Redemption

by Dexx Peay

  “An alien,” I said.

  His face gave rejection of such a thought.

  “You guys aren’t aliens, just distant descendants of the people of the planet Xarpore,” he assured us.

  “Try finding that in the history books,” Marcus murmured.

  “Maybe the Sci-Fi channel,” I murmured back.

  “You all are just as human as I am,” Sam affirmed.

  “It would have helped if I was raised by my birth parents like Hudson and Hachi. That way all this wouldn’t be so new. Think of how different life would have been if Dylan and I had been training at an early age or how less of a shock it would have been finding out who we really are,” Marcus fussed.

  “Were you adopted too Dylan?” Sam asked.

  “Ugh...me...nah...I mean no, I wasn’t adopted my parents just…it’s a complicated situation.”

  I couldn’t keep holding this inside of me, I had to talk to Marcus about this soon and also let my parents have it for keeping this lie going on this long.

  “I was thinking about maybe changing my last name to my birth father’s last name. My real last name,” Marcus said.

  That was random.

  Sam and I both looked at him.

  I felt an argument about to ensue.

  “What! When did you decide this?” I snapped.

  “I really want to be connected to my roots. I want to feel closer to my father and I think having his last name would be a good start.”

  “What about your parents? Don’t you think they will feel some kind of way?”

  I was taken aback. I didn’t mean to sound angry but this was big. How long had he been feeling like this and why didn’t he come to me about it. What was going on in the friendship between us? I got up and paced for a few seconds.

  Had to calm down.

  “Marcus think about this…”

  I squatted down so I wouldn’t be so loud. I had to redirect my anger.

  “The Qihar know the name Ferrari, hell, Jessica sure did. If there are more people out there that knew about your father and wanted him dead; then all of a sudden this boy with the name Ferrari pops up, don’t you think that will raise suspicion? Be smart about this.”

  “I get what you’re saying Dylan. I’m just figuring out ways to ground myself more in this thing. I have no foundation, just the journals,” Marcus reasoned.

  “I understand, trust me I do, we just need another avenue and a name change isn’t it.”

  I tried to convince him, reason with the hope I did a good job. That was not the brightest idea; Ferrari is not a common name. It seemed like our dad was on the top of the Qihar hit list anyway. After talking about the whole subject of the name change, we all went to finish out or day.

  The first week of classes were a drag. I kept waking up late because Gunner needed a wingman to all the back-to-school parties he wanted to attend. I still managed to get what little work I was assigned done. I was off to a good start I kept telling myself.

  I spent Saturday with Hudson, Hachi, Sam and Gunner. Everyone had different ideas of what we should all do once we met up. Hudson wanted to go to the Museum of Fine Art, Gunner wanted to play football at the park, Hachi wanted to go eat, and me and Sam just looked around at the three bicker like kids.

  “Why don’t we go to the mall?” Sam interjected.

  They all stopped and looked around. Gunner hunched his shoulders and the twins look at each other. I swear they have twin telepathy. Guess they were asking if the other was okay with it.

  “Yeah, the mall is cool,” Hachi said.

  “Speaking for you and Hudson?” I joked.

  “Cute Dylan,” Hachi said sarcastically.

  “This way Hachi can find a restaurant for us all to eat, Gunner can go to the sports store, and Hudson can look at mannequins and call them art,” Sam said.

  We all laughed, although Hudson didn’t find it quite funny.

  “Who’s driving?” Gunner asked.

  “Not it!” I screamed without hesitation.

  “Guess it’s us Hach,” Hudson called out.

  “Shotgun,” Gunner yelled.

  We all walked to the parking deck and loaded up inside their red four-door sedan. The three of us fit comfortably in the back seat. We headed to Roosevelt Mall and I wanted to catch up on sleep in the back seat. I had an option. I could lean my head to the right and rest on Hachi, or to the left and rest on Sam.

  I decided to stay awake.

  “How do I turn the air on?” Gunner asked, pushing random buttons.

  Sam elbowed me. I looked and raised an eyebrow, thinking to myself are you all sure?

  “It’s that button right there,” Hudson nodded.

  He snuck a peek at me in the rear view mirror. Hachi positioned herself up.

  “Get ready,” I heard her whisper.

  Gunner turned the air on and I released one hell of a cold snap. His head leaned back and I saw everyone fighting to hold in their laughs. Gunner quickly reached back and turned the air off.

  “Whoa, your AC is really good there partner,” he said.

  I couldn’t hold it in, I laughed a little. The others joined in. Gunner looked back and wondered what the inside joke was.

  Once we got to the mall, Hachi and Gunner stormed off. Hudson didn’t want to walk around with his sister so he came with Sam and I to the Brainy People store.

  “Nice one back there Dylan,” Sam said.

