Nodding, I stand and make my way outside of the shop. “What’s up?”
Playing with the hem of her shorts, she looks around, “Last night… I just want to tell you I’m not a lesbian. I mean, if you are then that’s cool… but I’m not…”
Holding up my hand to silence her, I chuckle. “I’m not. I don’t see why someone needs to be a certain thing; if the moment comes up then why not go for it.”
Winking at Lukas through the window I turn and walk away. For now, all of their indiscretions will be our secret. It isn’t time to come clean...yet.
Chapter Six
I haven’t been able to have a moment alone with Luke since the party. He acts nervous around me, almost as if he remembers that night. I wouldn’t mind if he did, if only he knew it was me he made love to and not Natalia. That little bitch is becoming harder to deal with. Some days I am tempted to just kill her and be done with it. Parking the car, I sigh when I pull the bag of food onto my shoulder. She’s lucky I know what it’s like to starve. Otherwise, I would let her wither away. Natalia may think I’m insane but I’m not, I am nearly always in control of my actions.
“Wakey, wakey Natalia,” I singsong from the cabin entrance.
Groaning, she glares at me from across the room. Rolling my eyes, I make my way over to the small refrigerator and stock the groceries I brought with me. Natalia isn’t eating as much as she should, making a mental note to grab her some vitamins. I may be her kidnapper but I’m not a monster.
“When will you let me go?” She questions, watching my every move.
Shrugging, I give her the biggest smile I can. “Why? Got a hot date?”
Shaking her head, I can hear her muttering. The smile drops from my face, “What was that? Hmm? Have something to say?”
Curling against the wall, she shakes her head. I know she called me a psycho, I’m not though. My mother was worried about my mental state when I was younger and had me tested. I’ve just always been overly emotional. The doctors said it was a side effect of my IQ, emotional overexcitability. Slamming the door behind me, I reach for my phone as the ding of a text message sounds. Rolling my eyes I read the message Isabel sent, I need the room tonight. I’m giving Lukas my V-card. Swiping right, I erase the text and head back.
Not knocking at all, I practically barge into the dorm room. Isabel is almost naked and Lukas is between her thighs. Anger simmers under my skin. I replay the night I lost my virginity to Luke. He has always been my one and only. Coughing brings me back to the present, buttoning her pants Isabel mouths what the fuck. Taking my jacket off, I don’t even realize I have my watch on before Lukas zeros in on it. Fuck.
Looking at me closely, he doesn’t say anything but I can see the wheels turning in his head. Kissing her on the cheek, Lukas leaves, his eyes roaming my body as if he remembers the way we fit together. Isabel flops on her bed, huffing at her lack of sex. Smiling, I walk and sit down next to her.
“Sorry. You should have texted me or something.” Rubbing her shoulder and pulling her closer to me.
Laughing, she shakes her head, “I did but I guess you never got it. I just wish it was a bit longer. I didn’t even orgasm yet. I was so close!”
Moving my hand to her thigh, I squeeze, “Well… you could always just finish yourself off.”
Sighing, Isabel smiles and motions for me to move as she climbs in bed. Taking the cue, I turn off the light and lie down on my own twin mattress. It’s only been an hour when I hear her soft moans. Isabel took my advice it seems. I wonder if she knows I can hear her and that I’m awake still. Whimpering, I hear her gasp for breath. I never expected her to be one for voyeurism. Natalia. That name on her lips as she fucks herself should make me happy but it’s a slap in the face. Throwing off my blanket, I pad over to her side. Watching Isabel, I tug down my shorts and toss my tank to the side. I don’t register what I’m doing until I do it. I want her to scream my name, not Natalia’s, and not even Luke’s.
Grabbing her hand, I move it away from her wet pussy and lower my head. Swirling my tongue around the small clit, I hum my delight as her legs shake and her hand grips my hair. Backing away, I hold her gaze as I work two of my fingers inside of her. Isabel moans, thrashing on the bed as she comes apart at my hand. She said she wasn’t a lesbian, and I know I’m not but for some reason, I want to do this. It has nothing to do with Luke. It doesn’t fit into my plans.
