Watching Her- Part 9

The day of Kevin and Sarah’s finals came around quickly. Kevin had successfully finished the Al Capone picture after working on it for hours to not only get a good grade, but impress Sarah. He added several pictures of Al Capone and his mob, small descriptions, and pictures of guns and weapons for effect. Sarah was immensely pleased.1

After Pearl Harbor and Mormonism from Monday, Harlem Renaissance and Boxer Rebellion on Tuesday, Kevin and Sarah followed with Al Capone after the Showdown at the O.K. Corral. People seemed to enjoy their presentation over the others. They had a movie clip, their subject contained violence, and it had a funny (,but sad and true) ending: Al Capone died of an STD.2

“You did so well on the project, Kevin.” Sarah congratulated him. “Why have you been making C’s?”3

Kevin became confused. “How’d you know my grade?”4

“Oh,” she stuttered. “Mr. Riles showed us our grades, and I accidentally saw yours. You did well on this project, but why aren’t you making better grades?”5

Kevin became confused again. He felt he hadn’t done his share of the project- he had been focused too much on Sarah. When she asked him for ideas, he blurted out things, which she’d politely pointed out how they were wrong. Somehow, he’d made a good impression, but he quickly made an excuse. “I guess I’m just caught up in summer coming, ya’ know? Year’s almost over, I’m getting lazy.”6

Sarah smiled. “I guess I have no reason to talk either. My grades are getting low, too.” Kevin smiled in return. 7

Kevin was relieved to end the project with a good grade, but was sullen to discover that his nights with Sarah were over. After three nights of studying and building into their project, he felt he hadn’t learned a thing. Sarah was a constant distraction. What had happened to him?8

He questioned that over in his mind hundreds of times. Maybe he wanted to keep her close. They only had two classes together, and the whole sophomore grade was so large, it would be a miracle if they had classes together as juniors.  That’s why his main goal was to sign up with her same classes.9

He was falling for her, but he didn’t want to. Not in the way that he had- by spying on her. He felt sick and perverted for what he was doing, and stopped watching her. Once again, his morals took hold of him…10

The school year ended with a bang. Parties were held almost every night for a whole week afterwards to celebrate the end of schoolwork, especially for the seniors. Kevin went to a couple, trying to lose his focus off of Sarah, but he couldn’t. Every time he talked to a girl at a party, Sarah was in the back of his mind, and he just didn’t want any others. He’d only slept with one girl a few times, but that was over a year ago. After he started watching Sarah, he was captivated, and he didn’t want to give up on her.11

Kevin hatched a plan to see her…12

He drove to her house in his black Dodge, slowly, trying to rid himself of his nervousness and conscience. But in the end, he followed through. He parked his car three blocks from her driveway and went to work. Kevin went to the trunk and pulled out an old, flat, tire. He jacked up his car and removed his good one and put in his truck bed. He changed his good tire to the flat one, and carefully drove it to Sarah’s street.13

Sarah came downstairs to answer the door, wearing a pair of blue jean capris, a bright yellow wifebeater, and a rainbow headband, making her look funky. She had just come home from visiting some friends and didn’t feel like guests at the moment. After all, it was getting close to eleven at night. 14

She opened the door, and caught sight of Kevin. She gaped. “Wow, umm, Kevin. Umm… what’s up? What are you doing here so late?”15

“Oh, um, hi Sarah. I’m sorry it’s so late, but I got a flat tire and your house was close, so I wondered if you uh… had a jack.” He explained, his nervousness practically on his sleeve. Sarah didn’t notice. She peeked past his strong frame to the huge black truck on a flat tire. 16

“Um, yeah, I think so. Lemme’ go and see in the garage.” She closed the door and walked around the hallway to the door to the inside garage. She opened up the huge door, and it rumbled. Sarah winced, not wanting her parents to wake,  but luckily, they were heavy sleepers. She opened it just enough for her to walk outside. She grabbed the heavy metal jack in the corner and walked outside and met Kevin on her porch. “Well, let’s see it.” 17

Sarah walked across the wet pavement (from a previous rain) in her bare feet. Kevin showed her the flattened tire, while Sarah peeked around the truck. She spotted his own jack in the bed of the truck. “Hey, you already have a jack in your truck bed!”18

Kevin hesitated, but thought quickly. “Oh, uh, that one’s broken. Won’t lift it up far enough.”19

Sarah replied a quiet, “Oh” and looked back to the flat. She was quiet while he worked on his hands and knees. He jacked up the car as she watched.20

Why Sarah found a man changing a tire so attractive, she didn’t know. She watched as he was on all fours, lifting the tires and changing them, and she was mesmerized. She loved manly men; she had known that. A man that was good with cars, wasn’t afraid of a fight, and was handsome. A cowboy was more like it. But more and more, the little things added up- the way he called her Sarah instead of Soda like everyone else. Even changing a tired got her flustered.21

When he finished, she held out her hand for the jack, but Kevin thought twice. If he was going to impress her, he’d have to be a gentleman. He offered to take it to the garage himself, and Sarah agreed. Kevin placed it where he was told and became alone with her in the dark garage. 22

“Thank you so much for all your help, Sarah.”23

“You’re welcome, Kevin. Good night.” She turned to go inside, but he caught his throat.24

“Umm, Sarah. I um, was wondering if you would like to go to a party with me on Saturday night.”25

“Not after the last one; sorry, Kevin.” She turned again.26

“Well, then maybe I could just come here. I kind of need help choosing my courses for Junior year.”27

Sarah turned, confused by his sudden ambition. Boys like Kevin weren’t like this- they didn’t care about school or getting into good classes. They cared about stupid stuff like football, sex, drinking, and more football. She folded her arms and questioned him. “Why do you need my help?”28

“Well, you seem really smart and nice. I admire you a bit, ya know?”29

Sarah didn’t believe him. She smiled, wondering what his real motive was. “No.” That was her answer. She planted it firm to him, and when he didn’t say anything for a couple seconds, she again turned to leave the garage. But his voice called to her again.30

“Please, Sarah.” He walked forward a few steps. “I need your help. I’m serious.” And he was partially. Most of him wanted to just have a chance with Sarah, but a small portion knew he should stop procrastinating and plan for his schedule. She glared in his direction, thinking it over.31

‘He’s up to something, I just know it. But what? Oh my god, am I a trophy for him? Does he think he’s going to get laid or something? Whatever… I’ll show him who’s playing who.’ “Sure. Friday at 2.”32