  It was cool hanging around guys who were just as nerdy as me. Didn’t really have that luxury in high school with the exception of Marcus. Being known as the jock takes away from everything else.

  While Sam, Hudson and I were playing with a new marble game, Hachi called Hudson and said she was ready for lunch. She’d never been to Houston’s and wanted to try it out, especially since they had outdoor seating. We agreed and wrapped up the game. We walked through the mall to the restaurant and we noticed people rushing back inside fanning themselves.

  “Wonder what has everyone running back inside?” Sam said confused.

  “Yeah the inside of this place is pretty packed. Hope Hachi wants to sit outside,” Hudson said.

  I was wondering what the deal was myself. Right as we walked outside, it made more sense. Everybody was sweating, fanning themselves and looking for shaded areas. What’s going on here, I thought.

  We met up with Gunner and Hachi outside the restaurant and Gunner looked like he was about to die.

  “Are you okay buddy?” I asked.

  “Just a little warm out here partner. You’d think I be immune to this heat from all the hours I spent working the farm,” he replied.

  I asked the hostess if we could get a seat on the inside but she informed us that it was full. I didn’t want to sit outside knowing they were about to kill themselves in this heat.

  “I can just go for a nice smoothie,” I mentioned. I was ready to call it a day and head back to my room.

  We pushed passed the people crowding in the restaurant. I remembered there was a Jamba Juice near where we parked so we headed in that direction. We got there just in time before a big rush happened. I ordered a Mango-A-Go-Go smoothie. Everyone else ordered except Sam.

  The parking lot was filled with people walking like slugs, drenched in their own sweat. We were all ready to go and the heat started to make the people act a little crazy. One man almost ran us over he was so ready to get home.

  “One hundred and six degrees!” Gunner yelled. “My phone says that it’s a hundred and six degrees out here.”

  How did it get so hot out here in a matter of minutes? We practically ran to the car. I made sure to be the first one to get in. Hudson had already tossed me the keys. We must have been thinking the same thing. I placed my hand on the door right before I hit the unlock button so that by the time they opened their doors, the car was cooled.

  “I just want to hop in the pool and try to cool off the rest of the day, anyone down?” Sam asked.

  Everyone agreed.

  W
e got back to campus and we all decided to get our swim gear and meet at the campus pool.

  “Bring Marcus by,” Hudson yelled as we walked off.

  I walked up to my room and for some reason the heat started to finally catch up with me. Time felt like it started to melt as I got closer to my room. I got to the door and actually felt heat when I twisted the knob. The door opened and right as I took my first step in, I was knocked back by a wave of some intense heat.

  I took a few seconds to get myself together.

  Mentally, I was ready for a fight at that moment.

  I went inside and everything looked normal.

  Marc, I thought.

  I ran to his room and opened the door and caught myself stunned, but only for about half a second. I closed the door as quickly as I opened it. This can’t be the reason for the sudden shift in the temperature.

  I sat down on the couch and so many things started going through my head that had to nothing to do with what I just saw. I heard the door start to open and broke my train of thought.

  “Hey Dylan,” Delilah looked my way. Her hair was wild and soaked in sweat. “Bye Dylan,” she said, running by half-dressed.

  Marcus came out the room in nothing but his boxers.

  “Marc have you any idea what you’ve just done?”

  I had so much concern in my voice, but he just stood there…

  With a smirk on his face.

  I knew Dylan had plans to be out with everyone today at the mall. I sat in my room contemplating on calling Delilah to come over or to just go out with everyone. I made a split-second decision to stay home and be with Delilah. That talk with Dylan really had me curious to just know what it felt like to be involved with somebody, anybody of the opposite sex.

  I think I was ready.

  I texted Delilah and told her that I was going to have the room to myself and for her to come over just to have some alone time. I couldn’t muster up the courage to call her. Didn’t want my voice to crack from the nervousness when she answered. Like I’d hoped, she was thrilled about the idea.

  “You sure you don’t want to come to the mall with us today?” Dylan asked.

  “No, I think I’m just going to hang out around campus today.”

  “Your choice Marc.”

  Once he left, I turned into Speedy Gonzales and started to clean the place. I showered for the second time and made sure to spray on some of Dylan’s cologne. I think I drowned myself in it because I started to choke. I went inside his drawer and condoms flowed from under the socks. I knew damn well he wasn’t getting that much action. I borrowed a few.

  She texted me and said she would be over in a few minutes. Once I read the message my nerves started to take over. My body began to shake and my heart bounced worse than when I have one of those panic attacks. The cologne started to make me nauseous. I had to close the blinds because the sunlight started to give me a headache. Started to coach myself out of it, telling myself I didn’t want to be alone with her, that I should’ve hung out with my friends.

  I didn’t have the chance to think again, the door started to open. I dropped my phone as she walked inside. I knew I had the look of a child up to no good when she walked in.

  She laughed.

