A Real Disaster

Chapter Ten



“Are you sure that this is a good idea?” Sabrina asked me as I told her about my impending date with Turner. “Don’t you want to be with Nash?”

After seeing that girl kiss Nash it didn’t matter if I wanted to be with him.

“I thought I did. But he has a bunch of other girls occupying his time so there's no reason to waste my own.”

“So that's why you're going with Turner?”

“I guess. I kind of like him also. He's nice and he doesn't have a bunch of girls wanting him. There is no one to compete with.”

“Yeah.”

I looked through my closet, surveying each outfit before moving on. I had to pick an outfit that was cute. I wanted to look like myself and not overdo it.

“Does Turner even know about you and Nash?”

I shook my head.

“Of course he doesn’t. But all Nash and I did was walk to my dorm together and then hang out at his place after Turner punched him,” I told her. “I doubt Nash would tell him. They don’t talk, remember?”

Sabrina rolled her eyes as looked at her notes for class.

“I just think that if you were going to go out with him you should have told him about you and Nash.”

I turned to her.

“Why? It’s not like we had sex.”

“Because if he finds out from someone else he will never forgive you. You will have a black mark next to your name forever.”

I paused, considering Sabrina’s point. Should I have told Turner? He knew we sat next to each other in class. But I did stay the night at his place and he did try to kiss me. He would instantly assume the worse since it’s Nash.

“Wel,l it’s too late to be worrying about that now,” I said as I pulled out a pair of jeans and a sweater. “I’m not going to tell him tonight on our date.”

“In my experience,” Sabrina said. “Things like this don’t stay hidden for long.”

I shrugged even though I was frowning.

“Maybe I’ll tell him later next week when I have time to think about what I’ll say.”

Sabrina shrugged but I could tell that she didn’t approve of the way I was handling things. I was hoping that I would never have to tell him in general. I didn’t want to see his pain, his anger, or any other emotion he would show. I didn’t want to disappoint him and I definitely didn’t want to lose his friendship.

Turner would find out one day. I just hoped that it would be long enough away that he wouldn’t stay too angry at me.

After slipping on the clothes, I dabbed some eyeliner and lip gloss onto my face and brushed my hair until it shone. Throwing converses on my feet I smoothed my sweater down and then grabbed my watch. I was throwing the last few things in my bag when there was a knock on the door.

My heart hammered and I felt a bit woozy. Pasting on a smile, I maneuvered my way across the room and opened the door. Turner stood there, a smile on his face, and a single red rose in his hand.

“I was going to buy you a dozen,” he told me as he handed me the rose. “But that didn’t seem special. I thought one single rose made a better statement. Do you like it?”

“Yes… Thank you.”

Putting the rose in a bottle of water, I waved goodbye to Sabrina and left my room. Turner and I walked down the stairs in silence. He rocked back and forth on his feet, whistling.

“Are you nervous or something?”

“Is it that obvious?” Turner asked. “I want to make this date good, great even. I’m trying to make up for the last time.”

“You don’t have to make up for anything. We both had a hand in ruining that date. So why not pretend it never happened?”

“Yeah… You look cute, Lily.”

“Thanks Turner.”

“Is something wrong?” Turner asked, looking worried.

“No,” I said quickly, too quickly. “Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s perfect.”

“Good,” Turner said, satisfied with my answer.

Turner led me to his car and opened the door for me. I glanced in the back seat to see a picnic basket and a blanket resting there. Turner grinned.

“I thought that a picnic would be perfect tonight. It’s not too hot, not too cold. I know this spot that is a little secluded.”

I cocked an eyebrow and looked at him.

“Not that I think we need to be secluded. That’s not what this is about. I’m not trying to get into your pants or anything.”

This was going to the wrong place.

“That’s good to know,” I laughed.

He laughed too.



He started the car, revving the engine, and put down the window. Pulling away from the curb, the two of us drove in silence. I looked out the window and watched the scenery whiz by. The colors of the trees blended together until it was one big blob.

“So, ah, I hope you don’t mind too much but I packed some Italian food. I’m always a sucker for Italian.”

“Sound great. I love Italian food actually. It’s one of my favorites.”

Turner sighed in relief.

“That’s great. We’re almost there.”

Turner drove for a bit more, changing lanes. Finally he pulled into the parking lot and threw the car into park.

“We’re here.”

I exited the car. Turner grabbed the basket in the back seat and then followed me.

He grabbed my hand and to my surprise kissed me. We didn’t stop holding hands as we climbed the hill. When we finally reached the top, Turner smoothed down a blanket and I looked out into the horizon, watching the sun set. It was gorgeous.

“This view is amazing!” I breathed.

“Isn’t it?”

He appeared behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“I was hoping that we would get here on time to see this.”

