Reagan Part Four: A Date with Jakob Cobb

Written by: Amanda

Since I have never been on a date before I made Annie come 'fix me up'. She insisted, actually. She nearly blew my eardrum out when I called her with the news.

"He did what? You said yes? OhmygodI'llbeoverinthemorningtodressyou!" Click.

I guess in her excitement she hung up unknowingly because she immediately called back.

"Only if you want me to, of course."

"Duh! I have no friggin' clue as to what I am doing!" With this comment we both burst into laughter before hanging up.

I seriously have no idea what I am getting myself into. I also had no clue what I planned on talking about and God forbid if this boy attempts to kiss me. I can't kiss! Never have, although once I did try to kiss Tristan in the third grade and that didn't work out too well. All the other girls in third grade already had their firsts kiss, so I wanted mine too...

It was a fall day and it felt good outside so when Raine brought Tristan over, we decided to go outside and enjoy the breeze and the warmth of the sun. I had asked him if he wanted to look up at the clouds and see if we could see what they reminded us of.  He smiled and nodded.  I laid down on the grass and gently pulled him down beside me.  The sky was a gorgeous blue, bright with tons of puffy clouds.  We settled into one of our favorite games.  I would say what the cloud reminded me of then Tristan would nod and sign the animal or object I named.  This was how I started improving my sign language.

As we were lay there on the grass, naming animals and objects, suddenly a part of me wondered what it'd be like to kiss Tristan.  I don't know why this thought entered my brain, but there I was staring at him and dying to kiss him.  I licked my lips and turned onto my side.  What are you doing? I asked myself silently sliding closer to him.  I didn't have a clue.  Just then he turned his head, looking at me with those icy blue eyes. It was like he'd read my mind. Did he want this too?  I leaned in, pressing my lips gently to his. They were so soft and it sent a jolt through my body.  Tristan didn't react like I had hoped, though, turning something beautiful into something traumatic and embarrassing. How could I have believed he'd react any different?

Immediately he jumped up, arms flapping, eyes shut tight.  He let out this chilling scream and wiped at his mouth as if I were some contagious disease. That really hurt me when I watched him do that, it hurt to the core of my soul. This was not what I'd imagined.

"Tristan...shh...it's okay...I'm sorry..." I frantically whispered. "Please calm down...shh." My comforting whispers didn't work. The screaming and stemming continued as our parents rushed outside.

"What's going on?" Raine demanded pulling Tristan into a hug, trying to soothe him. I was speechless and embarrassed.  No way could I tell them I'd just kissed him.

"I...um..." I mumbled stalling, my eyes burning with tears, unshed.

"Yes?" My mom prodded. "Reagan Marie Dawson tell me this instant, what's going on?!"

"All I did was kiss him alright?" Tears streamed down my cheeks as I bolted inside, cheeks a bright shade of red.

Ever since that day, I've never again attempted to kiss Tristan although for months I daydreamed of nothing else but the softness of his lips. It made sense why all the girls at school had wanted to kiss boys more after their first kisses. I would and still do get jealous any time I hear or see a girl getting to kiss a boy. Now here I am with my chance and I'm scared out of my mind. So kissing is definitely out of the question! Besides, I need to focus on what I plan to say considering dinner could take up to two hours. Oh no! My palms have gotten all clammy again. I just hope I don't hyperventilate!

***

"Girl, I wish you'd stop pacing back and forth so much, you're making my head spin! Just sit down, everything is going to be okay."

I sat on the end of my bed and wiped my sweaty palms on my blue jeans, while Annie went back to digging around my closet.

"Don't you own anything other than t-shirts and blue jeans?"

This was an ignorant question as she's known me since the fourth grade and I've wore the same type of clothing my whole life. Annie just laughed at her own question so I assumed it had been a joke so I half-heartily laughed with her.

"You can rummage through Saydee's closet, if you think I should look more feminine for my date."

Saydee was the girly girl, not me. I take after our dad, blue jeans and rock n roll tees. Speaking of my dad, he's going to flip when he finds out I've got a date. He is still working out of town so that means he can't be here to threaten Jakob. Which in my eyes is technically a good thing but it also could be a bad thing. Had dad been here to threaten him, he could have just walked away and I'd be relieved and not freaking out about the date to begin with. As for my mother, she will welcome Jakob with open arms. Mom has a thing for boys with manners and I can't imagine Jakob being anything other than well mannered. If he weren't, then he couldn't even tempt me on going on this date and I could relieve myself.

