by Dukey, Ker
“No matter what,” I reaffirm.
Following him back downstairs, he rummages through our cupboards, coming up empty.
“Dude, where’s the fucking food?”
Cocking a brow, I pull my cell phone out. “Chill, Gluttony, I’ll order some pizza.”
Two hours later, I’ve eaten two thirds of the pizza and a liter of soda, and God hasn’t touched his. Instead, he’s waiting not so patiently for me to get ready to go racing with him.
He’s going to be pissed when I bail. I just want to get high and try to crash.
God is absent from campus again. My text from him this morning was at four a.m. and he was still out.
God: Want to get high?
I was already high and tossing and turning in my sweat-drenched sheets.
Dreams of Robbie were mixed with dreams of an unknown female crying. A video was spread through campus of her being fucked in every orifice by me.
My soul was heavy. Maybe this chick will turn out to be a fucking cunt and then I won’t feel so bad.
Lies.
Pride is in the waiting area when I reach the counselor’s room. It’s going to be twice as hard to talk to her now knowing I have to fuck her stepchild.
Intrigue prickles my thoughts as to why Pride has to see her. Has he lost someone like me?
“What’s up?” he acknowledges me.
“You have an appointment?” I ask, checking the clock. It’s just ticking on ten, which is when my appointment starts.
He shakes his head no, then holds up a folder, but doesn’t elaborate on what’s in it.
“I have to drop these off.”
The door opens, and Lillian appears, well put-together and fresh. Her hair is pulled so tight, it lifts her eyes to almost slits.
“Rhett. Go on inside,” she orders, stepping out from her office and going to Pride.
Yes, ma’am.
Closing the door behind me, I hit a fog wall of stuffy air. Moving over to her window, I nudge the thing open. The weather is humid as hell, like being in a steam room. You can taste peoples’ sweat in the corridors, it’s so sticky.
My interest moves to her shelves dominating the back wall. Books, files, pictures. My heart stammers when my fingers trace over a family photo of Lillian, the dean, and none other than Chastity.
Shit.
The opening of the door alerts me to Lillian’s arrival. She catches me with the picture in my hand and raises one of her perfectly shaped brows.
“Chastity,” I say, pointing to the image like an idiot.
“Yes,” she confirms, taking the picture from my hand and placing it back on the shelf.
How have I not noticed it until now?
“She’s my stepdaughter, hence her knowing her way around the campus as well as she does.” She smiles.
“I have to go,” I tell her, hiking my bag up my shoulder and turning on my heel, fleeing her room.
Chastity is who I have to seduce and film?
This just got a lot more complicated. For one, she doesn’t even like me, and two, I know her, sort of. It’s immoral and sleazy. It’s…the price.
“Hey.”
Fuck, speak of the devil.
“Hey,” I mimic, looking around the corridor at anyone but her.
“Look, I want to apologize for what happened the other day.” She sighs, and it furrows my brow. Why the hell is she sorry? I was the one who didn’t let her run away to cry and then took advantage of her in crisis.
“Really?” I ask, apprehension coloring my tone.
“I was a mess and put that on you, and that’s not who I am. I acted out and made a mistake, but you haven’t made a point of using it against me and no one has mentioned it, so…” she says, pushing her glasses up her nose.
I’ve been too busy to use it against her, and who would I tell? Oh, of course, with her being the dean’s daughter, she’s no doubt been used in the past for that very reason.
“Rhett, I’m apologizing.” Her voice is firm, and a little peeved that I’m staring into space and not taking her words as serious as she appears to.
“Thanks.”
I guess.
Silence.
She looks at her shoes, then back up at me. Is that nerves making her jittery?
“Maggie is having a party this weekend. It would be good to see you there, if you want…to go…you don’t have to…I don’t really care either way…”
“I’ll be there,” I blurt, stopping her rambling. Why the fuck is she making this easy for me?
“As friends,” she states. “Be good to see a friend there…friendly face…familiar…”
“Right,” I stop her again. “Who doesn’t need more friends?” I smile.
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she bounces on her tiptoes and bites her lips.
“Right. Okay. Great.”
She walks around me, and I turn to watch her flee. She stops a couple feet away, and turns back to me. “Oh, you may need the address.”
I don’t tell her it will be on the party app because this flustered Chastity is the girl who bumped into me on the first day of class. I like this side of her.
“Phone?” She holds her hand out and waits for me to place my cell in her palm.
She flits her thumbs over the keypad and hands it back.
“I programmed my number in and texted myself so I have your number. I’ll text over the address. It’s easier that way.” She nods her head, biting back down on the fat bottom lip. A red rouge sprouts over her cheeks and crawls down her neck.
“Thanks,” I say, knowing she just wanted my number. I’ve used that same method more times than I can count.
I sense the body creep up before Chastity’s eyes move to the shadow behind me.
She places her hands in the pocket of her jacket and turns on her heel without turning back this time.
“By the look she was giving you, I’d say you’re already halfway to completing your task,” Pride teases.
So, he knows exactly who she is then. Schooling my features, I turn to face him and smirk. “What can I say? It’s in my DNA.”
