“Nah, man.” I wasn’t worried about Darryl at all when it came to Shade; I was worried about me. Something Scruffy couldn’t possibly understand even if I could tell him. “Darryl is nothing. It’s more because of reasons like not being sure how she would react to my advances. I’d be embarrassed if she didn’t feel the same way.” I was putting up a typical emotional front for Scruffy. Such interaction with her would be forbidden for something like me, although there was an element of truth to what I was saying.
“Well…how do you feel about her? Really feel?” Scruffy looked at me with sincerity, something he rarely showed in his off-the-wall personality.
I was taken aback for a moment. Would I dare to really answer this question truthfully? Keeping emotions on the inside was one thing, but there’s power in spoken words. It seems like once such things are vocalized, it’s almost as if they’re etched into the fabric of our lives and we have to pursue them, no matter what the cost may be.
“I think…I love her, Mark.”
I was sure to call him Mark, not Scruffy, letting him know just how serious I am.
“Then tell her, Leo. No matter what reservations you have, everyone likes to be told that they’re liked…especially loved.”
The truth was out now; I am in love with Shade and admitted it vocally. Even more shocking was that Scruffy understood on a much deeper emotional level, and he actually gave some very good advice in return. I was proud of him.
“Besides, what do you have to lose, anyway?” He shrugged.
If only he knew. I didn’t say anything. I just bowed my head, took a drink of my beverage, and asked a question of my own. “When should I tell her how I feel? How will I know the right time? I don’t wanna tell her in front of a bunch of people just in case she laughs in my face.”
As I spoke, something grabbed Scruffy’s attention in the distance behind me. Then, Scruffy confidently looked back at me with a smirk and spoke before I could get a look.
“Funny you ask. It seems you’re about to get an answer to your question.” He took another drink and slightly raised a finger, pointing.
I turned, and much to my surprise, Shade was approaching. Alone. A flow of excitement rushed through my being like a tidal wave.
“Looks to me like there’s no better time than right now.”
“I think I’ll catch up to you later. Good luck, bro.” Scruffy walked away, leaving me alone.
I kept my eyes locked to the earth beneath my feet, pretending I didn’t see her. I couldn’t believe this. Why was she coming to me in the first place? While I tumbled the thoughts around in my distressed head, one of the sweetest tones I’ve ever heard spoke my name. “Umm, hi, Leo.”
I gulped another drink and nervously answered, “Hi, Shade. How are you?”
“Umm, I’m fine. How…how are you?” Her voice trembled a little, like she was nervous about speaking to me.
Our eyes met and we simultaneously looked to the ground in awkward shyness.
“I’m doing good, just internally cussing Scruffy for bailing on me.”
My shallow attempt at humor must have worked a little, Shade giggled hesitantly, like she was blowing out a belly full of butterflies.
“Yeah, that’s what friends are for, I guess. I hope I’m not bothering you. I wanted to come up to you last night after the race, but I never got the chance.” Shade paused a moment, like she was conjuring up the courage to go on.
“You’re the best company I’ve had all night.” I laughed at my well-aimed shot at Scruffy. Shade joined in.
“Mark is a cool guy. He’s nice. Umm, I just wanted to thank you for what you said to Darryl, and for taking a stand against him. It was nice to see him get knocked down a peg or two for a change. Hopefully it will help him loosen up for the better.”
Our eyes met again, and this time, neither of us looked away as we both cracked an adoring half-smile at one another. “It was my pleasure, Shade. I was honored to do it…for more than just self-serving reasons.”
“A gentleman…sometimes I forget what they look like.” We both puffed out air in shy laughter again, unsure of what to say about the other’s playful banter. “Well, anyway, thanks again, Leo.”
Shade lightly squeezed my forearm. An unexpected feeling overtook me, something unnatural for me. Her touch was so pleasant it made me tingle inside, but it also stung like a bee and I almost pulled away. It was very strange. If I was capable of blushing at this point, I would have. Unsure what to say or do next, I did nothing but smile at her.
