by Raathi Chota
“Look, I know you don’t like each other, but you just have to get used to it.” I smiled. “I like him…a lot.”
“Ugh, okay,” he growled, then turned to me. “Nice jacket, by the way.”
“Thanks.” I smiled because I missed the leather jacket.
“I just threw out my cigarette for the whole effect, y’know, because I was pissed,” he said, then took two cigarettes out of his pack. I laughed as he handed me one. I put it between my lips as I lit it then inhaled. “This our song, princess!” Levi cheered as “Howlin’ For You” by The Black Keys played. I laughed as we began to blurt out the lyrics.
***
For the past three hours, we walked through the mall and bought gifts for everyone. I was glad because I got everyone that I needed to get.
“I still can’t believe you bought that,” I said as we walked out of a shoe store.
“It was on sale!” he whined as he held up the black Palladium boot.
“Don’t you already have black boots?” I asked.
“Yeah, but they’re a different shade of black,” Levi said. Since his new boots were all in my face, it caused me to bump into someone. He stuffed the shoes back in the box as I glanced up to apologize.
“Ugh, you,” Kelly said. Her red tips were gone as her ashy blonde hair went over her shoulders.
“My bad.” I sighed, then looked over her shoulder at Jennifer.
“What’s your name?” Kelly asked Levi as she bit her lip.
“Ranger Long Sausage. That’s my stripper name,” Levi said as he dramatically flicked his long hair. Kelly gave Jennifer a weird look then turned to me with a wicked look in her eye.
“I see you have a new guy every week. Wait…you weren’t even dating Benny for a week, and now you’re with him.”
“Lana, you’re becoming such a bitch. Like, not everyone likes you. Saturday night I saw Blake making out with this girl,” Jennifer said.
“As if I care?” I tilted my head as they rolled their eyes in unison.
“How’s our little betrayal, Melissa? That bitch changed.”
“She didn’t change. She just stopped acting the way you two wanted her to.”
“Glad she joined the bitches’ squad along with your other blond friend.”
“She and Marcus are something else.” Kelly sighed.
“Is your guys’ drama gonna have an intermission soon? I need to take a piss, but I don’t want to miss some bitch slapping,” Levi said.
“Shut up, you freak!” Jennifer yelled.
“Damn, who yanked your tampon out too early?” Levi asked. Kelly hit him with her shopping bag.
“Hey, don’t hit him!” I yelled, but Jennifer joined in.
“Ouch! You’re hurting princess’s nipples!” Levi exclaimed as I slammed him.
“Does she even have real boobs th—”
“You guys should come with a fucking warning label,” Levi grunted. We pulled their bags away, and one ripped in two. The boxes fell to the ground, and my eyes widened. I thought it’d be shoe boxes, but no, they were adult toy boxes. Levi and I sniggered as Jennifer went down on her knees and picked up the boxes. Kelly watched her friend in disbelief as we slowly backed away.
“Jennifer, what the he—”
“They’re not for me, okay?” Jennifer blurted out as she held the boxes in her hands. Kelly scrunched her nose up as she looked at Jennifer.
“I can’t have a lesbian friend! What if you fall for me?” Kelly whined and stomped her foot.
“I think we need to go,” Levi whispered beside me.
“Yep.” I laughed as we took our bags and walked out of the mall. We put all the bags in the trunk, then got into the car. While we drove, I told Levi about the time when I kicked Kelly in the face, and he laughed.
“Hey, I need you to drop me off at Benny’s house,” I said as I read the text on my phone.
“Why?” Levi asked as he blew out a smoke ring.
“Well, Melissa wanted to do something competitive, so we’re going bowling. Yippee.” I sighed.
“A double date?” he asked.
“Nah, triple…Miranda and Marcus are coming too,” I said as we drove through the streets.
“Cool,” he mumbled.
“Yeah, err…what are you gonna do?”
“Probably head over to Blake’s place.”
“Cool.”
Other than showing Levi the directions to Benny’s house, it was quiet, yet the silence was comfortable. We arrived ten minutes later, and I realized everyone else was already here.
