The Art of Life (19 page)

               
“Yes,
yes I am.”

               
Shaking
my head, I climb on the back of his bike.

               
 
The DMV isn’t that busy, so it doesn’t take
us
long to get to the front.
 
The lady gives me the permit test and I go to sit down.
 
Jeremy starts talking to a girl who is filling
out papers.
 
Wow, there is a
surprise.
 
The test doesn’t take me
long.
 
I have read, and reread the manual
like a hundred times, and of course, I get a perfect score.
 
I smile broadly as the lady hands me my
temps.
 
Spinning, I look at Jeremy.
 
“I did it.”

               
“That
you did,” he replies.
 
“Now, you need to
study this manual.”

               
Grabbing
the booklet, I look down at it.
 
“Oh, no, no, no!
 
NEVER!”

               
“Driving
a motorcycle isn’t so hard,” Jeremy reassures me.

               
“Are
you nuts!?” I shout.
 
“You can’t be
serious.”

               
He
takes my hand.
 
“Just keep the
manual.
 
We will tackle a motorcycle
another day.
 
We need to teach you to
drive a stick first.”

               
“Not
today,” I state.
 
“I have homework I need
to do.”

               
“That’s
alright, I have plans tonight anyway.
 
I
just wanted to make sure you got your temps.”

               
As
we walk outside, I ask, “What are your plans tonight?”

               
With
a click of his tongue, Jeremy says, “I have a date with that Vicky girl.”

               
“Wow,”
I stammer.
 
“That’s good.”
 
My chest tightens a little, but I don’t know
why.
 
I knew he had a life outside of me.
 
Of course, he has a life outside of me.
 
Just because he is my only friend, doesn’t
mean he doesn’t have others.
 
“Well, I
bet you will have fun.
 
She seemed nice.”

               
“We
shall see,” he retorts.
 
“I haven’t had a
good date in a while.
  
I just don’t seem
to click with some of these girls.”

               
We
get outside, and Jeremy gets on the bike.
 
I look at him thoughtfully.
 
“You
will find someone you click with.
 
Just
give it time.
 
It will happen someday.”

               
“I
sure hope so,” Jeremy sighs.
 
“It will be
a lonely life otherwise.”

               
All
I can think is I already have a lonely life.
 
Shaking my head, I get on the bike.
 
Jeremy drops me off at home.
 
He
smiles and says, “We will start on Thursday.”

               
“Oh,
yea,” I sarcastically draw out.

               
“Hey,
you want to get your license.
 
You do
need to learn how to drive,” Jeremy retorts.

               
Sighing,
I moan, “I know.”
 
I fasten the helmet on
his bike and say, “Have fun on your date tonight.”

               
“I
am planning on it…..hopefully.”

               
I
almost have to force my smile.
 
“She is
pretty.”

               
“That
isn’t everything though.
 
We shall see
how it goes.
 
I will pick you up here on
Thursday around 5, alright?” Jeremy says with a grin.

               
“Yeah,
yeah, yeah,” I laugh.
 
“Have a good
night.”

               
“You, too.”

               
After
I walk into the house, I take a deep breath.
 
I should not be feeling this way.
 
Why am I even feeling this way?
 
It is almost annoying.
 
It’s
Jeremy.
 
Jeremy dates.
 
I know this.
 
Maybe I am just jealous that he has a date.
 
Yeah……I think that’s it.
  
Eric did talk to me today, so that’s
something to feel good about.
 
I also got
my temps!
 
Go me!

               
The
next day, I sit in art class, trying to decide what to do.
 
My teacher comes up and asks, “Where’s your
picture Isabelle?”

               
Tapping
my head, I reply, “In here.”

               
“Well,
I would normally have a problem with someone not bringing in part of an
assignment, but I know your skill level.
 
I think you will do fine.”

               
“Can
I ask you a question?” I inquire.

               
With
a nod of his head, my teacher says, “Of course.”

               
“What
does it take to get into one of the art schools in St. Louis?”

               
A
smile spreads across his face.
 
“I was hoping
you would ask.
 
I have some brochures and
stuff for you.”

               
“You
do?” I gasp.

               
“Yeah,
you have real talent and I don’t even think you show us your best
potential.
 
Use this project.
 
Use this project to really show what you are
made of.
 
Art schools will want to see
your best works.”

               
A
little flabbergasted, I stutter, “Okay, well, I will do my best then.”

               
“What
are you going to do?” He asks.

               
“I
think I am going to do charcoal.
 
