SOUNDTRACK: WhiteSnake -- Is This Love
"What on earth"? said Mrs Bernson startled. Cat came flying up the aisle, almost right behind Crissy.
"Don't worry Mrs Bernson, I got this", said Cat.
Harry swollowed hard, looked like he might wet himself, with his jaw on the floor.
"Cat" he said, too low for her to hear.
Cat flew out the door as fast as she could but Crissy was already out of sight. "Well crap -- now what"? she said, frustrated, before spotting Crissy's shawdow just outside the door, by the football field. Cat sighed to herself. She'd never seen Crissy this bad before. She took a deep breath, then went outside to see what she could do to comfort her.
She saw Crissy sitting on the bleachers, sobbing her heart out, in an excruciating emotional state.
"Criss, for goodness sakes, you're scarin me. What's wrong? What happened back there"? asked Cat.
"It's killing me inside Cat. The love I have for him grows stronger and stronger day by day; and that poem he wrote....with every word that came out of his mouth, he might as well have gotten a needle and thread and sown me to his side. That's how passionately I feel for him. I don't know how much longer I can take it, without saying something to him. I was so miserable, last night, trying to fall asleep and all I did was toss and turn, thinking about him, seeing his sweet, precious face", sobbed crissy.
Cat smiled softly at Criss and said: "You should have seen it baby. You couldn't even look at him, but he was sure lookin' at YOU. Almost every word he spoke, he had his eye on you. What's funny is, it seemed like the entire class was rooting for him. Even THEY knew who the poem was written about. I swear that boy never took his eyes off you during the last half of his reading. What does that TELL you?"
Crissy just sobbed, looked at Cat and said: "What am I gonna DO Cat"? Cat took Crissy's forehead and just layed it on her shouldar. "We'll think of something babygirl. We'll think of something. I will never leave you alone Criss. You won't have to face this by yourself. All I know right now is.....that boy wants you and I think this whole thing is gonna happen faster than you think. You should have seen.....the whole class...they got quiet, and everyone was practically Casper The Friendly Ghost white. Nobody saw this comin' as far as they could throw it. I'm tellin' ya one thing Crissy, people will remember this day for as long as they live. That boy got some new found respect in that class. They won't look at HIM the same way again...and that's a GOOD thing. In a sick, twisted, classification way, he got elevated to a whole new level in their eyes.
Crissy sniffled and looked at Cat and said: "Would you do me a favor? Go back to class, get my stuff, shove it in my locker, then bring me my keys. It's the last period of the day and I hate math anyway. I just wanna go home. I really need to think".
Cat said: "Criss, you know I'm your Beck-N-Call girl" she laughed. You're my home girl baby doll and you always will be. Give me a few minutes". Crissy watched Cat walk back to the school and round the corner of the building. She just lifted her head up toward the sun and closed her eyes. She inhaled and exhaled a long breath and, with her eyes closed, she let the sun warm her face and her hair.
Back inside the school, class had just let out but Cat noticed that Harry was still seated while the other students were leaving. They caught each other's eye and he looked at her as if to say "what happened-where is she"? Cat just dropped her eyes and walked past Harry to grab Christina's things. Harry just sighed in frustration. He turned around and looked
at Cat kneeling on the floor, gathering Crissy's things. His heart was heavy with grief at seeing Chrissy in such a distraught state of mind. He felt it was his fault and that he had caused her embarrassment, her tears,......
"Cat" he said, looking at her.
Catsha froze when Harry said her name, but she never met his eyes.
"Cat, where is she? Please...TELL me. I feel like it's my fault she's upset".
Cat just smiled softly to herself at those words. While still kneeling on the floor, she looked up at Harry. "You have no idea what you've done to her by reading that poem today. You should have seen it. I was watchin' the class almost the entire time". Her smile faded as she said: "It's why I didn't notice Crissy's soaked face until you were just about done".
Harry looked at her inquisitively, not sure what she meant.
"You were good up there", said Cat, voice shaking. "The day she noticed you, that day at the lacrosse game? I did everything I could to convince her that you weren't good enough for her, that she needed and deserved someone in her own social class; and boy, she sure yanked the rug out from under me that day", she said shaking her head, remembering that day as if it were yesterday.
Cat looked at Harry with tears running down her face. "Forgive me, please? I was wrong. I was so wrong about you. After you read that poem & I heard those things come out of your mouth...." Cat just shook her head. "I'm so stupid. Crissy keeps telling me not to judge a book by its cover and to not judge someone before you get to know them & I've gone
and done just that.
"We're from a whole different world than you Harold. You don't understand where we come from, what it's like for us. Not everything is so black and white in our world as it seems to be in yours. Both mine & Chrissy's parents are determined to marry us off to the first single Socialite Bachelor when we turn 18. Girls and boys from all walks of life look
forward to turning 18, but Chrissy and I have talked about it....extensively. We're DREADING it", said Cat, then she paused and looked at Harry.
Cat locked eyes with Harry and he could tell she was, at that moment, at her utmost sincerity. "Why can't I find a guy like you?" She paused and laughed to herself: "Maybe it's my own fault, I've been too judgmental. Maybe he was there & I missed him".
Harry just tilted his head at Cat and said: "Don't worry, he'll come along when you least expect it. I know he's still out there & when the time is right, the two of you will find each other. Fate always has a way of working itself out".
Cat, not sure she entirely believed Harry, just said: "At least with you, she'll find a way out. I've never seen her like this, not over a boy. I'M even seeing her in a new light. She's REAL about this. She's REAL" she said staring in Harry's eyes.
Harry just stared back, unable to open his mouth or move a muscle.
