A World Without You. A. S. Peterson
two weeks earlier.
“Just take your time, I won’t let go of you until you’re ready.”
“Thanks,” Briana replied and stared at her moving feet. She had a hard time concentrating with Scott’s arm wrapped around her waist, making her body tingle all over. Several minutes passed before she finally managed to find her rhythm. The extra exhilaration from their bodily contact provided the buoyancy and adrenaline she needed.
After about twenty minutes of skating around the court, Briana became more confident. “I think I’ve got it.”
“Good,” Scott replied. He turned 180 degrees, skated backward, and linked his fingers through hers.
They gradually picked up speed as their eyes locked, focusing more on enjoying their intimacy than their skating. Lost in their own world, they smiled at one another without realizing they reached the end of the court. Before he could stop himself, Scott rolled off the concrete onto the lawn. Unable to adjust, he lost his balance, falling backward, pulling Briana with him. He met the ground solidly and groaned when Briana elbowed him in the stomach as she fell beside him.
Lying next to Scott, Briana hurriedly moved his brown hair off his face which was etched in pain. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, keeping his eyes closed.
Briana propped her arm, leaning on it as she studied Scott’s strong facial features and the details of his lips. A month ago, she would have never have imagined herself lying next to a boy, feeling protected and secure. If she moved a few inches closer, her lips would be on his—and she really wanted to kiss him. Sighing quietly, she moved her gaze to his loose curls, wondering how she was going to explain her predicament to him.
Without thinking, she touched one of his curls. Her spontaneous action traveled from her hand to her voice. Shocking herself, she whispered, “I like your curls.”
With one quick intake of oxygen, Scott opened his eyes, fixing his gaze on Briana. His breath miraculously returned to normal. “You do?”
Briana released his curl, feeling her cheeks blazing. She turned her head and started to get up.
Scott grabbed her arm. “Stay. It felt nice when you touched my hair.”
When she didn’t respond, he gently fingered her long blond hair, remembering the fresh smell. “I like your hair too. It’s soft and natural.”
Briana’s heart skipped a beat from the gentleness of his touch. She smiled. “Thanks.”
“You know, with a smile like that, you’re going to knock the wind out of me again,” Scott replied hoarsely, intoxicated by her beauty. As he stared at her lips, a strong magnetic force pulled him toward her. He sat up. At the exact moment when he became positive this kiss would succeed, Briana moved her head and he ended up kissing her cheek.
Frustrated with another rejection, Scott ran a hand over his mouth. He wasn’t misreading her expression, but for some reason, she kept turning her head. After spending these past few weeks contemplating that question, his lack of resolve had burned a permanent fixture into his brain.
Controlling his impatience, he hopped to his feet, extending his hand. Briana reached for it and gave him an apologetic look. “It’s okay, Briana,” he said as he helped her up. He led her to the court. They skated again, but their previous enjoyment didn’t return.
Forty-five minutes later, Scott walked home along Seventh Street. He wondered if kissing a girl was usually this complicated or getting to know a girl was usually this difficult. He still knew very little about Briana. She never volunteered information about herself. During the evenings when he should be sleeping, he was writing down ideas on how to unlock her silence; keeping her active hadn’t worked, playing a thought-provoking game hadn’t worked. Nothing had been successful. All the girls he had met over the years spoke easily about themselves. Sighing, he turned left on Oak Avenue, realizing it was time to get some ideas from his dad.
About fifty feet from home, Scott saw Destiny walking toward him, dressed in shorts and a pink halter top. Her black hair blew freely in the breeze. She waved enthusiastically while he grunted, “Man, this girl never quits.”
Destiny was now applying her makeup according to her skin tone. She was also using less hairspray. Because she was looking more attractive, the tension between Brett and Adam had increased. Both of those boys were interested in her.
“Hi, Scott,” Destiny said as she reached his house at the same time he did. She glanced at the bag of seeds. “Are you helping someone with their lawn?”
Scott shrugged and didn’t reply. He made his way to the front door. “Did you need something?”
“I came over to talk to you.”
Scott placed the bag on the lawn and sat on his front steps.
Destiny joined him. “I was just wondering how you know so much about makeup.”
“I took art classes.”
“What does that have to do with makeup?”
“It’s just another form of art.”
“I never thought of makeup as art.” When Scott didn’t reply, Destiny asked, “Do you think I look better now?”
Scott studied the subtle application of her makeup and her naturally windblown hair. “Yes.”
As soon as he gave his response, Scott regretted it. She moved closer, touching her shoulder against his, gazing steadily at him. He quickly moved his attention to the vacant lot in front of his house. He knew that look. It was the same one Briana had just given him and he knew Destiny wouldn’t turn her head.
He added quickly, “All the guys think you look better too.”
“I don’t care what they think. I only care what you think.”
“Some of them might care about you,” he replied as he noticed a movement from the corner of his eye. Glancing in that direction, he spotted Derek, tossing his football from hand to hand, studying Scott and Destiny sitting on the steps.
Derek cut across Felicia’s lawn, narrowing his eyes. “Hey, Scott, we’re playing basketball at three instead. Can you make it?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll see you then,” Derek replied, completely ignoring Destiny.
Scott knew his friend wouldn’t want him hooking up with Destiny. Derek and Destiny had dated several years ago, and the boys had an unspoken agreement about dating ex-girlfriends. It would definitely put a damper on their friendship.
While Destiny watched Derek stroll away, she scrunched up her face with disgust. “He might be the best-looking boy in school, but he’s a jerk.”
“You’re talking about my friend.”
“Whether or not he’s your friend, he’s still a two-timing jerk.”
Scott didn’t reply. In eighth grade, when Destiny found out that Derek was dating others, she basically let Derek and all the students in the cafeteria know exactly what she thought of him. After that incident, Derek and Destiny never spoke again.
*****
Derek gripped his football as he made his way to the park the following morning. He was usually the first one there, but today, he was fifteen minutes late. Derek rubbed his forehead. Even though he woke up with a severe headache, his dad always insisted practice in the backyard must continue. According to his old man, someday he may have to play a football game with a pounding headache. Derek growled. His dad always had a way of rambling on about accuracy and precision. Scott wasn’t helping either. Yesterday when he walked home with Scott after their basketball game, Derek had asked him about Destiny, wanting to know if they were dating. Scott simply mentioned they were only friends. Then Derek asked why his right-hand man was missing their football games every Thursday. Scott gave him an odd look, one that Derek had