Red Sun (10 page)

             
I made a face like I was thinking about what he’d said.  “Mmmm….I wouldn’t be too quick to get comfortable, but you’re definitely not number one on my list of people to assassinate anymore.  So, that would put you somewhere in between being my mortal enemy and my archrival.  Believe me, that’s a step up from where you were.”

             
He nodded.  “I can work with that.”

             
All joking aside, there was something serious I needed to say to him.  “But, I owe you an apology for Saturday.  I’m usually not that catty, but what can I say?  You bring out the worst in me.”

             
One side of his mouth turned up.  “No problem, as long as we’re cool now.  You had every right to be upset.  I’ve been a bit of a jerk I suppose.”

             
“You suppose?”

             
He found that funny.  “I know, I know.  But that’s behind us.  We’re starting over, right?”

             
“Right.  So what can I do for you?”  I asked, more like myself with him than I’d ever been.  This was the first time that his presence didn’t make me uptight and awkward.

             
“Keeping it simple today.  Just a couple pairs of work gloves,” he replied.

             
I nodded.  “That I can do.”  I reached into the box beneath the counter where they were stored and slid them across the counter.

             
“$11.76.”  I paused.  “And I did remember your discount this time.”

             
He smiled.  “And I trust you this time.”

             
We exchanged cash and I passed him his bag.  He closed his eyes tightly like something had just come back to his remembrance.  “That’s what I was going to tell you Monday when you hid from me.”  I looked away, embarrassed, but he ignored me and continued.  “Friday, we’re having a get together.  You should come by and hang out a while.  We were supposed to keep it small, but I’m sure Elan won’t mind one more name on the guest list.”

             
Hearing Elan’s name made me blush a little.  “Sure, I’d love to.”  Would this be a good time to tell him that my name is already on said guest list?

             
“You need a ride or anything?”  He asked.  “I could swing by and pick you up.”

             
I looked down at the cash register.  “Um…actually, no.  I’m good, but thanks.”

             
“No problem,” he replied.  I couldn’t even look him in the eye. “You still remember how to get there, right?”

             
For some reason, I was having trouble just spitting it out, but I had to.  It would come across to Jolon like I had something to hide if I pulled up with his brother without having told him that this was my mode of transportation. I cleared my throat. “Well, Elan came in and invited me Tuesday.  So…..he already offered to pick me up here at seven.”

             
Shock crossed Jolon’s face.  “Oh…..it sounds like you’ve got it all worked out then.  I guess I’ll just see you there.”

             
“Yeah, guess so.”  There was a strange silence between us.  “Do you want me to bring drinks or snacks or anything?”  I asked, hoping to break the tension that I suddenly felt in the room.

             
“No, we’ve already got all that covered.  Just bring yourself,” he replied.

             
He turned to walk away and I stopped him.  “Is it ok if I bring a friend?”

             
He seemed distracted so he didn’t respond immediately.  “Sure, yeah.  That’s fine.”  He continued on to the car and disappeared down the road. 

             
I was right; clearing the air between me and Jolon helped me breathe so much easier.  There was no reason to dread coming to work anymore because there was no longer a dark cloud hovering over Ruthann’s.  All was well again.  Now, all that was left to do was get my mind right for Friday.  Hopefully, I’d be able to tell where Elan was coming from and I’d know what box to put him in.  Not only that, it was nice to know that I wouldn’t have Jolon treating me funny while I was at their house.  After making amends, I could definitely see the possibility of us eventually getting along.  While I was sure that we’d squashed the drama between us, there was still something lingering in the air and I had no clue what it was.

             
First thing when I got home, I hurried to call Kaya and ask her to tag along Friday night so I wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable there among mostly strangers.  When she answered I already knew something was wrong.

             
“What’s the matter?”  I asked, instead of saying hello.

             
She breathed into the phone.  “I was just about to call you, but I wasn’t sure if you’d made it home yet.  There’s been a slight change of plans.  My sister just mailed me a plane ticket to come out and visit her in Texas.  Now guess when I’m supposed to leave?”

