by Mya West
“I like that story.” I say. It was sweet, nice even.
“I worry though.” He says with a weary smile. “I see what my parents have, the love. Most people I meet say they aren’t sure why their parents are still together. I look at mine so differently. It feels like they still have that connection after all this time. I hope to find that with someone.”
I’m not sure how to respond. With his cute story, all I can think about is kissing him. I wonder how soft his lips would be pressed against mine. I wonder if he would be aggressive or take his time. I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing as me.
Chase turns and looks at me. The silence is killing me. I would do anything to break it. Neither of us know how to transition to a different topic. I’m not entirely sure if I want to. I want this tension to stay in the air just a little longer.
Chase turns his head back and looks at the clock. “I can drop you off in front of the field if you like.”
I lean in and kiss him softly. Our lips barely touch, but it’s enough to excite me. He looks at me with surprise and a yearning for more. He touches the side of my face, and kisses me. His lips are gentle at first. He gets more aggressive and playful with his tongue as we continue.
His hand brushes against my breast, this time on purpose. I slide across the passenger seat and straddle him. He pushes a button on the side, making the mechanical seat slowly move backwards.
He’s smiling the whole time, as the chair takes its time getting into position, and I laugh. We continue our intense make-out session. In between our lips embracing he whispers in my ear. “You know, you have a lousy personality.”
I playfully shove him and reach down for the mechanical button that lowers the top seat cushion. I hold it until the driver seat is fully down.
“I’m sure I can get you to change your mind.”
Chapter 15
It took some time, but I got to the game, fashionably late. I had to pry off Chase and talk him into driving me back. Part of me wanted to stay with Chase and see where things went.
We did not have sex.
Despite his attempts to completely seduce me, which he does very well, I didn’t want to lose my v-card that way. How many girls say they lost it in the back of some car? It seemed too cliché for me.
I do say with some shame, that I also wanted to go to the game, to see Jaxson. I’m not the type who attracts multiple guys at once, especially ones that live on the same property, but, new town, new Elle.
I feel weird thinking about three men. Despite seeming bat shit crazy, I still feel attracted to Lance. I don’t know what it is about him. He has barely spoken to me and doesn’t seem to care about me living on his property, but I feel drawn to him. Chase- is incredible. He’s that handsome guy most girls think they will never be able to have. Gorgeous, funny, lean. Then there’s Jaxson. He has the physique of an Olympus God, and the heart of a lion. He was the only one who seems to understand what it’s like to feel like you don’t deserve to be at Ryland Academy.
I’m excited to see him at the game. I wonder how the party after will go. Would he make a move? Would I let him?
Part of me almost feels like Chase planted the flag on me after our make-out session. I’m not naive enough to believe a guy like Chase Aldridge is not talking to more than one girl though. He does a good job making you feel like you’re the only one in his world when you’re with him though.
When Chase dropped me off near the stadium, I gave him one last peck. That peck turned into another- and another. I playfully pushed him away and said I had to leave. I opened the passenger side door, but before I could leave, he reached over and shut the door again. Our make-out session continued for a little, until I realized the time.
Finally, I could leave. I watched him take off down the road, fast. I could still smell his cologne on me. I loved the sensation. I keep replaying my date with Chase in my mind.
When I walk into the stadium, I find my reserved spot right away. Bryce is waving me over.
“They almost didn’t let us sit in these seats without you.” He says when I sit beside him. “I guess we don’t seem like the reserved seating type.”
“More like nosebleed area type.” Danna says, laughing.
“More like stay at home and watch television type.” I say laughing.
Bryce takes a bite of his half-eaten hotdog. “So, you missed like ten minutes of the game! WTF?”
“I was just out- with Chase Aldridge.”
Bryce looks so surprised he misses his mouth for another bite and quickly wipes away some ketchup on his cheek. “No! Get the fuck out!”
Danna looks at me wary. “What did you guys do?”
“Well, he took me out to a fancy restaurant, and things kind of got heavy in his car for a bit.”
Bryce laughs. “Did you guys bang in the back seat of his car?”
I wave my head no. “My gawd! I wanted to though.”
I look out into the field. Hillview Academy is up by five points. I spot Jaxson in the field. He looks even hotter in his gear. His ass in those white pants looks amazing. Does he do squats all day?
Danna spots me almost drooling. “Only you could go out on a date with a guy like Chase and come to a game to grab the attention of the star quarterback.”
Bryce finishes his last bite. “Now if Elle makes the rounds with Chase and Jaxson on the same night, that’s a story. Danna, that should inspire you to write again.”
She waves her head no and looks at me. “Not worth it.”
In the field, Jaxson tosses a long pass to a receiver, who runs twenty yards or so and gets a touchdown. Ryland is now beating Hillview. The crowd is cheering Jaxson’s name. The receiver takes off his helmet and raises the football to the cheering crowd.
Over a speaker an announcer says, “Touchdown Ryland! Number eleven, Nathaniel Wise! Let’s go Lions!”
