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The Lamppost |
| Written by Daron | |
| Wednesday, 11 June 2008 | |
"I love you", Daron said quietly. "I love you", he repeated, looking at himself in the mirror before sighing and falling backwards onto his un-made bed. "There's no way I'll ever be able to do this" he whispered to himself, closing his eyes and daydreaming. Something suddenly clicked inside his mind and courage welled up within him. He jolted up in his bed and looked around his messy room for his phone. It was lying nearby on a clothes strewn chair, near his guitar.
"It'll be easy" he said aloud, trying to convince himself while looking through the list of contacts. "Just a little call, a few words, and it's done." He sat looking down at Aymie's number until the screen blanked out into power saver mode and his little sister ran into the room. "Kari! What do you want!" he yelled overzealously, secretly glad for the excuse not to call his best friend and secret love.
"You don't have to yell" She whined in a voice that only a seven year old could muster. Daron sighed and looked down at her now pouting face. "Alright, I'm sorry" he apologized. She brightened instantly at his words. "That's alright Dar," She responded in a regal tone "As a Queen I suppose I'll have to forgive you" Before turning to leave. "Wait" he called out as she walked out of his room, "What did you come in here for?"
"Oh right" She giggled sheepishly. "Your friend Aymie's here. She's waiting for you down in the living room. She mentioned something about plans for a movie or something." Daron inhaled sharply at the mention of his best friends' name and groaned at the movie. "****, I forgot about that" he muttered, rummaging through his closet for something better than his day old t-shirt and shorts.
"Mom said you shouldn't say that!" His sister said condescendingly. "Yeah well I'm 17 now, I'm pretty sure I can make my own choices". He whipped on a freshly washed blue shirt. "Now unless you wanna see your brother pant-less, I'd suggest you vamoose." His sister made a disgusted face at him but left. He quickly changed into navy blue jeans and jumped into his sneakers. Just before leaving the room, he looked at himself once again in the mirror.
At 5'6 he didn't consider himself tall. His blondish brown hair was gelled lightly above piercing green eyes. He wasn't built but, being a biker, he wasn't fat either; the typical, average teen. He looked himself over once again before rushing out of his room; shutting the door behind him.
He ran down the stairs just outside his door; jumping the last five steps before slowing to a walk just in front of the entrance to the modernly decorated family room. "Daron!" The dark haired girl sitting on his couch leapt to her feet, facing him. Daron looked down at Aymie and a warm smile broke uncontrolled across his face.
She stood at about 4'11 with welcoming blue eyes and the fullest smile he had ever seen. Today she wore a simple pair of black sport pants with a becoming white top. He was always stunned by her ability to make any type of clothes look amazing. "Hey Aymie, I like the cut!" He said enthusiastically, referring to her long, recently trimmed brunette hair. She grinned and blushed, her naturally olive skin tinting lightly red. She hastily cleared her throat, "Thanks Dar, you ready to go?" She asked, turning to pick up a black purse lying on the couch.
"Yeah, definitely" He looked at her steady, smiling face and felt a warmness grow in his stomach. As they left, Daron noticed something strange about the neatly paved road curving past his house. "Hey Aymie, where's your car?" She looked up at him and said, mockingly, "What, the big bad biker can't handle a little walk?" Daron laughed, "I'm more worried about you, Shorty." "Hey you're only a little taller than me!" She said with fake indignance, standing up as tall as she could next to him.
As she leaned in towards him, trying to compare their heights, her hand brushed against his. He just barely stopped himself from taking hold of her hand by jerking backwards, pretending he had tripped. "Comon you clumsy cracker or we'll be late" she said, beginning to walk down the quiet suburban street. Daron inhaled slowly and jogged to catch up with her. "Did you just call me a cracker?" He said, laughing, while trying to slow his rapidly beating heart.
They arrived at the movie theatre after a short walk through the lush park towards the end of Daron's street. He tried to act as natural as possible on the way but Aymie noticed something was up. She asked him several times what was wrong to which he always replied, "Oh I'm fine, really" and changing the subject. In reality though, he was being eaten up inside. Should I tell her or not? The question repeated itself over and over in his mind. He was glad when they reached the small movie theatre and hoped to put himself at ease watching some mindless entertainment for a few hours. Unfortunately, his thoughts raced and he didn't hear a word of the movie.
An hour or so into the film Aymie rested her head on his shoulder causing Daron's heart to leap into his throat. He thought for sure that she could hear his chest thumping when she whispered, "You're comfy" and snuggled further into his arm. "Thanks, you're not too bad yourself" he said with a grin, mentally trying to slow his heart rate again. Suddenly, she shuddered and jerked away from him, muttering something over and over under her breath; he only caught the word "no". "Aymie, what's wrong?" He asked loudly, ushering a chorus of "shh's". She sighed heavily and sounded depressed; "Nothing Dar. It's just... nothing." She didn't return to his shoulder.
Darkness had coated the landscape as they exited the theatre. Aymie still sounded sad when she told Daron that she had to be back at her house by ten. They began walking along the lonely street; the streetlights casting long shadows in the night. "You don't have to walk me home you know" She said suddenly. "I know, but I want to" he replied, locking eyes with her for a moment to show her he was serious. They walked slowly, talking about the movie, school, anything that came to mind. Butterflies reared in his stomach and made him feel sick but he knew that this was the night. He kept noticing little things like his hand brushing hers and a touch on the shoulder, further enforcing his decision.
They were but a few moments away from her house when he knew this was it, he had to do it now or it would never happen. He stopped under a lamppost, the last on her block and turned to her. "Hey Aymie..." He said hesitatingly, fighting his innate shyness. She looked up directly into his eyes, the lamplight bathing her face in its golden glow. "Dar..." she said softly, "I need to tell you something".
He saw the sad look in her eye's and how she calmly took his hand. "Wait, please, just let me say this" he said quickly, trying to forestall the inevitable. "No Dar, don't say it." she said sternly. He stopped and waited, his heart pounding. "I know how you feel... about me" She whispered, holding his hand tightly in hers. He closed his eyes and sighed; the only acknowledgement of her words. "I know and I'm sorry but I can't." Her shoulders shuddered as she choked out the words. "I thought I would be able... but no. I'm sorry, Dar... so sorry!" She let his hand go and, before she turned away, he saw a single tear leaving a damp trail down her cheek. "Aymie wait!" The grief stricken Daron yelled after her. She hesitated briefly before visibly steeling herself and walking off into the darkness; leaving Daron alone under the single lamppost.
Copyright 2008 Daron |
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