Love Distantly

Since Kindergarten, I had known Nora. We spent grade school in virutally the same classroom together each day up until we were in fifth grade. Come middle school, our classes were together most of the time, but not always. Since her last name and my last name both began with a V, typically I sat behind her, considering her last name was Vance and mind was Vickerson. All the while, we never really connected. Other than passing our homework to each other in class, we didn't talk at all.

Why would she want to talk to me? I was this art geek, obsessed with my water colors and sketching. I often kept my earbuds in to drown out the world around me so that I could enjoy being an introvert and so that I could focus on my projects. Nora, on the other hand was on the volleyball and track team. She ran around with the "A" crowd. Outside of my friend, Henry, I was a loner. I'd always just kept to myself as far back as I could remember. If I kept my nose out of everyone's business I was less likely to get bullied or picked on.

In April, that all changed. I had been zoned out after school working on a project for the upcoming student art show, and had lost track of time. Before I knew it, it was after four thirty, and I needed to get home to make sure Hugo, my old retriever, was let outside. Considering my dad didn't get home at a decent time each day from work, it was my responsibility to make sure he went out before he had an accident inside the house.

It was pouring down rain, and throwing my hood up over my head, I darted outside the doors towards the student lot to start my ten year old Ford I had purchased from a private seller. With my allowance my father had given me for taking care of the house, mowing the lawn, and doing virtually all of our grocery shopping, I was able to save up some money for an okay car over the last summer. I'd also been mowing neighboring lawns for cash most of the summer. I was rather proud of it, regardless of the dent in the back right bumper.

When I had left the building, I had glanced over and realized Nora was standing at the doorway looking down at her cell phone. I had registered that she had been crying judging by the reddness in and around her dark brown eyes. For what reason, I didn't know. But, I had chosen to mind my own business and head on towards my car.

After climbing into the car, starting it, and clearing the windshield of the droplets of water, I situated myself in my seat, pulled on my safety belt, and plugged my cell phone into the radio. After pulling up my playlist, I put the car in drive, and headed down to the main pathway of the student parking lot.

Approaching the driveway, I saw Nora was sitting inside the doorway of the school, her head down inside her hands. I could tell she was sobbing.

I could have driven on home. After all, Hugo needed let outside. Big question was, would have have gone out in this mess? I squeezed my steering wheel, and suddenly moved my right foot over towads the left, and pressed on the break. After putting the car in park, I hopped out of the car, and left it running on the main path. If someone were to come down, there was plenty of room to get around me. I wouldn't be too long.

Holding my breath, I pulled the door open, and I knew I startled her, because her head bolted back up, and she was trying to hide her tears by stroking them away. She wouldn't make eye contract with me. I assumed she thought I was going to walk back inside, probably assuming I'd forgotten something in my locker or something, but that was not the case.

"Nora," I said to her gently. She glanced up at me, but looked away quickly. I heard her sniffle. "Is there anything I can do?"

Without looking up and me, she shook her head. I could tell she was dazing off towards an object outside in the parking lot. She gave a weak smile.

"No, Ethan, but thank you."

I shffled on my feet a little bit, but sighed.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "Can I give you a ride home at least?"

I could tell this got her attention. Suddenly, she actually made eye contact with me, and sighed. "If you wouldn't mind."

"I don't," I replied gently. I took a step towards her as she began to gather up her belongings and shove them into her back pack. I reached my hand down towards her to help her up. I could see her eyes looking up at me, maybe surprised by my gesture. But, she took my hand, and allowed me to help her up to her feet.

Before we walked back outside, I put my hand out towards her. "May I take your bag? I'll put it into the back seat."

I watched her pull her long, dark hair over her a shoulder, and I could tell she was digesting my words. Shrugging it off of her body, I reached for it and pulled it over my shoulder.

"Ready?" I asked her. She nodded, and I pushed the door open and held it for her as she rushed out into the rain. I opened the passenger door for her so that she could climb inside. Once she was in, I shut the door, and then sat her back pack in the back seat behind her. After rushing around the back of my car, I jumped into the driver's side door, and took a seat beside her. Instantly, I was turning the heat on for us so that we could get warm after being soaked in the rain.

As I put the car into drive, I glanced over at her. She seemed to have pushed herself closer to her door, leaning her head against it and staring out at the rain. I could see another tear roll down her cheek.

"Where can I take you?" I asked her gently.

"Do you know where Brewer Heights is?" she asked me quietly, not making contact.

"I do," I said. "Am I dropping you off at home?"

After receiving a nod in response, I put the gas pedal down and headed towards the western part of town towards what I assumed was her house.

