Jamison Woods

-continued from yesterday.

Nervously, I paced my room Friday night. A million confused thoughts flowed through my head- I can't believe I'm doing this. Is he going to show up? Why did he invite me? Does he like me like I like him, or does he just think I'm a cool kid? This is so weird.

Around 9:30pm, Nathan's little grey truck pulled into the alley and beeped to announce its arrival.

-deep breath- Well, this is it.

I opened the passenger's door to find a girl sitting there. She gave me an odd glance, then proceeded to make room for me by sliding to the center of the seat.

Nathan then introduced us. "Damien- this is my girlfriend Sarah."

My stomach sank. "Nice to meet you," I quietly muttered.

"Likewise," replied Sarah. "So how do you two know each other?"

Nathan looked nervous, and responded, "Well, Damien is in my study hall. I gave him a ride Wednesday night. Oh, and his sister is Sochel Duerte." Sarah must have been a senior also.

She looked confused. "Ok..."

About five miles out of town, we turned off the highway, and drove down a bumpy dirt road into a large pine-tree forest.

"This is Jamison woods," commented Nathan. It got its name because it is owned by the Jamison farm up the road. They don't mind us partying here every weekend though"

The road narrowed down a small hill where it ended by a large gathering of cars. Past the cars was a large opening where about thirty high schoolers (mostly upper-classmen) were centered around a bonfire.

Nathan parked the truck in a small clearing and the three of us headed toward the party.

I was surprised by the huge welcome that came from everyone there. A bunch of guys yelled, "NAAAATE!" They ran over and handed him a beer. At the same time, a small group of the "popular" senior girls crowded around Sarah.

"This is Damien, everyone. He's a freshman."

It was then that about four guys dragged me over to the keg, and told me I had to chug one full glass of beer before I could have another.

The beer was hideous tasting. It reminded me of vomit. I had only had sips of my uncle's at family gatherings before this. With eyes watering, and the persistent feeling that I was going to gag, I got the whole thing down. "Adda boy!" One guy said, then handed me another with a pat on the back.

The guys took me back to the fire where I sat down on a yellow couch that looked like it had been there for years.

Nathan and Sarah were no where in sight. I wasn't worried, because his truck was there, but still felt uncomfortable. Everyone there was older than me. I recognized a few girls that were friends with my sister. They commented on how old I was now, and that they would look after me for my sister.

A few hours passed. I sat and listened to these older kids' conversations. Added my comments only when asked my opinion. It was rather boring. Nathan and Sarah were still gone. One of the guys that made me chug the first beer kept giving me cigarettes and refilled my cup whenever it was gone, so I was getting pretty dizzy.

I had to piss, so I got up and walked over to the edge of the woods. In the woods was Nathan and Sarah. Sarah had her arms tight around her body, while Nathan waved his arms in gesture and paced back and forth, taking sips out of a flask every once in a while.

I heard Sarah yell, "Just forget about it!" and stormed away. Nathan just looked towards the ground and shook his head. I walked over to him.

"Hey Damien. Sorry about not hanging out with you tonight."

"That's alright."

Nathan took out his flask and offered me a drink. I commented that I had enough as it was. Nathan smirked then took a swig from the little silver canister.

"So what were you and Sarah talking about?"

Nathan sighed. "A lot of things."

He took another drink and continued talking about Sarah. "She says she's pregnant and wants an abortion."

"...And you don't?" I asked.

"Hell no. I mean, I don't want a kid, especially with her, but I don't want her to get rid of it. Sarah's such a bitch sometimes."

"How long have you been dating?"

"A year and a half."

We sat on that fallen-down tree for at least two hours. Nathan talked and talked. About Sarah, and their fucked-up relationship. How he didn't even like her anymore, but stayed with her because everyone expected them to. And now she was pregnant, and he didn't know what to do. At points, Nathan got tears in his eyes, but sat in silence with his eyes pressed tightly together, breathing deep until he had pushed it all back inside, and could continue talking.

I sat there, sobering up, listening to Nathan and his life. His popular, football playing, perfect-on-the-outside life. Giving sympathy and adding my comments and questions only in the right places. Thinking about this odd situation that I never imagined myself in. Cursing Sarah in my head, and cursing myself for thinking that I was actually going to have something with this boy.

That's when he kissed me. His big soft lips pressed against mine, and sent warmth throughout my entire body. My head filled with happiness, my stomach with butterflies, while my heart pounded harder than ever.

Nathan turned away and looked at the ground. "Sorry," he whispered.

I sat in awe. Then, without thinking about it, I grabbed his arm, and turned his face toward me again. We kissed. And kissed and kissed. I never felt so good in my life.

It was getting late. Very late. So we decided to join the party again. We walked back into the clearing, to find only four guys sitting around the dulling fire.

Everyone had left about an hour earlier. Sarah had gotten a ride home with her girl friends. All that was left was the four guys that had made me drink when I first got to the party.

The only one that was still conscious asked, "Where have you two been all night?"

"We were on a walk," smiled Nathan.

We got into Nathan's truck and headed back for town. We didn't say much. Vaguely chatting about the crazy night. Uncomfortably avoiding the part about us kissing. I smiled, and looked out the window at the horizon. Morning was breaking and the sky was a beautiful color of orange.

Nathan pulled into the alley next to my house.

"I guess I'll see ya around school," he said, looking at me with those big beautiful eyes.

"Sure," I responded with a smile. "See you later."

He drove off and I went inside. I crashed on my bed and stared at the ceiling. No annoying questions were flooding my mind now. I just laid there in peace. Anticipating what was going to happen in the next few weeks.

 2001-12-28 - 5:01 p.m.

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