Strawberry Wine (29 page)

“You know, there
is
a way to put an end to your frustration...” Jason said in a soft, gravelly voice.

Alli perked up immediately and looked at him expectantly.

“We can tell your folks and get their blessing.”

Alli blew a disappointed raspberry and flopped back to her sulking position. She flipped on the t.v. and pretended to watch whatever was on.

* * * * *

Jason grabbed a mug from the hodge-podge selection of coffee cups that lived above the archaic coffee maker in the teacher’s lounge. They were an odd assortment of mugs that had been donated or abandoned throughout the years. Jason’s mug was mostly white with a picture of a grumpy cat on one side and the words “Mondays are the pits.” on the other.

He didn’t usually drink coffee, but he really needed a pick me up after yet another sleepless night spent tossing and turning.

Mrs. Drake came bustling into the lounge, her face red with excitement over a juicy bit of gossip. Spotting her regular gossiping counterpart, Verna, she rushed over to impart her news.

Verna worked part-time in the library, and had the body and personality of a bean pole.

“Verna! You are not going to
believe
what I heard.”

Verna’s eyes lit up with interest. Mrs. Drake settled into a worn seat, enjoying her moment of attention. “It would appear that a certain transfer student has gotten in the family way by none other than our own star quarterback himself.”

Verna’s eyes bugged out. “Josh Saunders! Oh, for shame. And he’s such a sweet boy too. This might cost him that scholarship.”

Jason tried his best to ignore the clucking hens. The coffee was finally finished percolating, so he poured himself a cup. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Josh Saunders. He was one of Jason’s more promising students.

Mrs. Drake prattled on. “One can hardly blame the poor boy. Allison Wilson is walking trouble. Remember I told you about that upset at homecoming? And before
that
she had a suspected case of mono.”

Jason dropped the coffee pot, splashing his hand with scalding hot coffee.

Mrs. Drake screamed in alarm. “Oh Heavens! Mr. Taylor, are you alright?!” They descended upon him with paper napkins. Jason rushed to hold his hand under cold running water. Angry welts were already beginning to form.

Jason shook off their attempts to help him. Not bothering to hide his annoyance, he glared down at them with disgust. “Perhaps your time could be better spent offering these students support rather than gossiping about them during your break. You’re supposed to care about these kids. Shame on you.” Mrs. Drake and Verna looked appropriately abashed. They had sense enough not to speak until he had stormed out of the room.

Alli was awakened by the sound of activity humming from the floor beneath her. Her downstairs neighbors were an elderly couple that rarely made any noise. Alli wondered what they could possibly be doing to cause such a ruckus. A series of loud thumps brought Alli further out of her foggy dream state. She yawned, stretched, and snuggled back into the warm body beside her.

Wait. Warm body?

Slowly Alli’s brain began to function properly and she realized she wasn’t in her own bed. The events of the previous night flooded back to her and she shivered with delight, draping an arm over Jason’s sleeping form and pulling him tightly against her.

“Mmmmm” He mumbled, nuzzling her neck. “A man could get used to this.”

Jason couldn’t remember ever having felt so content. He held tightly to Alli, not wanting the magic of the past twenty hours to wane in the light of day.

Last night had been amazing. After leaving the paint soaked studio, they had showered, washing each other thoroughly as the water ran down the drain like so much easter egg dye. They had talked and made love into the small hours of the morning. Old hurts were re-visited and soothed. Misunderstandings were made clear. They had reformed their connection, and Jason could truly see their future together. There was only one more hurdle to jump.

Greg.

They had agreed Alli should wait to explain things to him until after the Urban Youth show. They didn’t want to risk causing a scene.

Another loud thump from downstairs made Alli jump. “What on earth is going on down there?” She asked.

Jason ran his hands over his face in an attempt to wake up a little more. He squinted at his bedside clock. The boxy red numbers read 2:47.

“Jesus. Is that really the time?” He asked, more to himself than to Alli. “I imagine it’s Reggie and the others setting things up for the catering people. I’m surprised no one has come looking for me yet.”

“Ah! The show!” Alli gasped. “I’m supposed to be getting ready at Greg’s.”

Alli scurried out of bed and fumbled into her clothes. She looked very odd wearing her wrinkled pencil skirt and one of Jason’s t-shirts. It was very much a walk-of-shame type of ensemble, but Alli felt no shame. She finally felt
right
. Whole again. As if her life could finally start anew.

“I guess I’ll see you in a few hours.” She said as she kissed him by the door.

Jason let the kiss linger. “Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you out?” He asked.

Alli smiled against his lips. “No. I don’t want to draw any more attention to myself than I already am.”

Alli’s phone rang as she climbed into her car. Greg’s picture flashed on her screen and she took a deep breath before hitting “accept”.

“Hello?” She tried to sound breezy and casual.

“Hey babe.” Greg sounded as if he were forcing ‘breezy and casual’ as well. “Where are you?”

“I’m just getting in my car. I’ll be there in ten.” She answered, cursing her wardrobe.

“Why didn’t you come home last night?” He sounded mildly curious rather than accusatory.

Alli’s brain went blank. “Uh... I... I stayed at my place to have girl time with Margot.” She said, cringing at her stutter.

