Chapter 23: When The Grown Ups Go Away Cupid Comes To Play

 One day in the middle of Summer Curtis and Leonie decided to go on vacation.  They announced that they would not be taking Cree along and Cree was so ecstatic she jumped for joy and almost gave her mother a heart attack.

To Cree's further approval, the vacation coincided with a trip Marjorie was taking to an international film festival and Luke was going along with her as support.

 So when the taxi arrived to take her parents to the airport, Cree found herself alone and in charge of the house for the first time in her life.

She was free! She was happy! And she had plans.....

 A group of her friends from school hung out at Flying V's Diner and a couple of them had invited her down there. She decided to join them, because there was one kid in particular she hoped would be there too.

She was hanging out in front of the diner when Mercedes and Bristol called over to her, "Hey Cree, how's it going?"
"Hey guys, what's up?" said Cree.
A debate began about whether they should get a burger or go to the beach, when Cree heard another voice.

There he was. "What are you guys up to?" he asked.

Mercedes shrugged and said "Hey Carson. Do you know Cree?"
Cree gazed at Carson Ogilvie. She had seen him around town, coming home from the Sport Academy that he attended out of town where he was majoring in equestrian studies according to his mother. She had seen him leaving again when term started. Watching the Ogilvie house she had caught glimpses of him and had felt a a strong desire to get to know him. Finally she was getting to meet him.

Carson said "Hey Cree"
And Cree just stared at him open mouthed.

 

"Are you okay?" he asked with genuine concern.
"Ugh! Oh....yeah." Cree snapped out of her daze. Come on! Get it together Cree she yelled at herself silently.
"I'm fine thank you. Hey it looks like a great day to go to the beach ....what do y'all think?" she addressed the group as a whole. Mercedes and Bristol were non-committal.

 But Carson laughed "Excellent idea! I just love swimming....its great exercise."
Mercedes groaned and said "I need a burger first."
Cree, unable to tear her eyes away from Carson, just nodded. Exercise - this was new.
"I've just come from the Equestrian Centre where my horse is stabled, it's hot and sweaty work grooming and I could use a refreshing dip.
Horses...thought Cree, again this was new.

The others said they would follow on later after they'd had some food, so it was only Cree and Carson at the beach. Carson stripped off to his shorts and dived into the water. Cree realised she hadn't brought her swimsuit! She felt a bit silly just standing there at the edge of the water watching Carson swim. He kept yelling out comments to her and she could not take her eyes off him.

The others never even made it to the beach, not that Cree and Carson noticed. Finally it got dark and it started to rain and Cree left to go home, but by then they had arranged to get together again and have pizza - at her place!

The next evening Carson arrived at the appointed time and hugged Cree hello like they were old friends. "Glad you could come..." Cree commented as she held on for a few extra seconds just to really enjoy the feel and smell of Carson.
"Hey, I wouldn't have missed it for the world..." Carson didn't seem to mind the long clinch at all.

"I can't believe we've been neighbours for so long and have never met before this!" he said. "I think it's a terrible crime. I could have been your childhood friend." Carson chuckled.
Cree sighed and gazed into Carson's dark brown eyes, "I would have loved to have been childhood friends," she said longingly.

Carson noticed the drum kit and double base that were set up in the living room.
"Wow you and your family must be really musical, by the looks of things."
"I do love music" said Cree "but I don't play myself. Those are my Mum and Dad's. Hey let me put on a cd." she suggested.

The music had barely started playing when Cree suddenly found herself in the arms of Carson.
"Let's dance." he whispered.
Carson gazed deeply into Cree's eyes and she knew right there and then that she was falling in love. She had never felt this way before. And the way that Carson was looking at her, she had a feeling it was going to be mutual. She was feeling so relaxed and comfortable that something came over her suddenly and.....

...she found herself leaning in and kissing Carson unexpectedly on the lips. Carson had not been expecting it and although he did not pull away, Cree felt it was really awkward. She expected Carson to be annoyed.

But when she started to apologise she noticed that Carson was looking at her intently and with a twinkle in his eye and a sly smile on his lips.
"That's okay, Cree, don't apologise." he smiled. "I just wasn't expecting you to kiss me. But I'm glad you did."

Cree was relieved that the pizza was delivered just at that moment.

The two of them sat in the dining room and ate the delicious pizza while they talked. They talked about school and about horses. Cree talked about her love of art and photography. Carson confided in Cree that he dreamed of being a writer, even though he was good enough to be a professional three-day eventer.

They ate and talked. And they talked some more. It seemed like time had just stopped and they were in their own world.

Finally Carson noticed how late it had become and said "I have to go Cree. But I don't want to go without giving you something."
"What?" asked Cree enquiringly.
"Come here and I'll show you." he said.
Cree stood and went around the table, saying "What is it?"

Suddenly Carson pulled her close to him and kissed her solidly on the mouth. It was a kiss that Cree would never forget.

It was after midnight when Carson left and Cree quickly put on her pyjamas to get ready for bed. Then she heard voices and a car door banging.....

Her grandmother had come home and she had seen Carson leaving the house and walking down their driveway as she had been arriving.

When she saw Cree she was livid!

"What have you been up to young lady?" she yelled. "Can we not trust you to behave yourself even for a couple of days on your own?"

Cree was frantically trying to explain, but Marjorie's phone was ringing and she dismissed her with "I'll deal with you tomorrow.....get to bed!" It was not the perfect end to the prefect day after all.