  “Marcus.” My named rolled off her tongue.

  “Sorry, dropped my phone. That’s why I couldn’t play basketball or football...butterfingers.” I shrugged.

  She walked over with her long stride, and got to me in two steps. Reaching out her hand, I placed mine into them. Her skin was gentle.

  Smooth.

  Creamy.

  Almost like balancing chemical equations. Something about her just made sense to me. There are times when I look at her and think why me. We’re so different but when I am around her I don’t think about it.

  I wonder if she likes the way I dress?

  She was standing in front me wearing loosely fitted jeans, with boots - or maybe they’re just considers heels - and a designer bag about the size of me. The most you can get out of me are khakis and a button-down, and that’s on a good day.

  “Did you have something in mind for us today?” she asked.

  I didn’t want to come out and say what I had in mind. I thought that wouldn’t be the most romantic thing.

  “I…I-I-I-ja..ja..just thought we co..could hang out and watch a…a…a movie.”

  I stumbled through the whole sentence. I couldn’t believe I was going back in time to my ‘Macchiato’ days. I couldn’t do this and was a fool for thinking I could.

  “Sounds good,” flowed from her lips.

  I looked at her. I couldn’t stop looking at her juicy lips. Thoughts started going through my head. I froze. She started walking back to my room, not letting go of my hands. She closed the door and laid across my bed. I stumbled over my dvd’s looking for a romantic comedy to help the situation, then snuggled my body into hers.

  “I’m glad you called me over today Marcus,” she said.

  “Why is that,” I said softly.

  “I didn’t have anything to do today.”

  I chuckled.

  The movie started to play and she seemed to focus on the television. I looked down and smiled as I caught her smelling me.

  The movie went about halfway through before it finally started to pick up. I don’t normally go for the romantic love stories, but this one was somewhat intriguing. The maid of honor is in love with her best friend’s fiancée and vice versa. I think they will end up together. I leaned over and brushed the hair away from her face and kissed her on the forehead right as the fiancée did in the movie. She looked up at me and pursed her lips. I leaned forward and my lips met hers halfway.

  “Peaches,” I sighed.

  She sat up and so did I.

  We both looked at one another.

  She wrapped her arms around my head and interlocked them around the back of my neck, then pulled me closer to her and kissed me again but this time with more passion. She then took her hands and placed them at my waist and started to pull my shirt off until it got stuck around my head. It broke the moment and we both laughed.

  “Let me help,” I said.

  “You have a big head,” she laughed.

  “I do not.”

  I took off my shirt and threw it in a corner, then took off hers. Her body was amazing. I couldn’t stop admiring and I haven’t even seen all of it yet. She reached in and kissed me on the neck, and placed my hands around her waist. Her skin was silk. Soft and delicate.

  “Is it getting hot in here?” I whispered.

  “I’ll say,” she whispered back.

  I got scared and quickly pushed her off me.

  “Are you okay?” I panicked.

  “Marcus what is wrong with you? Of course I am okay.”

  I checked her waist. No marks.

  “Babe, it’s okay if you’re nervous.”

  I didn’t want to make the mistake of burning another person. I decided to roll with the nervous story since it was true to an extent.

  “I’m sorry Delilah, I’m just nervous about being—”

  “Marcus it’s okay, we’ve already talked about this, you don’t have to be nervous with me.”

  She grabbed my hands, forced them back onto her waist and started kissing me again. I moved them and began to pull my shorts off. She pulled back, got off the bed and slowly started to take the rest of her clothes off.

  I was enjoying the striptease.

  She flirted with me twirling her hair, biting her lips, and licking her finger. Raising her eyebrow at me, I realized she was the only one naked. I quickly took my boxers off and we both got underneath the blanket.

  Delilah made me feel… free. I didn’t have to be ashamed of who I was around her.

  It’s what I loved most.

  She took full control over both our bodies at the same time. Her kisses had me weak. Couldn’t stop thinking if I was pleasing her in return. By the way she said my name, I must’ve been doing something right. />
  We both started to sweat.

  I couldn’t keep my hands off her body.

  They had to explore.

  We were so into each other I didn’t even realize Dylan was home until the room door opened, but neither of us acknowledged him. We had to keep going.

  The whole experience was better than I expected. I couldn’t imagine sharing my first time with anyone else. Delilah was a little embarrassed and started to gather her stuff. She laughed the whole time, as she searched the room for all her garments. She got half dressed and threw the rest of her clothes in her purse. Before leaving, she jumped on the bed and laid one on me. Her girlish giggle turned me on.

  Told her to stop before I made her stay the night.

  “I wasn’t expecting Dylan to come back so soon,” I said.

  “We’ll just have to go to my room next time.”

  She got up and ran out the room. I looked for my boxers and threw them on. Had no idea what Dylan was gonna say. I swear sometimes he acts more like a dad than a friend.