The Art of Life (73 page)

               
Smacking him on the knee, I say,
“Be right back.”
 
I jump off the bed and
dart down the hallway.
 
A minute later, I
come walking back with the stack of envelopes from the kitchen drawer.
 
“We are going to read these.”

               
“Isabelle,” Jeremy sternly
growls.
 
“I don’t want to read them.”

               
Backing up into the wall, I
declare, “Fine, then I will read them,” and with that I rip one open.
 
“Dearest Jeremy,” I start.

               
“ISABELLE!”

               
“We hope this finds you doing
well.
 
I am worried that we have not
heard from you.
 
I know it’s hard.
 
We think of her every day.”
 
Suddenly, Jeremy jumps off the bed.
 
I spin around and hold the letter against my
chest.
 
“You need to read these!” I
yell.
 
“Damn it Jeremy, listen to me!”

               
He stops dead in his
tracks.
 
“Did you just swear at me?” He
gasps.

               
“Yes,” I snap.
 
“You need to read these and either you do it
or I am going to read them out loud.”

               
Extending his hand, he moans,
“Fine.”

               
“No, promise me, you will read
them.
 
Swear on my life.”

               
“That’s not funny,” he snarls.

               
“Jeremy, I am not trying to be
funny.
 
You need to do this.
 
I am putting my foot down!” I snap.

               
Quickly, I am on the floor.
 
Jeremy is laughing and sitting on top of
me.
 
“You are putting
your
what
down?”

               
“My foot,” I reply smugly.
 
“It is down and you should be fearful.”

               
“Fear the foot.”
 
Jeremy takes a deep breath and looks into my
eyes.
 
“Fine, I promise on your life I
will read them, but only if you are in my arms as I do it.
 
I need you to do this Isabelle.”

               
At that point, I know I have to
put everything else that has ever happened aside.
 
“Okay.”
 
He extends his hand and I take it.
 
We get onto the bed and Jeremy opens his arms.
 
I crawl into them and lay my head onto his
chest.
 
I hand him the letter.

               
I feel him take a deep breath,
and then he starts, “Dearest Jeremy….”
 
We lay there and read seven letters.
 
They are all really touching.
 
I
end up crying, because I never knew that kind of love existed.
 
You can feel how much they care for him
through just their words.
 
Finally, he
sets the letter down.
 
I look at him, and
he turns to return my gaze.
 
“I miss
them.”

               
Propping myself up so we are
facing each other, I whisper, “Then contact them.
 
It’s not too late.
 
Call.
 
They would be so happy to hear from you.”

               
Jeremy brings his hand up and
pushes my hair behind me ear.
 
“You are
saving me, you know that right?”

               
“No,” I murmur, shaking my
head.
 
“I am just being your
friend.”
 

               
Suddenly, Jeremy pulls me down
and kisses me ever so gently.
 
I should
pull away, but it feels so good.
 
When we
pull apart, Jeremy says, “No, I can thank God for you.
 
You are bringing me back to life.”

               
“Call them,” I command.
 
“I will get your phone.”

               
“Okay,” he sighs in return.
 
I jump off the bed to go get it.
 
When I return, Jeremy is sitting up on the
bed.
 
“I want to do this alone.”

               
Part of me feels sad about
that.
 
“I understand.
 
Here, take your phone.
 
I will shut the door.”
 
He nods his head.
 
I give it to him and turn to leave.
 
“I am here if you need me,” I say, as I shut
the door.

               
Not sure what to do, I go and
lie down on my bed.
 
There is so much
swarming around in my head.
 
So much, I
want to scream.
 
Last night still weighs
heavy on me.
 
Having so much fun with
Eric makes it feel better, but now this whole thing, brings me down again.
 
I just want to be there as much I can for
Jeremy.

               
A long while goes by, with no
sign of Jeremy.
 
I get up and make a
sandwich.
 
I think out of nervousness.
   
Finally, I hear his door open.
 
I quickly start doing the dishes, so he
doesn’t think I was just standing here waiting.
 
When he comes around the corner, I ask quietly, “How did it go?”

               
“Good,” he replies.
 
“We are going there for Christmas.”

               
“Oh,” I squeak.
 
“Well, Eric invited me over to his place for
the holidays, so don’t feel bad.
 
I will
have someplace to go.”

               
Jeremy just laughs.
 
“Isabelle, I said WE are going there for
Christmas, as in you and I.”

               
I quickly turn around.
 
“Why are you taking me?”

               
“They want to meet you,” he
replies, opening the fridge.

               
“You told them about me?” I inquire,
totally shocked.

               
He smiles at me.
 
“Of course, if you hadn’t entered my life, I
wouldn’t have been talking to them.
 
They
think I should marry you, which I told them, the man who does get to marry you,
is going to be the luckiest man in the world.”

               
“That’s sweet,” I whisper.
 
“They know we aren’t a couple right?”

               
“Well, I tried to explain what
we are and it came out to be a mess, so I just said that you are the closest
thing I have to a significant other right now.”

               
My jaw drops open a little.
 
“What are they going to say when you find a
real girlfriend?”

               
“
Mmmm
,”
he hums.
 
