I looked at him in shock. He treated everything as if it was no big deal as if there were no problems that couldn’t be solved.
“I had them do half and half,” he said as he opened the box. “Meat lovers on one side and just plain cheese on the other.”
My mouth began to water as that special blend of Italian spices and melted cheese. He smiled, pulled off a slice and raised a single eyebrow, daring me not to eat.
I surprised him by taking a slice of the meat lovers.
“Why buy one for my brother?” I asked after my second bite.
Buck smiled in that conspiratorial grin of his. “Because, if he eats it, he can’t tell your dad. That would make him an accomplice, sort of. What is even better is that it’s true. We all shared a pizza. No big deal. It isn’t a date. And I get to fill my stomach.”
My mouth dropped open as I stared at him with disbelief. The boy had it all worked out. But a part of me felt like it was sort of a date. Almost at least.
I mean, just imagine, me and Buck Benson sharing a pizza on a cool afternoon watching the world go by. Didn’t that qualify as a date? I know that in my mind it met all the criteria. Cute boy, pizza, alone, well sort of, Bobby couldn’t hear us. Alone enough. So yes, this was a date.
The subject was closed a minute later, when I saw Marla Gould and her flock of hens drive by. Each of the girls stared in shocked surprise at the sight of Buck Benson and me eating pizza together.
That officially made it a date, I thought to myself as I secretly basked in the shocked expressions on their faces. A feeling of rightness and power filled me. What ever happened. No one would ever be able to take that feeling from me.
.o0o.
Buck
She was so darn cute, I thought as I watched her on the other side of the cafeteria. So different. Prim and proper was the thought that came to my mind. A blue cotton dress when every other girl was in jeans or a tight skirt.
A memory from Saturday’s tutoring session ran through my mind. We’d finished the pizza and Rebecca had stood up to throw the box away when the sun broke through the clouds and bathed her in a soft halo of golden light.
My heart had hitched for a second when I realized just how special she was. Intelligent, cute, kind, without any sense of self-centeredness. But there was something more. Some unknown energy that pulled at me.
And her father wouldn’t let her date. Just my luck. The one girl I found interesting thought I was a knuckle-dragging ape and her father was a Neanderthal. Like I said, just my luck.
As I watched, a plan began to form. Hey, never let it be said that I wasn’t a problem solver. I lived for it.
I jumped up and leaving my lunch behind me, I marched across the cafeteria and sat down next to Hanna Simpson so I could see Rebecca’s eyes when I laid out my plan.
Chapter Six
Rebecca
My heart stopped beating when Buck Benson sat down next to Hanna and stared at me like he did that every Monday. Hanna, of course, had eyes as wide as the Pacific Ocean and looked like a rabbit being chased by a wolf.
“Hello, ladies,” he said with that handsome smirk of his that could melt any woman’s will.
I forced myself to swallow the food in my mouth and put my fork down so I could focus on him and what he wanted. Hanna was glancing around the room looking to see if anyone else had noticed. I felt like kicking her under the table. Of course, everyone had noticed. This was Buck Benson. He couldn’t sneeze without half the school wondering if he had a cold.
“So,” he continued with a little hesitation and I saw something new, something strange. Buck was nervous. Something I didn’t think was possible.
“So,” he repeated. “It’s a home game this week. That means a party at John Sander’s afterwards. His parents will be out of town and it should be great.”
My insides tightened up. Why was he telling us this stuff? He wasn’t the kind of person who would rub our face in our lower status level. Being un-cute, poor girls, we weren’t invited to parties. He should know that.
Tilting my head, I furrowed my brow and waited for an explanation.
“I thought you might want to come,” he said. “You know, it wouldn’t really be a date. Just a bunch of kids getting together for some fun.”
“Yeah, my dad would agree, a high school party doesn’t meet the date criteria,” I said sarcastically. Then my stomach fell when I realized he was serious. He really did want me to come.
