14 - Samantha
There are so many newexperiences lately that I find it a little overwhelming. Tonight, Phillip and I are going on a double date with Knox and Cyn to a haunted trail since it’s close to Halloween. Personally, I think it’s a way for the guys to make sure we cling to them, but it’s perfect for groups of friends and couples. Why not let the big football-player-boyfriends hold us when we get scared, right?
Knowing my best friend, she will be critical of the actors’ makeup, saying if they’re legit scary enough or too fake looking. She loves watching scary movies or picking apart the details in movies period. Don’t even get her started on Twilight. She loves the story, but vehemently objects to whomever did the makeup for the first movie saying it was so amateur. I have to admit, I sort of agree with her on that one. Anyone paying attention can see where the makeup should have been blended more. If their face is white and their neck is the actual color of their skin, there’s a problem.
“My sister used to scare so easily when we were little,” Phillip says sounding reminiscent, flicking his turn signal.
Once off the highway, we take a side road, turning into a plaza of restaurants and small stores. We’re headed toward a little nook in the corner of the strip that is famous for their wings.
He pulls into a parking spot and cuts the engine. “I’m surprised she likes this stuff now.”
“It’s her Drama club obsession I think.” I slide toward Phillip’s side of the truck to get out. He steps out and offers a hand helping me down. “Ever since she took that makeup class over the summer, her attention to theatric detail has gotten worse.”
I say it as a lighthearted compliment but really, sometimes her focus turns to obsession. I have a feeling the next time she’s in a play, she’ll go into full character mode wanting to stay in character the whole week leading up to show night. She’s called it method acting, but then again, I could be wrong.
“My sister confuses me.” Phillip shuts his door and locks it, lacing his fingers in mine as we walk toward the restaurant. “Tell me how she can watch scary movies and see this gore we’ll see after dinner, but she can’t handle words like puke.” He shakes his head, looking down at me. “I don’t get it.”
I know what he’s asking. Cyn has trouble being around me when I’m super sick. She can do it, but has to physically fight through some of it. I’ve seen her internal battles being waged in her eyes. She’d rather run than watch me throw up or be weak and sickly on the couch. But I understand how her brain works. When it’s Drama class, it’s fake. Me being sick is a reality. Her brain can compartmentalize the differences, but she still struggles with it.
“You don’t get what?” Knox cuffs Phillip over the shoulder laughing as they stride up. His arm is casually slung over Cyn’s shoulder, also walking toward the restaurant.
“My sister.” Phillip’s eyes glance at Cyn, playfully. “She used to scare easy when we were kids and now, we’re going to a fright night freak show. Go figure.”
Phillip squeezes my hand showing me he knew to guide the subject away from me. I don’t like talking about being sick out in the open and I certainly don’t want to talk about it tonight. Especially in front of Knox.
“I hope you get scared, babe,” Knox laughs.
Cyn shoves him in the ribcage. “You would.”
Knox turns fast and hoists Cynthia up off her feet. “Just gives me another reason to have my hands on you.”
“Alright, easy with that shit,” Phillip says, but we all laugh.
Knox’s eyebrows waggle, looking at me and then Phillip. “Just wait till your girl gets startled, you’ll be glad she’s crawling all over you.” He turns to Cyn and plants a big sloppy kiss on her and sets her down. Phillip pulls me closer to his side and opens the door for all of us.
Once we’re seated, I’m relieved to slip my shoes loose under the table. They’re not bothering me yet, but I’m trying to keep my feet good as long as possible tonight. The sports theme is fun with all the televisions posted everywhere around the place. A bar on one side of the room and the other has booths and high-top tables. We’re in a booth looking at the menu.
The guys make a few comments about a game that’s on or the menu and when the waitress comes to take our order, I play it safe with a salad and mixed vegetable entrée while Knox and Cyn get chili cheeseburgers and deep-fried onion rings. Phillip meets everyone halfway with a salad and wings, most likely wanting to keep me from standing out too much.
Knox catches it though. “Salad? What’s with the rabbit food?”
Cyn’s face faulters, I open my mouth to say something but Phillip’s quick to answer, “we like salads.”
“I noticed. You eat them at school all the time now.” He looks at me again. “You vegetarian or something?”
“No, not really.” Phillip places his hand on my thigh for comfort. “I just don’t eat a lot of red meat. Hurts my stomach.”
