Road Trip - Caleb Baker (portable ebook reader .TXT) 📗

off his strange remark I instead asked if he was sure about this decision, for I knew Lauren was especially good at playing cards. 

"Of course I'm sure," he said haughtily, "we've got nothing to lose, we're already here."

Lauren took one look at Emily who nodded hesitantly, then said, "your on."    

I had drastically regretted ever deciding to play cards with John and Lauren, they were the two most competitive people I knew, and it wasn't until the second game of poker that the couch began looking more and more comfortable. 

"Keep your eyes to yourself!" John yelled at me.  

I had glanced at Emily for a second to see if she was just as unsure about this as I was. She was indeed. 

"They are the enemy right now!" John continued. 

"Just relax, your causing a scene," I said snidely. 

"Is that- is that sass?" he set down his cards, "I don't  have time for sass, Caleb, I need to win this bedroom so we can sleep comfortably tonight."

"I don't really think it's that important, I mean, the whole reason we're here is to just be together, right," I said sincerely. 

"Hippie," John muttered, returning to his cards. 

I saw Emily giggle with laughter from the corner of my eye. Seeing her smile lifted my spirits, and just watching her laugh frustrated I became. It wasn't until my name came up in a hushed conversation behind me that I decided to come back to reality. 

The Promise

New York was beautiful. We finally arrived after six hours of driving and at last it felt like this trip was finally happening. Reaching the first destination was the first step, and now that it was complete we all felt accomplished. However, the each of us celebrated this accomplishment in very different ways.    

Emily and Audrey celebrated by splurging their money on fine clothes and different arrays of cheap jewelry. Chris and Lauren spent their time at a wax museum, taking silly pictures and such. While, John and I milled about the city, taking in all it's views and sounds. We all agreed to meet back at Central Park in a couple of hours.    

The rain from before seemed to cease just as we reached the outer reaches of the capital, which made walking that much nicer. The sky was darkening drastically now, and the sun was on its last legs. John and I were lazily walking through Times Square and filling our eyes with all the colorful billboards and advertisements. 

After about a half hour of walking and taking in the sights, I began thinking of Emily again. I couldn't help myself. I just knew that somewhere in this city she was there, and I hoped and wished that she was thinking of me. But, in the deep recesses of my mind I knew she wasn't. I knew how she really felt about me. We were just friends, and she had no problem with that, but I did.   

"So what's going on with you and Audrey?" John asked from somewhere to my right.

We were walking right in front of the building from where the city drops the ball on New Year's Eve. A pipe was protruding out of the wall next to us, and as we passed it, it threw up a billow of smoke. It was a putrid smell, and caused me to crinkle my nose and wipe tears out of my eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said truthfully.

"Sure you don't," John retorted, "I saw the way you two were in the RV together."

"Okay, now I really don't know what you're talking about." What was he trying to get at? I asked myself.

"I just think you might really ruin your chances with Emily, if you mess around with Audrey."

"Oh," I sighed, "you think there's something going on between us?" He nodded, and I continued, "I can assure you, that nothing at all is going on. And nothing ever will."

"I'm not telling you what to do, man," John said, holding his hands up and shrugging, "I'm just saying, be careful."    

I had no idea what he was talking about. To be honest I didn't care either. Audrey was the farthest thing from my mind. All I cared about was Emily, Audrey was just a friend.    

"Anyways," John began, "how are you and Emily?"

Could he read my mind? John was very insightful when he wasn't making jokes out everything. I didn't know how to answer him without telling the truth. I couldn't see myself getting out of the conversation without telling him what was actually going on.

"I don't know exactly," I said as I pressed the walk button on the stoplight, "things are sort of complicated."

"Try me," he offered.

"Okay," I said playing along, "you know how we dated, right?"

"Yeah, one of the greatest love stories of all time, I know," he replied sarcastically.

Ignoring his comment I pressed on. Nobody had heard this story before. As far as I knew, Emily and I were the only ones who knew the full tale.

"It all started in the third grade," I said, and he nodded quietly, "I first met her in Mrs. Day's science class. She was the new girl, and by far the prettiest I had ever seen. I knew even from then, that one day she would be mine."

"So far, this story sounds a bit stalker-ish," John said laughing at his own joke.