A slow smile crossed his face.
“Your dad doesn’t have to know. You could say you’re at Hanna’s and then the both of you could come to the party. It would be the same if you guys both went to the mall or something.”
Hanna yelped as she kicked me under the table. Buck pretended he hadn’t seen anything as he remained laser-focused on me. Then he shrugged. “Hey, it was just an idea. You decide.”
The small tight ball that used to be my stomach refused to relax. Buck wanted me to come. He’d even worked out all the details. Then the thought of deceiving my father flashed through my mind. What would he do if he learned I had lied to him?
It wasn’t the punishment I worried about. No, it was the look of disappointment I would see in his eyes that tore at me.
But, this was Buck. This was a high school party. This was all the things Hanna and I had cursed and complained about. It was us being accepted into the inner circle.
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
He smiled widely and pushed up away from the table then turned to Hanna, “Talk her into it. Please. I’ll owe you.”
She swallowed hard then nodded and I knew I was lost. No way could I deny Hanna this opportunity, and in all honesty, I knew I would be doing it for me. I wanted this. An opportunity to be me.
Buck gave me a quick smile then left us. Hanna managed to hold it together for a good twenty seconds before she squealed and started bouncing up and down in the chair.
“If you don’t do this, I will never forgive you,” she said.
I laughed as I nodded. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll ask my mom about spending Friday night at your house. If she says yes, then we can go.”
We had spent countless sleepovers at her house. Dad approved because she didn’t have any brothers. So, in his mind, nothing bad could happen. Then the thought of what I would be doing. Going against his direct rules hit me like a pot of hot water.
Things were changing, I could feel it. I was starting to see that I didn’t have to always follow his rules. I was almost eighteen. In seven months, I would be leaving for University. No, I needed to start building my own rules.
The sense of power and confidence made me feel mature and almost proud. But it also filled me with fear and trepidation. What if I screwed up? What if I made the wrong rules? Or failed to follow the ones I did make?
The thought of being unable to blame my dad for everything and having to blame myself if things went wrong was a shocking realization. An uncomfortable reality that I was going to have to learn to live with.
Of course, the week dragged. I mean I’ve seen geoduck clams move faster than that week. Getting permission to spend Friday night at Hanna’s had been easy. Too easy. It was almost as if they couldn’t imagine their daughter ever doing anything wrong. Either that. Or they couldn’t imagine any boy being interested enough to cause her to do wrong.
When the final bell rang on Friday, I met Hanna in the hall. The girl was bouncing like Tigger overdosing on caffeine. I swear, I didn’t know who was more excited between the two of us. This was it. Our peek inside the world of the upper level of High School Society.
When we got to her room, she suddenly turned on me and gave me her serious look. The one that said she would not be denied.
“You can’t wear that,” she said as she pointed at my dress.
“Why not?” I asked.
Hanna rolled her eyes. I knew why not but I didn’t want to face reality. “Because,” she said. “You look like my maiden aunt.”
&n
bsp; My insides fell. It is never nice having your best friend point out just how ugly you are.
“Come on,” she said as she opened her closet. “You can wear some of my clothes. We’re almost the same size. They’ll fit.”
My stomach dropped. Via my mother, my dad had dictated that I wear, frumpy, un-cool clothes. I think it was his way of putting up one more line of defense. If he made his daughter ugly. He didn’t have to worry about boys chasing her.
Hanna started pulling out jeans and tops. My heart began to race when I thought about Buck seeing me in them. Suddenly, a new nervousness filled me. What if I wore good clothes? Fashionable, sexy even. And what if he didn’t like me in them? I wouldn’t be able to blame my dad. I’d have to accept that I wasn’t good enough for Buck Benson.
Swallowing hard, I tried to push the fear away as I examined what Hanna had to offer. She watched me then said, “And make-up. We have to wear make-up.”
Turning, she opened two drawers in her desk, showing me every type of make-up produced. Lipsticks and eyeliners. Even fake eyelashes.