Chapter Seven
It’s been two days since the night with Isabel. She won’t look at me in the eyes. Lukas won’t stop staring at me, my panties from the party ended up under my pillow last night. Maybe it’s time to play my cards.
Classes are a drag. I never wanted to be in the medical field but it does allow me into the Chemistry lab and to work at the hospital when I chose. Today I am shadowing the local hospital’s charge nurse and have access to the med cart. Pocketing the syringe and the bottle of sleep medication, I smile at the patient. Isabel won’t be making it to her date tonight.
Slipping the liquid into her drink is easier than it should be. I wonder why everyone is quick to trust just anyone around something they ingest. I never leave things to chance. The world is full of stalkers, psychos, and deranged individuals. People should really be more careful. Watching her eyes fall shut, I take my time crossing the room. Pulling her phone from her charger, I scroll through her messages to Lukas until I see what time her date is and where. The movies. Rolling my eyes at the sappy romance she picked, I power off her phone. I don’t need for him to call and wake her.
Slipping on my skirt, I tug my panties down my legs. If all goes right then I won’t need them anyway. The door clicks closed behind me as I walk out making my way to the parking lot. Humming to myself, I park next to Lukas’ Jeep and slide out from the driver's seat. Watching his face, I see the surprise, and then the simmering anger. I haven’t said a word before I feel his hand around my throat.
“Where the fuck is Isabel?”
Batting my eyelashes, I lean closer causing his hand to tighten on my neck, “She’s studying. Isabel told me to come in her place. Why? Do I make you nervous?”
His eyes drop from my eyes to my neck, Lukas leans closer. “I don’t know who you are or what you did to me at that party but this,” pointing between us, shattering my restraint, “will never happen.”
Capturing his lips with mine, I moan when his hands grip my ass pulling me closer. He may say he doesn’t want me but his body tells me a whole different story. I can feel his cock through his jeans against my bare cunt. A low whistle breaks the hold we have on each other. Some guy is standing near us, watching. Grinning internally, I hide my face in an attempt to remain a dirty secret. I don’t like when someone else holds the cards, and right now this prick has laid down a straight.
Dropping me, Luke glares until the guy walks away, his eyes then turning to meet mine. “Stay away from me. I love my girlfriend.”
Rolling my eyes, I smirk, “Guys that ‘love’ their girlfriends don’t fuck other girls.”
I can see the wheels spinning in his head. All the pieces are falling into place for him, it’s a glorious feeling when I see the nervous way he shuffles from left to right. I’ll keep his secret, for now, it works in my favor at the moment.
“I would never cheat on her.”
Giggling, I shrug and pat his shoulder, “Let’s go watch a movie. We have things to discuss, that is if you don’t want Isabel to find out what I already know.”
Sighing, I can see the emotions at war in his eyes. I won’t back down. Motioning for me to walk ahead of him, Luke follows me into the dimly lit theater and pays for our tickets. It’s almost like our first date all over again. Giggling, I lean in close to his side and wrap my hand around his arm. I can’t help it, I’ve always loved to touch him, especially in public.
Snatching his arm away from me, he levels me with a glare. He acts as if this isn’t our normal. Opening the theater door, I walk in front of him into the dark room. I can feel his eyes tr
acking the movement of my ass so I know he is more interested than he pretends. I get it, he’s “officially” with Isabel and can’t be seen cheating. Smiling to myself, I hum our song as I think of how to help him break things off with her quicker so we can be together again.
Grabbing my arm Luke pulls me back to him, “That song, what is that song?”
Placing my palm on his chest, I lean into him and whisper, “Just an old song that use to mean something to me.”
Shaking his head in an effort to clear it, Luke motions to the seats in the nearly empty row. There are maybe a handful of people here and none of them pay us any mind. Sitting next to him, I grab onto his hand and don’t let go until the movie ends. After a few minutes, he never did try to move it, that is how I know he wants this too.
