Tying Loose Ends
1
The psychedelic lights and the pulsating music dulled out the outside world. Inside the building, it was a world of its own. The place reeked of strong perfume mixed with alcohol. Half-naked bodies gyrated to the rhythm of unsure DJs churning out their next best hits. The building is nothing more than an empty gym with moth-eaten walls and a patched-up stereo system. Yet everyone seemed to be ecstatic. It is the school gym, after all, the same school gym where each of these successful and not-so-successful people had their first dance, first prom and first heart aches. Taylor stood near the far end of the crowd with a mocktail in hand. It was where he had stood straight through all the rights of passages of high school. Only this time, at the reunion, did he have to take the help of a hoodie to hide what he actually looked like.
In his mind, he had not changed much. He did have an unexpected growth spurt at nineteen the year after he left high school and joined the army as a cook. His dead father’s army contacts had helped him. Cook or not he had to undergo the same training and by the end of it, he was appointed as a soldier and sent to Iraq. The war brought out the man in him. He came back home in two years, got a job at a garage and took night classes to earn an engineering degree. That was still five years ago. Right now he could look around and knew that everyone would recognize him as Taylor Franklin, the owner of the most accomplished technology startups in the country. However, no one would actually recognize him as Ty, the backbencher. All around him were people with whom he had grown up and yet there was no one that would remember him.
“Wow, looks like everyone from High School is here” Taylor heard a familiar voice. He turned towards the source and smiled. She hadn’t changed much. Maybe her hair was a bit shorter and her hips were a bit wider but she looked just the same. She was the reason that Taylor had financed this entire reunion because it was about time he got his heart broken, once and for all. He never had the courage throughout high school to go up to her and say what he had to and it sure didn’t seem like that fate was going to give him another chance at it. So he had to take matters into his own hands. He was contemplating how to approach her when the same voice rang out again.
“Ty isn’t here. Didn’t anyone think of inviting him? I mean sure he was never much into parties but how can the reunion be complete without...”
“The joker you mean” one of her friends provided.
“No I mean the class genius. I mean if I didn’t cheat off him on most tests I could never clear calculus” she explained.
“I think you paid him up pretty well by talking to him Shirley. I bet that was the only action he got in high school” the friend continued.
“Please Miranda, I have always told you to keep your opinion about Ty to yourself” Shirley concluded.
Taylor didn’t know how to intervene. After all, he was the topic of contention between the two females. He decided it was finally time to take off the hood.
“Hello Shirley” he called out in an intentionally low tone. Shirley spun around and took his six-foot-one slowly.
“Do I know you from somewhere?” Taylor smiled wider showing his perfect set of teeth, no longer trapped in braces.
“Maybe in your dreams pretty girl,” Taylor said, trying to keep his voice steady and counting the tables for seventeen forwards and backwards in his mind to keep him from panicking.
“This is a school reunion. You are not welcome Mr Fancypants” Shirley concluded. At that Taylor let out a chuckle.
“Actually I was the guy who decided to finance the reunion this year, along with the school’s new basketball court and swimming pool. So you could say that you are all my guests, ma cara”
Shirley let her eyes sweep the man’s face and couldn’t help but feel a warmth of familiarity rush through her. “You didn't go to school with us, did you?”
Taylor smirked at her question. “I am sure that you would have remembered if I did."
Shirley nodded. Then suddenly looked up. “What’s your name?” she asked.
Taylor smiled again, still conflicted about what to say. “Franklin, ever heard of Franklin communications?” he asked.
“You are Taylor Franklin? Wow! That’s how I know you. I saw you in Cosmopolitan.” Taylor remembered the spread he did for the magazine when it featured him as the most promising businessman of the decade. He also understood the scarlet blush on Shirley’s face because several of those shots were topless, showing his war-hardened muscles.
Taylor heard whispers go around about him. He didn’t doubt that soon half the crowd would want a picture with him as proof of being under the same roof as him.
“Shall we take this rendezvous somewhere a little more discrete Shirley?” he asked.
When Shirley did not answer Taylor took it upon himself to answer the question in her eyes. “I am not going to hurt you, Shirley. I just want to know you better” Shirley barely gave a nod but it was enough for Taylor to guide her out of the gym to the car waiting outside along with the driver instructed to go on a trip that neither would ever forget.
2
When the car stopped it was beyond midnight. It had been a long drive and neither of them spoke much.
