by Bridle, Dee
“Another shot before we head off?” asked Will, coming back over to me and motioning to the bartender.
I shook my head.
“Better not. I’m going to head home in a minute anyway.”
“You need a lift home with us?” asked Noah, flicking his lighter on and off, as he appeared against the bar next to me.
“I’ll be fine, but thanks,” I said with a appreciative smile.
I looked over at Zac and saw that he was still talking to his friend, but now the girl who he had been with earlier stood next to him. I sucked in a deep breath of air. Where had she come from? Why was I still here? I definitely wasn’t going to hang around while he was with her. I headed over to the toilets, putting my hoodie back on. It was time for me to get ready to go.
As I washed my hands and fiddled with my hair in the mirror, my phone vibrated and I hoped it wasn’t Antony. It was Zac.
Zac: Get a lift home with us
Ava: No. I’m not going home
Zac: Where are you going?
I grinned with wickedness as I texted him: Antony’s
There wasn’t a reply, and I smiled to myself in the mirror as I slid my phone back into my pocket. I took a deep breath and then left the bathroom, coming face to face with him at the door.
I stopped and the heavy door closed behind me, hitting me in the back and making me fall slightly into him.
“Get a lift with me,” he softly demanded.
“No,” I said, trying to look away, but our bodies were pressed up against each other, which made it impossible. “I’m not going to Antony’s. It was a joke.”
“Why not get a lift then?” he asked, not caring in the slightest that we were outside the toilets.
At least it was in a separate hallway and the others couldn’t see us from here.
I rolled my eyes, and whispered, “You didn’t even want me here to begin with, and now you’re expecting me to go home with you?”
“I’m not expecting anything. It was an offer to give you a lift. Take it or leave it,” he returned with a scowl, stepping back clear from me.
“Well, maybe I don’t like squeezing into an already full car.”
“The last time I checked, Noah’s car fit four quite comfortably.”
I sighed in exasperation and folded my arms, trying to decide what to do. The girl was obviously no longer with him and she wasn’t going home with him.
“So, do you always send threatening texts on behalf of girls that you don’t want to be around?” I blurted.
He snapped back, “No, I usually don’t care enough.”
“So you care for me, then?”
He lowered his eyes, and quietly admitted, “For some reason, yes.”
“For some reason? Thanks a lot,” I said, hurt, while I crossed my arms in total disgust at his remark.
He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, and the motion pulled his T-shirt up slightly. I caught a glimpse of a very toned stomach.
“For a lot of reasons,” he muttered, like he didn’t want to admit it.
I stayed quiet, not knowing where to go from here.
“Jesus, Ava,” he said frustrated. “You drive me to the point of madness.”
“The feeling is mutual,” I whispered back. “Especially when you tell me to stay away.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to him.
“You still need to stay away. You’ll only end up hurt.”
I let out a frustrated sigh and demanded, “So, where’s your girl?”
“Don’t know. Does it matter?”
“So, you just got what you wanted from her and that’s it? You’ll never see her again?”
“That’s the general idea,” he returned.
I looked down at his hand holding mine.
“And is there a part of you that wants to do that with me?”
He huffed and spun me around so I was up against the wall.
He leaned into me, and with gritted teeth, said, “You have no idea.”
I took in a short breath.
“So, why don’t you do it, then?”
His eyes burned with desire as he looked at me. I was sure he had to swallow hard.
“Because you’re innocent. You deserve more, and I’m not offering anything more. I only take, when I want it. I don’t do commitment, Ava. I’d never be your boyfriend. I’d just use you for my own pleasure.”
“And if I let you?”
He shook his head, and said softly, “You don’t know what you’re saying. You’ll get hurt, Ava. You need to be the good girl you are and save your energy for someone worthy.”
“Maybe I want to be a bad girl for a while.”
“Bad girls are bad for a reason,” he said, frowning. “You have no reason.”
“How would you know? Every time I get close, you push me away. You know nothing about me!”
“I know enough,” he said. “I’m wrong for you, Ava. I fuck when I want. I smoke. Drink. Do drugs. I’m the worst type of guy for you.”
“Maybe I don’t care about any of that. Maybe I want to use you and get my rebellion out now while I can.”
My words floated between us in the silence.
His hand moved up to my cheek and gently cupped it. His sincere and genuine caring eyes roamed over my face, like he was trying to memorize it or come to a decision.
His thumb brushed my cheek and grazed my lips as my heart stopped. I looked into his compelling eyes, and then he was leaning down and kissing my lips.
I instantly melted into him. His left arm pulled me into his hug, our bodies pulsating with heat as he pulled me closer. His right hand continued to caress my cheek. My hands moved their way up his chest and I loved touching him. My fingers twisted in his T-shirt as his kiss deepened.
He slanted his mouth for better access and I felt his tongue meet mine. His hand moved from my cheek and caressed the back of my neck as he pulled me in even closer. I slid my hands up to his neck, feeling his powerful kiss from my lips to my toes.
