Chapter Four - Fire

He got a little lost, which made him a little late... but he came.

And, he smelled real, real good.

He wore light brown cargo pants, a dark blue button-up shirt, and crispy clean Carolina blue and white tennis shoes.
His eyes were crystal clear ocean blue...
....and reminded me of home.
His hair was the fresh bionic yellow white color of a new home-spun bleach job.

Bleached hair was hot.

I answered the door, anxious to leave, knowing that my mother was not happy about this.
She knew this date was different, and she kinda liked the other guy.

My attempt to weasel in and outside the door quickly did not give me a sufficient amount of time to avoid my mother's presence and stare-down as I walked away.

But, this time, I was doing this for me.

I soon realized my friend had been right about the date.

He and I were alone in the car and were meeting another couple at a restaurant.

Definitely not a group activity.

He opened car doors and asked my opinion on music.

He had recently spent a few years serving a mission in Arcadia, California.

East L.A and Pasadena will help one to develop a taste for Hip Hop - trust me.

So, we played Biggie.

Romantic - maybe not.

Endearing...absolutely.

Nothing warms my heart like Biggie,Tupac, and a little Jay-Z ( they still do).

Honestly, between the pounding of my heart, and the infusion of adrenaline...I didn't do a whole lot of listening.
I just sat in my seat, created small talk, and attempted to reinstate blood flow to my extremities.

He was the most beautiful person I had ever been that close to.

We met the other couple at the Olive Garden, and then attempted to meet a few others for bowling.

It was Halloween, so the lanes were too crowded.

We opted to go to someones home and watch a movie.

The Waterboy.

We sat stiffly next to one another.

I placed my hand on my knee, in perfect hand-holding position.

He was a gentleman.
It didn't happen until the movie had almost ended.

He scratched my back and shivers were sent down my spine.

I let the mind begin to wander...

Is he going to ask me out again?

If he doesn't, does that mean he doesn't like me?

If he does, what does that mean?

My whole being felt magnetized to his.

It was chemistry bordering on the verge of combustion.

We walked slowly to the car.
"Hey, I'd like to see you again...soon."

The words felt like gold.

Strong, burning, golden yellow rays of summer sunshine.

"Okay."

Words are hard to find when you are on fire.