I'm terribly sorry for the huge wait. It took me a while to get back into the writing mood. I had to read literally the whole series Life Goes On. , and this story to get myself back into it.
Thanks, and I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
Chapter 4. Without you, I see...Her
I smirked thinking about that memory. It seemed so long ago, yet like yesterday.
My eyes gazed out the window, as it started to rain.
"Want some coffee?", I heard Leslie ask. "I made some"
She had brought two cups, knowing I'd accept.
I nodded to her, and took hold of the cup's handle as she handed it to me.
"Thanks." I slurped drinking the warm coffee. "It's getting colder out every day."
"No it isn't stupid. It's just winter ending, and spring beginning." "Kind of like how life is."
"You never know when somebody will suddenly..."
"Leslie, stop it." I spoke up, yet softly. "You have...got to stop grieving over your mother." "She's been gone now for a month."
She looked down at her shoes, and put her coffee cup on top of her favorite bookshelf, containing many of both our favorites.
Sitting across from me, she leaned to one side, in a depressed way.
"How?" she asked hopelessly.
My mind begin to ask myself this question. How would I have moved on from Leslie?
I sighed, and doubted myself for ever saying anything, (other than accepting the stupid coffee of course.)
"How about we leave town and take a break from all this...All of our problems?"
Leslie's eyes widened. "What about your job at the newspaper? Or my college?" "I can't just quit."
I smirked lightly. "The seasons are changing. It's getting to be summertime."
"What?" she asked puzzled.
"A vacation." I replied.
She still looked confused.
"Life doesn't last forever.""And we both haven't been enjoying it much."
"Well, you have..."
"No Leslie..." I replied with an empty voice. I ambled over to where she sat, and placed myself on the end of the big chair, wrapping my arms around her.
"When you're not happy...I'm not happy." "You mean the whole wide world to me, and when I see you suffer, it's as if I were loosing..."
Her eyes sparkled as she cupped my chin.
I kissed her, and took hold of her deeper into my arms grasp.
She lay her head on my shoulder, and sobbed. Feeling tears roll from her eyes onto me, I reaffirmed my hold.
"I'll never let you go." I promised.
For the longest time, I listened to her heart beat. So gently, and smoothly it beat; It's rhythm consistent, and full.
Eventually, she fell asleep on me. I moved her over in the chair a slight bit, and relaxed my back.
The rain continued to fall, as evening approached, and past by as swiftly as it came.
I lowered my eyelids, and remembered the day I had never forgotten...the day I was away from Leslie, a year after our marriage.
"I've got you, Under my skin." The LP roared.
"Whoooo!" Leslie yelled jumping on the bed with a grin ear to ear.
I popped open a champagne bottle, and then poured it into two wine glasses.
She slammed down onto the floor beside me and picked up the glass from the table.
"It's my birthday!" she repeated. "We are really gonna live it up tonight!"
I laughed half awake. "We already have been for the past hour."
She appeared drunk as she giggled relentlessly in my arms, paying no attention to where she stepped, constantly knocking things over without a care.
"Don't you know little fool..you..."
"...Can never win!" Leslie barged in singing loudly off-key.
"Les," I laughed, seeing how things were getting out of hand. "Let's sit down."
"You my queen had a little too much to drink." I joked, knowing the champagne was non-alcoholic.
"Drink?" she mumbled loudly. "How dare you insinuate that I am a lush!" She fell over onto the bed and attempted to sit up, but to no avail.
"It repeats, it repeats, yel..." I stopped the record player, and turned off the living room's lights.
"What a mess." I told myself, cleaning my hands of party confetti. "
I loosened my tie, and collar to alleviate tension it had created, then took off my sport-jacket and sat down next to Leslie.
"What a part...y..." she mumbled as her face was drowned by the pillow.
Looking at my watch, it was already 2:30 A.M.
"Yeah, I've got to get home for tomorrow."
