Sapphic Voices Romance

It Happened Like This

There's this girl that works at McDonald's with my sister, Lucky. They call her Java Jennie because she's one of those real workaholic type females that drinks way to much coffee. I was sitting at home, chatting on AOL to another friend of my sister's when I saw through the bedroom window that Java's car had pulled into the driveway.

Now that surprised me. First of all, I wasn't wearing anything. I had been on my way to the shower when I got the urge to check my email, so I just plopped myself down in my chair and, of course, immediately got deluged with instant messages. I must be on a gazillion buddy lists. Second, Java works nights with my sister, so she should have been home in bed, not pulling into our driveway at 1:30 in the afternoon.

I figured she must know that Lucky was away with her new girlfriend, Cherry, on a trip up into the Rim Country. Damn, how I wish we had a phone at times like this. I spun out of my chair, donned a pair of cut-offs while stumbling over the corner of my bed and pulling a T-shirt over my head all at the same time. The door bell went off just as I came tripping out of my bedroom. I knew my other sister, Baby, wasn't home because I hadn't seen her Toyota in the driveway.

I opened the door and there stood Java, looking for all the world like a woman who just pulled herself out of bed. She said, "Can I come in?"

"Sure," I responded. "What's up?"

"Hey, I'm sorry for disturbing you, you don't have a phone so I couldn't call."

"Lucky's not around, you know?"

"Yeah, I didn't drive over here to see Lucky. I came to ask you something."

"Anything wrong, Java? You want me to work a shift for you? I'm working full time now in the city."

"No, no. Nothing about McDonald's, Happy." She looked down at her feet and blushed a little.
"Can I come in?"

"Oh sure. I'm sorry." I let her walk by me into the room and closed the door. Am I a dumb shit or what?

"I wondered if it would be all right if we could maybe go out together this evening. I've got something I need to discuss with you," she said. Her eyes only occasionally moved off her feet and when she saw I was looking right at her, they dropped again immediately.

I motioned for her to sit down on the sofa and I sat cross-legged at the other side. "What is it, Java? Are you in trouble?"

"No, not in the least. It would take way too long to explain now, Happy. I need to get some sleep. Look at me! Would between six and seven be all right to pick you up?"

I did look at her. Like I said, she looked as tired as the little engine that could back when it couldn't. Yet, there was something different about her manner and her eyes. I've known Java for over two years. She'd started working on Lucky's night shift when she was 18. Now she was Lucky's crew chief. I never saw much of her when I worked at McDonalds. I worked days and our shifts hadn't crossed that often. But It was easy to see she was a hard worker and fast on her feet. Lucky usually had her run the window during peaks.

"Could you give me a hint at least?"

"Really, I'd rather wait until we had time to discuss it. I promise it isn't bad. At least I don't think it's bad."

"Well, ok hon. It must be important for you to drive out here like this. Next time send a carrier pigeon."

She laughed. A nervous laugh, but she did look up from her shoes into my eyes. I saw them sparkle and wondered why I never noticed it before. "Thank you, Happy. I'll see you at seven then."

She turned, let herself out and almost tripped going down the stairs. This was a tired girl. She gave me a half wave as she got into her car. Nice car, too. Brand new Pontiac LeBaron convertible. Her daddy has money and she still lives with her folks.

I closed the door and went back to my computer. Odd, I thought. I still had about five and a half hours until she was due back. Plenty of time to stew on this.

The sun goes down right around 7 here in Arizona during late September. There wasn't much light left as Java's burgundy convertible pulled into the driveway. I'd been watching for it from the door. I was intrigued by what she might possibly have to say to me. It had been flowing through my mind all afternoon. When she pulled in I noticed three neighbors check through their blinds. Damn nosey old biddies, I thought. I waved to Mrs. Dolzone and flipped her the bird. I figured the rest of the gawkers would catch it too.

Java opened the door and stepped out. She looked quite different than she had earlier. She looked alive. She wasn't wearing her usual ponytail. Her brown hair was framing her face and looked soft and styled. It bounced with the spring in her step as she walked toward the Redman. She was wearing a pair of soft blue flat-front Chino shorts with a silky white Supima T on top. Java doesn't have the kind of build that would impress many, but she has a way of carrying herself that speaks volumes about her character. And she has these big doe-eyes that can turn from yielding to relentless with her disposition.

She almost bubbled up the steps. "Hey Happy! You ready?"

"Sure Java, lets go. Can't wait to hear what all this is about."

She walked back to the car with me, never once looking at me. I walked to the passenger side and she waited to open her door until I opened mine. We got in together. She backed up and pulled out of the trailer court and on to the street, heading East until she picked up the road to Route 88 by the Circle K.

"Headed up to Canyon Lake?" I asked.

"Yeah. Thought it would be a nice quiet place to talk tonight. That OK with you?"

"Sure. One place is as good as another," I said. Her eyes winced a bit but she didn't say anything.

We made some light chit-chat as we wound around the curves and drove the 15 miles up Route 88 to the lake. Canyon Lake sits high in the mountains in Tonto National Forest. There are three lakes along 88. The first is Canyon Lake, then Apache Lake, and finally Roosevelt Lake. My sisters and I like Canyon Lake the best.

