A World Without You. A. S. Peterson
came in handy when Felicia began experimenting with makeup. One day, when he was at her house repairing the oven temperature control, Felicia walked into the kitchen, looking like a clown. He laughed and mentioned makeup shouldn’t look like it was painted on the face. After that, whenever he was at her house fixing something, she’d ask for his opinion and he’d simply think about art: the shading, the highlighting, and the colors. He still wasn’t sure if this new knowledge of art was a blessing or a curse. Anyway Destiny’s makeup was too harsh for her complexion.
Destiny placed her hand on his arm while she gently shook her stiff jet-black hair. “You’re so funny, Scott. Every time I see you, you’re busy doing something.”
Scott scanned his friends who were trying not to stare. He didn’t miss Adam’s dark expression. Scott casually moved his arm from under Destiny’s hand, pretending he had an itch on his face.
As Destiny chatted, Shelley and Margie strolled into The Parlor. Last year, when Shelley moved to South Hillside, the two girls became best friends due to their similarities. They dressed in the American classic fashion with a more natural appearance. They crimped their shoulder-length brunette hair and were fanatical about saving the rainforest, protecting animals’ natural environment, and cleaning up pollution. The girls made a stand for an issue. That was one of the reasons why Scott had liked them both.
As they climbed the steps, Derek motioned to them. “Bring your chairs over here, there’s room.”
Shelley blushed, accepting his invitation while Margie grabbed a chair at the end of the table beside Scott.
Matt, Karl, and Jess hid their disgust as Derek rested his arm on Shelley’s chair. With three girls beside him, Derek was in his element as he kept them giggling.
While the sophomores conversed, Ruby, a middle-aged waitress, took their order and returned minutes later with their desserts. Scott ate the hot fudge sundae Charlie had given him. As Scott watched the clock on the wall in front of him, his mind wandered to the girl in the park. He began to formulate a free-verse poem. Rearranging, adjusting, and fixing the words until he was satisfied. He recited the final poem inside his mind. Your beauty was as soft as the breeze that whispered simplicity, splendor, and innocence. The exquisiteness of the park captivated my eyes, but your presence captivated my heart.
An hour passed before Matt made his move the guys had been expecting. “Pamela, do you want me to walk you home?”
After they left, Destiny encircled Scott’s left arm. “You’re always so quiet. Sometimes I wonder what’s in that brain of yours.”
Scott noticed a sudden lull in the conversation. He met Destiny’s gaze, contemplating on a way to discourage her advances. To bide for more time, he asked, “You want to know what’s in my brain?”
“Yeah, what are you thinking about?”
Scott remained stoic as an idea materialized. Pamela and Destiny were easily bored with academic subjects. “I’m reading a good book.”
Widening her eyes, she asked, “What’s it about?”
Scott took a sip of water, placed his glass on the table, and looked at Destiny. “It’s about the four quadrants in space and the ionized particles located in them. Did you know that ionized particles are radical atoms? Scientists believe that radical nuclei are fused in supernovas that create black holes.” Pausing, he patted her arm. “That’s what I’m thinking about.”
Destiny stared at him with a blank expression. “I have no idea what you are talking about.” She released her arms from Scott’s and turned to the group. “Does anyone have something more interesting to talk about than Scott?”
Brett replied quickly, “I read a book yesterday too.”
Destiny glanced at the boy to her left who was handsome, had a masculine body, but was severely lacking in intelligence. She was surprised Brett had even read a book. “Was it more interesting than Scott’s?”
“Yeah, there was a girl in it who was a fox. She reminded me of you.”
“Why?” Destiny asked, doubting he could recite anything romantic.
Brett scratched the side of his face. He hadn’t expected to give an explanation. He moved his attention behind Destiny, looking at Scott, pleading for help. Scott cleverly touched his hair while Brett added. “Her hair was long and pretty like yours.”
Destiny wrapped her arms around Brett’s right arm. “What else?”
Brett stroked his chin and glanced at Scott who subtly pointed to his lips. “She had a beautiful smile like yours.” Before Destiny could ask another question, he asked, “Do you want to go for a walk and look for black holes?”
Scott watched Brett and Destiny leave The Parlor and resolved their newfound relationship would last less than one full rotation of the earth.
Margie moved closer to Scott and smiled shyly. “I think you’re interesting.”
Great, Scott thought. He studied Margie’s sweet smile she had constantly given to Derek in the eighth grade. Back then, Scott dreamt her smile would be directed at him. It never was.
He grinned in return. “You do?”
“Yes.” She hesitated and rested her chin on her hand. “We don’t talk anymore. What have you been doing?”
Scott ignored his friends who had become quiet again. He knew exactly how to discourage Margie. “Well, I’ve been thinking about getting a hunting license. I hear deer meat is really tasty.”
Margie stared at him in astonishment as her right hand flew to her throat. She dropped her jaw. “You’re going to kill Bambi?”
Frowning and shaking his head, Scott replied, “No, you can’t hunt in the summer. Hunting season is in the fall when the fawns get older.”
Scott’s friends rubbed their mouth and suppressed their laughter while Margie jumped off her chair and looked at her best friend. “Can you believe him, Shelley? He wants to kill Bambi.”
Shelley gazed at Scott. She couldn’t picture him as a hunter.
Margie scanned the table. “What do you guys think about hunting?”
Lance spoke first. “I can’t image anyone killing a little critter. If I see one injured, I run it right over to the vet.”
Softening her look, Margie studied Lance, the huskiest boy in their grade. His robust body and his light-brown hair gave him the appearance of a big lovable teddy bear. “You do?”
He nodded his head. “Yeah, do you want to look for an injured animal?”
Margie folded her arms across her chest, doubting his request. “You want to look for an injured animal right now?”
Lance grinned. “Not really. I’d rather walk you home.”
Scott watched Lance and Margie stroll out The Parlor door. That couple will last as long as the one that just left.
Jess leaned over toward Scott. “You never change. You’re still offending the girls.”
“You know me. I’m the one that does the choosing,” Scott replied as he leaned back on his chair, pleased he had diverted the girls’ attention. The conversation at his table returned to normal while he sat comfortably, keeping his eye on Felicia who left The Parlor at eight-fifty. Three minutes later, he remarked, “Well, I’ll see you guys later.”
It was dusk outside. Felicia sat on the wooden bench, waiting for him. They took the same route home while she rambled on about her opinion of the couples who left together. “Matt’s too kind and handsome for a spoiled brat like Pamela. Destiny will leave with any boy who happens to say something charming, but I was really surprised to see Lance and Margie leave together. What do you think about those two as a couple?”
Scott shrugged. “Unharmonious.”
“Oh