3

by Shera Eitel-Casey

  Nic walked in “There you are! Oh, hey Jett. Your sister is hilarious and she isn't even drinking yet. You guys gotta come down stairs.” I looked at her and said “Okay we'll be down in a minute.”

  “So should I call the police – if I do, I think I need to break the party up first.” I got up and walked over to Jett and stood in front of him.

  “So Cale is sick in the head huh. We should tell my uncle, since he knows the rest of the story.” He pulled on the hem of my t-shirt and I let myself fall into him, putting my hands on his waist and I'm not sure if I planted one on him or he on me, but we kissed.

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him downstairs to see what was going on. The party had grown; our basement was large so it held everyone. My sister and Alec were playing music and dancing, everyone was having a good time. The only one that was out of control was Peyton... dancing like a mad person. I'll have to make sure she doesn't drink anything else tonight. Her boyfriend and other friends seemed to be outside, they started a bonfire. Nic, Storm and Shelby were at the bar. We went over to chat with the gang.

  “Hey, nice to see you guys!” As we made our way to the bar, drunken Peyton fell into Jett, “Crap, I should take her upstairs” I said.

  “I got it.” Jett replied.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah I got it. Your parents room, right?”

  “Yes please” I replied, turning toward the gang. ”So did you all get a drink?” They all lifted their sodas.

  “Hmmm. Well, I'm going to have a beer does anyone want to join me?” No one said anything, so I went and grabbed a few from the cooler – “Who's driving?” Shelby raised her hand. I told her “You could spend the night so you don't have to drive,” her eyes lit up. I handed Storm and Nic a beer and grabbed two more for Jett and I. “Shelby there's a phone upstairs in the kitchen. Why don't you call home before you start drinking,” she ran.

  Jett came down as I was telling Nic and Storm the story about Cale, Nic hadn't even known he was there. I told them my wrists were still very sore, that he's crazy and Jett and I were going to call his uncle.

  After about one in the morning I broke the party up, started getting people out of the basement, then put out the bonfire, threw stuff in the garbage and did a quick mop up. Nic and Tori crashed in our room, Kit and his friend in his, Shelby and Storm in the living room when I suddenly realized it was just Jett and I.

  He had a beer in hand, his jacket on and I noticed his t-shirt was fitted, well it was fitted on his chest and a little loose everywhere else. I turned to him as he fished his keys out of his pocket. “You aren't going anywhere.” I said.

  “I only had two beers.” he said.

  “I need to check on Peyton and you're sleeping here. Don't argue either.” I grabbed two more beers from the cooler and headed into the basement family room, turned on the TV. “I'm going to check on Peyton and make sure all the doors are locked and I'll be right down – do you want some sweats to sleep in?” He nodded and opened our beers, I took a sip and left.

  Peyton was in my parent’s bathroom on the floor; she'd gotten sick and mumbled something unintelligible to me. I got her a blanket, flushed the toilet and left her there. I checked all the upstairs doors, went downstairs checked the garage door, it was closed, thank goodness. Then I checked the door by the bar. We were all locked down.

  When I returned to the family room Jett was sprawled out on the couch. I picked up my beer and took another sip. He patted the couch by him. I threw a pair of sweats to him. “I’m going to change into sweats.” I said quickly to him and ditched out into the laundry room, changed and was back in a flash. When I got there he was already changed. “Damn that was fast I was hoping to catch you in the act.”

  He pulled me down into the couch with him. I was warm so I peeled off my sweatshirt. Jett startled me by his comment “Holy shit!” He made me jump but then I laughed “What, I'm more beautiful than you thought?” He didn't say anything so I said “I have outstanding biceps and you're jealous.” He was fumbling for the lamp and I heard it click, click, but it didn't turn on....He got up and took my hand gently leading me into the hallway, I glanced out our picture window and saw a pair of eyes glowing, Jett gave me a tug under the light, I leaned over to look out the window again but I saw nothing. Jett flipped on the light, it stung my eyes for a minute. He put his hand under my elbow and held it up lightly caressing my arm. I looked down at my wrists. “Crap, I knew they hurt but they look worse.”

