CHAPTER 13
“A woman would run through fire and water for such a kind heart.” Shakespeare
Elizabeth felt the warm breeze air from the window and took a deep breath. She was so comfortable she didn’t want to move. It was the most perfect morning, the most perfect feeling, the most perfect moment. Elizabeth’s head was resting on top of Jack’s chest. She could hear his heart beating. Underneath his undershirt was a body of perfection that she felt connected with as her head moved in sync with every breath of air he took in. His shallow breaths were virtually soundless. Their legs were intertwined like roots connected to a tree branch. Her left arm was stretched across his stomach and Jack had both arms wrapped around her. Elizabeth felt safe in his arms, like whatever evil there was out there in the world would never get her because he would always protect her.
“Jack,” she heard Latasha say as the bedroom door creaked open. “Jack!” she said louder closing the door behind her. Jack stirred a little. Elizabeth tried to sit up but Jack was holding her too tightly. “Oh, shit!” She shook her son. Jack finally opened his eyes after Latasha tried to wake him a few times.
“Mom, seriously what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? Elizabeth is in your bed,” she shook her fist at him.
“So what,” he mumbled. “We’re sleeping.” It was at that moment that Jack must have realized what was happened. He released Elizabeth from his grip and jumped up out of his bed. She got up slowly and stood on the opposite side of the room. “Ok, this isn’t what it looks like.”
“Give me a cigarette,” Latasha demanded. Elizabeth fumbled through her purse and handed Mrs. Bennett a cigarette. “This isn’t happening.”
“Mom, nothing happened! Her mom locked her out of the house. Where was she supposed to go?”
“Go? Your sister’s room? Your brother’s room? The couch in the basement? The couch in the family room? You should have woken me Jack!”
“I honestly didn’t think it was a big deal. We were just…”
“It’s my fault,” Elizabeth interrupted. “I was upset about my mom and wanted to talk to Jack. I meant to go downstairs but I guess we fell asleep.”
“Yeah, we fell asleep,” said Jack. “Mom, please, don’t be mad at us. I swear nothing happened.”
“Jack, you overslept and missed football practice,” she said exhaling out the open window. “I didn’t know you were home until Elizabeth’s mom came over and was insistent that her daughter didn’t come home and that she must be in my son’s room.”
“My mom?” Elizabeth started to shake.
“I missed football?” Jack said, clearly upset. “How could I be so stupid?”
“Not only did Leighton come over, but she refused to leave. I told her Jack was at football but she said his car was outside and demanded that I check every part of the house until I found you.”
Jack ran over to Elizabeth. “She locked you out,” he reassured her. “We didn’t do anything wrong. Nothing happened. It doesn’t matter what your mom says. It’s her fault you’re over here.”
Elizabeth swallowed hard. “You believe us, don’t you Mrs. Bennett?”
She exhaled out the window again. “Yeah, I believe you. Your mom is on a super trip right now. You better change before you go downstairs.”
“No,” Jack said grabbing his friend’s hand. “Elizabeth isn’t changing. She’s going downstairs in my clothes and she’s keeping them.”
“Jack,” Latasha snapped. “This isn’t our fight. It’s none of our business. Stay up here while I take her downstairs and then you’re going to have to apologize to your coach.”
Elizabeth picked up her clothes, flip-flops and purse from the floor. “I’ll see you next year,” she mumbled. “That’s when my grounding will probably end.”
“Don’t,” pleaded Jack. He swept her hair behind her ears. “Don’t you dare blame yourself for last night. This is your mother’s fault. Stand strong.” Elizabeth nodded. Jack leaned in. “Don’t hurt yourself over this. It’s not worth it. I’m going down with you,” he looked at his mom. “This is on both of us.”
Latasha realized what her son was doing. He was trying to save the girl next door from the demons that haunted her. The last thing she wanted to do was get involved in someone else’s fight. It was suddenly clear that Elizabeth needed a safe place. “Okay,” she agreed.
Latasha walked down the stairs with Jack and Elizabeth following closely behind. Leighton Benson was sitting on a chair in the living room while Roger Bennett was pacing around the room. Elizabeth grabbed the back of Jack’s shirt. “I can’t do this,” she said worried. “I can go out the back door and be home and she’ll never know.”
Jack took her hand in his. She followed him into the living room.
“Elizabeth Bailey Benson!” Leighton shouted jumping up from the chair.
“Johnathon Alexander Bennett!” Roger shouted almost at the same time.
She held Jack’s hand tighter and shifted behind him. “I’m fine. We’re fine.”
Latasha stood in the middle of the living room and pointed for Elizabeth and Jack to sit on the couch. “Leighton, I know you’re upset. Believe me, Roger and I are upset, as well. But, I think that we need to listen to the kids.”
“My daughter is sleeping with your son!” screamed Leighton. “We shouldn’t have to listen to their explanation! I don’t want details! This needs to stop! They need to stop seeing each other.”
