Next morning I woke to a knock at the door. "Come in," I called out, but quietly.
Brian walked in fully dressed and ready for the day, full of energy. "Come on sleepy head. Get up. You can't sleep all day." He playfully smacked me on the butt.
"Ouch! Why not? I'm still tired." I closed my eyes again and hid my head under the blankets.
"Didn't you sleep well?" he asked pulling the blankets back.
I looked at him. Should I tell him that I kept thinking about him all night and then invaded my dreams. No, probably better not to. I played with the sheets as I spoke, looking up slowly and frowned. "Of course I slept well, you know I am just not a morning person. Neither are you, so why are you so bright this morning?"
"Ahh, I couldn't wait to see you again. I had a dream about you last night, so when I woke I had to come and see you again. "He told me taking my hand.
"You dreamt about me?" I asked. That didn't sound so stupid. I suspected he would be in many of my dreams from now on anyway. "What did you dream?"
He grinned a cheeky grin and wiggled his eyebrows. "I'm not telling. I'll get in trouble."
"Oh." I blushed. I was beginning to imagine what his dream might have entailed. He wanted more from me than I was willing to give, at this stage anyway. I knew I loved him and I would always be his, but I wasn't ready to take this relationship to the next level. Not for a while anyway. As much as I wanted to, it wasn't right in my heart. "Brian, are you okay with yesterday?"
"Yesterday? Christmas day?"
I smiled, but sadly. "Yes, but I mean what happened, at my place."
He sat on the side of the bed and pulled me close. "How many times do I have to tell you Sue? It's okay. Honest. Not to say I wouldn't like a lot more, but baby I'll always wait for you to be ready." His eyes took on a devilish smile. "That's what my dreams are for."
"You aren't going to tell me what you dreamt?"
"I don't think that would be a good idea."
"Why? Wouldn't I like it very much?"
"I dunno, but I don't want anything to worry you." He held both my hands. "Sue, just know I love you. People might say we are too young to know that. But I know." He leaned down and kissed me gently, making me wish for more. His lips lingered on mine, as if he was reluctant to move away.
We heard a clearing of the throat at my door and looked up to see Brian's mom standing there. I knew I was blushing, I felt my face burning. "Brian, I don't think it is proper for you to be in Sue's bedroom while she is still in bed anymore."
"But Mom, we used to share a room."
"That was before. Now you must exercise some moral restraint."
"Yeah yeah, I know." Brian grumbled and got off my bed. "Hurry up and get ready Sue, so we can get over to your place for when your parents get home."
I looked at my watch and realised that would be soon. "Okay. You can help me get ready as soon as I dress. I'll call you."
Brian leaned down and kissed me quickly smirking at his mom as he walked out with her. I shook my head laughing at him
I was ready in no time and soon Brian was carrying my backpack full of clothes. I wore my Kentucky Wildcats sweater under my coat and we were walking the short distance to my house. No sooner had Brian shut the door, he had me pulled into his arms, his lips close to mine. "I can't get enough of you Sue."
I giggled. "That dream you had sure turned you on some Brian." I winked. "But come here. I said and pulled his lips down to mine. How could I tell him my dream about him had me feeling the same way.
Finally we separated and I put my things away. There was a message on the answering machine and I went to check it. I ran around the house making sure everything was right for mom and dad's return before joining Brian again. Just the sight of him made my heart pump faster.
"Mom and dad have been held up. They aren't sure how long they will be till they get home. I hope they aren't too long, or I might have to cancel our night out." I felt suddenly warm at the thought of a date with Brian.
"It'll be okay. We can go tomorrow if not tonight. So what will we do now?"
I shrugged. "I dunno. Wanna help me bake a cake?"
"Sure."
So the two of us began baking a cake. Chocolate, we both decided. But with Brian's help, things started to get messy. It was obvious he never baked. He was throwing the flower in the mixer without slowing the beaters down and flour, and then coco was starting to float through the air. It settled all over the kitchen benches and floor and also us and I began to laugh at Brian. "What?" he asked, looking hurt. He looked so funny.
"You have flour in your hair." I said trying to brush it out.
"Well, so do you." He reached out and touched my nose. "And now it's on your nose." He reached out again and touched my lips. "and now on your lips." I was totally under his spell by now. "I think I better kiss it away." He said and leaned down to kiss me.
I was aware of the mixer spinning around, but nothing else as his lips touched mine. I was totally carried away to another place again, pulling him in close to me, clutching at the back of his shirt for support. He moaned and deepened the kiss, and I absently pulled him back so I could lean against the kitchen bench for added support.
I heard nothing at all, till a very loud, "Well, well, well," came from the kitchen doorway. We jumped apart so fast I knocked over the mixer into the sink, sending cake batter all over the place. I quickly turned it off, before there was batter everywhere, and turned to look at my mom. "Hi mom," I squeaked out, batter all over my hands.
She stood still in the doorway, looking sternly at me. "Anyone care to explain the scene I just walked in on?"
"Oh no" I thought. "She doesn't approve of Brian and I. I really thought she would."
"It's really not what it looked like." Brian said before I could speak.
"Oh and how did it look Brian? I get back home and find a terrible mess in my kitchen." She began to smile then. "I left it tidy." I began to giggle then. "What are you laughing at miss?"
"I thought you were talking about......" I started then stopped.
"What? You and Brian kissing?" She waved her hand in the air. "Nah, been waiting for that to happen for a long time. It's about time you finally realised." She said and I groaned.
I grinned then . What could I say? There was nothing I could say I hadn't already so I simply said, "Merry Christmas Mom."
