“At the party or here?” Toni interrupted her thoughts and Carol collapsed on her bed, staring up at the ceiling.
“Here” she replied and turned over, away from Toni and her nagging questions.
“Why are you not more excited than this should make you?” Toni sounded way more excited than her.
“Because as expected, I ruined it”
“Like how? Did you pee your pants or bite his lips, how?” Toni was giggling but stopped the moment she realized that Carol wasn’t laughing along with her.
“I stopped him and we kissed again and I stopped him again” Carol said and buried her face into the pillow.
“Oh God, Why?” Toni asked and sat down on the edge of Carol’s bed. “Why on Earth would you stop Kevin Tyler from kissing you?”
“Because I don’t trust him. Well, at least, I didn’t trust him. I decided to listen to all the bullshit that you people have been feeding me and I went against my instinct and doubted his intentions” Carol spoke into the pillow and her voice was muffled but Toni had no difficulty deciphering the words.
“Us people? What are you talking about?” Toni asked and just from her voice, Carol knew that this night was going to be long and endless.
“Joanna had a few words of advice for me after I left the party” Carol mumbled.
“Joanna had a few…what the Hell happened at that party?” Toni was yelling now.
*****
Carol found Kevin the next day, sitting on a chair in the patio of the sorority house. His earphones were plugged in and he was leaning back in the chair. Carol cleared her throat but he didn’t notice her. She walked closer to him and cleared her throat even louder. Kevin jerked his head around and had a mild expression of shock on his face when he found her standing there.
“Hey” she said with a weak smile on her face.
“Hey there” Kevin said and tried to put on his usual smile.
“I was hoping to find you here” Carol said and dropped her gaze shyly.
“What’s up?” he asked and stood up.
“I wanted to speak to you last night but you left in such a hurry. I tried following you but couldn’t keep up with…” Carol’s words came out in a jumble and he interrupted her.
“I know. I was trying to get away” he said and squinted his eyes, rubbing the back of his head with his knuckles.
“Of course, you were trying to get away from me” she said and rolled her eyes in mock offense. They both laughed nervously.
“Hey you should know that I wasn’t making up any of those things I said” he said and stepped out of the gate and closer to her. Carol remained standing where she was and fiddled with the strap of her satchel which hung from her shoulder.
“I meant it when I said that I was looking for an opportunity to talk to you” he continued and looked away from her as well, embarrassed. This is not how Carol had imagined Kevin picked up girls. She assumed that he was a straight shooter. But with her his face had reddened and he looked like he wanted to turn around and run, again.
“You have a funny way of showing it. By running away from me?” Carol said with a short laugh.
“You said you didn’t trust my intentions. That my ex-girlfriends left a sour taste in your mouth” Kevin said and she could feel the anger in his voice.
“I didn’t say that exactly. But I agree I was being judgmental” Carol said.
“Well, I can’t change my past and I’m not exactly proud of some of the relationships I’ve had but does that mean I don’t deserve a chance?” Kevin finally met her eyes and she could see faint dimples forming on his cheeks. He was terribly hot and all she wanted to do now was kiss him.
“Are you asking me out?” Carol said with a nervous laugh.
“I would say we’re well past that. Given what happened in your room last night” Kevin said and pursed his lips. Carol bit down on her lip and smiled inwardly.
“We barely know each other” she began but he interrupted her again.
“I’m not going anywhere. Are you?” he said and walked over to her. Their bodies were a few inches apart and Carol couldn’t control herself anymore, she had to kiss him.
*****
Kevin hadn’t had a single drop of alcohol the whole time during the game, even though his teammates had a few whenever they were on the bench. Carol and her cheerleading team were walking back towards the bleachers after their winning performance and she could see Kevin’s teammates and him cheering and thumping themselves on the back.
She watched as he took his mouthguard off and rubbed off the black paint he had put on his face in two lines across his cheeks. He was watching her too. He took off his helmet and shook his curls free while his teammates hugged him and passed high-fives. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
Carol could hear Toni’s voice in the bleachers, calling out to her but she couldn’t take his eyes off him. He had started to walk towards her and she stood frozen. She bit down on her lip as she watched him, his bulging muscles stretching the fabric of his jersey, his green eyes piercing into her soul and those delicious dimples on his cheeks.
“Hey you” he said with laughter in his voice when he had reached close enough for her to hear him.
“Oh my God Kevin you were so awesome out there” Moira squealed from behind Carol and she skipped over to him to give him a hug. Kevin continued to stare at her, while Moira wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to peck him on his cheek. Kevin peeled her off of him and walked over to where Carol was standing.
“Congratulations Kevin Tyler. She’s right. You were awesome out there” Carol said with a mischievous smile on her face. From the corner of her eye she could see Moira and some of the other girls passing looks as they watched the scene unfolding before them.