“I haven’t really thought about
that.
 
We will tackle it if it
happens.
 
Let’s not rain on my parade.
 
Part of me is really happy and part of me is
really sad.
 
I miss her parents, but it
is a reminder that she is gone.
 
So, I am
not sure what to feel.”

               
“Boy, do I understand that
feeling,” I mumble to myself.

               
“What did you say?” Jeremy asks,
with a confused look.

               
Shaking my head, I reply,
“Nothing.
 
I am happy that you are at
least somewhat happy.
 
This is a good
thing.”

               
“And I have you to thank for
it,” he says, as he comes over and wraps his arms around me.
 
I clench my eyes shut.
 
My body fights flinching away.
 
I can’t help it.
 
The pain from last night is still very apparent.
 
“Will you sleep next to me tonight?
 
I need you close by.”

               
“I don’t know,” I softly retort.

               
Jeremy looks down at me.
 
“What’s wrong?”

               
No words come out of my
mouth.
 
Finally, I sigh, “Nothing,
nothing is wrong.
 
Of course I will stay
by you tonight.”

               
“Thank you,” Jeremy says,
kissing my on my head.

               
This is going to be an
interesting night.

               
The night isn’t really that
awkward.
 
It is just like falling into
place.
 
I crawl into Jeremy’s arms and we
go to sleep.
 
Maybe I can get over this,
maybe.

               
In the morning, I am scrambling
to get ready.
 
I want to look
perfect.
 
Jeremy just watches me in
amusement.
 
“What are you doing?”

               
“I want to look good,” I
state.
 
“There are going to be a lot of
pretty girls there and I want to at least be noticeable to Eric.”

               
“If he is interested, he will
notice you,” Jeremy says quietly.
 
“I
definitely notice you.”

               
Turning, I go, “
Aww
, that’s sweet.”

               
He winks at me and then
laughs.
 
“You know this is a car show
right?
 
You are going with a bunch of
guys,
to look at cars……most likely our attention will be on
the cars.
 
It’s a male thing.”

               
“Great,” I groan.
 
“Is there a point of me going?”

               
“Yes, because I want you
there.
 
I don’t care about the other two.
 
You must learn about cars.”
      

               
“Oh jeepers,” I sigh
sarcastically.
 
“Anyway, how do I
look?”
 
My eyes look down at my
outfit.
 
I have on nicely fitted pants
and empire wasted silk top.
 
“I think I
look good.”

               
Jeremy replies, “You always look
good to me.
 
So, I think you look
wonderful.”

               
“You will make a girl blush,” I
giggle.
 
“I want Eric to think I look
wonderful, too.”
 
Though my mind is more
centered on the fact that Jeremy thinks I look nice.
 
Stop it Isabelle!
 
You like Eric, Eric, not Jeremy, Eric.
 
Caring about what Jeremy thinks is stupid.
 
It will get you nowhere.

               
“You are putting a lot into
impressing Eric,” Jeremy states, just looking at me.
 
“You really like him, huh?”

               
My mouth opens, but I don’t know
what to say.
 
“I have to like someone,
right?” I finally ask.
 

               
We stand there for a minute just
staring at each other.
 
“Yeah,” Jeremy
responds quietly, “I guess you do.”
 
He
quickly looks away.
 
“If you are
preoccupied with Eric, maybe I can get a few numbers.”

               
With those words, my chest
tightens into a knot.
 
My breath is
actually caught in my throat.
 
I spin
around and squeak out, “
Yeah, that
would be good for
you.
 
You haven’t gone on a date in a
while.”
 
I pause for a second and then
say, “And you probably haven’t filled that kissing quota you always talk
about.
 
Now, I need to finish getting
ready.”
 
I walk into my room and shut the
door.
 
My knees start to give out and I
crumple to the floor.
 
“Stop it
Isabelle,” I barely whisper to myself.
 
“This is stupid.”
 

               
My mind is just racing.
 
Sighing, I decide to get up and look at the
art on my wall.
 
It has always calmed me.
 
A little while later there is a knock on the
door.
 
“Isabelle?”

               
“Yeah,” I reply.

               
“Can I come in, or are you
naked, and then can I still come in?” Jeremy says from out in the hallway.

               
Crossing my arms, I reply, “I
had clothes on to begin with, why would I be naked?”

               
“Maybe you were changing your
clothes, I don’t know.
 
I was
joking.
 
Can I come in or are you mad at
me?”

               
“I am not mad,” I sigh.
“Just needed time to myself.
 
You can come in if you want.”

               
Jeremy opens the door.
 
“What’s wrong?”

               
“Nothing,” I say, trying to put
a smile on.
 
“Just
nervous.”

               
“There is nothing to be nervous
about, just be
yourself
.”

               
I look away, “That’s what Eric
said.”

               
There is just silence as Jeremy
stares at me.
 
“What are you looking at?”

               
“A dragonfly I drew,” I
reply.
 
“I did it after an extremely bad
day at school.
 
It is such a beautiful
creation and I wanted to be like it.
 
I
wanted to be pretty, to be wanted by someone.”

