“Yeah, that was the goal…. Piss off my dad, your mom….make you hate me and stay away. I got caught in the act and got used to being that guy that I never thought to clarify, but the babe thing made me realize we should probably talk about this…. Set some things straight.”“So, was all of it an act? The tattoos, the piercings, the clothes…the bike…is any of that real? Or was it all just to get at us?” I'm suddenly woeful, and yet what's even more confusing is the broken pain in my heart that feels like grieving someone. Maybe the whole sex thing is a relief, but the rest of it…the Dane I thought I hated, if it’s all fake, then who is he now? “Do I even know you?”“No…. It’s not an act. Yeah, some of it was rebellion, but it’s who I was comfy as. I dunno….. it's hard to pull out the parts that were deliberate gunshots aimed at my dad’s heart. I wasn't going out of my way to be that person. I just let rumors circulate and didn’t care about defending myself.”“Is that why you have stopped
Wandering into the kitchen, hauling off my backpack, I spot Monique by the sink as she washes out some dishes and smile with genuine warmth. This woman is the living, breathing depiction of a mother I have ever known, and seeing her every day when I come brings me so much joy and security that I never really appreciated before. Lately, I am starting to feel it.“Hey….. “ I turn, dumping my bag on the nearest stool. Very aware Dane would be following me as his bike pulled up right as I walked in the door. Trying to act as normal as possible as I go raking in the refrigerator and not keeping one eye on the door to see him. “Don’t cook for me tonight. I’m going to come looking when I’m hungry. I have homework, and then I'm going to vegetate in bed and sleep early. I’m not going to the shelter.”“Oh, why not, my little princess?” Monique turns with her overdramatic etch of concern creasing over her entire face. “Are you sick? Do you need me to fetch you some medicines? Do we need the doct
I’m startled back to sense by how non-innocent this kiss has become, given he ambushed me, and within seconds, we were wrapped up like this, glued together in ways that would have had me running scared a week ago. My pelvis is flattened to his groin, and because of how he’s stooping and moving to kiss me, it rubs gently into mine and causes all kinds of aching longing. I’m very aware he is solid down there while my own body is softening, and things are getting damp. It’s like I lost all sense of anything except a craving for more.I can feel myself getting wound up, as though my internal organs are clenching, and there’s a strange urge in me to whine for him to put his hands all over me. A deep need to know what them roaming all over my body without boundaries would feel like after experiencing the difference when he skimmed my breast. I like the sensation.A groan rests in my throat as his kiss somehow depends, dragging throbbing pulse up my legs and straight to my pelvis where I sw
“Pooky…stop ignoring me.”For the seventh time this lesson, the prod in the back of my head from a wielded pencil causes me to spin in my chair and slap Dane’s hand. Glaring at him with all the contained anger of the last two hours.“Stop doing that. Stop bothering me.” It’s not an act; I am seriously losing my temper with him. Today, we shared two classes, and he spent the first one firing paper airplanes at my head and this one demanding constant attention with stupid pet names. Probably because all this week, we have only been able to spend two nights shacked up in my room for a movie and the rest we’ve both had other plans. The timing has been weird for a few days and our parents were home a lot more than usual after Monday. The shelter, his piercings, school commitments, homework…… Everything has been in our way.It’s Friday, thank god, and maybe catching some real time with him over the weekend will curb whatever this is. He’s being a needy child.“Women…. So moody.” He grins at
“Look pretty, stick with us and then we can bail when his dad starts getting too drunk to demand his presence.”“What’s it for? Should we bring a gift?” Elisa finally turns enough to be part of this conversation, and I am aware that Tyler’s eyes have not left her head since Dane brought this up. He’s being weirdly silent and watching her reactions. Sometimes, he is as hard to read as Dane.“It’s my dad’s birthday. We just need to show up…don’t bring anything. We can stay a couple of hours, then sneak out when things get wild.”“Wild?” I raise a brow, pretty sure that Tyler’s parents can’t be all that wild when compared to these two. They are in their forties.“Trust me… his dad is the party king, and his mom is a hopeless drunk. Things will get crazy, so we can leave when it starts.”“Leave your notebooks on the desks even if you are not finished…I’ll collect them and return them on Monday. Enjoy your weekend, guys. You can all go.” Our teacher's loud, commanding voice interrupts us a
Elisa and Tyler wander ahead as we make our way down onto the cove, kicking off their shoes as soon as they reach the sand. Tyler drops the bag we brought, containing drinks and snacks, and Dane and I follow. It’s still not too late, and the sun is up, keeping it warm here even though the sea breeze is cooling the air. It’s peaceful for a late summer evening. A perfect night to watch the sunset and enjoy the serenity of just the four of us.“Elisa…..do you like seaweed?” Tyler’s jokey sing-song way of cooing at her when he whips up a slimy long strand from between two rocks has her turning before recoiling in childlike horror. Raising her p[alms to ward off the evil in his hand and bursting into a reverse run skip to evade his swinging it about.“Don’t….it’s gross.” She squeals, turning to flee, and he takes off after her, holding it aloft and trying to torment her with it. It’s so obviously a flirty game of chase, although Elisa is probably oblivious to Tyler’s intentions.“He’s so d
“I’m here, aren’t I? I'm trying.” Being coaxed out of studying so much, spending time with Dane has been slwloy changing my perspective on life. My priorities and how much time I was spending with my head stuck in schoolwork. We’re young, and it won’t last. I have good grades and can afford to relax a little.“What’s his deal anyway? For a guy who has no problems talking to girls at any other time, he seems incapable of being normal around Elisa. It’s painful to watch.”I turn our focus back to them now they are near the water's edge. Elisa is fidgeting with her nails and kicking one foot in the sand in an obvious girly nervousness. Tyler has both hands in his pockets and seems to be saying something amusing to her because I can hear her small giggles occasionally. She ducks her head, probably blushing, and Tyler follows every time by leaning in and down so he doesn't lose sight of her eyes. It’s cute to watch, but their three-foot gap speaks volumes.“Boy’s in love….. doesn’t matter h
"What do you want, Dane?" I shove his overly heavy arm from my shoulder and elbow him in the ribs to get him off me. I can't stand his lounging on me casually like I'm another one of his endless girlfriends."Can't I walk my sister into school without being accused of ulterior motives?" He smirks down at me from his much taller height, too close for comfort, all bright white teeth, great bone structure, and grey eyes that seem to drive the hormonal teens here crazy. It grinds my eternal gears with irritation."For one, I'm only your sister when you want something. Two … you always have a motive when you are being nice to me." I point out, shrug off his second attempt at slinging an arm around me and bat him with my schoolbag instead. Not caring if I injure him in any way. I’d rather not have him near me on any given day of the week."Kayla, honey….sweetest little step-sibling of mine. You are my favorite sister and always have been. How can you be so untrusting?" he smirks, that devil