Chapter One - The First Day of School

 

 

 

 

All weekend I had been excited for the first day of school. I had planned out my outfit, bought all the supplies I could possibly need and more, showered the night before, and quickly fell asleep knowing I'd need as much rest as possible for the next morning.

 

Then I woke up, and all my excitement for the day ahead was replaced with anxiety.

 

My cousin, Ashley, had lived here her whole life, but my family and I only moved here last month.  So when Ashley and her parents came over offering house warming gifts, she assured me that she'd help me weave through the ins and outs of Pleasant Hills High. She promised to introduce me to her closest friends, show me off in front of all the cute jock boys, and that eased my nerves a little. At the time it had been nice to know I could walk into school knowing that I at least knew someone, and that I wasn't alone.  But now the thought of me following Ashley around school like a lost puppy dog was providing me with little to no comfort.

 

I stood in front of the full-length mirror my father had hung on the back of my bedroom door and took in my appearance.

 

I carefully studied my makeup. I was far from a makeup artist, and it was pretty easy to tell. The light brown eye shadow applied over my lids was sloppy and wasn't blended that well. My winged eyeliner was a little thicker than I had originally intended, and my lashes were more then sufficiently coated with mascara. I had filled in my brows with just a touch of auburn powder to better match my dyed copper hair, and that was it. It wasn't my best work by far, but I honestly kind of liked the way it turned out. It made me feel less innocent and sweet like everyone always said I seemed, and instead made me feel confident, messy, and bad-ass.

 

I gently played with my long copper waves, twisting them in my fingers, scrunching them. After a few moments, when I realized I still wasn't content with the way it looked, I through it into a  messy ponytail at the back of my head. I quickly pulled out a few tendrils from the front, to frame my pale heart shaped face. It fit my messy but cute look well, so after another few seconds of swatting at the curls on my head I stopped and then stood up straight to study my outfit.

 

I decided to play it simple and safe today. The white v-neck I chose was a little big, so I tucked the hem into my favorite pair of blue skinny jeans. I was wearing diamond studs in my ear, the same locket I always wore, white tennis shoes, and a green military style jacket to protect me from the cool breeze.

 

I turned from side to side, my hands in my jacket pockets, to get an overall feel for my outfit. I wanted to make sure my jeans were hugging my hips, and my shirt wasn't showing off my extreme lack of fun-bags.

 

"Tatum! Ashley's here, are you ready for school?" My  father yelled up the stairs to my room, and my heart began to race.

 

Oh no, already?

 

I looked at my alarm clock. It said six thirty. Ashley was right on time.

 

But am I ready? Do I have everything? My schedule? My books? Do I look cute? Or do I look like I'm trying to hard? Oh my God, what am I going to do? I'm already a nervous wreck, how am I going to do this? I wish I was home, with my friends Tammy and Jessica.

 

I looked on the table beside my bed and longingly looked at the photo of the three of us back at my home. We were all laughing, on the grass, arms holding each other. I picked up the small frame and remembered how happy I was that day. God, I miss them.

 

"Tay-Tay, lets go! Get your tight butt down here!" This time, it was Ashley yelling for me.

 

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and placed the frame face down while reprimanding myself.

 

Stop torturing yourself. This is your home now, whether you like it or not.

 

 

~    ~    ~

 

 

I was very thankful for Ashley, who was so willing and excited to introduce me around school. But by lunch period, I was fed up. Granted, Ashley and her friends weren't mean to me in any way, shape, or form. In fact they were quite the opposite, blowing comments up my butt every ten minutes, which was annoying all on it's own. They all were trying too hard to get me to like them, constantly smiling at me with plastic Barbie doll smiles, "Oh my God, I love your hair! Is it natural?", "You have an amazing body, wow. Do you like do pilates?", "You could totally be a model". It got old after the first hour.

 

Sure, I was scared of not making friends. But I'd rather no friends then have to spend another hour with these girls. When they weren't complimenting me, it was because they were bashing someone around them not in their clique. It was honestly disgusting.

 

Even now, while at lunch, Mandy--the blonde one--just studied her cuticles and smacked bubblegum in her mouth like a cow. Jeanette, the brunette, went on and on about how she was convinced her math professor had a thing for her, because "I mean, how could he not? Look at me."

 

Being around them was nauseating. 