The crowd begin to chant the receiver’s name. I squint and look at his face, which is easy to do from our prime seats. My face instantly sours.
“Where’s your team spirit?” Bryce asks.
I point at the receiver. “That’s one of the fuckers that pie’d me. He tried for a head shot but got mostly my hair.”
Jaxson runs over to me and takes off his helmet. “I was hoping you’d make it.” In the distance, I hear his coach yelling at him. He doesn’t seem to care. “Big game. Big touchdown, but I need some luck.” He leans in and kisses my cheek.
I smile at him. “You missed my lips, quarterback.”
“I won’t later tonight.” With his whole team yelling and waving him over he runs back and joins them.
Danna looks at me with her mouth gaping. “How the hell do you do it? Honestly!”
I have no fucking clue. I wish I could figure it out myself.
The game continues. We cheer and chant with the crowd. Jaxson continues to kill it on the field. I don’t know much about football, but his confidence on the field amazes me. He seems like a natural leader. A few more touchdowns by each team, and suddenly the game feels like a coinflip on who will win.
With a win tonight superstitiously determining the whole season for both teams, the crowd is getting loud and anxious. Jaxson manages to find a receiver for another long pass. The receiver gets a touchdown. The crowd, and us, are going wild. Everyone is up from their seats going ape shit.
I don’t let the fact that it was Nathanial Wise who scored the touchdown bring me down. The offense on Hillview doesn’t have a chance to catch up. The clock ticks down, and Ryland Academy wins.
Almost immediately after the win, Jaxson runs up to us again. Bryce and Danna slap five with him. When he gets to me, he just looks at me. The look he gives me is one I haven’t seen on him before.
Is it too cliché to say that he wanted to score again later tonight?
He wants me, bad. I’ve seen guys give me this look before. With his adrenaline so high, I feel like he could throw me over his shoulder, and we do it in the middle of the field, audience and
all. With me being caught up with the crowd and the star quarterback, I almost would let him.
He asks if I need a ride tonight to the party, but I tell him I’m going with Danna and Bryce and would see him soon.
“Can’t wait.’ He says with a smile.
When he leaves to join his cheering team, Danna grabs my hand. “I’m pretty sure you’re scoring tonight.”
Bryce laughs. “The question is how many touchdowns in one night.”
“That’s so cliché.” I say.
All three of us want to freshen up for the party. I’d like to not wear the school uniform to my first party as well.
Danna drops me in front of the guesthouse. She says she will be back around nine to pick me up for the party.
I walk towards the front door. Even with the sounds of Danna driving off, I can hear the distant sounds of shouting through the dark. It seems like it’s coming from Cain’s mansion. I tell myself to just go inside the guesthouse and mind my own business but fail miserably.
I reluctantly get closer to see what’s happening. In the dim light on the back patio I spot Arthur Cain talking to Lance. Lance is looking out towards the dark sky, staring at the full moon, ignoring his father. His arms are stretched out over a decorative stone wall. His father is behind him, his arms folded, and a cigar entrenched in his mouth.
Arthur Cain puts a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Just listen son, you don’t know what I pulled to get you here. Don’t let me down.”
Lance doesn’t turn and continues to look out into the dark sky, towards the full moon. “You seriously thought I would just go along with this, didn’t you? You know what, fuck off.”
Arthur Cain takes the cigar out of his mouth and flicks it into the back yard. “You have none of me in you. I let your mother coddle you. That was my mistake.”
Lance turns his head slightly. “Don’t you fucking talk about her. You didn’t even love her. You can’t love anything.”
Arthur shakes his head. “You know nothing, son. Clear your mind. Be useful. Don’t disappoint me.” Arthur leaves without giving Lance a chance to respond.
Lance turns his head and continues to look out into the large yard, the woods beyond it, the stars and moon above.
What the hell did I just witness? There was a time that I really looked up to that man. Arthur Cain seems nothing but cold to me now. I nearly get killed in the woods, and he doesn’t even check up on me? I literally live behind his mansion.
I wonder what having a man like that as a father would be like? I already know what it’s like to lose a parent, but I wonder how it feels if you truly loved them. At one time my mother was a loving, endearing person. Then the drugs took over her life, and she became just like my father.
I stared at Lance, hanging off the stone wall. I wonder what he’s thinking of.
I walk up towards him, on the other side of the stone wall. He seems surprised when he notices me.
“I suppose you heard that, didn’t you?” He says. He looks at me softly, with little expression on his face. “You probably think I’m a monster, right? Whatever, I’m glad.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I say to him. “I just caught the harsh ending.”
He gives me a thin smile. “That’s how many of our conversations seem to go these days.”
“Why is he upset?”
“It’s complicated. I’m not living up to the family name. Basically, I’m not him. I don’t think I want to be. I just want to leave this place.”
“I felt like that before I came here.” I say with a smile.
He looks at me. “I’m surprised with what’s happened to you, you don’t want to leave.”
“Well, when I do, you can live in the guesthouse.”
