Brutal Boys

by Nora Cobb

  “Theo, you’re back.”

  He nods his head, but he looks away when I look him in the eye. “Yeah, I just wanted to stop by and say goodbye.”

  “Goodbye?” I’m in shock, so much so that I don’t even ask how he got into our suite.

  “Vicki, I felt like everyone was whispering about me as I crossed the campus. I don’t think I can do this.”

  “That’s bullshit,” I tell him. “You can’t give up. It’s your senior year.”

  There’s a knock on the door, and I leave him to open it. The school added a peephole to our door and all the others. I look through and see Talia waving back at me. I fling it open, and she marches in, followed by four other kids that I vaguely know. They have rainbow scarves tied to their upper arms.

  “Are you hiding from me?” Talia places her hands on her hips and eyes Theo.

  He smiles sheepishly. “Talia, I told you. I’m giving up.”

  She walks over to the couch and sits by Theo. I wave the others in, motioning toward the available seats. Soon I’m playing hostess and offering everyone seltzer and snack food. Luna shows up, and her face beams as she stares at the impromptu party.

  “What’s this?” she smiles at Theo.

  Talia answers. “This is the new color guard. Get it? We will be escorting Theo around campus, making sure that he doesn’t get bullied while people get their brains adjusted.” She turns back to Theo. “And in return, you will be the first editor of the alternative newsletter we all discussed.”

  “I’m not sure,” replies Theo, staring at me for help.

  I shake my head and don’t offer him an easy out. “It sounds good to me. Put your mad skills to use instead of decorating your walls.”

  “Exactly,” replies Talia, “while we’re marching around campus, I intend to enlighten people and pass out anti-bullying flyers. You will be our first spokesperson.”

  Theo looks around at our expectant faces. “So, I’m turning a negative into a cause.”

  “With our help,” replies Talia. “That shitty thing that happened could have happened to any one of us.” Everyone solemnly nods their head in agreement. “We’re going to put the shame where it belongs. Not on us but on them.”

  Theo smiles as he stares off into the future, a brighter future than the one he’s been looking at over the past few weeks. He grabs Talia into a hug and squeezes her.

  “Fuck, yeah,” he declares. “I’m in.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Winter break starts tomorrow, so I do a little housecleaning. I move my bed around to the other wall. One, to disrupt the association I have of it with Silas. Two, so I can see someone coming through my bedroom door, and three, so when I’m sitting up in bed, I can look out the window.

  My bedroom window looks out onto the edge of the woods. It’s basically the same view every day. Obviously, the pine trees leading into the dense forest don’t change color in the fall. But the view mesmerizes me as I stare out into the ever-changing sky. I haven’t been on a nature walk with Dad in a while, but instead of making me homesick, watching the birds hop from branch to branch comforts me. It’s like Dad isn’t that far away.

  I walk up to the window, and if I press my nose against the glass, I can just see the parking lot behind the center building. I see a late-model Mercedes SUV parked behind the cars in the lot, blocking Dom’s Mercedes in. A guy hops out of the car, looks up at the center window, and waves. He’s tall and dark like Chase but older and a little thinner. He must be his brother, Adrian. I step back quickly when he looks over in my direction.

  My phone buzzes, and I snatch it off my desk. It’s a message from Chase saying, “Goodbye.” And nothing else.

  We haven’t been close since that day I insulted him, and it hurts me more than I thought it would. I miss Chase, just hanging out with him when it’s us alone and we’re not worrying about Silas or status. The people we know have placed a wedge between us. My finger hovers over the screen. If I answer right away, Chase might want me to come down and meet his brother. I’m not sure if I’m ready to pretend we’re okay. But it’s not my choice in the end. When I peek out the window again, I see the SUV driving away along the path toward the main road.

  Vicki: Bye. Have fun. Merry Xmas.

  Chase: You too. C U after break.

  Silas left the day before, so I can relax. No retribution before the holidays, I guess. I’m so relaxed that I feel limp, and I hate that he has that strong of an influence over me.

  I plop down on the bed, feeling alone, which is ridiculous. Why? Because I don’t have a man? And look at my choices. Silas is never ever going to happen in this lifetime or the next. Dom is too busy playing hot and cold. Why should I have to appease him when he’s too moody to be around people? And Chase? Well, Marcy will scratch my eyes out if I look at him again.

  I stare at the ceiling as if it isn’t just plain white paint. Dating a normal guy isn’t an option for me. Rhys is right. I’m intimidating. I’d take a normal guy and chew his ass up for dinner then spit it out. I need a challenge, or I’m out of the relationship. But these boys? This is too much angst. But they’re not asking for love. They’re asking for my power. And in return, they’ll open all the doors I need to succeed.

  I must have been tired because I drift off and don’t wake up until there’s someone knocking on the front door. I stumble off the bed, hurry to the door, and open it. Dom is standing there with a brown shopping bag in his hands. He looks at me and grins softly, but I can’t read his expression. Is he ashamed, shy, or flirting? Make up your mind, man.

