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After forty-five minutes of the willow, I have to start making my way back. I see dark clouds rolling in and it looks like it’s going to storm any minute. You really do feel like someplace else when you’re under that tree.
I decide to try to get the same seat as last time but when I enter the classroom, its half full of students already. My other classes are half the size of this one and I’m shocked to see them all here so early. I have to sit toward the front today and it’s going to make me look so needy. I don’t want Dexter to think I need to be near him all the time. I sigh and take a seat in the fourth row and get my things out of my bag.
A few moments later, Dex comes in with his bag and sets it on his desk and starts writing something on the board. When he turns, I can see what he wrote on the board. I’m confused by the sentence since he loves that book.
“Last class, we went over your favorite book, and you explained why you liked it. Today you’re going to tell me why you don’t like it.”
I look around the classroom to gage the reaction from the students and they all seem confused just like me. That makes me feel a little better. A guy towards the middle of the class raises his hand.
“Why would we say we dislike the book when we clearly don’t?”
“Not everything is black and white. It’s the same with the books you’ve chosen! You wrote about all the things you loved about the book, but there are others who could have written just as much to explain why they didn’t like it. This lesson is to get you to analyze your favorite book from a different angle.”
“To understand all aspects of interpretations of the reader.”
“Exactly Allison!” I blink several times to try to see if he is referring to me. I didn’t mean to say that out loud and now I can feel myself trying to shrink myself back down so the attention isn’t on me.
“How many of you have read To Kill a Mockingbird?”
I look around and see a good bunch of students raise their hand. Dexter smiles and looks at me when he sees that my hand is obviously raised. His smile faulters a little when his eyes meet mine and I think it’s because of the nervousness in mine. I really don’t want to be called on to explain my outlook of the book. He already knows it from the countless times we picked it apart together. He calls on a girl in the back and asks her to explain her interpretations of the book and repeats that with another student who explains something completely different.
As he is doing this, I can’t help but think about Ilene telling me to just go for it and that him being here isn’t just a coincidence. I want to have enough courage to tell him how I feel but he is thirty-five. There’s no way he isn’t married or has kids by now, he pegs me as a family man. I need to get to know him more first before jumping on the opportunity of his presence. I get snapped back to reality with the sound of thunder outside and I sigh. I really hope this storm lets up before class is done.
My wish was not granted. Class is done and now it’s down pouring, and I didn’t bring an umbrella.Just my luck.I’m packing my things away and trying to prepare myself for the storm happening outside. It’s only a ten-minute walk home from here, I should be able to handle that. I should have taken my car today. Everything is just so close to my apartment that I’ve been walking, and fall is my favorite season. Watching the leaves change colors on my daily walks are the best part. I make it to the end of the block before a car is pulling over and rolls down their window. Dexter’s face appears in the driver’s seat of the dark blue Honda civic.
“Hey, hop in, I’ll give you a ride home.”
I know I should politely decline but I am already soaked and haven’t even made it that far yet. I nod and make my way to the passenger side of the car. When I sit down, I hear the squish of my wet clothes as I sit on his cloth seats.
“I’m sorry.” He burrows his eyebrows when he looks at me before pulling away from the curb.
“What on earth are you sorry for? You live right up here, it’s the least I can do with the rain.”
“Your seats, I’m soaked and it’s going to ruin them.” He looks over at me and then back to the road.
“There just seats Ally. I would never make you walk in the rain.” I turn towards him and let out a much-anticipated breath.
“Do you even own a car?” I start to laugh at his question, and he joins me as we pull up to my apartment. I point to my Lexus LX that is parked in front of my building.
“Yeah, I just like to walk everywhere since it’s all so close now.”
There’s a moment of silence between us, but thankfully the rain pleating on the roof of his car makes it less deafening. My phone rings and I see its Isabelle, I give Dex an apologetic smile and answer.
“Hey so I let Janet know that you and your plus one will be here. So, you’re all set for food and seating.” I choke on my own saliva when she says that into the phone.
“You did what?” I see concern wash over Dexter’s face with the shocked tone in my voice.
“What? You sent me a text earlier saying to mark you down for plus one…oh shit!” I know she just went back to her texts and checked to make sure that is what I sent because the last part comes out quieter.
“It’s okay, I’ll just come by myself, it’s no big deal, Izzy.” That gets a reaction out of Dex. I wonder if he remembers Ilene and Isabelle too.
“No big deal?” I have to lift the phone from my ear slightly because she is hyperventilating and raising her voice.
“Isabelle, its fine. Just tell Janet that it was a mistake, and it will just be me.”
“I can’t do that Al. She already has the seating arranged and the caterer ready. Everyone has had the invitations for months. The only reason we sent ones out to our wedding party too was because of her. She is basically running this whole thing.”
“Relax okay. One empty seat isn’t going to matter. She will get over it okay. It’s your day anyways!” I can hear her breathing faster and freaking out. If I were with her, I could calm her down with just a hug, but I can’t.
