First Love Read online

  I laughed softly.

  “Maybe someone has finally broken through the barrier.”

  I saw my mom leave the restaurant, “I gotta run, see you tomorrow in school.”

  When I got home, I went right into the bedroom and laid back on my bed grabbing a book to read. But, I couldn’t focus. I kept thinking about what Sam had told me. Did I break through the barrier? Was she right? I started thinking about school the next day, thinking about the clothes I should wear, thinking about my hair. This isn’t like me.

  I sat there for a moment and I knew I had to have something that would impress Eric. I got up and started to dig through my closet, finding nothing but old faded clothes. I needed a shopping trip, maybe Angie or Sam would be up for one this weekend. I jumped when I heard my mom enter my room.

  “What’s going on, Em?”

  “I’m just looking through my clothes trying to pick out something to wear tomorrow.”

  “We are going to have to go shopping soon for you. We need to start getting you ready for Buffalo’s winter season,” She laughed, “It’s going to be a brand new experience for you.”

  “Lucky me, maybe we could go this weekend? I would like to pick up some new things.”

  “Sure, sounds like fun. So, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help myself, I hear you may have eyes for a boy already.”

  “Mom.”

  “What? I love having you back in my life that means girl talk. Who is it?”

  I just stared at her.

  “Come on give me a name at least.”

  “Eric.”

  “Eric who?”

  “I honestly don’t know his last name yet, Mom. Sam was telling me about him, but it never came up. I just know every time he was around me, I can’t think of words to say and my mind gets all jumbled up.”

  “That’s so sweet, Honey. You have a crush. I can’t wait to see this guy.”

  “Mom, Stop. Really, it’s nothing.”

  “Oh really? Is that why you are digging through your closet, trying to find something to wear that will make you look nice, huh?”

  I didn’t say anything I just let her keep talking. She was having fun. As she left my room I could hear her softly laughing.

  THE FOOTBALL GAME

  The second day of school was easier. I knew where I was going at least. Sam ran up to me before third period and stopped me in the hallway.

  “You look great today! I need to borrow those jeans,” She giggled, “I wonder if you wore your most incredible pair of jeans to impress anyone special?”

  Now I laughed, “You are too much. I’m just trying to remember where my classes are, that’s all.”

  “Sure.” Sam said leaving me behind with a smirk.

  I headed up the stairs towards the art room. I was looking forward to this class, I love drawing. It came natural to me and it was relaxing. I always seemed to float into my drawing and become part of the sketch.

  As I entered the room for the first time, it was huge, just like everything else in this school. Easels stood in the middle of the room, all the art supplies were neatly arranged around the room. Huge tables were mixed in and most of the students were already seated so I quickly found an empty table and sat down. I was looking around, when I saw Eric enter. I watched him as he said hello to a few people in the front of the room and headed towards me.

  I quickly adjusted my t-shirt and made sure my hair was ok.

  “Is this seat taken?” He asked.

  “No.”

  He sat down next to me and grabbed his notebook.

  “So, how’s the nose?”

  “It’s ok. Still sore, but I will survive, great way to make a first impression, huh?” I laughed as I turned back to my notebook, waiting for class to start.

  “I’m really sorry about that.”

  “It wasn’t your fault, I would blame Todd first.”

  “True, ok, we will go with that,” He laughed as he went back to his notebook.

  “So are you into art?” He asked looking at me.

  “Yeah, I love drawing. How about you?”

  He laughed and shook his head, “No, just trying to fill in a credit with an easy class.”

  I laughed as the teacher arrived and started going through the syllabus. The class was perfect for me. I knew it would quickly become my favorite forty-five minutes of the day.

  “First, I want to get a grasp on how creative you are. So, take your pads and pencils and start sketching. I will be around to help you out and give you some pointers, whatever you want to draw.”

  I grabbed my pencil and started drawing my favorite thing, scenery. I don’t know what it is; I love the peace of it. The trees, the meadow, the flowers, just makes me want to jump into the picture and lay in the grass.

  “That’s great, Emily, let me show you a technique that will help you bring this more to life,” Mrs. Claire said as she grabbed the pencil, “Just wonderful, keep up the good work, and Eric, that’s, um, nice.”

  “I guess I need some work, huh?” He laughed as he stopped drawing, “It’s ok; I’m more of the hit people in the nose kind of guy.” I chuckled and smiled at him.

  “You have a great smile.” He said looking at me quickly and returning his gaze to his notepad.

  “Thanks.” I turned back to my pad, smiling.

  “So, are you coming to the football game on Saturday?” He asked, trying to finish his really bad drawing of something.

  “I don’t know anything about it.”

  “Well, it’s against our rival school it’s also the first game of the season. Everyone in town comes out.”

  “Um, I guess I could. I was never really into sports but I guess that could change,” I smiled at him, “What time?”

  “Four.”

  I nodded at him as the bell rang. I started to grab my stuff as the pencil started to roll off the desk, I went to grab it as I felt his hand touch mine as he grabbed for it as well. He handed it back to me, “Thanks.”

