Perchance Read online

  I checked myself in the mirror as I brushed my teeth and hoped that she would be at church. I had this overwhelming need to see her. It was like a slow boil in my chest. Not too much that I couldn’t handle it but just enough to let me know it was there. I was sure that just seeing her would still the boil and soothe the burn.

  I threw on a gray button down shirt and some black slacks and my black Chucks. I walked outside and down the stairs and Eric was already in the truck waiting.

  We drove to church in silence. He had worked a little longer last night. He got in just in time to get dressed for church and head out.

  At the church we sat in the same pew, but now we were joined by Troy and his Dad. As the hymn ended and the sermon began, Troy nudged me and tipped his chin towards the right of the church. Little did he know that I had already seen her and had kept her firmly in my peripheral all this time. I knew when she moved and I knew when she whispered something to her aunt and I especially knew when she snuck a look at me as she pretended to turn sideways to stretch her back.

  I nodded back to Troy, letting him know that I knew what he was talking about. And then I tried not to stare her down the whole service. It didn’t work. And then during the ending prayer, I was probably going to hell for this, I watched her close her eyes and while the man was praying, she was whispering words of her own. And when he ended the prayer and said “Amen” her eyes stayed closed a little longer than everyone else’s and the she said her own “Amen”.

  People were congregated outside the church for ‘dinner on the grounds’ which I was assuming was like a church picnic. Eric wanted to go home since he was tired and Troy’s Dad offered to take me home so I could stay for lunch. I was handed a paper plate and the second she got in line behind me every hair on my skin stood at full attention saluting her presence.

  I reached for a plate and a fork wrapped in a napkin and handed it to her and motioned for her to go before me. She smiled at me and went ahead and started to make her plate and halfway through the line she stopped and smiled at me again. I heard my mom’s voice in my head ‘Manners Matter Cooper.’

  She filled up her plate and went to sit down. I was so relieved when I saw that she sat at an empty table. I sat across from her but not before asking if the seat was taken. She laughed and we sat in silence for a few minutes, both eating and taking turns looking at one another.

  A plate plopped down next to me and then another plate mimicked the first on the opposite side of the table. Troy sat down next to me and cracked some joke about scaring me so bad that I was going upchuck my food. He introduced himself to Remi and then smiled a knowing smile back at me. Then he introduced the girl who was sitting next to Remi. Her name was Josie and she had the curliest hair I had ever seen. She didn’t say much after Troy introduced her and I wondered whether or not they were a thing. He definitely had his eye on her. Troy started talking to me about school tomorrow and I overheard Remi talk to Josie about school. Josie asked her how long she had been here.

  Troy stopped talking and I looked at him and he said “Well, what do you think, sounds like a plan right?”

  “Um…yeah, sounds good.” I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

  “Oh boy you’ve got it bad.” He chuckled at me and nodded his head towards Remi.

  “Yeah, yeah, so what plan have you come up with?”

  He told me about me, him, Remi and Josie going to the Myrtles plantation in two weeks. He said they were having some special tours that day. I thought it was a good idea, and a chance to see Remi again, so I turned to ask her. I cleared my throat because she was telling something to Josie and it was a sight because she was using her hands a lot to talk.

  She turned my way and smiled a little, “Um, so Troy thought we should go to this special tour they’re having at the Myrtles Plantation in two weeks.”

  She eyed me skeptically, “We?” She asked.

  I laughed a little at her question and I loved the thought that she and I on a date made her sound all nervous.

  “We, as in me, you…” I drug it out on purpose and watched her eyes widen, “Troy and Josie.”

  She slumped a little releasing her tension, “Yeah, sounds good to me…Josie?”

  Josie just nodded.

  Troy chimed in, “OK, good, so two Sundays from today. We’ll meet at Cooper’s house about one?”

