Sacrifice (13 page)

“Wasn’t that bad, what about yours?”

“It was painful.”

“Why?” I asked with concern.

“Because I was waiting for time to go by so I could see you,” I laughed at his remark.

“I see which is why you came late huh?”

“What had happened was…”

“Save me the excuse!” I said as we both laughed.

“Ok, I am sorry for being late.”

“It’s ok, so what park are you taking me to?”

“Paradise.”

“You too funny, no seriously what park?”

“Paradise.” 

“There’s a park called Paradise?” he looked at me with surprise.

“You don’t know the park named Paradise for real?”

“No because there isn’t one,” I said smiling having the feeling he was still in his joking mood.

“Ok, it’s better showing than telling.”

“Yup, because I think you’re joking.”

“What if I’m telling the truth?”

I just gave him a look as if to say, ‘I will see when we get there.’

We drove five miles then saw a big board that said Paradise.  I immediately put my head down then burst out with laughter. “Oh my God I have never heard about this before.”

“I can see, and I’m going to save your punishment for later.”

We parked and then walked slowly into the park holding hands as the breeze blew peacefully between us. Even though I had the braces on my legs I was ok with the walk. The day couldn’t come any sooner for them to be removed. He gave me a personal tour of the park then surprised me with a picnic that was already set up with a man standing right next to it in a black suit. Apparently he was some kind of security guard because once we got there, Celius gave him some money and he went away. The picnic was by the water side where the fish were jumping up and down in the water. Birds were flying so beautifully, the weather was great, and everything seemed so perfect. I felt so special and loved as I sat across from him with only the food separating us. He opened the basket and pulled out macaroni and cheese, cornbread, chicken, watermelon, with a bottle of Paluzzi Moscato D’Asti white wine, that I had never seen before.

“I wanted to make more but I was running out of time.”

“You made this?”

“Of course! What, you didn’t think I could cook?”

“No, not that, you just don’t look like the type that would cook for a female.”

“You’re right I don’t, except for someone special like yourself.”

“Awww, that is really sweet thank you,” I said blushing.

“You’re welcome. So tell me about you,” he said while serving us food.

“That’s easy, well as you know my name is Ella, Ella Reed, I am from Tracy, California and I moved to Georgia.”

He looked at me waiting for more, but I said, “And that’s it.”

“There’s got to be more about you, you know you can open up to me, plus you on punishment, so you got to answer every question I ask in full.”

“I did.”

“So how about how you grew up, your mother, father, something?”

“My father is dead.”

“I know and I am sorry about your loss. What about your mother?”

“To be honest my mother and I don’t really get along, so really, I don’t know much about her.”

“It’s ok if you don’t want to talk about your family, but you are still not off the hook; now tell me a little more about yourself.”

“My life is boring.”

“I’m interested,” he smiled.

“Well, I’m 5'7”, love to eat, hate drama, love the idea of becoming a dancer one day but all my time and effort goes to my school work, and lastly, I would love to have kids and love them passionately and never give them up for nothing.”

“Interesting, and why did you say you will never give your kids up? Why should you in the first place?”

“Because my mother gave me away, at first I didn’t understand but now I do. I still wish she never did it.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Oh no it’s ok.”

“You know things happen.”

“I know that’s why I can’t punish her forever like I planned to.”

“Yeah that wouldn’t be nice.”

“I know.”

“So when are you taking me dancing? I want to see how you move on the dance floor. I love females that can dance.”

Maybe one day. Right now I will be all clumsy trying to dance with this brace on my leg,” I smiled.

It was getting dark outside as we talked and laughed; enjoying each other’s company. We continued nibbling on the food he prepared then we went to the pond and fed the fish. I felt like I was in a love story as my feelings for him got deeper. He was perfect and I loved everything about him.

“As much as I want to stay here with you, I got to take you home before it gets dark.”

He drove me home and asked for another date the next day and as much as I wanted to say yes, I promised Reggae I would spend that day with her because I had put her on the backburner.

“Tomorrow is a bad day. I promised my best friend I would spend the day with her since I canceled my plans with her today.”

“Oh, I thought you didn’t have any plans today?” 

“No I didn’t because I cancelled them with her after you asked me out, knowing she would understand.”

“Well did she?”

“Not really but I’m going to make it up to her.”

“Ok sounds good. Call me tomorrow morning when you wake up.”

“Ok I will.” 

He leaned over and we shared a kiss; which happened to be my first kiss, and I melted in his arms. I was not intending to stop kissing him even though I had no experience with real kissing so he took it upon himself to kiss me until my mouth went dry.

“Goodnight,” he said.

My body shook and no words came out. I nodded my head and crawled out of his car. I looked back at him as I walked up the stairs. From that moment after my first real kiss and the feelings that came along with it, I knew I was in love and the feeling was indescribable. I felt like my world was complete with just him in it. It was a feeling I would want everybody to experience. I wanted to be around him all day, just wanting to lay and relax with him and never get up. I knew this was true love and didn’t want out. My mind was made up that I was going to love him for the rest of my life. I felt complete for the first time in my life after my father’s death. To me he was like a closure that I needed to move on. He was my rock, he’s everything to me. I walked inside my apartment with a feeling out of this world, only to see Reggae waiting for me with her questions in mind.