"So at any rate, I'm asking your forgiveness, not because of Chrissy, but for MY behavior, for what I said to her. Thank God she wouldn't listen to me. She's following her heart on this one...and it's leading her to you".
Harold was taught by his mother that when someone is sincere in asking your forgiveness.....you forgive them...no matter what. "Don't worry Cat, it's all water under the bridge -- we're good".
Cat smiled contentedly to herself & closed her eyes. she wiped her nose with the back of her fingers and said: "She's out by the football field. Today HAS to be the day. You HAVE to go to her....now"
Harry just looked at Cat with doubt and said: "Oh I don't KNOW Cat. After that poem, I...how do I know she'll want to see me? You saw her face. What if she's having doubts now? I embarrassed her, I indirectly put her on the spot, and even YOU said, the whole class seems to know it".
Cat just grinned and said: "You did no such thing Harry. You won her HEART. THAT much is certain. Look, the last period for you, is what? Study Hall? That's always optional during the last period of the day. You can pretty much go home if you want to".
Harry looked at her questioningly as to how she knew his class schedule. Cat caught on to his non verbalized question and just said: "Harry I don't know. You have to ask Crissy that. Somehow she knows your class schedule. She didn't tell me HOW she knew....she just kinda blurted it out a few days ago, haha!!"
Harry had to laugh to himself. Apparently he'd been on her mind as much as she had been on his.
Harry got up to leave and said: "I WILL finally talk to her. Thanks Cat, and.....for what it's worth, Chrissy is lucky to have a friend like you".
"Thanks Harry" she said, then almost forgetting, she said: "Here, take her keys and her purse. Don't worry she'll know what it means".
Harry walked out of school, then rounded to the back of the building, onto the huge field 100 feet away. As he got closer, he saw her. She had her back turned to him and it appeared she was still wiping tears from her face. His heart sank when he saw her. He honestly didn't know what to think of the way his poem had affected her. He knew that they were
both attracted to one another, but after his poem reading, it was Open Season on his heart....and it would be his fault if things didn't go as he had planned.
He was about 50 feet from her, and was about to take another step, when she turned around......they were now standing face to face.
"No turning back now Harold Timothy" he told himself.....
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Chapter 4 -- Part One -- First Meeting
SoundTrack For Chapter 4:
Where Ever Would I Be -- Dusty Springfield & Daryl Hall
Dana Glover -- It Is You I Have Loved
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry thought he would be nervous at the thought of having to read his Romance Literature Presentation in front of the class. Despite not being a Rico Suave with the ladies, he had the gift of an orator. He had the gift to speak the truth, and people heard him.....his gift was influence.
Christina had made it to class before him, and she and Catriona were sitting in the back. They had always made it a point to sit in the back so they would be the last ones out at the bell. They were in no hurry to get to the class that followed.......calculus & trigonometry. The two of them were in the back, chatting away, waiting for class to start when, in he walked. Cat just continued to talk but Crissy had tuned her out. At the site of Harry, her mouth opened slightly. He walked in the front door, took a few steps.....and paused.
Half the class stopped to stare at Harry to see if he would, once again, bomb out with the Queen. To a lot of people, it was downright excruciating to watch Harold be in love with Crissy. How do you tell someone like him that he was setting himself up for a big fall, for ridicule, for embarrassment; that a Socialite Debutante just wasn't within his reach?
There wasn't one day that went by where she didn't look absolutely exquisite, debonair & elegant. She looked like she stepped right out of a music video. He had seen The Miss America pageant and Christina Rose outshined any beauty queen that currently walked the face of the earth.
Cat noticed that Crissy had stopped paying attention to her and that her head was slightly turned away. That was when she noticed Harry & she staring at each other....once again. Cat just kind of smirked and watched to see who would make the first move before class. When Harry noticed Cat staring at him as well, he quickly found his seat at the front of the
class & never turned around for the entire duration of class.
Christina's smile faded and she got a defeated look on her face. Cat noticed and said: "Criss, really? You expected him to walk right up to you in front of everybody and just say....hi? Isn't that expecting a bit much? I've told you before. He won't make a move in front of anyone. He still has no idea what you'll say at any given time. He won't risk you blowing him off in front of anyone. You truy have your hands full with this one. He's extremely shy but if anyone can break him out of that shell, you can babygirl. You know you can".
His forehead had beads of sweat, his heart was racing and his hands were slightly shaking. It took every bone and every muscle in his body to tear his eyes away from the woman who was his life, his everything. NOW he was nervous to give his presentation. He didn't understand what was going on inside his head. He was usually 99% calm, cool and collected in any given situation. But he felt like his heart could just positively explode. He wiped the sweat from his forehead as the bell rang. He started to suffer from cotton mouth as he tried to get himself under control. He said a quick prayer to God to calm his nerves and he took deep breaths to steady himself mentally.
"Harold Stone, you're next", said Mrs Bernson. He swollowed hard and slowly stood up. He had to force himself not to look at Christina, even though he planned to catch her eye as much as possible during his speech. He just couldn't bring himself to do it. He stood behind the podium at the front of the class & faced everyone.
"My assignment doesn't really have a title. These thoughts just seemed to hit me all at once and I wrote them down as they came. My assignment does have a theme however. These are thoughts that I think every man needs to keep in mind when he thinks he understands a woman, when you think you know what makes a woman tick, what makes her want you, what makes her
want to KEEP you, or what makes you want to work to keep HER. A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets, and you'll only discover the answer to those secrets if she allows you near enough to her", he began.