“Thanks, enjoy,” I said as I got out of the car.
“You too,” he mumbled. I walked toward the front door and raised my hand to knock on the door. It flew open with a very cheery Melissa.
“Finally!” she said, then pulled me into the house. Melissa dragged me all the way into the living room, where Marcus, Nick, and Benny watched a soccer game. Miranda was sprawled out on the sofa with her phone in her hands.
“YES!” Nick and Benny cheered as Real Madrid scored. Nick teased Marcus, who frowned because Barcelona hadn’t scored yet, while Benny jumped up. He spotted me then pulled me into an embrace.
“You’re a lucky charm. Just when you stepped into the room, they scored,” Benny said as I laughed.
“Lana, who do you think is better? Ronaldo or Messi?” Marcus asked as he pushed Nick away.
“Obviously Ronaldo,” I stated as Benny stood behind me and wrapped his arms around me.
“That’s why she’s a beautiful girlfriend,” Benny said as he kissed along my neck.
“All right, since this is a shit-ass game, shall we go?” Marcus asked as he stood up.
“Date night!” Melissa squealed as we walked toward the door. Benny and Nick teased Marcus and said that he just didn’t want to see his team lose. I glanced over my shoulder to see Miranda trail behind. Once she caught up, I entwined our hands together, and she looked up.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah…I didn’t have a good night on Saturday. Barely got sleep,” she said, then let go of my hand and walked out of the house. I tilted my head at Miranda’s weird behavior. It must be the fact that Detective Kale questioned Marcus. She didn’t have to worry, though; I sent a message to Marcus, and he said it was okay. Somehow, he acted weird, too.
The triple date at the bowling alley was just fantastic and all in all fun. It turned out Benny and I came second, while Marcus and Miranda came first because they were very competitive. Melissa didn’t care, though, because she said sports were never her thing, even if Nick did all the work.
***
I squinted my eyes and let out a groan as Dad opened my curtains. The daylight scorched through the room as he walked to the door.
“Get up, kiddo. It’s already after one,” he said, then exited the room. I forced myself out of bed and rubbed my face. I instantly froze as my hand rubbed against my stitches. I cursed under my breath as I walked to the bathroom. I raised my nightgown, ready to take a piss, but immediately dropped it as I stared at the toilet roll holder. No freaking toilet paper, someone was full of shit. I walked out of my room and strolled down the stairs. Suddenly two hands wrapped around me to prevent me from colliding into them.
“We gotta stop doing this, pumpkin.” He helped me downstairs. It had to be Axel because he oddly called me pumpkin.
“Not to be mean, but why are you here?” I asked as he leaned on the staircase.
“Hanging out.” He motioned to the living room full of guys. My cheeks flushed as I lowered my nightgown and fixed my hair. I didn’t want anyone to think I was a slob. “What are you doing?”
“Well, it’s my house, but I came down here for toilet paper. I need to take a shit.” I whispered the last part.
“That’s the most flattering thing I’ve heard from a girl.” Axel laughed as I walked down the hall. Everything seemed to blur. I opened the hall closet and glanced up to see the crumpled bag. I stood on my tippy toes and snatched t
he bag.
“What the heck?” I muttered, because the bag was empty. Someone was apparently full of shit in this house. Out the corner of my eye, I saw a tall figure enter the room. I looked over my shoulder to see Ethan walk in with an empty plate in his hand.
“Hey, Lana,” he greeted.
“Ethan! My great friend, buddy, captain…hey.” I smiled and playfully punched his shoulder. He raised a brow at my weird behavior, and I laughed, then pointed at the bag, which was further away. “You’re kind of tall and…buff. I just really need to take a shit.”
“Err…okay,” he mumbled, then stretched his arm to get the bag. I clapped as he ripped it open and gave me two rolls. I thanked him, then skipped upstairs and into my bathroom. Once I was done, I collapsed onto my bed and snuggled into the sheets. The comfort only lasted about ninety seconds until I felt things being thrown onto my bed.
