Eden (13 page)

“And I want to be with you,” I replied.

“Even if you do get all old and wrinkly,” she giggled against my lips.

“I’d be the talk of the town,” I agreed when we finished our kiss.

“Why’s that?” she asked with a smile on her face.

“When I’m seventy, you’ll look about what…,” I quickly did the math in my head, “…in your mid to late twenties.”

“You’ll be like Hugh Heffner,” she giggled again, holding her hand over her mouth.

“Would you still want me?” I asked in all seriousness.

“I’ll always want you Thomas,” she assured me.

Suddenly I felt a rush of sadness overtake me, not sadness for myself, but for Eden. It would kill me if anything ever took her away from me, I wouldn’t know how to go on living, but for her that reality was inevitable. At most, I would have only a handful of decades to spend with her; just a few years to her and then she would be doomed to spend the next few centuries alone. I wouldn’t be able to handle that much time without her; how will she do it?

Eden seemed to detect the sadness that filled me, “What’s the matter?” she asked with concern in her eyes.

“Nothing,” I lied.

Glancing at my watch I noticed that it was almost time for lunch to end and Eden and I started to clean up. As we threw away our garbage, a thought occurred to me.

“I don’t need to duel your fiancé for your hand in marriage, do I?” I asked trying to lighten the mood.

“No, why?” she laughed.

“No reason,” I replied, “I’m just not sure what traditions your family follows since they were probably born in the seventeenth century.”

Eden playfully punched me in the arm again.

“Ow,” I complained, “quit it, that hurts.”

“Two for flinching,” she cried and pulled her fist back for another strike.

I took my cue and ran for the school building just as the bell rang with Eden giggling behind me.

14

The rest of the afternoon passed in much the same way. It was great that things were back to normal; well as normal as it could get being in love with a beautiful immortal.

“Do you want to come by tonight for dinner?” Eden asked me as I made my way to my locker after school.

“Sure, what are you making?” I asked.

“Whatever you want,” she said, “I can stop off at the supermarket.”

“Will the taxi mind waiting while you shop?” I asked.

Eden laughed, “I don’t need to take taxis,” she admitted, “I mean, you’ve seen how fast I can run.”

It was true, Eden could run at amazing speeds, it explained that one morning a few days back when I saw her on the street corner on my way to school.

“I suppose you’re not claustrophobic either,” I said narrowing my eyes.

“No, I’m not,” she said looking down, ashamed.

“Don’t feel bad,” I said, placing my hand under her chin and looking her in the eyes, “I understand why you weren’t totally honest with me before.”

“I promise I will be for now on,” she told me, her eyes pleading.

“Steak and mashed potatoes,” I said in the same tender voice.

“What?” she asked in confusion.

“You asked me what I wanted for dinner tonight,” I told her with a smile.

“Oh,” she said narrowing her eyes, “Way to ruin the mood, Atwell.”

“What mood?” I asked, “We’re standing in the middle of the school hallway, save the mood for tonight when we are alone.”

“Sure thing,” she laughed, leaning up to kiss me goodbye.

Closing my eyes, I gave myself into the passion of our kiss. By the time that I opened my eyes again, she was gone.

“What are you smiling like a moron about?” Drake asked me as I took my seat beside my friends on the school bus.

“Nothing,” I replied, I hadn’t even realized that I was smiling.

“Well, stop it,” Drake continued, “It makes you look like Howie.”

“That’s low,” Kyle muttered from the seat behind us, “Even you have to set some boundaries, man.”

“What are you doing tonight, Tom?” Matt asked from beside Kyle, “We’re going to play games at Kyle’s again.”

“I’m going over to Eden’s tonight,” I admitted.

“Gonna get some?” Drake asked in a leering tone.

“Shut up,” I said, punching him in the arm, “She’s making me dinner.”

“Ooh,” Drake gasped, “but what’s important is what she’ll give you for dessert.”

“You’re a dick,” I replied irritated.