Chapter Eight
Parking outside of the dorms, I flip down the visor and take out the contacts that have been bothering me for hours. My eyes are a light shade of purple normally and no matter how good my acting is, Luke would recognize them. Rubbing my eye, I walk into the dorm surprised to see Isabel awake and texting furiously on her phone.
Trying to hide my grin, I move to my side of the room, “Is everything okay? You look like you’ve been crying.”
Throwing her phone at the headboard, she looks up at me, “Lukas was out with some girl. Or that’s what Emily told me, and now he won’t answer his phone.”
Feigning shock, I rush to her side. I wonder if it will all work out without me lifting a finger to move along their breakup. Once they are done, there would be no reason why Luke wouldn’t be with me. Patting her back, I roll my eyes as she continues to cry, she doesn’t even know that he did in fact cheat. Who cries over a maybe like that?
Shifting, I move back and look at her, false sympathy on my face, “What are you going to do? Will you two break up?”
Shrugging, she grabs her phone and calls him again. One last smile and I walk over to my bed. I don’t stay awake long since the best sleep I’ve had in years captures me.
My alarm goes off waking me for class. Groaning, I reach over to turn it off when I see a notification on my phone, a text from an unknown number. Using the fingerprint unlock I read the name of the text sender, Luke, but he isn’t texting me as me. He’s texting Natalia. I switched phone numbers before I came up here so I don’t expect him to recognize mine. Reading the message I have a mix of emotions trying to get out. I know what you’re doing. You have no proof of what happened, leave me alone.
Scrolling through my pictures, I find the one I want and send. I don’t bluff, that picture is gold. You can’t see my face clearly but you can see his and the fact that he has his hands on my very bare hips. Humming our song, I turn on the shower while I wait for him to respond. That message never comes, seems he learned that when I bite, I infect and it’s not easy to cure.
Walking to class in a daze, I make a mental plan to check on Natalia today after school. She must need food by now. Today we are heading to the chemistry lab to learn about cell regeneration. Such fun. The professor is going on and on about how pregnant women shouldn’t be around the chemicals in his class when it hits me. I haven’t had a period since I’ve been here. Calculating the weeks since the party, I smile. I could be pregnant and I would have never known unless he had made me think of it. Waving goodbye to the professor, I walk out of class and head to my car.
I won’t risk it. Driving to the small pharmacy, I park and contemplate what to do. Luke won’t believe me, and right now he doesn’t remember that he loves me. I’ll have to make him remember all that we had. Heading straight to the aisle I need, I grab a test and pay. When I get back to the dorm room, Isabel is there with Luke. I don’t understand why are they still together even after the picture this morning.
Hiding my bag, I smile and drop my books on the desk. If they want privacy they won’t get it in here. At least this way I can keep them from having sex. Luke is too good to take her back to the frat house, that’s what I’m counting on at least.
Glaring at me, Luke gives Isabel a quick kiss but his eyes never leave mine. While she is turned away, I wink and blow him a kiss. Luke’s eyes land on my watch before I realize that I used that particular hand. I feel like an idiot. The good thing is the small tattoo on my wrist that I didn’t have when he left. The tattoo means everything to me, the date is one even he would recognize if I meant anything to him before.
Chapter Nine
Taking the test into the bathroom with me, I sit and try to hold it together. I’ve been here before only last time I wasn’t alone. Breathing in and out, I pee on the stick and wait, reminding myself that things happen for a reason. No matter what that test says, I know Luke and me were meant to be parents to our child.
Knocking on the door startles me; the bitch is waiting to get inside to shower for her date. Groaning, I grab the stick and put it in my pocket, I’ll look at it later. This could be the answer to everything but she had to ruin my moment. Shoving the test in my drawer, I turn on my phone and stalk Isabel’s Facebook for pictures of Luke. Finding one of him kissing her forehead, I think of how he would do that to me each night when he dropped me off. Swiping the screen I move past that image and find one of him alone. Luke is wearing the hoodie I bought him the last Christmas we spent together.
