William drove around town for a while. On the way home, he passed Chuck E. Cheese.
He’d gone there with Casey last weekend and tried to kiss her in the ball pit. She
moved away. He hadn’t brought it up and wasn’t sure if she even noticed. Maybe she
wasn’t ready. It had seemed like the perfect time for their first kiss.
Their connection felt deeper every day. Though only a few weeks had passed, it felt
like a lifetime, in a good way. Neither had asked the other to be official. No talk
of titles. But they both accepted they were together.
He hadn’t introduced her to his friends yet. David had a class with her, but they
didn’t speak. Dave, who had failed so many classes he was now taking
sophomore-level courses as a senior, wouldn’t have crossed her path.
After stopping for gas, he headed home so he would be there when Casey arrived. He
wanted to make sure his sister didn't answer the door.
She arrived a few minutes early. The doorbell rang and William slipped on the
linoleum in the hallway trying to beat his sister to the door. He heard her giggle.
He opened the door and Casey gave him a hug.
“Happy birthday! How does it feel to be eighteen? Do you feel like you are free and
can do anything? Do you feel the crushing weight of adulthood?” she teased. “Are
you going to go find a job in an office and let the repetitiveness comfort you
until you retire?”
“That office job sounds wonderful, but I feel the same as I did yesterday,” William
joked.
“Well, I am looking forward to this party.” She paused. “Gathering,” she corrected
herself, remembering he didn’t want to make a big deal about it. She was carrying a
large purse. William had never seen her carry one before.
William led her into the living room. Willow sat on the maroon couch watching TV.