Cat's mouth dropped open, then she glanced at Crissy and said: "Dang, that's DEEP. Your boy toy is turnin' out to be a little scholastic philosopher". She noticed Christina's face turn ashen white with shock at what she was hearing come out of Harry's mouth. He started to read his assignment, as Crissy listened intensely:
"1.When she walks away from you mad
[ Follow her ]
2.When she stares at your mouth
[ Kiss her ]
3.When she misses you
[ she's hurting inside ]
4.When she starts cussing at you
[ Kiss her and tell her you love her ]
He looks at christina as he says:
5.When she's quiet
[ Ask her whats wrong ]"
With each statement read, he relaxes more and more and comes into his element. No more nervous knots, no more cotton mouth, he feels at peace. You could hear a pin drop in the classroom as just about EVERYONE wonders where on EARTH this has come from. No one has had any idea that this was brewing underneath the surface of Harry's being:
6.When she ignores you
[ Give her your attention ]
7.When she pulls away
[ Pull her back ]
He lays his eyes on Christina's tear soaked face as he says:
"8.When you see her at her worst
[ Tell her she's beautiful ]
9.When you see her start crying
[Just hold her and dont say a word ]"
Christina musters up the strength with every fiber of her being to keep from bursting into tears. In her heart, she finally reconciles that he's the one. The wisdom that has come from that man's mind, his heart, and his soul was almost more than she could comprehend. She didn't think she had the strength to soak him all in.
With a playful smile, Harry continues:
"10.When you see her walking
[ Sneak up and hug her waist from behind ]"
Looking at Christina once again, seeing she is on the verge of breaking down, and wanting to run to her and throw his
arms around her neck, he says:
"11.When she's scared
[ Protect her ]"
12.When she lays her head on your shoulder
[ Tilt her head up and kiss her ]"
Wishing she would look at him, he says:
"13.When she looks at you in your eyes
[ dont look away until she does ]"
You could feel the tension in the room grow to a fever pitch. Almost everyone in the class knows he's looking at Christina. Unbeknownst to him, most everyone now is silently rooting for him to capture his Princess. Everyone is now coming to the realization that the reason it was so easy for him to write his poetry is.....he wrote it about his queen.
Still looking at her as he finishes, he says:
"14.When she doesn't answer for a long time
[ reassure her that everything is okay ]
15.When she says that she likes you
[she really does MORE than you could understand ]
And that's the end of my....speech....assignment....or whatever" Harry tells Mrs Bernson.
"Thank you Harold. That was TRULY profound; and you wrote that all YOURSELF?"
"Yes Ma'am I did, responded Harry. "I just found a quiet place at home and sat in complete silence and just waited to see what came to me. Once the poetry started, it.....wouldn't stop. I honestly didn't know if it ever WOULD stop".
"I'm truly proud of ---- the teacher started, but was interrupted by commotion in the back of the room. Christina ran to the front of the room, and out the door.
Where Ever Would I Be -- Dusty Springfield & Daryl Hall
Dana Glover -- It Is You I Have Loved
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry thought he would be nervous at the thought of having to read his Romance Literature Presentation in front of the class. Despite not being a Rico Suave with the ladies, he had the gift of an orator. He had the gift to speak the truth, and people heard him.....his gift was influence.
Christina had made it to class before him, and she and Catriona were sitting in the back. They had always made it a point to sit in the back so they would be the last ones out at the bell. They were in no hurry to get to the class that followed.......calculus & trigonometry. The two of them were in the back, chatting away, waiting for class to start when, in he walked. Cat just continued to talk but Crissy had tuned her out. At the site of Harry, her mouth opened slightly. He walked in the front door, took a few steps.....and paused.
Half the class stopped to stare at Harry to see if he would, once again, bomb out with the Queen. To a lot of people, it was downright excruciating to watch Harold be in love with Crissy. How do you tell someone like him that he was setting himself up for a big fall, for ridicule, for embarrassment; that a Socialite Debutante just wasn't within his reach?
There wasn't one day that went by where she didn't look absolutely exquisite, debonair & elegant. She looked like she stepped right out of a music video. He had seen The Miss America pageant and Christina Rose outshined any beauty queen that currently walked the face of the earth.
Cat noticed that Crissy had stopped paying attention to her and that her head was slightly turned away. That was when she noticed Harry & she staring at each other....once again. Cat just kind of smirked and watched to see who would make the first move before class. When Harry noticed Cat staring at him as well, he quickly found his seat at the front of the
class & never turned around for the entire duration of class.
Christina's smile faded and she got a defeated look on her face. Cat noticed and said: "Criss, really? You expected him to walk right up to you in front of everybody and just say....hi? Isn't that expecting a bit much? I've told you before. He won't make a move in front of anyone. He still has no idea what you'll say at any given time. He won't risk you blowing him off in front of anyone. You truy have your hands full with this one. He's extremely shy but if anyone can break him out of that shell, you can babygirl. You know you can".
His forehead had beads of sweat, his heart was racing and his hands were slightly shaking. It took every bone and every muscle in his body to tear his eyes away from the woman who was his life, his everything. NOW he was nervous to give his presentation. He didn't understand what was going on inside his head. He was usually 99% calm, cool and collected in any given situation. But he felt like his heart could just positively explode. He wiped the sweat from his forehead as the bell rang. He started to suffer from cotton mouth as he tried to get himself under control. He said a quick prayer to God to calm his nerves and he took deep breaths to steady himself mentally.
"Harold Stone, you're next", said Mrs Bernson. He swollowed hard and slowly stood up. He had to force himself not to look at Christina, even though he planned to catch her eye as much as possible during his speech. He just couldn't bring himself to do it. He stood behind the podium at the front of the class & faced everyone.
