“Do you ever do that? Talk about girls like they’re things to conquer?”
“No,” I assured her. “The guys who talk that way do it because they think they have something to prove.”
“And you don’t?”
I shook my head. “Not to them. Not to anyone.”
Reaching out, she nudged me on the shoulder and smiled. “Not even to me?”
Catching her hand, I pulled her into a one-armed hug. “There’s nothing to prove. If you don’t know me through and through by now, we’re doomed.”
Hugging me back tight, she took a deep inhale. “Sometimes I think I know you better than I know myself. I just wish you wouldn’t clam up the way you do.”
Releasing her, I offered a half smile. “Gotta have some sort of mystery going on.”
“Not really. I always know what’s wrong with you. I know why you do what you do.”
“You just want the gory details, huh?”
“I want to hear the truth from your mouth, actually.”
“And what truth is that?”
Repositioning her backpack, she smiled the way the Mona Lisa does. “I should go.”
I held my hand out to the side. “Aw, come on, Trina. You can’t leave me hanging like that.”
“Annoying, isn’t it?” She giggled as she turned away, the squeaking of my mum’s brakes stopping her in her tracks.
“Ah shit,” I muttered, immediately returning to my rake. I am so dead. “You need to leave.”
“Relax,” she whispered before turning her attention to my mum as she parked the car in the driveway. “Hi Mrs Taylor!” Katrina bounced on her toes and waved. Mum did nothing to hide her dissatisfaction.
“David’s grounded, Trina. That means no friends, not even you,” Mum said as she got out of the car.
“Oh, I actually came to talk to you, Mrs Taylor. If you have time, of course.” Trina smiled, pulling her bag from her shoulder and leaving it on the ground near me. Mum narrowed her eyes suspiciously before she nodded toward the house to tell Katrina it was fine to follow her.
“Back to work, young man,” my mother said to me. “Your suspension isn’t over yet.”
While I wondered what the hell Trina and Mum were inside talking about, I finished up in the front yard. I scooped up the leaves and cut up the palm fronds that never seemed to stop falling from the tree next to our letter box. By the time Trina walked out my front door, the green waste bin was full of clippings, and I was in desperate need of a shower.
“See you tomorrow morning,” she said, smiling as she skipped down the front steps then started off for her place.
“Hang on. Aren’t you gonna tell me what that was about?”
She threw her head back and laughed while she just kept walking. I couldn’t help but smile. She was playing me at my own game.
When I turned back to my house, Mum was standing in the doorway.
“You’re not grounded anymore. And you can go to the formal too.”
“I can?” This probably isn’t the best time to tell her I was never planning to go...
She nodded. “Trina just told me what the fight was about. Frankly, I think that kid deserved a good hit for talking about our girl like that. You should have told me, David. I wouldn’t have been so hard on you.”
I bounced one shoulder. “I’m not exactly proud of it.”
“You should always be proud of fighting for the people you care about.”
Six
With only a couple of weeks until the formal, things had gone back to the way they’d always been between Trina and me; easy and comfortable. She’d migrated from the celeb group to mid-level group I was a part of. We were the people who were friendly with everyone within the high school hierarchy. It was way less stressful hanging out with people who weren’t constantly trying to be better than everyone else, I can assure you.
Unfortunately, Trina’s and my perceived downgrade didn’t come without its fair share of drama. Cassie became an absolute bitch. I know I shouldn’t talk about people like that, but it’s what she was. I don’t know if she was pissed at me or Trina, but when she found out I’d changed my mind about going to the formal, she lost it and started up a rumour saying she was pregnant. Of course she claimed it was mine, making matters even worse by adding that I ordered her to get an abortion or else I’d punch her in the gut to get rid of the kid myself.
How seriously fucked up is that? I felt like such an idiot for ever getting involved with her in the first place. I mean, a girl who throws herself at you repeatedly, despite you constantly telling her that you don’t want a relationship is, in my books, either totally self-aware, or a couple sandwiches short of a picnic. I wish I'd been smart enough to stay away from the psycho. Never listen to your dick, fellas.
On the upside, I felt incredibly lucky to have found a group of friends who didn’t believe the shit Cassie spouted for a second. They stood up for me and called bullshit whenever they could. Still, there were a lot of people in our grade who ate bullshit with a shovel and loved it.
It sucked. I hated that my character and personal life were being discussed in vivid detail yet again. People felt they had the right to ask me questions, and if they didn’t confront me directly, they were happy to make unfounded comments behind my back. The writing returned to the bathroom walls.
“That’s the last of it in the girls’ bathroom,” Trina said, pink cheeks and messy hair from her hard work. We stayed back after school with Loren and Jeremy to scrub the graffiti about me off the toilet stalls. It wasn’t gonna do much, but it felt like we were being proactive.
Loren placed her cleaning bucket on the ground. “I wanted to write something creative about Cassie—give her a taste of her own medicine—but miss take-the-high-road here wouldn’t let me.” She pointed her thumb in Trina’s direction.
I met Trina’s eyes and grinned. She knew I’d hate stooping to Cassie’s level. “Thank you,” I said to everyone. “Thick shakes and fries are on me. I mowed my neighbour’s lawn last weekend, so I’m cashed up.”
