Suffice to say, after that embarrassing morning, he got a place with his friend Rocky across town thus bringing an end to our accidental movie night snuggles on the couch, much to my dismay. Not that I didn't get to see him at all, I did. He would pick Amy and I up from school on the days our parents couldn't. Oh, her and I had our driver's licenses but neither of us had earned enough to buy our own cars yet, so we still had to be chauffeured. And oh, how I loved those rides with him. I'd just watch him in the rearview mirror from the back seat. He'd make the funniest faces while Amy and I chatted about this boy or that boy. Of course, we did it just annoy him and worked every time. Those car rides made my junior year bearable.
That summer was dull in comparison to previous ones because Darren wasn't there to ogle or harass. Though we both had jobs for the summer, we still never managed to save enough for a decent car. So, even as seniors, we had to be chauffeured, which of course meant I got to see Darren occasionally again.
And just like the previous year, we both did our best to annoy him with our teen drama. Most of the time he would just roll his eyes and humph like he didn't care, but once in a while I could get a good reaction. One particular Friday, while he was driving us home, Amy and I were discussing the upcoming senior prom. She told him that Eric, from the school marching band had asked her to the dance and she accepted. This elicited a mere eye roll and a slight nod of approval. I mentioned that I had accepted an offer from Raul, the star forward of the basketball team and Darren pulled the car over. Amy and I sat slack jawed as he slammed the car in park and turned to look at us. Well, me actually and spoke through clenched teeth. "You're going to the prom with a jock??!"
"Yeah. So?" Surprised at his seemingly angered demeanor.
He looked me up and down disapprovingly. "No. Jocks are bad news. Find someone from the art club or something."
"Whatever. I already said 'yes'." I snarked. If he was angry, I didn't care.
"Well, tell him you changed your mind!"
"I will not."
"You will or I will..."
Now it was my anger that flared. "Will what, Darren? Run him off like every other boy that has ever asked me out?" My face was hot. "Don't deny it, either. I know you have. You run this one off and I swear I will never speak to you again. I will hate you just like you said you wanted me to!"
"You're too young to unders..."
'Too young??! I'm seventeen you ninny.' "Too young for you, maybe, but not life! I'm not stupid. He's my age – ish, and unlike you, old man, I know how to handle myself." So Raul was already eighteen, but he was closer to my age than the now twenty-one year old, overprotective brother of my best friend. And yes, Darren hated it when I called him 'old man' just as much as I hated being called 'kid'.
He opened his mouth as if he were going to keep arguing. I dared him with my glare. He snorted then turned around and proceeded to drive us to my house. Upon our arrival he rolled down his window as I got out. "You know, kid, you're being stupid."
I knew he was gonna call me that. "Only for wasting my life being in love with an asshole like you." I snapped. Yeah, I said it. I wasn't sorry either. He sped off without looking at me that day and I did not see him again until the night of the prom.
Amy and I had decided to have our dates pick us up at her house for two reasons. One, her house had a really nice security system so if the boys tried anything stupid, it would be recorded and two, my parents were out of town, again, so I was staying with her anyway.
Her dress was a shimmery midnight blue, knee length dress with spaghetti straps. Mine was a little more modest, and green, which really is the best color for redheads. We both did our hair half up on one side and wore matching jewelry. I heard Darren's voice down the stairs as he spoke with his parents. He was offering to pick us up after the dance, but his mother assured him that everything was already taken care of. He was beginning to protest when the doorbell rang. His father answered the door and ushered our dates into the foyer which was our cue to come down the stairs. We were cheesy like that.
I made her go first, waiting out of sight for her to get her 'ooo's and 'awe's as her parents snapped pictures of her descending the stairs. Once she was at the bottom, I began my descent. 'Oo's and 'awe's were said, pictures were taken but I didn't notice. My date stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs, but I didn't see him. My focus was on Darren. Our eyes locked step by step. I couldn't tell what emotions he was feeling as he looked like he wanted to cry, have a fit of rage and throw up all at the same time. His hair was longer than he had ever let it get before, just below his ears in soft curls. He was dressed in a Kutless tee, faded jeans and work boots and I found myself wanting him more then than ever before.