"My assignment doesn't really have a title. These thoughts just seemed to hit me all at once and I wrote them down as they came. My assignment does have a theme however. These are thoughts that I think every man needs to keep in mind when he thinks he understands a woman, when you think you know what makes a woman tick, what makes her want you, what makes her
want to KEEP you, or what makes you want to work to keep HER. A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets, and you'll only discover the answer to those secrets if she allows you near enough to her", he began.
Cat's mouth dropped open, then she glanced at Crissy and said: "Dang, that's DEEP. Your boy toy is turnin' out to be a little scholastic philosopher". She noticed Christina's face turn ashen white with shock at what she was hearing come out of Harry's mouth. He started to read his assignment, as Crissy listened intensely:
"1.When she walks away from you mad
[ Follow her ]
2.When she stares at your mouth
[ Kiss her ]
3.When she misses you
[ she's hurting inside ]
4.When she starts cussing at you
[ Kiss her and tell her you love her ]
He looks at christina as he says:
5.When she's quiet
[ Ask her whats wrong ]"
With each statement read, he relaxes more and more and comes into his element. No more nervous knots, no more cotton mouth, he feels at peace. You could hear a pin drop in the classroom as just about EVERYONE wonders where on EARTH this has come from. No one has had any idea that this was brewing underneath the surface of Harry's being:
6.When she ignores you
[ Give her your attention ]
7.When she pulls away
[ Pull her back ]
He lays his eyes on Christina's tear soaked face as he says:
"8.When you see her at her worst
[ Tell her she's beautiful ]
9.When you see her start crying
[Just hold her and dont say a word ]"
Christina musters up the strength with every fiber of her being to keep from bursting into tears. In her heart, she finally reconciles that he's the one. The wisdom that has come from that man's mind, his heart, and his soul was almost more than she could comprehend. She didn't think she had the strength to soak him all in.
With a playful smile, Harry continues:
"10.When you see her walking
[ Sneak up and hug her waist from behind ]"
Looking at Christina once again, seeing she is on the verge of breaking down, and wanting to run to her and throw his
arms around her neck, he says:
"11.When she's scared
[ Protect her ]"
12.When she lays her head on your shoulder
[ Tilt her head up and kiss her ]"
Wishing she would look at him, he says:
"13.When she looks at you in your eyes
[ dont look away until she does ]"
You could feel the tension in the room grow to a fever pitch. Almost everyone in the class knows he's looking at Christina. Unbeknownst to him, most everyone now is silently rooting for him to capture his Princess. Everyone is now coming to the realization that the reason it was so easy for him to write his poetry is.....he wrote it about his queen.
Still looking at her as he finishes, he says:
"14.When she doesn't answer for a long time
[ reassure her that everything is okay ]
15.When she says that she likes you
[she really does MORE than you could understand ]
And that's the end of my....speech....assignment....or whatever" Harry tells Mrs Bernson.
"Thank you Harold. That was TRULY profound; and you wrote that all YOURSELF?"
"Yes Ma'am I did, responded Harry. "I just found a quiet place at home and sat in complete silence and just waited to see what came to me. Once the poetry started, it.....wouldn't stop. I honestly didn't know if it ever WOULD stop".
"I'm truly proud of ---- the teacher started, but was interrupted by commotion in the back of the room. Christina ran to the front of the room, and out the door.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Chapter 3 -- Hearts Fastened
SoundTrack
Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole - When I Fall In Love
Leann Rimes -- I Need You
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Harry pulled into his driveway, his mother was there on the porch sipping tea. She knew instantly there was something different about her son. As he walked up onto the porch, she said with a soft smile on her face: "You finally met somebody". He just sighed to himself, knowing she was the only individual, male or female, who could read him like a book
and see straight through to his soul. He just shook his head in disbelief. "Here it comes" he thought to himself -- "the talk". "Uh", he stammered...."I don't know yet" he confessed.
"I know" his mother said gently. "I've been prayin' for this day ever since you were a little boy, that God would keep you pure and whole, and only bring into your life the woman HE wants for you and to close off all others from your heart. It looks like my prayers are finally bein' answered son. I can feel it. I can see it in your eyes and read it in your face".
"Everyday I thank God for you momma" he said while looking at all the wrinkles in her face. "You've been my rock when I had no one else.....literally". He kissed her on the cheek and said: "Now I've got homework to do. We have to write a sort of free verse or poetry for English Literature during the Romance Period. It'll be fun" he said while rolling his eyes.
"Oh son, you'll do fine. Deep down you're a romantic. You just may surprise yourself" said his mother.
"I'm not good in the romance department momma. That's why....this girl...she's....she's indescribable", he said as he started zoning out. "I just looked at her today and....the whole world stopped. Not a thing existed....just her face".
His mother looked at him, mesmerized. "He's found the one" she confirmed to herself. "She's it". But she never said a word. This was between Harry & God now. She would just silently pray for the two of them to become one in HIS time.
Harry went upstairs to begin work on his English Literature Romance project, dreading every passing minute. He simply had no insight to romance or women. It wasn't his forte. It wasn't something he understood at all. After a few minutes, he gave up and went to lie down on his bed. He said a silent prayer before God to help him wright a paper that would honor HIM, something pure & right. He closed his eyes and just concentrated. All he saw was Christina's face. He continued to lie on his bed, his eyes filling with tears. He just let them stream where they may and he said a silent prayer to God: "I can't explain it, I really want her to be the one. She's got my heart and there's no gettin' it back".