  “You're going to be sore tomorrow.” Jett stated. I walked further down the hallway to the bathroom and turned on the light. Sure enough both arms matched. They had bruises, some in the shape of fingers, from Cale earlier. Jett and I just stared at my arms in the mirror. “You should probably put ice on them.”

  “Does ice help bruises?” I asked.

  “Not sure, but most injuries you treat with ice, it helps the swelling, numbs it a bit and helps. Why didn't you say anything?”

  “I was trying to ignore it and they really didn't start hurting until just a little bit ago – so I had a beer.”

  “Aspirin would have been better Addie.”

  As we climbed the stairs I peered out the picture window again - still nothing. Upstairs I packed a bag of ice and grabbed a towel. Peyton was still on the bathroom floor sleeping, the rest of the house was quiet.

  By the time we got back downstairs my arms were throbbing. We tried lying on the couch together but it really bugged my arms. There was an antique dresser in the room my mom kept filled with blankets and pillows, so we spread a comforter on the floor and one on top then tossed four pillows and a couple more blankets on the floor. Then I got inside, Jett laid next to me. He propped his head up with one arm and used the other to hold the ice pack on my wrists. He leaned toward me and kissed me with the lightest touch and brush of his lips to mine; I could feel the warmth radiating from him.

  When I woke up the next morning, Jett, Storm and Shelby were gone. I peeked in my room and Tori and Nic were still sprawled all over the beds. Kit and his friend were up and dressed. I went into the bathroom to check out my arms and they were black and blue, they looked worse to me. I put on a sweatshirt so I wouldn't have to explain it to anyone else. Got out my notepad and started writing: I was in my backyard and everything was spinning, Cale was there with his arms crossed, sunglasses on at dusk and a figure behind him the same height and build. As I spun in a full slow circle Jett appeared behind me. I came back around and Cale and the other guy disappeared and another guy in a dark cloak stood in their place. My wolf was at the ravines edge I saw his eyes glowing and as the man in the cloak raised his hands in the air the wolf ran. I felt Jett squeeze my shoulders from behind so hard it started to hurt. When I had woken up, it was still dark.

  I checked on Peyton, she had moved to the bed but not before puking on the bathroom floor. Of course, she didn't clean it up. She was going to be of no use to us today. My parents were coming home later, so I started looking to see if anything else needed cleaning up. I did a pretty good job last night, the coolers were left and maybe I'd have to mop the basement floor again.

  When Peyton woke up for a few minutes she paid me $20 to clean up her puke and went back to bed – I don't think she could have done it because she was in bad shape. Plus, she knew she wasn't getting paid for watching us either.....even though we wouldn't spill the beans to my parents I'm sure the rumors would fly somehow. They always did.

  When I finished cleaning the puke that was half dried on the floor and almost made me spew myself, I hopped in the shower, a long hot one. After, I pulled some clean sweats and my favorite zip up hoodie on and although the style for the socks were to wear them pulled up I always had them pushed down around my ankles.

  I woke up Nic and Tori, they were half awake anyway. And I went into the kitchen to cook some breakfast, my favorite meal of the day, when the doorbell rang.

  It was Jett with coffee, donuts and a Valentines card. It was Valentine’s Day and I hadn't e
ven realized.

  I took the box from him and kissed him on the cheek “Good morning! I didn't think you were coming back...”

  “I remembered you telling me your dad used to pick up donuts before anyone woke, and...” I cut him off with another kiss that led to a better kiss. He put his face in the crook of my neck with my wet hair. “You smell good.”

  “Are you sure you just aren't smelling the bacon I'm cooking?” I said with a little laugh.

  “You're cooking?”

  “Ha ha ha,” I said pushing him away gently and went to the kitchen to put the bacon on paper towels and turn off the stove.

  Every once in a while my dad would wake up before anybody else on a Sunday – well he always woke up before everyone else – but sometimes he would go get a dozen Amy Joy donuts which was always a treat, and he always remembered to get everyone's favorites. I remembered sharing that info with Jett. It was very nice he remembered.

