…And Then…I Kissed Her
By: Jamie
Sommers
Email: jamiesommers23@hotmail.com
Rated: P/G 13 for language
Synopsis: Landon Carter needs help with his lines for
the school play and Jamie Sullivan has agreed to give him a hand on one
condition…he has to promise not to fall in love with her.
My eyes opened before the
alarm went off. I sat up in bed
and…smiled. I was happy. Down right giddy. I had this feeling like nothing could get me down. ‘She liked the sweater. You’re gonna see her today. This, Landon, could be one of the best days
of your life.’
“Gooooood Morning!” I walked
into the kitchen and kissed my mom on the cheek. “Beautiful day isn’t it?”
Picking up an apple from the fruit basket, I tossed it into the air, threw
my bag over my shoulder and headed off to school, leaving my mom staring in
disbelief at my back. I could hear her
breath catch and her slight giggle as I strode out of the house. “Yep.
Beautiful day!”
##
“Hey guys!” I walked up to my locker and tossed my books
in, “What’s up?” I wasn’t really
waiting around for an answer, I kinda wanted to see if I could catch Jamie at
her locker before classes started.
Before any of the gang could answer I grabbed what supplies I needed,
shoved them in my bag and said, “well I’m outta here. Later.” The entire thing took me less than thirty
seconds from start to finish.
I could hear them talking
amongst themselves as I walked away, “what the hell…what’s up with him…” but I
didn’t care. I had bigger and better
things to do today. Today was the day I
asked her. Today was the day I took a
chance. Today was the day… ‘There she is. Jamie.’
I stopped in the hallway
mesmerized by her. For years I secretly
thought she was pretty, not gorgeous in a model kinda way, but…pretty. Pretty in that, no make-up, natural look kinda
way. But now…now I knew she was more
than that, she was by far the most beautiful woman I had ever seen…I’d ever
known.
I watched dejectedly as Eddie
walked up to her. She greeted him with a genuine smile. The smile I was hoping I’d get, and they left
her locker walking side by side.
‘Eddie Zimmerhoff…what the hell do you have that I don’t. Sheesh…you know…I really want to hate him,
but…face it Landon; he’s a nice guy.
She could do worse. Yeah…she
could say yes to you.’
##
Guess I was kind of out of
things today…preoccupied. Usually I was
the one that knew what was going down.
What pranks were being played and on whom. Usually because I was the one playing them, but today…like I said
I was kind of out of it. When I got to
study hall I noticed Dean and the gang hovering over a computer. Dean was pointing to something on the
screen—I couldn’t make it out—when I heard the teacher call me into his office.
“Mr. Carter. Principal Kelly would like to see you.”
“Oh…sure,” I took the pass he
handed me and made my way out of the library, quickly glancing back over my
shoulder at my friends, then headed to the principal’s office. ‘Well…wonder what this is about. It’s not like you’ve done anything wrong
lately. Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe he’s thinking you’re being too
good. Yeah, like that would ever
happen.’
“Can I help you?”
“Yes…um Principal Kelly wants
to see me. Landon Carter.”
“Yes Landon, I know who you
are,” the secretary said with a raised eyebrow. “Take a seat. I’ll let him
know you’re here.”
##
“Landon.”
“Principal Kelly.”
“How’s it going?”
“Fine sir.” I looked at him and asked him, “Did I do
something wrong sir? Is that why I’m
here?”
“No Landon. On the contrary…I haven’t gotten any
complaints about you at all lately.
Which is why you’re here.” He
stood up and walked around his desk, sitting on the edge of it and looked down
at me. “Landon…I’m just wondering…what
are your plans for after high school?”
“Plans?”
“Yes. Plans.
You know…college…career.”
“Oh,” I chuckled to
myself. “Uh…well…I was kind of thinking
about going to college.”
“Any particular school?”
“Uh…yeah…UNC.”
“UNC huh? That’s a tough school to get into.”
“Yeah I know.”
“What’re you planning on
studying?”
“I was actually thinking
about…” I looked to the side and then looked back at him. “What’s this all about Mr. Kelly? Why the sudden interest in my future?”
“It’s my job to make sure you
succeed Landon,” he winked at me and sat behind his desk. “You know…I’ve got a friend on the board
over there…”
##
I was walking down the hall,
still in shock from Principal Kelly’s offer to help me with my college
application to UNC. ‘Guess he’s not
that bad of a guy after all.’
“Hey man! What’s the big idea??” I felt Eddie
Zimmerhoff grab my shoulder and spin me around to face him.
“Whoa! What the hell do you think you’re doing
man?”
“What is this Landon?? Why’d you do it? She was nothing but nice to you…all she ever did was…”
I looked down at the flyer
Eddie had shoved in my hand. It was a
picture of a well-endowed woman in a miniscule bikini. She was standing with her back to the
camera; her hand was placed on her jutted hip enabling the viewer to see her
exposed body parts. Her hair was long,
dark and straight and her face…
‘Jamie.’ I closed my eyes trying
to control my temper. “Where’d you get
this?”