“You never wear this,” I said to her with a deep frown as I picked up a container of six different eye shadows.
She shrugged her shoulders and looked a little sheepish. “That doesn’t mean I don’t practice. I’ve just never had a reason before.”
My heart went out to her. Hanna wasn’t ugly, maybe not beautiful. But not ugly. But she had never really fit in. I wondered sometimes if being friends with me held her back. Or was it her shyness around boys that stopped her.
The girl was even worse than me. She couldn’t speak if a boy was there. And if he was cute, she was a goner.
For the next few hours, we couldn’t stop laughing and giggling as we each tried a half-dozen different looks. The garish, whore look was too much though. A short skirt and more make-up than a fifth avenue hooker was just not my thing.
Hanna wanted me to go with what she called the sexy librarian look. As she put it, the best look for a girl with glasses. I just couldn’t wear my hair up, a tight pencil shaped skirt and buttoned down top open half-way to my belly button. It just wasn’t me.
Instead, I insisted on the girl next door look. Jeans, a cute top, and my hair back.
After I forced myself into Hanna’s jeans a nervousness filled me.
“They’re too tight,” I said as I twisted to look behind me. Hanna smiled. “Yes, they are. And they’re perfect.”
I also insisted on a light touch with the make-up. I didn’t want to shock Buck. Or anyone else for that matter.
Hanna frowned but she gave in as she worked on me. When she had finished, she stepped back and smiled then pointed to the mirror. I turned and looked. My insides jumped. Who was that girl? It wasn’t me. It couldn’t be me.
She looked older. More mature. More confident, and almost beautiful.
“I’ve got to say it,” Hanna said with a wide grin. “I am good. You look great. Buck is going to freak.”
My world stopped spinning as I turned and glared at her. “What does this have to do with Buck? We’re just going to a party remember.”
She continued to smile as she shook her head. “Sure Rebecca, keep telling yourself that.”
I swallowed hard, but couldn’t stop myself from looking in the mirror. Drinking in this new image. It wasn’t much, a little lipstick, a little rouge to highlight my cheekbones, some eyeliner. But it was amazing.
When we pulled onto John’s street, I was shocked at the long line of cars parked along the side of the road. There was going to be more people than I thought. Would Buck even see me there?
As we got out of the car, Hanna shot me a nervous look and I could see it in her eyes, the need to run away. I could see it because I was feeling it to my very toes. This was stupid.
But we didn’t back out. No, this was too important. This was what we had been missing our entire lives. An opportunity to see how the other half lived. It could all end in disaster. We could be mocked and shamed. But at least I would be able to say I had attended a high school party.
And besides, Buck was there and he had wanted me to come.
Taking deep breaths, we forced ourselves to the front door. Heavy metal could be heard pounding its brain-numbing beat through the walls. Even outside I caught a hint of the sweet aroma of weed. A smell that was almost permanently present in the girl’s bathroom at school.
My stomach tightened. What would my dad say if he knew where I was?
But before I could chicken out, the door flew open. Buck stood there, like a small mountain. A smile a mile wide on his face. I instantly wondered if he had been waiting for us.
“You came,” he said to both of us, but then his eyes locked on mine.
All I could do was shrug.
Then I saw something change in his expression as he ran his eyes over me. A hint of fire behind his eyes told me that he liked what he saw. A sense of feminine power filled me when I saw the desire he felt.
“Wow,” he said softly, “you look good girl.”
I exploded inside. Life didn’t get any better than that moment.
Buck smiled at Hanna then opened the door wide for us to come in.
“The beer’s on the left,” he yelled over the banging music. “There’s food in the kitchen. You know everyone. Mingle, have fun.”
I sucked in a deep breath as I realized he was going to leave us. Suddenly, this didn’t seem like such a smart idea. Glancing out over the room I saw a mix of looks. Some welcoming, some not so much. But mostly confused stares. As if asking what were two girls like us doing at a place like this.
