Her Journey Begins (12 page)

  
“
How can you tell?
”

  
“
Are we still going to the cabin on Wednesday?
”

Taking a deep breath Chris looks over at him.

  
“
Do you want to?
”

Brandon leans over and kisses her softly before answering.

  
“
Yes, but we won
’
t if you don
’
t want to.
”

Looking back down at her hands Chris whispers.

  
“
I want to.
”

Brandon smiles and kisses her again.

  
“
I
’
ve got to go. Are you coming to watch me practice tomorrow?
”
Chris nods. Brandon stands up, pulls Chris into his arms, and kisses her again before letting her go. Walking to his car, he turns and looks back at her.

  
“
I love you.
”

Chris smiles and waves before going inside.



   Getting to Brandon
’
s practice a little late, Chris sees the team is already on the field. She looks over at first base and sees Brandon watching her. Chris waves and sits down on the bench. They are in the outfield first, so she has to wait until they get the three outs, before he can come talk to her. Getting the outs rather quickly Brandon jogs over to her.

  
“
You
’
re late.
”

  
“
I know, I stopped and dropped off my roll of film to be developed, besides, I didn
’
t want to come watch you do all those sit ups with your shirt off, it gets me excited.
”

Brent comes jogging over and smiles at Chris before grabbing a batting helmet off the bench..

  
“
Hi Chris
”

  
“
Hi Brent, hit a homerun for me.
”
He smiles at her and jogs off. Looking out across the field Chris remarks,
“
I see the cheerleaders are practicing today also.
”
One of the cheerleaders waves and waving back Chris sees Amber staring at her.

Brandon pulls Chris into his arms. 

  
“
I hadn
’
t noticed. I was too busy watching for you. I was afraid you weren
’
t going to come.
”

Chris looks into his eyes and smiles.
“
I told you I would.
”



   Holding hands while walking home Chris squeezes Brandon
’
s  hand.

  
“
What
’
s up? You
’
re being awful quiet.
”

He gives her a forced smile.

  
“
Nothing
”
Chris stops and Brandon only gets an arm length away before her hand holding his, stops him. He looks back at her. Shaking his head he tells her,
“
It
’
s nothing, really.
”

  
“
Brandon, I know you better then that. Are you mad at me?
”
Brandon gives her a genuine smile this time, one that lights up his eyes with a mischievous twinkle.

  
“
I could never be mad at you.
”

  
“
Then what
’
s wrong?
”

  
“
It
’
s just something my mom said last night.
”
Chris can see the light go out in his eyes and is replaced with a dark sadness.
“
She told me she doesn
’
t want me seeing you.
”

  
“
I know. She told me the same thing the other night. So are you going to stop seeing me?
”

He gives her a look that says,
“
Are you kidding
?
”
Before telling her no.

  
“
Then what
’
s the problem?
”

  
“
It
’
s just what she called you.
”

Chris chuckles and sighs,
“
You know it
’
s like pulling teeth with you. What did she call me?
”

  
“
It doesn
’
t matter.
”

Chris smiles and shakes her head,
“
What? Let me guess, she called me,
White trash from the wrong side of the tracks?
”

  
“
How did you know?
”
 

  
“
Its not the first time I
’
ve been called that. In fact, its Amber
’
s favorite way of referring to me when she talks about me.
”

  
“
Doesn
’
t that upset you?
”

  
“
It would if I was, but I
’
m not.
”
Brandon smiles and Chris can see that mischievous twinkle return to his eyes as he gives her a quick kiss and tugs on her hand.

  
“
Come on, lets run.
”

   Running up the steps with her camera bouncing against her hip, Chris sees Barb sitting on the porch swing. Laughing and out of breath, Chris places her hands on her knees and Brandon plops down in the chair. Barb looks at Brandon and smiles.

  
“
Brandon you know Chris
“
is
”
allowed to ride in your car now.
”
Brandon grins at Barb as Chris sits down next to her on the swing.

  
“
I know, but it
’
s more fun walking her home.
”
Barb smiles and gets up.