Cyn elbows Knox making him oof. “What?”
“Have some tact, babe.”
“What’d I do?”
“You didn’t do anything, man.” Phillip breaks the tension. “You know Coach,” he shrugs, “makes me watch what I eat.”
“Yeah, I forgot.” We all relax at that. “I don’t know how you do it. No junk food allowed in the house and all that,” Knox responds. “Your dad rides your ass all the time. You’re out with us tonight though, get a burger and say screw him!”
Phillip just smiles to let it roll off his back then puts his arm around me as I lean in. His cologne smells glorious. The conversation moves on and flows naturally throughout our meal. Cyn and Knox are practically in each other’s lap while feeding one another, but everything turns out good in the end.
Later at the haunted trail, we laugh more than we get spooked. Knox ends up getting startled by a guy with a chainsaw while Cyn critiques the makeup on all the ghouls and dead people. We all had to huddle up in a room staged as an abandoned mineshaft. At one point it got so confined, Knox made jokes about someone touching his ass, which was hilarious considering he was the one with his back against the wall. Toward the end my feet were bothering me, so Phillip put me on his back to carry me. Of course, Knox got on the bandwagon, joking for Cyn to wrap her legs around him too. My reason for being carried wasn’t the same as what he implied but was disguised easy enough. Phillip tensed at Knox’s joke since it involved his sister, but he rolled with it.
Once we completed the haunted trail, we split off to go our separate ways. Knox is taking Cyn home and Phillip will take me home. We don’t go straight home though. Phillip pulls me to sit in the middle, closer to him while he drives, while we take backroads home, clearly in no rush to get there. His hand rests in my lap, his finger stroking my inner thigh while in thought.
“You’re quiet. What’re you thinking about?”
Phillip takes a deep breath, fanning his hand out to lightly squeeze my leg. “You.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.” He side-glances in my direction, keeping his focus on the road. “Nothing appropriate,” he answers in a lowered voice, grinning.
Warmth pools in my belly when he says that. “Tell me.”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Those thoughts are just for me.” The corner of his mouth curls. I’m certain if I could see his eyes, heat would flare there too.
Instead of explaining further, he pulls off into a shopping center. I’m curious why we’re here but don’t ask. Instead, he pulls up to a carwash and puts his card in, choosing the most expensive wash on the menu. As soon as the truck gets pulled into the long building and soap begins to spray down, Phillip turns and cups my face, pulling me into an all-consuming kiss.
I grab his shirt, pulling him close as his mouth opens, trying to conquer mine. He slides a hand under my backside, lifting me off the seat and depositing me on his lap. He threads his hands in my hair, continuing the searing kiss, pushing his tongue deeper and deeper until we both need to come up for air.
In the lights from the carwash, I can see his eyes are blown out, heat blazing in them while our chests heave, trying to catch our breaths.
“I’m trying to be good, Samantha. But dammit. I don’t want to be.” He rests his hands on my hips while we’re lulled through, deeper into the carwash. “You asked me what I was thinking about, and it was how I carried you in the haunted trail.” Phillip leans up to nip my earlobe. “You smell so good.” I touch the back of his head, cradling it as his breath skitters over my neck. “I wanted to turn you around and carry you so you’d face me.” He leans back to see my face. “Like now.”
“I would have liked that.”
“But it’s not right.” He swallows, audibly. “If we do things with each other, it should be in private. Some things aren’t for everyone to see or know.”
“Like showing affection?”
Phillip lifts his hips in answer, and I can feel the bulge in his jeans. “Like how much you turn me on.”
I start to lower my hand to touch him there, but he catches my wrist, and shakes his head no. Then he leans in and kisses me tenderly on the mouth, keeping his eyes open as he does it. “Sometime. But not now, Wallflower.” He nods to the carwash. The dryers are on. It’s nearly over.
“Wallflower?”
He ducks his head. “Yeah, it’s what I call you. That ok?”
I can feel my shyness warm my cheeks as a smile spreads across my face. “I like it.”
I take my seat next to him. He adjusts himself in time to put his truck in drive and pull back out.
“You do know the meaning of wallflower, don’t you?”
“I do.” He takes my hand. “You’re my Wallflower.”
I’ve never enjoyed a carwash so much in my life.