             
“When?”

             
“Let’s try tomorrow night.  Who does that?”  She sighed again.  “Apparently my parents knew all about it and thought it’d be a nice surprise or something.  I don’t know.  I’d rather just stay here.”

             
Forgive me if this sounds selfish, but Kaya’s unhappiness with the plans that had been made behind her back, were no match to how disappointed I was that she wouldn’t be there to support me.

             
“Anyway, what were you up to?”  She asked.

             
“Well nothing now.  I wanted you to go somewhere with me tomorrow, but obviously you won’t be here.  I guess we’ll have to push our Saturday plans back too until you get home.” I paused.  “When’ll that be anyway?”             

             
Through clenched teeth she replied, “Two friggin’ weeks.”

             
I laughed a little.  “Why’s this trip such a bad thing?  I mean, you’ll have a whole two weeks off work and you’ll get to spend time with your sister.”

             
“I can give you two good reasons.  I like work, but my sister?  Mmmmm…..not so much.”

             
I shook my head at her response.  “Well at least it’ll only be for two weeks, right?”

             
She sighed.  “Yeah, I guess.  And when I get back we’ll have a sleepover since we have to cancel our plans this week.”

             
I smiled.  “That’ll work.  Talk to you then.”

             
It would appear that I’m on my own now for Friday.  I seriously thought about just letting Elan know that I wouldn’t be able to make it because the pressure was starting to feel like too much for me to handle.  But, then I remembered his smile, those dimples, and the way he licked his lips when he knew I was watching.  That was enough to make it definite that I had to go.  Don’t judge me, you would’ve done the same thing.

Chapter Four

              Braids up or down?  I stared at myself in the mirror wishing I had more time to get myself together, but Elan said he’d be here when the store closed at seven and it was already two minutes after.  It was less than ideal to freshen up and change clothes in the cramped bathroom at the back of the shop, but I didn’t have much of a choice. 

             
My hands were shaky as I did my best to put on my eyeliner.  It was all Elan’s fault.  Every time he came to mind throughout the day, I got jittery thinking about being around him.  Was I supposed to be laid back and treat him like I treat Tarik or was he looking at me in the same light I was starting to see him in?  Not knowing this small tidbit of information was driving me crazy.  After all, Jolon invited me over too and we’re barely acquaintances at this point.  So, the fact that Elan had asked me over meant little to nothing. 

             
The sound of the door chime made my stomach drop and my face start to sweat.  It had to be him.  I quickly gathered all of my things and shoved them in a bag that I’d retrieve when I came in the next morning.  One last time, I glanced in the mirror and then went up to the front to meet him.  When I walked in, Ruthann was grinning at me like a proud parent watching their child leave for prom.  I smiled and gave her a quick hug goodbye before going around to the other side of the counter to speak to Elan. 

             
This may not make much sense, but he made my thoughts so clear and yet so foggy all at the same time.  On the one hand, I knew that I was definitely interested in him as more than just friends.  But on the other hand, I wasn’t sure what was really going on.  Seeing him made me feel faint as I drew in shallow breaths of air and stared at him.  When our eyes met, he was already wearing a smile and I was drawn to him just like before. 

             
“Ready?”  He asked.             

             
“Yeah,” I replied just after taking a deep breath. Before leaving, I turned to Ruthann for reassurance and found her watching us walk toward the door. 

             
“Have fun,” she mouthed silently.  My only response was the worried, nervous look that I had on my face and a timid wave. 

             
Elan and I stepped outside and it didn’t surprise me that the night was sticky and hot just like the day had been.  I looked up at the hazy sky as we walked to the car and I tried to calm down, reminding myself that going to this party was no big deal and there were no expectations on Elan’s part.  Because things between us were undefined at this point, I didn’t have to act any particular way around him.

             
Without turning to look, I could feel him watching me.  My gaze dropped to the ground and I smiled shyly.  The feel of his hand on the small of my back as he lead me to the truck made me gasp silently and my body went rigid for a second.