She released my arm. “I guess I’ll catch you later, Leo. Bye.”
As she strolled away, Scruffy’s nagging voice replayed throughout my brain—what do you have to lose? Before she could get out of range, I went for the gusto and jogged a few steps, catching up to her. “Shade, would you like to get together sometime and hang out…or something?”
There it was, dangling in limbo nakedly. Seconds felt like days as I awaited her response.
She looked away for a second, then back with a smile. “Th-that would be nice. I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.”
I looked at her, stunned, not sure what to say next. Shade seemed to be in the same boat. Neither of us spoke, only chuckling in a nervous sense of release, like we were both waiting for this moment.
“Well, uh, cool then. I guess we can talk at school or something. We’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, we can talk at school. We’ll make a plan to get together sometime.” Her face lit up in reply.
I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, not even if I was hit with a dirty sack full bricks right in the kisser. “Okay, see you then. Bye for now.”
“For now,” she added, strolling away.
I stood in place, watching her mingle back into the party. Then I tore myself out of daydreaming, realizing what I had just done. What was I thinking? After tonight, there would be no tomorrow when it came to Shade and I. Even if there was another day with her, it was against everything that I am to act in such a manner, not to mention this would completely infuriate Christian and he could have me banished I needed to remain focused and make sure I stayed on point. No matter what I felt.
Suddenly, I sensed a swell of fury, breaking me from my inner turmoil. I surveyed the area and found a piercing glare fired at me with pin-point accuracy from the other side of the crowd by a drunken Darryl. Jealousy rolled off him like a septic stench. I was certain he would confront me about Shade.
Out of spite, I urged on another confrontation by exchanging his defiant stare with one of my own. I was surprised to see him turn away. Maybe somewhere in his alcohol-diluted mind, he determined that this wasn’t the right time for drama. I couldn’t help but remember him telling Shade that he was going to cut down, even quit his drinking. Either way, it was a smart move for both of our sakes, he didn’t need to get beaten again, and I didn’t need to get sidetracked.
Darryl casually disappeared into the throng. I happened to notice Scruffy out of the corner of my eye waving at me. He seemed to be the center of attention in a small crowd. I strutted toward him, exuding a little more confidence than usual. We chatted about everything from my victory the night before, which I didn’t mind being praised about, even though Scruffy did most of the bragging, to what this year’s prom would be like, who’s dating who now, who broke up with who, what was flowing through the current rumor mill, and so on. It felt good to feel normal, just for a little while.
This was pretty much the norm for the rest of the evening, the chatter seemed to always be the same while we continued to knock back drinks. Occasionally an inebriated teen stumbled around or got loud and entertained the masses for a while. Again, the normal happenings of a Mountain View High School party, nothing strange or out of the ordinary. Yet.
A tipsy Scruffy was doing his best cool guy routine in a vain attempt to wow some of the available ladies. A few yards away, Darryl cut through the crowd, making a beeline toward Shade. This pulled my attention from the cornball ant
ics of my bud and lured me back into the ongoing saga that was Shade and Darryl. Being too far away to hear their conversation, the only thing I could do was attempt to read their body language. It looked as if Darryl was pandering to Shade, seeming apologetic as he struggled to maintain his balance. Shade looked very put-off and distrusting. Her arms were folded as she stared at him sternly, as if disgusted by his poorly chosen timing.
Darryl swayed from side to side. Shade made a gesture to him, slapping both arms against her sides and tossing her head back, looking like she said “fine.” She paused briefly to lean over and tell her friends something. Then, she followed Darryl, who now stood in front of the sliding glass doors into the media room. I could only assume at this point that they were going somewhere more private, probably to Darryl’s third floor villa.
Why Shade was even going to humor him in his current state was beyond me, but I decided I couldn’t afford to speculate what may transpire. I would follow and find out firsthand. I excused myself from “Mack Daddy” Scruffy, who was dangling himself by one arm onto another poor, unaware, slightly-buzzed girl, and slowly made a path through the party. Scruffy was so out of it that he didn’t even hear me pardon myself. His slurring come-on lines never stopped spewing into the unsuspecting girl’s ear. I couldn’t help but laugh a little, I had to give him his just due—when it came to girls, he was determined.