“Now, wait just a second,” Latasha said. “Don’t point the finger at my son when you locked your daughter out of the house. If you hadn’t been so delusional to think that Jack had and Elizabeth were having a baby last night, you would have never locked the door of your home on your daughter leaving her outside.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Leighton shouted. “I was testing them. I’m tired of Elizabeth lying all the time.”
“I’m not lying, mom,” she said sincerely. Elizabeth’s hand felt electric. Jack was transmitting courage from his hand to hers. “This isn’t quit the crisis you’re making it out to be! In kindergarten we sat at the same table. We had afternoon naps on adjoining blankets. In first grade we were reading partners. In second grade we sat next to each other on the bus because we had assigned seating. In third grade we gave a speech together as J.F.K and Jackie O. In fourth grade we were spelling bee finalists. In fifth grade we were Mary and Joseph in the Nativity Story play. In sixth grade we…”
“You were Mary and Joseph,” Leighton said calmly. “I remember that.”
“We were co-captains in gym class,” Jack saved her speech. “In seventh grade I had my first slow dance with Elizabeth when we learned the waltz in music class. In eighth grade we both won the most likely to succeed award and they had to cut the certificate in half because we tied and they didn’t expect that. And, then in high school maybe we didn’t talk. Maybe we didn’t talk in grade school or middle school but we’re friends now and I don’t care if you don’t like the color of my skin or the fact that I’m not as smart as your daughter.”
“Yes, you are,” encouraged Elizabeth. Jack did a double take. “You’re going to get an A in Calculus.” The three parents were now staring at their children. Elizabeth stood up. “Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, I know you think I’m sick. You’re right I am. But, spending time with your son is the best thing that could have happened to me this year. I feel alive when I’m with him. He has been my friend unconditionally, without judgment, without condemnation. I believe in Jack. More than I will ever understand. He has a pure heart. I’m telling you right now, that I honestly believe, without one shred of a doubt, that he is going to change the world someday. I’m really sorry if you are angry with us or disappointed in us for last night. You may not believe us, but I give you my word that n
othing happened.”
“Yeah,” echoed Jack. “It’s not like that. We’re just friends. Mom, I’m sorry you found us the way we were but we were just sleeping. I promise. I don’t know how we ended up like that.”
“Ended up like what?” Roger asked curious.
“Latasha, were they dressed?” asked Leighton.
“Yes,” she rolled her eyes. “They were cuddling but they were dressed and I believe you two.”
“Tutoring is over,” said Leighton. “Elizabeth, we’re going home. I’ll wash Jack’s clothes and return them tomorrow.”
“No,” said Elizabeth and Jack at the same time. They looked at each other.
“Tutoring is not over,” said Elizabeth putting her foot down. “He helps me as much as I help him. I’m not his tutor, I’m his study partner.”
“Yeah, what she said. And, she’s keeping my clothes. They’re a present.”
Leighton screamed in frustration, walked out of the house slamming the front door behind her. “I should probably go, too,” suggested Elizabeth. “She seems pretty mad.”
“You better,” Latasha said. “We need to talk to our son, alone.”
Elizabeth walked in the front door to her house. She heard her mom shouting to her father about what had taken place at the Bennett’s house. Elizabeth walked into the kitchen to tell her parents she was home and then went up to her room. She opened her window wide and sprawled out on her bed facing Jack’s room.
Elizabeth could hear his parents yelling at him. This was the first time in thirteen years that she ever heard his parents yell. She wondered if Jack ever heard her family yell. Maybe it was just something that neighbors accepted living next door to each other.
There was a knock on Elizabeth’s door. “Come in,” she said bracing herself for another fight. Instead of her mother, it was her father. “Dad, I’m sorry.”
“Your mom shouldn’t have locked you out last night. She didn’t realize that you didn’t have your phone. She overreacted but you still should have tried to come in.”
“I won’t do it again,” she said. “I promise.”
He nodded. “It’s going to be a long year if you and your mom don’t figure out how to get along.”
“But, dad, you know she’s being stupid and crazy!”
“Figure it out Elizabeth.” He closed the door behind him. Elizabeth wondered if he had just given her mother the same calm
speech he had just delivered to her. Why should she have to figure it out? Wasn’t that the responsibility of the parent?
Elizabeth suddenly saw Jack appear in front of his window. She sat up and walked over to her window. “Are you okay?” she asked.
He nodded. “Yeah, you?”
She nodded. He smiled and closed his blinds. Elizabeth walked back over to her bed. She looked at the navy and Carolina blue UNC sweat pants Jack had given her and a grey matching t-shirt. She wondered if he was secretly thinking about how close they could throughout college. Or maybe, it was an unconscious decision and he pulled the clothes on the top out of his drawer. Elizabeth wasn’t tired but she could still smell Jack on his clothes. She wanted to go back to the moment before his mom woke them up. Back to when she could feel peace in her body from her head down to her toes. She closed her eyes and tried to remember what it was like sleeping in his arms.