“How was your date?”

I walked towards the kitchen and said, “I’m in love,” she looked at me like I had lost my mind. 

“Girl it has only been two days now come back to earth.” 

“I have been seeing him almost every day in class.”

“Girl you ain’t in love, you in lust, you know there’s a difference?”

“I know Reggae,” I said rolling my eyes at her with a smile on my face.

“Sure you do, just be careful please.”

“You don’t have to worry about me Reggae, I will be fine.”

“Oh yeah, I know that cause he knows better.”

I laughed at her and went to my room and laid across my bed with him on my mind hoping he would call soon. He didn’t call in due time so I jumped in the shower. Once I got out of the shower, I saw that he still didn’t call. So, I swallowed my pride and called him.

“Hey I was just about to call you,” I pondered on whether that was the truth or not.

“Oh yeah? What are you doing?”

“Nothing, doing something you might consider gross.”

“And what might that be?”

“Sitting in my favorite place; the bathroom, about to take a number two.”

“Ewww that’s my cue, call me when you’re done Mr. Nasty.”

“Ok,” he said with a laugh and we both hung up the phone. 

I waited for his call and he called fifteen minutes later and we talked until I fell asleep with the phone still in my ear. The next day, I completed my project then took Reggae shopping and to the movies, yet I was still thinking about Celius. She then said something during the movie that shifted the mood of the day.

“This might be the last time we have a girls out together moment.”

“Don’t say that, not true.”

“Watch,” she said as we went back watching the movie then off to dinner.

Once we got home, I got on the phone with Celius and told him about my day with Reggae. As time went on, I stayed attached to the phone talking to him more and more and Reggae less and less without noticing it.

“What are you doing tomorrow evening?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

“Come spend the night with me.”

I smiled craving to finally lie next to him. It had been months that we had been dating and he had never once tempted me to have sex. Flirting was ok but it never went passed that until the next day when I spent the night at his house. He held me close to him as I moved back and forth on him craving for him to finally go inside me for the first time in my life. I wanted him to take my virginity and I wanted it right then and there with no hesitation. I knew what I wanted as he slowly caressed my body which was dripping in thirst. He kissed me as he slowly took my clothes off with one hand and used his other hand to caress my breasts and rubbed me as my panties got soaked with pleasure. I wasn’t doing anything but moaning, and I got louder when he finally found his way in me. He started slowly trying not to hurt me, but it hurt in a good way. I wanted him to never stop.

We made love that night and I fell asleep on his chest only to find myself waking up not wanting to take a shower. I wanted the moment I had with him that previous night to be attached to my skin forever. I had to take a shower though, I knew I would be hanging out with Reggae that day which I almost canceled because of the excitement that I had with spending time with Celius. I got up and got dressed to go home feeling tense after leaving him. I got home, changed my clothes being I just took a shower and we left. I had Celius still on my mind.

“Your obsessed,” she said as we drove to the mall.

“No I am not,” I said in defense.

“Ok, you right you not, your just a savage for the things you don't know.”

“I do know I’m not obsessed.”

“Crack heads don’t think they crack heads either so it’s ok.”

“Whatever Reggae.”

“You’re obsessed,” she whispered still in her joking mood.

“Shut up,” I said laughing as I hit her with my bag.

“Ok fine my bad, you’re getting obsessed with him,” she started cracking herself up as I went along with it hoping to change the mood. “So when are you going to see him again?”

“I don’t know.”

We drove the rest of the way with the music playing. Once we got to the mall, we shopped a little and we cut our day short because neither of us wanted to be there. I couldn’t wait to get home to call Celius and when I did, we talked for hours. Every day as I began to proceed to my fourth period class, I would look forward to seeing him in class and look forward to hanging out with him after class. Spending all my time with him dropped my grades and Reggae grew distant. I hadn’t noticed it until she brought it to my attention. I was lost in his world.

“Ella, can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Yeah sure, hey Cell I will call you right back,” I didn’t want to hang up the phone.

“Ok, but be on your way babe.”

“Ok I will,” I hung up the phone. “What’s up?” I asked Reggae.

“Girl what happened to you?”

“What you mean?" I looked at her with a puzzled face.

“You have changed and even your grades went down ever since you started hanging with him.”

“Oh you mean Celius.”

“Yes.”

“You tripping girl, and how did you know about my grades?”

“Ummm, because it was lying on the kitchen table and I’m nosey,” we both smiled, "But on a serious note, you are really changing.”

“Reggae I don’t think so, I’m just having fun.”

“I’m not saying don’t have fun, but make sure you put your priorities first.” 

‘He is my first priority,’
I thought to myself but instead I replied with, “I do.”

“Ummm, no you don’t, and I’m beginning to think he is not good for you.”

“You have no idea what is good for me Reggae.

“Your right I don’t, but I do know you well enough to know you’re not normal right now.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Your grades are dropping and you’ve started skipping which never ever happened before.”

“Things happen ok?” I got up ready to go, “I’m happy you care about me but I’m a big girl and I can handle myself.” I kissed her on the cheek, “I love you and I will see you later.”

“Wait where you going?”

“Celius is taking me to the zoo.”