Knight In Shining Armour

Chapter Eleven: Charge h*ll with a bucket of ice water

Chapter Eleven: Charge h*ll with a bucket of ice water

"Why you looking at me like that?" Jackie asks glancing over-
Maria takes a deep breath, as a smile escapes out...

Uh oh, Maria...I know THAT look...

"Nothing, baby"...As she quickly looks away out the window, "Youre just...I dont know...Youre different."
Jackie takes off his hat and sits it on the dash, as Maria grabs it and looks deeply at it-
"D*mnit!" She says disappointed in herself-
"What is it, Maria?"
Maria closes her eyes-

"Its happening, and I dont want it to."

Jackie makes a phone call to a pizza place...And orders five large pizzas-

"What do you need FIVE large pizzas for?" Maria asks terrified-
"Our date...You gone see...You trust me, aint it?

"Yea," she replies- "Thats the problem," she says under her breath-

He pulls up to the pizza place and picks up the pizzas...
Maria just stares at Jackie as he drives: THAT stare...Jackie grins, cutting his eyes back and forth from the road...
He reaches over, and holds her hand for a second-
She blushes...
They drive deeper into the inner city were Jackie is from, to a rec center-

"Cmon."

As they walk in, there are small groups of kids every were in the gym-

"JACKIE!" They yell running toward him-
With a kid attached to each of his legs, his waist, and both arms, he laughs-
"Dang, yall act like yall aint seen me for the longest of times!"
Maria is taken back by the sight-
"This, baby, is were I done spent most of my time growing up. I aint have nothing, and I got in trouble alot. But I was always welcome here."
"Jaxson got into trouble all the time," one of the volunteers says smiling-
"JACKIE," he says rolling his eyes smiling-
"Its JAXSON to family," the volunteer replies. "Great seeing you. You doing okay?"
"I am, Mrs. Jenkins...This is my girlfriend, Maria."
"Nice meeting you," she smiles- You two come to help?"
Jackie looks at Maria...

And right HERE, is when Maria falls for Jackie...

"YES," Maria says pulling her hair into a ponytail-

The kids split up into boys and girls groups...Boys with Jackie, girls with Maria-
Maria watches Jackie play around, chasing the boys around the gym-
One falls and cries, and Jackie kneels down to hold him.
The whole time Maria spaces out, getting brought back to reality by questions from the girls-
They get into girl talk...One little girl tells Maria she has a secret- She whispers in Marias ear:
"I love somebody," she giggles-
Maria over exaggerates a gasp- "Girl, tell me...WHO?!"
"Jackie," the little girl insists- "Im going to marry him."
"Well, what if I want to marry him?" Maria says playing along-
"Nu uh, girl...Getcha OWN boyfriend!" The little girl laughs, as Maria chases her-

Jackie leaves out, and returns with the pizzas...Maria watches Jackie line the kids up, and puts a slice on each kids plate-
Mrs. Jenkins walks up with a piece of pizza, and stands next to Maria-
"Those thoughts you have, honey"...Mrs Jenkins says smiling- "Might get you into trouble."
Maria puts up a front: "What thoughts?"
Mrs. Jenkins laughs, "Im a woman, Maria...You know what I mean."

Jackie and Maria help clean up, and say goodbye to the kids-
The whole drive back Maria listens intently to Jackie go on about the kids...
How excited he was to see them...

Maria looks out of the window, watching building lights blur into a daydream-

He pulls up to her house. He gets out, opens her door, and walks her to her front door-
"Thanks for helping today...Guess it wasnt much of a date. I go down there this time every week, I wanted to show
you some of me, I guess."
"Its was perfect, Jackie." Maria whispers-
They kiss goodnight, as Maria floats inside-
Maria shuts the door and leans against it-
Amy is sitting on the couch, and looks at Maria...

"Uh oh"...Amy smiles, and turns back to the tv-

Maria quickly swings the door back open, and runs out to Jackie...She grabs him, and kisses him...
Holding him, as if hes never coming back...
She releases him...
"Jackie?"
Jackie is shocked- "Girl, you okay? You seem like"...
She kisses him again deeply, as she holds the back of his neck-
"Jackie?"
Jackie is short of breath, and his heart is beating out of his chest-
"Yea?" He whispers-
Maria pulls him close to her, and whispers holding him tightly:
"I love you"...(To be continued...)