Java came down the hill, crossed over the bridge and turned left soon after into the first picnicking area. There weren't many people about. She parked and we got out and stretched a bit. The night air felt cool up here by the lake. It wasn't that cool, however, to require a jacket or anything. We walked a short distance to the water and found a couple of rocks to sit on. The lights from the parking area gave her face a golden glow, highlighting her eyes and lips.

"Ok, now what's all this about?" I tried to sound very level headed. Actually, I was dying to find out what was on her mind.

Java's eyes feel to her feet again. "I hope you don't mind my being so forward as to drive over to your home today. But I couldn't call and I wanted to get this out while your sister was away."

"Is there a problem with Lucky?"

"No. I would just feel self-conscious if I knew Lucky would be at the trailer when I came to see you. That's why I waited until now."

"So where's this leading, Java?" I wanted to cut to the chase. I still had no clue as to what all this was about.

"I want to get to know you better, Happy, if that's all right with you."

Talk about a brick in the face from out of nowhere! I bit my lower lip. You have to understand. Java is a very sweet kid. All I could say was, "Oh?"

"That's it." She wasn't giving me an inch.

"Why.. How come you never mentioned this before?"

I may have a lot of self-confidence at work, Happy, but in my private life I'm very shy and I didn't want the whole world to know that I was interested in you." She quickly added, "In case you turned me away. I didn't want to look foolish."

"I can't see you looking foolish ever, Java." I was recuperating but only barely.

"Well, I also didn't want it to get out that I like women. My folks, you know?"

"Does Lucky know about this?"

"No!" She turned red as a beat. "Lucky doesn't know that I'm.. well, that I'm interested in you."

"I think you should be more open about how you feel Java. Especially with Lucky. She could help you. In the long run it's better to be open." Inside I was kicking myself for changing the subject.

"I could never do that while I live with my parents, Happy. They would never understand. It would be difficult enough if I wasn't living with them. Like this, it's impossible. I risked a lot by coming to see you, I know. But I felt that you would understand."

"You know that Lucky and Baby would have to know, Java. I don't keep secrets from them. But they won't tell anyone, I can promise you that."

She finally turned her eyes up from her shoes and looked at me with the softest face I've ever seen. "Then, it's OK if we see each other?"

Now it was my turn to blush. I wanted to say, I tried to say, Look, Java. I don't usually date one-on-one. When I go out it's in groups. But I couldn't get it past my lips. Looking into those eyes of hers all I could say was, "Uh, Sure."

I was taken aback by the whole situation. I asked her, "How do you suggest we share a relationship without other people knowing?"

She blushed again. Damn! Then she said, "Maybe you can share some of your self-confidence with me and I can face up to it."

Now that really struck me. I never thought there was a more self-confident girl working with Lucky than Java. I collected myself a bit and said, "Well, we've got the whole night ahead of us Java. What would you like to do with it?

"Get to know you better," she said.

I thought, Jesus.. this kid wears her heart on her sleeve. I wasn't used to that. Shy people who blush make me quake in my boots. The lamplight in her face. Those eyes. Her calm determined voice. There wasn't an ounce of deceit in her. That truly scared me. I'm used to people trying to twist me all around. Java was being honest. Her whole demeanor was fresh and forthright. I'm not used to that. I'm used to the direct, "come at you" types. I was turning into butter in this girl's hands.

So I asked her, "How do you think we should go about getting to know each other better, Java?"

She didn't say anything at first. Then she stood up, turned and sat down beside me. She looked into my eyes and took my hand in hers. My heart was pounding. My eyes were wide open. My hands were sweating. I couldn't believe this was happening to me. Then she laid the sweetest little kiss on my lips that I think I ever received in my entire life.

I was shocked silent. Me - the loud mouth of the South. I just sat there with my mug hanging open and looking into those doe-eyes of hers. For the first time in my life I lost control. All I could do was grin foolishly.

"Was it all right for me to do that, Happy?"

All I could say was , "Uh huh. I think so."

I didn't know what I was saying. Or what I was feeling. Or if I should be feeling or saying something. Or anything. She smiled at me and my heart skipped another beat. It wasn't that she was shy. I've been with quiet shy girls before. It wasn't that she was a friend of Lucky's. I've been hit on by her friends in the past. It wasn't that she kissed me. I've been kissed hundreds of times. It wasn't because she blushed either. No. That wasn't it at all. And it wasn't even that she surprised me. Hell, people always surprise me. Yet here I sat, losing it. I couldn't believe this girl wanted to be with me. Even more, I couldn't believe how much I wanted to be with her.

She smiled at me again. "You're not running away. Is that good?"

"I, I think so." Notice how sophisticated I can be in the clutch?

She looked so soft in that lamplight. I could feel myself shaking. She said, "Good. I just want you to learn who I can be for you."

That was the capper! I was cooked, hooked, done, finished, fried. Bells rang. They released the balloons. The doves headed skyward. Fireworks burst out in fiery opulent colors across the night sky. A band played the Hallelujah Course and everyone in Apache Junction joined in, singing in four-part harmony.

The person that was Marcia Ellen Beevre before Java said that to me will never walk the planet again. I was hers.

If you have enjoyed Marcia Ellen "Happy" Beevre's "It Happened Like This", then please be certain to e-mail her at  HappyB8888[at]aol.com  and thank her for posting this Story.

Click here for a list of all of Marcia Ellen "Happy" Beevre's  Stories and Poetry at  Sapphic Voices Authoresses.