Jeremy.
“Caitlin, you’ve stopped breathing. Are you going to be okay?”
I’ve stopped breathing because I expected Jeremy to be handsome, I expected him to be in great shape, but I never in a million years expected him to look this good.
His once dark blond hair is now a lot darker and cropped with spikes at the front. He’s wearing jeans loosely at the hips, so loosely I can see his Calvin Klein boxer rim ever so slightly popping up from the top. He’s wearing a red checked shirt, which only highlights the blue eyes I used to get lost in when I was a child.
My breath hitches and my body quivers at the sight of him. I knew seeing him again would have an effect on me, but I didn’t realize it would be half as much as this.
“Caitlin.” I feel Stacey tugging at my shirt.
Finally, I pull my roving eyes away from Jeremy and onto her. “Not interested, huh?” She pulls a face at me like she doesn’t believe me.
“I’m just shocked to see him, that’s all.”
“Oh, so that’s what you call it. I’ve never seen a shocked expression to mean roaming eyes, flushed cheeks and mouth parting as you drool on the floor.”
“I was not!” I protest.
Stacey laughs. “Yeah... you were.”
She looks over toward Jeremy and I can’t help but follow her gaze. He has his baseball cap on now. My God, I hate to admit it, but she’s right.
“It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m finished with men.”
She tenderly strokes my arm. “They’re not all the same, you know.”
I let out a sad sigh. “I know. But I also know that Jeremy isn’t the boy I once had a crush on all those years ago. You told me about his reputation. And not only that, he’s obviously violent too.”
“Yes, but that’s like a job for him.”
“And what about the time you told me he punched that guy a year back... the one who was rude to your friend, or something.”
“Caitlin, that douche called my friend a slut just because she wouldn’t sleep with him. He deserved everything he got.”
I pull my bag up higher on my shoulder and sigh again. “I know. It’s just too much of a common theme in his life.”
And just like that—as if he knew we were talking about him—Jeremy looks our way. If I thought my heart couldn’t take any more, I was wrong. It’s thumping through my chest like thunder now.
For a moment we stare, him stunned for a beat and me unable to look away. He’s so intent that the three boys who are with him and two girls also look my way. I recognize one of the boys as Calvin, but I don’t know who the others are. I’m guessing one of the girls is his girlfriend or something because she’s throwing daggers with her eyes.
I want to ask Stacey who that girl is, but I can’t seem to move. All I can do is stare at the boy who was my first ever kiss.
As if remembering, my lips tingle, but then my head clears and I have to look away. I can’t stare at him all morning.
Stacey suddenly nudges me. “He’s coming over.”
Snapping my head back to him, I see him taking long, calculating strides toward us. I’m not sure how he’s feeling, but I’m definitely reading a mixture of intrigue and annoyance.
“He looks pissed,” I whisper under my breath.
“And wouldn’t you be if he disappeared and suddenly turned up without telling you?”
I have no time to grumble back as he’s now within earshot. The closer he gets, the more monstrous in size he is. What the hell is he eating to get so big?
“Stacey,” he acknowledges.
“Hi, Jez,” she answers nervously.
“Caitlin.”
I almost quiver at the sound of my name on his tongue. His eyes are sparkling and angry—something I would normally cower from. But, Jeremy... his stare is just too heated to pull away.
“Hi, Jeremy.”
I notice his nostrils flare a little, but I can’t tell with what emotion. “It’s Jez now.”
I slightly shrug my shoulders, trying to appear indifferent, when all the while my heart won’t stop thumping. “Whatever.”
He looks at us both. “You both didn’t tell me you were here. I take it you’re attending this college.”
“No. I just like to turn up to colleges with my bag and stand outside people watching.”
I know I’m being rude to him, but for some reason I’m angry. Angry at the fact he’s changed so much and in too good a way. I’m also angry that he’s not my Jeremy anymore. Instead, he looks like an arrogant, cocky tattooed bad boy with too many girls that he can’t count on both hands.
Suddenly... I hate him.
“Is that so?” he asks with a smirk. So now he thinks this is funny. And why is his stupid grin doing things to my insides?
“When did you arrive?”
“Friday,” I tell him, trying not to sound too shaky.
He turns to Stacey. “You could have called me.”
“Hey, don’t blame her. I told her not to.”
He grips me with his stare. “And why did you tell her that? Am I not worthy anymore, or something?”
Getting flustered, I sigh. “No, that’s not what I meant. I just didn’t want a fuss.”
“It’s all good,” he says, looking behind him at his friends for a moment. “I get it. Times have changed. People have moved on.”
I swallow hard. “Yes.”
“Did your boyfriend follow you?”
The way he said boyfriend makes my stomach drop. “No, but not that it’s any of your business.”
“Of course,” he answers coolly. I can tell he’s a little pissed, though. “I’ll be sure not to take up any of your precious time then. See you around.” Ever so casually, he walks away and that’s when I can breathe again.
“Wow, Caitlin, did you have to be so rude? He was only asking you questions. Questions he has a right to ask, I might add.”
“Look, I don’t want to argue. Besides,” I say, checking my watch, “we’ve got five minutes and I don’t even know where I’m going.”