I entered the media room, keeping a keen eye on Darryl and Shade, who were climbing some stairs nestled deep in a corner of the room. A handful of people were involved in some competitive game play and questionable activities at a couple of the game tables. The scene became a little quieter when I slid the glass doors shut, isolating me from the outside noise, except for the music still booming from the home’s outdoor stereo.
I bobbed and weaved through the room, doing my best not to draw attention to myself. They disappeared through the door at the top of the stairs. I slowly walked up the stairs, glancing over my shoulder from time to time, making sure I wasn’t noticed. At the top, I very quietly turned the knob. The door creaked open and I lowered my head and peeked in the room.
I couldn’t hear anything due to the noise of all the activity in the basement and decided to take a chance and enter. I very softly shut the door. Everything became silent now, with the slight exception of the muffled oices and music that vibrated the floor beneath me.
I was standing in a massive living room filled with exquisite furniture and all the trimmings. A beautiful, gigantic oil painting hung on a wall over a plush couch. As I tiptoed further into the room, I could see that it was a hand-painted family portrait. The gigantic picture took up almost an entire wall. The only thing I could think of was how vain could they be? They probably paid more for that artwork than most people pay for a small car.
I kept my ears tuned to my surroundings while scoffing at the overpriced scenery. Shade was in the far side of the room asking Darryl why they needed to talk in his room. I wasn’t exactly sure of his justification, but it was something to the effect that sometimes his buddies came up to use the bathrooms to avoid long lines and he didn’t want any distractions. I zeroed in on their diluted voices and saw them climbing a spiral staircase with black wrought-iron handrails. I crept to the base of the stairs and craned my neck watching them enter another door at the top. Again, like a thief in the night, I followed.
This time when I reached the door at the top, I was relieved to see it slightly open. Confident, I started to push open the door into Darryl’s room.
Only dim rays of moonlight shone through the windows and sliding glass doors, those dangerous doors that opened up on the same side as the cliff.
Even though the space was mostly dark, I plainly made out the features in Darryl’s room. To my right was his gargantuan bed, positioned perfectly to give him a splendid view of the valley outside. Smack in the middle of the room was a two-sided fireplace that sat unlit, surrounded by two large couches on either side of it, complemented with a couple of Lazy Boy recliners. There were various pieces of workout equipment, bean bags, a giant, overloaded bookshelf, and a huge entertainment center with an astonishing sized LED flat-screen television placed precisely in the middle of it. One could easily slice off just half his room and call it a house; it was truly ridiculous.
I selected a pitch black corner and knelt in it like a gargoyle, eavesdropping upon the drama unfolding between the two, who talked quietly in front of his ship-sized bed.
“Shade, I know that…I know that what I did…was uncool,” Darryl stammered.
“Look at yourself, Darryl. You told me you weren’t drinking anymore. But look at you—you’re drunk again. It is always the same story with you, Darryl—you never change.”
“Listen, babe. It’s…it’s a party, my party, this is what my friends expect of me. I like having a good time with them…with you.” Darryl plopped his behind on the end of his bed like it was full of rocks.
Shade unfolded her arms breathing outwards as she spoke his name in frustration. “Darryl, I’m not your babe. There’s always going to be another party with you, another reason to drink. You think I’m having a good time with you when you’re drunk, but I’m not. You get meaner. It’s hard to be around you. I’m…I’m sorry, Darryl. We’re just too different.”
It was obvious she was putting him in the past where he belonged, but Darryl was having none of it. He reached up and lightly held her hand. “C’mon, baby, don’t say that. We’re the same. We belong together.”
Shade pulled her hand away and Darryl slowly stood up in front of her. “You’re my lady. Let’s make up…right here.” Darryl rubbed his hand along her arm, only to politely slide down with both hands and pull her into him by her waist.