 

Ashley just laughed and encouraged her to make a move on him while squirming on Chad's lap, her football boyfriend.

 

"Right, Tay-Tay? She should totally just jump his bones!"

 

I shrugged, and prodded at the warm sludge on my cafeteria tray. "I don't know. I wouldn't."

 

"Why not?" Jeanette pouted, her brown doe eyes looking at me confused.

 

"Isn't he's married?"

 

"So?"

 

"And isn't sex with a minor is illegal?"

 

"Only if we got caught." She winked at me, and I offered a smile back. Luckily she wasn't able to tell it was forced. None of them could. Probably because they were so used to doing it themselves.

 

I turned to look at Ashley, but she was sucking on Chad's ear lob and giggling. She ran her painted nails through his blonde hair and I went agape.

 

I'm all for slutting it up. It's your body, do with it what you please. No one should be able to tell you otherwise…but really? In the cafeteria? In front of everyone?

 

Chad looks over at me, his eyes a bright teal. They look needy, desperate.

 

Please, lord, just go to the nearest bathroom like a normal high school student.

 

I was completely flabbergasted by everyone's behavior, but it was clear that Ashley and her minions were the "Queen Bees" of the school, so I hadn't planned on just walking away in fear of having to deal with their fury. That was until Chad smiled at me, and winked.

 

I gasped, and tore my eyes away from him.

 

What? Did he…Did he really just…No! He totally did not just wink at me like that while my cousin's giving him a disgusting slobbery hickey!

 

Slowly, I peered over my shoulder for a second time to look at Chad. Ashley was still gnawing on his neck like a fucking vampire, and Chad was still looking at me with crazed eyes. Only this time, he slowly licked his lips. He probably thought he looked irresistible right now. But I was literally holding back the erg to slap him across his flushed face.

 

That was the last straw.

 

I grabbed my lunch tray, and walked away.

 

 

~    ~    ~

 

 

I scanned the full cafeteria, unsure of where to sit. Do I sit down at an empty table? Or do I sit down with another group of people? If so, who should I go to? Should I ask to sit? Or should I just sit down and confidently introduce myself?

 

Quick, think of something! The longer you stand in the center of the cafeteria just looking at everyone, the weirder you seem.

 

I swallowed the large amount of wetness forming in the back of my throat and tried to focus on my breathing. My heart was pounding, and my cheeks were growing warm. In about point five seconds everyone would see me turn a brilliant shade of red.

 

"Hey, you?"

 

I cautiously turned, studying the people around me, trying to find out who it was that yelled.

 

"Behind you."

 

I turned around and became face to face with the cutest Goth girl I'd ever seen. Her hair was black, but had lavender ombred tips. Very different, very beautiful. Her eyes were a bright icy blue, like Chad's, only hers were more friendly. They were outlined in black kohl pencil, making her look very feline. She had thin lips, a pixie nose, and a pointed chin. She was wearing a little black dress that had very little detail, but she also wore lavender Doc Martens to matched her hair as well as added a little edge to her plain outfit. Overall, she was very pretty, but also very different looking from everyone else here. I assumed being different and living in a small country town probably made being yourself really hard, but she didn't seem to care. She seemed happy, bubbly, and confident.

 

"Are you the new girl? I haven't seen you around before, and this school's really tiny so…"

 

I smiled and let out a silent breath. I was already more comfortable talking to this mystery girl then I was with Ashley and her friends all day. She seemed extremely genuine. 

 

I held out my hand, "Yeah. My name's Tatum."

 

She swatted my hand away quickly, making me jump in surprise. "I'm sorry. I don't like being touched."

 

"Oh, I'm sorry."

 

"No you're fine. You didn't know. But you should come sit with me."

 

Left without any other options, I followed her as she pranced over to a table. She quickly sat down, and gestured for me to sit next to her. Only one other individual was sat at this table, a boy.

 

He wasn't "Goth" like his little companion, but he too looked different from everyone else that attended this school. He wasn't wearing khakis and loafers and button downs like the majority of the rich, pretty boys. Instead he was dressed very casually in jeans, vans, and a wholey maroon t-shirt. He also had tattoos covering his whole right forearm, diamond studs in both ears, and a bandana wrapped around in tousled brown hair.

