length gloves. A snowflake necklace adorns her throat. She's beautiful and we are in love.
She is so light on her feet; and surprisingly I'm light on her feet too. I look into those honey and cinnamon eyes that have haunted my every waking and night time dreams for the past months. Her hair, so soft to the touch is brushed back, decorated with snowflakes, shimmers in the star light, as do her dark, rich eyelashes but it is her hot simmering eyes that hold my attention.
I lift my hand for her to spin away from me. She spins away then stops dead in her dance step...and screams!
I'm there behind her in a second, wrapping my arms around her waist protectively; I try to speak but no words form to be spoken.
"Bug!" I hear her say, "Big bug!---Bugus Gigiantus!" She turns, laughing, "It had a wing spread this big!" She throws her gloved arms out as wide as they'll go. I love to hear her laugh, it's more beautiful than the music around us. I wrap my arms around her waist once more, lifting her until we are face to face. Her laugh diminishes to a giggle then stops entirely.
"Well, there was a bug." She moistens her lips, tilts her head; her lashes fall slowly down, hiding those eyes that haunt me.
What is it about those eyes that haunt me so? So I can think of nothing else?
Our lips move closer...closer...closer still. I can feel her exhale; her breath, so sweet, a light lovers kiss upon my own lips. So close to those lips I want to kiss forever.
She inhales and I hear her whisper...
"Get Back! Get back everyone! Give him some room to breathe!" I recognize Fred's voice---I can only groan in response. 'You tell'em Freddy!' It's dark and I'm lying flat on my back!
"Are you okay, Norv?" That's Velma's voice! My eyes flutter open and I look into those honey and cinnamon eyes that have been haunting me.
"He's okay, just got the wind knocked out of him." Fred again. 'Shut up Fred!' my brain screams. "Hi honey..." I manage to croak.
"Don't you 'honey' me! At least not now." I hear laughter in her voice and smile at her.
I realize we are surrounded by people in uniforms---football uniforms---except Fred and Daphne. It only takes a second or two for me to fully remember what happened. The reason Fred isn't in uniform is because---I'm wearing it! I borrowed it when I got talked into taking turns running routes with the receivers after regular practice; Fred playing quarterback.
I was flat on my back because a Mack truck had hit me.
"How many fingers am I holding up?" Velma again. I try to focus on the upraised fingers and give up.
I'll swear to my dying day that the reason for my next action was caused by being hit by the Mack truck...I reach up, grasping her hand and kiss each fingertip gently, "three."
"He's okay!" she declares, rises and walks off with Daphne.
Oh well, it was a nice dream while it lasted. I only hope some one got the number of the Mack truck.
Fred
"Do you think she's cute?" Norv and I are walking home after he got his wind back when he comes up with his question.
"Who?" I think this is a trick question so I'm playing Joe Cool.
"Velma, of course! Who did you think I meant?" Yep! Trick question! Norv is acting even stranger than strange lately. Not eating, losing weight and asking silly questions. And most strange of all, he's not visiting the malt shoppe! Strange!
"Sure, I guess so." Joe Cool couldn't have been cooler! "Why do you ask?"
"Oh...nothing I guess. I was just thinking like, what should I do?"
"Like a date? Man! She's eighth grade! You sure? I don't think her parents would let her date!"
"No! Not a date, I mean...like...impress her!"
"Oh...you want to impress her!" I'm so relieved! Okay, I'm back on solid ground here! None of that sissy relationship stuff! Ugh! "I have a plan!"
"Okay, what's the great plan?" he asks.
"Football! It's like ballet for guys. Why do you think girls take ballet lessons?"
"I don't know...'cause they look good in a tutu?"
"Yeah, there is that. Daphne says girls take ballet 'cause it helps them be more graceful."
"Does Daphne take ballet?" he asks another silly question.
"Not now but that's not the point!"
"What's the point of all this, Fred? You think I should take ballet lessons? No way!"
"No! Not ballet! Football! You're not listening! Look, Little John put you on the ground---he's the Mack truck that hit you---you want to run track? Okay, what do you do if a Mack truck hits you while you're running?" Joe Cool is trying but can't get through.
"Fall down...hard?"
"You're still not listening! With football you learn to avoid being hit or how to react when you do get hit---gracefully, it's like ballet. At least you look good falling down." I can't help but laugh but then,
"I never saw a ballet dancer get hit."
"They're graceful that's why!" Joe Cool has a headache and so do I. This is harder than I thought.
"You think that will impress her? This ballet stuff? Did it impress Daphne?"
"Sure it did! Daphne and I are just friends but she loves it. It will make you a better dancer too...just think...the lights are low, soft music, dancing cheek to cheek with Velma...and you aren't stepping on her toes."
"You and Daphne are just friends? I think you should talk to Daphne. I think she has other ideas."
We've reached my house and I stop before going in, watching him as he continues to walk down the street from street light to street light until he's no longer visible.
Daphne had looked cute in that purple tutu.
Whatever is making Norv act strange; I hope he gets over it soon. I want my old friend back.
Velma
When he got hit and just laid there my heart jumped into my throat and my stomach fell. All at the same time. Daphne and I ran out onto the field. I want to cradle his head on my lap; but I know not to. At least until we know how badly he's hurt.
"How many fingers..." I ask, his eyes aren't focusing. He reaches up, grabs my hand and kisses my fingertips. I feel the heat rising, turning my face red as...Daphne's hair! I have to get away! Quickly!
Sensory overload!
Later, the blush is gone, thankfully, but I still feel the heat and the tingling sensation from the touch of his lips. Lying in bed I realize the fire is deep inside and no amount of water will quench it. And it will never go away.
I wonder how his lips will fell like when we kiss for the first time? Will they be like the hot chocolate Daphne fixed earlier? Sweet, delicate and with a warmth than floods your whole insides?
I snuggle deeper into the warm bed---and dream---of hot chocolate kisses.
TBC