  We both got up and headed out the door into the busy hallway, I lost him when his friends came running by and took him off into a different direction. I walked back to my locker and Angie was waiting for me.

  “Hey, so how’s it going today?”

  “Good, I’m getting better at finding things,” I smiled at her as I tried to remember my combination. I reached in to grab my calculus book and put away my art supplies.

  “Have you seen Eric today?”

  I smiled thinking back to art class, “Yeah, we were just in art class together.”

  “And?”

  “Just did our drawings.”

  Angie smiled, “I just can’t believe it, I’m so jealous.”

  “Hey, are you going to the football game on Saturday?” I asked as I closed my locker, looking back at her, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him at his locker he looked back at me and smiled. I think my heart stopped.

  “Of course, are you going to come with us?”

  “Yeah, I think I am,” I said as I started to head towards math class.

  *********************************

  The last bell rung as everyone ran to their lockers and out the door to catch their busses. Since I walk home, I waited for the crowds of people to leave the hallway before I started to gather all my books that I needed for my homework. Sam and Angie walked by as they were heading towards the main office, waiting for Sam’s mother to give them a ride home.

  “Hey Emily, I heard you are coming with us to the game on Saturday, I’m so excited!” Sam said leaning against the locker next to mine. A group of guys walked by staring at Sam and winking, “What’s their problem?”

  “Yeah Sam, it’s so tough having every guy in school want you,” Angie laughed as she sat on the floor, going through her book bag.

  “Not every guy, Angie. I know one guy that I can’t get,” Sam laughed as she stared at me.

  I didn’t say anything, just laughed as I shut my locker, “Are you finished?”

>   “So, you want to meet us here on Saturday?” Angie asked as she stood up again, bushing off her jeans.

  “Yeah, that’s fine. Hey, you guys wouldn’t be interested in doing some clothes shopping early Saturday, would you? I just realized that I have nothing in my closet that I like anymore. My mom was going to take me, but I would rather go with you guys.”

  Sam gasped, “I would love that, let’s hit the mall around noon, we will get you some new outfits and I will borrow my mom’s car and pick you up.”

  I smiled, “Sounds good to me.” I stopped as we started to walk through the front door, “Oh crap, I forgot my government book I have an essay due tomorrow. I will see you guys tomorrow.”

  “See ya!” Angie yelled over her shoulder.

  I headed back into school and turned to walk down the deserted hallways. It was weird after hours. There was no hustle, no loud laughing or talking. I got to my locker and grabbed my government book.

  I turned to head back to the doors, when I saw Eric turn the corner he was wearing his football jersey and a pair of shorts. He stopped in front of me, “Hey you.”

  I smiled at him, “Nice uniform.”

  He smiled this time, I could get lost in his smile, “Practice, I forgot some of my stuff in my locker.”

  “Cool, well, I won’t keep you then.” I smiled at him again as I started to walk around him. I felt his hand grab my arm lightly. I turned back to him, looking into his eyes.

  “I wanted to ask you something quickly,” He said, moving slightly closer to me.

  I couldn’t speak I just stood there waiting to hear what he had to say to me.

  “I was wondering if Saturday night, after the game, if you would like to grab a bite to eat with me. I would take you home, if you needed me to.”

  I couldn’t believe it, he was asking me out. Of course I wanted to go, but the words were not leaving my mouth. I opened my lips but nothing came out.

  “If you have plans already, it’s ok; I just figured I would ask.”

  “No, no, no plans. I would love too.” I smiled at him.

  “Awesome,” He grabbed my hand lightly with his.

  Another football player came running down the hallway and yelled, “Mason, get outside, coach is getting ticked off with you.”

  He quickly dropped my hand, “Sorry, football practice.” He ran to his locker and smiled at me as he passed me and ran back into the gym, the doors closed and he was gone. I just stood in the hallway; I can’t believe I have a date for Saturday night with Eric. I needed to call Sam as soon as I got home. I headed out the back door of the school, looking over the football field.

  I saw him line up with his teammates and throw the ball down the field. He looked so confident in his play. He was having fun; I saw it on his face when he took his helmet off. Just as I turned to walk down the stairs; I could swear I saw him look at me and smile.

  I got home a little after four since I was taking my time, enjoying the sunshine. I went up into my bedroom and got all my homework done in record time. I needed to call Sam before I went downstairs to start dinner.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey Sam, it’s Emily.”

  “Hey girl, what’s up?”

  “I have some interesting news for you.”

  “What? Tell me!”

  “I have a date Saturday night.”

  “WHAT?”

  “You heard me, I have a date.”

  “What happened, I want details,” Sam screamed into the phone.

  I started to go into details about my conversation with Eric. I was smiling the entire conversation, I was so happy and that’s when I heard my mom’s car pull up.

  “Sam, I need to run, my mom is home and I forgot I’m in charge of dinner tonight.”

  “Ok, we will talk tomorrow, sweet dreams, Em.”

  I laughed as I hung up the phone, running over to the freezer and grabbing the lasagna, my mom walked in as I started up the oven.

  “Hey Mom, dinner will be a little late, I was late getting home today.”