Leslie turned her head to face me, and adjusted her gaze.
"Stay with me...please?" she whispered desperately.
In that instant, she started kissing my neck, and unbuttoning my shirt.
I smiled, then pressed my lips against hers. I felt my hand reach down into her dress and stop near her panties.
"Oh god..." Leslie moaned delightfully kissing me even more.
"I can't...Les." "After, that is, when I get home, but just not now." I spoke and took a stand onto the wooden floor.
Putting my coat on, I found my way to the front door. As I unlocked it, I felt her body clung around mine...topless.
"Leslie, go to bed." I demanded. "I promise to say goodbye before I go."
The girl really had it in for me, as she stood there more displeased than shocked.
"There's one place you're going, and it isn't home." She started giggling, pulling me back to the couch.
I felt her reach for my jeans in an attempt to pull them down.
"Fine! You win." I laughed. I jumped on top of her and began undressing the rest of her dress.
"Mmmm! "Mmm" "Oh" she yelled as I did.
Just then a car drove into the driveway. It's lights shined through the front windows and into the house.
"Shit!" Leslie burst in her most disappointed tone as I took my hands off her almost pulled down panties.
She released the hold she had around my neck and looked over the couch to view the windows emitting light.
I stumbled to the front door and peaked out. It was Julie Burke.
"Oh no..." "This night just keeps getting better and better." I groaned.
"Who is it?" Leslie asked while applying additional lipstick in a mirror.
"Julie Burke."
Leslie's face turned into a smile as she walked to the door beside me.
Julie's shape became more evident. Light rays from the car's headlights illuminated her entrance to the front door.
"Hi!" Leslie yelled when Julie was in clear view.
"Oh hey!" Julie yelled happily and then hugged Leslie.
"What are you doing up at such ungodly hours?" Julie then finally asked. "And why is it so dark in the house?"
"Leslie and I were having a party." I managed to say before flicking on a light switch that brightened the whole living room.
It's my birthday! Leslie giggled.
"I can see that." Julie laughed noticing lip stick all over my neck and face.
Leslie noticed too and her face blushed red.
"What about you?" I smiled, still embarrassed from my appearance. As she spoke, I wiped myself clean with my hankie.
"Oh, just out with my boyfriend." Julie smirked. "I'll leave you two alone."
"That's alright!" Leslie stuttered, "Jess and I would love your company." "Right Jess?"
My gaze was focused on the still opened door and outside at trees blowing in the wind. "Uhh...OH, yeah. Right." I finally said.
Julie grinned and sat down on the couch that Leslie and I had been previously making out on.
I knew I would be stuck for another hour.
Sometime after 4 A.M, Julie and Leslie had parted and went to bed. I knew Leslie was still disappointed but I was too tired to make it up to her.
I trudged home to my house and saw my father, Jack already up sipping coffee.
He had taken up a new job working at the local downtown grocery store and therefore kept the tradition of early waking hours to get to work.
"Good morning son." He called. I was still dressed up from the previous night. For my sake, he made no comment and allowed me to pass up to the stairway without question.
Just when I saw my bed, a golden throne to the weary body, I glimpsed at May Belle in it.
"AWhh.." I moaned rubbing my eyes in despair.
7:33 A.M
Coffee kept me awake through the wee small hours. How would I make it through the rest of the day, I could not surmise.
My job interview was today and regardless, I would be attentive for it.
Before departing, I visited the Burke s' house. Conveniently, Leslie was still asleep and I decided against waking her up.
My father drove his old pickup into town, with me riding shotgun. Compared to riding in Bill's Mercedes, it hit every bump in the road with no comforting suspension.
By the time we reached the newspaper shop, I was fully awake.
"Good morning." Said a fat burly man. "I'm Mister Wilson."
"Good morning I replied, shaking his hand. "I'm Jesse Aarons."
"Jesse Aarons, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Please sit down." The man motioned with his hands to a nearby table and chair.