“As if you didn’t know.”
“DAMMIT EDDIE!!! Where the hell did you get this?”
“You mean you really don’t
know?”
I just looked at him.
“Your friends are handing ‘em
out all over the school. Everybody’s
got one Landon.”
“Has Jamie seen this yet?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you know where she is?”
“I’m not sure…”
My mind flashed back to that
very first day we rode back on the bus together after tutoring.
‘Please don’t pretend like you
know me, okay?’
‘But I do…I do. We have all the same classes in the same
school since kindergarten. Why you’re
Jamie Sullivan. You sit at lunch table seven…’
I didn’t run, ‘no…walk
Landon…pace yourself. Maybe it wasn’t
them. They’re not this cruel. Maybe she hasn’t seen it.’ But I knew, deep inside I knew. This had Dean and Belinda written all over
it.
‘Please God; don’t let her see
this yet. Please let me get to her
before they do.’ I rounded the corner
and walked into the lunchroom in hopes that my prayers would be answered and
Jamie ran straight into my arms.
“Whoa,” I could feel her
quacking beneath my hands. I had to put
her mind at ease. ‘Take care of this
Landon.’ “Look. This is about me okay, this is not
you.”
She nodded her understanding
at me and I told her, “Stay here.” I
dropped my bag to the ground and walked towards Belinda grabbing the flyer from
her hand without even looking at her or that disgusting picture.
‘Dean, you son of a
bitch. You think you’re so damn
funny. Well you’ve crossed the line
this time. You want to hurt me, then
hurt me…but don’t take it out on Jamie.’
“Hey man. Now I know why you’ve been keepin’ her
locked up. I had no idea that this was
underneath all that,” he gestured towards Jamie and I just reacted. I shoved him then he shoved me. I just wanted him to take a swing at
me. No…I wanted to take a swing at him.
“Dean stop it!”
“No,” he pointed his finger in
Tracy’s face and said, “you stay out of this.”
I had, had enough of his
bullying. His manhandling. I’ve seen the way he treats Tracy,
practically like dirt and no one ever stood up to him. Well now…now someone was standing up to him
and he picked the wrong guy to mess with.
My hand pulled back and all of this pent up frustration just released
itself in my punch. I felt his head
snap beneath my fist and this rush of adrenaline just pumped through me. Regret, revenge, remorse all raged
throughout my system. I stood there
just looking at him, daring him to bring it on. ‘I’m ready for you Dean.
Don’t think I can’t take you because I can. I can.’
As he was walking over to me
someone tried to stop him, but Dean just pushed him out of the way and said to
me, “We’re through.”
“That’s great.” ‘You make me
sick Dean. All of you.’
“We are through forever!”
I didn’t care. I could live the rest of my life without
that son of a bitch and not regret a day, but right now…right now I had to take
care of Jamie.
I couldn’t help but cradle her
face in my hands. I had to wipe her
tears away with my thumbs. Dean was
screaming out in the background but I really didn’t give a shit.
“You alright.”
She couldn’t even talk. She just nodded her head at me.
“Let’s get the hell out of
here.”
I grabbed our things and took
her out of the building. I could feel
her body shaking; her tears were just streaming down her cheeks. ‘Jamie I’m sorry. Christ! Why’d they do
that to you?’
“Baby, baby. I’m sorry.
Okay? They’re animals
alright?” I needed to touch her, to try
and comfort her. My body just seemed to
take over where my mind left off. My
hands stroked her hair as I asked her,
“you want me to take you home?”
Still unable to reply she just
nodded again.
“Let’s get outta here.” I put my arms around her and walked her to
my car. I wasn’t sure what to do about
hers, but right now I just needed to get her home.
I wasn’t sure if her father
would be there or not and she was in no condition to talk to him at the moment
so I drove as slowly as I legally could.
Visions of that flyer were burning in my mind, thoughts of my
childhood…my friends. People I trusted
my whole life; they just turned on me in an instant. ‘Belinda. I’ve known you
since we were kids. I trusted you. Dean…Dean…I’ve always known you were an
asshole, but I never knew how malcontent you were. Tracy…the follower.
Whatever they do, you tag right along and Eric. Eric, my buddy. My best friend. Some
friend you turned out to be.
Kindergarten. I’ve known you
since kindergarten man. The one person
I thought I could count on… Well I
guess you know now don’t you Landon.
The only person you’ve been able to count on lately is the one person
you wound up getting hurt.’
The drive back to her house
took longer than usual. I wanted to
give her time to settle her nerves.
When I could no longer avoid her block I pulled up to her curb and
thanked God I didn’t see her father’s car.