After a few minutes, Harry had the most beautiful poetic words come to him from the very depths of his soul, bubbling up through his heart:
1.When she walks away from you mad
[ Follow her ]
2.When she stare's at your mouth
[ Kiss her ]
3.When she misses you
[ she's hurting inside ]
4.When she starts cussing at you
[ Kiss her and tell her you love her ]
5.When she's quiet
[ Ask her whats wrong ]
6.When she ignores you
[ Give her your attention ]
7.When she pulls away
[ Pull her back ]
8.When you see her at her worst
[ Tell her she's beautiful ]
9.When you see her start crying
[Just hold her and dont say a word ]
10.When you see her walking
[ Sneak up and hug her waist from behind ]
11.When she's scared
[ Protect her ]
12.When she lays her head on your shoulder
[ Tilt her head up and kiss her ]
13.When she looks at you in your eyes
[ dont look away until she does ]
14.When she doesn't answer for a long time
[ reassure her that everything is okay ]
15.When she says that she likes you
[she really does MORE than you could understand ]
It took him all of 20 minutes to write it all down. The words just seemed to flow out of him like a waterfall spilling into the river. He just kept wrighting and wrighting until his mind ran out of thoughts. When he had finished, he laid his paper aside and climbed into the window sill of his bedroom's big picture window.
Leann Rimes' song "I Need You" started to play on his stereo.
After tomorrow, there would be no turning back for him.....for EITHER of them. He knew once he read his assignment out loud, she would subtlely and indirectly know he was speaking straight to her. He swollowed hard as the butterflies in his stomach started again. All he could do was sigh, as he listened to Savage Garden's "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met
You". He & she hadn't formally met yet, but he was already in love.
He had always felt lost inside -- mentally, emotionally, psychologically, etc. But when he found Christina, he seemed to start finding his way home. He climbed in bed for the night, and, while listening to his favorite radio station playing love songs, he fell asleep to thoughts of Christina's perfect porcelain features.
Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole - When I Fall In Love
Leann Rimes -- I Need You
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Harry pulled into his driveway, his mother was there on the porch sipping tea. She knew instantly there was something different about her son. As he walked up onto the porch, she said with a soft smile on her face: "You finally met somebody". He just sighed to himself, knowing she was the only individual, male or female, who could read him like a book
and see straight through to his soul. He just shook his head in disbelief. "Here it comes" he thought to himself -- "the talk". "Uh", he stammered...."I don't know yet" he confessed.
"I know" his mother said gently. "I've been prayin' for this day ever since you were a little boy, that God would keep you pure and whole, and only bring into your life the woman HE wants for you and to close off all others from your heart. It looks like my prayers are finally bein' answered son. I can feel it. I can see it in your eyes and read it in your face".
"Everyday I thank God for you momma" he said while looking at all the wrinkles in her face. "You've been my rock when I had no one else.....literally". He kissed her on the cheek and said: "Now I've got homework to do. We have to write a sort of free verse or poetry for English Literature during the Romance Period. It'll be fun" he said while rolling his eyes.
"Oh son, you'll do fine. Deep down you're a romantic. You just may surprise yourself" said his mother.
"I'm not good in the romance department momma. That's why....this girl...she's....she's indescribable", he said as he started zoning out. "I just looked at her today and....the whole world stopped. Not a thing existed....just her face".
His mother looked at him, mesmerized. "He's found the one" she confirmed to herself. "She's it". But she never said a word. This was between Harry & God now. She would just silently pray for the two of them to become one in HIS time.
Harry went upstairs to begin work on his English Literature Romance project, dreading every passing minute. He simply had no insight to romance or women. It wasn't his forte. It wasn't something he understood at all. After a few minutes, he gave up and went to lie down on his bed. He said a silent prayer before God to help him wright a paper that would honor HIM, something pure & right. He closed his eyes and just concentrated. All he saw was Christina's face. He continued to lie on his bed, his eyes filling with tears. He just let them stream where they may and he said a silent prayer to God: "I can't explain it, I really want her to be the one. She's got my heart and there's no gettin' it back".
After a few minutes, Harry had the most beautiful poetic words come to him from the very depths of his soul, bubbling up through his heart:
1.When she walks away from you mad
[ Follow her ]
2.When she stare's at your mouth
[ Kiss her ]
3.When she misses you
[ she's hurting inside ]
4.When she starts cussing at you
[ Kiss her and tell her you love her ]
5.When she's quiet
[ Ask her whats wrong ]
6.When she ignores you
[ Give her your attention ]
7.When she pulls away
[ Pull her back ]
8.When you see her at her worst
[ Tell her she's beautiful ]
9.When you see her start crying
[Just hold her and dont say a word ]
10.When you see her walking
[ Sneak up and hug her waist from behind ]
11.When she's scared
[ Protect her ]
12.When she lays her head on your shoulder
[ Tilt her head up and kiss her ]
13.When she looks at you in your eyes
[ dont look away until she does ]
14.When she doesn't answer for a long time
[ reassure her that everything is okay ]
15.When she says that she likes you
[she really does MORE than you could understand ]
It took him all of 20 minutes to write it all down. The words just seemed to flow out of him like a waterfall spilling into the river. He just kept wrighting and wrighting until his mind ran out of thoughts. When he had finished, he laid his paper aside and climbed into the window sill of his bedroom's big picture window.
Leann Rimes' song "I Need You" started to play on his stereo.
After tomorrow, there would be no turning back for him.....for EITHER of them. He knew once he read his assignment out loud, she would subtlely and indirectly know he was speaking straight to her. He swollowed hard as the butterflies in his stomach started again. All he could do was sigh, as he listened to Savage Garden's "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met
You". He & she hadn't formally met yet, but he was already in love.
He had always felt lost inside -- mentally, emotionally, psychologically, etc. But when he found Christina, he seemed to start finding his way home. He climbed in bed for the night, and, while listening to his favorite radio station playing love songs, he fell asleep to thoughts of Christina's perfect porcelain features.