  I step aside. “Please enter.”

  He looks around, and I can’t recall if he’s ever been in my suite before. He definitely hasn’t been inside since we redesigned it. Luna and I didn’t want it to look the same after the break-in. No reminders of that scary night. We went with Ikea furnishings and had the walls painted a soft pink. Pink isn’t my color, but I will admit that it does calm me down and make me grin foolishly. The couch and the curtains are yellowy-beige, and the rest of the furniture is a soft gray. We even bought a wicker basket and filled it with pastel yarns though neither one of us knits. And of course, we have a lot of plants. A ridiculous macramé wall hanging is above the couch. It’s wide enough to cover the floor. And it’s going into the dumpster when we move out, but right now, it works.

  Dom looks around and cringes a little. “Not what I expected.”

  “I can like pink.” I flop down on the couch and grab a throw pillow to hug. “I need a happy place.”

  He nods as he sits down in the gray tweed armchair. “We all need a happy place.” He holds up the bag. “I got you something.”

  I sit forward, tossing the pillow aside. “What is it?”

  He takes two gifts out of the bag and hands them to me. “One’s from me…the other’s from Chase.” He grimaces when he says Chase’s name.

  The gifts are wrapped in traditional holiday paper—one in red foil with a gold bow, and the other in blue paper with a silver bow. I slip my fingernail under the tape and stop. “Which one is from you?” I ask him.

  “The blue one.”

  “Should I wait to open it?” I ask, but my fingertip is poised under the tape.

  “Let it rip,” he replies, sitting back.

  And I do. I love opening presents more than owning stuff. It’s the anticipation of seeing what’s inside, and knowing that I’ll be happy with anything, because I love getting a gift. I tear open the small box, and it’s a pair of silver bracelets. The two thin bangles intertwine, and when I tilt them, they unlock. But when I slip them on my wrist, they intertwine again.

  “They’re puzzle bracelets,” he explains. “I hope you like it.”

  Forgetting common sense and self-preservation, I bounce off the couch and onto his lap. Dom smiles the widest smile I’ve seen in a long time. I wrap my arms around his neck, and I give him a kiss on his cheek. He hasn’t shaved this morning, and his whiskers tickle my nose. I run the tip of my nose ov
er his stiff stubble, loving the feel of it and inhaling the scent of soap, and he pulls me in closer with a moan. I pull back a little and stare into his sexy eyes.

  “I didn’t get you anything,” I say sadly.

  Dom smiles. “Yes, you just did.”

  He kisses me on the lips—hard but sweet. My body starts melting in his built arms. He smells warm and wonderful. It’s odd how warmth has a scent. I crave it. I crave being touched. Why couldn’t he have been like this before in the woods? I might have…I moan against his lips as Dom flattens me against his hard chest. Dom cups the back of my head in his large hand, getting closer. I squirm on his lap. The silver bracelets clank against each other on my arm as I run my fingers through his blond hair. I could have bought a pair of bracelets myself, but that’s not the point. He thought about me long enough to give me a gift that would mean something to the two of us whenever I wore it.

  He frees my lips. “Should we do this somewhere else?”

  I slip off his lap, but Dom grabs me and pulls me back. I tense, staring into his hazy eyes. “Don’t run away yet,” he whispers. He hooks his arm around my head and kisses me again. I cuddle in his arms and sigh. I’m hooked again on his kisses. Dom presses his mouth against my neck, and it tickles as he gently nips my skin. I’m so close to pulling him down on the floor, but I can’t.

  I push him back. “Not yet, okay?”

  He bites his lips and nods. I move to get off his lap, but he holds me there. “Are you going to open your other present?”

  I look over at the gift wrapped in the red paper, and I’m not sure if I should open it in front of Dom. I look at him sheepishly and shake my head.

  Dom scoffs. “Go ahead. He wants you to have it.”

  Dom seems okay now that he’s the one holding me. I reach over to the couch while he holds me on his lap. Giggling, I grab it and sit square on his lap while I open Chase’s gift.

  “You’re like Santa, aren’t you?” I smile.

  He winks. “Only bad girls sit on my lap.”

  I tear open the paper, and my eyes widen with delight. It’s a freaking microphone for my iPhone. “This is great,” I say, opening up the box.

  “Now you can tell us off, amplified.”

  I laugh at his snide remark, and he smiles. “Should I start with you?” I ask.

  He grins, but it’s not a happy one. “I wish you would. Are you serious about Chase?”

  I look down at the box, but I’m not reading the print on it. I don’t know how to answer him. I’m attracted to Dom as much as I’m attracted to Chase, but it’s the baggage that’s pulling me down. Can I deal with what happened before and move past it toward the future?

  “Honestly, I’m not serious about anyone right now.” I glance away. “Can I ask you a weird question?”

  He nods. “Sure, let’s make this more interesting.”

  I press my lips together, trying to figure out how to phrase it. “When I spoke to Rhys, he said, Silas wasn’t interested in Rosemonde because she’s not the right type of girl. He says I am, and that’s why I interest the three of you.” I add the last bit because I don’t want Dom to even think I want Silas. That would be science fiction.

