I stood, and Lincoln followed suit. I watched Ellie's eyes as they lit up when she finally noticed all that was Lincoln.
"I should get going," I said to Lincoln even though it was the last thing I really wanted to do.
I could tell he read my indecision on what to do and saved me by saying, "Yeah, I better go too. If I leave Alex on his own for too long, he's bound to get into trouble. I need your number, though."
"Your dad," Ellie hissed like she thought she needed to remind me.
I was embarrassed, and I watched Lincoln's face change again. "Give me yours," I quickly added.
"Shit, I don't have anything to write with."
"I have a cell," Ellie interrupted, "You can give it to me, and she'll get it as soon as we have something to write with.”
He rattled off his number to Ellie then turned to me. "I probably won't be available until after eleven. I have to drive the guys around after the game. Do you think you can call me after he's asleep?" He asked hopefully.
I nodded my head enthusiastically, all while feeling Ellie's astonished gaze at my back. Lincoln did something else that completely shocked me. He leaned down and cupped the side of my face. I felt like he was going to kiss me. He was so close, just staring or memorizing, I wasn't quite sure.
"So damn beautiful," he whispered. He meant for only me to hear, but Ellie heard it too and let out a soft gasp. He turned and jogged to a group of guys, and I watched after him as he did. Somehow, the last several minutes felt life altering, and I knew I'd never be the same.
Chapter Three Past
"I wanted to kiss you."
"I wanted you to." I couldn't believe I just admitted that. I was finishing a two-hour conversation with Lincoln. It was almost two in the morning, and I had Confirmation classes in the morning. Over the last few weeks, nearly every night, I'd been sneaking calls in with Lincoln.
"God," he groaned, "I wish you were older. I wish I could show up tomorrow and take you out."
"I do too."
"Will you call me tomorrow night?" he asked.
"I will."
"I'll be waiting. Goodnight, beautiful."
"Night, Linc."
I sleepily hung up and snuck the cordless phone back into the cradle. Some of my friends had cell phones, but my parents would never go for it. I laid down on my bed and looked at my room. My walls were a light shade of purple that Dad painted a few years ago. I had covered up a lot of the floral border with music posters, making my room feel like I was not quite old enough to date yet. It felt like I was in an in-between stage. I didn't want to be in-between any longer.
After my phone call with Lincoln, I didn't feel like my room was me anymore. I mean, it was, but somehow I felt different. I didn't feel like a kid at all. I felt like I was becoming a woman, one who was completely taken with Lincoln. After every call, I felt a little changed, a little less like I was, and a little more like the me I was becoming. I felt my self-confidence rising, and I wanted nothing more than to spend time with him.
In the morning, I went to my class with sleep-deprived bleary eyes. When I came home, I worked on my room. I wanted it to reflect me. I asked my Mom how to take off the wallpaper, and she helped me remove the border.
“What made you decide to do this?" Mom asked as we stared at my torn up wall. Small pieces of paper were still lying on my hardwood floor. We somehow managed to get a few strips on my yellow and white plush carpet that my canopy bed sat on top of.
"I feel like I really want my room to reflect me. I'm not really into flowers any longer if you know what I mean."
"I do. Your bed and dresser are antiques, though, so I don't want you to change them but think about the color you want for your walls, and I'll talk Dad into painting it. I'm not sure he'll go for new bedding yet, but maybe I can talk him into an early Christmas present from Santa."
I hugged Mom tightly. Her dark curls with wiry silver strands throughout brushed against my face. "I'd love that, Mom."
"I know you want to grow up, but don't do it too fast." Mom kissed me on my forehead then left me to finish cleaning up the mess. I wanted to call Lincoln and tell him what Mom and I did. I was excited, and I wanted to share it with him. I didn't do it, though. Instead, I called my BFF.
"Ellie, Hey!" I said as soon as she picked up.
"So, did you guys talk again last night? What happened?" She quickly rushed out before saying hello back. I recounted the parts of our conversation I was willing to share with Ellie. She was our cheerleader.
There were also parts I wouldn't share. I didn't tell Ellie how Lincoln became a foster child. I didn't tell her that he had three brothers he considered family even though they were also foster kids. I didn't tell her how he shared that his life had been pretty messed up until he was placed with Marlene. I also kept it to myself that he shared he started lifting weights to defend himself and his brothers. What I did tell her was that he admitted he wanted to kiss me, and I told him I wanted him to.
"Oh my gosh!" She exclaimed at this news. "You so like him, like a ton."
"I do. I don't know what it is about him. I swear he's all I ever think about."
"You mean besides the fact that he's hot!"
"It's different. It's the way he talks to me. I feel like he wants to know everything about me."
"Well, yeah. You're awesome."
"Ellie. I've seen him once. Already it feels like he's so..." I paused, trying to come up with the right word for how I'd describe how he feels to me.
"Go on." Ellie urged.
"He's so everything."
Ellie sighed. "We have to find a way for you two to meet up. Do you think your dad will let you go to the mall if I can get my Mom to drive us?"
"Maybe? Mom and I just took my border down in my room. I can tell her I want to window shop for bedroom ideas.”
Ellie began squealing. "Why didn't you tell me you were working on your room? You know I love decorating. Can I help please?"
I laughed, "Of course."
"Okay, hang on. Let me ask my Mom. Mom!" I heard her yell for Mrs. Frank. "Can you bring Lola and me to the mall if Lola's parents say it's okay?"
I couldn't hear the rest of the exchange between Mrs. Frank and Ellie. A minute later, Ellie got on the line. "Yes! Mom said, okay!"
"I'll talk to them and call you right back." I hung up with Ellie, and with the phone cradled in my hand, I moved to the kitchen where dad was just coming in from what I presumed was a side job. He was wearing overalls and had a tape measure attached to the front, and he smelled like sawdust. Mom was pouring a cup of coffee. She usually drank several pots a day. "Hey, Daddy." I approached, reached up, and kissed him on the cheek.
"Lola, how was Confirmation Class?"
"Awesome," I joked, "I feel very prepared to be Confirmed."
Dad gave me a look. You know the look, the kind that says: I'm not amused.
"I just got off the phone with Ellie, and her Mom offered to bring us to the mall. Can I go?" My eyes screamed, ‘please.’