I quickly followed the given instructions and positioned myself firmly in the chair.
"So, I see you desired a job here as a cartoon artist for our paper? The Lark Creek Tribune?"
"Yes sir." I kindly spoke. "I feel I have a talent and can share it with this company to improve the quality of the product you deliver."
"Is that so?" The man said in a rhetorical voice while reviewing a few sample drawings that I had sent with my application.
"These are very good." "But I'm afraid to say we can't afford much for this level of talent."
"That's quite fine." I spoke. "I don't mind starting off at a base level pay."
"You're hired then!" The man laughed. "When can you start?"
"As soon as possible"
"Since it's Saturday already, suppose you start work this following Monday? 8:30 A.M sharp, in this office Mr. Aarons."
"I'll be here." I replied with a smile.
"Great." Wilson replied shaking my hand.
"Good day to you."
I grinned walking out of the shop. My father waited in the pickup for me.
"How'd it go son?" He asked.
"I got the job!"
My father proudly patted my shoulder. "That's great son."
"I have to go into work now, so meet me back at the store."
"Alright," I nodded.
I stepped out of the truck and started walking down the downtown avenues.
Jewelry shops, toy stores, and gift shops past me by. The surprisingly cold June weather show cast my breath as I approached a coffee shop.
After ordering a cappuccino, I stared out watching the small town's busy life go by.
My phone buzzed and I picked it up.
Leslie had sent me a text.
"What are you doing?" It read.
"Can you stop pestering me?" I replied. "I've just escaped prison from the evil Burkes." "I've lost my left arm, and my tongue in torture."
"We still want the other one." she texted back.
"The other what?"
"The other arm."
I laughed out loud. People in the shop looked at me.
"Talk to you later Les." I texted back and turned off my phone.
Just then a pretty girl approached me.
"May I sit down?" she asked while standing in amidst me and my cappuccino on the table.
"If you'd like."
I took a sip from my cup, and lowered my eyebrows.
"What's your name?" I asked trying to start a conversation.
"Skylar Evans" she smiled.
"Nice to meet you Skylar," I spoke. "I'm Jesse Aarons." "People call me Jess though."
She giggled a little. "People call me "Sky."
"That's cute," I thought to myself. "Leslie'll be pissed."
"Where are your parents?" I inquired.
"They passed on some time ago. It's just me, and my grandma." Skylar replied. "She's in town at the general store now."
"And yours?" she questioned.
"My dad works at the general store!" I smiled.
"That's neat." She grinned. "Care for a walk?"
I blinked my eyes. Her eyes twinkled back.
"Sure." I replied. I threw the coffee cup away and opened the exit door for her.
"Where are you from?" I smirked.
"Michigan, a place called Lansing."
The wet dampness of the ground beneath us made little pitter-patter sploshes as we ambled along.
"I've been in Lark Creek all my life." I explained.
"Oh, do you know a lot of people here?"
"Mmm, I wouldn't say a lot. Most folks here keep to themselves. I know a great deal of the kids however."
"Why's that?" she paused.
"There's only one school in Lark Creek. It's for grades kindergarten to 12th graders."
"Wow." she chuckled. "Where I come from, there's hundreds of schools for every type, class, and grade of child."
Jess smiled and stood in front of Skylar, looking at her clearly.
"It's a small town."
"Yeah."
Her eyes sparkled once more. "So." She muttered but a notch above the ambient sounds of downtown.
"I guess I'll be seeing you around."
I smiled. "I'd like that."
"What's your number?" She spoke while biting her lip.
I wrote it down on a scratch of note-paper I had in my pocket.
Skylar grinned. "See you."
I watched as she walked away.
"See you." I whispered with a smile.
As if reality had taken form and the past was all but a childhood dream, the realistic properties of life began.
I had my first crush on someone other than Leslie Burke.
And I couldn't wait to meet her again~