This is what I had been waiting for my whole life. I had yearned for a kiss that would render me boneless, ruining me for future kisses. He hungrily kissed me and his other hand stroked my back and then cupped my bottom.
Sensations of pleasure shot through me, and I forgot where I was. His tongue clashed against mine as his hands moved back up and caressed the skin between my hoodie and jeans.
I felt a vibration between us and then I heard music. Breaking the splendor of the moment, I felt him pause. His lips moved from mine and he swore under his breath.
I looked at him and saw all the anger mixed with lust in his eyes. As his phone kept ringing between us, the anger won.
He pulled back and growled, “I have to take this”
He turned from me and answered his phone, as I leaned against the wall in a daze. He gave short, one-word answers. Then he swore again as he ended the call.
He turned back around and cupped my cheek again, saying, “I have to go.”
“Oh,” I said, unable to hide my disappointment.
Who had called him? Why did he have to go right now? Was it a girl?
He kissed me again, only going for one light kiss until our tongues were meeting again. He pulled back like he was trying to control himself and gave me a brief, but amazing smile.
I watched him with dazed eyes before his smile disappeared and was replaced with his guarded watchfulness.
“Go home with Noah,” he demanded softly.
I swallowed and nodded.
“Promise me,” he demanded again.
“Promise,” I whispered.
And then he was gone.
Zac
I looked at a crying Janey in the seat beside me, and I let out a highly frustrated sigh. The taxi driver kept driving and was headed to our home address. His loud music drowned out any noise coming from us.
“Tonight of all nights,” I muttered darkly.
“I’m sorry, Zac,” she cried. “I just didn’t me
an for it to go that far.”
“You never do,” he said, looking out the window.
“Well, excuse me, Mr. Fucking Perfect,” she spat, her mascara running down her cheeks.
I was nowhere near perfect, but tonight, I had discovered perfection, and it scared the living shit out of me.
Ava
I yawned during class the next day and tried to focus. Sophie kept looking at me, puzzled as to why I couldn’t wipe a satisfied smile off my face. He had kissed me and had utterly rocked my world. It had been amazing, and it was everything that I had ever imagined and more.
Noah had driven me home by himself, because Will had gone somewhere with Zac. Noah wouldn’t elaborate on where they had gone, but I was so high on lust and happy thoughts that at the time, I didn’t care.
He thought I was beautiful. It was something I was still coming to terms with, because I didn’t feel beautiful. I did for a moment as he looked at me last night, and I wanted to feel that again. I wanted to see that look in his eyes again, like he wanted to devour me.
As the teacher spoke at the front of the class, I glanced over to Antony who had been doing his best to avoid eye contact with me all day. It was surreal that he had sent those messages to me in the first place, because he had never shown any interest before.
I looked down at my phone in my lap and flicked to the photo that Zac had sent to him of us last night. He was gorgeous, and I was completely smitten.
* * *
On Tuesday morning, I was running late and was one of the last ones left in the locker hall as classes had already started. I quickly got my things ready and slammed the locker closed. That’s when I saw Antony leaning on the locker beside me.
“Oh, hi,” I said, holding my notebook tightly against my chest.
“You think Sunday was funny?” he asked quietly.
I shook my head.
“It’s forgotten, Antony.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” he returned. “And you better watch yourself. I don’t think you know who you’re dealing with.”
“Just forget about it,” I said, stepping past him.
He grabbed my arm and pushed me against the lockers. I became rigid with shock.
“Don’t mess with me, Ava,” he warned, leaning close into my face.
Another student ran in and he let go, walking away casually to class like nothing had happened.
I rubbed my arm and tried to catch my breath as I tried to comprehend what had just happened. Total shock made me go to class and not say a word to anyone, least of all, Sophie.
I didn’t hear from Zac. Everything that had looked so bright on Monday was now dull. I caught Antony watching me throughout the week, and he would always give me a smug smile when my gaze met his eyes. He started to get closer to Sophie again, which made him closer to me, and I hated it.
He started sitting with us at lunchtime, silently daring me to say something. I don’t know why he was continuing to toy with me, because I had made it clear it was all forgotten. Sophie lapped the attention up, clearly forgetting how he had used her.
I went back to studying and working through assignments at the library during lunch hours. I tried not to think of Zac, but I just couldn’t stop. I wanted to hear from him. I needed to see him. What were the rules after kissing someone? If I texted him, did I look desperate or clingy? What if the kiss wasn’t that special to him? Had he even thought of me?
I wanted to tell him I was being threatened by Antony, but didn’t want to sound “high school” with my problems. Would he even believe me? Apart from being pushed against the locker, he had done nothing physically. How did I tell someone that Antony was silently bullying me? Maybe I was overreacting, but I knew that every time he looked at me, I cringed and felt uncomfortable.
The week passed by slowly and painfully.
I contemplated the idea of Zac deliberately keeping his distance. Maybe this was his way of showing me that he refused to do any sort of commitment. I wanted to send him a friendly text, especially since he had given me the most amazing kiss I had ever had. Then I reminded myself that he was probably continuing on with life and spending his time with other girls, as always. I forced myself not to contact him, even though I thought about it every passing second.
