the kiss
I pick out a perfect yet subtle outfit for the day. It's a skirt but not a mini skirt by any means. I'm not going all slutty now. I'm wearing a tight black short sleeve shirt on top which hugs my curves perfectly. I chose some cute black boots with a little heel on them to boost my height. I want to dress nice, which hasn't happened in at least a year. My life is definitely starting to change. Happiness blooms in the pit of my stomach scaring me.
The bell rings signaling the end of third period. The thought that in less than five minutes I'll be face to face with Ollie sends anxious butterflies up my stomach. To make matters worse it's a new week and Becca and her crew are in class. I try to breathe but fail at that as well, as I cough up some air that went down the wrong lung. I'm worse than I thought.
"You'll be fine." Junior tells me before leaving me standing in the hallway alone.—brat.
I get to class early since I've made the habit of getting all my books in the morning. I sit in my usual seat and wait—and wait—and wait. I think time has actually slowed down just to torture me. I start to jiggle my legs and bite my lip—the anticipation killing me.
I can sense him before he even enters the room. A sort of electricity flows through my body starting at my toes and ending on my bright cheeks. He walks in the room but stops in the entrance glancing around before his eyes settle on me. He comes over to sit with me as he takes his now usual spot behind me. I turn in my seat to face him. He has a smile on his face, his teeth shine at me, sending warmth up my back.
"Hey." I say a little breathlessly, smiling back at him.
"You look great today." He says opening his bag to get his books out.
"Thanks." I blush involuntarily. He is staring down so I hope he doesn't notice my red cheeks.
"So tonight…" He mutters the situation turning awkward. "I'll get you at seven, okay?" He seems about as excited as I am, if not more.
"Yeah, that's perfect." I answer back my eyes all dreamy.
"We're still meeting in the library during eighth though, right?" He asks with a hint of worry in his voice.
"If you want." I say, praying he wants to.
"Yeah, I do." I let out a sigh of relief knowing I will get to see him again today.
"Cool." I sound so juvenile. Cool. Who says cool anymore? People who aren't cool, that's who!
"Cool." He mimics me. I turn back to the front of the room cringing at our interaction. Somewhat awkward but not too bad.
The teacher calls attendance and everyone gets quiet. Half way through class I peek over to the other side of the classroom. Becca is grilling me, her eyes trained on the back of my head. I turn back to face the front of the room, pretending I didn't catch her gaze. Her presence alone bothers me. I'm convinced I was a murderer in a previous life and this is just my karma coming back to bite me.
The teacher starts giving out homework and I realize class is ending. The period went by remarkably fast. I start packing my books unsure if I should wait for Ollie or not. Discretely, or so I think, I glance back towards Ollie. He spies me peeking meeting my eyes and grins a little. Damn-it, he was watching me.
"Can I walk you to lunch?" He asks standing up and leading us towards the door.
"Sure, don't you have class?" I wouldn't want to impose—even though I really, really do.
"Not today." I'm pretty sure he's skipping class but, hey, I'm not going to complain. We start walking to the student center together.
Once we get closer to the room, I start trying to find Junior in the crowd. I don't want Ollie to find out I sit by myself. Once we enter the room a few people glance up but I am invisible since no one notices me anymore. I've become air to them.
We spy Junior waiting in line for a buffalo chicken wrap. They are a huge hit at this school. Everyone calls it Buff Chick Day. The line is long and to be honest, I don't want to wait. I think Ollie can tell I am tense so he picks up my hand wrapping his around it—not the way a dad holds a daughters hand either. It is a fingers intertwined, making a statement kind of way.
I gaze down at our hands to make sure I'm not imagining anything. Once I've confirmed I'm not, I avert my gaze up to his face in question.
"Do you want something?" He asks rubbing my palm with his thumb. Words refuse to form in my mouth so I nod. The entire time I'm getting food our hands stay interlocked. His warmth surprises me sliding up my arm in gentle waves. Shyness comes over me and I bow my head.