“I’m not your lady anymore, Darryl.” She put her hands on his chest to push him away. “Get your hands off me.”
Her rejection didn’t seem to faze the inebriated Darryl. He grabbed her more forcefully, pulling her into him tighter as he tried to kiss her. “I told you, you’re always gonna be my girl. Always. I’ll have you one way or another.”
She thrashed around in his arms, but it was to no avail. “Leave me alone, Darryl, let me go!”
Leaning into her with a sadistic smirk, he tried to kiss her. Shade head-butted him in the nose, causing him to squint in pain and sending him into a ballistic rage.
“You tramp! No one can hear you up here. I told you I’d have you! I told you that if I couldn’t, no one else would! After tonight, no one else will ever get the chance to know you like I’m about to! YOU WITCH!” He shook the terrified Shade.
Darryl spun her towards his bed, smacking her hard and knocking her onto her back. In a last ditch effort, she reasoned with him, begging, fearing his harsh words. “You don’t have to do this.”
Without skipping a beat, he forced his weight onto her, putting his arm into her throat and whispering, “You had your chance. We could have done this nicely, but you chose otherwise. Now your time has come. When I’m finished with you, you won’t have to worry about your loss of innocence, only a high speed wind burn.”
She knew what he referred to; he was going to throw her off his balcony after he had his way. She flailed and screamed, pleading with him to stop, sobbing uncontrollably.
“I’ll tell everyone it was an accident, that you were drunk and got a little too close to the edge of the balcony. It didn’t have to be this way. You did this to yourself.”
Shade only continued to sob. “Pleeeeeaaassseeeeee…” He wrestled with her clothes.
Being a bit of a strong fighter, Shade tussled and rolled around, biting and hitting him in a fury. He sat up and straddled her, smacking her multiple times in the face as she continued to cry and scream for help.
“Shut up…shut up, girl!” he ordered between each smack.
I couldn’t watch any longer. I turned away from the onslaught and looked at the floor. I could hear clothes ripping and a belt clanking like it was being taken off. Shade’s cries had turned t
o whimpers, a sign she was growing weaker, conceding to his will.
Why was this necessary, why did I have to be the one? Why me? I questioned. Was I supposed to just sit here and watch? Did I have to allow this to happen?”
I was supposed to let things take their course, but something welled up within me, a fury, the only emotion that dictated the beast within that I truly was. With each passing second, I grew even angrier. I looked at the feuding duo once again as the fighting paused briefly. Darryl leaned up off Shade’s still-clothed body in a crouch. He was looking around the room in bewilderment, sniffing like there was a stench in the air.
His momentary lapse of concentration allowed Shade a brief opening. She gave him a swift, hard shot to his groin with her knee. The shot sucked all the air out of his onslaught and he howled like a banshee. She pushed him to her side and hopped off the bed, breaking for the door. But Darryl recovered his senses and leaped up, catching her by the hair.
In a vulgar display of power, he yanked her hair hard—like he was swiping at a piece of confetti flowing through the air—she slammed onto the hardwood floor flat on her back. Her body thundered and vibrated as she hit. She screamed, her voice bounced like her body.
Darryl grabbed her hair again and hauled the stunned Shade across the floor caveman-style. Reaching up in an effort to alleviate the stress on her head, she grabbed his wrists.
“Forget it. I can do better than you. I don’t need to have you. I’m gonna end this now…do what I should have done a long time ago.” He stopped briefly, reaching out to the sliding glass doors and opening them.
“Darryl, stop! Please, don’t do this…please, somebody help me!”
But her bellows of mercy fell upon deaf ears. The music blasting over the loud chatter drowned out any chance of being heard.
She flailed wildly as he tugged her onto the porch. He was now standing over the log guard rail, the only bit of security left between safety and death. Shade was fading into exhaustion; her fight had been reduced to a few, hoarse yells and light squirming as she lay at his feet. It would be easy for Darryl to complete his dastardly plan now.
Drift (Drift Series) Page 7