"Great idea! Saydee always had such good taste. Come on, let's go see."

It didn't take her long to find what she called 'the perfect outfit'. I almost told her 'hell no!' since it was nothing but a mere tank top and mini skirt, but she seemed so excited for me. So I picked out so rainbow tights and a blue jean jacket - maybe my young girl attitude will fend off Jakob from attempting to press his lips onto mine. Although, I mainly said yes because it fit perfectly and looked great on me. Besides, I wanted Jake to know that I had a great mind and body. I just didn't want him trying to touch.

The door bell rang as soon as Annie finished touching up my make-up, which is a first for me so I only let her do eye make-up and a bit of lipstick with a hint of lip gloss to make them shine. Annie looked down at me and assured me that I looked great because she could tell I began to freak out because I began desperately rubbing my hands on my skirt.

"Calm down, you don't want sweat stains on your mini." Annie giggled at me and I attempted to giggle but it sounded demented. Annie raised her eyebrows in concern. "You'll be fine, just don't laugh like that, okay?" I nodded and stood up and checked myself out in the mirror before I headed into the living room where I could hear mom and Jakob talking about school.

"I try for straight A's but English is a struggle for me."

"Oh well Reagan could help you there, she's extremely-" Mom stopped when she noticed me. "My goodness!" Mom was taken aback, she'd never seen me so dressed up. Jake's jaw dropped and I think I saw a bit of drool leak from the crease of his lip and hit the floor. I did my maniac giggle and Annie pinched my bottom, shutting me up quickly.

"You look incredible." Jake said once he cleaned the drool off his face, he couldn't stop smiling. Maybe he'd watch me all night so I didn't have to talk? That would be a relief all in itself.  "Are you ready to go?" He held out his arm for me to link mine into his. I just grabbed it and didn't open my mouth for fear of giggling like a psycho that's escaped her padded room.

The drive to the restaurant was silent and Jake was more than just a gentleman in front of my mom, he also opened the car door and helped me out as well as pulled the chair out for me. This Jake was a lot better than the one that stalked me at school. I guess he had to make a good first date impression so I'd forget how crazy he was trying to get me here. By the time I ordered I realized I was no longer nervous and quite open for conversation.

"So...why exactly did you want a date with me? You've never noticed me before."

"Oh no, dear Reagan, I have been eye balling you for years. I just assumed you were dating that boy, what's his name?"

"You mean, Tristan?"

"Yeah, I always saw the two of you holding hands and the way he smiles at you..."

I was shocked to find out that Jake has always liked me but because I was always grasping tightly to Tristan's hand, he kept his distance. "Well, you should have came to talk to me... Tristan isn't and was never my boyfriend."

"So, you just walk around holding his hand all the time because he's some sort of retard?"

I flinched at the word. Retard? My mother always told me that there was nothing wrong with Tristan's heart, his brain was just slower than others. She taught me that he still loved just like the rest of us only he was trapped in his own mind and didn't really comprehend as well as we did so he'd react differently. By that, she means sometimes he screams or had meltdowns. I always felt envious of Tristan. As long as no one off set his days, he was happy and care-free. He didn't have to worry about his looks or popularity. He just enjoyed life as it was, well as long as it was his routine with no upsets. So when I heard Jake, the gentleman, use such a harsh word my face went red with anger.

"How dare you say such a horrid thing about someone you know nothing about!" I threw my napkin on the table. "I can't believe I was ignorant enough to accept this date when you are obviously nothing more than some man w***e attempting to get to know the only girl in the entire school that you have yet to kiss!" I stood up from my seat and grabbed my handbag. "Either take me home immediately or I'll phone my mother to come get me."

All eyes were focused on us and Jake's face went red, he felt like a moron and I enjoyed seeing him look like the fool he was. How dare he speak ill of Tristan? Tristan had never done a thing to hurt or harm anyone, ever and hearing someone call him names... oh, it just set me off! The drive home was more silent than the ride to dinner and the tension was tight in the air. I feared that Jake would try to redeem himself and I feared using my clenched up fist. When he pulled into the driveway he reached for his door handle but I didn't wait for him to get out and open my door. I got out as quickly as I could, slamming the door behind me. I wanted him to see my back because that was the last he was going to see of my face, the b*****d.