We fall in step, heading toward the food court.
“Speaking of your DNA, how has your dad been?”
He’s been too scared to say shit to me. Seeing how easy it would be for me to get rid of him spooked the hell out of him.
“Good,” is all I say.
The following days pass fast, and as if the world knows what my task is and wants to make it easy on me, destiny keeps placing Chastity in my path.
I parked next to her this morning without realizing it was her car. She was in three of my classes today and within breathing space of my lungs. Her scent surrounded me, beckoning, teasing, daring me to take a bite of her delicious innocence.
As if she’s drawn to me by a magnetic pull, her eyes drift to me more than they should.
She texted me the address for her best friend’s party. And then sent follow up random texts that made no sense throughout the day.
“What can be both healing and poisonous?”
“The glare of what reveals the others?”
I’m not sure if she’s sending them to the wrong number or she’s a spammer. Either way, they made no sense.
Closing my book, I stumble into the corridor and wipe sweat off my brow. Running on zero sleep and coming down from my mom’s old anxiety medication she left when she abandoned us, has left my body lethargic. I need a sugary drink to perk me up.
Rushing over to a vending machine, I pat down my pockets, then slap the glass when there’s only a slot for cards, which I need to remember to ask my old man for. I think he will revaluate my need for a credit card after I nearly inherited everything he has last week.
“Here” Pride slides his card into the machine. I punch the button for a soda and stuff a twenty into Prides jacket pocket.
“That was an expensive drink.”
“And it didn’t even get me laid.” I wink.
Waving a
bye over my shoulder as I head for the exit. Pushing out the door and into the stuffy air I groan when the smog hits me like a sweat bath. When it’s not raining here the air is too thick, I hate it.
When I finally make it to my car, there’s a cute blonde leaning against it.
“Chastity,” I greet her.
She’s making this too damn easy. I thought she was going to be a challenge, but it appears not spreading rumors about her kissing me was enough to warrant me friendship status.
How fucked up have people been to her in the past?
“Here.” She hands me a wrapped present. Twine binds the brown paper wrapped around something that feels like a book. I’m not sure what to say.
“Thanks,” I say, raising a brow.
She laughs and rolls her eyes. “Relax, it’s not a snake in a box.”
“That’s pretty dark,” I say, repeating her words.
Shaking her head, she goes to her own car, and calls out, “It’s for research—and to help you sleep.”
Dropping the package on my bed, I snap the twine and unravel the paper.
A rich sound ricochets from my chest. Laughter. Authentic and deep.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
I open the book, and a USB falls out. What are the chances this is a sex tape and she’s done my task for me?
Reaching for my laptop, I plug in the stick and lay back on the bed.
“Romeo and Juliet narrated by Chastity Griffin, for Rhett Masters, to teach him he’s far from a Romeo.” The voice billows from the speakers into the room, enveloping me.
Ha. She’s still got her feisty edge.
Her voice caresses the words, blanketing me in a soothing melody, and my eyes close to submerge myself in the world of Capulets and Montagues.
I sleep a full eight hours, and it almost brings tears to my eyes. No rain. No voices. No Robbie. Just her.
No drugs to quiet my mind. Just her.
Wrath, Envy, and Pride join me for Maggie’s party, but I’m not sure how long they will last. Unlike most college parties, this one doesn’t have people spilling onto the front lawn or music vibrating the foundations. A sweet melody of blues filters through the room, and everyone is dressed in the twenties attire. There was no alert for this party or text from Chastity letting me know there was a theme.
There are maybe thirty people here, and by the way they talk animatedly, they appear to all know each other.
Envy gives me the stink eye, and Pride tries to hold in his amusement.
“Things we do for ass.” Wrath flexes his jaw and snatches up a drink from a guy wearing a white suit and gangster hat. “Beat it,” Envy hisses at him when he stops to challenge his drink being taken.
“Relax. Let’s give it thirty minutes,” Pride says, studying the room.
“Twenty,” Envy and Wrath say in unison.
My phone beeps with a text message.
Chastity: So sorry. Can’t make it. Stuck at the house. Another time.
Unbelievable.
Waving my phone up, I turn for the exit. “How about one minute.”
“Oh, Romeo, get stood up?” Envy hoots.
“She’s on house arrest.”
“So break her out.” Envy grins mischievously.
“Anyone know where the dean lives?” I huff, only half joking.
We pile into Pride’s car and take off toward town.
“I know where he lives,” Envy chirps.
Of course he does.
Mist coats the road as night descends, bringing with it a chill to the air.
“Take a right here, then the second left,” Envy directs.
We pull down a road with tall, modern houses—nothing like I’d expect her to live in. “That one.”
“Do we want to know how you know this?” Wrath shivers, the nip in the air closing in.
“I think his wife is fit.”
All heads swivel judgingly toward him.
Holding up his hands, he wrinkles his forehead. “Chill out. I was walking past one night on my way to a friend’s house and saw her in the window. Jeez.”
Pride slows the car to a stop and I get out, raking my eyes over the structure.