Chapter 2 -- Having Doubts
Chapter 2 Is Told From Harry's Point Of View
SOUNDTRACK FOR CHAPTER #2
** Je Suis Malade - Laura Fabian **
** Immortelle - Laura Fabian **
** Love By Grace - Laura Fabian **
** Patric Swayze - She's Like The Wind **
On his drive home from LaCrosse Scrimmage practice, all Harold could think about was beautiful Christina Rose. A girl who, according to half the free world, he could never have-"Really does wonders for the self confidence", he mused. They were from different worlds, he & she. She was like royalty, her family was a pillar of the community. Everyone from the mayor to the governor knew who the Sullivans were. That made his butterflies in his stomach worse.
Playing on the radio during his drive home was Lara Fabian's "Je Suis Malade" (I Am Sick); and he was truly Malade. He was sick...in love. Lara was singing the song so sultry that all he could picture in his mind was his beautiful Christina. He longed to hold her, to protect her from the world. He was determined that no matter what anyone had to say, she was now his. He could see in her eyes that she felt the same way about him that he felt about her.
"A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words". The picture in her eyes spoke billions of words in one glance. He felt a peace in his heart and in his soul when he thought of her. That's how he knew this was right. At a stop light, he closed his eyes and saw her porcelain face. He softly smiled to himself. What was WRONG with him? He was behaving like a love sick puppy. He had just met her and already she had him wrapped around her little finger.
PATRICK SWAYZE'S "She's Like The Wind" came on the radio. It seemed to speak volumes of their relationship and yet, it hadn't even begun yet:
She's like the wind through my tree
She rides the night next to me
She leads me through moonlight
Only to burn me with the sun
She's taken my heart
But she doesn't know what she's done
After this afternoon's game, she had definitely taken his heart; and Harry knew, the way her family operated, especially her father, she really has no idea what she's just done by falling in love with him. In his eyes, with his low self-esteem, she could do so much better. He wasn't a handsome, buff, tan, built jock. He wasn't supermodel material. He wasn't smooth with the ladies. He put the top down on his convertible and let the wind run through his hair.
As he felt the wind on his face, he imagined instead, it being Crissy's breath. His palms started to sweat. He had never given ANY woman ANY thought at all, at least not in the romantic way. His heart started to beat at a rapid rate. This was all new to him. He sighed with resignation, almost kicking himself for allowing his heart to get away from him. She was out of his league and he knew it. The whole school knew it.
Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my league
Just a fool to believe
I have anything she needs
She's like the wind
After today, he longed to feel her very breath on his face, to feel her body close to his. It was strange though. He had no problem looking into those crystal blue eyes of hers. They were like an ocean. He could get lost in them. He could swim in them. He felt himself getting slightly disoriented & dizzy. It was all he could do to get his mind back on the road. According to everyone of his close friends, she was very MUCH out of his league. What was he thinking that she would ever, in a million years, accept a date with him? He had nothing to offer her and he had nothing she needed. But he couldn't get out of his mind that he wasn't wrong about the way she looked at him. It was why he was going to law school after high school & college. He had the ability to read people, to read their emotions, even from a distance. He wasn't wrong in what he saw in her eyes and in her body language.
His heart sank. "She knows nothing about me", he thought to himself. "Once she DOES get to know me, it'll be a turn off. So she thought she saw someone who was cute. Or maybe she smiled at me out of pity". He immediately felt horrible for pre judging her. He knew what it felt like to be pre judged because of who you are, because of WHAT you are, because of where you come from; and here he was, doing the same thing to her.
"I don't know WHAT I'm gonna do". But he knew he had to do SOMETHING. Deep in his heart, he loved her already. It's often been said that a woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets. The same could be said of HIS heart...and he was afraid she was about to discover every secret he had.
SOUNDTRACK FOR CHAPTER #2
** Je Suis Malade - Laura Fabian **
** Immortelle - Laura Fabian **
** Love By Grace - Laura Fabian **
** Patric Swayze - She's Like The Wind **
On his drive home from LaCrosse Scrimmage practice, all Harold could think about was beautiful Christina Rose. A girl who, according to half the free world, he could never have-"Really does wonders for the self confidence", he mused. They were from different worlds, he & she. She was like royalty, her family was a pillar of the community. Everyone from the mayor to the governor knew who the Sullivans were. That made his butterflies in his stomach worse.
Playing on the radio during his drive home was Lara Fabian's "Je Suis Malade" (I Am Sick); and he was truly Malade. He was sick...in love. Lara was singing the song so sultry that all he could picture in his mind was his beautiful Christina. He longed to hold her, to protect her from the world. He was determined that no matter what anyone had to say, she was now his. He could see in her eyes that she felt the same way about him that he felt about her.
"A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words". The picture in her eyes spoke billions of words in one glance. He felt a peace in his heart and in his soul when he thought of her. That's how he knew this was right. At a stop light, he closed his eyes and saw her porcelain face. He softly smiled to himself. What was WRONG with him? He was behaving like a love sick puppy. He had just met her and already she had him wrapped around her little finger.
PATRICK SWAYZE'S "She's Like The Wind" came on the radio. It seemed to speak volumes of their relationship and yet, it hadn't even begun yet:
She's like the wind through my tree
She rides the night next to me
She leads me through moonlight
Only to burn me with the sun
She's taken my heart
But she doesn't know what she's done
After this afternoon's game, she had definitely taken his heart; and Harry knew, the way her family operated, especially her father, she really has no idea what she's just done by falling in love with him. In his eyes, with his low self-esteem, she could do so much better. He wasn't a handsome, buff, tan, built jock. He wasn't supermodel material. He wasn't smooth with the ladies. He put the top down on his convertible and let the wind run through his hair.
