48There was a sudden knock on the door and both of us jumped. I stayed on the bed while she ran to the door to see who it was and then I got up when I heard a deep voice; her father must have come down.
"Hi Daddy," Ali said as I walked towards the door.
He watched me with dark eyes.
"Hello sir, my name is Cale," I said holding my hand out to shake his.
He shook my hand. "Good to finally meet you young man," he said before turning back to Ali. "Dinner will be ready soon."
"Thank you Daddy, we will be right up," she smiled, and then turned back to me as her dad went back up the stairs. "I guess we can be alone after dinner," she smiled wrapping her arms around my neck kissing me softly. "I need to ask you something later, but if we don't go upstairs my dad will come back down."
My mind suddenly went into overdrive. What did she have to ask me? Was something wrong? But nothing was wrong... as far as I knew. I wondered what was going on in that head of hers, she was never usually this serious. The thought process was starting to get to me; when did I become a worry wart?
"Get a room." The voice interrupted my thoughts.
Ali pulled away from our embrace storming out of her bedroom. "Shut up Adam!" she yelled at him.
I had never truly seen her mad before so I followed her into the living room were her brother was now sitting watching us with a faint smile on his face. "You're a jerk!" she continued. She would have probably continued to yell at him until I grabbed her hand to see if it would calm her down.
She turned around and looked at me and I kissed her forehead softly, glancing over at Adam who still had a smile on his face. "C'mon Ali, let's just go," I said pulling her gently towards me as I headed back up the stairs.
Dinner went by rather quickly. Ali's mother was busy cooking and trying to get Ali's little sister Anna to eat, but things weren't working so well for her. Adam glared across the table at Ali who was watching him as well. A silent sibling exchange was going on, and I was curious about what she was thinking. Or he was thinking. When I thought of my relationship with my older brother it was kind of the same with the fighting but we got along most if the time. More than my parents got along with each other, at least.
My room at home was the only place in the house I could totally be myself; I liked to call it my own little hole and that is the truth. It was the place I could be alone and not listen to my parents argue about money, money, or about money. My Mom would leave for long periods of time and I knew she was doing things with other men. Deep down my Dad knew where the money was really going; I think he was just in denial about the whole thing. I'm quite surprised - and thankful - I turned out even a little bit normal.
After dinner Ali and I offered to help clean up by washing the dishes. While I washed she dried; dancing around the kitchen and putting things away. I never knew chores could be this much fun. If I had then I might have done them more often.
When we finished I went to dry my hands on the dish towel and before I knew it I felt Ali's arms wrap around me tightly as she rested her head between my shoulder blades.
We stood there for what felt like forever while I stroked her hands softly, when we were suddenly interrupted by another annoyed comment from her brother. "Man at it again," he said opening the fridge to our left and grabbing a coke before shutting it again.
I suddenly understood why Ali was always talking bad about her brother; he never left her alone.
Ali opened her mouth to say something but the look I gave her over my shoulder made her close her mouth again. "We don't need to listen to this," I assured her. Then I turned back to Adam's smiling face with the resolve of not saying a word to him. He just wanted to get a reaction out of her - maybe for some attention - but I knew better then to give it to him.
For the rest of the night Ali and I decided to watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall. It felt nice to be snuggled up close to Ali on the couch without her brother bothering us. We were interrupted once, when Ali's mother came down with a load of laundry, but she didn't pay any attention to us.
Close to the end of the movie Ali moved herself into a position to look at me. "Valentine's Day is coming up this weekend. Do you have any plans?" she asked, making circles on my arm with the tip of her finger.
I knew the fourteenth was this Saturday. "Hmm... Now that you mention it, I believe I have a date with what's-her-face from Spanish." I smiled and paused watching her reaction as she playfully hit my arm. Then I was serious. "Why? You have something in mind?"
"Maybe," she said giving me a gentle peck on the cheek.
"Why do I get the feeling you have big plans for us?"
"Well I was just thinking. My parents are going away for the weekend and I wanted you to spend it here with me. It'll be romantic."
Her eyes shone and danced happily with whatever daydream was currently playing in her mind.
A smile came to my face. "And I was just thinking I would take you for dinner and a movie," I began, and her face fell so fast it was heartbreaking. "But what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't spend a romantic weekend with you?" I asked leaning in toward her.
We kissed deeply and I rested my right hand on her hip. I could feel her gentle touch as her soft fingers glided across my face.
My hand slipped down her leg as I felt the texture of the jeans she wore. I could smell the scent of her strawberry lip chap mixed with her flowery perfume that I gave her for our first month anniversary. Everything about her was nice.
Ali let out a soft moan when I broke away from the kiss for a moment but I hushed her whining with a finger to my lips and changed our positions so Ali was the one laying on the couch. I looked down at her and brushed the hair out of her face. "You're so beautiful," I said before continuing our kiss. My hand slipped under her shirt and ran along her sides. I knew she was ticklish here.
A smile escaped her lips and she let out a quiet moan; her breathing quickened as my hand slowly crept up stomach to her chest where her lace bra covered her breasts. My tongue pushed past her lips and I could taste her briefly before I suddenly stopped. I pulled back quickly from the kiss and sat up straight, scanning the room.
"Cale! What are you doing?" came Ali's hushed worried voice.
I looked down at Ali who was now resting on her elbows looking around along with me. "I thought I heard something," I answered, twisting my legs so that I was no longer pinning her down.
The sound of running water could be heard up in the kitchen - followed by footsteps walking towards the stairs. "Ali!" came her mother's voice from the top of the stairs. "Ali, it's time for Cale to go home." Apparently Ali only needed telling once because the sound of Ali's mothers footsteps drifted away without a response.
I glanced at the TV to find the movie was over leaving the TV to illuminate the room with its dark glow of a black screen. Ali grabbed my hand pulling me back down onto the couch as she kissed me softly. "I don't want you to go," she said quietly against my lips. "This weekend you won't have to leave me," she giggled. She quickly kissed me again and then hopped off the couch, grabbing my hand and leading me up the stairs.
We stood at the door for a minute or two as I held her in my arms. The only good thing about being tall was that you could hold a girl comfortably for hours without even trying. "You know I will see you at school tomorrow right?"
She laughed. "I know but tonight was so wonderful I never want it to end." She was sweet.
"I've really got to go," I said kissing her forehead gently. "I'll see you tomorrow. I love you."
"I love you too," she replied while she squeezed me tightly one last time. She was obviously sad that I was leaving, so I kissed her one last time and then I opened the door to make the short walk to my car which was now covered in a light snow.