               
“You are wanted…..I mean you
will be wanted.
 
You know what I
mean.
 
You are beautiful and you need to
see that,” Jeremy stutters awkwardly.

               
My eyes turn and look at
him.
 
“Are you okay?”

               
“Yeah,” he retorts, “Of course I
am.
 
It’s me.
 
When am I not okay?”

               
Shaking my head, I look at my
clock.
 
“We should go pick up Eric and
Jack.”

               
“Okay, are you driving?” Jeremy
asks.

               
“Uh, no,” I answer.
 
“That will NOT be happening.”

               
He rolls his eyes and counters,
“Come on then.”

               
We leave and I smile.
 
It is a gorgeous day.
 
I have to follow directions that Eric texted
me.
 
When we finally pull up to a nice
blue house, Eric is standing outside.
 
I
wave, as I get out of the car.
 
“Hey,” I
say, maybe a little too happily.

               
“Hello,” he replies, with a big
smile.
 
“You look very pretty today.”
             
               
Instantly,
I blush, “Thanks.”
 
I look at him and
ask, “Did you tell Jack we were coming?”

               
“Nope,” Eric laughs.
 
“He is going to freak out.
 
It will be awesome.”

               
“Here, I will get in back,” I
state, pulling the seat forward.

               
Eric grabs my arm.
 
“No, I am not going to make you get in
back.
 
If you sat in back, you would have
to deal with Jack.”

               
“Jack better not do anything
that she needs to deal with,” Jeremy says from inside the car.

               
I bend over and glare at
him.
 
“Shut up Jeremy.”
 
He just smiles in return.
 
Standing back up, I look at Eric.
 
“Sorry.”

               
“Oh!” He exclaims.
 
“I have something for you.”
 
Eric pulls out a bag of cheese poofs from his
jacket.
 
“For your addiction, since I am
your dealer and everything.”

               
“YES!” I scream.
 
“Awesome!
 
Thank you!”
 
I jump over and give
him a hug.
 
I quickly realize what I just
did and back up.
 
“Oops
sorry.”

               
“Don’t be sorry,” Eric replies,
“That was a great thank you.”

               
Smiling, I bashfully look
away.
 
“Well, we should go get Jack.”

               
“Okay.”
 
With my cheeks on fire from blushing, Eric
brushes past me and gets into the car.
 
“Hey,” I hear him say to Jeremy.

               
Jeremy replies, “I don’t think
we have been properly introduced, I am Jeremy.”

               
“Eric.”
 
He states, extending his hand out to Jeremy.

               
With a devious grin, Jeremy
shakes it.
 
“So, what is with the bag of
junk food?”

               
“Nothing,” I smugly say.
 
“It’s an inside joke.”

               
That makes Jeremy stop and look
at me.
 
“Well then,” he quips, “don’t let
me get in the way.”

               
“Shut up,” I growl under my
breath.

               
“Where does Jack live?” Jeremy
asks.

               
Eric replies,
“Over on Cleveland, right next to the hardware store.”
 
Jeremy nods and we take off down the
street.
 
It is an air of awkward silence
as we drive.
 
Finally, Eric asks, “So did
you tell Jeremy about your awesome trick shot?”

               
“
Nooo
,”
Jeremy replies.
 
“She didn’t.
 
Please elaborate.”

               
“That was great.
 
She hit the ball from the start of the first
course and made a hole in one on the next course.
 
It was great.
 
We gave her only one stroke, because it was so awesome.”

               
Looking at me out of the corner
of his eye, Jeremy smirks.
 
“That’s my
girl, always showing off.
 
You should see
the other things that she can do.”

               
“JEREMY!” I yell.
 
“That sounds horrible!
 
You tell him that was nothing dirty.”

               
“It wasn’t anything dirty,”
Jeremy laughs, “Or was it?”

               
I spin and look at Eric.
 
“He is being an
ass,
it did not mean anything dirty.”

               
With a smile, Eric replies, “He
is just trying to embarrass you.
 
I got
that.”

               
“Oh, this isn’t even me trying
yet.
 
I can really embarrass her if I
wanted to,” Jeremy snidely remarks.

               
“Do we need to go home?” I ask
hotly.

               
Jeremy reaches over and squeezes
my hand.
 
“I promise
,
I will be a good boy.”
 
He doesn’t let go
of my hand, so I have to yank it away.
 
I
see him give me a look.
 
He quickly draws
his hand away and shifts to the other side, farther away from me.
 
I sigh and shake my head.

               
When we pull up to Jack’s house,
Eric says, “I give it about ten seconds before he comes out of the house,
screaming like a little girl.”
 
That
makes us all laugh.

               
And a little bit later, Jack
comes running over to the car.
 
I get out
to meet
him.
 
“No way!
 
Eric did not
tell me that you were coming!
 
This is
freaking sweet!
 
Can I drive?”

               
Snorting, Jeremy replies, “No.
 
Isabelle can show you her mad driving skills
though.”

               
“No,” I hiss.
 
“You are driving!”

               
Jack sighs, “I would drive if I
had the chance.”

               
“Enough, I am not doing it!
 
Get in the car please, Jack,” I sigh.