Page 6 of Tastes Like Watermelon Moonshine
I’mnotsettling for a job at a grocery store. I want something with a little thrill. Something that might push me a little bit. Mentally, or physically. I’m willing to bet that working on a ranch will do both.
“Did you get your schedule yesterday?” Carson asks as he leads the way down the large hallway. Lockers and disintegrating cork boards adorn the walls. I’m surprised at how empty the hallway is. But as we walk further, I can hear voices, so everyone must be gathered somewhere close. Carson pushes open the double doors to the gym, and the sound of all the students hits me, along with that distinct smell of high school gymnasium. It smells like basketballs, shoes, sweat, and, oh, popcorn as well.
“Yeah, it showed up in my inbox.” I have to raise my voice to be heard over the sound of everyone else in the room.
“Awesome, I bet we’ll have a lot of the same classes. You know, that small town thing.”
I don’t really know how the small town thing works, but I nod my head like I get it. The gym matches the rest of this ancient building. Paint peels from the ceiling. Banners from various sports championships hang on the walls, mold and age showing in the faded coloring and frayed edges.
Students are gathered in groups. Almost everyone is wearing cowboy boots, and everywhere I look I see giant belt buckles.
Then, my life turns into a movie. I’m pretty sure music is playing somewhere and it’s a slow song, the kind that your heart beats in time to. The crowd parts in front of me, moving apart as if in a choreographed dance. And my heart stops.
Is that a ray of sunshine?
Across the room stands a girl with hair that is blonde one moment then turns into golden honey the next. Her plaid shirt is tied over a white tank top, and white boots peek out from under her flared jeans. Every other girl in the room is dressed in a similar fashion, but something about this girl is different. She calls to me.
Our eyes lock. I’m no romantic, but I think… Right now, at this moment, I might be turning into one.
A shy smile covers her face and her cheeks turn pink. It’s like she’s waiting… for me. Did she watch me come in? I’ve never been tongue tied, never had my palms sweat at the thought of talking to a girl. I know there are two other girls with her, but I can’t tear my eyes fromher.
Without taking my eyes off of her I lean toward Carson, “Who’s the blonde, next to the girl standing on the chair?” It’s got to be obvious who I’m staring at. There’s a path directly from me to her.
“The blonde?” Carson’s mouth splits into a grin. “That’s Raegan. Her dad owns a huge ranch outside of town. He likes to employ high school guys…” He bops his fist into my shoulderand wags his eyebrows. “If you’re wanting to get to know her, working at the Double C would be the best way to do that.”
What am I thinking? I don’t need a distraction. I don’t want a distraction. I’m going to get drafted and get out of this cabbage-patch town. I don’t need a country chick weighing me down. Yet, something is still calling me to her. I need to convince myself that she’s got buck teeth. Or maybe no teeth. Maybe she’s boring and has the personality of a bed sheet. Or, that’s it, she isn’t into guys. No, her cheeks turned pink when our eyes met. She has to like guys, and furthermore, she seemed to like what she saw when she looked at me.
“Did you want me to introduce you? She goes to church with me. And the girl on the chair is the pastor’s daughter.” Carson starts heading in the girls direction. I follow on his heels, my palms and my feet sweating now. What is happening to me? I’ve never felt this way before. This is crazy.
Carson stops abruptly and turns toward me. “You should go to youth group with us. It’s on Wednesday nights. Coach is the youth leader and it’s a great time learning and just hanging out.” Just as quickly as he stopped walking, he starts back up again.
Church? Are the cabbages in this patch riddled with poison? Has it gone to my brain? ‘Cause right now, I’m seriously considering church, and for a girl. I am losing my mind.
“Hey, neighbor!” The girl who’d been standing on the chair bounces up to Carson and me. I chance a quick look at her, then turn back to Raegan. Her name fits her. Rae, like sunshine. I’m going to call her Rae of Sunshine.
She has a cute upturned nose, and her eyes were bluish-gray, like the sea. I’m going to drown in them. One side of her mouth is quirked up, like she has a permanent smile. The other side rises, and her lips slowly part as she smiles. I can’t tear my eyes from them.
Her lips move. “Hi.”
I force my eyes to leave her lips.
I lift my hand in a wave, and it just gets stuck in the air. Goosebumps cover my skin. My heart is racing. Not even getting front row seats to a Warriors game has made me feel this way. My pulse is racing like someone poured coffee straight into my veins.
I’m a goner.
She blinks, and her lips move in this flirty grin. I don’t think she’s trying to flirt. She is just doing it naturally. “I’m Raegan.” Her voice is smooth and husky; sliding over me like butter on toast. “You’re new in town, right?”
“Yeah,” I stutter. “I just moved here from Atlanta.”
“Welcome to Clear Creek.” She runs a finger behind her ear, like she was tucking away a strand of hair. “I know it’s tiny compared to Atlanta, but it’s home.” The end of her braid lays over her shoulder and she absently runs her fingers through it.
“Don’t forget about the fact that her dad owns a huge ranch and you can get a job there.” Carson bumps my shoulder playfully. He says it quietly, but Raegan still hears it.
“I live on the Double C. Best ranch in Texas, if I do say so myself.” Her cheeks color even more as she speaks.
I’ve only ridden a horse once, and it didn’t go too well. But for Raegan, I’d ride a bucking bronco.
Carson nudges my shoulder again, “Jaimie, Chrissy, and Raegan are always together. At school, at church… So, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of chances to flirt with Raegan.” Chrissy and Jaimie laugh with Carson. Raegan grins at me again, both of our faces red. I don’t know how it happened. But there’s no way anyone could deny the attraction between the two of us.