When we leave the food area and go back to where most of the tables are, the attention shifts. Every one is staring at us. Not so much me but Ollie definitely. I try to hide behind a curtain of hair as my flight or fight responses shoot through me. I want to run but Ollie holds me in place refusing to let me go.
He pulls me with him as we continue to walk. My legs aren't working so I must look like a complete idiot as they flail about. He picks a table close to the exit of the cafeteria. He must think we will need a quick getaway or something. He sits down and drops my hand. The heat leaves me and loss takes over but I push it aside.
I'm being a baby. I keep thinking that he's going to disappear and leave me. I need to get over it. I'm going to push him away before we even start a relationship. I need to keep it together. He pats the chair and I sit next to him.
"Everyones staring at you." I lean in to him and whisper. He glances around catching several eyes staring back at him. He smiles over at me and leans down to my ear.
"No they're not. They're staring at us." He whispers so close to my ear that I feel every breath. He's laughing so I join in. Ollie has this way of making stressful situations better. Just the fact that there is an us makes me forget about the rest of the people in the room.
Junior waltzes out of the food area and I wave him down like he is my five year old son. He walks over leisurely, saying hi to a few people along the way. He finally plops down next to Ollie. Rude, he picks Ollie over me—I'm a tad jealous.
"So word on the street is you two have gone public?" Junior bluntly asks looking from Ollie to me and back and forth. I kick him under the table and he yelps reaching down to rub his shin. I glare at him the meanest snarl I can manage and Junior smugly smiles back at me.
"Wasn't me." I tease Junior daring him to continue this conversation.
"Everyone says you two are a couple, fact or false?" Junior asks again. This kid needs a muzzle.
"Fact." Ollie states plainly, not even blushing or batting an eye lash. Here I am mortified and he is calm as a cucumber.
"Really?" Junior and I both ask at the same time.
"Well, we're dating now, right? Well technically tonight, but still." Ollie explains. His logic does add up—a couple?
"I guess so?" I answer but it comes out more like a question.
"You don't want to be a couple?" Ollie asks me with amusement in his voice. His eyes never falter. I look to Junior and he shrugs.
"No!" I say a little to loud. "I do." I fix my tone and finish.
"So it's settled." He affirms grabbing my hand from under the table. I let out a breathe thanking god. He gives me a little squeeze and keeps them clasped in between us.
After the awkward conversation, the topic changes to band. I observe as Ollie and Junior chat. I guess there is a home game on Friday night and they are playing at half time. It sounds like a big deal. They both tell me I don't have a choice but to go. It's not like other plans are clogging up my schedule. On the down side, they will both be playing in the band. I'll be stranded alone with the crowd.
Lunch ends way too quickly. It's sad because this is the first time our group has been together. Ollie and Junior's friendship seems longer than it really is. I like it though.
Since Ollie and I are a couple, he will be around a lot more. My best friend being friends with my boyfriend is pretty important. I can get used to the group of us.
Seventh period goes by in a breeze. We are starting to talk about Zeus and his stories in Greek Mythology. It is pretty cool. I wonder how people think this kind of stuff up. I
mean who has that many kids. Doesn't make sense to me but at least it's an interesting story.
Mary is happy to see me today. I was going to go straight to my spot in the back of the library but figure I'll stop and chat. Ollie is usually late to these meetings since he has class in the art wing which is on the other side of school.
"Hey Mary, how are you today?" I ask her propping my bag on my knee.
"I'm fine sweetie, how about you?" Mary responds. She stops typing on her computer and smiles up at me, giving me her full attention.
"Just fine." I answer and smile back at her. I open my mouth to tell her about a book I'm reading in English but she speaks up first.
"You should head back. Your boyfriend is waiting in your spot." She says and I am taken aback. Boyfriend? I know it's a small school but still—she's the librarian for crying out loud.
"My boyfriend?" I question her. My face must be contorted because Mary gives me an odd stare.
