I picked up the phone, but then hung it up. I've been doing this periodically throughout the past three weeks. I would pick up the phone to call Laura, but my anger and hurt would resurface and I'd place the receiver back in its cradle.
"Tay, not that I approve or anything, but call her already if that's what you really want. Just stop picking up the phone only to hang it up. You're making me crazy," Zac said without looking up from his Calculus book.
"Okay. I'm gonna do it this time. Zac, do you mind?"
"No problem," he said, picking up his book and leaving the kitchen.
I picked up the phone and dialed Laura's number. On the third ring, someone picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Um... hello. Is Laura there?" I nervously asked.
"It's me, Taylor," was the response.
"Laura, I was just... well... you wanna have dinner with me tonight?" I couldn't believe how nervous I was. It wasn't like this was our first date or anything. But then again, it was my first date with her in five years.
"Um... sure. What time should I be ready?" she responded.
"Seven o'clock. Oh, and dress casual." No need to pull out the big guns just yet.
"Okay. See ya at seven then. Oh, and Taylor?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
I smiled. "No problem. See ya later. Bye."
"Bye," she said, then hanging up the phone.
As we left the restuarant and headed for my car, Laura kissed me on the cheek. "Thanks, Taylor. Not just for dinner, but for calling, too. I know that couldn't have been easy."
I sighed. "It wasn't, but I really wanted to. And I'm glad I did."
Dinner had gone extremely well, so I decided to take a chance. "I know you don't drink coffee and all, but I got an apple pie in the fridge left-over from Thanksgiving. Wanna come over or something?" 'Please say yes. Please say yes,' I thought to myself.
"Okay." She turned to me and smiled.
So, back at the apartment we sat down in the kitchen to our apple pie, continuing to make small talk.
"So, what exactly are you doing now?" I was curious. When I was in school with Laura, her major was undeclared.
"I'm a teacher now. In fact, I start teaching at Tulsa High after the new year."
I nearly choked on my pie. "You're the last one I would've figured for a teacher!"
She shrugged. "Yeah, well, things change." She suddenly found something about the crumbs on her plate fastinating, and continued to stare at them.
I didn't like the road this conversation was taking us down, and decided to change the subject. "The game's on," I told her. We always watched the basketball games together. Well, not ALWAYS. But in those four months we knew each other, we did.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" she asked.
She led the way into the living room. We sat down on the couch and I turned on the TV. It seemed like old times. Well, not exactly. Something was amiss. There was something between us that was never there before: space.
I decided to close the gap. Taking advantage of Zac's absence, I moved closer to her. Her body tensed, and she concentrated on the game.
"Laura, look at me."
She turned her heard towards me. I kissed her, deeply.
She kissed me back. As we continued kissing, our breathing became heavier. Her hands were now in my hair, mine up the back of her shirt. Her hands ran down my chest and began to lift my shirt. It was soon discarded to the floor. Not five seconds later, Laura's shirt sailed to the floor as well.
She was now lying on her back on the couch, and I was straddling her legs. Our kissing became more passionate, and I decided to take the next step. My left hand was in her long, silky blonde hair and my right made its way to the waist of her jeans.
I unbuttoned the first button. "Taylor," Laura said softly. I silenced her with a kiss.
I unbuttoned the second one. "Taylor," Laura said again, only a little louder this time. Again, I slienced her with a kiss, more passionate than the last one.
I fumbled with the third button. "TAYLOR!" Laura bolted to an unright position, causing me to lose my balance and fall to the floor.
"Taylor. Taylor, I'm sorry. I can't do this... not now." Laura buttoned her jeans and began to search for her shirt. "I should leave," she continued.
"Laura," I said, but she cut me off.
"I'll take a cab home. Talk to you later, Tay." She put on her shirt, grabbed her purse and coat, and flew out the door.
I flopped onto the couch. Following her would be no use. 'What the hell just happened?' I thought to myself. Three weeks ago, I couldn't stand to be anywhere NEAR her. And now... well... who knows what would've happened if Laura hadn't stopped us. Actually, I had a pretty clear picture of what would've transpired.
But we were just starting to get back on track. I hope this didn't destroy what progress we made. One thing was for sure, though. Deep down, my feelings for Laura hadn't changed. If anything, they became stronger.