  We all agreed and continued to eat and talk. When we were done Troy and I picked up everyone’s plates and trash and put them in the garbage can. Then we sat down and continued to talk until Remi’s aunt came to tell her it was time to go. I could’ve punched myself in the jewels for not driving to church today. If I had, I would have told her aunt that she could stay and I would drive her home. Then I would get to see that face she made when I started my car. It was…well it was ridiculously hot.

  She got up to leave. Josie asked her if she had a cell phone, but she didn’t. So Josie gave her number and Remi turned to her aunt and asked her to give Josie their home number. Give me your number…Give me your number…Give me your number. I tried to send the thought chants her way, but she didn’t get my vibes. Ugh…what I wouldn’t give for super powers.

  As I was watching her leave Troy punched me in the shoulder.

  “So, you giving me a ride to school tomorrow?” He asked and had no clue that he had interrupted my Remi thoughts.

  “Yeah, man, what time?” I asked. I didn’t mind and after the missed opportunity today, I wasn’t leaving the house without my car ever again.

  “Pick me up at seven forty five, class starts at eight o’five.”

  “Ok, cool.”

  “Hey, my Dad is waving us down, let’s roll.” He said as he started to get up.

  Remi

  Note to self: Sit in the very back pew next week at church.

  I spent the whole service switching between feeling him stare at me and doing all of these awkward stretches trying to get a look at him. But how I was rewarded when I did. He had a gray shirt on that set off the green in his eyes and he just looked handsome as ever. I still wondered how it was going to go once he was in school with tons of gorgeous girls swarming him. But he didn’t seem to react to the ones who were here in the church, so I had some hope.

  I sat there as we ate lunch and my heart did a double jump as I realized once again that I had agreed to go with him and Troy and Josie to some kind of plantation. I saw Troy giving Josie eyes, but I didn’t know whether or not I had just agreed to a double date or was it just a group of friends. I wasn’t going to assume either way. Besides, school started tomorrow and I needed to focus on that. Getting good grades and trying to get into college or something were my first priorities.

  We got home and I was tired and Aunt Brenda went to her room to take a nap. I decided to lie in the hammock that I saw last week when I was mowing the grass. I balanced myself on the edge, sat down and then tried to stealthily lie down and swung my legs up at the same time. Once I was settled in I folded my arms across my chest and let myself dream.

  I woke up later to the phone ringing. I had brought the cordless phone out with me with every intention of calling my mom, but I had forgotten. I answered with a scratchy ‘Hello’

  A quiet voice answered me back. ‘Remi, it’s Josie.”

  I sat up and nearly busted my rear end as I sat up and there was almost a meeting between my face and the grass.

  “Hey Josie, what’s up?”

  “I was wondering if you’d want to come over and watch a movie about six. It’s our last day of summer!”

  “Yeah, ok, where do you live?”

  “You know where Cooper’s Dad lives?” she asked.

  “Maybe.” That made her go into a giggle fit.

  “Yeah well I live across the street in the brick house with the LSU flag outside.”

  “I have no idea where he lives Josie!”

  She giggled some more. “Yeah, ok, so you at six.” And then she hung up.

  I got up and stretched a
nd walked back into the house and changed into some jeans and a tank top. All of the sudden I was worried about what I wore and how my hair looked. Oh, what had become of me?

  I wore my hair down, slipped on some flops and told Aunt Brenda where I was going. She gave me her cell phone before I left and told me to call if I needed her. She said she was going to call her cell phone company tomorrow about getting me a phone for myself. I argued, but lost as usual.

  I put the phone in my back pocket and started towards Cooper…um…Josie’s house. I walked down the street and crossed the street to the other side before I made my way down towards her house. I did not want to walk directly in front of his house and then cross, no way.

  I got almost to her house and I looked over and saw Cooper and Troy as they played basketball…shirtless. Cooper wasn’t very good at it from what I saw. He wasn’t chiseled by any stretch but dang the boy was fine and his basketball shorts were right at his hips and those muscles above them were showing and what a sight they were. I made myself look towards Josie’s house trying to play cool.