Then Jenny Carson stepped forward and it was as if the ice had been broken. She pulled me into a quick hug then stepped back and smiled at Hanna and I knew we would be okay. With both Buck and now Jenny welcoming us. We wouldn’t be questioned on our right to be there.
“God, this music,” Jenny yelled as she rolled her eyes. “Someone let a boy pick. Never a smart move.”
I laughed.
“You guys want a beer, or a coke or something?”
“A soda,” Hanna said as her wide eyes continued to take in every fact and feature of the party. “I’m driving,” she added as if that was the explanation of why she was being un-cool.”
Jenny nodded then looked at me.
“Water,” I said as my stomach turned over. I knew it was the wrong thing. But I was already breaking too many rules that night. Getting drunk would not be one of them. Besides. I was already buzzing inside from all the adrenaline rushing through me.
“Come on,” Jenny said as she led us through the throng of couples dancing and talking. I quickly examined the other girls and felt a sense of relief. We weren’t too far off on the fashion front. There was a wide mix. Everything from street corner hooker to girl’s next door.
Jenny was dressed in jeans and a top not that different than mine.
I smiled over at Hanna and silently thanked her. She read my mind and smiled back. We had done good.
After Jenny had gotten us situated, she excused herself. Something about having to check in with John, our host.
All I could do was nod as a sense of abandonment filled me. First Buck and now Jenny.
Hanna swallowed hard and held her coke with a death grip as she looked out at the crowd. Then the both of us registered the girls sitting on boy’s laps around the edge of the dancing couples.
We looked at each other with surprise. This was how the beautiful people lived. Music, sex, and beer.
“Hey, you want to dance,?” Jimmy Coulter said as he came up to us.
Hanna glanced over her shoulder to see who he was talking to, then gulped when she realized he had asked her. I swear the girl would have stood there for the rest of the night if I didn’t nudge her in the side.
She gulped again then nodded.
I couldn’t stop from smiling as I saw them step over couples sitting on the floor and work their way to the middle of the living room. Hanna looked over at me with a sm
ile as wide as the Cascade mountain range.
My heart soared for her. I swear I wasn’t jealous. I was happy for my friend.
“Well, that went pretty good,” Buck said from behind me, making me jump. I twisted around to see him looking out at Hanna and Jimmy dancing.
“You did that?” I hissed. “Why? How?”
He laughed. “I told Jim the words every guy wants to hear. A cute girl liked him. All I had to do was point her out. He did the rest.”
My insides tightened. “But she doesn’t like him. She doesn’t even know him.”
He chuckled then pointed to the dance floor. “I beg to differ.,”
And of course, he was right. Hanna was beaming. Then I saw her lean in and say something to Jimmy over the music and knew she had broken through her fear.
“That’s how, but why?”
He smiled down at me then took my hand and gently led me to the porch out back.
“So we could talk,” he said with a serious tone.
My heart stopped beating and my stomach scrunched up with fear. The look in his eyes made me tremble inside.
All I could do was mumble. “About … I mean, what …”
He laughed gently then said, “This,” as he leaned down and took my lips with his.
Chapter Seven
Rebecca
My body froze as a thrill of happiness filled me. His kiss had been so unexpected yet, also the most important thing in my life.
Without thinking, I sank into him, reached up around his wide shoulders and held on as I fell into heaven. Buck Benson was kissing me. It was as if a thousand wants and desired were being answered at that exact moment.
They say a girl never forgets her first true kiss. All I know is imagine the best kiss of your life and increasing it tenfold. This was Buck Benson. I was an innocent nobody. But the top alpha boy was kissing me. It demolished the entire pecking order of things.
Our lips caressed, soft and tender. But I could feel a passion building inside of me. A need for more. An almost painful want.
But Buck chose that moment to pull back and look down into my eyes.
Deception (The Benson Brothers Book 3) Page 4