Rita awoke and saw Chris standing in the doorway to her room around mid-morning.
"How long have you been there?"
"Just got here. Your mom let me in as she was leaving.
"So???"
Sitting up in her loose night shirt, "So, what??"
"Details. Are you going out with him again? What did you guys do? What did you talk about?" all of that came out of Chris's mouth in about two seconds.
"He described the late night getting home on graduation night."
"Probably in not as much detail as you gave me," Chris laughed.
Ignoring the comment, Rita continued, "He told me about his conversations with his mom and dad about getting home late. It was kind of funny, because he said how his dad saw a car go up the road and didn't return. And that he had the idea of walking up there any banging on the hood of the car. Man, would that have been something!! But I did have to laugh at that. Anyway, we had a great time. Miniature golf up at the lake, pizza, and..."
"And what?"
"We wound up at the round-about."
"Really? Thought you weren't going to do anything like that."
"Kind of my idea," Rita added. "We finished pizza, which was really good by the way, then in the car he asked if I wanted to go home and hang out. I hadn't really considered it until we kissed up at the lake. Then the drive back, I knew I'd have to make a decision on what to do after eating. I was having fun. Enjoyed being with him. So I thought, 'why not?' I figured the worse thing that could happen if I felt uncomfortable, I could always ask for him to take me home. I know he would've with no problem. I really do trust him."
"Wait, you didn't have a condom."
"It was nothing like that. We just made-out. Never touched my boobs or went under my top. However, do you still have a condom in your purse?"
"Why?"
"I don't know.
"Maybe I'll want to again."
"I'll get you one. Rita, are you sure about all of this? I mean, you're my best friend and I would die if you got hurt."
"I know. I keep thinking about that too. He's not going to hurt me. He knows he did once before and he was really sorry, but not this time. I can tell he really cares about me."
"But he cheated on his now ex-girlfriend. What if he does the same to you?"
"What if I decide to go out with somebody else without telling him? Would I be cheating on him?"
Rita continued, "Look, both of us know that neither of us are not looking for a relationship this summer. We're both going off to school. Different schools. We just agreed to hang out as friends."
"Yeah, but sex can make things more complicated," Chris added.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. It's just that it felt soooo good the other night. Then last night. I want to feel that again. Maybe if I go slower, after all, we have the whole summer.
"I am going to take a shower. You can hang out here if you want."
...
We talked on Wednesday and I asked her if she would like a movie or go bowling here in town.
"Bowling. I haven't bowled in years. Maybe we should do that, you could get your revenge after the miniature golf", she laughed.
"What movies are playing?"
I checked the local paper and read them off to her. Our town didn't have a movie theater, but three of the surrounding towns did, including the lake town. Two were action movies, there was a 'chick flic' playing at the lake theater.
"Do you mind going back up to the lake, I'd like to see that one? Maybe we can bowl next week."
Next week, I thought to myself. I like where this is going.
"Not at all. What time does it start?"
"One at 7 and then 9."
"Let's do the 7:00 one. I see you a little before 6:30."
"Sounds good. You going to buy me popcorn?"
I could hear the smile over the phone.
"Absolutely. What's a movie without popcorn? Oh, by the way, my mom is throwing a birthday picnic for my dad on Sunday. What to come?"
"Sounds like a family thing. Are you sure I wouldn't feel out of place?"
"Not at all. My dad would love it if you were there. My mom too. They both like you a lot."
"OK. Sounds like fun."
"We'll talk about more on Saturday."
...
It had been about a week since the party and the break up with Cindy. It was a Wednesday, and I was working during the day at the store stocking shelves, it was just before noon. My mind wandering, playing out the events of the past week with Rita when out of the corner of my eye I sensed somebody standing next to me. Turning. Cindy. We stood - just staring at each other for what must have been ten to fifteen seconds before she spoke. Her voice strained her face saddened as she softly spoke looking down.
"You never called. I was sure you would call. Why didn't you call? If you had just called and apologized it would have been OK. But you never called. Did our relationship mean so little to you that the first fight we ever had... that you... that you could just, just turn and walk away from it? You didn't even try to save it," sighing, "To bring us back together. Did you care that little for me?"
She was on the verge of major tears, her voice cracking, "Look, I can't do this right now. Right here. I have my lunch break in about fifteen minutes. Meet me by my car. We'll go someplace private and talk. OK?"
She just nodded, turned, and walked out of the store. Wow. I never saw this coming. I had fifteen minutes to figure out what I was going to say to her. I had never seen her so hurt.
...
Pulling out of the parking lot, "Let's go to a park," I said. Cindy only nodded as she stared out the window as we drove in silence.
