Flame and Leah

“Hello?” Leah answered the phone with a weak tired voice. She rubbed her eyes that stung from the sunlight streaming in her window, and wondered who would be calling her this early. It couldn’t be ten yet, and it was a Saturday.

“Hey, Leah?” a voice on the other end of the line inquired nervously. “This is Flame. From last night?”

Beaming from ear to ear, Leah settled herself back into her pillows and felt a warmth form in her stomach. “I think I remember you,” she teased. She could almost hear him smile.

“Hey, sorry to wake you. I woke up early this morning, and I couldn’t get back to sleep.” He paused for a moment. “And I couldn’t stop thinking of you.”

Leah couldn’t believe he was actually saying this; Flame did not seem like the type who got sappy over a girl he just met.

“Anyway,” he continued, “I was hoping maybe we could meet for a late breakfast; or an early lunch; or brunch.” He was babbling, which seemed so sweet to Leah.

“I’d love to,” she replied. “Want to meet at Mel’s Diner in an hour?” Throwing the covers off of her, Leah cradled the phone on her shoulder as she crossed the room to her dresser. She pulled out underwear, a bra, jeans and a tank top.

Flames’ voice was deep and content. “That sounds great,” he said. “Meet you then. Bye.”

“Bye,” Leah said, still grinning. She hit the off button on the phone and placed it back in its cradle before dashing off to the bathroom to shower and get ready.

-----

“I didn’t realize you had your belly button pierced,” Flame said as Leah approached the table he sat at in Mel’s, a popular greasy spoon diner. “It’s really sexy.”

Pulling down self-consciously at the hem of her tank top, she sat in the booth seat across from him. “I got it done when I was fifteen,” she explained, “but I feel like it’s kind of trendy, so I don’t show it much.”

Smiling suggestively, Flame picked up his pack of cigarettes off the table and removed one. “So I guess only select people get to see it?” He lit his cigarette and looked at Leah expectantly.
“Something like that,” she replied. “Have you ordered?”

Shaking his head, Flame handed Leah a menu. “No, but I always get the same thing.”
“Not me,” Leah said, looking through the menu. “I like to try new things all the time.” As soon as the words came out of her mouth, Leah regretted them; she hoped Flame wouldn’t take what she said the wrong way. Thankfully, he didn’t respond to it.

“So,” Flame said. “Tell me more about yourself. I want to know more about you.”

“I told you an awful lot last night,” Leah said, taking out her pack of cigarettes. “What do you want me to start with?” Just then, the waitress came and took their orders. “So, what do you want to know?” Leah continued when the waitress left.

“Everything,” he smiled. “Family, friends, school, work, relationships, pets, favorite color-”
Laughing, Leah interrupted. “Okay, I get the picture,” she replied. “Um, well, I’m an only child. My parents are pretty cool, a little over-protective, but nothing weird. Dylan and Callie have been my best friends since sixth grade. I’m a senior. I don’t work during the school year, but I worked at a record store in the mall last summer. I had a cat named Whiskers that died two years ago. And my favorite color is blue.”

“You skipped one,” Flame said, smiling at her like he knew something. “You skipped the ‘relationship’ question.”

A little embarrassed, Leah shook her head. “Not much to say,” she admitted. “I’ve seen a few guys here and there, but nothing serious. My longest relationship was three months, and that was freshman year of high school.”

Nodding, Flame sat silent while he considered her answers. “Are your parents young?” he asked.

“Fairly,” she replied. “Late thirties, you know.”

“How long has Dylan been into you?”

Blushing, Leah measured her answer carefully. “He was my first kiss, the day before seventh grade started. I didn’t want to be the only girl in junior high who hadn’t kissed someone, so I asked him to kiss me.” She laughed at the memory. “We bumped teeth, and he bit his tongue. After that, he was always… really sweet to me.”

“Fair enough,” Flame concluded. “Any questions for me?”

“Yes,” Leah said seriously. “How does a person end up with a nickname like ‘Flame’? Were you like a pyro as a kid or something?”

