2

A pleasant surprise awaited Kyle at the double door. He saw the beautiful female through the glass. His wish had come true. She was a stunning redhead who measured in at 5-foot-5, had incisive yet enthralling blue eyes, and a round yet healthy face. She was wearing a light blue jacket with the team logo, faded blue jeans, and leather boots hidden beneath her pant legs. She was leaning against the brick red façade like a delinquent one would find a pulp novel written during World War II.

            "You rocked out there tonight, Kyle," she stated with a come-hither inflection.

            He stared around in all directions making sure he was the only Kyle in the area. 

            "Thank you. Thank you very much," he voiced while still stunned.

            She laughed as he put his eyes back on her, "Are you surprised?"

            "A bit, can you really blame me?" Kyle said with an uncomfortable chuckle.

            "I guess not. I take it you don't have many female admirers," she replied as she pushed herself away from the brick façade and motioned toward him seductively.

            "Define admirer," Kyle pressed lightly with raised eyebrows.

            She smirked and laughed, "I guess I should tell you who I am. It’s me, Mary Steele."

            He appeared unbothered by the revelation but he was amazed inside and out, "Sweet, that was my fourth guess."

            Mary chuckled at the remark and Kyle smirked and chuckled with her.

            "You are funny," Mary observed, not hiding her motives one iota.

            "I don't try to be. There are too many comedians who are unemployed right now that are far more gifted at hilarity than yours truly," Kyle remarked rather seriously.

            She giggled once more and Kyle widened his smirk.

            "Nice job again on catching those passes. Without you there, we would have gone down in flames," she voiced with gratitude and kissed him on the cheek.

            Kyle was surprised by her sudden move but he went with it. She backed inches away from him.

            "Thank you very much and I mean very much," he answered as he felt the wet mark on his cheek.

            "Don't mention it. You deserve it," she answered with a wink.

            They were enraptured with one another. The opening door behind them signaled their returned to reality. A lanky sophomore wandered by paying them no heed.

            "Do you have a car?" Mary inquired an instant later.

            "No, I don't. Why do you ask?" Kyle replied with a shocked glance.

            She immediately beamed, "I want someone to walk me home because of the scary darkness."

            He bit his upper lip, "Interesting…am I the man you want me to escort you in case the Boogeyman jumps out to eat you?"

            Mary responded playfully, "Yes. I have a feeling that you could bring him pain."

            Kyle placed left hand outward, "Well, I'd be honored then. Shall we?"

            Mary placed her right hand in his left hand, "Of course. You’re my protector."

            Kyle and Mary began traipsing toward her house, which was only three blocks from the school. From the way events were turning out, it would be more like ten blocks.  As they went, Kyle decided to play private eye.  

            "Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?" Kyle asked placidly.

            Mary chuckled slightly and started walking backwards, "With silver bells and cockleshells."

            "All your pretty maids in a row?" He replied in the same way.

            "Could be. The cops have come by my house wondering if I am a madame." She answered in a matter-of-fact voice that sounded almost monotone.

            He howled out loud, "That's funny, you sure you aren’t the funny one? I think you are the comedienne, so to speak."

            She giggled and grinned, "As you said, thousands of comedians are out of work."

            He chuckled again and then asked, "True. How about this, what's in your garden?"

            She mischievously dodged his inquiry, "Silver bells and cockleshells, what else?"

            He gave the smart-aleck answer, "The dirt."

            She gave him an evil eye and turned away from him, "I don't really kiss and tell on the first date."

            Kyle was stunned, "Date? I thought this we were just doing the introductions."

            She turned back to him and gave him a lighthearted glance, "Okay, Kyle, here is some dirt for you to dig through. Try and figure it out. Muncie, last Christmas."

            He was disoriented, "I have no idea."

            And she corrected his vision, "I came here after Christmas break during our freshman year."

            A light suddenly came on, "We are in the same study hall."

            She stopped in her tracks, "A light has come on. What else can you think of?"

            He stared at her several seconds and it came to him, "You sit in the back corner of the room. You are the nearest to the window. You are the window fixture."

            Mary nodded, "I am Window Girl."

            Kyle shook his head in disbelief, "I can't believe I didn't recognize you.  This is unexpected, unbelievable even."

            Mary responded truthfully, "It's amazing what a little bit of cosmetic cover can do for you."

            They resumed walking and Kyle still felt like he was hit by a bolt from the blue, "I didn't even know your name."

            She divulged more details, "I barely told anyone. Can you honestly blame me?"

            They passed beneath a street light and ceased walking momentarily.

            "No, I can't say that I blame you. I know how you feel." Kyle voiced solemnly.

            "Thanks for the vote of confidence. I was sick of being picked on by everyone here. It's been a hard transition." Mary stated in disgust.

            "Why so?" Kyle begged her to continue.

            She closed her eyes so he could get a mental picture of how beautiful she was in that long, unbroken stretch of time, "I guess it's because I am the new face in town. I lived in Muncie up until last year when my dad was a shift supervisor for a manufacturing plant. He was laid off due to the suffering of the economy, among other things. Lucky for us, the ethanol industry has been going strong out here so he was scooped up by the St. Anthony plant and he is a shift supervisor now."

