When Art Rises: Living in Cin: (A Twisted Interracial High School Love Triangle)

by Lorrain Allen

  Before I can decide on my next move, Art throws his heavy body on top of mine, pinning my wrists above my head and preventing further action.

  “Think about what you’re about to do. You really don’t want to hurt me.” I struggle beneath him.

  I’m not really sure what he’s really capable of. I’m alone with an unstable boy, and the nearest neighbor is a mile down the road. No one will hear my cries for help.

  “You want more of my dick? Is that it? I’m sorry. You’ll have to get your appetite sated by Trevor or Josh from now on.” He bares his teeth.

  “Josh and I never had sex.”

  “Stop lying!”

  “It’s true! You have it all wrong.”

  “That’s not what Lilah said.”

  “I didn’t kiss Josh. He kissed me, but that’s it. I promise you, Art.”

  “Why should I believe you when you’re cheating on Trevor with me? You don’t understand the word faithful.”

  “How can you judge me? So, it’s okay if I cheat on Trevor, but only with you?”

  “Yes!” He attacks my lips ruthlessly.

  I return his kiss with a ferociousness of my own, drunk off the onslaught of his lust. Art rises to his knees, tugging down my sweatpants. I grasp his hands, stopping him.

  “No, I’m on my period.”

  “Blood doesn’t scare me. I need you now.” He pulls my bottoms and panties off.

  Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t deny him, not when my desire for him surpasses any emotion I’ve ever experienced in my young life. I spread my legs, eagerly waiting for him to fuck me. He frees his beautiful dick, which juts from a nest of fine black curls. Having sex while on my period will be the most taboo thing I’ve ever done. He pulls the tampon from my center, tossing the blood-soaked cotton to the floor. The intimacy of this moment will be burned in my memories forever. He guides my legs over his shoulders before driving into my opening. My pussy curves to his dick perfectly, almost as if I was created for him.

  He fucks me aggressively, showing me no mercy, and I love every fucking second of it. We cling to each other, both new to the exquisite passion we share.

  “I thought I’d already hit rock bottom, but you came along and introduced me to a new hell. You’ll be my destruction.”

  “I don’t want to destroy you.”

  “I nearly lost my fucking mind without talking to you, touching you, breathing you…” He groans.

  Violent tremors wrack my entire body, momentarily rendering me unable to form words. Art’s shout of pleasure rings through my ears. Afterwards, we shower together then scrub the blood from the carpet. I never imagined period sex could be so damn amazing.

  The next day, I devise a plan to help Art find closure. I’ll need his full cooperation for it to be successful. This weekend is the perfect opportunity, since Josh and Trevor are going on a fishing trip with Ricky. Ricky insisted Art join them, but not surprisingly, he vehemently refused. My mom and aunt, along with some of their friends, will be traveling to Las Vegas for a girls’ getaway Friday morning. They think I’ll be staying with Anneli. It was like pulling teeth to persuade her to cover for me, but she relented after I explained my reasoning. Once I’m sure everyone has left Saturday morning, I drive home before the sun brightens the dark sky.

  I find Art awake, lying on his bed.

  “Get dressed. We’re going on a road trip.”

  He glances up from his cell phone. “Is that right?”

  “Yep.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Boston.”

  “Why?”

  “We’re going to visit Cole’s grave.”

  “I’m not going there.”

  “You need—”

  “Drop it.”

  “No.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “No, I will not drop it. We’re going.”

  “I’m not having this conversation.”

  “I’m not leaving this room until you do.”

  “It would take me no effort to pick your little ass up and throw you out.”

  “Fucking pussy.”

  “I hate to break it to you, but reverse psychology doesn’t work on me.”

  “You owe it to your brother to go.”

  “Watch it. You’re treading on dangerous ground.”

  “If it’ll get you to go, I’ll stomp all over the motherfucker.”

  “Get out.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Art tosses his cell phone on the bed before standing. The dangerous ground he spoke of is about to crack, but I refuse to back down. He stops directly in front of me, stooping to my level until our eyelashes kiss.

  “Don’t make me fuck you up,” he threatens.

  “Stop acting like a pansy ass punk!”

  He clutches my shoulders, shaking me so violently I begin to feel dizzy as my teeth clank together.

  “I swear to God, I’ll break your fucking fingers.”

  “Will that make you feel better?” I shout.

  “Yes!” he snarls.

  “Show Cole you love him. Show him you haven’t forgotten about him.” I caress his face.

  “I can’t,” he chokes.

  “I know everything inside of you is rebelling against taking this leap, but Art, you need to do this.”

  He remains silent for a few minutes before speaking, but still it’s a small victory for me.

  “I’ll go, but I want something in return.”

  I should’ve known there would be a catch.

  “Name it.”

  “No, I’m not going to tell you, but when the time comes for you to pay your debt, no questions asked.”