“Ouch! Dad!” I complained as I looked up to see Dad throwing pepper spray cans.
“Get up, Lana, and I forgot to give you those cans. There are quite a few boys down there, and I’m heading to the station,” he said as I pushed myself out of bed again. I mumbled something under my breath as I grabbed a casual outfit and headed into the shower. Afterward, I changed the bandage on my stitches since Mom was at work. Jade was visiting a friend while Richard slept.
I tied my hair up in a bun because I had to make more cinnamon rolls since everyone enjoyed them on Saturday. I opened the fridge and pulled out the containers yet noticed that they were empty. I squinted my eyes as I gripped the empty container and stormed into the living room. Music blared through a Beats Pill as the guys spoke.
“Who ate all the cinnamon rolls?” I demanded as I held up the container. No one answered or moved as I groaned. Out the corner of my eye, I saw a figure move. I snapped my head to see Dad walk with a cinnamon roll in his mouth. Our eyes met, and he instantly froze. “Dad, did you eat all of them?” I asked. He gave no answer as he stood with the roll in his mouth. I threw my hands up in exasperation and groaned as I walked back into the kitchen. I heard the guys laugh as I forcefully put on my apron. Dad came into the room with empty plates in his hands as I took out the ingredients. “Daddy, can’t you do something about them?”
“I’m not your mother; she’s the miracle worker. I’m a sheriff,” he said as he poured himself a glass of water.
“Then arrest them!”
“Have they done something illegal?”
“N-not really, but they will!”
“Sure, Lana. Call me when they do. Even though they’ve all been arrested, I must go to the station now…which means I’m leaving my daughter all alone with five males. Should I be worried?” he asked. “Nah, I trust Axel, and I like Ethan. Stopped by his dad’s store yesterday and bought a few things.”
“Cool.”
“Why aren’t you with him?” Dad asked as my eyes widened.
“I’m with Benny,” I said.
“Oh, yeah…but Ethan’s captain, and I heard they did pretty well last game.”
“Dad, Benny is on the team.”
“You guys go to the same school?” he asked, and I nodded. “Wait…what school do you go to? I never know because I don’t get any phone calls.”
“Jefferson High.”
“Right. But I like Ethan more.”
“Dad, you’re just saying that because you get a discount from Mr. Baxter,” I scolded. Dad shook his head, then set his glass in the sink. Richard entered the room with an empty plate in his hand, and I groaned.
“Rick, who do you prefer? Benny or Ethan?” Dad asked.
“That’s an easy one,” Richard said. “Ethan…captains all the way!” I threw my hands up in frustration because they were big sports fans.
“Benny’s dad owns a chain of seafood restaurants,” I pointed out.
“I’m allergic to seafood, honey,” Dad said. I groaned as they laughed. Dad walked to me and kissed my forehead. “I like Benny. He’s a good kid. We’re only joking.”
“I’m not allergic. Maybe I can get discount,” Richard said. I playfully rolled my eyes then said goodbye to them. Once they were out of the house, the music suddenly got louder. I sighed as I shut the kitchen door, yet it didn’t help.
I baked. I loved to bake and sometimes preferred it to cooking, but to do the same thing repeatedly bored me. I spent the next two hours making the cinnamon rolls from scratch. I was on my fourth batch as I placed another pan in the oven. The music hadn’t stopped, and neither did the boys when they came into the kitchen for a roll. I literally had to take the rolling pin to get them out of here. They finally gave up and decided on pizza. If I didn’t go into the living room earlier then I wouldn’t have gotten any.
I cleaned up until I heard weird noises from the other side of the house. I raised a brow as I took off my apron and walked out of the kitchen. The music still played, but none of the guys were in the living room. I turned it off and listened. I spun around to see the front door wide open. Axel stood on the porch as I walked outside into the cold weather. My eyes widened as I saw Blake punch someone. Levi stood next to him with a murderous look. I squinted my eyes and noticed the curly hair under the guy’s beanie.
“Let him do it,” Axel said. “He deserves it, and you know it.”