            "That explains a lot," Kyle voiced with a slight nod.  "I am sorry I never introduced myself to you earlier."

            "Don't worry. I would have been too embarrassed to talk to you myself," Mary commented while she blushed.

            His interest suddenly piqued, "Why?"

            She immediately buttoned up, "It's a state secret."

            He just had to press further, "Come on, Mary. What's the deal?"

            She continued the coyness, "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."

            He remarked sardonically, "I'll take the risk."

            She sighed, "I asked you about the female admirers earlier."

            He immediately knew, "You're my admirer. You are my watcher from afar."

            All she did was nod her head. He snickered slightly, while his inner voice, the voice for his unreservedly damaged was screaming victoriously.

            "You must have mutated monarchs floating about in your stomach right now," Kyle mentioned strangely.

            Mary seemed to be on the same mental wavelength as he was, "Yeah, about fifty pupa erupted in my stomach as soon as you talked to me. I couldn't wait any longer, I figured tonight would be the night. This is why I dolled myself up. I wanted to leave impression on you that would last forever."

            He cracked a smile that showed his appreciation, "Well, you have definitely left an impression on me, a positive one at that."

            Her apprehension immediately melted away. She wandered right beside him and placed a large wet smooch on his cheek. They just stopped and stared at one another for a couple of seconds, trying to capture whatever moments they could. This was beyond love at first sight. 

            "You are very sweet and very cute," Mary mentioned.

            "Cosmetic cover is an amazing thing," Kyle replied with a smile.

            She smiled back and they hugged for a couple of seconds.  They let go and stared at each other.  She kissed him on the lips and backed away.

            "What are you doing?" Kyle asked.

            "I don't know, take a guess!" Mary said with a wide grin.

            "Playing hard to get," he voiced as he grabbed onto her left wrist.  He pulled her toward him and they engaged in more tongue action.  Emerald eyes met azure eyes, a giggle from her brought forth a giggle from him.  They gazed at each other until a cherry-red pickup full of team players broke up the staring contest.

            "Hey, wussbag.  You sucked out there!" a player yelled passing by.  It sounded like Austin Peterson, better knows as Austin P.

            Kyle suddenly became aware of the miscreants.  He took both his hands and flipped them two single finger salutes.  Mary was stunned by his response.

            He turned back to her and noticed her shock, "I am sorry you had to see that. I didn't expect those fuckheads to break the mood."

            "Why two birds instead of one?" Mary queried as she came back.

            He sighed and divulged his misery, "Since I came here, I have received a royal shafting. I don't know why it has happened. I feel the entire school is against me in one form or another."

            She internalized his diction, "I understand completely. I have been getting knocked on since I was in grade K. I have been to five different schools and it's been one icy reception after another. They insult me in ways that would make a humble man cringe. I have been compared to Lili Taylor in the movie 'Dogfight.'"

            "That's f*****g cruel! Guys have actually called you a dog?"

            "Yeah, my nickname was 'dogface.' It just stung every time I heeded to it.  The physical s**t was worse, I remember a time when the senior girls in the locker room stole my clothes and threw them in the shower.  I kept quiet about the incident, it wasn't worth the trouble."

            Kyle could not believe what he heard. He wanted to envelop her in a hug and kiss her to tell her everything would be all right. They both knew that everything was not all right. As Kyle contemplated Mary's story, he realized why she had the makeover.

            "I know why you redid your appearance, it's the same reason I wanted to play the game," Kyle replied.

            "The respect factor," Mary commented.

            "Yeah, I wanted respect from the a******s that constantly targeted me. I figured if I couldn't win their respect in my own way, I would play their game. It turns out that every single person on that team hates me more than ever before since my attempt to conform. Coach Jerkoff and Captain Asthma are even in on it."

            "Who is Captain Asthma?"

            "Robert Westfall, also known around here as Weezer."

            "How did he get his nickname?"

            "Which one, Weezer or Captain Asthma?"

            "I understand the latter, what about the former?"

            "Ahh, Weezer. His favorite song is 'Buddy Holly.' Since he became the starter, that retarded diddy became our fight song. I say if the name fits, wear it!  Stupid a*****e, I f*****g hate that song!"

            "I sympathize since it becomes nerve-racking after one time."

            "The next time I hear that stupid song, I am going to take a football and throw it really hard against the stereo system in the locker room.  I hope it sparks and explodes with Weezer standing right by it. That would be awesome!"

            Mary looked at Kyle with an engrossing face.  She liked his forceful tone of voice and it suited the troubled youngster well.  The pair walked away from the street lamp.

            "How long have you lived here in Mayfield?" she posed to him.

            "Over three years, I have been here since I started junior high," he relayed.

            "Who has specifically singled you out since you came here?"

            "Start in the yearbook under our class with the letter A."