             
“I’m glad you’re coming tonight.  It’ll be fun,” he assured me.

             
I nodded and then looked up at his face – still a deep, rich red even with the absence of sunlight.  His skin looked so smooth that I wanted to touch it.  Of course I was way too scared for anything like that, despite the fact that he obviously wasn’t afraid to touch
me
. 

             
Elan opened the door to his truck and offered his hand to help me in.  I looked down at it and then met his gaze once more just as a breeze blew between us.  A chill ran down my back.  I smiled and looked back down at his hand.

             
“I won’t bite,” Elan promised.

             
He raised his eyebrows and gave a half smile.   I shook my head and laughed a little when I placed my hand in his, feeling him check me out as I climbed up.  He closed the door and then came around to his side.  When he sat beside me, he started the engine and pulled out into the street. 

             
The radio was turned down low enough that I couldn’t make out what song was on, but I could still hear the melody a little.  I almost wished Elan would turn it up so I wouldn’t feel obligated to strike up conversation.  It wasn’t that I didn’t
want
to talk; I just didn’t know what to say.  Do I ask random questions about his life or would he think I was being too nosey?  Do I try to get him to give me clues about why he invited me?  There were so many things to inquire about and yet I lacked the nerve to address any of it.

             
I’d just decided to keep my mouth shut until we made it to the house when Elan blurted, “So, what’s the deal with you and my brother?  Why so much animosity?” 

             
He’d caught me off guard.  “Mmmm…not sure really.  It was one of those hate at first sight kind of deals I guess.” 

             
He smiled and nodded as he continued to watch the road.

             
“But we actually talked it out yesterday.  We’re far from being friends, but we’re in a better place.”

             
“That’s cool.”  He smiled to himself.  “I didn’t know what to think that day you showed up at the house.  For a second, I thought there might be something between you and him, but I should’ve known better.”

             
His statement made me curious.  “Why should you have known better?”  I asked, glancing at him from the corner of my eye.

             
Elan shrugged.  “Just because he doesn’t really let anybody in like that.  You know….he doesn’t open himself up to people; hasn’t for a while now.”

             
“Let anybody in?”  I inquired.

             
“Yeah, you know, like make new friends, date, stuff like that.”

             
I wanted to know why.  Why does Jolon close himself off from the world and make it his business to run people off? 

             
“He’s just been like that lately?”

             
Elan nodded.  “Yeah, he’s…”  He thought of how to word it.  “He’s kind of a hermit.”

             
He was speaking in code just like Ruthann had and I really wanted more answers than I was getting.  There was way more to it than Jolon just suddenly shutting down, but it didn’t seem like anyone wanted to talk about it.  Feeling like the subject matter was now closed; I sat there silently the rest of the way.

             
When we pulled into his driveway, there were about nine or ten cars parked on the grass and in the street.  I started feeling uneasy again.  What if they treated me funny?  What if I felt like an outcast the entire night?  What if Jolon was still acting strangely?  I began to think that this was a bad idea, but when Elan came around to let me out, I had to step out and pretend like nothing was wrong.  Self-consciously, I adjusted my shorts and shirt to make sure everything was straight. 

             
I followed behind Elan and kept my eyes on the grass beneath my feet to avoid eye contact with any of his friends.  I’m sure they were all wondering who I was and what I was doing there with him.  My biggest fear was that someone would say something ignorant and embarrass me in front of him and Jolon.  To me, it wasn’t such a farfetched idea.

             
Instead of heading for the front door, Elan veered to the left where a huge fire blazed and I could see smoke rising up from the grill.  For some reason, my mind never made the connection that this was going to be an outdoor event.  There’s a possibility that if I had, that would’ve been enough to make me back out. 

             
Elan looked over at me as we approached the loud group seated in lawn chairs and on crates around the fire.  Coolers filled with ice and drinks were situated near the outside wall of the house and it was clear that almost all of the guests had already started drinking.  I watched them from afar off and just observed.  Of all the guests, there were only two other girls there besides me.  Both wore their hair cut to about the shoulder and were just as beautiful as Kaya.  They were separated from the group a little, sitting off to the side a few feet, talking and laughing to themselves. 

