G-LTA chapter 8

I got to the corner of the room and I stopped. I was trapped I had
nowhere to go. All of a sudden I had a memory flash. What was a game
had quickly turned. The blood drained from my face. I sat on the floor,
and started to cry softly. Aaron sat beside me, not speaking, not
touching, unsure of how to deal with me. He looked at me with
apologetic eyes.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have cornered you." He spoke quietly.

"Aaron, it's not your fault. If you want someone to blame, blame my
ex-best friend Jon." I said wiping the tears away; they were gone as
quickly as they came.

"What happened?"

"He cornered me in a closet and tried to rape me."

"I'm sorry."

"I know. I should have warned you though."

"How were you supposed to know what was going to happen? We were just
playing around. We got carried away."

"I've only told a handful of people the truth, and only one of them was
a guy."

"Tom?"

I nodded and stood up slowly. For the first time in my life I told the
story without tears. Was I finally over it enough to share with people
without them thinking I'm not a basket case?

"Thank you."

"You're thanking me for scaring you to death?"

"No, I'm thanking you for helping me to get over it."

"How did I do that?"

"Usually, when I think about what happened or talk about it I just
break down. I shut down, and no one can reach me. But today, I
remembered it, let the feeling go its course then talked about it. I
may have said I didn't want a guardian angel, but it looks like I got
one anyway."

"Now, who's the one being sweet?"

"I meant it." I said moving to stand next to Aaron.

"And I meant everything I have ever said to you.' He replied taking my
hand.

"I know." I said, as my heart pounded in my chest. His hand was holding
mine, and it was part of the scene.

"Allison, can I ask you a question?"

"You already did."

"Funny. Seriously though."

"Of course."

"What do you think of me?"

"I think you're the sweetest, funniest guy I have ever met. Anyone
would be grateful to have you in his or her life. Plus you're a great
friend." I told him looking him in the eyes.

"Thanks, that's all I needed to know." He said letting go of my
hand.

"Aaron? Did I say something wrong?"

"Nothing. I have a headache, and it just got worse. Come on let's get
going."

"All right. But I know all about the fake headaches, queasy stomachs,
and sudden fatigues, because I'm the queen of fake illnesses. So I'll
let this sudden headache go this time."

"Ok." He said smiling weakly.

We walked out to his car. I got in and buckled my seatbelt. Aaron put
the key into the ignition and started to turn it, I grabbed his hand
and stopped him.

"Aaron, talk to me."

"Allison, talking about it won't fix it."

"I don't care about fixing it, I just want to listen."

"Well, I don't want to talk." He said angrily turning the key.

"Did I do or say something to make you mad?"

"No, just leave it okay."

"Fine, stop the car I'll walk." I said unbuckling my seatbelt.

"I'm not mad at you. You don't have to walk.'

"I don't have to, but if I stay in this car I'll say or do something I
may regret later."

He stopped the car, and I got out and didn't look back as I walked up
the hill. About halfway up the hill, tears started to flow. I reached
the top of the hill, but instead of going in the building I kept
walking.

I hurt Aaron; I told him what I thought he wanted to hear. I told him
the truth, most of it, but I didn't lie. What did I do? I made the one
person I could turn to hate me.

I sat down on the swing outside my building and cried. I didn't know
what else to do. I lost Aaron no that's not right because he was never
mine to lose. When the tears finally subsided, I went to my room and
went straight to bed.
The next morning I awoke and my entire body hurt. My eyes burned, my
throat was dry, and the rest of my body just ached. I looked at my
alarm clock 8:30. Dammit class. If it weren't for coaching I wouldn't
go. I don't want to see Aaron, and see him hurting; especially when I
was the one who hurt him. I have to go there's no other choice in the
matter.
I took a long shower and got dressed. I dragged myself to class. When I
opened the door I ran smack dab into Aaron. We both muttered an apology
and stepped out of each other's way.

The rest of the class witnessed this and I noticed a few raised
eyebrows. I sat down on the steps and put my head in my hands. I felt a
hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Rose. I smiled and shrugged my
shoulders. Mrs. S split us into our groups, and coaching began.
Coaching actually went better than usual, especially considering
everything. Aaron, was on the ball, and threw me for a couple of loops
but I threw some back. There was more passion in our scene then there
ever was before. Our coach was shocked, and had no advice other than to
keep up the energy for Friday. After we were done, Aaron and I went our
separate ways without another word.

The rest of the day I just stayed in my room. I didn't even bother go
to my British Writer's class. I didn't want to spend an hour in the
same room as Ashley. I just wanted to be alone for a while. At least
being overemotional benefits me when it comes to my writing. When I
finally stopped writing at midnight my new page total was 65. I turned
off my computer and went to sleep.