Stacey sighs and tugs at my sleeve. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
Shit, what is she doing here again after all these years? And what was the major secret about it? It pissed me off royally that she or Stacey never told me, but then I guess we haven’t spoken in a while. Was it a rush to move? Are her parents with her? So many fucking questions that I’m determined to get answers for.
What angers me even more is she looks good. Maybe a little tired, but fuck me, she looks amazing nonetheless. With her long blond hair cascading down past her delicate shoulders and the same green eyes I used to get lost in, I was finding myself back to when I was thirteen again. And did she have to wear a thin strappy dress that accentuated her full breasts and rounded hips?
Fuck, now I’m getting a hard-on when I’m supposed to be studying Criminal Psychology. At least Stacey is in the same class as me, so I can bother her with questions. I know I won’t be able to concentrate on class today, that’s for sure. The only reason why I took Criminal Psychology was because for some reason I liked delving into the minds of killers. For me, it was a good a choice as any.
As I think on what happened this morning, the one person I am after walks in with her fiery red hair bouncing as she strolls. I can see all the boys watching her in class. She is attractive, but I only see it in a sisterly kind of way. I virtually grew up with Stacey, so that’s all I’ll ever see her as. Caitlin, on the other hand, was the exception. I always knew she was meant for me.
Shaking my head with that errant thought, I motion to Stacey to come and sit at the desk next to me. Nervously, she averts her eyes. She knows she’s in big trouble once she gets here.
“She swore me to secrecy, Jez. I had no other choice.” She’s on the defense the moment she sits down. That means she knows she’s in the wrong.
“Never mind that for now. Did she come on her own?”
“Yes, we’re rooming together on Pitcher’s Street.”
“Is she okay? She looked tired.”
I can see a hint of sadness in her eyes before she answers. “She’s... well, she’s not been getting a lot of sleep lately.”
“Why not?”
“I guess she’s a little stressed with the move and all.”
“So why has she come? Why didn’t she stay with her parents in Nebraska?”
“She just felt she needed a new start. She said she missed me and missed being home.”
For some reason I knew this was a lie, but I don’t press her on it.
“So, the boyfriend hasn’t come?”
I see a slight wince when I ask and it puts my hackles up. “No, he’s not a feature in her life anymore.”
“So they’ve split up?”
“You can say that, yes.”
“And she’s not seeing anyone else?”
“Jesus, Jez, you’re asking a lot of questions.”
“Can you blame me? My own friend failed to mention that an ex-friend was in town.” I sigh with a huff.
“I’m sorry.”
“Is she in trouble?”
She doesn’t look at me when she answers. “No.”
“Is she okay?” I know I’ve asked that already, but I can’t help asking again.
Stacey still doesn’t look at me. “Yes, she’s doing okay.”
I don’t ask anything more after that as I don’t need to. Stacey’s reactions to my questions were more than enough answers for me. For some reason it would seem Caitlin left in a hurry and I feel it’s got something to do with this fucking ex of hers. I don’t like that this pisses me off, but something in my gut tells me I need to find out what exactly has been going on these past five years.
* * *
The class goes agonizingly slow. The whole time all I seemed to have been doing was chewing at the end of my pen and shaking my leg. I felt compelled to go after Caitlin and make her talk to me. Somehow, I knew I was going to hit a brick wall once I did.
“Class dismissed.”
I barely registered the professor’s voice, but it was enough to get my feet moving. Picking up my bag, I attempt to move away when Stacey grabs my wrist. “Go easy on her, okay? She doesn’t need you getting all up in her face.”
I grin back at her. “Who said I will?” I then wink. “See you later, Stace.”
I catch her rolling her eyes at me with a grin before making my way out of class. “Jez!” I hear a girl’s voice shout.
I turn round and see it’s Amy. “How can I help you?” I ask, looking all around for Caitlin.
Amy strolls up to me, placing her hand on my chest. “Fancy coming round my place later? My brother’s not going to be there.”
“Can’t, I’m working.”
“I’m horny.”
Finally, I look down at her with a smirk. “Well, you’re just going to have to either find someone else, or use that special toy I know you keep in your second drawer.”
“None of them will ever compare to you. Oh, come on, Jez. Just for an hour.”
I take her hand, gently pulling it away. “I can’t Amy, I have to work.”
She does her signature pout before looking up. Immediately my eyes lock with Caitlin’s as she makes her way past us. She narrows her eyes at me and I can tell by her reaction that she doesn’t like the fact I’m standing very intimately with another girl. The thought of it makes my dick stiff.
Once she disappears past me, I look back at Amy and can see her also narrowing her eyes at Caitlin. “Who is that girl?”
“An old friend.” Suddenly, I need to flee. “Listen, I got to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I don’t wait for her to respond. My feet just want to move and move in the direction of a certain blondie-top hurrying her way across the lawn and onto the parking lot.
“Wait!” I shout, trying to run as fast as I can to her.
I see her press a key and the lights of a Range Rover come on. She’s just about to open the door when I catch up with her. “Don’t you generally stop when people call after you?”
