Chapter 4
"I'm going to do it...I'm really going to do it" I thought as I walked to the auditorium, to the awaiting Eva Monroe. I walked in quietly, and quickly spotted Eva sitting on a table, reading an old leather bound book. "Hey Eva," I said, knowing my voice was shaking, "what're you reading?""Oh, it's an old copy of Pride and Prejudice my grandma gave me." She looked up at me, those sparkling seas she calls eyes staring deep into my soul. "That's cool," I said, stuttering a little. I walked over and sat next to her, close enough to smell her peach scented hair, "...Can I ask you something?""Sure." This was it. "Would you like to...um...go to the dance with me?" She smiled at me, showing her pearly white teeth. "I would love too, Prosper." There she was, smiling at me, just inches away, and then I did something totally and completely insane. I leaned in and kissed her. Her cherry blossom lips met mine, and she didn't pull away. We sat there, letting love and a few hormones flood our minds. It was the best forty seconds of my life. When we finally pulled away, we just sat and stared at each other, enjoying each other's company. Then Mrs. Lenard, walked in, tears and mascara coming down her face. "Oh Prosper, I'm so sorry..." she whispered. My heart stopped for a bit, fear gripping me. "What's wrong?" I asked, starting to freak out. "...your mother will be picking you up right now. Oh Prosper...I am so very sorry..." I jumped off the table, and bolted out the door to my mom's little Volkswagen bug which was waiting out front. I got in and saw my mom was crying too. "Mom...what's going on." I didn't let fear touch my voice. She started driving and didn't answer me until we got home and sat on the couch. "Prosper...your father...he's in a coma. There was an accident at the army base...its touch-and-go right now...he might not make it..." She then started bawling, then grabbed me close, her daisy chain smothering my nose. I was in complete shock. My father...might die. That was the reality of the situation. No way around it. Then I figured it out. I started crying. Mom and I sat there for probably twenty minutes, until we stopped and sat quietly. I don't think either of us really wanted to consider all the possibilities of this predicament. We turned on the television and stared blankly. Eventually Mom went to make dinner. I went to my room and laid down, I don't know for how long. I tried to think of happy things, but positivity isn't my forte and I kept ending up thinking about my dying father. Jesse, Michale, and even Eva eventually came to check on me, and when I told them what was going on, Jesse and Michale both started crying, and I held Eva close to me, comforted by her lovely scent and beauty. Mom served us all dinner and they all ended up sleeping over. The whole night was silent, despair and mourning hung like a cloak over the dismal house. I heard Mom crying for the longest time, then she fell asleep. When I finally fell asleep, I was grateful for the peace of mind. I dreamt of peaches and Chevys.