Her Journey Begins (17 page)

“
Mom, quit worrying it
’
ll be okay.
”



   Sitting on the couch later that night, Barb is doing a crossword while Chris is reading a book and Brad has gone upstairs to take a shower.

“
Chris, I need a two word answer, nine letters total for
“
wet intercourse. Let
’
s see, it starts with an
“
S
”…
Wait, I got it. Shower sex, right?
”

  
“
Mom!
”
Chris says, as she playfully throws the pillow at Barb.
“
Dad
’
s in the shower, why don
’
t you go ask him? I
’
m sure he can help you with that. As for me, I
’
m going to bed.
”
Laughing Chris leans over and kisses Barb on the cheek.
“
Night mom
”



   Chris and Barb are sprawled out on the living room floor reading the Sunday funnies when Barb asks her,
“
Is Brandon coming over today?
”

  
“
I don
’
t know. Actually I don
’
t think so. He didn
’
t say anything about coming over today. I
’
m thinking he will probably spend the day with his parents.
”

  
“
Well then how about you and I go shopping and have lunch. Just spend some you and me time. What do you think?
”

  
“
Sounds good to me.
”

   Spending time with Barb shopping is one of Chris
’
favorite things to do. They don
’
t usually buy anything, they just mainly window shop and then get lunch at one of the seven kitchens there at the mall. Headed into the record store Barb grabs Chris
‘
arm and points to a sign in the window.
“
Look. They
’
re hiring.
”

  
“
Mom, is that why you brought me shopping? So I could put in applications here? And here I thought you brought me shopping, just so we could talk about shower sex
…
Besides, if I got a job here at the mall, I
’
d have to ride the bus back and forth to work. Don
’
t you think its better having me work just a couple of blocks away?
”

“
Oh Chrissy, I just worry about you working there at night by yourself.
”

“
I know you do mom, but at least let me try it out and see. Then if it doesn
’
t work out or I don
’
t feel safe, I
’
ll look for another job, okay? Now how about some lunch? I
’
m starving.
”



   Chris sees the late bell is going to ring in about two minutes and Brandon isn
’
t here yet. Glancing over at Brent with a worried look, Brent shrugs his shoulders.
“
Why are you looking at me? He
’
s your boyfriend. Besides, according to Brandon I
’
m not even supposed to be talking to you.
”

  
“
Are you two still feuding?
”

 
“
Look Chris, I don
‘
t know where he is, okay?
”

  
“
Fine Brent, But Brandon
’
s still never been this late before.
”
Chris glares at Brent as he shrugs again. Ten minutes before class is over Brandon saunters in and hands the teacher a slip from the office before sitting down. Tugging on Chris
’
hair Brandon tells her good morning beautiful, just like usual. Standing outside the door after class Chris tugs on Brandon
‘
s shirt.
“
Brandon why are you late?
”

Yawning and stretching Brandon gives Chris a sheepish grin and puts his arms around her.
“
I overslept.
”

  
“
Hmm, you overslept. I take it you went to bed too late last night.
”

  
“
Huh uh, my parents were up arguing most of the night.
”

  
“
Brandon, did you tell Brent he couldn
’
t talk to me?
”

Brandon shrugs her off.
“
Chris, run away with me today?
”

  
“
What
…
Boy you are tired, because you are talking crazy. What do you mean run away with you? Where would we go?
”

  
“
I don
’
t really mean
“
run away, run away
”
, I just mean we could skip the rest of today and head up to the mountains or down to the beach. Just get away from everyone, just for a few hours.
”

“
We can
’
t do that, besides I have to work tonight.
”

Brandon leans away from her and Chris can see he
’
s not happy with her news.
“
Oh Brandon, I know you didn
’
t want me to get the job either, but I did, and I
’
m excited about it.
”

Brandon shakes his head,
“
I
’
ve got to go.
”

  
“
Brandon
…”
He doesn
’
t turn around. With his head hung down and his hands in his pockets he walks off down the hallway.

    Chris hasn
’
t seen Brandon since he walked off this morning, not even at lunch. Walking across the student parking lot she decides she
’
ll walk home. Chris is halfway home when Brandon pulls up along side the curb.

  
“
Hey beautiful, do you want a ride?
”

Chris tosses her hair back and sticks her nose in the air.

  
“
No thank you. I
’
m walking home.
”

   
“
Oh, so you think you are too good to ride home with a ditcher, is that it?
”

Trying not to smile Chris glances over at him.

  
“
No, I just need some exercise.
”

  
“
I offered you exercise this morning, but you told me no.
”

  
“
Really, is that what you meant by
“
running
”
away with you? That we were actually going to run? Maybe next time you should clarify what you mean.
”

Laughing at her Brandon grabs his crotch.

  
“
Oh, so next time I
’
m supposed to say,
Hey baby, want some of this?
”

  
“
Oh gawd, Brandon you are sooo bad.
”

  
“
Okay, last chance, are you sure you don
’
t want a ride?
”

  
“
Positive
”

  
“
Okay, I
’
ll see you in about 15 minutes then.
”
Spinning his tires, Brandon peels out and leaves her standing there, shaking her head.



Barb is sitting on the porch swing when Brandon walks up.

  
“
Where
’
s Chris?
”

  
“
She
’
s walking home.
”

  
“
Uh oh, you two didn
’
t have a fight, did you?
”

Brandon grins at Barb.
“
No, she just decided she needed some exercise.
”

  
“
So what do you think about her starting that new job tonight?
”

Brandon wrings his hands and look down at his shoes.
“
When she sets her mind on something, there is just no changing it, is there?
”

  
“
Sorry, no, she can be quite stubborn sometimes. I take it you don
’
t like the idea of her working there either?
”

Brandon shrugs his shoulders.
“
It
’
s her choice.
”

  
“
So what do you have planned for tonight? Do you want to stay and have dinner with us?
”

  
“
Wish I could, but my parents are having company over for dinner and I have to be the good little son and be there. And I can tell you right now, I am not looking forward to it.
”

  
“
Why, don
’
t you like your parent
’
s friends?
”

  
“
It
’
s Amber
’
s family, so the answer is, no I don
’
t like my parent
’
s friends.
”

  
“
Have you told Chris?
”

  
“
Told me what?
”
Chris asks as she walks up the steps.

Barb gets up,
“
I
’
m sorry, I forgot my manners. Do you two want something to drink? I
’
ll be back out with something as soon as I check on dinner.
”
And Barb goes inside leaving them alone.

  
“
Okay, told me what?
”
Chris asks as she sits down on the porch swing.

Brandon gets up from the chair and moves over to sit next to her.

  
“
My parents are having a dinner party tonight and I
’
ve been told by my mom, that I have to stay home for it
”

  
“
Okay, so what
’
s the big deal? I have to be at work tonight anyway.
”

  
“
It
’
s Amber
’
s family that
’
s coming for dinner.
”

  
“
Is that why your parents were arguing last night?
”

  
“
No, I have no idea why they were arguing. I just know my mom was jumping all over my dad for something. I cranked up my stereo and put the pillow over my head. I think I finally fell asleep about 2 a.m. this morning.
”

  
“
So where did you go after you left me this morning?
”

  
“
Nowhere really, I just drove around. I couldn
’
t go to the cabin, because my mom said she was going up there this morning. Don
’
t even ask, I have no idea why.
”

Chris puts her arms around his neck.
“
I
’
m sorry I didn
’
t go with you this morning.
”

Brandon smiles and slides his hand up her thigh.
“
Now you are regretting it, aren
’
t you? I could have shown you a good time.
”