 

I was immediately intimidated, but not because he was angry looking or anything. But because he was extremely handsome in a very rugged way. His hands were large and looked rough. Brown stubble was visible on his square jaw and cheeks, and his eyes were a light hazel color that I'd never seen before.

 

He sat back in his seat, feat propped lazily on top of the lunch table.

 

"My name's Carter. And this is Gage." The girl clarified with a smile, then pushed at Gage's feet, making them fall to the floor.

 

 I listened to Carter as she spoke, but I didn't look at her. I just slowly sat down, eyes locked on Gage's narrowed ones. He had this sneaky smirk plastered to his face, like he was up to no good, and I didn't like that. He made me feel like I was being observed under a microscope. Carter noticed.

 

"Don't be intimidated. He's honestly a softie." she assured me with a smile, then threw a piece of food at him. He was knocked out of his trance immediately, a genuine smile plastered to his face. In two seconds he went from scary to adorable. A chuckle escaped his lips, "What?!"

 

"Stop staring at her like you're going to mount her."

 

My eyes went wide, "Wait what?"

 

Gage chuckled again, and folded his arms in front of him, turning from Carter to me. "Don't worry Cherry, I'm not an animal. Unless you want me to be."

 

My hair is a dark copper color rather than red, but Cherry was a common nickname people used to grab my attention. My friends back home called me it, my dad even sometimes called me it. But the way Gage said it, his voice low and raspy, made me blush.

 

"Oh, come on, Gage! You are the reason we have no friends!"

 

"I am not!"

 

Carter flashed him a stern glare, then turned to me. "Just ignore him when he gets like this. He can be an aggressive horn dog sometimes, but he's actually really nice, I promise. You'll see once he stops imagining you naked, and turns his attention onto some naïve freshman."

 

"A freshman?" Gage clutches his chest, faking hurt, "I would never go for a child. I like women, with strong minds, and long legs."

 

Carter laughs and rolls her eyes, in a way that made me believe the banter between them was a common thing.

 

"Hey Cherry." I looked up from my cafeteria tray and back into Gage's smoldering eyes, "Does the carpet match the drapes?"

 

My eyes went wide, and my lips parted in shock. Did he seriously just ask me that? I frantically looked around the room, trying to will my cheeks to cool down, to stop turning red.

 

Jesus Christ, maybe I was better off sitting with Ashley.

 

 

Chapter Two - Carter and Gage

 

 

 

 

On one hand, you had Carter, a petite gothic pixie who floated gracefully around school, wishing ever single person a good morning. It didn't take me long to realize that she was super smart, a straight A student. She loved to read, even carried around a Bible, not because she was religious but because she loved to study the passages. She was also very thorough and calm. She paid very close attention to detail and was very observant and never did anything without thinking it through first.

 

On the other hand, you had Gage. He was a horrible student, unlike Carter. Carter said it was because he didn't try, but Gage said he simply didn't have the brain for math after all the pot he'd smoked in middle school. He didn't mind, he was better with his hands anyway. He worked at the town's auto-repair shop every day after school, and he loved it. He wasn't that outgoing, unless attempting to pick up a beauty, in which case he'd totally break out of his shell and do everything short of picking the poor girl up and dragging her away. He was very persistent, and was quick on his feet. Then again he had to be in order to counter act his impulsiveness. According to Carter, you must be aware of Gage's location at all times, because he's a trouble maker, a prankster, and chances are if you can't see him he's up to no good.

 

The two of them are as different as they come. Carter is well-mannered and considerate, where Gage is notorious for saying the first thing that comes to mind, which is often unconventional and innapropriate. They're as different as black and white, and yet they compliment each other so beautifully. The way they tease each other, their closeness? It's the type of amazing friendship you see in the movies and wish you yourself had. They seemed so close even, that for a while I was convinced that they had a thing for each other, maybe even dated at one point, but Carter quickly shut my theory down with one sentence.

 

"Tatum, I'm gay." Well shit.

 

Three short hours with them, and I wasn't missing home. I wasn't even missing old friends. I was content, I was laughing. I was so comfortable with them, it was like the three of us had been friends for years, and I loved that.

 

It was the last class period of the day, and we were all sitting at a table in the library for what was called "study hall", a free period at the end of the day to sit silently, do homework, and study. Every high school students' wet dream...and yes, that's sarcasm.

