“Reaching 28,00 feet.” A raspy, muffled voice came over the PC.
Starr cocked her head so she could see AJ’s face. He smiled down on her through the small square of his white helmet. How can he be so calm! We’re about to jump to the Earth at 30,00 feet in the air!
“30,000 feet.”
“Are you ready?” A tall man stood up from his chair by the open door of the small aircraft. He held his hand out to her in a caring way. She stood up, wobbly at first, but she steadied herself. “When I lightly squeeze your shoulder, just let yourself easily drop out of the door, ok?”
She nodded her head. As she looked behind her, AJ was still sitting contently on his chair smiling at her with admiration. She felt the light squeeze and closed her eyes. As she tilted toward the white mounds of nothingness below her, she blew a light kiss to him. Her face felt like an ice cube as she could feel the wind hitting her fragile body. Two seconds after her departure, she slowly began opening her eyes. She widened then in shock. She took her whole flight to the top with closed eyes. She didn’t dare look outside in fear of chickening out. She had no idea it was this amazing. The whole state of California looked like a detailed map. She scanned the different colored squares and lines. After gawking, she realized AJ was probably right above her. She flipped on her back and gazed up. Her body went limp as nothing but a white blanket appeared above her. Right then, mental disaster pictures crept into her head. But she smiled in relief as a hand waved to her franticly form a small black body that had come out of the clouds. The rest of the way down was heaven.
“Omigod, that was so fun!” Starr jumped in AJ’s arms. He spun her in a circle, then kissed her softly on the lips.
“It was just as amazing as I thought it would be.” He smiled and kissed her again.
“Thank you for dragging me out here to do this. I swear, if I never met you, I would not be here right now.” She smiled and lifted her arms so the guys could take off her gear.
“That’s what I’m here for.” He turned around and did the same.
“Couldn’t you just feel the adrinalin rushing through your body as the land got closer and closer. I could have never come down and I’d be perfectly happy, just float around. Worry free...” Starr glared out the window of AJ’s truck into the darkening sky.
“That’s why it’s so intriguing. It rebuilds your state of mind. Anything bad just drains out when you’re up there.”
Starr gazed at AJ. She loved him so much. The week didn’t matter. Nothing but AJ mattered. They could be the last living thing alive and her mood wouldn’t change one bit. She had always believed in God. But she never had faith in him. He brought her nothing she needed or wanted, but today her perspective on the world had changed. She really, truly believed AJ was the one. Some people have to wait their whole lives to find the one they were meant to spend the rest of their lives with, and some sadly, never find it or pass it by. But then there are those lucky few that find it in the beginning. Those people know love when they see it, and when she looks at AJ, she sees love.
“I know why I love you, AJ.” Starr turned in her seat and peered over at him.
AJ couldn’t help but smile. He looked at Starr and nodded.
“Because when I look at you, I don’t see a former Backstreet Boy, or my drama teacher. I see more than that.”
“Like...”
“Love. Plain ole’ love. Not artificial love, real, hard core love you only get once in a lifetime.” She scooted close to him, kissing his cheek so softly it almost tickled. She rested her head on his shoulder. He didn’t know what to say, so he just kept driving. Lately, he hadn’t felt so into it. The whole couple thing. Maybe it was because of Jodi...he didn’t know. He’s never even met this girl, why is he so drawn by her? Here was the perfect girl sitting next to him and all he could do was compare her to Jodi. So right now, he was going to totally push her out of his mind and make the most of Starr. He still stayed quiet, but put his arm around her to let her know he heard.
Starr didn’t care that he didn’t say anything. She knew he was feeling it inside, and that’s all the words she needed.
“So, where are we going next weekend?” AJ asked Starr.
She shook her head, and buried herself in him. He was always so warm. She loved it. “Have you ever thought about kids?”
“Wh-what?” AJ was struck dumb. You just don’t hear that from your weeklong girlfriend everyday.
“Like when you find that special person and you want to make a family...do you want kids?” She couldn’t help but inhale the sweet cologne from his gray shirt.
“Well yeah.”
“How many? I want two, two girls named Kitty and Trina...” She clasped her hand in to his.
“Kitty and Trina? Sounds like teenage girls from a 50’s show.” He laughed.
“Well I liked growing up with a unique name. That’s how I want them to grow up.”
“I want two probably. I haven’t really chosen their names...but I want a girl and boy.”
