My Secret Love: A Myrtle Beach Babe

I have gone to heaven without having to die. RS Central High School is paradise. I've been waiting my entire life for this first day. They assemble us freshmen in the auditorium.

There is only one freshmen coed I'm anxiously waiting to see. I've missed her. Breeland spends the summer at her parents' Myrtle Beach house. I'm standing in the aisle with my two homies looking at all the talent.

She walks into the auditorium looking lost. I immediately break away from my mates.

She has gotten more gorgeous over the summer than I remember. Breeland glistens as if she is under a spotlight. My secret Love looks every bit the Myrtle Beach Babe.

Her golden locks and bronze skin separate her from all the other beauties assembled. She is a vision of loveliness in a sleeveless baby blue silk blouse that matches her eyes.

I wave. Bree offers a smile that makes my heart skip a beat. I want to walk to her personal space, place some of her hair behind her ear. Softly caress her nape. Whisper, I missed you.

Gently pressing my lips against hers, waiting for her tongue and savoring every bit of her saliva. Show her everything I learned over the summer from Miss Tonya. But not just yet. First, I've got to figure out how to say; I love you.

"Hey there, pretty girl."

"Hey there, beautiful boy."

I've matured so I don't take the bait about the beautiful thing. I reach for her hand to shake.

"Give me a hug."

Bree smells so good. I release from her hug.

"Wow, you smell delicious. You're making me hungry."

"It's called Passion. I hid it from my sister before she went off to Carolina."

"So now you really are the baby of the house with your sissy away."

"Ha Ha Timmy, well maybe now you can come visit when my parents go to Lake Lure for the weekend."

"I will be happy to make sure no one breaks into your house trying to hurt you."

"So you're going to be my protector?"

"Of course Bree. I've always been around to protect you. Remember Curtis at Spindale Elementary."

"Aww, you held my hand."

"Bree I… I think… I think."

Children take your seats.

"You think what, Kincaid?"

"I think we need to find our seats. We will talk later."

"We will talk now, mister."

She takes my hand. I look at my homies and shrug my shoulders. We take our seats. Bree is still holding my hand. Mr Porter, the school principal, begins his speech.

Normally, I would have already broken away from her hand lock, but I didn't want her to let go. I never wanted her to let go.

She let go, getting out her notebook to take notes. Usually I would have done the same, but I stare at her profile.

I notice the freckles on her nose display themselves more prominent when she gets too much sun. Her thin lips match her skin. She places some of her long locks behind her ear, listening intently to what the principal is saying.

All I hear is Charlie Brown's teacher. The only note I'm taking is how absolutely stunning my best friend, who's a girl, appears.

Then, just as I'm about to admire her most redeeming feature, those beautiful boobies. I'm overcome with dread.

She's a white girl. Everyone tells me to stay away from them. They are nothing but trouble. My heart doesn't see color, it's colorblind. I have a realization that I've loved her since 1st grade, which is most of my life.

Our last names always have us sitting close. J for James, K for Kincaid, at every assembly of students. She isn't a color, but my Bree. Then I feel a quick sharp pain in my chest. It's Brees' elbow.

"Pay attention. Why are you not taking notes? What are you looking at?"

Bree looks to her right, just as a cute little New Hope honey is looking our way. Bree assumes I'm looking at her.

"You're such a guy."

"You are the prettiest girl in the whole auditorium," I whisper.

Breeland's notebook & pencil sit in her lap. I take them and draw a heart the size of the entire page and write; Tim Loves Bree 4 Ever inside the heart. I place the notebook and pencil opened to the page on her lap.

My heart is beating a thousand beats per second. She doesn't respond. Her head is bent over the notebook. Her locks cover her face. She slowly brings her head up and places her hair behind her ears.

The page has stains smearing my artwork. She looks over at me with her baby blues misty. Bree doesn't speak. She opens the inside cover of the notebook.

It has several hearts with Bree Loves Tim inside each. She then opens the inside back cover. It displays a large heart with Bree Loves Tim 4 Ever.

My friend places her notebook and pencil inside her book bag, takes my hand with both of hers and softly places them in her lap.

We both look straight ahead, quietly listening to who will be our homeroom teacher. Finally, I maneuver our hands to a familiar position.

"Thumb wrestle ya. Best 2 out of 3." I said.

She sniffs, wipes away a tear, flashes that 1000 watt smile.

"Make it the best of seven."

FINAL THOUGHT

On our first day in Paradise, I took a chance and opened my heart. My reward, God gave me an angel. My best friend, that's a girl, became my girlfriend.