As he felt the wind on his face, he imagined instead, it being Crissy's breath. His palms started to sweat. He had never given ANY woman ANY thought at all, at least not in the romantic way. His heart started to beat at a rapid rate. This was all new to him. He sighed with resignation, almost kicking himself for allowing his heart to get away from him. She was out of his league and he knew it. The whole school knew it.
Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my league
Just a fool to believe
I have anything she needs
She's like the wind
After today, he longed to feel her very breath on his face, to feel her body close to his. It was strange though. He had no problem looking into those crystal blue eyes of hers. They were like an ocean. He could get lost in them. He could swim in them. He felt himself getting slightly disoriented & dizzy. It was all he could do to get his mind back on the road. According to everyone of his close friends, she was very MUCH out of his league. What was he thinking that she would ever, in a million years, accept a date with him? He had nothing to offer her and he had nothing she needed. But he couldn't get out of his mind that he wasn't wrong about the way she looked at him. It was why he was going to law school after high school & college. He had the ability to read people, to read their emotions, even from a distance. He wasn't wrong in what he saw in her eyes and in her body language.
His heart sank. "She knows nothing about me", he thought to himself. "Once she DOES get to know me, it'll be a turn off. So she thought she saw someone who was cute. Or maybe she smiled at me out of pity". He immediately felt horrible for pre judging her. He knew what it felt like to be pre judged because of who you are, because of WHAT you are, because of where you come from; and here he was, doing the same thing to her.
"I don't know WHAT I'm gonna do". But he knew he had to do SOMETHING. Deep in his heart, he loved her already. It's often been said that a woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets. The same could be said of HIS heart...and he was afraid she was about to discover every secret he had.
Chapter One: Discovering Each Other
Soundtrack For Chapter One:
** Lady Antebellum - Need You Now **
** Simply Red - If You Don't Know Me By Now **
** Dana Glover - It Is You I Have Loved **
** FireFall - You Are The Woman
** Theme From A Summer Place - Percy Faith Orchestra **
===================================================================
"Why I do believe that our little Christina is starin' at the boys" said Catriona.
"What? No...I'm not" said Christina flabbergasted.
"Oh but you ARE! I see you starin' at someone out of the corner of your eye. You always studder when you're nervous Criss. We've been friends for how long? I KNOW you! So, Which jock is it? They're all pretty hot", she started surveying ALL the boys. Well some of them are. Some need a little work...some are just...yeah", she said eyeing the homely looking Stone boy with her nose in the air.
Christine just rolled her eyes and said: "Let's not talk about this now Cat. I still don't have all the cheers down pat yet and you have to help me".
"Ok, well, when we get out of here, you're gonna tell me who you were starin at. You know I can hook you up", said Cat.
Her heart sank. Deep down, she said to herself: "No...you can't. In her mind, Crissy just said: "Trust me, this will be the last guy you will want to hook me up with. As superficial as you still are, I'm on my own on this one, I can already feel it".
She saw Harold's face and that's the last she saw of her heart. She tried to rationalize in her mind all of reasons why it would never work. She was sure they would have absolutely NOTHING in common. Besides, she reasoned, her family is of American and Scottish Aristocracy and he would be what one would consider a "commoner"; and she only noticed him all of 5 seconds. Little did she know those 5 seconds would turn into a lifetime's worth.
She had only noticed him for under 5 seconds but...his eyes. It's like she saw right through his eyes, deep into his very soul. She mumbled to herself: "I SEE you, Harold Timothy". She knew she had the gift to "read" people per sey. But never in a romantic way. It was idiotic for her to feel this way. All she saw was his face. She knew nothing about him, other than he plays LaCrosse and she was a cheerleader for the team's squad.
Halfway through their cheers, she caught his eye again. This time their gaze lasted longer. One of his team mates had to practically wave his hand in front of Harry's face to get his attention back on the game. His best buddy leaned in and said to him: "Forget about it Stone. She's way out of your league buddy and you know it. You'll never get next to the likes of her. You two are WORLDS apart. It'll never work. Save yourself the heartbreak".
"Jeez thanks for the vote of confidence" said Harry.
"Buddy don't do that. You know I don't mean it bad. You know I love you right? You're my boy? But you KNOW this will never work. Her father, you know he don't like boys like us. There's no way, never in a million years, that that man will let you get even an INCH close to his daughter. You know her family comes from aristocracy, ROYALTY practically.
You know who she is. The whole community practically knows them.
You know who she is. The whole community practically knows them.
On her side of the field, one of the other cheerleaders ran into Christina because she wasn't paying attention. "Honey, do you want to PLAY LaCrosse or do you want to cheer it?" Mairi asked. Christina's best friend looked at her with annoyance until she noticed Christina zoned out again, staring across the field.
"Who is she STARIN' at"? Catriona wondered. She tried her hardest to look through the group of boys to see who Crissy had her eye on. "Oh NO! Not HIM! This is OH so bad for her", she said, shocked, when she realized who Christina was gawking at. She could already visualize the screaming match between Crissy & her father that would ensue.
She sighed with resignation because she knew her friend. Once Christina had her mind and her heart set on something or someone, there was no deterring her. Nothing you could say or do would tear her away from her current passion.
"Criss, we need to talk...my house, after the scrimmage practice cheers", said Cat.
"Talk about what?" inquired Christina.
"You KNOW what" her friend retorted.
"Yeah I like somebody" said Christina. "So what"?