One of the windows on the first floor is open. The curtains billow in the gentle breeze, giving us glimpses of a pink room and Chastity pacing while she reads from a book in her hand.
“Good luck,” Wrath calls from the car before they take off, wheels squealing and kicking up dirt, leaving me on the side of the road. Motherfuckers. Walking home is going to suck.
Giving my attention back to the window, I find Chastity staring at me through the gap, her eyes wide and jaw slack.
She disappears, then reappears, typing something on her phone.
A second later, mine beeps.
Chastity: What are you doing here? My father will freak if he sees you.”
Me: Maggie’s was a snoozefest. Only person there I wanted to see didn’t show.
I wave my hand to get her to come down and talk to me, but she shakes her head vehemently.
Chastity: My dad is mad at me and will ground me for life.
I want to remind her she’s eighteen, but like with my own father, they have pull over us with money and a roof over our heads.
Me: I’ll come up.
I can sense her panic before I see it on her pale face.
Pointing to a flower trellis attached to the side of her house, I move to it and give it a shake. It wobbles slightly, but should be okay.
I make it up after two near misses, the lattice grill snapping underfoot. The roof juts out, bordering the first floor, giving me easy access to get to her window.
She’s shaking and searching the grounds as she pokes nearly half her body out the window.
“Hey,” I say, breathing heavy and wiping dirt off my hands.
“You’re insane,” she pants.
“Or romantic.” I quirk a brow.
Snorting, she says, “Yes, very Romeo of you.”
As I move toward her, my foot slips on moss, my stomach dips.
I reach out for purchase of her windowsill, but miss.
Her arms flail to reach for me, but it’s too late. I slip, meeting air, then land on her front lawn with a heavy thud.
My ribs roar, flaring in pain as I land directly on my side.
“Motherfucker,” I croak.
The porch lights flick on, and I hear movement.
Getting hastily to my feet, I make for the brush surrounding the property and dive for cover as the door opens.
“Hello?” a deep baritone barks.
Just when I think I’ve gotten away with it and he retreats, my phone beeps.
“Who’s there?” he shouts.
I take off on crouched knees through the thicket of bush, the twigs and debris scratching holes into my jeans. If it didn’t hurt like a son of a bitch, this shit would be hilarious—something I’m definitely not sharing with the group.
When silence is my only company, I stand, brush myself off, and tug my phone out.
Chastity: Romeo, Romeo, where art thou?
Me: Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.
Chastity: You’ve been reading.
Me: Listening. It’s the only thing that helps me sleep. I’ve been meaning to thank you for that.
Chastity: So thank me.
Me: I will in person.
Chastity: How about tomorrow night?
Me: Name the place.
Chastity: Meet me at the end of my street. Eight o’clock.
Me: Done.
Chastity: Goodnight, Rhett Masters.
Me: Goodnight, Chastity Griffin.
Ignoring the incoming call from God, I slip my car into park at the end of Chastity’s street and get out.
Last night, I slept like a baby. No drugs needed. This audio reading from Chastity has been a revelation.
Her voice lulls me into a state of calm.
She’s doing things to
me, and I don’t know how this is all going to play out once my part is completed.
Guilt eats away at me when I see her bounding toward me.
She’s not like most girls our age. She has the wisdom beyond her years, but she’s been sheltered, and it shows.
I bet she’s a fucking virgin—and that makes my task ten times fucking worse.
You’d think with how powerful The Elite is, the dean would be someone within their ranks, but no, so they resort to shitty tactics for future needs.
“Hey, you came,” she says, breathless from the jog down to me.
“Of course. Did you think I wouldn’t?” I smirk.
A small lift of her shoulders tells me the answer.
Gesturing to the car, I ask, “Where to, my lady?”
Shaking her head, she wraps her cardigan over her small frame and jerks her chin toward the road.
“There’s a park just through there. Let’s walk.”
I haven’t hung around in a park since I was seven, but this girl is different and I need to embrace that if I have intentions of seducing her.
Do you have those intensions? My subconscious asks, I silent the voices by asking her questions.
“So, Mrs. Griffin, huh? Is it hard having people know the guidance counselor and dean are your parents?”
“She’s not my parent.” She shakes her head, looking between the road and me.
Sore subject?
“Oh I’m sorry…”
“No, it’s fine, it’s just, she’s my dads wife, that’s it. His choice not mine.”
Nodding my head in understanding I ask.
“Are you an only child?”
Nodding her head causes her hair to fall into her face, and I ache to slip it behind her ear and stroke her cheek, take her mouth with mine.
“Yes. My mother died in childbirth.” A pained grimace takes over her pretty features.
That’s rough.
“How about you?” she asks innocently enough, but the pain slashes into me nonetheless.
Her startled eyes grow impossibly large, and almost violently, she reaches for me and pulls me into her body.
“I’m so sorry,” she chokes out. “I don’t know why I asked when I already know. It was insensitive and foolish, an accident… I wouldn’t try to hurt you—or anyone—like that,” she rambles, and I pull free and smile down at her to ease her tension.