 

Carter was napping. Her pale arms were folded across the table, her pixie face resting on them. Her black hair was fanned across her face. She looked so angelic, so at peace.

 

"So that's why you don't want to hook up with me." I looked up from Carter to meet Gage's eyes. His brows were wiggling, as if he'd cracked some puzzle.

 

I sighed and smiled, "What?"

 

"You're a carpet muncher. Just like real-life Monster High Doll over here." He whispered, pointing at the sleeping Carter. Only I guess she wasn't sleeping because without lifting her head or even opening her eyes, she lifted her hand into the air giving Gage the middle finger.

 

"Rude."

 

I bit my lip to try and keep myself from laughing obnoxiously. We were after all in a library, during study hall.

 

"No, I'm not lesbian." I corrected, plopping my last piece of mint gum into my mouth. I crumpled up the wrapper, and tossed it. The little scrap hit Gage in the forehead and bounced back onto the table. "I just don't think you're cute."

 

"Now that's bull shit. You haven't talked to me all day without blushing."

 

It didn't take long for Gage's awkward charm to grow on me. Throughout the whole school day he complimented me, teased me, made sex jokes, like the little perv he was. And every time my skin would grow hot, and my cheeks would flush, and I'd get tongue tied for a good few seconds. He was incredibly good looking, and he made me laugh. But I wasn't about jumping into anything when I just moved here, specially with one of the first friends I made.

 

"Whatever, it's not going to happen." Was the only response I could muster, since there was no point in trying to deny my attraction to him.

 

He shrugged, and offered that devilish smirk that he was known for around school, the same one he flashed when I first met him at lunch. "We'll see Cherry."

 

"Did you forget my name already? Is that why you insist on calling me Cherry?"

 

"Of course not!"

 

"What is it then?" I said, leaning forward and narrowing my eyes at him, challenging him.

 

Gage leaned forward and narrowed his eyes, mocking my intent stare. "It start's with a T."

 

I nodded.

 

"Tina--"

 

"No."

 

"Theresa--"

 

"No."

 

"Thelma."

 

"What? No." I rolled my eyes and leaned back in my chair, amazed. "You are hopeless."

 

Gage leaned back too, and watched me, hazel eyes soft and amused. "Of course I know your name. It's Tatum. I'm just playing."

 

"Do you ever get tired of playing games?"

 

"Not really. Can I have a piece of gum?"

 

I was no longer staring at him at this point. I was reading 'Of Mice and Men' for an English report that would be do in a month. I spoke to him without looking up, "No, that was my last piece."

 

"Bull."

 

"No," I looked up, and opened my mouth to show him the chewed up piece of mint in my mouth. "That's my last piece."

 

Gage closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip and let a seductive groan come from his mouth, "Oh, baby, open your mouth wider."

 

"Oh my God." I couldn't even attempt to hold back my laugh this time. My head thrashed backward, my own copper hair slapping me in the face. The librarian glared and "Shhhhed" me.

 

"Come on, my breath stinks. I need gum."

 

"Stop talking shit, and you won't have that problem."

 

Gage just folded his arms and stared at me. I tried to stare back at him, as intently, but I inevitably became uncomfortable due to the dirty thoughts and images of Gage naked that kept appearing in my mind. I shook my head and sighed, "What do you want me to do Gage, that honestly was my last piece."

 

"Give me that one then."

 

"What?"

 

"Give me the piece in your mouth."

 

I stared at him for another short moment, one eye brow raised. No way would he actually go through with this. "Fine!" I mumbled, spitting the gum into my hand and outstretching it to him.

 

Sure enough, Gage snatched the gum from my hand and shoved it in his mouth. He chewed, the biggest smile I've ever seen on his face. He looked so proud of himself.

 

I immediately began to laugh again. "Are you serious right now?"

 

Gage, just shrugged, and pretended he was invested into the nearest textbook when the librarian stomped over to our table.

 

She was very disproportionate, with small legs, and a big belly. She was wearing a sweater and pencil skirt that was in no way flattering, or even comfortable looking. Just waddling over to our table seemed to take way too much effort out of her. Her brown hair was pulled into a lose ponytail at the nape of her neck, and her glasses barely clung to the tip of her round nose. She stared at me with angry black eyes. "What did I say Miss. Dunn?"