Thursday, I was like a zombie just going to class to class. A few of my
friends told me it would get better. They all assumed it was about Tom.
They didn't even know about Aaron, and I wasn't about to enlighten
them. Why should I bother? I mean after we do our scene, we go to the
dance and then that's it. Oh god the dance! Hopefully by next week
things will all blow over. Or is that just wishful thinking on my part?
He can't be mad at me forever can he?

Friday morning I woke up extremely early and extremely nervous. I think
we're ready. It'll be fine. We rehearsed enough we know what to do. I
just didn't want to do the scene in front of the class. I got dressed,
and after I checked my reflection in the mirror for the five hundredth
time I made my way down the hill.

When I got there everyone was moving chairs into position in front of
the stage. I joined them; not checking to see what Aaron was up
to.

After all the chairs were set up, the scenes began. First up were Ed
and Kelly. I liked their scene a lot especially the part about
"lobster's lobbing". It was both sad and funny at the same time. The
two of them really pulled it off, and I was somewhat jealous. Will our
scene be as good as theirs?

I didn't have time to think about it because our scene was next. I
smiled weakly at Aaron before we started the scene and he smiled back.
The tension seemed to float away.

We started the scene, the first few lines I could feel the adrenaline
kicking in and I almost stumbled a few times. Then after that I felt
myself just let go. I didn't even hesitate one bit with the kiss, it
just happened. I felt it though, what ever it was, was still there. The
scene was over, but the embrace wasn't. I whispered, "I'm sorry" into
his ear and he hugged me back before letting go. Everyone cheered and
clapped breaking into our world and taking us back to reality.

The rest of the scenes came and went I wasn't really paying attention
to them. Aaron was sitting next to me that was what my entire mind was
on. Were we ok? Was he still mad? I kept taking sideways glances at him
but his face was unreadable. I took one more glance, and he caught me
and smiled and put a hand on mine. My heart fluttered a bit.

"So, we're okay?

"Yes," he said squeezing my hand before he took his away.

"Good, because I would hate to had to have found a new date to the
dance on such short notice. " I said laughing quietly.

"Oh, yes because you have such trouble finding dates." He
replied.

"I do, besides I don't want to go if I'm not going with you."

"Guess, I'm stuck with you then."

"Try to say that without smiling.'

"I'm sorry I was such a pain these last few days."

"It's ok, you're allowed just don't let it happen again ok."

"You have a deal."

"Okay, we better be quiet before Mrs. S kills us."

"Two murdered students found at Seton Hill College."

"Are we friends again?"

"Yes, we're friends again."

We both started to laugh; thankfully the last scene was over.

"I guess, things are better between you two." Rose said sitting in the
chair in front of us.

"Yeah, we had some creative differences." Aaron supplied.

"As long as you guys aren't fighting now, that's all that
matters."

"Thanks." I said. "Some of us were starting to get worried. We weren't
sure when a full out fight might have occurred." She said.

"We're fine now." I said getting slightly annoyed from the
attention.

"Well, I gotta go to my next class, see you guys on Monday." Rose said
standing up and starting to leave.

"Bye." I said keeping myself from rolling my eyes.

"Go ahead, I know you want to." Aaron said taking note of my
expression.

"Ugh, can anyone be more saccharine?"

"Ouch, that was a little harsh."

"Sorry, I'm still a bit cranky."

"I should be the one apologizing."

"Why?"

"Because, I was miffed at something that wasn't you fault, which made
you cranky."

"Are you going to tell me why you were so miffed anyway?"

"Maybe at the dance."

"I don't think we'll be dancing much if the list of things we are going
to talk about keeps adding up."

"We'll just have to keep them short, then we'll have plenty of time to
dance."

"Short and to the point is not in my vocabulary."

"So, I've noticed."

"I can't help it if I have a hard time getting to the point."

"That's an understatement."

"I know, I admit it, I ramble way too much.

"At least you admit it. That's the first step toward recovery."

"What if I don't want to recover?"

"Then, I guess I'll just have to learn how to decipher Alley
speech."

"It's pretty easy really."

"We should get going before the next class gets here."

"Yeah, with my luck it would be the modern dance class, and they would
make us learn how to melt like an ice cube." I said rolling my
eyes.

"Sounds like you've melted before."

"Oh yes, many times. Hurry, I think I hear someone coming." I said
grabbing his hand without thinking and started running.

We ran all the way down the stairs and out to his car. When we reached
his car we collapsed into a fit of laughter.

"Oh shoot, what time is it?"

"Almost 11 o'clock why?"

"My mom is picking me up so I could get my dress for the dance."

"Kind of last minute isn't it?"

"That's the only way I operate."