"somebody"? asked Cat. "SOMEBODY"? "Crissy, I SAW who you were starin' at". she said.
Knowing she was caught, Christina said: "Yeah, so?"
"Crissy, you don't know anything ABOUT him. He isn't exactly jock / cheerleader material" raising her eyebrows, questioning Christina's thinking.
"Yeah and how would YOU know? What do YOU know about him"? questioned Christina.
"It doesn't matter Crissy. Look at him. You know what I'm TALKIN' about. It doesn't take much deductive reasoning to figure him out. He's not RIGHT for you" she said. Exasberated Cat said: "Look, there's this party on Friday night, a socialite party so you know you'll father will approve. Let's go and I'll introduce you to the RIGHT guy for you".
"The RIGHT guy for me?" said Crissy. "You sound like my father. You know, as long as I've known you, I've NEVER in a million years heard you talk so shallow. What happened to you? You've always been the champion of {get to know the person on the inside, not the outside - or - Don't judge a book by its cover}. This isn't LIKE you" snapped Christina. Christina just turned her head away from her friend, sighed in disbelief, and shook her head.
Cat just looked up to the heavens, at the sun and the cloudy blue sky. Feeling conviction at the words spoken to her by Christina, she knew Crissy was right. What WAS happening to her? She was being influenced by the socialite society that Crissy was trying so hard to get away from.
"Sigh, Criss, you're right. I'm sorry." She laughed to herself. "You're RIGHT. I'm sorry, sometimes I just get so full of myself. I mean, we're in HIGH SCHOOL now and we're cheerleaders. We're jock fodder" laughed Cat.
I know that's shallow. I'm just used to looking at a man's physical appearance. But...ever since I met you, you HAVE changed me".
Christina smiled at her friend and said: "Thank you, that's better".
"Sigh, you know I have a knack for playing Cupid. So...if you REALLY REALLY want this boy, just say the word and I'll hook you up" said Catriona.
Christina's face turned ashen white and she looked at her in disbelief. "What is wrong with you? Do you want this boy or not"?
"You really think you can do it"? asked Crissy.
"I won't insult your intelligence by answering that question. I'll consider that rhetorical" she laughed.
"Why do I all of a sudden have nervous knots in my stomach"? asked Christina.
Catty looked at Christina with heartfelt emotions. "Because I know you Crissy. If you think you love this boy, and this boy isn't really someone I see you being interested in...this is different for you...then I'll make sure & do what I can to make it happen".
" Catsha, just be careful ok? This has to be kept on the down low, especially because of who my family is. I have a feeling that, no matter HOW this turns out, my father will find out...he just will".
"Criss, don't worry. He'll never know...at least not as long as I can help it".
"I hope you're right. For once, I'd like to do something for MYSELF, purely of my own decision" she said smiling at Harry across the LaCrosse field. To her shock, he met her eye and smiled back. She just stood there and stared. Her friend grabbed her by the arm. "Come on you!...game's over. We need to start plannin' strategy".
Christina turned around to face her friend, but she just stared at the ground and grinned. "OH NO! You have it BAD Crissy" said Cat. "Well it won't be long before you two will be an item and I have the perfect plan in mind".
As they walked to Catty's car, they noticed Harry following them. "Oh crap, you don't think he's gonna jump our gun and come over here and try to talk to me, do you"? asked Christina.
"Well would it matter? Your precious little eyes have been all over him all night. Why don't you just hook up tonight & get it over with"? said Cat.
"Awwww? What did you just say"? laughed Criss.
"Well now, here's your chance" said KittyCat.
Christina's heart beat so hard & fast inside her chest, she could physically feel it pounding against her rib cage. Harry just walked 10 feet away from them because he was parked two cars over. Parked so close! His eyes met hers, he tipped his fedora hat and just like out of the 1940's movies, he said: "Ladies". Christina just stood with her jaw dropped to the ground. He looked like a movie star out of the old black and white films, a knock out drop dead gorgeous James Dean lookalike, complete with sunglasses, without the cigarettes.
He tipped his hat again, bowed a little and looked at her and said very softly: "Miss Christina". It gave her goosebumps up and down her arms. Cat's own jaw was halfway open. She said: "Chrissy, where have I been lately? I think it's ME whose in love"
"Uh Uh Uh, oh NO NO NO! I saw him first. He's mine!" claimed Christina. As they both got in the car, Christina turned to Cat and said: "Now what was that you said about him being {all wrong for me}"?
"I honestly think that was the cold pizza from last night talking" she said.
"Hahaha, yeah right. I bet it was. Why don't you just admit that for once...well actually more than once, I was RIGHT!
I DO have good taste in men. I DO know how to pick 'em" said Chrissy satisfactorily.
"Okay, Okay, you were right and I was wrong. Now let's get you home. It's late. We'll strategize tomorrow since it's Saturday. Call me in the morning Chriss.
Later, back at home, in the privacy of her room, her thoughts strayed to Harold's smiling face. she had her radio on and it was playing "Classic" by Adrian Gurvitz. She was definitely an addict for his love, yet they had never met. They had only exchanged glances at his LaCrosse practice game; and exchanged brief "hellos" after. Well, HE had spoken. She just stood there drooling on herself. So what was wrong with her? This strange new boy whose gaze she caught had captured her heart in his hands.
"REMEMBER WHEN" by Alan Jackson had begun to play and Christina smiled to herself. This would be their signature song,
she could already feel. She didn't know why, but she felt a peace when she thought of him. How strange to feel bonded to someone you've never met, only briefly stared into each other's eyes.
She had felt uneasy about becoming a cheerleader, mainly due to her shyness. But cheering was something she felt deeply about, and now, she had another reason to look forward to it.
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