by Emma Knight
Chapter Twelve
RING.
The final bell rang and it was finally time for Rachel to meet up with her friends and go to Emily’s house for their “getting ready” party.
Rachel waited for her friends outside on the front lawn of the school. Emily’s house was only a five-minute walk from school, so they all decided to meet and walk together.
Rachel, Emily, Liv, Kate, Jen, Jess and Taryn met up on the front lawn and started walking to Emily’s house. It was the first time that Rachel was hanging out with Liv, Kate and Jess, so she wasn’t so sure what to expect. Suddenly her night in NYC crept into her mind, and her body grew tense. She hoped and prayed that this night wouldn’t end up like the other night she had with Taryn, Emily and Jen, but she figured that would be almost impossible because it was an all school dance, and no ID was required!
Feeling social, Rachel went over to Liv and Jess who were walking next to each other and started talking to them.
“So, you guy’s excited for tonight?” she asked as she caught up to them.
“Guess so,” Liv said.
“Yup,” said Jess. “And wait until you see what I brought, that’s the best part.”
Liv giggled and did a little jump. “What is it?” Rachel asked.
“Oh, you’ll see!” Jess answered.
Rachel couldn’t imagine what it was. At first she thought maybe a sexy dress, or super tall platform pumps, but as the girls neared Emily’s house, Jess pulled out cigarettes and a bottle of Absolute Vodka. Rachel found herself standing still in her path. She felt a little uncomfortable with this but didn’t know how to react. All the other girls were cheering and taking cigarettes from Jess’ pack, and lighting them up.
“Here ya go, Rach,” Jess said, as she handed her a cigarette.
“Oh, no thanks,” Rachel answered.
“Come on, why not?” Jess asked. The girls all looked at her.
“I um…don’t smoke,” Rachel said with a nervous voice.
“Not until you met us, you didn’t!” Jess said, as she tried again to hand Rachel a cigarette.
Rachel didn’t know what to do. Did she stand her ground, or grab it so she wouldn’t have to deal with this pressure anymore to fit in. She didn’t want the girls to hate her, but it was also becoming clear that these weren’t the right girls for her to be friends with after all. It was obvious to Rachel that this group was into alcohol and smoking, and she imagined if there weren’t already, they would probably start trying drugs. Rachel was never a rebel, and while the thought seemed cool for a while, in the long run she knew this was not what she wanted.
“No thanks, I’m all right,” Rachel said firmly.
“OK, be lame then,” Jess said with a joking smile.
Rachel felt bothered by this, but knew by the tone of Jess’ voice that she was just kidding with her. Still, it didn’t feel good.
The girls headed inside Emily’s house and began getting ready. Emily’s house was huge; it was the biggest house that Rachel had ever seen. It had large white columns at the front entrance, and when you walked through the front door you stood in a double story foyer, which Rachel was sure was the size of her entire house.
Rachel suddenly got a new picture of these girls, and realized they, too, were a little different than Rachel.
When she got upstairs to Emily’s room, which Rachel thought was more like an entire wing than a bedroom, Rachel opened up her duffle and pulled out her teal dress with the hot pink and orange flowers, and hung it on a hanger. Feeling self-conscious, Rachel looked around to see if anyone had noticed her dress or was making any comments about it. She knew it wasn’t the most flattering dress and that maybe it was a bad choice, but there was no turning back at this point.
Rachel looked at the dressed the other girls were pulling out. They were very chic and beautiful. She was a little bit surprised, coming from this “punk” group, that they would clean up so nicely.
“Where’s yours from?” Taryn asked Jen.
“I got my dress at Saks with my mom over the weekend,” Jen answered.
“Mine’s from Bloomingdales! It’s BCBG,” answered Taryn.
Rachel didn’t know what these girls were talking about, but assumed these stores and brands were better, and more expensive, than what they sell in JCPenney’s. Rachel didn’t want to ask either, because she didn’t want them to know she was clueless.
“Where’s yours from?” Liv said, as she looked at Rachel’s dress with disapproval.
“Oh, that old thing. I got it at a store in Pennsylvania, you probably wouldn’t know it,” Rachel said.
She remembered vividly the day she had bought that dress with Dana and their crew. It was a few weeks before the Easter Parade, and all the girls had wanted to buy new dresses. They’d piled into her mom’s car and headed off to Wal-Mart to go shopping. Rachel spotted her dress as soon as they entered the Juniors department and she knew it was the one. The girls’ oohd and ahhd over it when Rachel tried it on. She had felt great in it, and knew it was the perfect dress. Not to mention, Rachel remembered all the compliments she got on it.
Now, it was a whole new ballgame. This dress was like the plague up here. Rachel couldn’t understand why it was beautiful in Pennsylvania but ugly in New York.
“You can’t seriously wear that,” Emily said. “I’ve got stuff you can borrow.”
Feeling insecure about her dress, she walked with Emily over to her closet. Rachel figured it wouldn’t hurt to try a few other options on.
“I’ve got this Marc Jacobs baby doll dress,” said Emily, as she held it out. “Or, this Banana Republic LBD.”
LBD..LBD…Rachel was jogging her head trying to figure out this terminology. She looked at the dresses and decided she would try on the Banana Republic dress. Rachel put it on and it fit like a glove. She had never felt sexier before in her entire life. It was a short black dress that came up to the middle of her thigh. It was tight over her hips and butt and showed off her curvy waist. It was short sleeved, but had a low cut-back, which the girls seemed to really think looked great on Rachel.
Rachel was sold. She would forego her teal Easter dress for the sexy black number Emily was going to lend her for the night. Rachel pulled out her Pay Less twelve-dollar gold pumps and put them on her feet. The girls started at her in awe. Rachel couldn’t believe the approval she was getting from the girls and she had never felt so good about herself before.