"Then, she finally was," I continued, again, ignoring him, "in sophomore year I asked her to be my date to the fall semi-formal. She agreed, and from there we dated for three full months. The best three months of my life."    

As we crossed the street all of those old memories began flooding back to me. I remembered Christmas at her parent's house, dinners at my family's home. I remembered all the long hugs, and sweet kisses, and even her scent wafted under my nose. The simple smell of cherry bliss, the perfume I had gotten her for her birthday before we started dating. I missed her, more than John or even I could imagine. It was like my heart yearned to relive those days. To be a part of something more than myself again. Emily Matthews wasn't just a girl to me. John couldn't see how I really felt. To him it probably seemed like I just had to get over it, move on. That a three month relationship was nothing. To me however, that relationship may has well of been years long.    

"We broke up before my basketball season started. We made a promise to each other that we would get back together after it was over. We both had really big tests coming up, and, I couldn't focus on everything at once. She understood, and we broke it off. We never got back together though, obviously."

"But that's why we're on this trip," John said quietly, "this is your chance to get her back."

"That's what I thought at first," I answered him, "but I just found out she dated someone else." John didn't answer.

I took his silence as a moment to think. I thought about the break-up. What was said, how it was said. I began to analyze every detail as if I were some CIA operative and it was my mission.    

I stood in the doorway of her room. I was back two years in the past. The window was dark and a glare sent light rays into my eyes. She was cleaning off her bed so I could sit down. I couldn't help but smile as she threw laundry into the open closet a few paces away. Her hair was flicking sharply behind her as she moved faster and faster.

"I was just made a captain of the team," I said excitedly.

"Really?" she had stopped cleaning and turned around to look at me, "Caleb, that's great! You've always wanted that."

She set down a pair of pants that were about to be thrown into the heap and embraced me with such a long hug. The smell of cherries filled me with a swelling sensation.

"Sorry, I'm really sweaty," I said as she hugged me tighter.

"I don't care," she said into my ear.

I took her by the arms and kissed her. Not just any kiss, but one that made my heart stop beating for a moment. When I finally released her she breathed a deep sigh.

"I really have to study," she said after some time, "I have a huge bio test tomorrow, and I need your help."

"Of course," I said, setting my book bag down on her floor.    

She motioned for me to sit next to her on the bed, patting an empty space and beckoning me forward with her hand. I sat down expecting to be bombarded with school materials. I was right. Immediately she showered me with biology books, notes, papers, pencils, basically the entire contents of her school bag.

"Ouch!" I cried as a particularly large book fell onto my hand.

"Sorry!" she said. For a moment her hand touched mine, and our eyes locked. I could feel the beginnings of a smile working its way across my face.

"I really do have to study," she said softly.

"You've been studying a lot lately."

"I have a lot to study for."

"Maybe you can do it later."

"No," she whispered, "I have to do it now."

I frowned. Emily looked at me with her big brown eyes. I loved those eyes.

"Will you help me?" she asked.

"I honestly can't. I don't know anything about biology."

Now she frowned. I averted my eyes, scared to look into hers.

"We have a lot on our plate," I said, standing up, "I just became a captain, and you just got a job. And we both have a lot to study for."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, there won't be a lot of time for us to see each other. In between everything, the only time we'll be together is in the hallways at school."

"So what do you want to do?"

"Don't put this all on me," I said, and I couldn't believe my own ears after I said it.

"I'm not putting anything on you," she answered quickly, "it sounds like you want to take a break."

I didn't answer her. I was at a loss for words. How could she figure me out so quickly?

"Look, Caleb," she said, taking me by the hands, "I understand where you're coming from. It's like, all of the sudden we have all this responsibility. I'm overwhelmed too."

I looked into her saddened eyes. A tear was welling up and beginning its way down her cheek. I wiped it away as she continued to speak.

"Maybe a break is the best decision right now. If our relationship is meant to be, then we'll get back together."

"I hate that phrase, 'meant to be'," I said laughing a little.

"Then how about this," she said, holding my hands tighter, "after your season is over, we'll get back together. All of the stress should be gone by then."

"Promise me, Emily. Promise me we'll get back together."

"I promise. I love you."    

A beeping car horn brought me back to my senses. John and I were standing at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to tell us to go. I stuck my