  I was hit in the mouth before I knew what was coming but I could hear the bouncing of the basketball after the impact. Then as I touched my lip, I winced and my fingers came back with a little blood on them. Troy and Cooper, Cooper the fastest, ran towards me. Troy was immediately apologizing and telling me something about getting my attention. I waved them off and tried to smile, but it hurt and they both saw it.

  “Remi, come on, let me get you some ice.” Cooper pled, but all I knew was that he was touching my arm.

  I nodded and he took me by the elbow and we started across the street and into his Dad’s house. He got some ice out and a dish towel and put it to my lip. By then, Troy and Josie had come in too and Josie was saying something about maiming her new friend the day before school. I thought she was quiet but she was definitely showing that she had some moxie.

  I looked up horrified at the realization that I was going to have a fat lip on the first day of school but didn’t say anything that was going to perpetuate my newfound vanity.

  “It’s my fault Remi, I asked him to get your attention so that I could say ‘hi’ to you.”

  “It’s ok. It’s no big deal. I should go. I was trying to get to Josie’s to watch a movie.”

  I made an attempt to move away from the kitchen counter but he stopped me by taking hold of my hand.

  “Just stop and keep the ice on for a few more minutes.” He said and his bare chest heaved in short palpitations that matched mine breath for breath. His knee brushed against mine, purposefully or not, I didn’t know and frankly I didn’t care.

  I figured that a few minutes had passed though I was entranced for what seemed like hours. He didn’t seem to be faring so well either. I put the ice down and whispered a quiet ‘thank you’ and tried to move away from the counter but he still held my hand. I blushed like I’ve never blushed before and he took it as his cue to let go. Josie cleared her throat and said “Thanks guys, but I think we can handle it from here. But thanks for the first day of school fat lip.” She gave a huge fake smile, like a game show host, and two big thumbs up. Sarcasm? I loved this girl already.

  We went over to her house and I put some more ice on my lip. We watched a movie and her mom made us some dinner. About nine, I decided to go back home and get some Tylenol in me before I tried to go to sleep. Josie offered to give me a ride to school and I was relieved. Otherwise I was going to have to go almost an hour early with Aunt Brenda.

  I got to sleep early after an explanation to Aunt Brenda about my lip. She didn’t even ask other than to make sure that I was ok and not in pain, but I wanted to explain so that she didn’t think I got into a fight. I didn’t want her to think that I was anywhere near making trouble or pulling a Tuesday. She just patted my hand and said she never thought once that it was anything I did. It was a new feeling to be trusted. Mom never trusted me not because of who I was, but because of stress, not to mention Tuesday’s constant antics and her distrust in the general male population.

  I had a real problem, I realized as I lay in bed. I wanted Cooper to kiss me today. I wanted him to hold my hand again. I wanted him as close or closer to me as he was today in his Dad’s kitchen. And that was a problem, because it wasn’t in my plan. Perchance it could work.

  Cooper

  I came on too strong. I barely knew her and I held her hand and God help me when she was standing there and I could smell the toothpaste scent coming from her mouth, I nearly went for it right there in front of Troy and Josie. I wanted to kiss her with everything in me. Kiss the pain away from her lips and make her so dizzy she would forget that it was my fault in the first place. She walked away from me, probably because she was pissed. I was pissed at myself for her. This was not your average girl that you just liked and dated and then broke up with. She held a reign on my every thought and she probably didn’t even know it.

  When Eric went to work, I asked him if he had Brenda’s number since he acted like he was friendly with her the other day. He chuckled and wrote it on a piece of paper by the phone. That was about two hours ago and I sat and held the piece of paper in my apartment and stared at it. Should I call? Should I just wait until tomorrow?

  Then it was almost as if the decision was made for me. I dialed without even thinking about it. I could tell that it wasn’t her who answered.