I stormed into the house and mom jumped off the couch. "Reagan?" My face was still on fire and the frown was still stuck to my face but once mom walked over I let my guard down and I began to cry. "Mom, how could I?" She didn't understand because I couldn't say anything through my blubbering. She held me tightly in her arms, patiently waiting for me to calm down enough to explain.

"Mom..." I paused to take a breath. "How can someone call Tristan a retard?" I barely got it out before I started crying again.

"Oh Reagan..." She pulled me into a hug again and kissed the top of my head. "oh honey... people can just be ignorant. Sometimes they say things because they just don't understand. It will be okay, I promise." I let her hold me until I was out of tears then slowly made my way to my room and fell onto the bed and passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow.

I fell into a dream of Tristan and I standing in a field of flowers. We were holding hands and he was smiling at me like I was the most beautiful girl in the world.

"Wuv you." He giggled after saying it as I moved in closer to him, leaning in for a kiss. After I released my lips from his he didn't scream, he held his smile and I whispered to him, "I love you too, Tristan.".

Reviews

[E.H. Monroe]

christ. this is the s**t that you do. You build up a teen movie love scene, right, where the possibilities are awesome and then you have the f*****g asshat call the kids retarded and ruin any idea of perfection that you had previously created. its like getting the rug pulled out while on the way up dsome stairs to a free shopping spree. This is like Of Mice and Men, with a modern kcik and teen anxiety thrown it.

Depressing but uplifting...this is pretty damn good

[Coyote Poetry]

A very entertaining chapter. Dating and a very strong ending. I like the story. The storyline is very good and the character feel alive. A excellent chapter.
Coyote

[.shalynn.009.]

"He did what? You said yes? OhmygodI'llbeoverinthemorningtodressyou!" Click." I like this. Gets the tone of teenage girls well.

"I've never again attempted to kiss Tristan" This paragraph slips into present tense.

"and I've wore" should be "worn"

"Annie just laughed at her own question so I assumed it had been a joke so I half-heartily laughed with her." make this two sentences. Just take out one of the "so's" and make that the beginning of the next sentence.


"he's going to flip" This paragraph slips into present tense again.

"I wanted Jake to know" Why do you suddenly switch into calling him Jake?

"Annie looked down at me and assured me that I looked great because she could tell I began to freak out because I began desperately rubbing my hands on my skirt." This sentences is very long and convoluted. I suggest breaking it down and making it more concise.

"I nodded and stood up and checked myself out in the mirror before I headed into the living room where I could hear mom and Jakob talking about school." another very long sentence.

"I was shocked to find out that Jake has always liked me but because I was always grasping tightly to Tristan's hand, he kept his distance." Cut this down to just "I was shocked." THe reader will infer the rest, adn as it is, it's a little...unecessary and not up to standard with the rest of your writing.

"a dream of Tristan and I" should be "Tristan and me"

Overall, I think this chapter is a great idea. However, you REALLY rushed through the date. She freaked out really fast and it just ended. I know it's a short-lived date, but you barely gave the reader time to adjust to her being on a date. For all of the build-up towards it, you could have lingered a lot more on it. The paragraph after he calls Tristan a retard is a little rough and doesn't really fit in, so I think that could be improved upon. Also, you switch into calling him Jake very abruptly adn awkwardly. You want to be consistent with names. MAybe if he asked her to call him Jake, it would be a lot less awkward. But I like the idea of the chapter, letting us see what others see when they look at Tristan, people who don't know him or understand autism. Keep going with it, because it's got potential.

[Abbie]

Aw thats so sweet! Jakob can go back to his cave just because some people have learning disabllity doesn't mean their a retard thats so nice how she stuck up for trisdan. I'm glad she finally got her kiss for trisdan even if it was in a dream

[ImJustAMisguidedGhost]

I'm kinda glad Jakob said that. It just showed to Reagan to stand up for her best friend even though they're not really talking. Another great chapter(:

[Thomas Sawyer]

Another good chapter, keep it up.

[Lindsey]

I decided to kill 3 birds with one stone and just comment here if thats okay. I really enjoy this story it is very entrtaining and I like it a ton!

[Midnight_Mystery]

love it! awesome job. in a word: perfect :)