I turned off the car and Angel and I stepped out. Before I could get my key in the door, my father flung it open and greeted me with a smile. He nearly lifted me off the ground when he hugged me. He studied my face as he became aware of my bruise. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he felt guilty. With the back of the same hand he’d stricken me with, he lightly brushed my cheek and then pulled me to him again. We stood there on the porch that way for a long time. His chest was heaving as he clutched my head. It was nice to again feel that he was capable of being the hero I’d looked up to.
He kissed the top of my head and then led me inside to the living room. Next to the couch was a pile of presents and birthday cards I’d missed out on a couple of nights ago. I skimmed through the cards and opened all of the gifts unenthusiastically. Nothing could get my mind off missing AJ Angel helped me carry everything up to my room before she got into the shower. I took advantage of the moment I had alone and visited my sanctuary – the studio. The familiar smell of the attic was welcoming. I flicked the switch and watched the bulbs come to life. Without hesitation I gathered my supplies and set up. As the brush swirled along the canvas I thought of AJ My entire body began to ache as I thought of being away from him. I probably loved him more than I should – more than I even loved myself. I wasn’t ignorant to the fact that it was unhealthy, but when it came to him I had absolutely no control over my feelings. This rush of emotion flowed through me and onto the canvas.
I stood back and quickly realized that this piece was perhaps my best work yet. That wasn’t difficult to understand considering my inspiration. After cleaning up, I went back down to my room and lay across my bed next to Angel who’d found an old magazine on my desk that sparked her interest. My loud sigh disrupted her. “What’s wrong, Sammy?” She asked without taking her eyes off the page.
“I miss him.” I sighed again. “There’s never been anything or anyone that I’ve wanted so badly. It’s hard to even think straight sometimes because I can’t get him out of my head.”
“Dang. He must’ve put it on you!” She joked.
I let out a laugh. “It’s not even that. It’s everything about him. It’s his confidence, how kindhearted he is, how he loves me, his looks, even the way he smells, Angel!”
She laughed to herself. “This guy really has your nose open. But the cool thing is, he loves you just as much as you love him. Anybody can see that.” She smiled to herself. “He’s good people. I like him for you.”
Angel seemed to understand my feelings. She could’ve easily passed my love for AJ off as some silly crush, but I believed that she knew it was more than that. “I almost forgot to tell you, my mom said that we’re leaving in the morning. My dad has some big thing at work that came up and now we have to get back a little early.”
“Awwww………I’m not ready for you to leave me yet. That sucks!”
“I know you’re gonna miss me. If I were you I’d miss me too. But I’ll see you in the summer.”
Shock crossed my face. “You’re not coming to my graduation?” I asked.
“No, I won’t be able to make it cause my classes don’t end until July. But August is gonna be here before you know it.” Seeing her again gave me another reason to look forward to our trip to New York, but truthfully, spending time with AJ was reason enough.
By 8:00 the next morning Angel, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Todd were loading up their car for the journey back home. Angel tried to be tough, but I know I saw a tear stream down her cheek when she came to hug me. “Take care of yourself, Sammy. Call me if you need ANYTHING. I don’t care if I am in a whole other state. Pick up the phone and call, k? Love you.” She sniffed one time confirming my suspicion.; she was crying. That made it harder for me to hold it together. It had never been this hard to let her go before, but then again this wasn’t your average family visit either. She had my back through all the craziness and I couldn’t have asked for a better cousin or friend than her. “Love you to Angel. See you in August,” I whispered.
Part II
Chapter Fourteen