  He grabbed the back of my sweat jacket and pulled me to him. I turned around “I'm sorry I didn't even get you a card, I forgot about Valentine's Day. Thank you for the donuts...”

  I felt his eyes, like he was looking right into my soul. He bent down and kissed me gently. His thick hands moved slowly down my side then onto my butt and he squeezed, and pulled me up. I wrapped my legs around him. He turned us around and set my bottom on the counter. I kept my legs around him. He pulled away and I started to kiss his neck and bit him lightly. He picked me back up and carried me downstairs to the family room where the blankets lay crumpled on the floor from the night before. He stopped and I slid my legs down slowly and I pushed my hands up under his shirt, and pulled it off.

  We both kneeled down while still having our arms and mouths caressing each other. His chest was bare and I couldn't stop touching him. Jett put his hand under my sweatshirt onto my back wear my bra should have been, but I wasn't wearing one, I thought it was just me and the girls today...He let out a soft moan when he felt my bare back. He laid me down gently, unzipped my jacket only part way and slid his finger down from my neck to my breastbone. It sent a shiver right through me.

  His hand slid over my jacket to my waist, and he pressed his lips on mine. His hand under my waistband; he traced the line of my sweats and then slid his hand on my hip bone. He let out another gasp. I bit his lip and pulled him closer to me. He pulled away and rolled over onto his back.

  I stopped, his whole body was trembling but other than he wasn't moving....... he didn't say a word. “Are you okay?” I asked as quietly as I could. Still, he didn't move except for the tremor going through him..........his eyes were closed, you could tell he was fighting something, his jaw severely clamped and all the veins showing in his neck. I sat up staring at him wanting to touch him but somehow knowing I shouldn't....

  After our wrestling meet on Friday, Nic and I got a ride home from my other Lil Sis wrestler, Randy, who was also driving four other wrestlers home. But instead of going directly home, we decided to stop at Skyway's first. Randy was driving, I was in the middle, Declan was on my right and in the back were Dave, Nic and Jim.

  Randy pulled into the parking lot and as soon as we got a few cars in, he said “Now” and everyone in the car ducked except Randy and me. He put his arm around me while we cruised the parking lot, I laughed the whole time. Everyone laughed and thought it was funny too. After the cruise I even said “Ooooh, Jett's going to be so mad at you.....” and everyone laughed even more.

  When Jett came to pick me up on Saturday to go to a movie, he was late and when he got here he didn't come in, he stayed on the deck. I walked out there and he was leaning on the railing next to the stairs that led down to the driveway. He looked serious.

  I walked up to him and asked if he was all right. “I'm fine.” he said. “What'd ya do after the meet last night?' he asked looking right at me, and when I looked back at him, he looked down.

  “You have got to be kidding me” was all I could say because I knew it was about Skyway, even though it wasn't a big deal at all. “It wasn't a big deal. Randy was just joking around and I had no idea they were going to do that, besides we all laughed so hard about it we had tears in our eyes. Then I told them they were in trouble with you and we all just laughed again.... It was just for fun.”

  “Yeah well, I didn't appreciate it and I didn't appreciate hearing about it from someone else either.”

  “I was going to mention it tonight,” he just gave me a look like he didn’t believe me. “Whatever Jett, believe who you want. There were five other people in the car you can ask about it including Declan.” There was a little pause. “I bet it's your good buddy Brett stirring this crap up, right? He's always trying to get between us and making crap up about everyone's girlfriends. Am I right?” He had no response. “Yeah that's what I thought.” I looked over the rail, just what I thought, Brett was sitting in the car.

  “Brett is a good friend and he would never lie to me about something like that.” Jett still leaning against the railing, he still looked sexy to me even though I wanted the railing to give-way right now.

  There was a long silence. I had nothing more to say, I was cold and just wanted to go back inside. He stood there motionless and silent. “So Jett, what's going on?” I asked.

  “I don't know. I need some time to think.”

