Clay followed my directions. “Now, pull into the parking lot.” I told him, indicated the car lot to the left. “Bubble's ice cream?” Clay stated with a question in his voice. He looked incredulously at the huge pink giraffe that graced the front of the bright yellow building. “Seriously? This place looks like it was built by a five year old.” He said as we got out of the car.
I playfully punched his arm. “Don't be so judgy. Just wait until you have Bubble's banana splits. You will die a happy man for having had one.” I assured him, tugging on his hand. To my absolute delight, Clay laced his fingers through mine and squeezed. My heart fluttered painfully in my chest.
“I'll take your word for it, Mags.” I looked at him in surprise as he so naturally used the nickname reserved for my closest friends and family. The sound of my name on his lips was down right sensual. Like a promise.
We walked into the ice cream parlor, the bell dinging as we went through the door. Clay never dropped my hand as we walked to the only empty booth in the place. Sliding onto the cracked vinyl seats, Clay looked around. “This place is packed.” He remarked.
I grabbed two menus from behind the plastic bottles of ketchup and mustard. “Bubbles is an institution. They have the best ice cream and hamburgers in the county. You have to look past the cheesy decor.” I assured him.
Clay picked up a ceramic penguin salt shaker and looked at it like it would bite him. “Ooo-kay.” He said slowly, putting it back down. We looked at our menus. There was a lot to choose from. Clay seemed to be struggling with his order. “Trust me, just get the banana split. You'll thank me.” I told him when the waitress arrived.
“Sure why not, you only live once. Two banana splits and two cokes, please.” He told the waitress. She jotted down our order and left the table. “So, you never said where you were off to in such a rush earlier.” Clay said conversationally.
“Uh, nowhere, I'm just a perpetually busy person.” I lied, not wanting to admit I had blown off cross country practice to hang out with him. That would have seemed too desperate. “So, where have you been hiding yourself today? I haven't seen you around.” I remarked, shredding my napkin in tiny strips. Boy, I was nervous.
Clay smirked. “Why? Were you looking for me?” He teased. If only he knew. I stuck my chin out and met his eyes. “No way. I just happened to notice that the jerk level was remarkably low today.” I said. Clay laughed.
“I had a lunch tutorial for Physics. It's kicking my ass. I didn't realize how behind I was in so many subjects when I moved here.” He said, drinking the Coke that the waitress had just brought over. I dropped my napkin and put my fidgety hands in my lap.
“Why are you so behind? You seem like a smart guy.” I commented. Clay's face shadowed and he looked out the window. He cleared his throat. “School got a little...uh...disrupted for awhile. Not a big deal. I'm just busting butt now to get where I need to be.” I noticed he wouldn't look at me.
So, he must have been out of school for awhile. I wondered why. But I knew that if I asked, he wouldn't tell me. Clayton Reed was a closed book. At least for now.
“So, have you met many people yet?” I asked, moving onto another subject. Clay's eyes turned back to me and I felt a little jolt. There was just something about him. I really wished i could get a handle on what it was about him that made me feel like I would fall into a puddle at his feet.
“A few. Not many. I'm not what you would call, a 'people person'.” He used air quotes and I laughed. “Yeah, I'm getting that impression. But not all of us are bad, you know. You should give 'people,” I mimicked him by using quotes. “A chance you never know, it might not be a bad thing.” I remarked half jokingly.
Clay looked at me, his expression intense yet unreadable. What I wouldn't give to know what was going on in that head of his. “There are some people I'd like to get to know.” He said softly, never taking his eyes off of me. I suddenly felt hot and I took a long drink of my soda.
I was saved from saying something ridiculous by the arrival of our sundaes. “Jesus. I can't eat all of this. Are you trying to kill me, woman?” Clay gaped at the huge pile of ice cream, whipped cream and bananas in front of him. I handed him a spoon. “Dig in.” I prompted, taking a mouthful myself. The next ten minutes were silent, punctuated by the clang of spoons as we ate our weight in ice cream.
Finally, Clay pushed the bowl away from him. “If I eat anymore, you'll have to roll me out of here.” He groaned but I was happy to see him smile. His entire face transformed when he smiled like that. He seemed so broody, that he looked much younger when he was happy.
“Wow, no wonder. I wasn't expecting you to eat all of that. I'm impressed.” I indicated his nearly empty bowl. I had only gotten through a third of mine and I was full. “So, what's the consensus?” I asked, pointing to his decimated sundae. “Well, I think I can definitely die a happy man.” He conceded, looking at me.
There went those stupid butterflies in my stomach again. I wish I could squash them.
I coughed pointedly and moved to get out of the booth. Clay held out his hand. “I think you might have to help me.” He joked. I laughed and pulled him to his feet. He wrapped his arm around my waist and hugged me to his side. “Thanks, Mags.” He said softly into my ear and dropped his arm.
I stumbled a bit after he let me go. I felt completely flustered. Clay insisted on paying again and I argued. “No way. You paid last time!” I tried pushing cash into his hand. Clay took the bills and tucked them into my front pocket. It felt like such an intimate thing to do. I tried not to focus too much on the feel of his fingers so close to such sensitive parts of my body.