 

"I'm sorry," I uttered as I stole a look at Gage. He was looking up at me from under his long brown hair, trying so hard to hold in his laughter. "It won't happen again."

 

Mrs. Miller didn't say anything in response. Just stumbled away, while huffing angrily.

 

"You're such an asshole, I hate you!"

 

Gage just chuckled and held an arm in front of his face to block himself from my angry slaps. "Cherry, you couldn't hate me even if you tried."

 

I said nothing. Just stayed silent and continued to pretend to do homework, because even though I'd only known him for a few hours, I knew with every inch of my being that Gage was completely right.

Chapter Three - Friday Night

 

 

 

 

Turns out one of the few things that Carter and Gage have in common are the fact that they like to party. Gage because he likes to get dressed up, hit on girls, and get trashed. Carter because it's one of the few times she's able to relax and let loose.

 

I completely understand how drinking and partying seems attractive to teenagers who want to escape reality and be crazy. But for me personally, I don't really like it. Drinking with a small group of friends on a Sunday night surrounded by a fire? Sure, I'll do that any day. But being stuck in a crowded house, everyone accidentally dumping drink after drink down my shirt? To me, partying on that big a scale isn't a fun time. Specially because whether I take one shot or ten shots, I'm puking in the morning, and that's never fun.

 

But despite the way I feel, wanting to spend more time with these people and seem cool, I told Carter and Gage that I'd come to the party with them. And I'm not saying that I regret it at all, or that I'm not having fun, because I am. I'm having the time of my life just watching Carter and Gage have fun. I thought they were a trip when sober, them tipsy is a whole new ball game.

 

Carter had tried to drag me into the living room where everyone was dancing, but I wasn't that big on dancing. As a white girl, I had no problem admitting that I had no rhythm. Carter, however, was as white as they come, and yet she looked incredibly sexy, swaying her hips back and forth to the beat of the music. She ran her small hands up and down the length of her body while thrashing her long hair in Gage's face. He didn't seem to mind, just continued to drink from his bottle of beer while grinding on Carter's ass.

 

After a while of cheering Carter on, Gage excused himself and weaved his way through the party to get to me, standing in the corner. By the time he got to me, Carter was grinding on some sexy blonde with crazy amazing curves.

 

"Wanna dance?" Gage asked as he approached me. He wrapped his big arms around my waist, and forced my body to sway from side to side along with his. I laughed, immediately feeling ridiculous. I pushed away from Gage in an attempt to get his beer breath away from my face. "I can't, I'm no good."

 

"Oh come on! I'm not talking Dancing with the Stars. Grinding is easy." Gage spoke in my ear, so I could hear him clearly over the obnoxiously loud music. He continued to rub my sides, as he walked behind me. I could feel the heat radiating off his stomach, the faint musky smell of his cologne filled my nose, and his hot breathe fanned across the back of my neck.  My heart immediately started to race, my breathes becoming shaky. On one hand I was thankful he was behind me so he couldn't tease me about how easy it was for him to make me blush. Then I felt him thrust his pelvis against my butt while his hands made my hips sway side to side. "See it's easy. Just like sex with clothes on."

 

I giggled nervously, and pushed him away. "Gage!"

 

"Alright, alright. If you can't handle me, that's fine." He rose his hands, as if to surrender. "You ready to go?"

 

"Are you?"

 

"Yeah. None of the ladies here catch my eye."

 

"You're only saying that cause the one girl that you want to dance with won't."

 

"You can't resist me forever, Cherry." I rolled my eyes to show my annoyance, but I wasn't actually annoyed at all. In fact, all this flattert, the constant teasing, and flirting? I liked it. He made me feel good. And as long as he didn't spontaneously turn into an asshole, I could easily see my self developing a crush on him and falling under his oddly charming spell. "I'm going to see if Carter's ready."

 

"Okay, I'll wait outside for you."

 

Gage nodded, and then was gone amongst the crowd of screaming teenage girls and handsy boys.

 

It took a solid ten minutes for me to shimmy my way through the crowd, but once I was outside I was content.

 

The sky was dark, almost pitch, with hints of purple. White stars, grey clouds, and a red moon adorned the sky. It was very beautiful, nothing like I was used to back home. The sky was so polluted from the city factories that the sky at night always seemed dead and foggy back home. Tonight's sky was clear and mystical.