We just sat there for a few minutes staring straight ahead out the car
window. I turned off the ignition and
turned towards her. Our eyes were locked
instantly. There was so much hurt…so
much pain. I could never forgive myself
for letting them get the best of her, but I vowed that no one would ever hurt
her again. ‘I’ll never let anything hurt you Jamie. I swear it.’ I smiled at
her; I just needed to make sure she was all right. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Mmmm hmmm. I’m fine, but thank you for everything,” she
smiled back.
“No…you’re welcome.”
‘She’s leaving. Quick stop her!’
“Hey…ummm…I wanna ask you
something.” ‘Okay…maybe this isn’t the
right time. Just do it Landon.’
“Okay,” she sat back and
listened.
‘I’m nervous. Nervous?
Try petrified. What if she says
no? Yes Landon, but what if she says yes.’ The thought brought a anxious smile to my
lips. “Will you go…out with me…on Saturday
night?”
‘Please don’t say no. Please don’t say no.’ I watched her face
change right before my eyes and listened as my worst fears came true. ‘Oh God, she’s gonna say no.’
“I’m sorry…I can’t go.”
“Oh…um…” I couldn’t look at
her, “…you’ve got something else going on?”
“No…nothing. Not that.”
“Then what is it?” A million excuses ran through my mind, ‘is
it because of what happened today?
Eddie Zimmerhoff? It can’t still
be because of the lockers.’ Her
answer…well…it’s not what I expected.
“I’m not allowed to date.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry Landon.”
“No…no…it’s okay. I should’ve known…I mean if you were allowed
to date then you probably would’ve been going out with Eddie or
something…” ‘Subtle Landon. Real smooth.’
“No. No. Eddie and I we’re
just friends. Nothing more.” She smiled at me like she was trying to
convince me that she was telling the truth.
“I suppose I should be going…”
“Yeah…sure.” ‘She’s leaving Landon. Say something to stop her.’ “Uh…Jamie?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I…uh…well…” I wanted
desperately to know if she would have said yes. If she were allowed to date… would she have said yes? “Nothing,” I cleared my throat. “It was nothing.”
“Okay.” I watched her get out of my car and called
myself a chicken for backing down.
“Thanks again Landon…for everything.”
“Wait.” ‘This is your last chance Landon.’ “I’ll walk you to your door.”
I wondered if she was thinking
the same thing I was. About the last
time I was at her house. I had walked
up this path that day knowing that I had just screwed up one of the best things
that had ever happened to me. Today
though, I walked up the path with new hope, yet I couldn’t help but wonder if
something inside of her was still upset about that day. “You know what I was thinking?”
She shook her head, ‘no.’
“I was just thinking about the
last time I was here,” I began to do that nervous foot shuffle and tilted my
head up just a bit to look at her. “You
weren’t too happy with me that day.”
“No I wasn’t,” she smiled at
me and it wasn’t just one of her polite Jamie Sullivan smiles this was that
smile that I had hoped for. This was
better than the one she had bestowed on Eddie earlier. This one was for me.
We both started speaking at
the same time.
“Look Jamie…I’m…”
“Landon…I…”
We both just started to laugh
a little then I offered, “You first.”
“I just wanted to say that…”
she looked down at her feet before speaking again, “If I were
allowed to date…” then she lifted her eyes to mine and I could feel every hair
on my body stand at attention. “I
would’ve loved to go out with you on Saturday night.”
‘I love you Jamie.’ I wanted to say it. I wanted to tell her that this wasn’t just a
passing thing for me, that I was falling…no not falling. That I had fallen completely and totally in
love with her. I took a chance and
stepped towards her hoping that she wouldn’t pull away. She didn’t.
I reached out my hand to hers and wrapped her fingers through mine. I smiled as I looked down at our hands. I didn’t even know whose fingers were
whose. “Jamie,” I said softly as I took
yet another step closer to her. My
breath was getting hotter, my heart beating faster. I could practically feel her lips against mine.
“Jamie?? What’s going on here?”
‘Shit! Shit! SHIT!!!’
“Mr. Carter? Why aren’t you two in school? What’s going on…”
“Daddy. Wait…I can explain.”
“Well you had better explain.”
“Sir it’s not Jamie’s
fault…it’s my…”
“No Landon. It wasn’t your fault,” she interrupted.
“Well somebody better tell me
what’s going on here.”
I wasn’t sure what to do. Should I stay or should I go?
“Maybe you should go?”
“Are you sure?” I didn’t want to just leave her here to
explain what had happened. I wanted to
help her, but she didn’t need my help when it came to her father. I needed hers.
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow?”
‘You’ll be back right Jamie? You’re not
gonna let them win, are you?’
“Yes.”
I couldn’t help but admire her
spirit, her strength. “Tomorrow…I’ll
see you tomorrow.” I gave her father a
quick nod of my head and said “Reverend,” as I bolted down the stairs. ‘Landon, you’ve got a school to clean up by
tomorrow.’