            "Seriously, how could everyone in school pick on you? I bet half the senior class doesn't even know you exist. You may think anonymity is a bad thing among the higher-ups but believe me, obscurity is better than renown."

            "You are right about that. It's been those dumbass jocks and cheerleading c***s, every class has them. Even the freshmen are lacing into me."

            "The freshmen?!"

            "Yes, the freshmen. Why is the class behind us degrading me?"

            "Is a conspiracy against you or what?"

            "Yes and it's invaded my home."

            "Your home? How on earth is that possible?"

            "I don't know. Since I moved here, my parents have been withdrawn from each other and me. The world has been against me since the first day of school and I have had to fight to survive."

            Many thoughts crossed Mary's mind.  She wondered how Kyle had survived such harsh circumstances.  She didn't know the answer but she respected him for his ability to press forward.

            "Nice job," she stated while putting a hand on his shoulder.

            "For what?"

            "First of all, for winning the game for us. Second, for putting up with what the world has thrown at you."

            "Thank you, Mary. Thank you for saying that. You are the only person to have ever said that to me."

            "Your parents haven't been supportive of you at all?"

            "Not since we moved to this back-a*s-wards town, no kudos bar here.  It's been a long f*****g time since I heard 'I love you, Kyle'."

            "Kyle, why do you live with them if are neglectful to you?"

            "Because the law defines neglect as living in s****y physical conditions.  They completely cut out the parts on emotional damage. Since I have a roof over my head and food in my belly, I am not neglected. Love apparently isn't a need because it doesn't exist in the law books."

            "Are you saying that love doesn't exist at all?"

            "No. I am saying love doesn't thrive in my world."

            "Kyle, you are fooling yourself.  People do love you."

            "Why can't I find any?"

            "I couldn't come out and say it because I was afraid to." 

            Those words stopped Kyle in his tracks and Mary followed concordantly.

            "Afraid to? Afraid of what?" He asked inquisitively.

            "I love you, Kyle." She answered softly.

            He was too wrapped up in his own self-pity to notice. She kissed him on the lips slowly and he just stood still. She soon backed off, looked at Kyle and smiled and he smiled back.

            "Do you like the movie 'Dogfight'?" Kyle inquired.

            "It's my favorite movie of all time," Mary responded.

            "Dicks and c***s may call you 'dogface' and say you look like Lili Taylor.  Let them continue to say that because River Phoenix fell in love with her and a lot of girls consider him a heartthrob."

            "Are you comparing me to Lili Taylor?"

            "I think you are more beautiful than Lili Taylor."

            She was stunned. He grabbed her and smooched her on the lips. Kyle and Mary backed up against a second light post and made out for the next five minutes. As they made out, a dark blue convertible stopped beside them. They heard the noise and looked up to see who it was. Kyle became enraged as the invader got out of his car. He swore to himself as he saw Weezer come up to him.

            "Hey, dickmunch! What are you doing?" Weezer asked, his countenance was of pure dismay.

            "Leave us alone," Kyle replied nicely.

            "I don't believe it! Dickmunch has a girlfriend, holy f**k!"

            "Get f*****g lost, Weezer!"

            Weezer ignored the sophomore and looked back at his car.

            "Hey, Shelby, dickmunch is making out with a girl or reasonable fact-simile there of." Weezer said.

            A girl with blonde hair and green eyes rolled down the window and popped her out.  She looked over in the direction of the young couple. She tried to figure out who the girl was since it had slipped her mind.

            "Did he pay for her?" Shelby asked smartly.

            When Mary heard this, she became angrier than Kyle.  Mary looked at Kyle and he let her go.  Her focus was directed at the passenger window and she stomped past Weezer.  She put her face right in front of Shelby.

            "Hey, Shelby, does Weezer give you personal Breathalyzer tests?" Mary asked back with a fuller smartass tone.

            "F**k you, you little b***h!" Shelby screamed back.

            Weezer grabbed Mary and pulled her away from the car.  Kyle ran over and grabbed Weezer around the neck with his left arm.  Weezer stood at 6-foot-1 and had seventy-five pounds on the skinny but muscular sophomore.  The quarterback let Mary go as Kyle held his ground.

            "Let me go, you little cuntfuck!" Weezer screamed.

            "If you touch her again, you will be using an inhaler for the rest of your life, Captain Asthma!" Kyle yelled back.

            Kyle suddenly let his arm off of Weezer.  Weezer moved forward and working on getting his air back.  The young couple ran up the road unsure if Weezer was pursuing them.  As they ran, Kyle grabbed Mary's hand and they ducked onto a driveway, ran between two houses, and into the darkened backyards.  They crossed a side street and Mary realized that they were nearby her house.  She pointed Kyle the right way and they ran toward it.  They got into the darkened backyard and caught their breath.  Mary got wind of her surrounding and directed Kyle to a swing dangling from the overhang above the porch.  The couple sat down to reflect on the previous interlude.

Reviews

[joshua deathdealer]

ha ha I was swept away by this chapter. Excellent story writing. Great character interaction and emotions. Well done. I'm impressed...xx