“Where are we?” Shirley asked with trepidation in her voice.
Taylor smiled at her. Was it the lights or did his eyes turn a shade darker? “It is my grandmother’s old farmhouse. No one lives here anymore except Maria, the housekeeper and Joseph, her son, who also happens to be the farmhand.”
“What do you want from me?“Shirley asked.
“Oh baby girl, I just want to tie up loose ends. Wouldn’t you say that is a good idea?”
Fear crept into her eyes as Shirley stepped back. She kept walking backwards as Taylor stealthily followed her. She thought of turning back and running but Taylor’s eyes captivated her. It was then she hit something solid and she looked behind her to see the car. Two arms came on either side to pin her down. Her stomach clenched in fear as Taylor’s breath fell heavy on her face. The smile on his face was unsure as he brought his face down within a bare inch of hers. Taylor’s eyes took in the doubts and the fears that clouded her pretty face till she ultimately closed her eyes. Shirley’s lips beckoned him as they parted to shed a deep breath. Taylor touched her lips lightly with his but the softness there forced him to smoulder her with his desire. The kiss was passionate and forceful and within a fraction of a second Shirley reciprocated the same. When they were both out of breath they separated for a breath of fresh air and drops of tears trickled down her eyes.
“Did I hurt you, doll?” Taylor asked cautiously.
Shirley shook her head. “You reminded me of someone.”
“Who?”
“My classmate Ty. He always smelled of peppermint. I guess he still does.” So saying she pulled his head down in another kiss. This time when they separated it was Taylor’s turn to have wet eyes.
“How do you remember the peppermint?” He asked puzzled.
“Once while you were giving me late-night tuition at your place I was doing the numerical and you dozed off. I thought of taking up the opportunity of kissing you. I moved in close to you when you spoke in your sleep. I thought you were awake and ran out of the room.” Shirley admitted coyly.
“Why were you willing to kiss me? Was it some dare?” Taylor asked in disbelief.
At this Shirley’s hand smacked him on the shoulder and she clutched her hand in pain. “Ouch. What are you made up of now?” she asked.
“Just muscles” Taylor chuckled. “So why did you want to kiss me?”
“I had a crush on the boy genius of the class. Bite me if you think it is a crime” Shirley said in a huff.
Taylor smirked at that. “I may take you up on that offer later. But one more thing. What did I say to make you run away?”
“You said, ‘Shirley, don’t’.” Taylor nodded in response.
“You remember?” Shirley asked in disbelief.
Taylor nodded vehemently. “It was actually a recurring nightmare for a greater part of my life. I am asking you to prom and you are so horrified at the prospect that you would rather jump down the rooftop than come with me.”
Shirley’s hand covered her mouth in disbelief. “You would have asked me to prom. Why didn’t you, you coward?”
“I was a coward, wasn’t I?”
“Yes, you were.”
“Now, how was the kiss? Did it meet your expectation?”
“After waiting ten years for it I guess it will have to do. So what are your plans for the rest of the evening?”
“You mean night. Well, I made plans for the next upcoming weekend where you are going to end up tied to me for life. I have a private jet scheduled to fly us to Vegas tomorrow if you say yes that is. Otherwise, you could just end up at home. My driver knows where you live.”
“And this kiss was your way of convincing me?”
“No. It’s all inside. Come on inside.”
Taylor led Shirley in. The front hall was decorated with heart shaped balloons and LED candles. Taylor clapped his hand and soft music started playing in the background. Taylor brought Shirley to the middle of the room before going down on one knee. He brought forth a jewellery box and opened it. Behind him, a large screen lit up with pictures of them together, studying, quarrelling. There were pictures of Shirley in the cheerleading squad, even one dressed for prom though her date was cut off.
“Shirley Eliza Madison, I have loved you since the first time you puked on my shoes in the first grade. I loved you when you bumped into me in the fourth grade, when you sat on my lunch in the fifth grade, and asked me for help in your studies in the seventh grade. I have cherished every moment with you sharing work, and sharing about the ups and downs of life. We both lost our mothers at an early age and you understand me the best when I say I want to have a family that is not lacking in anything. I want to have that family with you. Will you marry me?” Taylor finished.
Shirley was crying. She could only manage to nod her head before stretching her hand out for the ring. Suddenly confetti flew from everywhere and they were wrapped in each other's arms, with all loose ends tied up in life, secure in their love.