Drake just laughed at my comment. The rest of the bus ride passed uneventfully. I was restless to get home; the sooner I got home, the sooner I got to be with Eden again.

The bus slowed to a stop at our bus stop and the four of us stood up from our seats and made our way to the front of the bus.

“Yo, Howie, wish our man, Thomas here some luck for tonight,” Drake told the bus driver.

“Luck for what?” Howie wondered, his wide eyes looking at me.

“Thomas has got a date with this hot Asian chick from school,” he told him, “She’s cooking dinner for him and everything.” Somehow Drake made the word ‘everything’ sound dirty.

“An Asian girl?” Howie asked.

“Yeah,” Drake confirmed, “Why, you have a thing for Asian girls, too?”

Howie seemed to blush at Drake’s statement.

“N-no,” Howie replied, lowering his gaze to the floor.

Drake laughed as we got off the bus. I said good-bye to my friends as I walked toward my house. I waited until I turned the corner and was out of their sight before I broke into a run. I couldn’t wait to get home.

“Mom!” I called as I raced into my house.

“What’s wrong?” she asked from the kitchen.

“Eden is cooking dinner for me tonight,” I informed her, “I’m going to her house.”

“Just be sure to be back by nine,” she reminded me.

“I will,” I promised heading back out.

I made my way over to Eden’s with my backpack; we were planning on doing our homework together while the food was cooking. Eden was an awesome cook; something had to be said for the years of experience her long lifespan had granted her.

I knocked on her front door and she immediately answered the door; it was almost like she had been waiting right on the other side, but then I recalled the speed at which she could move.

“Hi, Thomas,” she said with a smile, its beauty still had the power to stop my heart.

“Hi yourself,” I replied, feeling my cheeks flush.

Why did I insist on acting like a child in front of her? My inexperience would normally be enough to turn a normal sixteen year old girl off; I could only imagine the effect it was having on a two hundred year old – sixteen year old girl.

“You are so adorable,” she said, taking my hand and kissing me lightly.

Her kisses were so soft and warm; I just closed my eyes and wished that they would never end. All too soon, Eden pulled away and led me into the kitchen.

“I was just starting dinner,” she informed me, leading me over to the island, “Sit here and start your homework, I’ll copy off you once I finish cooking,” she added with a mischievous grin.

I unpacked my backpack and opened my book to begin our first assignment, one eye on my work, one on Eden. Even cooking, she moved with an uncanny grace, almost as if she was dancing while she prepared our food.

Suddenly she was right behind me, her breath warm on my neck.

“Keep your eyes on your work, buddy,” she whispered in my ear, “There’ll be time for that later.” And then, magically, she was back at the stove, setting the flame levels on the burners as if she had never left them.

I went back to the books, trying my best to keep my attention focused on my homework while Eden started cooking dinner. I was almost finished when she appeared at my side again.

“That should do it for now,” she said smiling over my shoulder, “how are you doing?” She nodded her head towards the homework spread out on the table.

“Almost done,” I told her, “by the way, where’s the steak?” I asked realizing that I hadn’t seen her put the steak in the oven or on the stove top.

“You don’t cook steaks inside, silly,” she said in a voice suggesting that I should have known better.

“Then where do you cook them then?” I asked.

“On a grill, outside,” she shook her head in disappointment that she needed to point this out to me.

I was about to say something to her when I noticed that she was gone. I barely had time to register that fact when she suddenly reappeared beside me, her wake ruffling the papers on the counter.

“I just had to turn the steaks over,” she explained, noticing my reaction.

“You’re going to take some getting used to,” I told her with a smile.

“I hope I’m worth the effort,” she said to me, looking down at me shyly.

“You are more than worth it,” I assured her, pulling her onto my lap and kissing her passionately.

“I’ve got to finish cooking,” she said finally breaking our kiss, “How’s the homework coming?”

“I’m almost finished,” I replied proudly.