“What’d they pay you, ten bucks?” Jeremy asked.
“Fifteen,” I replied with a laugh. “It’s why we’re eating off the two dollar menu.”
While the four of us sat around a table at Maccas, laughing and talking shit, I realised how fucking grateful I was for these new friends of mine. They’d already proven themselves more true than any of my old friends ever were. And despite the shit I had to go through to get here, I was happy for it. This felt right.
“Watch out, Trina.” The last voice any of us wanted to hear sounded from behind me. “He’ll get you pregnant then threaten to beat you up.”
Cassie moved into my line of sight, her arms folded across her middle, lips pursed, eyes dead.
“Why don’t you go sprinkle your hate glitter somewhere else?” Loren said, popping a fry in her mouth.
I fought a grin while Cassie popped a hip, unimpressed. “Can we talk?” she asked when her gaze swung my way, one hand twisting her hair.
“I have nothing to say to you,” I responded, keeping my voice even as I leaned back in my chair.
“You don’t have to talk. Just listen.”
“Aren’t you listening?” Trina added. “No one wants you here.”
Pride swelled in my chest. Trina never stood up to anyone. And here she was, standing up to the queen of year ten. It was glorious.
Cassie didn’t share the same opinion. Her expression darkened, her lips tightened, and she turned her hateful eyes on my favourite person in this world. She opened her mouth, ready to splash her venom in Trina’s direction. But before she could get a word out, I stood, blocking her view and towering over her.
“Walk away, Cassie,” I said.
“Or what? You’ll punch me in the stomach?”
Narrowing my eyes slightly, leaned in real close so she was the only person who could hear me. “I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last woman on this earth. You and your bullshit lies
disgust me.”
“You won’t even consider that the baby is yours?” she asked, surprise registering in her eyes.
“I won’t even consider the possibility of you being pregnant.”
“Birth control is only 99 percent.”
“But maths is absolute. And if you were pregnant by me, you’d be showing. We haven’t been together for months. Now get out of my face and never speak to me or my friends again.”
We locked eyes in silent challenge. I could see the hesitation flit through hers, like she wasn’t sure if she should keep going or stand down. But Cassie has never been too smart. “I’m going to make your life a living hell.”
“No, Cassie. It was hell dealing with your neediness. This is a cakewalk.”
Her mouth dropped open then she spun on her heel and stomped off. I knew I’d poked the beast, but for the life of me, I didn’t care.
“What did you say to her?” Jeremy asked when I sat back down and reached for my shake.
“I told her to leave.”
“Looked like you said more than that,” Loren added, lifting a brow.
“David doesn’t elaborate,” Trina said with a knowing smile. “You have to read between the lines. I’m guessing he told her she wasn’t worth his time and that he didn’t even believe she was pregnant.”
I laughed and stretched my arm across the back of her chair. “It’s like you were reading my mind.”
* * *
The whole year seemed to be getting pretty jazzed about this formal thing. In the days leading up to it, it was all anyone could talk about. Who are you going with? How are you getting there? What are you wearing? Even the guys were asking. It’s was crazy considering it was a school event and would undoubtedly be pretty boring. If my mum and Trina hadn’t colluded over getting me to go, I’d happily skip the event all together. But I had to admit, I was kind of happy about riding in the limo since I’d never been in one before. The idea was made better with the knowledge that Trina would be coming to the formal as a part of our group instead of as Ben’s date. Thank fuck. Every time I thought about that guy, I clenched my fists.
“Hey, what’s got you frowning like that?” Trina asked, reaching out to touch the knit between my brows. It was lunch and some of my ex-friends were playing footy not far from where we sat on the grass.
“Nothing that matters.” I flashed her a smile then laid back, looking up at the sky with my arms folded behind my head.
Katrina leaned on my chest, her long hair falling over her shoulder and brushing against my face as she moved it over to one side. “Do you ever miss it?”
“Miss what? Playing footy?”
She rolled her eyes. “Being popular, dummy.”
I smiled, reaching up and tucking some of her hair behind her ear. “I’d only miss it if you were over there instead of right here with me.”
She laughed lightly as she rolled off my chest and onto her back next to me. “Do you think you can get over yourself enough to dance with me at the formal?”
With a laugh, I turned my head to face her. “You’re not worried about dancing with a monster like me? It might ruin your reputation.”
“Oh David, my reputation was ruined the moment I let you sit next to me on the bus all those years ago.”
I laced my fingers through hers. “Good. I want you ruined for everyone else.”
* * *
The day of the formal rolled around. Dressed to the nines, we met at Erin’s house to wait for the limousine. Erin's family owned an indoor sports centre and their home was a flat attached at the back of it. Between the eight people in our group and their families, the parking lot was chockas. Parents crowded around, taking photos like they were paparazzi and were about to score their next big pay cheque.
We did look good though.
I just wished it wasn’t so damn hot. While all the guys were sweltering in suits, the girls were in dresses that showed off all their lovely curves and kept them cool. Katrina wore a short, pale blue spaghetti strap dress that looked amazing on her. And even though we weren’t officially going to this thing together, she gave me a pale blue tie, so we matched.
