Andrea and the 5-Day Challenge (14 page)

His gaze shot back to my face as if waiting to hear me actually offering to go somewhere with him.

Like a fool I kept going. “I guess I could stay out a little longer before going home if you'd like to go.”

“All right.” He nodded his head. “Wait here a second. Let me run inside and tell Dion I'm leaving.”

With Luke gone, I started to really think about what I'd done. I'd just asked him to go have coffee with me. Was I ready for this? What if he asked me to homecoming again? For the third time! No, he had to have too much pride. I mean, what kind of guy asks a girl out numerous times to the same event? A stalker perhaps…or maybe the RIGHT guy.

No, tonight was just about having some fun—a diversion before the big recital. Nothing more than that. It wasn't a date. It wasn't an opening to further homecoming discussion.

Despite that, my parents would so hate it, especially with so much on the line with my recital. Any second it would hit nine-thirty. I was expected home in exactly sixty minutes, and my parents didn't know Luke, and without that they would never allow me to go out with him even for a simple cup of coffee around the corner. Guilt squirmed in the pit of my stomach.

Luke returned, and I started to have second thoughts. I may not like my parents' rules, but I had to respect them and I knew Luke wouldn't want me to break their trust. “Luke, I…I…”

We were interrupted by Luke's cell phone. He looked at who was calling. “It's my mom. I better get it. She worries.” He smiled, and then answered it. “Hey, Mom…yeah, I'll be home soon…I'm sorry Dad called you, but…It's OK, Mom, I'll take care of it…all right. See you later.” He hung up, but his whole demeanor had changed. It was as if he carried the world on his back. I could see things were tough for him with his parents still fighting.

“Um, don't worry about going for coffee. If you need to get home, I totally understand. I should probably…”

“No, I really would like to get some coffee with you.”

I could tell that Luke needed a friend at this precise moment and so I nodded.

We jumped into his car, which I hadn't noticed before because it was parked next door behind a big white truck. The same held true with Josh's vehicle. Then we drove one and a half miles to the Coffee Cup.

As we walked side by side to the front door, my hand bumped into his (perhaps not accidentally on my part), and all of a sudden I felt the gentle warmth of his fingers wrapped around mine. My heart revved up. I do believe spending time around Luke Ryan might turn out to be detrimental to my health. In fact, if I didn't watch out, I might have heart failure before even reaching adulthood. And I really thought I was in good shape because I do a lot of swimming and running, but nothing had prepared my heart for this kind of a workout.

Walking beside Luke made me realize the world was bigger than my silly problems, like piano concerts and switching schools. Luke had serious things going on in his life. Divorce and all that. Yet, when he squeezed my hand, it made me start to think. For a second, I hallucinated that perhaps for just one night I could pretend we were together, that he cared about me more than any other, that I wasn't possibly leaving Aubrey and my parents would accept him with open arms.

If only I could make this night last forever because waking up tomorrow morning and realizing none of this could possibly be real would be a total damper on my spirits.

Luke and I ordered coffee and took a seat at a secluded table.

College kids and a couple other teens were scattered throughout the shop with a few older adults near the counter.

One girl was going on and on about how we only had twenty more years to live before natural disaster would destroy everything due to our misuse of the earth's resources. She should get together with Angie. They obviously adhered to the same branch of conspiracy.

I set my extra chocolate-y, mocha whipped cream concoction on the table and pulled out a chair.

Luke was smiling at me. “That's a refined palate you have there.” He grinned.

Yes, I suppose the whipped cream was piled awfully high and the chocolate filled the entire bottom of the cup, but he had no idea how yummy it was.

“I mean, if you didn't want coffee, you could have ordered something else.” He continued to tease me with a cute smile on his face.

We both sat and quite easily started talking. It wasn't like this afternoon when we didn't know what to talk about and topics seemed to fizzle one by one. It was just comfortable. We flowed from one subject to another and eventually even re-approached his college plans.