 

I stood still, on the sidewalk outside the house, eyes closed. I felt the cool breeze tangle through my auburn curls, twirling them around my face and tickling my nose. There was a faint whistle from the wind, that you could barely hear over the blaring music and chaotic noise of screaming teenagers.

 

Now this. This was nice.

 

I sat down on the curb, and leaned my head back, allowing the breeze to further caress my cheeks, my turned up nose, my lips, my neck.

 

"Parties not your thing?"

 

I yelped when someone spoke, knocking me out of my trance.

 

"Sorry," the man chuckled, "I didn't mean to scare you."

 

When I say man, I mean man. Not like Gage who was a teenager, but could almost pass for twenty-one when he had a bit of stubble on his face. This man looked to be in his early, maybe even mid twenties. He had short jet black hair, that was styled in that oh so famous and sexy "bed-head" way that made any and all girls swoon. He had a slight tan, and dark blue eyes that were outlined in thick black lashes. What I'd do for lashes like that instead of my light blonde ones. He was very tall, almost a whole foot taller then me, and he was very muscular. His black t-shirt stretched perfectly over his chest muscles and biceps. He had a straight nose, and his pink lips gently surrounded a small white stick. A cigarette.

 

I had never been one to judge smokers. My mother smoked whenever she'd had a long stressful day at work along with a glass of expensive red wine. It always calmed her down, helped her relax, but I myself never cared for it. I thought it was a pointless habit, nothing but a waste of money And the shit it did to your lungs, don't even get me started.

 

But the way this man smoked? He made it look like it was the most beautiful and graceful thing to ever do.

 

His long fingers let go of the cigarette as he inhaled, the cherry at the end of it burning bright and orange. He pulled the cigarette from his lips and exhaled. He parted his lips, the slightest bit, allowing a cloud of white to slowly crawl up the sky. It was hypnotizing.

 

"No, um, you're fine. But no. I don't."

 

"You're hanging out with the wrong people then." His voice was low but gentle, almost calming. He smiled, and my stomach twisted into a bunch of knots. It must be illegal for a boy to look this pretty.

 

"I'm Dominic." he took another drag from his cigarette, then sat down next to me, and outstretched his hand.

 

I didn't hesitate. Just smiled, and allowed him to take my hand in his. He was really warm, despite the fact that he wasn't wearing a jacket, and his hands were strong and firm. "I'm Tatum."

 

"Tatum? That's a pretty name." I didn't say anything. Just quickly pulled my hand back when I realized I'd allowed him to hold my hand for an abnormally long amount of time. I averted my eyes from him and looked back at the sky.

 

"So, what's a pretty girl like you doing alone out here?"

 

I blushed, and tucked a fly away strand of hair over my ear. "Why are you asking?"

 

"Trying to find out whether or not I need to worry about a boyfriend."

 

My eyes snapped back to him. He was staring at me, a sly smirk on his lips. It kind of reminded me of Gage's only much, much more intimidating. This Dominic guy looked so mature, so grown up. What was he doing flirting with a naïve kid like me?

 

"T-that's awfully blunt of you." I struggled to speak, my heart was beating so fast. What was wrong with me? He's just a person! Stop stuttering.

 

Dominic shrugs, takes one last drag off his cigarette, than lets it drop from his hand onto the street and steps on it. "I don't like beating around the bush. It's a waste of time."

 

I nodded in understanding.

 

"You still didn't answer my question."

 

"What if I said I did?"

 

"I'd say you should dump him." he said matter of factually, folding his arms over his bent knees. I laughed. "Oh, would you now?"

 

"Yes."

 

"And why's that?"

 

"Because if you actually had a boyfriend, which I don't think you do, and if you actually cared about him you would've mentioned him already. And you wouldn't be stuttering and blushing like you are."

 

Fuck. I'm busted.

 

"I'm going to assume your silence means I hit the nail on the head."

 

A shiver went up my spine, but not because I was cold. His aura just had that affect on me, without even trying. He was so calm, confident, unwavering. Nothing like me. I wished I could be more like that.  "No, I don't have a boyfriend."

 

"Good."

 

I swallowed the wetness forming in the back of my throat and twiddled me thumbs. Now what?

 

"So. Partying isn't your thing. What is?"

