Judgement

Laura stood on her front porch waiting. it was a wet night. Thunder rolled in distant skies.
Large putrid bugs danced lazy circles around the yellow glow of the porch light. It was cold out, and the brisk wind was enough to give Laura goosebumps.
She shivered. She wanted to cancel her date. She wasn't even sure why she went on this date.
She barely knew the guy. She knew his name was Dan. That was about it. She had seen his picture in the school's yearbook.
He was pretty good looking, and when Laura pulled a few of her friend's strings, she got set up with him.
At first she was excited, but the more they talked, Laura discovered he was rather lacking in the area of
confidence, and was rather shy. HE couldn't dance, he had no money, and he drove his mom's minivan around all the time.
She cursed. She was about to go on a date with a loser. What would she tell her friends? It's not like he's going to make
any moves on her. He wouldn't have the guts to kiss her, or anything. It'll just be a lame boring night, spent in the rain.
She sighed. It was too late to cancel now...
The yellow lights of a vehicle lit up the road beyond her view. "That must be him..." she sighed.
She creaked open her front door, and stuck her head inside. "Ok, I think this is him!" She was yelling at no one in
particular, she was just bidding everyone farewell.
She looked back out onto the road. A dark red minivan pulled slowly into the driveway. She popped her head back in the door.
"Yep, it's him. See ya later!"
She closed the door quickly, and bounded down the steps across the wet driveway, and hopped into her date's van.
Dan looked at her, watching the rain drop from her dark red hair. "Crappy night for a date eh?" He gave an ackward smile, and
lowered his gaze to the van's controls.
"Yea.." she nodded. "I guess.". She turned her attention to wringing out her wet hair, and straightening her clunky outfit.
Dan had told her to wear old jeans, a sweater, and boots... a wierd request for date attire.
She thought about this for a moment. There were no parties going on.. if so then she would know about it. None of this really made any
sense, so she asked him straight out. "Where are we going anyways?"
By now they were tavelling down Laura's road at a relatively good pace. The rain was beating hard on the windshield, as the wipers frantically
glided back and forth fighting off the onslsaught of water. Dan cleared his throat, not taking his eyes off the road. "It's a suprise actually.
Don't worry. You'll like it." His face cracked into a wierd grin, and he settled back farther into his seat.
This wasn't the answer Laura was looking for. She grabbed her loyal cell phone from her front pocket. She flipped it open, and read the time:
9:58pm
She scanned her inbox, and decided to send a quick text message off to her best friend Megan.
Hey im with dan now
dont no where were goin
kinda scared
call me later
She snaped her phone shut, and slipped it back into her pocket. Dan snorted and glanced at her. "What?" she asked slightly offended.
"Nothin'" he replied cooly, "It's just funny how you girls have to communicate at all times. I just find it kinda funny."
He shrugged, "Hell, I don't even have a cell phone!"
Laura's mood worsened. She happened to love her cell phone, and quite frankly, anyone without a cell phone nowadays is a loser.
She mentally noted Dan's last sentence, and crossed her arms over her chest, covering up the large grey "Hollister" letters on the front.
The van was silent for a bit. They turned twice, and began driving down a somewhat thinner, less travelled road.
Laura looked at the surrounding area, and upon discovering they were heading away from town she flipped open her cell phone again, and mashed out another
message to Megan.
omg, going out into the country
hes a jerk too!
call me at 1030
At this she glanced at her phone clock. 10:04pm. That should give them enough time to get to thier destination.
She began to think up a devious lie to go home early. She'd simply tell him it was her mom calling to have her come home.
It was short, and simple. Something Dan couldn't argue if he wished to continue seeing Laura.
She allowed herself a mischivious smile. It was too dark in the van for Dan to notice anyways.
She reached over and turned on the radio. The music station that came up was one of Laura's least favorite.
All they played were strange techno songs that had no meaning to them whatsoever. She turned her nose in disgust, and flipped the station to something
a little more to her liking. Dan laughed. "My music not good enough for you?"
"Well... I just like these songs better." She said cautiously. She wasn't too sure how to act around this strange kid anymore.
She wanted out. She wanted to leave.
Dan steered the old minivan down a small dirt road, barely wide enough to contain the great girth of the van. Branches and leaves slapped, and thudded
against the windows, and Laura was bounced around in her seat as the tires rolled through the pot-holes.