  Dom pulls me onto his lap so I’m comfy, leaning against him. It’s weird, but it feels like he’s about to tell me a bedtime story. “Rosemonde doesn’t have it.” He raises an eyebrow. “You have something that’s not easy to explain. I saw it in Malibu. You have an energy that engages people. If Silas hadn’t threatened half the student body, you would’ve won the election.” He laughs a little. “You really should be in front of the camera.”

  “I still don’t understand what it is.”

  “You know how someone is really good-looking, but they seem to be unaware of it?” he asks.

  I nod.

  “Well, you have that quality that makes people want to follow you. You’re a natural-born leader. Silas had to learn it. I inherited it, and Chase works at it. But you have it all on your own.”

  Feeling shy, I look down at my feet and wiggle my toes in my socks. Dom lifts my arm up and moves my body away from his. “Up you go,” he says. “I have to pee.”

  “You can use my bathroom.”

  He walks straight to my room, and I follow but stay out in the hall. “How did you know this was my room?” I ask.

  “I just knew,” he replies.

  I eye the walls, wondering what gave it away, but I step back when I realize that he didn’t shut the bathroom door. I’m used to it. I grew up with an older brother, who I’ll be thrilled to see in a few hours.

  “What are your plans for the break?” I shout into the room.

  “Nothing. I’m hanging out here.”

  “Why don’t you come home with me?” I ask.

  Dom doesn’t answer. I hear the toilet flush, and then he washes his hands. I walk into my bedroom and lean against the open bathroom door, watching him scrub his hands with my expensive honey-charcoal face soap. Dom watches his hands closely, avoiding facing me. He shuts off the water, and I hand him my towel to dry his hands.

  “Did you hear me?” I ask.

  He nods. “Don’t worry about me, Vicki. I get a lot done when no one else is around. I look forward to time by myself.”

  “I never thought of you as a recluse.”

  “I’m picky about who I spend my time with.” Dom leans toward me while parting his lips and closing his eyes. A rush soars through me as I lift my chin to his. His lips brush mine, but I pull quickly away as soon as I hear the front door open.

  “Hey, Vicki!” Luna shouts out. “Are you home?”

  I shrug my shoulders innocently and hurry into the living room. Luna tosses a bag of groceries on the table. I open it and see bananas, kale, and heavy cream.

  “What are you planning?” I ask.

  She grabs the bag away from me. “It’s a smoothie for lunch.” She looks up when Dom comes out of the bedroom, but she keeps her cool. “Hey, Dom. Happy holidays.”

  He smiles and walks over to Luna. Dom wraps his arms around her, and she hugs him back, closing her eyes and humming as he rocks her side to side in a big bear hug. I watch them as if I’m the third wheel, just spinning around. Shoving my hands in my jean pockets, a pinch of jealousy makes me frown as I watch them. But I let it go quickly. I had my chance.

  “I got you something.” Dom smiles at Luna as she clasps her hands together.

  “I got you something too,” she says. She shrugs when I look at her with wide eyes.

  Dom grabs his shopping bag and hands her a present wrapped in purple paper. He smiles when her eyes light up, and Luna grabs it out of his hand with no shame.

  “May I open it now?” she asks.

  He nods and follows us to the couch. I’m smiling with excitement to see what he gave her, and Luna’s happiness is infecting me like a blissful drug. How can I ever be jealous of her?

  She tears the paper off the gift and holds up a super-cool yoga tank top with a symbol going down the back along the spine. “Fucking fantastic. Oh!” she squeals. “It’s a cat.”

  Luna jumps up and hugs Dom again while I hold her tank top up in the air and examine the swirling white strokes that create a lean, long cat in a downward dog pose. “This is cool, Luna,” I say, admiring it, “You’re going to look so hot in this.”

  “Thanks.” She kisses Dom’s cheek and rushes off to her bedroom, coming back with a little gift wrapped in paper decorated with small green pine trees. She hands it to him. “It’s sort of goofy, but I hope you like it.”

  Dom smiles at her and then at his gift. He opens it and starts laughing. It’s a psychedelic patch with a cannabis leaf riding a surfboard. He hugs Luna. “Thanks so much. This is great.”

  She smiles and rocks on her heels. Her long fingers slip the patch out of his hand. “I can sew it on anything for you. Just bring me whatever you want, and I’ll do it.”

  “I will,” Dom looks at me. “I have to take off. Thanks for the invite, Vicki. Maybe sprin
g break?”

  I nod and walk with him to the front door. “Thanks for the bracelets. I love them.”

  He stares at my lips and pulls me out into the hall. His lips are on mine before I can react. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and pull him down to my mouth. Breathing heavily, we break apart.

  “I’m serious,” I whisper. “Give me a call if you want to join us.”

  “Will we be alone?” He raises an eyebrow.

  I shake my head. “Do you ever stop?”

  “I’ll stop when you say yes.”