             
Not far from where they sat, a group of guys with loud booming voices were wrestling and tossing one another to the ground like rags.  Some were just as tall as Elan and Jolon, but none matched their attractiveness.  As I stood there watching, things got a little out of hand and one of the guys got tossed in my direction and just about rolled right into me.  Just in time, Elan pulled me to him and out of harm’s way. 

             
“Sorry,” the guy stated breathlessly, and then hopped to his feet to run back to get revenge.  It was strange with Elan holding me, but I think I was the only one who was uncomfortable with it.  I had long sense been safe, yet and still his arm was around my waist, holding me at his side.  When I looked down, he followed my gaze and let go, stepping back about a foot.

             
“You alright?”  He asked.

             
I nodded and ran my fingers through my braids.  “Yeah, he didn’t even touch me.”  I paused and looked up at him.  “Thanks.”

             
He nodded and replied, “No problem.”  In my mind, I recalled the strength I felt in his arms while they were wrapped around me and I fought back a smile.

             
I looked away and immediately saw Jolon’s large frame crossing the yard, carrying a huge pan to the grill.  He hadn’t seen me yet and I honestly wanted to avoid him for a while until I got settled.  Elan pointed me in the direction of two worn, yellow lawn chairs and waited for me to sit before he took a seat. 

             
It didn’t go unnoticed that he was being unsociable with the others to make sure I felt comfortable.  He’d only nodded to acknowledge most of the guests since I’d been there, but otherwise, he’d been focused on me. It was almost like no one else was around and that earned him a few extra points.  The more he clung to me the more this was beginning to feel like a date.  If I’d been invited as a regular guest, he would’ve left me to mingle by now; walking me to my seat and keeping me company wouldn’t have been necessary.

             
I looked into his eyes when I heard him getting ready to speak.  “Tell me something about you that I don’t know,” Elan blurted, nudging me with his arm lightly and then looking out toward the trees, waiting for me to respond.

             
I nudged him back playfully.  “Like what?”

             
He shrugged.  “I don’t know.  Surprise me.”

             
I gave it some thought.  “Why don’t we do this?  I’ll ask you a question and then you can ask me one.  We’ll take turns.”

             
Elan smiled.  “Fine.  You start though.”

             
“Fine.  Here I go.”  I looked around while I came up with something.  “How long have you and Jolon been in business?”

             
Without taking any time to count, he replied, “Three years.  My dad started the company back in 95’ and when he moved, he left it to me and Jo.”

             
I nodded.  “Ok, your turn.”

             
He smiled slyly and then looked at me again. “You single?”

             
I leaned my head to the side.  “I am.  Are you?”             

             
“Yup,” he replied.  I held back a smile and cleared my throat instead.

             
“How long ago were you in a relationship?”  I asked.

             
Elan smiled.  “That’s two in a row for you.  You asked me the same question I asked you, remember?  My turn.”

             
The smile broke free and I didn’t fight it this time.  “Actually, sir, that should just be considered a follow-up not a completely new question.”

             
He shook his head.  “Nope, it counted. My turn.  How long ago were you in a relationship?”

             
With the back of my hand, I hit him softly on the shoulder.  “Way to steal my question,” I joked.  “December.”

             
“How long were you with him?”

             
I put my hand up to stifle him.  “Uh, no.  That’s two in a row.  That’s not allowed, remember?”

             
His dimples made another guest appearance when he smiled.  “You’re right.  You’re right.  Proceed,” he insisted.

             
“Thank you.  Now answer the question I asked you before.”

             
“Uhhhh…….How long has it been since I was involved with someone, right?”

             
I nodded.

             
He blew all the air from his lungs and looked up at the sky.  “We broke up around September or October.  Irreconcilable differences,” he added with a smile.

             
“That’s such a cop out,” I replied, rolling my eyes.