"What? You two finally realising how much you mean to each other is my Christmas gift? I told you, I already knew."
I walked to her and threw my arms around her. "No, that isn't your Christmas gift. I just wanted to say it because I didn't want to say another 'not you too?'"
"Well, you know there will have to be new ground rules around here. No being in your room with the door closed for one."
"Aww Mom! You know you can trust us." I groaned.
"You maybe, but your hormones, maybe not."
"Mo-om." I whined, blushing in front of Brian with this talk.
"I promised Sue I would," he thought for the right word... Was there one? "behave," he finished, grinning.
"Make sure you do Brian," she said trying so hard to be serious, but she was losing the battle.
My dad was equally as happy about the two of us when we told him a little later. My little 10 year old brother Joshua on the other hand thought it was gross, asking if we were now going to do all that kissy stuff. I told him we would and he made a gagging sound, making us all laugh. After Brian had left, to go get ready for our date, he asked me if it meant Brian wouldn't be his friend anymore. I hugged him and reassured him that it wouldn't change anything, Brian would still be the same person and still play with him like before. Joshua loved playing basketball with Brian.
Soon I had to go upstairs to get ready for my first date. Not only was it my first date with Brian, but my first real date. I was excited about it, but I wish Brian had told me where we were going. He told me to dress casual. So I picked a dressy pair of pants and a nice comfortable sweater. It would still be cold out, so I dressed warmly. I put on a minimum of make up, and then waited for Brian to turn up. He said his dad was driving us and picking us up around 11 so I let my mom know that and waited.
Right on 7 Brian knocked on the door and I hurried over. "Wow," he said, you look beautiful."
I looked at him funny, "Brian, I am not any different to any other time you've seen me."
"No, you look beautiful.' In his hand he held a bunch of flowers, a mixture of yellow roses and baby's breath. "Ummm," he said nervously, "For you."
I smiled softly. "Thank you Brian." I sniffed the roses and peeked at him from above the buds. "I'll just put these in my room. Won't be long."
I came back to find Brian talking to my dad, doing more of the listening than the talking. My dad was probably laying down the law. When he saw me he turned to me and asked if I was ready. I said goodbye to my mom and dad, and we were off.
Brian's dad took us to the movie theatre and dropped us off, telling Brian he would pick us up at 11. "What are we going to see Brian?"
"I thought we could go and see 'The Bodyguard' and then go and have something to eat. Is that okay?"
"That's great, I wanted to see this movie." I sighed, a nice but dramtic romance. Just what I wanted to see with Brian. He took my hand and we walked over to get tickets. Brian was being a true gentleman insisting he pay for the tickets because he asked me out on this date. I didn't have a problem with that, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as a thank you.
I loved the movie, the parts I saw of it. Brian chose a dark back section of the theatre to sit in and any time a romantic part of the movie came on, neither one of us could help ourselves, but quietly kiss in the dark. No one could see us, the theatre wasn't very full.
After the movie Brian took my hand and we walked the short distance to a nice friendly looking Italian restaurant that we both loved. Our families had been there before and we both loved the food.
"I know what I'm eating, do you?" Brian asked me.
"Yeah, the veal condon bleu, my favourite."
He smiled. "Mine too, lots of cheese. Hey that was a good movie wasn't it?"
"Yeah, what we saw of it," I giggled.
He sent me a smouldering look. "Made the movie even better." He said. "But wouldn't it be something to be so famous to need a bodyguard like that. How bizarre." Brian continued.
"Yeah, and to have someone stalk you like that. It would be really scary."
"Sure would. But something neither of us will every have to worry about I wouldn't think. I couldn't imagine being that famous."
"No, it would be hard to have someone following your every move to keep you safe. Wow. I don't know if I could do it."
"Me either," Brian said. "Still, it was a good movie. Nice and romantic for our first date." He squeezed my hand.
"First of many I hope." I said to him looking up hopefully.
"You can count on it. Sue till I go away to college, I want to spend every minute with you. Then I will ring you and be back here as often as I can."
"You better be buddy." I said in a warning tone.
"You know something else." He said suddenly.
"What?"
"Now I will have a date for the Prom."
"Oh? Who?" I asked mischievously.
"You silly. Sue, will you be my date for the Prom," he asked me very proper like.
"Brian, I would love to." I laughed. "It's 5 months away Brian."
"I know, nothing like being prepared." He joined in the laughter.
Our dinner came then and we made small talk for the rest of the evening. After we finished we decided to go for a short walk along the main street where all the theatres, restaurants and shops were.
"This is nice Sue." Brian said as he put his arm around my waist. "Just you and me. I promise you, this is how we will always be."
I just sighed and cuddled in closer. He pulled me into a darkened shop front and looked at me intently. His eyes sparkled with the soft light shining through the window. His lips lowered and he kissed me, deepening it almost immediately. I clung to him, wishing I hadn't told him to hold back yesterday. Every time he kissed me I found myself wishing for more, but Brian was true to his word and never pushed the issue.
That was exactly how it was for the next few months. We heeded Jackie's words and spent as much time with our friends as we did before, and still found time for ourselves. Joshua was happy Brian still paid him as much attention and we both copped our share of teasing from everyone about the fact that we were finally awake enough to see what we hadn't before. We became inseparable and closer than ever.
Plans for the Prom were underway and we often studied together, preparing for our graduation. We had many dates like our first one, both alone and with our friends. Brian was making plans for his scholarship in Cincinnati, and I was happy to be staying in Kentucky. It wasn't too far away from where Brian would be.
Until that fateful day in April of 1993......