Story of a Friendship Part Three

Part Three:1

Three days later, it was still raining.  Jesse pulled up into the driveway, narrowly missing his dad’s useless Jeep that was parked just off the thin strip of driveway.  Bethany, wet and dripping from standing outside the coffee house, opened the door, and stepped out into the rain.  Jesse jumped out and stopped her before she went anywhere.  He had something to show her.2

“Bethany!  Wait!  I have to show you something!”  Bethany turned in surprise.  She smiled as Jesse ran up beside her and took her hand, leading her toward her own home.  They crossed the muddy lawn, and the neatly trimmed bushes along the front of the house until they reached the front door.  Bethany unlocked the door, seeing that there were no cars in the driveway.  No one was home.  The door gracefully swung open, and they both entered the cozy home.  When Jesse stepped inside, he heard a loud squeak from his shoes.  Jesse looked down at the polished wood floors and realized that they were dripping all over the place.  Bethany didn’t even seem to notice as she took off her shoes and tossed them to the wall beside the door.  Jesse followed her leave and took off his shoes as well.  3

Jesse led the way up the stairs and into Bethany’s room.  Once there, he went toward the far side of the room and pulled the attic stairs down from the ceiling.  Bethany gave him a puzzled look, but followed him up the very unused stairs.  As her head cleared the floor, Bethany’s eyes grew wide with joy.  The attic, which had been useless and haunting for years had been transformed into her dream room!  The walls, which had once been a dusty shade of white, had been painted a creamy brown and deep green.  A dark cherry wood colored floor had replaced the original floor, which had been plywood.  The windows had been cleaned, and slightly opened, allowing the breeze to carry in the beautiful smell of rain.  Everything that Bethany could ever want was in there.  A new cherry wood desk for her to write her stories and poetry on, a new stereo system that far surpassed her small unit in her room, a karaoke machine, a stage, and a spacious corner built for dancing.  Bethany smiled widely and walked around the room, examining everything.  Jesse just leaned up against the door and admired his work.  Bethany touched the desk gingerly and ran her hands over the stereo and karaoke machine before walking across the stage toward the dance floor.  She turned to Jesse with a light in her eyes that could be seen for miles.4

“Did you do all of this for me?”  Jesse smiled and began to walk toward her.  His walk was cool and confident.  He knew he had done well.5

“Yes.”  Jesse reached the stereo system and touched a button.  The lights flashed on and soft tango music came from the surround sound speakers.  Jesse approached Bethany and bowed slightly, offering her his hand.  “May I have the honor of dancing with you?”  Bethany laughed and smiled, nodding and taking his hand.6

“Of course.  You are my dance partner.”  Jesse held Bethany’s hand snuggly, and gracefully pulled her into a tango position.  They danced across the floor expertly.  Both were on the ballroom dancing team at school and partners.  They knew the moves and could tell what move the other was going to do next.  It was perfect.  Soon the song ended.  7

‘Too soon.’ Jesse thought as he forgot to bring Bethany out of a deep dip.  Bethany looked at Jesse and saw something there that she hadn’t seen before.  She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.  They just stood there together, with Bethany still bend backward and Jesse standing over her with his face close to her own.   They stared into the other’s eyes, trying to read the other’s mind.  Bethany finally opened her mouth enough to get the words out, but before the words could escape her lips, Jesse’s mouth covered her own.  The kiss was deep and had more feeling then could possibly be imagined from a friendship.  Jesse’s lips tingled as Bethany deepened the kiss herself and ran her tongue along his upper lip.  A nibble, a taste, never a waste.  There was something there and neither of them could quite forget about it.  When finally, their lips parted from the other’s, they were both breathless.  Jesse held Bethany tight to him, and kissed her again, feeling the same rush that came before.  As Bethany pulled away for air, Jesse felt himself lose control.  As he brushed his fingers through Bethany’s hair, he heard himself say,8

“I love you.”  Bethany leaned her head against his shoulder and just breathed.  There was nothing for her to say.  She looked up at him again, but a passion had taken over her.  She ran her fingers through Jesse’s thick hair and pulled him down for another kiss.  Jesse slowly brought Bethany out of her dip, but instead of standing her upright, he slid her back onto the floor, with his body on top her own.  After a few, breathless moments, Jesse felt something buzzing in his back pocket.  Bethany could hear it and pulled away laughing.  9

“Your butt’s ringing.”  Jesse reluctantly got off of Bethany and answered his phone.  Just his luck!  It was his mother.10

“Darling!   Where are you?  You’re car’s here, but you’re not!  Where are you baby?”  Jesse rolled his eyes, and Bethany just laughed quietly behind her hand.  Jesse couldn’t believe it.  Things between him and his best friend had quickly gone from friendly to passionate, back to friendly again.  11

“I’m over at Bethany’s mom.  I’ll be home in a minute.”  Bethany let out a little giggle and went to turn off the stereo, which still played the tango music.  Bethany just stood listening while Jesse reassured his mom that he would be home very soon.  Finally, he was able to hang up with her.  He turned to Bethany who wore a very puzzled look on her face.  He walked up to her and pinned her to the wall.  Getting very close to her face and brushing his fingers across her cheek, a look of wanting came over his face.12

“Now, where were we?”  Jesse’s eyes became dark and full of infatuation.  He leaned close to her face to kiss her again, but Bethany put her hands up for him to stop.  She half smiled, and pushed him off of her.13

“I think you had better go home before you mom gets upset.  I’ll see you tomorrow.  Thank you for my new room.  I’ll figure out a way to repay you.”  Jesse pulled back, a bit hurt, but he got her idea.  She was probably even more confused then he was.  What was there for him to do other then go home and let her think?  He backed off.14

‘You’ll defiantly be paying me back!’ He thought, but then chided himself for such a thought.  “Alright, I’m gone.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”  Jesse climbed down the ladder and waved goodbye to Bethany.  15

She waved back sadly, and then realized the disappointment that Jesse must have been feeling.  She wanted to go after him and explain everything to him, but then she recognized her own confusion.  How was she going to explain something to him that she didn’t even understand?  There was no way.  All the thoughts just sprang into Bethany’s mind and then right back out.  She couldn’t quite figure out what was going on between the two of them.  Normally, Jesse was the one that knew everything.  He was the one with all the logic and reasoning and kept her grounded.  How was she going to fix things with him all in a mess? 16

‘Think fast.  The dance is only a week away.  Think.  Think.  Think.’  Nothing.  She couldn’t think of anything!  Well, maybe she just needed to sleep on it.  That always helped.  Things were a little crazy right now, and if she just slept and let it all settle down then maybe things will work out without too many problems.  Yes, sleep was the right thing.  So, Bethany got into her pajamas and went over to the window to shut the blinds.  Through the raindrops that tumbled down her window, she could see the light that slid out of Jesse’s bedroom window.  She watched as he took off his shirt, turned on his stereo and fell onto his pillow like bed, pulled his pillow up under his head, and let the sheets form around his thin, toned body.  Bethany sighed and remembered the feeling of his warm body on top of her own.  Bethany shook her head and snapped at herself for any such thoughts.  Sleep.  That’s what she was going to do.  That’s what she needed.  Bethany closed the binds, shielding her eyes from the sight of Jesse and his room.  She turned off her light, and slid lightly under her covers with a sigh.  She fluffed her pillow and turned onto her side to get comfortable.  Sleep.  Yes, sleep.  That’s just what she needed.  Sleep…17