 

I thought for a moment, head cocked to the side, and I realized. I had no idea. I wasn't a good dancer, I was only an average student. I wasn't good at drawing, or singing, or spelling. I was very clumsy, terrible at sports. What was I good at?

 

"I don't know. I guess photography. I love being outside and just enjoying my surroundings."

 

"Like you where, just a little bit ago before I rudely interrupted?"

 

I giggled, "Yeah, like that. It would be really cool to be able to capture the beauty of everyday life. People now a days don't take the time to see what's around them."

 

When I looked back at Dominic, he was watching me intently, overlooking my every move. It made me shiver again and my whole body grew hot. Oh God, did I say something stupid? Why's he studying me like that?

 

"I'm impressed. Most girls say makeup or fashion design or something like that." My nose wrinkled in disgust, "Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm just tired of typical, predictable girls."

 

He said he was impressed with my answer. Is that him saying that I'm the type of girl he'd be interested in versus your typical pretty girly-girl? He did ask if I have a boyfriend. My heart fluttered.

 

"Nick! Let's go!"

 

Both of us looked over our shoulders to see a group of teenagers fooling around on the front lawn of the party. Two boys appeared to be circling eachother, like they were play wrestling. Another boy had a girl with long hair on his back. Her arms were wrapped around his neck tightly and she was giggling incessantly as he spun in circles. The last boy, the one that yelled for Dominic, was staring at us, waving. 

 

"I'll be there in a minute!" he hollered back before turning to me. "Do you want to have some real fun?"

 

My eyes went wide, surprised, scared. "Huh? What do you mean?"

 

"We were going to go to our chill spot once we were done here. Not a lot of people know about it. It's very discreet, but you get this really pretty view of the sky. Specially when the sun starts to rise. I think you'd really like it."

 

"Oh. Well…"

 

Go, go! Say yes! Go with him!

 

But what about Gage? Carter? You're supposed to be waiting for them!

 

Who cares? Text them, they'll understand!

 

"I don't know." was all I could manage to mumble.

 

Dominic offered a reassuring smile, making his eyes light up. God, he was so cute. And nice too. Why couldn't I just grow a pair of lady balls and say "yes"?

 

"I promise you'd be safe. I'm one of the good guys." 

 

Everything about him seemed so intense. I could barely think under the gaze of his wild eyes. His voice was husky but also like honey; warm, soft, even sticky, because in a way I felt trapped. He intrigued me, and I couldn't even tell you exactly why. He wasn't being super mysterious with the way he spoke or acted, but with one look at jim I could tell there was something different about him. He eminated this electric energy that I couldn't quite understand. But I wanted to. I need to. 

 

Who was this guy?

 

My heart was pounding and this annoying ringing was echoing in my left ear. I was trying to calculate my options as quickly as possible. I wanted to say yes, so bad, but I was worried. I didn't want to leave behind Carter and Gage.

 

I closed my eyes, and breathed allowing myself to relax. I opened my eyes to meet Dominic's beautiful, expecting once. I smiled, and opened my mouth, ready to say "okay", but I was interrupted by Gage.

 

"Tatum, what are you doing? Who is that? Are you okay?"

 

I turned back to Dominic who was already on his feet, "I've got to go sweetheart, but I'm sure I'll see you later." What? How could you be so sure?

 

"Wait!"

 

Dominic grabbed my small cold hands in his large warm ones, and brought them to his lips. The slight brush of contact against my skin sent shivers through out my whole body making me gasp. Dominic smiled, "It was nice to meet you Tatum."

 

And then he was gone, walking down the street with his friends.

 

"Tatum, was that Dominic?" Gage asked, once he got closer, eyes following Dominic and his friends as they walked.

 

"Um, yeah, why?" I stood up and immediately was confused.

 

Gage looked scatter brained. His eyes were wide with concern and anger, lips pulled into a straight line. I'd only known Gage for a few days, but in all that time he'd never been serious or upset. He was always cracking jokes, smiling, laughing. He looked like a completley different person, stressed and annoyed.

 

Maybe he was tired from holding up and taking care of a clearly intoxicated Carter. Maybe he had spent the past fifteen minutes looking for me and he couldn't fine me, and that's why he looked so worried. I'm not sure. Gage wouldn't tell me on the drive home. But I couldn't help thinking it was because he didn't like that I had been talking to whoever this Dominic guy was.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 08.03.2017

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