It’s my
favorite.”

               
My
teacher smirks, “That is great.”

               
“I
had better get started,” I say, getting up to get a canvas.

               
When
I sit back down, I just stare at the empty space.
 
How am I going to draw him?
 
I mean, what would be the best way?
 
I tilt my head from side to side and then
start.

               
Wednesday
and Thursday fly by.
 
I am pleased that
Eric says hi to me every time he sees me.
 
Sonya is still not in school and that makes everything easier.
  
Of course, I feel as though I care less now.

               
After
school on Thursday, I find Jeremy out front in his car.
 
A lot of guys are standing around, staring at
it.
 
Jeremy just sits in it, obviously
ignoring them, bopping his head to his music.
 
I walk up and bend over in the window.
 
“Hey stud, can I catch a ride?”

               
Jeremy
bursts out laughing.
 
“I don’t know sweet
thing, what are you offering?”

               
“Absolutely
nothing,” I say, with a smile.

               
Pretending
to think about it, Jeremy finally groans, “Fine.”

               
I
open the door and hop in.
 
Jeremy leans
over and kisses me on the cheek.
 
“Hey
toots.”

               
Taken
off guard a little, I reply, “Hi.”

               
“Are
you ready?” He asks, with a mischievous grin.

               
“I
still don’t want to do this,” I state seriously.

               
Starting
the car, Jeremy says, “Too bad.”
 

“I thought you were going
to pick me up at five.”

“Are you disappointed I
picked you up early?” He asks.

That makes me smirk, “No.”

“Good.”
 
He drives us to a large empty parking
lot.
 
“Get out!” he exclaims, with way
too much excitement.
 
I begrudgingly do
as he says.
 
We switch spots and all I do
is sit there and glare at him.
 
Jeremy just smiles even wider.
 
“Okay, so there are three pedals.
 
From the left it goes: the clutch, then the
brake and then the gas.
 
To start the
car, you need to push in the clutch and the brake.

               
“I
don’t want to do this.”

               
“Push…in…the….clutch
and brake,” He emphasizes.

               
With
a scowl, I push in the two pedals.
 
“Now what?”
I ask.

               
“Start
the car.”

               
When
I do start the car, I instantly lift my feet off the pedals and it dies.
 
“Oops,” I mutter.

               
“Okay,
I realize there is a lot of power behind this car.
 
It’s going to intimidate you at first, but
it’s
okay.
 
We are in
an empty parking lot.
 
You can just let
go of the pedals, hit the brake and the car will die, which will make it stop.”

               
“Good
to know,” I reply.

               
Gesturing,
Jeremy tells me, “Start the car again.”
 
So, I do.
 
“Now, put your hand on
the shifter.”
 
I do that, too.
 
He puts his hand on top.
 
“Okay, first, second, third and fourth.
 
You start in first,
then
shift into second and so on.”
 
I take a
deep breath and nod.
 
“Okay,” he starts
slowly.
 
“Now, we are going to take the
emergency brake off.”
 
He reaches over
and pulls the release by the side of my leg.

               
“Are
you sure you want to do that?” I squeak.

               
He
just laughs.
 
“You are going to damage my
car if I don’t.
 
Okay, now carefully take
your foot off of the brake but keep the clutch in.”
 
I do it really slowly, but I do it.
 
“Now, press on the gas.”
 
I do that, and I rev the engine, which makes
me pull my feet off the pedals again.
 
Jeremy hangs his head.
 
“Isabelle,
don’t take your foot off the clutch unless you are moving.”

               
“It’s
not that easy!” I yell.

               
Obviously
finding it humorous, Jeremy continues to laugh.
 
“Relax Izzy.
 
Just take it
easy.
 
Push in the clutch and brake and
start the car.”
 
With an angry scowl, I
do as he says.
 
“You know what, forget
it.
 
We are going to do this the easy way
so you can feel the clutch catch.
 
Press
down on the accelerator as hard as you
want
, not to
the floor and then just release the clutch.”

               
“Are
you nuts!?” I snap.

               
“Oh
just do it.
 
You can slam on the brakes
after you do if you want.
 
The brakes are
always the first option if you aren’t comfortable.
 
To actually use the brakes, you push in the
clutch and the brakes at the same time.”

               
I
roll my eyes. “Okay, to get the car to move, I push the accelerator and release
the clutch?”

               
“Yes.”

               
“Then
to brake, I push in the clutch and brake at the same time.”

               
“Yup.”