  
“
Do you two want something to drink? A soda or ice tea maybe?
”

  
“
A soda will be fine.
”

  
“
Chris?
”

  
“
Ice tea please. Thanks mom.
”
Barb walks into the house and  Brandon gets up and moves over to sit by Chris. Pulling up her shirt and pushing down on the top of her jeans, Chris looks at the red mark on her hip where the camera was bouncing against it and frowns.
“
I am going to have a bruise.
”

Brandon looks at the red mark and touches it gently.

  
“
I
’
ll kiss and make it better for you.
”

Chris puts her shirt down and puts her arms around his neck.

  
“
You can do that on Wednesday, if you want.
”
Brandon moves his hand up from her waist and playfully pinches her nipple through her shirt and Chris gives him a mock,
“
Ouch
”

  
“
I can kiss that and make it better on Wednesday too.
”

Chris smiles.
“
I
’
d like that.
”
Chris pushes his hand down.
“
Now behave yourself.
”

Barb comes back out with their drinks.

  
“
Brandon where is your car at?
”

  
“
I left it at home and rode to practice with Brent. He took Wendy to get pizza and then he
’
ll pick me up when he drops her off.
”

   
“
Okay, well I should get busy, do you want to stay for dinner tonight?
”

  
“
No, I can
’
t. I
’
m taking my parents to the airport tonight.
”

Barb smiles.
“
Where are they going?
”

  
“
They are spending a week in Mexico.
”

  
“
Okay, well you know you
’
re welcome to come over anytime while they are gone.
”

He smiles and tells Barb thanks. After Barb goes in Brandon whispers to Chris,
“
I wonder if she
’
d let me spend the night?
”

Chris laughs.
“
Oh you are funny.
”

Brandon finishes his soda just as Brent pulls up and honks.

  
“
Gotta go!
”
  Brandon gives her a quick kiss and whispers to her.

  
“
I love you.
”

Chris touches his lips.

  
“
I love you too.
”

Brandon starts to walk down the steps, stops and looks back at her.

  
“
Remember, I won
’
t see you tomorrow, but I
’
ll pick you up at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
”

  
“
I know. Don
’
t forget to hit me a homerun, okay?
”



   Wednesday morning lying in bed, Chris looks at the clock. Groaning to herself,
it
’
s only ten till six, and it
’
s too early to get up yet.
She took her bath last night, shaved her legs, and her underarms, and then slathered herself in baby oil. Raising her arm above her head she glides her hand across her underarm, making sure she did a good job. She decides to get up and get dressed, knowing she
’
s too nervous to just lie here. She slips on a pair of shorts and a tank top and looks in the mirror.
Hmm
…
Bra or no bra? Bra. No sense in making it too easy for him
and she smiles at her reflection.



   After making breakfast and doing up the dishes for Barb, Chris runs upstairs and runs the brush through her hair. She grabs her camera, extra film and her sunglasses, before taking another quick look at herself in the mirror. Brandon knocks on the door and before Chris can open it, Barb hands Chris the picnic basket and then holding out her hand Chris sees Barb has a condom package pinched between her thumb and finger. Chris looks at her and raises her eyebrows in a questioning manner, while thinking to herself,
“
Oh my God, she knows!
”

Barb smiles at her.
“
Just in case you might need it.
”

Chris lets out a sigh of relief, hoping Barb doesn
’
t notice. Taking the condom, Chris slips it into her front pocket and gives Barb a kiss on her cheek.

  
“
Thanks mom
”

Opening the door Brandon smiles at both of them.

  
“
You ready?
”

  
“
I think so. Thanks for making us lunch Mom.
”

  
“
No problem, you two have fun, and Brandon?
”
Brandon looks over at Barb.
“
Keep both hands on the wheel and drive careful.
”

  
“
I will and I
’
ll have her home about three.
”
Brandon takes the picnic basket from Chris and they walk to the car. Brandon opens the door for Chris and hands her the basket before going around to the other side.