"Yes, that young boy you work with." She explains. Of course, she thinks he's my boyfriend. Once again I'm reading too far into this.
"Oh?" I say like a question still rooted in my spot like an idiot.
"Is he not your boyfriend?" She asks, her eyebrows coming together as she blushes from embarrassment. Oh my god. I've embarrassed her now as well.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry. That's me. Thanks Mary."
"No problem sweetie." She says after me as I run towards the back of the room.
I have a boyfriend? Man, that sounds weird. I've had a boyfriend before but this is different.
Ollie is sitting in our little cubicle in the back of the library focusing hard on something. As I get closer I catch him writing something down. Really fast too. I can barely grasp his hand moving up and down the page, the movement is so fast. I walk over and tap him on the shoulder. He jumps up knocking me over as I fall flat on my face dropping all my stuff across the floor.
"I'm sorry! I'm so, so, so, sorry." He apologizes as he tries to pick me up. "You startled me," he further explains. He pulls me up and onto his lap.
"Are you okay?" He asks while rubbing my head and stroking my hair.
"I'm fine. Really." I try reassuring him but he doesn't stop. In fact he goes further when he tucks my head under his chin and rocks me a little like I'm a freaking baby.
"We've got to stop meeting like this." I joke with him. Running into him, bumping heads and now full out falling. I must seem like a complete clutz.
I acknowledge where I am—sitting on his lap in a private area of the library. Our bodies touch on every level. The intimacy between us throws me off. I decide to throw away whatever insecurities I'm harboring. I'm only seventeen once.
I wrap both arms around his rock hard body and he holds me. We're matching puzzle pieces finally fitting together. I'm falling hard for Ollie and for once I'm not scared.
I raise my head from his shoulder and stare into his beautiful eyes. They're bright blue and vibrant. They're piercing me but I can't pull away.
Instead I take one hand and touch the side of his face using my thumb to stroke his cheek. His skin is unbelievably soft. As I reach his chin, it becomes scratchy since the stubble has grown out. I think I love him. Oh my God! What am I thinking? I've only known him a week.
I pull his face into mine and close my eyes letting myself kiss him for the first time. I take the initiative and do what I want. At first neither of us really know how to react. I'm shocked by my forwardness and I think he is too.
His mouth is warm and completely inviting. The first embrace lasts a couple of seconds. After we both realize what's happening the kiss deepens. He comes back in hard, our touch longer and more passionate. His tongue finds mine and they dance together, swirling until I'm not sure who is who.
Suddenly a flash goes off blinding me by the abruptness. I am brought back to reality when I hear cackling. I can tell immediately a group of girls is here although I'm not sure how many.
I hear Becca's annoying voice say 'gotcha' and their footsteps scamper away. She ruined my kiss! Our amazing first kiss—passionate, loving, tender, strong, everything I imagined. Now the memory is tainted by Becca.
I'm not even upset, I'm simply angry. I want to follow her and punch her in her little bitchy face. What the hell, I'm done caring what people think. I jump up off Ollie's lap and race towards the door. Mary says something to me but I ignore her.
I step out into the hall looking both ways for Becca. She would never think I would chase after her. I've been taking her torment for two years without so much as a whisper.
I'm done dealing with her. I decide to go to the left but I take too long. She's no where to be seen. I don't even hear footsteps anymore. Ollie catches up to me and grabs my arm.
"Leave her." He pleads to me. He looks me in the eyes trying to persuade me to stop. Becca deserves to be put in her place.
"No. She's gone too far. She ruined our first kiss." I confess. Clearly I'm so pissed my mouth doesn't possess a filter because if I was in my right mind set, I would ever say these things. I'm sure guys don't even care about this kind of stuff.
"We can try again." He says smirking when I face him. I pout and his smile fades. I know he's just trying to make me feel better but it honestly doesn't work. Just when I'm trying to be normal, something like this shatters it.
"It's not the same." I admit slumping against the wall. The floor is disgusting but I hardly care as my knees bend to touch my chest and I bury my face in my hands. I try to take deep breaths and collapse over my legs.