In the distance I could hear kids screaming and playing. There was music playing somewhere but I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the sun to even look around.

“Turner it’s gorgeous.”

“No, you’re gorgeous. The sun doesn’t hold a candle to you.”

My heart swelled.



* * *



“So when I was in high school I was the epidemy of a good girl. I wore pleated skirts and knee high socks with loafers.”

“That sounds sexy,” Turner said and I laughed.

“Trust me, I was anything but sexy,” I told him. “I wore ire rimmed glasses and my hair was always tied in braids down my back. I didn’t wear any make up and I always had my nose in a book.”

“Why is that so bad?”

“Because I was lame. People made fun of me, talked about me behind my back. I was the odd one out.”

“Or you were unique,” he countered. “I think that if I saw you in high school I would have gone out of my way to get to know you.”

“Well then you would have been the only one.”

“That’s because I have a thing for nerdy girls who read too much.”

“How about good girls that go to church every week and doesn’t do anything fun?”

“Even better,” he said with a wicket grin.

I rolled my eyes and pushed Turner. He lost his balance and toppled to the ground. He winced as his elbow met with a tree root.

“Goddammit!” Turner cursed as he rubbed his elbow. “Damn that hurt!”

“Oh God, are you okay?”

I lost my smile and watched Turner rock back and forth, cradling his arm.

“I’m sorry, Turner. I didn’t mean for you to hit your elbow.”

Turner rubbed his elbow roughly and then looked up at me.

“Oh well, it’s not any worse than getting hit in the head with a basketball. I’ll survive.”

“Good...”

I was scared for a moment.

After finishing our meal, Turner started packing up the basket. I folded the blanket in half, then in quarters, until the blanket fit snugly inside the basket.

“So what would you like to do now? Do you want to walk? Go back to the dorm and watch movies? Go get ice cream?”

“I don’t think I could eat another bite,” I told Turner as I held my stomach.

“Okay, how about your dorm?”


“That is fine.”



* * *



We stepped in the elevator in the dormitory and Turner was about to push the button for my floor but I put my hand over his.

“Let’s skip my floor. Sabrina is probably going to be there with Elizabeth and I don’t want the third degree. Let’s go hang out at your dorm. Is that okay?”

“Sure,” Turner said and something flickered in his eyes.

He didn’t say anything more, though. He enfolded my hand in his and we rode the elevator together, connected. When we got out on the eighth floor, Turner let me pass first and then led me to the end of the hall. I could hear parties going on in all different dorm rooms as well as the sound of video games.

“How do you get any studying done?” I asked as I winced at the sounds I heard. “I’m so glad that my floor is nothing like this. I would never get anything done.”

“You learn to tune it out after a while.”

He unlocked the door at the end of the hall and pushed it open.

“This is me. Come on in.”

I stepped gingerly over the threshold and tried not to curl my lip in disgust. The dorm room was a mess. There were clothes everywhere and dishes were stacked on the floor.

“I know it’s a little messy,” Turner said and had the common decency to be embarrassed. “I didn’t think that we were going to come back here and… Well I’ll admit it, I’m lazy. I keep finding other things to do, other things that I want to do, than clean here. Now I’m kind of regretting everything.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said, trying to sound relaxed. “It’s really not that big of a deal. I’ve known people who are way messier than you.”

“Really?”

I hesitated and then shook my head.

“Yup.”

His arms lashed out and wrapped around my waist. Before I knew what was happening, Turner’s hand was cradling my neck and his lips were on mine. Shock turned into desire and my eyes fluttered closed.

Turner’s kiss wasn’t soft or hesitant. He kissed me with heat and passion that I only read about in books. His lips were soft and yet firm against mine. His fingers ran up and down my spine, tracing the bones. My arms found their way around his neck and I pulled him closer, grinding my body up against him.

My heart vibrated in my chest and my mouth couldn’t get enough of him. I dug my finger nails into his back and moaned as he moved from my lips to my neck. His hands went from my back to the front, cupping my breasts.

“Stop,” I said and pulled back, shaking my head.

I felt foggy and disoriented. Immediately Turner dropped his hands and stepped back.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured as I fixed my sweater.

“No, I’m the sorry one. I shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t bring you back here to have sex with you.”

Turner took my hands and kissed my palms.

“You deserve better Lily. You’re worth more than that.”

“If we are ever going to be together I want it to be special, something that you can remember. I don’t want you thinking back and remembering our first time being in this disgusting dorm.”

Turner pulled me close and kissed my forehead.

“I want to be with you, Lily, but I want to make it perfect. If we ever get that chance I promise I will give you the stars and the moon.”

I looked up at him from underneath my lashes as my hands found the buckle of his belt.