"Where are we going?" Laura asked again, this time a little more angry, a little more panicked.
"Don't worry, we're almost there." Dan replied.
This was not her idea of a date. Something was up. Why did they have to drive into the middle of nowhere, and go down this creepy road.
She nervously snapped open her phone again, blinked as the bright LCD screen flashed in her unprepared face, and checked the time.
10:19pm
She breathed a sigh of relief. 11 minutes until Megan would phone. The van broke throught the trees into a small clearing. Dan quickly jerked the steering wheel over
and parked on the side of the road. "Here we are!" he exclaimed. "Are you ready?"
Laura looked around frightened. What did this kid think he was doing? If he thinks he's getting a free chance at me then he's got another thing comming! She clenched her left hand into a fist, and tightly squeezed the flashlight she was told to bring, as a weapon.
Laura looked at Dan, about to respond, but he was already getting outside. Laura's next facial expression was that of confusion.
She shook her head, and curiously got out her door.
He stood at the back of the van, and opened the trunk. She walked up to him. "What the hell are we doing here!?"
Dan just shook his head again. "You'll find out, don't worry." He heaved a heavy looking backpack out of the trunk, and slung it across his
thin shoulders.
He grunted with effort, and he jammed his thumb at a remaining bag. "Can you grab that one?"
Laura nodded, and scooped up the bag. It was much lighet than the one Dan had shouldered, and she was glad he thought of her.
Maybe this guy wasn't so bad after all. He seemed to have some manners.
She shrugged, backed up, and allowed Dan to slam the Trunk down, locking it in place.
He turned on the spot, grinned, and motioned towards the forest. "Let's go!"
Laura stood, hesitating visibly. "I ain't going in there! Are you nuts?"
Dan laughed again, this time rather darkly. "Heh, maybe I am. Trust me. It'll be worth it."
He fumbled in his pocket, produced the keys to the van, and pressed a button on the keychain. All the van's door locked. No way to get back in.
Dan grinned another of his ugly grins, and began to take long strides towards the dark forest. Not wanting to be left behind in the cold rain, Laura was forced to follow.
They walked silently for what seemed like ages. They appeared to be walking down some sort of unmarked trail, as Dan knew exactly which way to take with the least vegetation blocking the path.
Finally they came to a very large clearing. It was a massive circle, full of nothing but grass, bushes, and rocks.
"Ok, here were are. Follow closely, and watch out. I don't need you falling and getting hurt." Dan motioned towards the center of the clearing, and began to walk slowly so
Laura could keep up.
Laura shuddered; not from the cold rain splashing across her face. This was a scene directly out of a horror movie. She realized her hands were still in fists. She kept them that way.
Dan suddenly stopped. Being as curious as she was, Laura walked up beside him, and saw something that almost made her burst into tears.
Before them, like the jaws of the most terrible of beasts stood a cave. It just a rather small hole in the ground, about that of a manhole in city streets.
Dan quickly got down on his hands and knees, and began to climb in, feet first.
"No!" Laura Cried. "Don't go in there!"
Dan looked up puzzled. "Don't back out now. You've got to see this!"
Laura shook her head. "No! I'm scared, and cold, and I wanna go home now!"
Dan sighed and the Rain seemed to worsen in time with his breath. "We are already here. Trust me. You want to see this!"
Laura stood strong. "No! I don't trust you, I don't even know you! How I am to know if this cave is safe or not!?! I'm leaving!"
DAn quickly stood. "No!" He was shocked at the firmness of his own voice. "Sorry.... look." He grabbed Laura's cold quivering hands,
"Please; PLEASE come with me! We'll only stay for a second. Come on please!?"
Something in his voice persuaded her. Laura wiped the tears that were forming on her already soaked face. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Okay."
Dan bowed quickly. "Thank you!" Now leats go it's cold.
He clambered halfway into the hole, and held his hand outstretched for her. She took his hand, and together that descended into the seemingly horrible depths of the earth.
Dan clicked on his flashlight, and they kept climbing downward until they entered a small cavern. Laura snapped her flashlight on as well.