“I had my lucky angel watching my every move” Kevin said softly and without waiting for her to react had grabbed her by the waist. He pulled her close to him and kissed her gently on her forehead. Carol raised herself on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck as he lowered his face and they kissed. In the middle of the pitch, with the whole college watching them. She could hear Toni’s victorious squeals as she closed her eyes and kissed him back. She didn’t care anymore what anybody thought. She didn’t have to. She was happy enough enjoying the moment, living her dream. Her fantasy.
“I guess you’re excited about the party? Now that you guys have won?” Carol said when they finally parted for breath.
“What party?” Kevin asked and beamed at her.
“You know the one which is traditional for you?” she said and raised an eyebrow at him.
“The only party I’m excited about is the party for two that you’re invited to” he said with a laugh and bent his head down to kiss her again.
The Perfect Touchdown
Sally drove me to the beach where we sat and gazed the quiescent for a while before heading back to college. I don't exactly know but there was something different in the air today. There was something contrasting about the sky today. And I could feel it in all my nerves. The sound of the car brakes obstructed my thoughts and before I could gather my brain altogether, we were there.
"Darlin' you're late and you have your practice today so we better run!!" Sally hollered as we slid through the hallway.
While listening to the teacher explain all combinations of numbers to us, all I could envisage was the chronology of my moves and the beats. It was annoying how not being able to practice dance had rather become a frenzy for me. A diversion that came in the way of everything I was doing in my practical, real life.
"You do know they require parent's consent and everything" Sally picked my brain yet again, canvassing about our secret plan on signing me up on one of the dance clubs. "By the way, you have to HAVE to check that lad out. He's sizzling hot and not just that he's glaring in this very direction. I am so knotting with this one" She was checking out guys from the new lot simultaneously.
"I know that. And I also know, positively, th
at I am going to be so faultless in my cheerleading feat that mom won't have any point to argue on" I was optimistic about anything and everything today. And I could not help but jolt how Sally was steamed by this pocket-sized geek sitting across the room.
"We'll see" Sally was now on her toes marching down the steps briskly right where the petite guy stood.
Shoving my books back in my bag, I heard a deafening and familiar phone ringing right after the class bell gong had stopped buzzing. The classroom was jammed with people elbow-to-elbow. It was the first class with the newbies who had migrated here from other colleges around the state.
This just had to happen today, I thought to myself as I grabbed the device to see something flashing on the screen. It was a conventional 'mom call' and I had to take it. Arguing about how I was going to be late from College today, I strolled past the huddled class bulletin board and suddenly speculated that I could go through my timetable on it. Glancing at the schedule I managed to talk off mom with a silly reason.
"Mom's these days" a husky voice from behind my shoulder sounded interested.
I spinned around and met the gaze of a guy so perfect that I doubted he said what he said. So I peeked sideways to make sure.
He lend forward his pale, slender, masculine hand, "Rory Prichette" his jawline moved perfectly into a curve all the way to his ears. It took me a millisecond to realize that I haven't seen him around here before. He had to be from the new lot.
Just when I locked my eyes with his, I knew this was it. The out-of-ordinary feeling that had been flaming in me since this morning was because of this. Because of him.
Rory had a not-so-tall but ideally muscular structure and skin that was evenly pale. His chest muscles protruded forward enough to make him look like an athlete. He had a slightly blushed face tone but the body was pale. The kind of pale that would have you thinking what was inside the shirt. That would make you want to touch him and still not get so close for it might as well stain the perfection. Topping it all off, Rory had a symmetrical hairline on his forehead framing his square face and grounding his blond hair spikes in a shaggy way. In his own bubble space, Rory was so effortlessly beautiful. His movement so strong and eyes so intense.
''Carmela. I am the student council president here and yeah moms.'' I couldn't resist a smile anymore. So bewildered by how he looked, I forgot how to progress this conversation.
''I just migrated from Mississippi College. I'll be playing for the football team here as a lead. I don't know how things work around here in Hawaii. But since your some authoritative person around here we could help each other out'' He smiled again, sinking my heart very deep this time.
Coupled with his erotic existence was the fact that he was the new captain of the football team everyone had been talking about. That was even more tactile. I could see him studying my body from the corner of his eye and I could tell that he wanted me as much. Or not. I might have been overestimating it. My hamstrings were tight in a short cut leather skirt today and breasts prominent in a plain collar shirt. And even though, I didn't think we complimented each other there was just a cosmic connection. It was drawing us closer. Or at least it was drawing me closer. I wanted to discover him the minute I saw him. But he was like any other rugged footballer all the girls would hoe over and I was just the next girl from the science club. Not attractive, not smart or sexy like most of them. Cheerleading was just a way to express my passion but I never believed in such a restricted form of dance. Dance, in my opinion was an expression of art, that was not confined by boundaries or forms. I just wanted to express myself in any way I wanted. Snapping back to reality, cheerleading was the only way. Even the girls from the cheerleading club always gave me the reluctant vibes. Like I was somewhat different. Which I was.