“Oh.” Alli didn’t know it, but Margot had called Greg’s apartment earlier to verify the starting time of the show. Alli was too preoccupied with her story to notice the slight change in his voice. “Well, I have your dress over here. Come over and we’ll get ready together.”

“I am. I just said I’m on my way.”

“Then I’ll see you shortly.” He sounded eerily cheerful.

Alli could hear the sound of the shower running. She crept into the bedroom, hoping to be able to grab her dress before Greg knew she was there. If she could just make it through tonight, she could officially end things with Greg tomorrow.

Her dress had been taken out of the garment bag and hung on a rack on the back of the door next to Greg’s tux. Reaching for it, she knocked his jacket to the ground. It landed with a dull thump. As Alli picked it up a ring box fell out of the pocket. Alli froze.

No. Not tonight. He can’t possibly be planning this for tonight.

A cold sweat broke out across Alli’s brow.

Maybe it’s not an engagement ring. Maybe it’s just another silly bauble...

Alli didn’t notice the water in the shower turning off. She slowly reached for the box as if it were a bomb or a poisonous snake. Her fingers slid across the velvet clamshell, pinching it lightly at the sides and opening it to reveal a massive emerald cut platinum engagement ring. Alli’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

“Ah. That’s just the look of awe I was hoping for.” Alli startled and jumped violently at Greg’s voice. “You little minx. You’ve ruined the surprise.”

Alli snapped the box closed. She was comically opening and closing her mouth like a fish gasping on dry land, unable to force her tongue to function properly to form a coherent sentence. “That’s okay, babe. You can look at it. Hell, try it on. See how you like the weight of it.” Greg wrapped his towel around his waist and held his hand out for the box. “Give it here. I’ll put it on you, but only for a minute. We don’t want everyone to think they missed all of the excitement.”

Alli handed him the box and shook her head. “I... I can’t.” She stumbled to her feet, needing to be standing for this horrifying conversation.

Greg looked confused by her tortured demeanor. “Why? Is it bad luck or something? I thought that was just seeing the dress before the wedding.”

“No, I can’t marry you, Greg.” Alli was as shocked to hear the words finally come out of her mouth as Greg was. She felt as if a weight had been lifted from her chest and she could breathe more easily. “There’s someone else.” She watched different emotions play across his face; Confusion, disbelief, anger, and the hardest one to bear, fear.

“What? What do you mean ‘there’s someone else’?”

Alli just shook her head. “Jason and I-”

He cut her off. “
Jason?!
You would throw me over for
the painter
? No. Alli no. Don’t be ridiculous.” He grabbed her tightly by the upper arms and shook her ever so slightly. “You don’t know what you’re saying. I get it. You went slumming with an artist. I’m not happy about that, but I’m willing to overlook it. You have cold feet. People do stupid things when they start getting cold feet.” He was speaking rapidly, frantic to make her see the absurdity of her refusal.

She took a breath to speak, but he wouldn’t let her. “No. Don’t say anything. Don’t say a word Alli. This is madness.” He was breathing heavily as if he had just run up several flights of stairs. His arms were trembling a bit as he instructed her to suspend this dialogue. “You’re going to put on your dress-
look at me, Alli
- you’re going to put on your dress and get ready for the opening. We’re not going to let this lapse in judgement ruin the night.” He shook his head when she looked about to argue. “I wont propose tonight, Alli. Let’s just get through the opening without making waves. Do you think you can handle that? You
owe
me that at least.”

Alli had been using the excuse of helping to coordinate the school’s annual haunted house to explain her extended absences from home after school. Unfortunately, that meant that she actually had to start helping to coordinate as the date of the event drew near.

She stifled a yawn as she sorted through the boxes of sheets and decorations from years past. She was so tired these days.

The other student coordinators were gathered around a table, assigning positions and mapping out the path people would take through the gym. Much to Alli’s chagrin, Yvette Slinth had elected herself as head of the coordinating committee. Her blatant pregnancy references had stopped, but Alli wasn’t naive enough to think it meant Yvette was over their little spat. She watched warily as Yvette approached her, Ellen right on her heels.

“You can’t just assign rolls, Yvette. This isn’t a dictatorship.” Ellen was saying.

“We only have so many volunteers, Ellen. I think Alli would be perfect for this.” Yvette answered. Alli bristled at Yvette’s overly sweet tone.

“What.” Alli’s voice was flat and void of amusement.

Ellen jumped in. “Kim Jong Il here wants you to play Carrie for the finale of the haunted maze.”

Alli didn’t think that sounded so bad. There must be a catch. “So, what, that means I wear a slip dress and some fake blood? What’s the catch?”

Yvette batted her eyes innocently. “There’s no catch. I think it’s an honor to get to be a part of the finale blood bath. Consider this my olive branch.”

Alli didn’t trust Yvette further than she could throw her. She returned Yvette’s acidic smile. “Gee, thanks Yvette. I appreciate the gesture.”

“So that’s settled then. You’ll play Carrie for the finale.” Yvette twirled a pirouette and flounced back to the main table of students.

Ellen eyed her departure suspiciously. “She’s up to something.” She said darkly.

Alli was too tired to waste energy worrying about Yvette and her petty schemes. “I think we give her too much credit. She probably just wants to watch me suffer through being covered in red corn syrup all damn night.”

Ellen nodded in half agreement. “Maybe. But I’m still going to keep an eye on her. That bitch is vicious.”