Saving the picture to my phone, I set it as my wallpaper when Isabel comes out dressed in a sultry outfit. I can’t believe her, using her body like that to lure him in. I can’t wait any longer for her to trap him the way she plans. Using a fake email address, I send the image of our night to hers. Unless she remembers that outfit then she won’t know it’s me. I just hope she sees it before she fucks my man.
When she leaves for the night, I snatch off my watch and throw it at the closed door. Screaming into my pillow loud enough to rival Melanie Martinez, I stand up and look at my reflection as I wipe away the tear streaking down my face. Leaning close to the mirror, I repeat the words that my father told me before he left, I won’t let anyone get in my way when I have happiness in sight. Picking up my lipstick, I smear the bright red on my lips. I plan to make an impression tonight. I know where they went, now I just have to make Luke jealous.
Slipping on a pair of jean shorts that barely pass my ass, I tug on my favorite white halter top and Vans. Walking out of the dorm, I cross the road with a swarm of other girls. These girls are gossipy, airhead types, only here for their Mrs. degree. I roll my eyes as they talk about which guys are hot and available, it makes me sick to hear them discussing it like vultures. One of the blondes near the back of the group says Luke’s name. Apparently, she didn’t get the memo that he is very much taken. Slowing, I drop back behind her, shoving her into the road.
Squealing tires sound and the car stops just before it hits her. Just my luck. I don’t stop as the crowd gathers to be sure she is fine. I know she is. She isn’t dead, her fairy godmother was looking out for Barbie. Making my way inside, I spot Luke’s best friend Connor and head towards him. Connor has made it known he only fucks and never dates which is exactly what I am looking for. Reaching for his cup, I pretend to drink the warm beer while his eyes track the movement.
This might be the easiest part of my entire plan. I say plan but at this point, I’m winging it. When Luke walks into the room with her, my world stops spinning. Both of them are all smiles as if she won. Pulling Connor to me, I push my tongue into his mouth, my eyes never leaving Luke’s brown ones. Shifting on his feet, Luke clears his throat loud enough to startle Connor.
“So, I see you know Natalia,” Luke clips out through clenched teeth.
Ah, it seems I have made an impression on him. Giggling to myself, I lean into Connor’s side as he puts an arm around my shoulder.
Nodding, he looks down at me before responding, “Something like that.”
Leaning down until his breath warms my neck, he whispers, “I know what you’re doing. I’m game to play it.”
Winking at me, Connor grabs a handful of my ass. I want to cu
t off his hand for that. I won’t though because Luke’s glare at him sets my heart on fire.
Connor’s breath warms my neck as he whispers, “I know you aren’t who you say you are. I just haven’t figured out what your endgame is yet.”
Fucker. “What do you mean?” I question a hint of innocence and warning in my voice.
Placing his nasty finger on my lips, he smirks, “I’ll tell you later.”
I want to bite off his finger like a rabid dog, not even my own mother silenced me like a child. Contemplating all the ways I could keep his mouth shut, I wink and walk away from the group. I need to plan for this new obstacle. It won’t end well for Connor, of that I’m certain.
Chapter Ten
I look calm on the outside but inside is a raging fire threatening to consume us all. A fiery inferno that wants to claim its victims starting with the bitch with her hand on Luke and ending with Connor who doesn’t know how to keep his mouth shut. Deciding I will worry about him first and her after, I motion for him to follow me out the back door. The night will make it seem as if we are just a couple of lovers when in reality I would be his death.
“Mystery lady, where are you taking me?” Connor questions, his palm sweating in mine.
Disgusted, I giggle and pull him further into the yard. “My name is Natalia.”
Wagging his finger in my face, he chuckles, “I went to high school with her. So who are you really?”
Circling around me, he grabs a lock of my hair, “I think you might be the infamous Ashley. Luke wouldn’t stop talking about his ex that he left behind when he came out here.”
My breath hitches and he notices the change, “Want to know how I know?”
Clearing my throat, I give him my pageant winning smile, “I don’t know what you are talking about. I just wanted to hook up with you. Are you game or not?”
Love is Strange: A Taboo Anthology Page 2