"I hope I am not causing you to be late for anything," she said a moment later. I had just slowed down to a stop at a sign, and was in the process of making sure I could turn left.

"Not at all," I said gently to her. "Glad I could give you a lift."

As I looked around to make sure it was safe to turn, I heard her say, "Jackson broke up with me."

Oh, yes. Jackson-or Jackass, is how I referred him. He was not only the guy in school witht he most muscle, but he was also, in my eyes, the biggest bully there was. I couldn't tell you how many times he picked fights with other classmates. Whether it was purposely tripping them in the hallways as they walked by, or even keying someone's car. If he could find a way to get under your skin, he would. I had successfully avoided him up until this point. Luckily, since he was a senior, provided he was going to graduate, I wouldn't have to look at him anymore after school was over.

"So that's why you are upset," I said gently.

"I'm honestly more embarrassed than anything," she admitted.

"I'm sorry," I said to her, stopping at a stop light.

"He made me feel special," she sighed, and I could see her wipe another set of tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

I nodded, listening to her as she spoke. Perhaps she just needed to let someone hear her voice and talk out her troubles. If that was what I was supposed to do to help her, I would. I just didn't want her stuck at the school. I knew Jackson was her ride home typically. I often had watched him lift her up into his F350. Considering she was just over five feet tall, and the truck didn't have a bar for her to step on, she needed some assistance getting into it.

"He's not such a horrible guy," she said with a sigh. "Often times just a little-"

"Jackson is a jackass," I said to her. "No girl deserves to be with someone like him."

"Why would you say that?" she asked me.

She barely knew me. We'd never so much had a conversation in school like the one we were having. We were two completely different people.

"That came out a little too passionate," I said to her. "I'm sorry. Usually I do a better job at holding my emotions and personal thoughts in."

"You were being honest," she said to me gently. "He's a hard one to understand-"

"Is that why you dated him?" I asked her.

Through a sniffle, she laughed. "No. I honestly don't know why I dated him. But, rejection still hurts none the less."

"Why did he break up with you?" I asked her, turning left.

"I think he's been talking to Lyla Burris," she said gently. "But, I can't prove that. And, right now, I shouldn't care. Once he goes off to college, we wouldn't see each other anymore. I just wasn't expecting it like this." She sighed. "He broke up with me through a text message. And before I could talk to him he left. And, my parents are both out of town. He has been my ride. And, I missed the bus."

"Well, lucky for you, I came along," I said gently. I gave her a weak smile, waiting to see what her response would be.

"And I thank you," she said to me.

I turned right, and headed up the large hill into the housing addition she lived in. "So, where do I need to drive to up here?"

"Uhhh-left," she said to me, steering me down towards Juniper Lane.

"How long were you and Jacka-I mean, Jackson together?"

"About four months," Nora said to me. "Prom is in a few weeks, and now I have to figure out what I am going to do about that either."

I nodded. "Did you care about him?"

"Did I love him?" Nora asked suddenly.

"I didn't ask that," I said to her defensively.

She laughed. "Ethan, I don't exactly know what love is. At least, not that kind of love. I liked being with him, but I am not sure if I actually loved him."

I nodded.

"My house is the brown one right on the corner," she said, pointing towards the right.

After pulling to the front of the house, I put the car in park, and sighed. Leaning over my wheel, I glanced at her. Her eyes looked a little less puffy, and she gave me a weak smile.

"Thank you again," she said to me. "I appreciate your kindness."

"More than welcome," I said to her. "Now, let me get your back pack and I will help you to the front door."

"Ethan, that isn't necessary," she said to me.

"Just because Jackson didn't carry your bag in for you doesn't mean I won't," I said. "I'll drop you off at the door."

"Wait," she said quickly, grabbing my shoulder before I could get out of the car. "Why are you being so kind?"

I sighed. "I'm not going to just drop you off in the rain. I'm not a jerk like that."

Nora sighed. "You aren't like the other guys we go to school with."

"You are probably right," I said with a sigh. "I didn't have a mom growing up, but my father taught me to always hold the door open for a woman, and respect. So, get ready, I'll grab you bag."

I made sure to open the car door for her to let her out of the car, and I rushed behind her as she led the way to her front door. I saw her fumbling with her door keys, and she unlocked the front door to let herself inside.

After she had the door unlocked, I leaned into the front door, and sat the back pack

directly inside the doorway and to right.

"Thank you," she said again, giving me a smile.

"See you in class tomorrow," I said to her. "If you need anything-I'm sure you can find me on social media."

She nodded. "Be safe going home, Ethan."

"I will. Take care of your heart, okay?"

She nodded. "I will try."