  “Hi, this is Cooper, may I speak to Remi please.” I asked.

  “My, my, such manners. Yes, Cooper, hold on please. Let me go get her.”

  I waited a few minutes and heard knocking and doors opening and scuffling.

  “Hello?” She said like she had never received a phone call.

  “Hey, it’s Cooper. I just wanted to make sure you were ok.”

  She sighed and I didn’t know if it was anger or just exasperation.

  “I’m fine Cooper, thank you for calling, but I have to go to bed.”

  “It’s only nine thirty Remi.” I laughed a little but she did not.

  “I know, but I have to get good grades this year so I can get into college or some kind of school. It’s not a choice. And I suck at school, so it’s going to be tough. I’m not gonna end up like my Mom.”

  There was a long silence because I didn’t know what to say to her confession.

  “Ok, I’m sorry again. Go to bed. Can…Can I bring you to school tomorrow?”

  Another sigh.

  “Josie’s already said she was picking me up Cooper.”

  Her voice had gone cold.

  “OK, bye Remi.”

  Then she hung up without even saying goodbye.

  It was then after being hung up on like a dork that I made my plan even though I didn’t know if it would work or not. She wanted to make good grades? She wanted to get into college and get an education? I thought that was a good plan of course. Did she think I was going to distract her from that? And what was the deal about not being like her Mom? I needed to find that out too. But first, I needed to prove that I supported her. I had never put so much thought and planning into getting a girl to like me. But I don’t want her to like me. I want her to…well…really like me.

  I got in the Cuda and set off to the grocery store for the things that I needed. That pistol of a girl wasn’t going to know what hit her.

  The first morning of school I showed up early. Troy complained and whined until he saw that I had breakfast in my hand and then he calmed down. We parked in a place that would give me a good view of the whole parking lot and went to sit on the trunk of my car. He stuffed his face full of food while I watched. Cars of every shape, size, style, make and model pulled into the parking lot and it was funny to hear Troy be the commentator for the whole thing. Then I saw her. A turquoise Karmann Ghia pulled into the lot and parked towards the back of the parking lot. I watched it like a hawk. The girls both brushed their hair before getting out of the car. I guess the convertible had messed with it though I saw nothing wrong.

  As they got out and grabb
ed their bags, I got up and got my bag and other stuff out of the back seat and waited for my chance. They got closer and I stepped into their path and smiled at Remi. Her lip was still a little swollen, but not much. She turned her head to the side and looked at me like I was a cock-eyed clown.

  “Good morning.” I started.

  “Morning Cooper. What’s up?” She sounded annoyed.

  “I brought you breakfast. You know, you can’t do well in school without breakfast.” I sounded like one of those health shows. She almost smiled but then she turned it down. Josie was giggling but tried to keep it covered with her hand. Remi elbowed her in the side and she stopped and cleared her throat.

  “Um…thanks?” She took the bag from my hand and walked off towards the school.

  “Dang man, that didn’t work. What’s next?” Troy was next to me as he tried to control his laughter at my fail.

  “Oh, it worked. She almost smiled. Just give it a minute.”

  “Man, you haven’t even walked in school yet. What if there’s a hottie in there that you can’t resist and you’re putting all of this effort into one girl?”

  I didn’t even look at him when I answered. My eyes were still on her.

  “Troy, there is no other girl.”

  And just when I began to think that maybe she didn’t like my gift, she looked over her shoulder and smiled at me.

  Remi left the office with her schedule as I entered and she didn’t even look at me. She focused on her schedule and studied the map like her life depended on it. I got my schedule and headed towards my locker. I saw her down the hall and she was having trouble getting into her locker. I walked down and she looked at me in relief.

  “Give me your combination so I can help you.” I said and wasn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer.

  She handed it to me wordlessly and took a drink of her orange juice as she went back to studying her schedule. I opened her locker for her and smiled at her. She smiled back this time and then I went back to my locker, leaving her to think about it a little.