I stared up at the window, cursing myself silently for deciding not to bring my watch. The decision was made just thirty minutes earlier, while I was adjusting myself in front of a mirror in my own house. Shining a brilliant silver and projecting a dull golden tone, the watch was a prized treasure of mine. However, on this most important night, I had decided to leave it behind, because it clashed awfully with the navy-blue suit I wore. At the time, it seemed like such a good idea.

At the time.

Now, while I was looking at the windowsill, I did not dare to leave in case she came out and called to me. And I didn’t know what damn time it was. I arrived at seven thirty, I remember that much. Tempted to ring the doorbell and ask for her, I refrained from doing so. I remembered the directions clearly.

“Pick her up at eight, but our father can’t know about it. He doesn’t like her going out with boys, ya see. Just wait under her window; it’s the first one on the side of the house. I’ll make sure she calls down to you when she’s ready.”

I would have put up a protest, since I normally detest the thought of being reliant on others. But, this was no ordinary situation. In fact, this was no ordinary girl.

This was Christy Masters.

Now, Christy’s the type of girl that every guy longs for, but can never get. Being intelligent enough to carry on a conversation, yet not overbearingly smart so a guy doesn’t feel intimidated, Christy is able to converse pleasantly with nearly everyone. Also, being on the school’s varsity volleyball team and constantly wearing clothes a size smaller than what she should normally be wearing helps a lot. She was a good-natured, vivacious girl, and one could say that the natural blonde had every guy, from the lowliest freshman to the popular seniors, turning heads and straining pants everywhere she went.

And tonight, she was mine.

Well, not mine like that, mind you. But, her brother, Jerry, is in my math class, and since I’ve been kind enough to help him during tests, he profusely thanked me by saying he would do anything within his power to repay my services.

“Anything?” I had asked him.

“Er… almost anything,” he had replied, casting a sideways glance at me, almost saying aloud, what could this math freak want from me?

I would not be daunted. I had been patient all these years, and finally, I saw my chance.

“Well, um, just for a short while, I’ve been having a small crush on your sister… and I was wondering if you could arrange something for me…”

It was a lie. I loved the girl ever since second grade. There was nothing small about my eight-year obsession with Christy Masters. I can’t honestly say it was healthy, but then again, what is in this world?

Jerry fell back a step, but rebounded quickly. He smiled, almost naively, and said to me, “Sure, Justin, ol’ pal. I’ll do it for you. Does Homecoming work?”

“Huh, what?!”

“You know, that small dance, Homecoming…”

Homecoming was the second biggest couples dance at my school, beaten only by senior prom. I was amazed at my luck. Finally, all those long hours of studying matrixes and functions had paid off.

“Yeah, I guess that works,” I exuberantly responded, almost unable to contain my excitement. To think! Christy Masters and me, going to Homecoming!

I could almost picture the night. It would be absolutely perfect. I would borrow my father’s car, a Mercedes-Benz CL600 Coupe, and pick her up in lavish style. Maybe a little modern classical on the CD system, to show my sophistication, yet my keen sense of being attune to the current-day trends.

“So, I’ll tell her all about it, and get back to you tomorrow,” Jerry went on saying. But frankly, I wasn’t listening anymore.

We would show up at the school parking lot on that night, no doubt riding in one of the most luxurious cars there, and I’d help her out of the passenger side door, while all the envious men around me would stare with green eyes. We’d stride in elegantly into the dance hall, parting people who would wish they could be as good as a couple we were. Then, we would dance, and the last slow one, I would hold her in my arms and told her I loved her, and she would say she loved me too, for all those years, and it just took her this long to realize it.

At least, I think she knows who I am.

Anyway, then I would whisk her away to dinner at an expensive restaurant, laughing and talking through all hours of the night while softly gazing at her bottomless eyes, breathing heavily through the romance-induced haze of sheer love. For an eternity, we would ignore our food and just stare into each other’s eyes, hoping upon hope to see our very souls.

After dinner, I would drive her back to her house, and walk her to her door, hopefully with her father in bed and sound asleep. She would say something like, “It’s been a lovely night,” and I’d say something like, “Yes, with a lovely lady to accompany me with.” She’d laugh, and I’d laugh, and then it would get very quiet, just like those scenes in the movies. I would close my eyes, and by instinct, she would close hers, and I’d lean forward, eagerly anticipating that first…

“EARTH TO JUSTIN! Pay attention, man!”

It was Jerry, and he had startled me out of my blissful dream. I was a little resentful, but what he said next made up for it.

“Anyway, I know she’s free that night, and she mentions you a lot to me, so don’t worry, buddy, I’ll hook you two up.”

Reverently thanking him, I left to rush to the bathroom, almost embarrassed. Tears were coming down my face, and I didn’t know why.

Back to the present.

The night was becoming cold, almost hostilely so. I pulled the sleeves of my blazer even closer to me, and began to shiver. I was positioned next to a rather large bush, which was able to conceal most of my body from the street. My car was parked across from me, but even I could not see its silver coat in the dark. The lights were dim on this street, and the only light I cared for was still on in that windowsill. Surely Christy would come out any minute, and we could begin our date that would start a lifetime with her.

Several cars passed, but I had no fear of being spotted and mistaken for some burglar. The dark night was almost oppressive, and what could be seen of me through the bush was made impossible to differentiate between the black sky. Still, the night offered no heat, and I began to softly clap my hands in order to produce some body friction.

I don’t know how much time passed, but I began to become drowsy. Sweet thoughts of kissing young Christy crept into my mind, of laughing and talking with her, of dancing and enjoying her presence. I was finally awakened by the loud honk emanating from a passing car. No doubt it was some idiot who thought it humorous to alarm the neighbors at this hour of the night.

But then, just then, I heard Christy’s laughter. Repositioning myself to get a better glance through the bush, I peeked through, and saw her turning back to face a car. Such a sweet, beautiful face. Then I saw him.

He was a senior, I can’t recall the name, but I knew he was one of the big football players on the school team. I cringed at the sight of his smile, that smile I knew all too well, because I had envisioned it being plastered on my face in my mind just a few minutes ago.

Christy Masters turned to walk towards the car. Christy Masters waited until the senior unbuckled his seat belt, moved over to the passenger side window, and rolled down the window. Christy Masters blushed, and looked back at the house, as if she expected her father to be watching the whole ordeal. Then, Christy Masters leaned over and kissed him.

I didn’t see the rest, if there was a rest. By that time, my head was spinning, and I was clutching my chest, suddenly unable to breathe very well. I got onto my knees, and tried to calm myself. When I had regained my composure, the senior was gone. And, when I looked at the windowsill, so was the light that had been streaming out from it.

I stared at that windowsill for what seemed like hours. Tearing my gaze from it, I ran down the street, blindly running to a destination that I myself did not know at the time. If only I had brought my watch.

Hope you've had a decent read.

Ciao,
-WarLeaderJustin