Heart on a Chain by Cindy C Bennett

hand for the rest of the ride home. He stops at the usual spot, which starts the butterflies in my stomach at what I’m going to find at home. If my luck has held, they won’t be home yet. Yeah, right, since when do you have that kind of luck?
    Since he came into your life , another voice answers, surprising me with its truthfulness.
    “ This is your bus stop,” he says as he opens my door. I climb out, starting to unzip the jacket to return it to him. His hand on mine stills the action.
    “ Keep it. I can get it from you later.”
    “ Won’t you get cold?” I ask.
    “ Internal furnace, remember?”
    “ Okay, well, I’ll bring it Monday.”
    “ Listen, I was wondering if you might want to go do something tomorrow.”
    Of course I want to, more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. That isn’t my reality, though, having what I want.
    “ Sorry, I wish I could, but I can’t.”
    Disappointment flashes in his eyes. He nods.
    “ You sure I can’t drive you home? It’s dark out here.”
    If he only knew the danger isn’t here in the dark, but in the “safety” of my home.
    “ No, I’ll be fine. Thanks again. I haven’t had this much fun in as long as I can remember.”
    He smiles, pulls me in for a quick hug which testifies of his internal furnace, releasing me before I can even react enough to bring my arms up to return the gesture.
    “ See you Monday morning then.”
    “ Okay. See you then.”
    I watch him drive off, then walk toward my darkened house. The car is in the driveway, but all of the lights being off are a good sign. I sneak around to the back and climb up to my window, which I had unlocked before I left. I quietly climb in, reluctantly pulling his jacket off to get ready for bed.
    I pull back the covers, moving the pillows I had placed on my bed to make it look like I was in bed already. The chances of one of them actually coming to check on me were slim, but it’s best to be prepared for anything, I’ve learned. Just before sliding into bed I pull his jacket off of the chair back and put it back on, zipping it up tightly.
    I climb into bed, snuggling the jacket close to me. It smells like him, I think, as I take a deep breath in the folds of the material. I relive the night, pushing out of my head the bad parts, especially Jessica, slowly reliving each moment that found my hand in his, or me in his arms. With a contented, happy sigh, I slip into sleep.
     
     

Chapter Eight
     
    If there can be such a thing as a peaceful weekend in my house, this is it. Whatever Friday night had been for my parents, it has somehow provided a small measure of happiness for my mom. Not that she’s been immediately transformed into a kind, loving mother, but the put downs are few, the complaints about my work almost non-existent, and I haven’t received so much as one pinch or slap.
    I can’t stop thinking about Henry. Monday morning can’t come soon enough, no matter how unusually calm a weekend I’m having. I wonder where he is, what he’s doing. I wonder who he’s with, and I’m jealous of anyone being with him, no matter who it is.
    I have never imagined school being something to anticipate, but here I am again, rushing to get ready and get out the door. I only wish I had something to wear that didn’t look like the obvious secondhand item it is. Mostly I own t-shirts and sweatshirts—shapeless, anonymous clothing. For the first time ever, I wish for something more feminine.
    I run to the corner, then slow to a walk in case Henry is already there. He is. I smile, wondering just how early I’d have to show up to beat him here. I’m wearing his jacket in the cool morning air, having first hidden it under my books as I left the house. I could have just carried it, but I wanted the feel of it on me one more time.
    “ Hey,” he calls.
    “ Hey,” I say back, shyly, embarrassed, now, that I’m wearing the jacket.
    I shift my books and begin unzipping it.
    “ Thanks for letting me borrow