''See you around then.'' I forced myself to walk away, making sure I don't lock my lips with his juicy ones one more time he speaks.
First practice match was today and I was assigned to head the cheerleading team. With all the other girls, I hastily changed into my skirts and stretch shirt for rehearsals. The girls had all departed to the ground while I stood staring myself like a fool in the dressing mirror conceiving Rory's visuals. Obviously I am one of the many customary girls he meets everyday I thought to myself. I didn't want to anticipate anything. A greedy glutton, I cynically screeched open the door.
Rory accelerated from the sidewall and within a second, bulldozed himself upon me slamming the door behind. I felt a sudden jostle in my body, my heart propelled through my throat and my body covered up in goosebumps.
He pressed his warm hand against my lips and squished me against the locker with his other arm, ''I couldn't resist you Carmela. I tried time and again today. But I know you couldn't too. I had to see you. Feel you.'' His whisper against my chin bone felt so balmy.
The humid air around us turned even more toasty as he slid his hands from my spine all the way down to my hips.
''But you have your girl-'' I tried to retrieve my body from his strong arms, recalling what I overheard the girls in the changing room were talking about just few minutes ago. About Rory's hot chic girlfriend and how they just started dating.
''Sshh.'' He inched so close, I could feel his heart slammed against my chest. And so I let slip from my memory everything and submitted myself to him truly.
Slathering my nose with his lips, he plastered my face with his natural, addictive scent, we intertwined with each other more than that. He didn't kiss me but I wanted it so badly and every time I initiated this move, he withdrew himself. Caressing me for mo more than a minute, Rory pulled away leaving me in such a complex dimension. He strolled away like nothing happened and I was too awe-struck to call out to him. Oh my good Lord. What was that? I felt my each and every one of my body cells experience an unusual chill. One never felt before. One I felt when I had a stare lock with Rory. But where is his talk-of-the-town girlfriend? The planet was rotating in a whole new direction around me now.
There was hustle and bustle everywhere in the ground today and Rory and I, we were both late for his match and my routine. All the cheerleaders lined themselves in an equipoise with me in the very center, heading the group. As team members started worming in the field, my eyes searched particularly for Rory's glimpse. By now, I had lapsed out on all the moves. Everything. Total oblivion.
There he was. I had never seen anyone and I mean literally anyone pull off a football Jersey that well. His sturdy long legs tightened in the shorts making his limbs look voluptuos. Making his way through the mob so smoothly. The audience exploded into a thunder as the team players warmed up and aligned themselves in the right chronology. I lusted yet again for his stare but he seemed busy. Busy because of the game probably. But the other players eyed all the cheerleaders along with me. Some whistled while others hollered, boosting the team for a win.
I hit the skids and found myself lacking the charm I usually executed on the ground through my performances. The cheerleaders, who already had a venomous feeling for me antagonized me even more. But turning blind-eyed to all this, I just longed to see Rory look back at me.
He didn't.
Lying in the bed at night, I mused about how I was caught up in Rory's being today. Just took me a day to feel myself intact. All these years in Hawaii High school and one day was all that it took. Not even a day. Just a few minutes. Not even words to express our palpitations. Just us in the changing room.
But we didn't even exchange numbers let alone words.
"Dude you look like you got abandoned on planet mars" Sally looked at me as we drove to college the following day. "Do you need to stop for a coffee or something?" She seemed concerned now.
"No I just didn't sleep well last night. My head's a mess. I don't know why I feel so low-key" I tried to sound naturally persuasive. The last thing I wanted now was for Sally to know about my little episode and chalk talk to me about it. So there was no way I was slipping one word of it out of my mouth. But then again, what if she knew somethi
ng I didn't? She was the social one among us both so she ought to know. Know about Rory's girlfriend. About who he was? Was he just another one of those playboys or did he really get the same ambience from me as I did from him? Because one thing was for sure; I was passionately in love with him in just less than 24 hours.
"Sally.." I rationalized all the pros and cons of what I was about to do quickly.
"I knew something was up with you. Look at your frikking face man. Spill it now. Spill it all." Sally was being short and precise. I had never seen her so apprehensive and jumpy.
"Do you know Rory? Rory Pit-" my tone was already shuddering by his name when Sally cut me off in a frenzy.
"Oh no. Not him Carms. Just no!!" My heart capsized like a ship that just got wreck.
*****
"You know what they say about him? He's been with over 10 or more girls" Sally was now bothered.
"I don’t know that Sally. I just met him and-" I found myself defending Rory unwillingly.
"You what???" Sally lashed out at me once again as we drove across the parking.
I didn’t think there was any room for anything now. It would be more surpassing if I just zipped my mouth now for I had spilled enough beans already.
"Carmela this guy we're talking about is a drunkard disguised by his pretty face. And from what I have heard over and over again, he has a criminal record as well." Argued Sally not giving up on her stance.
Sucker for the Boss Page 19
