Not Today, But Someday(28)

I smile at her response without making a big deal out of it and continue with my thoughts on our assigned reading. “Diana. Goddess of the moon and chastity. Twin of Apollo, leader of the Muses and god of music and poetry...” I see Emi yawn, her attention focused once again on a CD insert, “...and some other things,” I mutter to myself, realizing how pompous I must sound to her. I’ve bored her, anyway.

I start painting, listening to the music and glancing in her direction every once in awhile. Eventually, she curls up on her side, still lying on the cushions and tucked tightly beneath the blankets, and falls asleep.





The sun seems to come up earlier, making its presence known more brightly as it glistens on the snow that covers everything outside. Quietly, I open the two shades that are still down, wanting to let in as much light as possible. A few hours ago, Emi had awoken, confused momentarily by her surroundings. I’d offered to show her back to the guest bedroom, but she just groaned a little, rolled over, and pulled the blankets over her head.

“Where’s–”

“Shhh!” I try to hush my mom as quietly as I can. I nod to the pile of blankets. Mom looks hard, trying to make out the shape, and then shakes her head, walking toward me.

“She slept there?” she whispers.

“Yeah. She dozed off, and didn’t want to move, I guess.”

“So that’s where the chaise pillows went.” I smile and focus back on the painting. “Nate, this is stunning.” She puts her arm around my waist and leans her head into my arm. “You were up all night?”

“I couldn’t stop.” I glance down just to see the reproachful expression I know she has across her face. “I can sleep today,” I rationalize.

“Don’t you have homework?”

“A little. But I can bang it out in an hour.”

“That lit project?”

“No, I finished the book. And I know what I’m going to say in class. I just need to get props, but that’ll be easy enough.”

“Okay. It’s warming up, and the snow’s melting fast. I called the service. The car will be here in an hour to take her home.”

“It’s so early,” I argue. “She may not even be awake.”

“We’ll wake her up. Her mother called first thing. She wants Emily home.”

I stare across the room at her, biting the inside of my lip in thought.

“She seems like a nice girl, Nate.”

“She is.”

“She also seems very vulnerable. It sounds like she really needs a friend right now.”

“I know.”

“Don’t complicate things,” she says as she pats me on the back. I look at her as if I don’t know what she’s talking about.

“I wasn’t planning on it.”

“No? So those are hers?” she asks, pointing to something on the floor. The two condoms. Mom squeezes my forearm as she walks away from me. I pick the condoms up and stash them in my back pocket. Beginning to remember why I brought them up here, I decide now would be a good time for a shower. God, I hope she didn’t see them.





I ride in the town car with Emi as the driver takes her back to her house. I’d wanted to spend more time with her, and I wanted to know where she lived. I hope this won’t be the only time I’m allowed over here. Mom suggested I wear something nicer than the paint-stained t-shirt I’d dressed in when I got out of the shower.

“You’ll probably meet her mother, and she probably doesn’t like you very much right now,” she’d said.

“All I did was help her,” I had argued.

“You were a perfect gentleman,” she says. “Go show her mom who Nathaniel Wilson is.”

I scratch the back of my neck, the starched collar uncomfortable, so close to my hairline. I think Emi’s watching me fidget, but I can’t tell. She’s got her hood over her head and sunglasses on. She was very self-conscious about her hair, and she said she was getting a headache.

“Thanks,” she speaks up, having been silent most of the way. “I really appreciate what you did.”

“You’re welcome. If you ever need to get away, our door’s always open.”

“Except at night, when Donna doesn’t want girls over,” she says with a smile.

“Right,” I agree. “But there are always ways to work around things with Mom. I don’t know if you figured this out, but I’m a little spoiled.”

“No, I did,” she laughs. “You can tell she loves you.”

“What choice does she have?” I tease, blowing off her comment.

“Hey, do you want to come with me to this costume shop near the city on Tuesday? It’s the best one around. We can get stuff for our presentation.”

“Sure.”

“Okay, what time can you pick me up?” she asks. She bites her lip before speaking again as I glare at her in mock disbelief. “I told you I don’t drive.”

“Fine. Why don’t we just go after school?”

“This is me,” Emi speaks up louder to the driver. “Sounds good,” she says to me as I look out the window. The apartment building is newer, and the units look more like town homes. The car pulls up to the curb, and the driver steps out to open the door for Emi. I get out on the other side. “What are you...”