“So, where do you want to go to school next year—seriously, now?” I asked him. “No clown colleges, I assume.”

We both couldn't help but laugh at that.

“Seriously? I've applied to a lot of places. Schools my dad doesn't even know about. A few out West and here on the East Coast. I even applied to a couple Christian colleges. My mom said to go for it and apply all over—that there is more than UCLA in my future. So I did.”

“It's nice she's supportive of you.”

“Yes and no. It's just another splinter between my parents, and they don't need any help in that department.” He looked away, but I spotted pain in his brown eyes before he broke eye contact.

I don't know what took over me, but I just needed to console him, so I covered his hand with mine on the tabletop. “I'm sure you don't like getting in between them.”

He flipped my hand over and clutched it. “Yeah, and yet I always seem to have to choose between them. It's been better the last couple months since we moved because Dad has been out of the picture. Mom and I have been much happier. I hate to say it, but it's true.”

I didn't know what to say to him. The break-up of his parents' marriage had obviously messed with his head a little bit. Amy would probably have had the exact words to say because, well, she just usually did, but also because she, too, comes from a broken home. I shuddered inside, hoping my parents would never split up. I mean, who would I choose? Besides, I just couldn't imagine them not together. They did everything together and even though they bantered about many subjects, I knew that was just them. It's probably what brought them together in the first place.

“Well, I'm sure you'll get into a great school.” I tried to sound reassuring as I slid my hand back into my lap. “It's the only thing my dad seems to think about these days, too. And I still have another year.”

“And what do your parents have planned for you?”

“Oh, you know, Julliard, of course.” I rolled my head to the side in a playful gesture.

“Wow, you really must be good with the fingers, then.”

“Maybe. We'll see. If my dad would just relax, then maybe I could see the point.”

“I'm sure he just wants the best for you.”

“So he says. Sometimes I just wished I had a sibling so all their attention would not be focused on me. I'm sure you know what I mean being an only child, too.”

“Oh, um, I'm not an only child. I have a…a sister.” His gaze didn't meet mine and that seemed strange.

“You do? What's her name? Did she stay in California with your Dad?” My curiosity was getting the best of me as I pitched questions at him.

He glanced at me for a split second, and then raised his cup for another drink. “Yeah, she's still in California. My older sister, Monica.” He spoke her name low and soft.

Obviously, he was holding something back—something he wasn't quite ready to share with me. At any rate, I'd had enough of the serious mood of our conversation. Anything was better than talking about undetermined futures.

“I bet you miss California.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Like what?” I asked. “Friends?”

“Sometimes. And being able to do stuff like go to the mountains and the beach in the same day.”

“Could you really?”

He nodded at me.

“That's really cool.”

“Where I lived in California the beach was a part of life. If you didn't have anything to do, you just hung out at the beach.”

“You mean unlike here where you have to plan a weeklong vacation.”

“Exactly.” He sipped at his coffee. “And what's with a barbeque versus a cookout?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, in California a barbeque is cooking out on a grill and using a red barbeque sauce.”

“That's a cookout here. And barbeque is the way you prepare the meat and using a vinegary sauce.”

“Yeah, that's weird.”

“Weird?” My eyebrows pulled upwards.

“Yeah, weird like red hot dogs.” He grinned.

“Don't tell me you like those icky brown ones.”

We both smiled.

We talked for another fifteen minutes, with Luke filling me in on life in Cali and the friends and church he left behind, his youth group and the mission trips they'd taken to Mexico. The odd thing about it was that he didn't seem all that upset about moving here. As if he'd been looking forward to the change.

I asked where he'd been going to church since he moved.

“My mom and I are trying different places, but nothing seems right so far.”

“Well, come visit our church.”

“I'll ask my mom.”