  “Fine take all the time you want, but just remember, I can be trusted and I'm probably the most trustworthy person you'll ever meet.” I said.

  “You brought this on, not Brett.” he said.

  “Brett hates me and can't stand seeing you with me. Did he tell you he asked me out before we started dating and I turned him down? Ask him about that – oh and by the way Jett, you're looking a little pale, it looks like you need another transfusion. Please take care of yourself.” I said and walked away, I was hoping he would have stopped me, but he didn't.

  Jett turned and went down the stairs, got in his car and left. I watched him from the kitchen window, I didn't yell anything through it but I really wanted to call Brett names and flip him the bird. Maybe next time.

  For some reason, I had a feeling it was because Jett and I were on the outs that Storm started hanging around Nic and I more. I was fine with it as long as we all stayed friends, besides we were all getting along.

  That was until Storm started sitting a little closer to me and putting his arm around me, I tried getting him and Nic together but no, he didn't sway. One night Storm made movie plans for the three of us, at least that's what he told me, but of course Nic didn't show because she didn't know about it, since it was all last minute I didn’t call her either, I should have known. However, if Storm was all I had to worry about lately, I welcomed it, versus Cale and the drama with him. He’s been incognito lately, maybe it’s all blowing over.

  Almost a month had gone by and no reconciliation with Jett; the bad thing was I couldn't get him off my mind. Today I entered the lunch room with Nic; we got in line, got our food and sat down by Storm, our usual routine as of late. We were several tables away from the windows but facing them. I heard loud laughter by the windows, when I looked up I noticed Jett and a bunch of his friends. I couldn't look away even though I wanted to, he caught my eye, my breath hitched in my throat. He nodded at me then waved me over. I was taken aback but then stuck my tongue out at him. I wanted to go over there but he's been avoiding me for weeks and now he wants to talk in front of his friends - forget about it. His jaw dropped and his eyebrows raised looking surprised and waved me over.

  I looked at Nic and she said "Go on, if you don't go you'll wonder what it was about all day, if not longer, and you'll bug me about it for weeks." There was a slight pause and then she said "And be bold."

  I looked at Storm, he looked enraged “he's treated you like crap, forget him” he stammered.

  "I think I'm done melting over him every time I see him, I can handle this." I announced proudly and walked over to his table and I nodded at Jett. He was sitting at the edge of the bench. I said “Scoot over.”
He did a little but I hip checked so he'd move some more. "Give me a little room, would ya." I said.

  His friend across from him chuckled. It was silent "Sooooo whadya drag me over here for, you gonna set me up on a date." Jett looked at me like I was crazy and his friend laughed and said "I told ya you didn't have to ask her permission."

  “Permission for what?" I asked.

  "Oh, so you want to know who you should date... If you plan on dating him…” I said pointing to the guy across from us, “I don't think it's a good fit. On the other hand, that one right over there is more your type, more submissive." Jett nudged me, laughing.

  "Stop it, I told you we were just on a break." Jett said.

  I froze and one of Jett's friends said "What, cat got your tongue?"

  I looked at Jett and said "Really, this guy's your friend?” Then I turned back toward his friend “did you come up with that all by yourself?" There were hoots and hollers from the rest of the clan. I knew these guys were all pro's at being sarcastic and I was hoping I didn't go too far - I could have said a lot more, but so could the rest of them.

  Jett introduced me to a guy across from us, his name was Smith, who was 6'5”. He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to him, I went reluctantly, he put his arm around my waist and said, "Hey baby your break is done with that schmuck over there, you’re my kind of women."

  Everyone at the table roared with laughter. He pulled me down on his lap. I let loose with a giggle when Cale strolled by, I stopped laughing cold and went and sat back by Jett. "Hey honey, where you goin’? You ain't gonna let little ole Cale intimidate you are you?” Smith gloated.

  I folded my hands together, elbows on the table and rested my hands on my right cheek, trying to look relaxed. I don’t think it was working. Agitated, my cheeks were blushing and warm. My cool hands felt good on them. I looked at Jett and in a hushed voice said "How much longer are you going to torment me like this?"