Dan wiped his face clear of rain water, and looked at Laura. She was cold, wet, and her eyeliner was running down her face. She knew he thought she looked
rather pathetic right now, she FELT rather pathetic right now, accompanied by Hopelessness, and fear.
"It's right over there..." He said, and pointed towards a wet mossy tunnel.
"Hang on one second." She flipped open her phone, and checked the time.
10:37pm.
Megan should have phone by now. She glanced at the top right corner of the bright screen. "No Service" Flashed in a small blue bubble.
Fear lanced up Laura's spine, and she quickly disguised it as a shiver.
Dan touched her hand. "Are you ready?"
Laura's lips were trembling but she managed to utter the word "Yes", and began moving forward.
They walked together towards the tunnel, hand in hand. It wasn't love Laura was feeling. She just needed another human being to protect her right now, even if it was puny, weak, creepy Dan.
They came to the end of the tunnel, and Thier flashlights illuminated a huge underground cavern. In the middle of the gigantic room was a crystal clear pool of water. Large stalagmites, and stalactites
grew from their respectable positions, and made the cavern that much more impressive.
Dan grabbed Larua's arm, and lead her closer to the water's edge. There were two large rocks with the remnants of an old campfire between them. Dan leaned closer to Laura's ear and whispered. "Lights off."
Laura's fear came rushing back, but she did as she was told. Dan's light clicked off soon after, and they were thrown into blackness.
She heard a low rustling in Dan's pockets as he foraged for something. Laura's grip on her flashlight tightened. There were two audible cracks, and the two teenagers were suddenly basking in a calming blue light.
Dan smiled from behind one of the two large glowsticks. "Now watch." He lobbed both sticks into the water, and watched as they sank to the shallow bottom.
The came to rest, and were still bright enough to illuminate some of the cavern. The two could easily see where they were walking, and could cleary see one another's face.
Dan stroked her hand, and Laura looked up, meeting up with Dan's eyes. He smiled. "Now we listen."
He sat down on the nearby rock, and Laura followed suit. They sat motionless, and soon they heard someting.
plink! plink! plink!
Rain water dripped into the cavern from somewhere up above. The sound echoed across the ancient room like a soothing clock.
Dan spoke up again. "Sometimes if you're lucky you can hear the thu--" Thunder crashed somewhere up above, and a fraction of it travelled into the cave.
It was like a gentle snoring of a demon hidden by millions of tons of rock, and time. It was suprisingly peaceful.
Laura sat, taking it all in. They sat together noiselessly listening to the steady plink! of the water, and the odd rumble of distant thunder.
She was speechless. No one had ever done anything like this with her before. Tears began to swell in her eyes. She sniffled a little, and looked into Dan's eyes again.
"This is so... magical... and I feel like a jerk.."
"Why do you feel like a jerk?" Dan looked puzzled.
"I feel bad for doubting you this entire time" she confessed, "I thought you were dragging me out here to tak advantage of me, or kill me, or something!" A painful laugh escaped her lips.
Dan sat on his rock staring at the sunken glow sticks. "Well... I have to confess something as well. I was scared to death when I first met you. I've never had a girlfriend, or even went out on a date!
I didn't want to tell you where we were going in case you would get wierded out, and leave. I guess it almost happened anyways." He kicked a small pebble into the cool water, disturbing the glass-like surface.
He sighed. "I just wanted to make this special. You are a beautiful girl, and you're going to have many dates other than me." Laura blushed, but said nothing.
"So Intead of taking you to a diner, or a dance, or something else I would screw up, I took you here. A place you will always remember. This date wouldn't be very special if
I just took you to a restauruant. Everyone does that. Look. I know I may not be the most outgoing guy around. I can't dance to save my life, and I have no money to spend on you.
I just want you to know that there are things that people like me can show you that would blow your mind. You just have to look, and keep faithful to them. Try to date someone different, don't always
judge people so fast..."
Laura was weeping now. She did judge him unfairly. She did give up on him, and he knew it.
She removed all negative feelings towards Dan, and began to think.
Dan scratched his arm mechanically. "I guess I just wanted give you something special."
He looked at the ground, obviously deep in embarrassment.
Laura swallowed down her emotions, leaned over and slowly kissed Dan on the lips.
Ten seconds later Laura was smiling. He was a horrible kisser, but it was special nontheless.
~Fin