Chapter 15: Close Encounter

Well, this is just what I need. I've had my fair share of ex-boyfriends but Eddie is one of the special ones. He believed we were made for each other and that there's no greater love in his life. Don't get me wrong, I love it when my boyfriends carry me on their hands but Eddie is, well, let's just say he's a bit over the top. He would always say how we would be married and our ten children would run around in the yard while my parents would come and visit their grandchildren.

All I can say is, that sentence has a few things wrong with it. So I let him down easy after a few weeks of dating him and he never has forgiven me ever since.

"Oh no! It's Eddie! Don't people sleep in this town?"

I try and hide behind Suzie cracking herself up next to me.

"You know that town folk around these parts gets up early, especially lover boy over there"

"It's not funny. He can't see me. He'll just try to ask me-"

Just then Eddie found his way to you and Suzie.

"Hey, Suzie. Oh, didn't see you there. Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes! How are you doing Summer?"

"Oh, hey, Eddie. Did see you there"

Oh god. I start to look for a way out without him realizing I want to escape.

"If I knew you were in town, I would have come to visit your house and asked you out on a proper date"

I laugh uncomfortably and shifts around like someone with ants in their pants.

"Yeah, well. It was so good catching up with you but you know…Suzie, don't we have that thing that we need to do still?"

I try and give Suzie a signal with my eyes to save me but then I see the evil side of her rearing its head and I know what she's going to say.

"Oh, no. We can still chat with Eddie. There's no rush"

I smile while grinding my teeth and making sure Suzie knows she will pay for this.

"Are you sure, Suzie??"

"Yeah, I'm positive. Eddie, why don't you join us?"

Suzie always loved to play practical jokes on me. She will be paying for this and she knows that I'll come and collect.

"Why thank you, Suzie. I don't mind if I do"

And so the nightmare begins…

"So, Summer are you free tonight? They opened a new hang out in town and I was wondering if you would be able to join me?"

"Yeah, Summer, I also heard it's a place that you shouldn't miss out on"

Suzie likes to make things even worse but then an idea sprang to mind.

"Well, now that you both say it's such an awesome place to hang out, how can I resist. But I'll only go if you go with us, Suzie?"

I know very well that Suzie doesn't like to hang out at any place which she didn't approve of beforehand.

"I…well…you know…"

"Oh come and join us, Suzie. You said it yourself it's a place not to be missed and it'll be a ball to have you there too?"

I see the anger pushing up in Suzie and all I do is sit back and smile. Payback is a bitch.

"Well, okay then"

"Now that's the best news I've heard in a very long time. I'll pick you girls up around seven tonight?"

"I think it would be just wonderful, don't you think so, Suzie?"

"Yeah…yeah…just great"

I watch as the smile that was there mere seconds ago now has turned into a frown. I try to not burst out laughing.

"Well, enjoy the rest of your day ladies, then I'll see you tonight"

I can't believe what just happened. I look over at Suzie and see pure horror on her face.

"What were you thinking, Suzie?"

"I didn't know that it's going to backfire like that!!"

"Let this be a valuable lesson for you. Never mess with me again"

We both laugh and then it hits me. I'm going on a date tonight with the one guy I really don't want to go with. If he gets his way, he'll probably propose right there on the spot. Nevertheless, there isn't much I can do about it now. I say goodbye to Suzie and agree to meet back at her house to go on the date tonight.

I go back home and is of course met with an angry mother and sister. I should have been home already to help decorate the house for the upcoming party. The day goes by in a blur and then the time finally arrives for me to get dressed for the date. My mother and sister are luckily so consumed by the catering for the party that I could slip away.

I'm not very excited to go on this date but I would rather spend time with Eddie than with my mother and sister. I get dressed and look in the mirror. This will just have to do.

I'm just about to leave when I'm met with my father downstairs.

"Where do you think you're going?"

He doesn't look happy but then again, I've never really seen him as a happy man.

"I'm going out with Suzie"

"Oh? Did your mother approved this?"

How is it that he still thinks I'm fifteen? I'm big enough to make my own choices and go where I want to but for some reason, I feel compelled to answer him.

"Uhm, she didn't say anything about it…"

"Listen to me, young lady…"

He steps closer and puts his hand on my upper arm squeezing it a little bit.

"…if I catch you doing anything to upset your mother this holiday season, we will have a little talk. Do you hear me?"

I swallow loudly and memories start to rush back about how horrible it was living in this house and how my father never let me get away with anything. Sometimes I even got punished for something my siblings did.

"Yes, daddy"

"Good girl"

I wait for my father to walk away from the door and then run out to my car. I start the engine and I know I need to get away from here as soon as possible. I start to drive to Suzie's house and I feel the emotions of the memories with my dad starting to create tears in my eyes and soon it's a waterfall.

Suddenly I realize that I'm not looking where I'm going and a truck appears right in front of me. I swerve to the right and barely miss the truck. I stop immediately and get out of the car to see if the driver is okay. The driver in the truck also gets out and to my surprise it's Austin. I feel the immediate deep red coloring my cheeks and I know he can see my tears on my face.

"Oh god! I'm so so sorry!"

"No, no. I am sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going"

"Are you hurt anywhere? Did I hit your car? I wasn't concentrating, god, I'm so terribly sorry"

"No all in one piece, this doesn't fall easily apart. But I don't think I can say the same about you?"

"Oh, no. I'm okay, was just thinking…I mean…I'm just on my way…dammit! What I mean is, I'm glad you're okay"

"So what were you thinking while you were on your way to dammit?"

He chuckles while looking down and I lose my control over my actions. I realize that the worst possible words just came out of my mouth and how I can't possibly face Austin now. I open my mouth but I know it will only be pure nonsense. I've become a blubbering idiot in front of him. I make my way back to my car and tries to avoid the obvious embarrassment.

"Wait! Uhm…can…I mean when…When will I see you again…I mean…for fuck sakes! When will you be in town again?"

"I don't know…I can't talk now, I'm already late for the date...I'm sorry, I have to go now"

I can't believe I told him that I'm going on a date. It's not even a date. I'm a complete mess when I'm around him. What is he doing to me?