My breath suddenly quickened as Blake pushed Parker into the snow and kicked him. Out the corner of my eye, I saw my neighbor walk out of her house to see the commotion.
“Blake,” I called out as a car drove past and watched us. “Blake!” I yelled as he continued to kick Parker. I stomped down the stairs, then approached Blake. I placed my hand on his shoulder and whipped him around and noticed how his eyes darkened. “Stop!” I yelled in his face. Levi tried to get to Parker, but I stepped in front of him and blocked the way. Parker was unconscious, and I squirmed at the blood on the snow. “What the hell are you doing?” I demanded.
“Oh, sorry, didn’t want to get in the way of you and your friend,” Levi snapped.
“Quit the act, Willson. We know that you guys were fuck buddies back in junior year,” Blake muttered, and I suddenly paled.
“Yeah, we know how you kept each other happy, so you can take your curly-haired freak over here and go fuck somewhere else,” Levi mimicked as I let out a dry laugh.
“If your definition of happy was being forced into the janitor’s closet before class, threatening me, watching me undress, then using me, then yeah…I’m happy,” I sarcastically said. I noticed how Blake’s features softened as the realization hit him. I swallowed the lump in my throat to prevent myself from crying. I didn’t want to cry, especially in front of them. Not again. “This asshole used me in junior year, and I had no one. Miranda was there, but she wouldn’t understand. I was all alone because someone didn’t have the balls to pick up the fucking phone!”
“What about them?” Levi pointed to Carter and Ethan.
“Benny wasn’t the only one, Levi,” I informed him, then looked at Parker. “But it doesn’t matter anymore. The damage is done.”
I glanced up as I looked at all of them. Looks of guilt and remorse filled their faces as I laughed. Yet it was a laugh filled with pain, agony, and envy, like I couldn’t believe it.
“You all believed him. Now I know what you really think of me,” I croaked out, then spun around. I locked eyes with Axel to see his shameful look. I clenched my fists as I walked up the stairs. I opened the door and bit the inside of my cheek to prevent the breakdown. I went into the house and tried to block out their arguments.
Chapter Eleven
Lana
Arguing. Curses. Shouts. That’s all I heard for the past thirty-five minutes. The neighbors got annoyed, so I told them to come inside. Being the bunch of assholes that they were, they left the unconscious Parker in the snow. So, after arguing for five minutes of who should go and get him, Ethan and Axel manned up and got him. I felt like Edward from Twilight as I watched Parker rest on my sofa. I sat directly opposite him as my nostrils flared. The se
nsation to cry vanished as rage filled my body. I wanted to punch someone. I wanted to throw something against the wall. I even wanted to throw the TV out the window. The guys were in the kitchen, and I specifically hid the cinnamon rolls before they went in. The recent event played in my mind as I took in Parker’s appearance. His face was beaten, yet no pity or sympathy came from me, just anger and hatred.
I remembered in junior year Aidan, Parker, and Austin walked by. We had Science together, and my locker was the closest to the janitor’s closet. Austin and Aidan passed me, but Parker stayed. I didn’t want to enter that part of my life again. It was buried, deep down, with everything else. I promised myself I wouldn’t talk or think about it ever again. The first bottle I ever got was from Keene, which I later found out was from Parker. When Parker found out that I had used his product without paying, he used it against me. He said he’d tell the whole school, the principal, Mr. Bronx, and my parents. I couldn’t let that happen; my life was already depressed. Levi left without a goodbye, and I didn’t hear from him for a year, so of course I’d think it’s my fault. To hear what he thought of me made me feel lifeless. It made sense yesterday when he said I’d be bad for him. He’d never said something like that before, so naturally I suspected something.
“Ugh,” Parker groaned as I glanced at him. His eyes fluttered open as he stared at the ceiling. He turned and gave me a lazy smile. I bit my lip and crossed my arms as I stared at him.
“Why?”
He seemed confused by the word as he squinted his eyes. A second later, he let out a sigh and slowly sat up.
“I was drunk, and they were going to find out sooner or later, Lana. Besides, aren’t you glad that it’s not haunting you anymore?”