“Good,” she said, “I’ll copy it after dinner.”

“I wouldn’t want to cheat you of an education,” I pointed out.

“Thomas,” she said glaring at me, “I’m almost two hundred, I’ve already learned all of this before, countless times.”

“You’ve been to high school before?” I asked in surprise.

“Well, no,” she admitted, “but I was homeschooled for the most part.”

“How did you even get into school?” I asked her, “It’s not like you can show your birth certificate.”

“My parents are international business people,” she recited as if from a script, “I spent my most of my life in China. Let them try to find the school records there. I have a passport because my family travels a lot.”

“They just let you into school with a passport and your word that you attended school in China?” I was surprised at how easy that sounded.

“Yes,” she assured me, “well that and a nice sized donation.”

“Wow,” I said marveling at the amount of money Eden must have, “I’ve always wanted a Next-Box.”

“Silly,” she laughed suddenly appearing in my lap, “Why would you want a video game when you’ve got me?”

“You have a point,” I admitted kissing her again.

“The steak should be done by now,” she told me getting back to her feet, “I’ll be back in a flash.”

Eden left the kitchen to attend to the grill on the back patio. I sat thinking about everything that had happened to me so far this week; it was impossible to believe; my girlfriend was beautiful beyond compare, immortal, super powerful
and
rich. Before I could contemplate my good luck any further, Eden was back inside with two nice sized juicy steaks. The smell was mouth watering, I couldn’t wait to eat.

Seeing my reaction, Eden smiled, “Sit down, I’ll serve everything in a minute.”

“It smells awesome,” I exclaimed in amazement.

Eden placed a large plate before me; the steak, mashed potatoes and green beans all fighting for room. I could barely contain myself.

“This is the best meal I’ve ever had,” I confessed, almost crying with happiness.

“I’m glad you like how it looks,” she laughed, “but how about you eat some of it before you give your ruling?”

I picked up my fork and steak knife and dug in. The knife cut through the thick steak like butter. Lifting the food to my mouth, I could see the juices and spices it had been cooked in, drip onto the plate. Taking my first bite, my heart seemed to stop. The taste was beyond anything I had ever eaten before.

The mashed potatoes were made from real potatoes, not instant. I couldn’t believe that Eden had been able to prepare this in so short a time. I regretted that I hadn’t paid any attention while she had been cooking, next time I will have to watch. I’m sure that I had missed quite a show.

“This is unbelievable,” I breathed after I was finished chewing.

Eden laughed, “Thanks.”

My heart almost broke when I finished. That had truly been the greatest meal in the history of food. I sighed in contentment as I carried my plate to the sink. My sadness was short lived because in a movement so fluid that I almost missed it, Eden was up from her chair and into my arms.

“Can we go to the mall tonight?” she asked seductively.

“Sure,” I agreed quickly.

I would have agreed to anything after a wonderful meal like that.

“Then let’s go,” Eden declared, jumping from my lap.

The thought of walking the mall hand in hand with the most beautiful girl in town was overwhelming. I only hoped that I could somehow get her into Game Shop; Brian would lose his freaking mind.

Grabbing my jacket, I escorted Eden to the front door.

“Aren’t you going to grab a jacket or something?” I asked, seeing the thin top that she was clothed in.

“Why?” she asked amused.

“Because it’s a little chilly tonight,” I explained pulling on the front of my light jacket to emphasize its existence.

“I don’t get cold,” she stated flatly.

“But you do want to appear normal, correct?” I asked her.

“I get your point,” she sighed, “I’ll be right back.”

Before I could blink, Eden had disappeared, only to reappear a few seconds later clothed in a fashionable light pink windbreaker.

I wasn’t even fazed by her lightning speed anymore. How long until Eden’s abilities seemed absolutely normal to me?

“Shall we?” I asked extending my arm.

“Let us be off, kind gentleman,” she joked sliding her arm through the crook in mine and we made our way down her front walk.