Raul took my hand as I reach the bottom of the staircase, though my eyes were still locked on Darren. "Like what you see?" I asked cocking my head a little snobbishly. I got great satisfaction out of watching him choke.
He cleared his throat. "Um. Uh, you look..." He swallowed and straightened himself. "You look okay. I mean, fine. You look fine. You both do." He diverted his eyes to his sister and then to my date. A darkness crossed his eyes and finally turned my attention to my companions for the night.
"Yes," Raul answered at the same time Darren was stumbling over his words. He was dressed in a white tux with a green tie to match my dress. His hair, which he had always been long and tied in a ponytail, was hanging loosely over his shoulders. His shiny black waves perfectly accentuated his milk chocolate features. Oh, he was handsome. Almost too good looking. Like the devil lived in his mischievous smile. My nerves sprung into panic but I couldn't let Darren have that kind of satisfaction, so I stuffed it down, ignoring my racing heart.
"Thank you," I gushed, feigning shyness. "Shall we then?" I offered. One last look back at Darren, who appeared somewhat constipated, and out the door we went to have the time of our lives. Prom is a teenage rite of passage and I was thankful I didn't miss it. Raul turned out to be a lot more fun than I had expected and far more gentlemanly. He may have had the devil's smile but he had an angel's manners. We danced much of the night together and laughed until our sides hurt over stories of high school mayhem and drama at our late-night dinner, but not once did he ever attempt to hold me or may hand off the dance floor. Not once did he even attempt to kiss me. Amy got her first kiss that night with Eric. They were so cute together it was sickening. We were ushered back to Amy's house about 1 a.m. The boys walked us to the door where Eric gave Amy one last kiss good night and Raul kissed my hand.
The front door flung open scaring the shiznit out of all of us. "A bit late isn't it?" Darren snarled.
"Whatever bro," Amy quipped. "You didn't even come home the night of your prom." We said our goodbyes and closed the door behind us. "What are you doing here, anyway? Where's Mom and Dad?"
"They went to bed hours ago. Dad has to preach in the morning, remember?! Why are you guys so late?"
"It's prom, idiot. We supposed to be out late. It's in the 'How to be a teenager' handbook."
"Look," I interrupted, patting his back. "We're home now. All safe and sound. We'll go to bed like good little girls and you can go home. Okay Daddy?" I took Amy by the shoulders and pushed her towards the stairs. We ascended on tiptoes as to not wake her parents. She snickered at my mocking comment but chose not to add to it. She bounded up the stairs to the bathroom. Apparently the sodas we had at dinner made their way through.
"Ha. Ha." He snarked after me. "You know, If you weren't so..."
I stopped midway up the stairs to face him. "So what, Darren? So young? Stupid, maybe? Or annoying? What? What would you do? Slap me." I descended the stairs to get his face. My cheeks hot with frustration.
"Of course not! I would never..."
"Put me in a time-out, then?"
"Maybe."
I searched his widened eyes for any clue as to what made him stay and wait for us. Any indication as to why he was being so bullish and protective. All I saw was hunger. "Kiss me, maybe?" Yes, hunger. Maybe it was just wishful thinking. Maybe it was just a reflection of my own hunger, but it was there. "That's it, isn't it?"
Pupils dilated, breathing shallow. "N-no."
"Sure it is," I mused sliding a hand behind his neck. My focus drifted to his lips as I bit my lower. Those soft...
"No," He said grabbing said hand. "You are too young."
"Bullshit." Before he could say one more thing I reached up and kissed him on the mouth.
He recoiled. I knew he would. "You're just a kid!" His fingers reached his lips as if they had been burned.
I chuckled. "Maybe so. But you know you want me." I poked his nose and ascended the stairs before he could retaliate.
"Jailbait!" he called after me.
"Tease."
"Child!"
"Asshole."
"Go to bed, kid!"
"Good night. Old man. Sweet dreams."
"Shut up."