Laughing, Flame bit his lip. “That’s the excuse I give everyone new that I meet – that I used to play with matches.” He shook his head. “But if you promise – swear – not to tell anyone, I’ll tell you the truth.”

Leah smiled at him with interest. “I promise.”

Closing his eyes in embarrassment, Flame started blushing. “My mom has always been really into church,” he explained. “And when I was in seventh grade, she made me be in the church Christmas play. Unfortunately, I was chosen to be an angel, as ironic as it may seem.” He laughed again. “Chuck, being the dick he has always been, even as a kid, knew this and showed up with a bunch of our friends. After that, they started calling me ‘flamer’, and after a while, that just turned into ‘Flame,’ which was definitely better, and that name stuck. But remember, you promised not to tell.”

Enjoying the fact that he had shared something so cute and personal with her, Leah nodded. “Of course I won’t. Unless you do anything to fuck me over…” She smiled wickedly.

“I need off this subject,” Dylan told her. “Next question!”

“Okay,” she said. “So tell me more about your family. Besides the incidental child abuse your mother put you through.”

“Well, my mom’s the best. My dad left when I was thirteen, and my mom remarried when I was sixteen. My stepdad, Rick, he’s okay, but he got a job in Virginia, which is why we moved there.” He paused. “They had a kid a year ago, a girl, Libby. She’s cool, but I thought it was best to leave and let them be a family.” He put out his cigarette. “Next?”

“Friends?”

Flame smiled somewhat sentimentally. “The band, they’re great guys. I know they come off a little strange sometimes – I know I do too – but they stuck by me from when we were kids. I love ‘em.”

The more Leah asked about Flame, the more she liked about him. Finally, she asked him something she was nervous about. “Longest relationship?”

“A year and a half,” he answered without even thinking. “Jodi, I met her when I first moved to Virginia. She was my first love, and she broke my heart. If she hadn’t, I’d probably still be there.” He looked at Leah and smiled. “Now that I think about it though, I’m kind of glad she did.”

-----

Leah and Flame talked throughout their meals, and for an hour afterwards. Finally, Leah broke the conversation. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I should go. I have a test Monday, and I should study.” Even as she said the words, Leah felt dumb her reason for leaving.

“Oh, a brain,” Flame said, a hint of appreciation in his voice. “I could definitely dig dating a brain.”
Leah could only smile.

“So,” he continued. “Will you be studying all night? Or would you maybe like to stop by later?”

Leah considered the offer for a moment. “Yeah,” she said, although a little nervous. “That’d be cool. I can stop by.”

Grabbing the check as soon as the waitress laid it on the table, Flame ignored Leah’s protests. “It’s the least I can do. After all, I woke you up this morning.” His smile made Leah nervous again. “Besides,” he said. “You can make it up to me.”

Flame walked Leah to her car after they paid. “Is eight okay?” he asked her as she opened the lock.

Nodding, Leah began to open the car door. “Yeah, eight,” she replied, wondering nervously what he had in store for her. As soon as he locked gazes with her though, Leah melted again.
Gingerly, Flame leaned forward. He placed his lips softly against Leah’s, placing one of his hands on the back of her neck and running his fingers through her hair. As they separated, he gave her the same cocky grin from the night before. “Why do I have the feeling you’re about to rock my world?” he asked her.

“I have no idea,” Leah honestly said. “But I get the same feeling from you.” She sat down in the driver’s seat and Flame closed the door behind her. He bounced a light fist on the roof twice and waved until she drove out of the parking lot.

“So she’s coming by again tonight?” Chuck asked Flame when he got back to the house. They were setting up the extra room they used as a studio for band practice. “You gonna grow some balls and go for the goods?”

Sitting down and opening the beer he had just gotten out of the fridge, Flame couldn’t help but smile a little. “I should tell you you’re a prick,” he said, throwing his beer cap at him. “Truth is though, yeah, I think I’m gonna. I like her, I really do. You don’t think that sleeping together would change that, do you?”