She doesn’t look at me when she answers. “What is there to stop for? Besides, you looked kind of... busy.”
She places her bag across the passenger side and starts climbing up the driver’s side to get in. “What you saw... that was nothing. Amy, she’s just a friend.”
Finally she looks at me. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me. It’s none of my business who you talk to and cavort with.”
I smile. “Cavort?”
She doesn’t smile back. “Yes, cavort.” She places her hand on the door handle. “Can I go home now, or are you going to stand in my way all day?”
I pretend to think on that. “Hmm, I think stand in your way all day is much more entertaining.”
“Jeremy,” she warns.
“Caitlin.” I beam a big smile at her and swear her lip curves up, but she quickly recovers.
“I haven’t got all day.”
“Fancy going for a drink later... to catch up?”
She sighs. “I haven’t got time. Besides, I’m sure you could be doing other things.”
I have this raging urge to tell her that I would much rather be doing her, but I hold my tongue.
“I have all evening.”
“Well, I don’t, so you’ll just have to find something else to do.”
“What will you be doing instead?”
She looks at me disgusted. “That’s none of your business.”
“Okay, then. How about tomorrow?” She shakes her head. “Or the day after that? Or the day after that?”
“Jeremy, stop this and let me go.”
I only like it when my mom and dad call me Jeremy, but for some reason I don’t mind it when Caitlin calls me it too. It reminds me of old times... better times.
“Okay, I’ll let you go as long as you promise me a night out with you one time. You don’t have to tell me when. Just that you’ll go.”
She rolls her eyes with a sigh, but I can tell she’s only faking being pissed with me. “Okay, if I promise one night, you’ll definitely move out of the way and let me go?”
I place my hand on my chest. “I am a man of my word.”
She looks at me, finally smiles, and shakes her head. “Okay, I’ll go out with you one night. Now piss off.”
“Aww, you’re breaking my heart here,” I answer, moving out of the way. She immediately shuts the door.
“I didn’t know you had one.”
I could clearly hear her through the glass, but motion that I couldn’t so she can wind her window down. She rolls her eyes again and flicks the switch. “I didn’t know you had one,” she says again, once the window is down.
Walking toward her window, I place my arms on the rim. I notice the flush in her cheeks as she pulls back. “Of course I have one. You remember, don’t you, Caitlin?”
“You’ve changed.”
I look her up and down and notice her heated eyes as I do. “So have you.”
She doesn’t say anything for a moment. I can tell she’s finding it hard to break our stare. I hold it, though. I want to hold her stare for as long as possible. She has the most amazing cat like eyes.
But then finally, as if realizing she’s weakening to my advances, she grits her teeth. “I thought you promised to move out of the way.”
Placing my hands up in the air, I back off. “You’re free to go.”
“Thank you,” she replies sarcastically.
“You’re looking good, Caitlin.” I hear her grunting as she starts her engine. “Can’t wait for our night out.” As she reverses out of the space, I wave at her for extra effect. All she does is shake her head. “Bye, then.”
Once she’s turned the car around and leaving, I feel a hand on my shoulder. “Dude, I never thought I’d see the day where you’re chasing a girl. Was that who I think it is?”
Turning, I find Calvin staring at me with a big, shit-eating grin. “Yes, that was Caitlin. It seems she’s back in to
wn.”
He hisses in a breath. “I don’t think Amy is going to be pleased.”
I shrug. “Amy knows the score. Besides, I go out with lots of women. How is this any different?”
He pats me on the shoulder. “The difference, my man, is that you’ve only known about her return for a few hours and already you’re all over her like bee on pollen.”
I shrug it off. “Hey, what can I say? She looked a bit too fucking good in that dress. She’s also filled out nicely.” I have to stop myself before I go a little too far. Already I can feel my dick twitch.
“I hear ya.” He smirks. “Did she say why she was back?”
“No, but Stacey told me she missed the place.” I didn’t say it, but I knew there was far more to it than that.
“So, what’s your POA?” I frown at him. “Plan of action? What are you going to do about the fact she’s back?”
I smile back at him. “I’m sure I can think of a few things.”
I get home from college earlier, a little flustered. It pissed me off how much he bothered me, and it still pisses me off that I’m thinking about him now. I came here to get away from distractions... especially male distractions. My sole purpose was to go to college and study history so I can become a museum curator. I have a love of old relics and have done since I was young. I missed a bit of school because of what happened with Jack. I can’t let another boy distract me like he once did.
As I’m sitting on the couch with the TV on, which I’m not really watching, I hear the sound of a key in the door. Stacey walks through with a smile on her face. “Hey, you,” she greets. “How was your first day?”
She slouches down next to me and turns her body toward me. I shrug my shoulders. “It was okay, I guess. I already have an assignment for next week, so I went to work on it the moment I got back. You?”
She smirks and I can tell she’s bursting to tell me something. “It was... interesting. The lesson was okay, but what was more interesting about it was that Jez kept asking me questions about you.”
“He was?” Okay, that sounded a little too eager than I intended. Stacey notices of course and smiles.
Scozzari: Deviant #3 Page 3