Her hair was cut and styled so it fell in soft curls at her shoulders, and she wore a pair of low-heeled shoes that made her around the same height as me. She was truly stunning, and I honestly had trouble keeping my eyes—and my hands—off her.
On a regular day, we tended to touch whenever we were near out of habit, or perhaps comfort. But that night was different. My hand kept wandering over to rest on her back, to hold her hand, to wrap around her waist. I felt an overwhelming need to keep her by my side, hold her close.
“You’re good at this dancing thing,” she said with a huge smile as we swayed together on the dance floor. Her fingers were laced behind my neck and my hands gripped her hips a little tighter than they should.
“I never said I couldn’t dance,” I replied, my voice husky because…shit. I think I’m about to kiss her. Look away. I cleared my throat. “I said I don’t dance.”
“Well, don’t I feel special?”
I grinned. “You should.”
She laughed before resting her head on my shoulder. I held her even tighter.
* * *
I still couldn’t let go of her when we arrived at the after party. For a guy who never did anything that could be considered ‘relationshippy’ I was certainly acting like the possessive boyfriend. And there was nothing I could do to stop myself.
Somewhere in my brain there was a tiny voice that kept yelling, ‘This is a terrible idea. You’re messing everything up.’ But the rest of me kept going along like it had decided Trina and I were together now and my logical self had no say in the matter.
A fact made worse by the introduction of alcohol.
As with most parties, there was always someone with an older sibling or parent’s with loose morals who supplied the grog. There was a keg of beer as well as tubs filled with those vodka mixes the girls seem to like.
And since we were teenagers at a party, we got drunk—everyone did. A band had been set up to one side of the property, and everyone was dancing, drinking, and having a great time.
“The after party is way better than the actual formal,” Trina yelled over the music while she jumped up and down to the beat, flinging her arms this way and that. She was smashed.
“I think we should get you some water,” I said, catching her by the elbows as she stumbled a little.
She looked into my eyes and frowned. “I think I need some water.”
With a laugh, I nodded like it was always her idea. “Sounds good.” Taking her hand, we went hunting for said water and found a tub filled with bottles of it.
“Who the hell’s party is this, anyway?” I asked, pulling one out and handing it to her.
“I have no idea. But it’s so well catered for.”
“Right?”
“Let’s go sit down for a bit.”
“Sure,” I said, following her over to a tree with a trunk so thick, that I think it would take two of me to wrap my arms around it.
“Here, sit on this,” I said, laying my jacket on the ground so she didn’t ruin her dress with the dirt.
“Such a gentleman.” She laughed, taking a seat.
“Don’t tell anyone.” I knocked my shoulder against hers.
“I don’t have to. Everyone can see it. You have a soft spot for me, David Taylor.”
Scrubbing a hand across my jaw, I let out a laugh. “Is that what’s going on?”
She took a breath and nodded. “Yeah. You do things for me that you won’t do for any other girl.”
“That’s because you’re my best friend.”
“Yeah. Well, that’s what we tell ourselves isn’t it?”
My heart kicked up a beat. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know,” she said, frowning. “I think I’ve had too much to drink. I don’t know what I’m saying.”
“No. I want to hear this.”
“It’s just…” She pressed her lips together like she wasn’t going to say anymore, then surprised me by saying, “I don’t see any other best friends who hug the way we do; touch the way we do; share a bed in secret…”
“That was only a couple of times.”
“We’re too close to be only best friends.”
Too close. Every tiny molecule in my body wanted me to grab her and show her how close I wanted to be. I couldn’t even hear that little voice telling me no anymore.
“Then what are we?” I asked, moving closer.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, her eyes flicking between my mouth and my eyes. “You treat me like I’m yours, like I mean the world to you.”
“You do.”
“But then you don’t want anything more than that. You’ll mess around with any other girl. But you won’t do anything meaningful with me.”
My forehead landed against hers. “Everything we do is meaningful.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” she whispered, her breath soft and sweet against my skin. I couldn’t help myself. I kissed her.
Letting out a tiny moan, she parted her lips, inviting my demanding tongue in.
“Trina.” Her name came out as a sigh as I laced my fingers through her hair and brought her closer so our mouths had nowhere else to go.
Every inch of my body buzzed as I moved my tongue against hers. She tasted like the alcohol she’d been drinking and the delicate flavour I remembered as being uniquely her, the flavour I craved and fought against, fought for, lived for. Shit. What was I doing?
“Trina.” I placed my hands on her hips, pulling away slightly as I realised what a terrible mistake we were making. We were best friends. I couldn’t lose that because my dick decided to take control of my thoughts for the night.
“Do the things to me that you do to other girls, David,” Trina whispered against my lips, obviously not understanding I was trying to stop. “It won’t mean anything, I promise.” She placed a hand on the side of my face and peppered tiny kisses along my jaw, her other hand at my waist, pulling at my shirt. The moment her fingers touched the bare skin of my stomach, I shuddered.
Struggle: Beautiful Series, book one Page 34