  She smiled, “It’s ok. I will go hop into the shower first. Why are you smiling from ear to ear?”

  “No reason.”

  “Does it have something to do with Eric somebody?”

  “Mason.”

  She looked at me and smiled, “Nice family. I grew up with his mom, we were close friends throughout high school. We lost touch after I moved to Texas.”

  “Well, he asked me out Saturday night.”

  “Really? That’s exciting!”

  “So, I hope you don’t mind, but Sam and Angie are going to take me shopping on Saturday afternoon, I know that we were supposed to go.”

  “That’s fine, you will have more fun with your friends. Just remind me to give you some money before you leave.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I smiled as I hugged her, “I’m really glad I decided to move here.”

  I walked away to set the table as I thought I saw my mom shed a tear.

  *************************************

  The first week of school flew by, I was so busy learning the layout of the school and finding my classes that I didn’t realize the weekend had arrived. As I woke up in the morning, the sun was shining through the shades already. I looked over at my alarm clock and it read eight forty-five already. I stretched as I got out of bed. I ran my hand through my hair and moved quickly into my bathroom. I dreamt of him last night, which was first for me. I dreamt of what his lips would feel like on mine. I have kissed a guy before just not a lot of them. Throughout the week, we exchanged glances and talked more in art class but I was getting more and more excited about tonight’s date.

  I needed to find something fun to wear, I’ve never been to a football game plus I wanted to look good for him. I was hoping Sam would lead me in the right direction.

  I stepped out of the shower and threw on my jeans and t-shirt and headed downstairs for breakfast.

  “Good morning.”

  “Hey Sweetie, I left some money on the counter for you. I need to run to work for awhile. So, I will probably miss you later on. Have a great time tonight and I want details when you get home.”

  I smiled at her; she was a big kid at heart.

  “Try to be home before midnight though, ok?” There was the mother side of her.

  “No problem, Mom. I will give you a call at some point today.” She smiled and kissed my cheek as she ran out to her car.

  I finished up my housework and waited for Sam to arrive. I heard her car pull up around noon as she beeped the horn for me. I ran out the side door and saw that Angie was with her.

  “Hey Em! I brought along some more help, figured we could make it a girlie day.”

  “Great, I need all the help I can get. I’ve never been to a football game before, I don’t even know where to start.”

  “No problem, we have been talking about this and we are prepared,” Angie said as she turned to talk to me, “I can’t believe you have a date tonight. Where is he taking you?”

  “I have no idea, we were cut off so he never really finished his thought,” I said.

  “You are going to have so much fun tonight.”

  I smiled as Sam pulled into a parking spot at the mall. We kept going in and out of stores, trying to get a feel of what I wanted to wear.

  “Well, here’s an idea,” Sam grabbed a pair of jean shorts off the rack and handed them to me, “Go try these on.”

  “Sam, these are the tiniest things I’ve ever seen.”

  “Yeah, but they will look awesome on you, go!”

  I grabbed the shorts and headed to the dressing room. I slid off my jeans and pulled the shorts on as they barely covered my butt. I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “What’s so funny in there?” Sam asked.

  “Sam, these are crazy, my mother will kill me if she saw me wear these.”

  “Oh stop it, let me see them.”

  I walked out of the dressing room and twirled for her. “Well?” Both gir
ls just stood there.

  “Why are you hiding those legs, are you kidding me? You are buying those. He will go crazy the minute he sees you.”

  I laughed as I turned to go back into the dressing room, catching out of the corner of my eye the guys in the store were all staring at me. I started to blush and grabbed for my jeans.

  “Ok, now that we have the bottom, we need a top,” Sam said, like she was on a mission.

  Angie gasped, “I got it! She needs a jersey.”

  “Angie, we are not going to cover up her legs, we just found them!”

  “No, we will get her a girl one! They have pink jerseys.”

  “Pink? I don’t think I should wear pink,” I said with a strange look on my face.

  “No, it will be perfect, let’s go.” Angie said dragging me into another store.

  She managed to find a pink football jersey. It wasn’t that bad either. I looked in the mirror and thought that the girls really did a good job.

  As we left the mall, I realized it was three already. I had Sam drop me off at home so I could change and meet them at school.

  I stood in my room, taking the tags off my new clothes. I was nervous but excited at the same time. I had a date with the quarterback of the football team.

  I grabbed my new shorts and jersey and put them on. Not too bad, Emily. I grabbed my hair and threw it up into a ponytail and reached for my sneakers. Once I was done, I looked into the mirror and smiled. I do have nice legs.

  I ran downstairs so I could leave before my mom got home, I didn’t need to hear about the shorts as the phone started to ring,

  “Hello?”

  “Emily, it’s your Dad.”

  “Hey Dad, how’s it going?”

  “Not too bad, miss you.”

  “Miss you too, Dad.”

  “Getting used to the different weather?”

  “It’s not too bad yet. Today is really warm, so it’s good.”

  “Good to hear, how’s your mom?”

  “She’s good, she’s at work right now and I really need to leave myself, I’m going to the school’s football game.”

  “Football, really?”