“Ew, I defiantly don’t want a boy!”
“Why not?” He sounded offended.
“I’d rather deal with female puberty than male. Plus, you can dress girls up all cute and do their hair. Just like my own little doll.” She tugged at her hair like pigtails.
“I’m sure your husbands going to want a boy. Like his own little doll to do guy stuff with.”
“Well, I’ll train him...he’ll be the most feminem man you ever saw.” She laughed.
“Hey, how about McDonalds for dinner?” AJ’s eyes followed a big sign outside.
“Ok.” Starr got out and followed AJ into the restaurant after he parked. While he stood in line, she walked up to the front window that overlooked a small lake. The gray clouds started covering the disappearing sun. She smiled and walked up to AJ, just as he stepped out of line. “Lets watch the sunset while we eat.” She slipped her arm in his and gazed up at him. He smiled at her and opened the door. She walked across the street, keeping her eyes on the setting sun and calm water. AJ pulled the truck over to a clear spot in the dirt and opened the tailgate for them to sit on. Starr hoped on it and pulled a French fry out of the bag.
“We better hurry, it looks like it’s gonna rain.”
“I don’t mind God crying on me.”
“You mean peeing...” AJ laughed. He munched on the fries and swung his feet back and forth like an excited four-year-old. Starr and AJ finished their dinner, having a little fry fight and AJ stealing her burger. They were cuddled up, staring at the orange sun. AJ began humming “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. Starr smiled and pinched his noes. Suddenly, drops sprinkled over them. He automatically jumped up and ran to the driver’s side of the truck. With the door open, he paused and saw Starr standing up with her arms spread out as if she started the rain.
“Come on, get in the car!” AJ yelled, laughing at her. She ignored him as she ran around, hiding behind trees and bushes. “Oh, I see how it is. I have to catch you?” He slammed the door and ran to the tree that he saw her hide behind last. He peeked from the side and scrunched his eyebrows as he saw nothing there. He heard a giggle from behind him and spun around. She was standing in the middle of a puddle that had gradually formed. He walked up to her slowly and gasped as she kicked water at him playfully. He kicked it back at her and spread a grin of victory across his face. She kicked more at him, harder. Soon they were rolling around in the puddle, their hair and clothes brown with mud. AJ pinned her down and stared at her. Water dripped from his hair and he could feel the mud at his fingertips. Starr smiled up at him. She brought her finger up to his nose and touched the water spot that was hanging on the tip. Then she brought herself to a sitting position and put her arms around AJ’s neck, kissing him.
“Let’s go.” AJ smiled and helped her up. They laughed together all the way back in his truck to his house.
“Yeah, you got it!” Jamie clapped her hands as Jason sighed and plopped down next to her on the couch.
“Finally!” He grabbed his water bottle and devoured it. Jamie and Jason were at her room. Jamie was teaching him the dance she had to learn for the play tryouts.
“You did good.”
“Thanks. It only took me...50 try’s. I can’t believe you learned that whole thing in 20 minutes.” He shook his head and smiled.
“Oh hi. Is this that guy you’re always talking about Jamie?” Jeff walked out of the bathroom with a towel around his waste and one in his hand, rubbing his hair.
“Jeff!” Jamie looked at him with an absolute wave of shock over her face.
“What? If you love him so much, why are you so surprised?” He had a cocky, proud grin as he walked to the fridge. Jamie nervously laughed and turned to face Jason.
“I don’t know-“
“Sure you do Jamie. Let’s see...” He leaned against the counter and put his hand to his chin as if trying to think of something. “I believe these were your exact words...”I like him so much, but he only likes me as a friend. DAMN he’s hot!” He laughed and shielded himself as Jamie hit him repeatedly on the chest. She stood facing his direction as he walked back to his room and shut the door. She took a deep breath and turned around slowly. Jason sat with a smirk, gazing up at her.
“Jason...I swear, I-“
“I like you more than a friend, Jamie.”
“Wh-what? You-you do?” She still stood there in mental lock.
“Yeah. I kinda figured you did too. I guess it took Jeff to find that out though.”
“I was going to tell you, but I didn’t know how, or when, or-“
“It’s ok.” He patted the cushion, and watched her cautiously sit down. She stared at him and stood up.
“Let’s go out for coffee. Want too?” She placed her hands on her hips and smiled.
“Why not.”