“Not far enough.” He says. “My dad has this yacht. He taught me a few summers ago how to use it. He let me drive it for a while.” Lance smiles, but it fades quickly. “It was one of our last family trips when mom was still here.” He turns to me with a shy look. “If I had to run, I’d steal that boat. Get far away from here. Want to join me?” I say nothing. Lance nods his head as if he figured something out. “I get it. You’re here for the free education. The ticket to any school you want. Believe me when I say if it comes from my father, it’s not in your best interest.”
I look at him coldly. “I’m not some charity case, I hope you know. I had awesome grades at school before all of this. Before my parents died, I had plans to make something of myself. That’s why I don’t get guys like you. You have everything and want to run from it.”
Lance grabs my hand and holds it. “You don’t get it. This place is- evil. This place is cold. It doesn’t care about your feelings, or your life. My mom figured that out, eventually.”
I thought about asking him more about his mother but don’t want to upset him. Maybe someday he would open to me. I look at Lance in the dim light. He’s tall, handsome, but had showed me a side that I found even more endearing; he was vulnerable.
I place my other hand on top of his. “Your father is right about one thing, clear your mind, and let the answers come to you on who you really want to be. You’re a smart guy, I think it will come to you easy.”
He leans in and kisses my forehead. His soft lips on my skin make me feel butterflies in my stomach. I look at him wondering why he did it, almost hoping he would do it again.
“I’ve already made up my mind.” He says to me. He looks at his watch, and back at me. “You should get ready for the party. You wouldn’t want to make Jaxson wait too long for you.”
“You know about him and me?”
He nods his head. “The whole school does. Social media spoils everything.”
I shyly turn to walk back towards the guesthouse. I look back at Lance. “I think you’re too hard on yourself. I don’t think you’re a monster.”
He sighs. “I don’t think you know me that well yet.”
I walk back to the guesthouse, replaying all the events of the day in my head.
I think about the make-out sessions and fun I had with Chase. I think of the butterflies having the star quarterback gives me at the big game, and all the attention that came with it.
I replay what just happened with Lance.
I don’t have much time to get ready, but I feel like unpacking everything in my journal before I do. I sneak out my notebook from under my mattress and start to write.
I look at my title before I dive into writing more. I have so many emotions running through me that I don’t know what to say first. I start with the title.
The Complicated Story of Lancelot Cain.
Chapter 16
Nathanial Wise opens his front door, gawking at Bryce and Danna as if they’d knocked on his door to tell him about the new revelation. When he sees me, he perks up?
“Sorry, Elle.” He says with a smile, opening his door for the three of us. “Didn’t see you there. Come on in guys!” The party’s at Nathanial’s house. There was something about Nat that bothered me, but I couldn’t exactly put my finger on it. Sure, he pie’d me in the face pretty good while wearing a nefarious smile, but there was something more.
He just comes off fake as hell.
We walk into the massive home. We could hear the music from down the block when we walked to Nat’s house. I had no clue what I would be walking into though. There’s a professional DJ booth, with lights illuminating the dance floor different colors. The floor is packed with people I recognize from different classes, and the football team.
Nat smiles at me. “If you guys need booze, there’s a spread on the kitchen counter. Fridge is full of beer and vodka coolers, or whatever fruity shit you girls like.”
Bryce lights up. “I love vodka coolers.”
Nat looks at Bryce. “Like I said, whatever you like.” Bryce looks away. I give Nat a look and hopes he catches on that I think he’s a dick. He doesn’t seem to care though.
Nat walks back out into the crowd of party goers. I shut the front
door behind me.
“So, should we raid the asshole’s fridge?” I ask. Danna and Bryce gladly agree.
The three of us walk through the living room. I notice my outfit is catching some attention. I don’t completely mind. I’m wearing a sweater that ends right above my navel, and tight blue jeans. I wanted to get Jaxson’s attention tonight.
The three of us grab drinks and watch the party from the sidelines.
I miss Candice at times like this. She loved parties. She loved being the center of attention at them. I enjoyed watching her make an ass out of herself. We had great times together. I’ve been pretty depressed not being able to contact her. I sent her a message on social media letting her know I would get a new phone soon, and that I was okay.
I look at my new friends - the Outsiders. They seem so natural at the back of the party, nodding their heads to the beat of the music. I used to think I was the type to jump out and have fun like Candice. I didn’t feel the urge to though. I wanted to chill in the back with my friends. I’m not sure if it was because I was nervous to be here, or if I was realizing I never was as outgoing as Candice.
I scan the room looking for Jaxson but can’t find him anywhere. After a half hour of bopping our heads in the corner, watching the drunk student body in front of us, I’m starting to lose hope.
Selena bumps into me, knocking some of my drink onto my sweater. I look at her coldly. She smiles back.
“What’s going on, losers?” She asks.
I give her the middle finger in response. As if her friends can smell the drama, they come running up on either side of Selena. With her minion friends beside her, Selena’s confident smile glows. What the fuck are their names again?
“Nice outfit, Noelle.” Selena continues. “How many players are you hoping will take it off tonight?”