On the exhale I get choked up unable to hold my feelings in anymore. A few silent tears fall over my lips and trickle down my face. I try to catch them with my finger but Ollie notices.
He crouches down in front of me and takes both of my hands in his. His touch comforts me in a way I never thought was possible. He lifts my face up so I'm looking right at him. He probably thinks I'm an emotional wreck by now.
"Let's get out of here." He says perking up and pulling me with him. I nod and we start going back into the library.
Instead of staying in the library, he grabs both our bags and starts to go out the doors. I silently follow him trying to figure out where he's taking me. I realize this is exactly what I need. I need to get away from this hell and relax.
CHAPTER EIGHT
paradise springs
We head out towards the parking lot but instead of going towards my car, Ollie heads in a different direction. I follow him since he has my hand locked and I'm not about to let him go.
We come up to a huge black truck with only two doors. I'm going to have to jump to even get in the thing. We walk to the passenger side and he helps me in by literally picking me up like I weigh a feather, which I don't. I'm astonished by his strength but I don't say anything. He beams at me as he shuts my door. He moves into his seat and starts up his truck.
It rumbles so loud I actually reach up to cover my ears. His car is freaking insane. It's like a monster truck on steroids. I glare over at him and he laughs under his breath. I reach over and shove his shoulder. Of course he doesn't budge.
He puts the truck into drive and we head out. I have no idea where we're going but I don't care. I have to learn to take chances and trust people. I feel bad ditching Junior but I am thankful that Ollie whisked me away from the annoyance that is Becca.
"So where are we going?" I ask him after a couple minutes of deafening silence.
"Secret spot." He states grinning like the Cheshire Cat. His eyes never leave the road ahead as he refuses to look at me.
"You've been here all of a month and you have a spot?" I ask, skeptical.
"Indeed, I do. I play here sometimes." He says shrugging his shoulders. It can't be that secret if he has already found it. I've lived here my whole life—I have to know where we're going.
"Gotcha." I say and we fall into a comfortable silence. I just sit back and let him lead the way. Even though Becca ruined the day, I'm still in a great mood thanks to that kiss. I start to
daydream about his lips. They're so soft and plump—so very kissable.
Finally he pulls off the main road and drives us onto a gravel path. It probably isn't meant for cars to go down but his truck makes it since it's enormous. He stops before a clearing in the woods. I'm confused since to my knowledge the only thing around here is woods and more woods.
He comes to my side of the truck and opens the door for me. I basically jump into his arms and he catches me. He holds me for a second before pecking my cheek and putting me down. I am falling so hard it's scary.
He grabs my hand and we start walking together. He leads the way through the woods. I trust him, yet again. I'm proud of myself but at the same time I'm scared I'm going to get burned and hurt.
It is only two o'clock but the woods are creepy. The trees create a cover that the sun can't get through. I feel like at any second a serial killer will jump out and kill us. I've seen Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I know how it goes down. I inch closer to Ollie, practically glued to his side.
We walk for like ten minutes. The area is rocky and there are hills making it hard to navigate. I try not to sweat too much. I want to drop his hand since my palms are getting clammy.
As if he's reading my mind, he clenches my hand harder. He smiles at me and pulls me in closer. I like him all possessive. I don't want him to let me go.
"Close your eyes." He commands when he stops walking abruptly. I look at him like he's crazy.
"I can't walk if I can't see." I tell him. Knowing me, I will trip and fall flat on my face. He already thinks I'm the most clumsy person on the face of the Earth.
"I'll carry you then." And just like that he picks me up, holding me like a newborn. He looks down at me waiting for me to close my eyes. I give him a last glare and reluctantly shut my eyes.
His steps are bumpy, bobbing me up and down in his arms. He walks only for a couple more minutes before stopping again. He puts his hands over my eyes for assurance that I won't peek as he places me on the ground.
The Thousand Year Curse (The Curse Books) Page 8