"Well, I'll drive you up and hopefully your mom didn't go shopping
without you."

"Thanks, I'm sure my mom's probably running late anyway." I said
getting into the car.

"Ah, I see the lateness gene must be inherited then."

"She's not as bas as my grandmother,
we have to tell her to be somewhere half hour before we're actually
supposed to meet. So if we want her there at 6, we tell her to be there
at 5:30."

"So is that what I have to do with you?"

"No, I'm not that bad. I'm usually only up to 5 minutes late."

"There's still hope for you yet." He said
pulling up to the archway of my building. "Is your mother here
yet?"

"Yes, see the Maroon Aztek actually the proper color is Maple leaf or
something weird like that."

"Allison, just the Aztek would have been sufficient."

"See you're already getting the hang of deciphering Alley
speech."

"I guess so. Well, I'll see you Monday bright and early."

"Oh yes, always a joy to wake up before 9 to watch yourself on tape.
See me shudder, oops I mean shiver with anticipation."

"Good bye Allison. You're mom is probably going to kill me or both of
us if you don't leave soon."

"All right, I'm going since you want to get rid of me so badly." I said
melodramatically exciting the car.
Aaron rolled down his window and shouted. "Thank god, you didn't act
like that for our scene or we would have failed for sure."

"Bye, Aaron." I said waving as I reached my mom's car.

"Who was that?" My mom asked when I opened the door.

"That was Aaron, he was my scene partner, and we're going to the Fall
Ball together next Friday."

"Oh. He seems nice." She replied hesitantly.

"He is, we joke around a lot, and we have fun together."

"It's good to see you smile again, if it's Aaron keep him, because he's
definitely worthy."

"Oy vei."

"Well, let's go look for the perfect dress
shall we."

"Finally. Of course then we have to find the shoes and the right
accessories."

"Of course you could always wear one of your old dresses again."

"Mom, I wore the black one last time I went. I've worn the maroon dress
two or three times and all the rest are spring like or don't fit me." I
protested.

"Ok have it your way."

"Are you Burger King now?" What is it with people sounding like
commercials lately? Too much television watching or what?" I asked, but
knew all my mom would do was shrug or sigh.

"Well, we're here. What store should we go to?"

"Deb's usually has cool dresses for cheap and in my size."

"That's all the way at the other end of the mall."

"Kaufman's then."

"Ok."

"Why did you even ask since we would had to start at Kaufman's
anyway?"

"Just like to torture you I guess."

"Gee, thanks."

"No problem, it's my job as your mother."

"Is that in some written law book somewhere?"

"No, it's just the standard programming."

"Let's see we have red or yellow, my two favorite colors." I said
putting my finger in my mouth to motion gagging.

"Penny's then?"

"I guess so." I said shrugging.

So for the next hour we went from store to store, each time getting
more and more frustrated. I'm picky when it comes to fancy dresses; I
know what I like and what I don't. Plus many of the dresses I did like
didn't come in my size, curse of being a plus size. Finally, we made it
to Deb's and I was in dress heaven; dresses of every color and style
all in my size.

After looking at all the racks I chose three dresses to try on. A black
lace dress with an under layer of red, it was beaded and reminded me of
the dress Kate Winslet wore in the movie Titanic. The second dress was
a deep orange color which reminded me of Aaron's car, it was simple an
a-line silhouette with spaghetti straps. Next was a deep midnight blue
dress, the neckline was draped with chiffon; the bodice was silk and
was cut as an empress waist, below that the skirt split to reveal a
brocade fabric with gold beaded stars randomly placed.

I tried on the orange one, it didn't quite fit right, and if I went to
a next size, it wouldn't matter. If I had more time, it wouldn't have
been a problem but the dance was only a week away too little time for
my mom or any seamstress to work on. The black dress, looked good on
me. Then I tried on the blue dress and fell in love with it. I looked
like a princess, and felt like one. I showed my mom, and her jaw
dropped and I knew this was the dress for me. I turned around in front
of her so she could take a good look at it.

"Can you see how much it is? Is it a fortune?"

"Allison, it's only 30 dollars." She said grabbing the price tag.

"You're pulling my leg."

I looked at the price tag and practically fainted. My dream dress was
not only affordable but it was downright dirt-cheap.

"Somebody pinch me."

So of course my mother having the sense of humor she has did just
that.

"Ow, I didn't mean literally pinch me."

"Are you going to get the dress then?"

"Duh!"

"Well, you might want to change back to normal clothes then."

"Oh yeah." I said totally forgetting I was still wearing the
dress.

So I got the dress, it was extraordinary, how did I luck out getting
such a gorgeous dress at such a low price? Thank you to whomever is
responsible.