Holly Chapman had spent the entire day staring out the windows in class, day dreaming about the big birthday date her boyfriend had planned for her that night.
Kyle Thompson was captain of the football team, and drop dead gorgeous. He was a picture-perfect definition of football jock; 6'1" complete with the broad shoulders, well-defined abs, shaggy, sandy blond hair and blue eyes. The two had met on the field, during practices, because she was head cheerleader. It may have been a little stereotypical, but sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason.
Kyle had turned 18 three months before Holly, and since he had missed her official big day last week because of a practice, he wanted to make tonight extra-special!
Now she was at home, still staring out the windows, when the phone rang.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Hi, Holly? This is John McKay," the voice replied.
Holly often babysat John's two kids, Mark and Sarah, when he had business to take care of, or errands to run. The McKays had lived down the street from Holly since she was a little girl; she had watched the kids grow up and was their only sitter. John was a single parent and had been since his daughter, Sarah, was born 2 years ago. His wife had died during childbirth. And still, to this day, Holly had never seen him on a single date, or even mention the prospect of one.
Holly loved sitting for John, and any excuse to see him for that matter. In the last few years John had become the star of many of Holly's private fantasies. Even though there had to be at least 25 years between them, Holly found herself thinking about him more often than she would have cared to admit - to anyone.
John was about 6'2", just taller than Ky, with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and a dark 'business-like' hairstyle that was streaked with grays and whites, the trademark of any father. He was a lawyer in a large firm, and always dressed as if he were going to be called in on a moment's notice.
"Hi, John. How are you?" she asked.
"Holly, I'm desperate! I need you!" he begged.
"Hehe. What do you need me to do?" she asked.
"Can you PLEASE baby-sit for me? Tonight? I'll pay double! Please Holly?! I have a last minute business dinner with the president of the firm. I'm sure it's going to get me the new co-president position," he begged.
Holly knew he really needed her. He didn't know any other sitters. She was his regular. But she had really wanted to go out with Ky...!
"It will only be for a couple of hours. Holly, Please." he repeated.
How could she say no? Clearly she had no choice. "Okay, what time?" she sighed.
"OH MY GOD! Thank you sooo much Holly!! 6:30...thanks bye!" he said excitedly.
She hung up the phone and sighed heavily, picked up the receiver again and dialed Ky's number.
"Hey Babe, ready for tonight?" he asked (damn that caller ID).
"Um, Ky...Yeah about that...I have bad news. I can't go out tonight. I have to baby-sit the McKays. It's an emergency. I'm really sorry."
"But Hol....I have reservations and everything. I really wanted to see you."
"I know, and I'm so sorry. I really want to see you too...I'll - I'll make it up to you, I promise. Just I really can't go out tonight."
"Well, maybe...maybe I could come see you?" he asked coyly.
She chuckled, "Yeah, that would probably be okay. Hmmmmm, why don't I bring them a movie and put them to bed with it early? Yeah, I'll call you when you can come over okay?"
"Sweet! Okay talk to you then. Bye"
"Bye." Again she put down the receiver and sighed.
She knocked on the McKay's door shortly after 6. She was always a little early; it gave her more time to see John. She had pulled some Disney movie off the shelf at home for the kids and had it tucked under her arm, along with a few CD's, and a little bell. John answered the door with his shirt unbuttoned and ushered Holly through it.
"Come in Holly, I'm just finishing up here," he said, as he was buttoning up his shirt, heading for his bedroom. "Make yourself at home."
Holly went into the kitchen, grabbed a coke from the fridge, and sat down at the kitchen table. Sarah ran into the room and threw herself at Holly's legs.
"HHOOWWWWYYY!!!" she screamed, clinging to her legs.
Holly laughed and picked the little girl up.
Sarah was an adorable two-year-old, who made you think twice about that terrible-twos rumor. She had strawberry-blond hair, today worn in pigtails tight to the back of her head. She had sparkling green eyes and a smile almost full of new baby teeth. She was only tall enough for the top of her head to reach Holly's mid-thigh; she had a good portion of her baby fat left, but you wouldn't call her chubby. Today, her dad had dressed her in a cute jean dress-jumper and a white blouse.
"Hi Sarah!" Holly said and gave her a big hug, "where's your big brother?"
"Uhhhh, his woom...I-I phink..." she answered.