Chuck blinked a few times as he looked at his friend. “Did you just ask me that question?” he said. “And you really want a fucking answer from me, don’t you? You’re afraid that if you guys fuck, she’s gonna like you less? When did you become such a pussy?”

Trying to control his annoyance, Flame clenched his jaw. “Dickhead, I’m actually looking for advice,” he said. “So do you mind pulling your head out of your ass for a minute?”

“Fine,” Chuck resigned, sitting down across from Flame. “What do you want advice on?”
Surprised that Chuck was actually listening to him, Flame took a moment to compose his thoughts. “I like her a lot,” he said slowly. “She’s different than most girls; she’s really cool. But she’s also hot as hell, so of course I want to sleep with her. But she seems like the type of girl that if I fuck up once, if I try too soon, she’ll be done with me like that.” He snapped his fingers and took a sip of his beer. “I don’t want to fuck this up. I like this girl.”

Quiet for a minute, Chuck leaned forward. “Listen and listen good,” he said, “because I’m not one for these lame ass conversations, so I’m not gonna repeat myself. If you like the girl, and she seems to like you, nothing’s wrong with making a move. If she’s not into it, back off, apologize and wait. That’s all there is to it.”

Biting his lip, Flame considered what Chuck said. “That makes sense,” he said. “When did you become fuckin Yoda, dude?”

Chuck just smiled at him.

-----

“I am so hung over,” Callie told Leah a few hours later. “I’m sorry, I just couldn’t go home feeling like this and have to deal with that fucker.” She was lying on Leah’s bed, curled up in the fetal position with a pillow between her knees.

“So, how was Chuck?” Leah asked, sitting across the room in her desk chair. She had her algebra book opened on the desk, but she was facing backwards, talking to Callie.

Callie lifted her head a little and smiled. “Surprisingly sweet,” she said. “I got sick last night, before we had the chance to really do anything, and he didn’t get mad. He actually held my hair when I hurled, washed my face with a washcloth, and brought me mouthwash to gargle with. Then he just held me in bed all night.”

Leah smiled, happy that Callie had had a fairly innocent evening. “So you guys didn’t sleep together?” she said.

“Oh, no, we did,” Callie said. “This morning, he got up, got donuts and coffee, and he bought me a toothbrush. So when he got in the shower, I joined him.” Looking content for a moment, Callie suddenly looked pale. “Oh, shit, I think I’m going to be sick again.”

“You know where the bathroom is,” Leah told her as Callie sat up. “You can use the one at the end of the hall; my parents are in Georgia until Monday.”

“I’m fine,” Callie said after a minute. “I’ll be fine if I can sleep a little more.”

Leah looked at her. “Well, I’ll be studying all afternoon, so you’re welcome to crash out here.” She turned towards the desk before adding, “I don’t have anywhere to be until eight.”

Forgetting entirely about her nausea and headache, Callie jumped up from the bed and clamored to Leah’s side. “You mean you’re seeing him again?” she exclaimed.

Nodding, Leah didn’t look up when she spoke. “I’m just a little nervous about it,” she told Callie.

“Well, duh,” Callie said meanly. “I mean, come on, I’m sorry, but Flame’s a guy who’s obviously pretty comfortable with himself in every way. Oh God, did you tell him? Does he know?”

Looking annoyed, Leah turned to her book. “Yeah, Callie, I told him. I told him about my parents, he told me about his prom date, he asked me to pass the butter, and then I said, ‘hey, by the way…’”

“Don’t be so bitchy about it,” Callie said, and then she seemed to become aware of her headache again and staggered towards the bed. “It may sound stupid,” she said, “but you might want to say something upfront. Because otherwise, it could get really awkward.” With that, she curled around a pillow again and passed out, snoring within a matter of seconds.

Thinking about what Callie said, Leah had a hard time concentrating on her schoolwork. Callie’s nuts, she tried to convince herself. Do no freak out about this. Just go there and have a good time. Unable to comprehend her homework anymore, Leah closed her book and headed downstairs to get something to drink, leaving Callie sleeping soundly in her bed.