Luke placed his empty coffee mug on the table. While watching his smile set into place, I realized I'd love to just stare at him all day. Of course, I wouldn't be able to stand it if he stared back. That would just be too embarrassing. I hate it when people stare at me. Amy says it's because I feel inferior and believe that others are just picking out all my flaws. I suppose it's true, but really, I just don't like it. I've never been one for being the center of attention, which is odd because that's exactly what happens when I perform on the piano.

“So, tell me, what's behind the curtain there?” he pointed to the far right corner of the shop.

“Oh, well, that's a secret for the regulars here at the Coffee Cup.” I raised my eyebrows at him, hoping I was displaying plenty of mystique.

He leaned in closer with a teasing look. “Try me. I've already proved trustworthy in the secrets department.”

“It's just the arcade,” I answered simply while resting all the way back in my chair. “When they put in the Coffee Cup, the owner's son was in middle school and since he had to spend all his free time here they put in an arcade. But not just anyone can use the arcade.”

“Oh, really.”

“You see, that is the essence of the curtain. To keep out the undesirables.”

“Ah, like me, right?”

“Exactly.” This time I grinned. “Actually, you have to have a card to gain access to the arcade.”

“Wow, this town is pretty posh. A kid can't even get his kicks at the local arcade.”

“Well, we do have an indoor putt-putt course with an arcade off highway 57. This just keeps the undesirables from hanging out at the Coffee Cup and making trouble.”

“So, do you have one of these magical cards or do I have to jump one of the other locals?” Would he really do such a thing?

No, I guess not, but it would be really great if he'd wrestle dark-glasses-guy who always spends hours at the one and only game I like to play, Galaxy Safari.

“As a matter of fact, I just might.”

I led Luke to the arcade, and we played a couple games together. I totally destroyed him at my favorite game, and while I was at it, I broke my highest score. I was so in high form tonight. It was fun. Too much fun. I was learning to enjoy Luke's company far too much. It was like eating your favorite chips. Once you start, you can't stop. You just want more and keep eating until you've eaten the whole bag and weigh like five pounds more than when you sat down. And yet that hunger starts up again before you know it.

While laughing at one of Luke's jokes about the American addiction to caffeine, I reached for the handle to open the door to leave the coffee house except I didn't get a chance because that's when the door flew open and almost took off my nose. Thinking fast, Luke pulled me back just in time. Must be his sportsman instincts. I suppose he didn't want to explain to my parents (whom he had never met, yet, mind you) the reason why their daughter was knocked unconscious in his presence.

With Luke's hand around my waist, I faced Stephanie Ruiz, accompanied by three of her cronies. For some reason, they didn't seem as surprised as I was to see them. It had been a long time since I'd seen Stephanie at the Coffee Cup. She typically spent more time at the mall in nearby Oxford—her usual stomping grounds. Could she have noticed Luke's car in the parking lot while trolling around town?

“Oh, hey, Luke.”

“Hi, Stephanie. How's it going?”

“Fine, just fine.” She turned her head to show off the lovely lines of her neck, which led to a deep, v-neck sweater. And she had plenty to exhibit. Yes, the endowment fairies had been kind to her, too.

“We missed you at Bible study tonight,” I said to her.

A slight look of disgust came over her face as she glanced at me.

“Well, I guess we'll see you.” Luke pulled the door open, and we escaped whatever other horrible looks she gave us.

Well, I suppose I should say “me” because I couldn't imagine Stephanie giving Luke anything but the come-hither stare. I'm sure she was trying to see if she could start a fire in the back of my head. It was kind of exciting though—being at a coffee house at this time of night in the presence of Stephanie with Luke at my side.

Luke opened the car door for me, being the perfect gentleman that he is. Before entering inside, I stopped and held onto the door. “You know, I had a lot of fun tonight.”

“Me, too.”

“I have to ask you a favor, though, before we go any further.”

“Sure. Anything.”

“You can't drive me home.”

His face scrunched up with confusion, and his eyes moved back and forth as he examined my face. “Why? Is something wrong?”