  “How can I agree when you won’t tell me what the condition is?”

  “Take it or leave it.”

  “I’ll take it.”

  It really doesn’t matter what he wants, I guess. I’d do anything to get him to go.

  “I have to buy you a helmet.”

  “That won’t be necessary.”

  “Yes, it is. I’ll risk my life, but not yours.”

  “It’s not necessary because I’m not getting on that death trap. We can take my car.”

  “That old piece of crap won’t make it past Pennsylvania.”

  “Hey, respect the car. It may be old, but it’s very reliable.”

  “Okay, but it’ll be your fault it we end up stuck on the side of the road.”

  Maybe I shouldn’t have let Cin talk me into doing this. I descend further into panic-attack mode the closer we get to Boston.

  Suck it the fuck up, pussy.

  This visit is long overdue.

  “Why are you so quiet? You’ve barely spoken two words since you got into the car.”

  I turn my gaze from the scenery I’ve watched for the last several hours to peer at Cin. “Just thinking.”

  “You’re scared.”

  “Shitless.” When did it become so easy for me to admit my vulnerabilities to her?

  “I’m surprised you gave in.”

  “So am I.”

  “Why did you?”

  “It’s time to face my demons.”

  “You don’t have to face them alone. I’ll be there to support you every step of the way. If you want me to wait in the car, I can do that, or if you want me to walk with you to Cole’s gravesite, I can do that too. Whatever you need.”

  I’m falling in love with this girl. I don’t deserve her, or happiness. Walking away from her will be one of the hardest things I’ll ever do. I hate to admit it, but Trevor isn’t so bad. He’ll treat Cin right, and that’s what matters.

  “Thank you.”

  I can’t remember the last time I made that statement and meant it.

  “You’re welcome.”

  I become lost in the beautiful smile she rewards me with.

  “You hungry?”

  I clear my throat. “I could eat.”

  “According to the GPS, we’re in Hagerstown, Maryland. Ever stop here?”

&
nbsp; “No, only drove through.”

  “Check to see what restaurants are around.”

  “What are you in the mood for?”

  “I could use a big, fat, juicy burger.”

  “Got it.” I do a quick search. “What about Dixie’s Burger Joint?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Are you planning on visiting your parents while we’re in Boston?” I take a bite of my burger.

  “Nope.”

  “Do you think you’ll ever forgive them?”

  “They don’t deserve forgiveness.”

  “What about your grandfather? What has he done to make you hate him so much?”

  “He’s a manipulative, narcissistic prick.” Art laughs. “And I’m just like him.”

  “You’re not.”

  Why can’t Art see he’s so much more than what he believes?

  “I won’t deny who I am. I’m not the hero, Cin—I’m the anti-hero. There’s no goodness in me, so don’t look for it, because you’ll be disappointed.”

  “You’re your own worst enemy.”

  “Why does it matter, anyway? In several months, we’ll never see each other again. After college, you’ll marry your high school sweetheart then pop out a few brats.”

  He might as well have thrown a glass of cold water in my face like the night we first met. I can’t stomach the thought of never seeing him again. I’ll always wonder it he’s hurting, using cocaine again, or worse.

  “Your uncle is marrying my mom, so we’ll see each other again.”

  “I’m not going to the wedding. I’ll be a legal adult way before then, doing whatever the hell I want, with no one getting in my way.”

  “You can visit for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays.”

  I’m grasping at straws, and I know it.

  “Do you think I’m going to carve the turkey while Trevor holds the fork in it? Wake the fuck up. While everyone’s watching football, are we going to sneak to the bathroom for a quickie? You’re living in a dreamland.”

  I drop the burger on the plate, suddenly losing my appetite.

  “Are you done?”

  I nod.

  “Good, let’s go.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  Now what? My hands clench the steering wheel, turning my knuckles white. “You said you were tired, so go to sleep.”

  “How old were you when you started using cocaine?”

  “Thirteen.”

  “How does a thirteen-year-old get introduced to a drug like that?”

  “One of my mother’s associates.”

  “You’re shitting me.”

  “I shit you not.”

  “That’s child abuse!” Cin says in outrage. “Does your mom know?”

  “Nah. She introduced me to sex, too.”

  “The bitch is a pedophile? Art, you should’ve told someone. You still could.”

  “I liked every minute of it.”

  “Duh, at thirteen, I’m sure your hormones were running wild. But she took advantage of you.”

  “What’s done is done.”

  “When did it stop?”

  “We continued to fuck until Cole’s death.”

  “You haven’t seen her since?”

  “I’ve seen her.”

  “Did you fuck her?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “I wasn’t interested in having sex with anyone at that time.”

  “She should be in jail.”

  “You should be thanking her.”

  “Are you mad?” Cin sputters.

  “How do you think I learned to fuck the way I do? Not many teenage boys fuck like me. I’ve made you orgasm in less than three minutes more than once by eating your pussy. I bet Trevor has never done that.”