Zac
“Are you going to cheer the fuck up at some stage?” asked Will with his beer bottle to his lips.
I scowled and leaned against the bar, saying quietly, “I’m fine.”
“It’s quite simple,” Noah said. “Take her out and have some fun.”
I shook my head and sipped my own beer, turning away to look at the band playing. I wasn’t in the mood to even discuss it.
She had settled under my skin, and I never allowed that to happen. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I wanted her, her lips, her sensual mouth and delectable body. There was something about her that spoke to me on a different level than the other girls, and that’s what made her dangerous. There was nothing more that I wanted right now than her, but I had to stay away, for my own sanity. She went against every rule I had set up in my life. She had the power to make me feel, and I couldn’t let that change.
I looked around the club, eyeing up the talent around us. It was time to clear Ava from my mind. I would replace her with another girl for tonight that I could use for my own pleasure and not have to care about.
Chapter Six: No One Is Going To Hear You
Ava
Sophie begged me to go to Tyler’s birthday party on Saturday night, which was being held at his house with a large marquee in the backyard. I couldn’t tell her why I didn’t want to go, but she was so looking forward to reconnecting with Antony that I had to give in to her.
I tried to warn her against him, but she wouldn’t listen to me, completely smitten by his attention throughout the week.
It wasn’t long before drinks were being mixed, the music was turned up loud, and everyone started to let loose. Sophie and I drank cocktails and then started on the shots, happily joining in with the celebrations. I had kept an eye on Antony throughout the night, and he seemed to be keeping his distance from me.
“Happy Birthday,” I said to Tyler as he came up beside me.
“Thanks,” he grinned as he tapped his cheek. “Where’s my present?”
I smiled and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek.
“That’s better,” he said, leaning closer to me. “I’m liking the hair by the way.”
“Thanks,” I said, feeling his closeness but wanting to move away.
I could smell his aftershave as he leaned in further, but it wasn’t the aftershave I wanted to smell.
He chuckled.
“It makes you look even more gorgeous.”
I shook my head and laughed him off, not even wanting to go any further with that comment.
“You still hanging around the fighter boys?” he asked next.
“Fighter boys?” I asked, knowing he meant Noah and Zac.
“Surely they told you about the underground fighting ring they used to be part of?” he scorned. “Noah and his friend were undefeated for years. I don’t think they do it anymore though.”
“Shots time again!” interrupted Sophie as she approached with a tequila bottle.
She looked between Tyler and me knowingly and was then lining up shots. Tyler put a piece of lemon between my lips, sprinkled some salt on my arm with a grin and then licked it off slowly before he drank his tequila. He finished it off by sucking on the lemon from my mouth and I laughed and pulled away. The lemon dropped to the floor, but I felt nothing for him but friendship.
It was after another four shots that I checked my phone and Facebook. I paused when I saw a photo of me from ten minutes ago, laughing, as Tyler did shots with me.
Antony had posted two photos, showing me laughing and looking very intimate with Tyler. I stared in disbelief.
I had been tagged on both of them and one of them said:
What a nice couple…
I felt sick. I was sure he was trying to hurt me, hoping Zac would see them and get angry. I looked to the group outside to see him laughing with Nathan, and I felt like storming over and hitting him.
“Just ignore him,” chuckled Tyler beside me. “It’s his way of getting a laugh.”
School friends started to click on “Like” as they saw the photo, and I rolled my eyes. I knew he wasn’t doing it for a laugh. As I looked back at my so-called friends, I realized that I had started to play a game where I didn’t know the rules.
I slipped my phone in my pocket and headed upstairs to use the bathroom. I needed to go home. I was annoyed with myself that I had let Sophie talk me into coming here tonight.
I finished and opened the bathroom door only to see Antony standing there blocking the doorway. I panicked and tried to close the door, but he shoved his foot in the way.
“Now is not the time to play hard to get,” he said, pushing his way in and closing the door behind him.
“Get out,” I said to him, as fear travelled up my spine.
He was drunk and wanted revenge. I frantically tried to figure out how I could escape. I touched my phone in my pocket, but I didn’t know who I could call to help me in time. Sophie wouldn’t hear her phone, and who knew where Zac was tonight. My father was on another weekend away, and I knew I was alone.
“You fucking led me on,” he said, angrily coming towards me.
“I didn’t mean to,” I said calmly.
“Do you still have the photo?” he asked furiously.
“No, I deleted it,” I lied, stepping back from him.
“Your boyfriend better watch himself.”
I bumped against the basin, having nowhere else to go as he loomed towards me.
“You shouldn’t mess with him,” I said quietly.
“Oh, I will,” he said with angry eyes. “And you shouldn’t be a cock tease. It doesn’t suit you.”
“I’m not a cock tease!”
He grabbed me and shoved me against the basin, and the back of my head hit the mirror.