  “If I had to choose between you not being molested or me being fucked well, I’d choose the former.”

  “How old were you when you lost your virginity?”

  “Sixteen.”

  “With Trevor?”

  “Yes.”

  “He’s the only one you’ve been with besides me?”

  “Yes. How many girls have you been with?”

  “Shit if I know.”

  “Have you ever had a girlfriend?”

  “Nope.”

  “Why?”

  “Having one never appealed to me.”

  The entrance to the cemetery appears in the distance. How the hell did we get here so fast?

  “We’re here,” I croak.

  “Do you remember where he’s buried?”

  “I could never forget.”

  I drive through the gates and park near the cedar tree where Cole rests.

  I lay my head against the steering wheel, hyperventilating.

  “I. Can’t. Breathe.”

  Cin rubs my back with a firm, reassuring hand. “It’s okay. We can stay in the car for a little while.”

  Get yourself together Art. You didn’t come all this way to not follow through.

  I compose myself. “No, I’m ready.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Hell no.” I open the car door, stepping out on shaky legs.

  My stomach feels like it’s filled with butterflies. I break out in a cold sweat before I hunch over and vomit. Again, Cin offers me unwavering support, running to my side. I heave until there’s nothing left, then drop to the ground, hanging my head between my drawn-up knees. Cin grasps my face, lifting my head to place a soft kiss on my lips. She stands, offering me her hand. I should’ve known from the moment she threw her glass of water in my face, she would destroy the carefully constructed wall I built around myself. What would I be doing right this very second had I not been shipped off to North Carolina? How different would things have been had I never been introduced to a life of Cin? I slide my hand into her much smaller one before slowly pushing up from the ground. We walk towards the cedar tree. My steps falter when the top of Cole’s gravestone comes into my line of vision.

  “We’re almost there.” She squeezes my hand.

  A photo of Cole is engraved in granite with an angel sitting on each side of the black rock. I fall to my knees, tracing the words In Loving Memory of Cole King. I shout, loud and long—all the pent-up rage, guilt, hate, and grief spilling from the depths of my soul. I wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone.

  “Why?” I scream, tilting my head to the sky.

  Cin kneels on the grass beside me, a lifeline in my fucked-up universe.

  “Cole, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you. I’m so sorry I wasn’t the big brother you needed me to be. I love you so much.” Tears spill from my eyes.

  “He knows you love him.” Cin kisses my cheek.

  I brush my thumb across her wet face. “You’re crying for me.”

  “Your pain is my pain.”

  “I want to hold him in my arms one more time.”

  “I know. You can’t see or physically touch him, but he’ll always be with you.”

  “You’ve given me something I never thought I’d have again.”

  “What?”

  “Hope.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  I watch Cin as she walks to the car and retrieves a bag, before coming back to sit at my hip.

  “I thought it would be good to give Cole a small gift for his birthday.” She reaches into her bag, pulling out a Hulk action figure to place in front of the gravestone. “And I know he would enjoy hearing his big brother read a book about cars.”

  “Cin…”

  I love you.

  She’s peers at me expectantly.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  I take the book, opening it. There I sit and read, feeling a sense of peace for the first time since I found Cole’s lifeless body floating in the pool.

  Art pulls into the parking lot of a tattoo shop a few hours later.

  “What are we doing here?”

  “You have a d
ebt to pay.”

  “And what exactly do you have in mind?” I ask nervously.

  “You’re getting a tattoo.”

  “No, the hell I’m not!” I exclaim.

  “You gave your word. There’s no backing out now.”

  “A tattoo is so permanent.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You agreed.”

  “Choose something else, anything.”

  “Nope, let’s go.”

  “Art—”

  He’s out of the car, cutting off my protest. What the hell did I agree to? I enter the shop, finding Art at the counter. I come to a stop next to him.

  “She’s getting the tattoo.”

  The big burly man gives me a once over.

  “I need to see some I.D.,” he says.

  Thank God. Maybe there’s a chance I could still get out of this, at least for the time being. Art retrieves a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet, sliding it over the counter.

  “She lost her I.D.”

  The man pushes the money back across the counter. “That’s too bad.”

  Art tosses two more hundred-dollar bills on the counter. “Are you sure you can’t make an exception?”

  The man eyes the money, practically salivating at the mouth. Money may not be able to buy happiness, but it can buy a whole lot of other shit.

  “This stays between us.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “What will you be getting today, little lady?”

  “I…”

  “It’s a surprise,” Art says.

  “I have no say?”

  “No, I choose.”

  “Bishop,” the man yells.

  “What?”

  “Customers.”

  “This is my body.”

  “Trust me.”

  Reluctantly, I nod.

  Once Bishop appears, he and Art have a private conversation. After my fate is sealed, we follow him to his station.