“So, how about a few shots to get this party started!” Jess said, as she whipped out her Absolute Vodka.
“Yeah!”
“Here we go!”
“Party time!”
Jess opened the bottle and handed everyone a shot glass off of Emily’s shelf. Emily collected shot glasses, and they were being put to good use.
Rachel found herself in another inner struggle. She knew if she got caught drinking before the school dance and she showed up to school drunk, she could get expelled. That frightened her, especially since she had high hopes of going to a good college one day. Rachel knew that wouldn’t look good on her high school transcript.
But Rachel also wanted desperately to fit in at AHS. She figured that everyone was doing it, and she didn’t want to feel left out. She put out her hand as Jess was handing everyone a shot glass, and held it steady. She knew her trick of pretending to drink always worked, and that way she would feel like she was part of the group, but not actually drinking.
The girls all took their shots and Rachel pretended to sip hers. The girls didn’t even realize that Rachel hadn’t drunk her shot.
“It’s time to go!” Emily said, as she put on her lipstick.
“It’s going to be sick!” said Jen. “I can’t wait.”
“I hope they play good music,” said Liv.
Rachel gathered up all her belongings and took another look at herself in the mirror. She reminded herself of Sandy from Grease, when she changed from her “good girl” poodle skirt and cardigan into the sexy black leather out
fit at the end of the movie. She didn’t recognize herself, but knew she looked hot.
On their way back to the school, the girls were giddy and excited. Rachel could tell that the girls’ were a little tipsy, too. They were screaming and stumbling across the streets and she could tell the vodka was hitting them.
Rachel, on the other hand felt good. She was sober, nicotine free, sexy and stood up for what she believed in. Rachel knew that if she had this will power as a teen, she would definitely have it as a woman.
As the girls walked through the balloon arch that led them into the gymnasium there were hundreds of kids, teachers and chaperones. Rachel was nervous, yet excited. She put her bag down on the bleachers, but kept her cell phone out, just in case Benji tried to call or text her. She was missing him so much and hoped that he would be at the dance.
The music started playing and everyone started dancing. Rachel’s ankle was finally feeling better, so she got out on the dance floor, too. She felt like she was at a club; kids were grinding, and dancing very close to one another. She had never seen this at her old school, but went with the flow, realizing that she needed to accept that her new life in Bedford was completely different, and to stop comparing the two.
At the end of the first song, Emily, Liv, Jess, Jen and Taryn all went into the bathroom together to take shots. They invited Rachel to go with them, but Rachel stayed behind. She walked off the dance floor and checked her phone. She didn’t have any messages or calls.
She looked around the dimly lit gymnasium to see if Benji was around, but she didn’t see him.
As her eyes surveyed the room, Rachel spotted Rob. He was staring her up and down, and began walking towards her. As he neared, Rachel wasn’t sure what to do. Should she walk away, or stay and see what he has to say? Rachel decided to stay, partially because she wanted validation from him, but also because if she turned and walked away, it would be too obvious that she was ignoring him.
“Hot stuff,” Rob said as he reached out and put his hand on Rachel’s back.
“Thanks,” Rachel said, smiling.
“You look amazing,” Rob added. “Wow!”
Rachel was glad she wore Emily’s dress, if for no other reason than to show Rob what he could have had if he had not been such a jerk.
“I’m sorry about the other day,” Rob said.
She was surprised at this, because she figured he didn’t even remember.
“Oh, that day,” she said, acting as if it were no big deal.
“Yeah, I got caught up at practice, then went out with the guys,” Rob said sounding apologetic.
“I forgot about it, really, it’s fine.”
“So, how about that dance?” Rob said smoothly.
Standing there alone, Rachel felt confused. She knew she wasn’t into Rob anymore, but she would rather dance with him than stand on the outskirts of the dance floor alone.
“I guess,” she said.
Rob began walking into the middle of the dance floor, and Rachel followed.
At that moment Rachel’s phone buzzed and lit up in her hand.
1 New Message:
Benji: Come outside, I need to talk to you.
Rachel closed her phone, turned around and headed towards the exit sign. She couldn’t believe it. Was Benji really outside the school? Did he really want to talk to her?
“Where are you going?” Rob shouted as Rachel walked away. “I thought we were going to dance?”
Rachel heard his voice behind her, but didn’t look back.
As Rachel got out front, she saw Benji standing next to his motorcycle, wearing jeans, his leather jacket and holding his helmet in his left hand. Rachel ran to him.
Benji smiled and hugged her as he lifted her off the ground.
At that moment, Rob came running out of the building with a few of his friends.
“Who’s are you?” Rob asked, as he approached them
“I’m her boyfriend,” added Benji.
Rachel looked at him in surprise. She didn’t realize he thought of her as his girlfriend, but it made her ecstatic to think of it.
“What?” Rob said, seeming confused.
“That’s Rob’s girl,” Rob’s friend interrupted. “You have no business coming in here like this. Who do you think you are?”
“Go back inside,” Benji said to them.
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Rob and his four-jock friends started barreling towards Benji, rolling up their sleeves.
“You asked for it, kid,” Rob said.
Benji reached out and pushed Rachel aside, so she wasn’t in any danger. Rachel couldn’t believe how quick his reflexes were. He moved her almost as quickly as he had grabbed her that night on the ferris wheel.
Benji slid off his leather jacket and calmly put it on his bike while the guys charged him. Rachel couldn’t believe how calm and composed he was.
Rob was the first one to reach him. Rob reached back and swung wildly, aiming right for Benji’s face.
But Benji sidestepped easily, as if Rob were moving in slow motion. He reached up and grabbed the back of Rob’s head and threw him. Rachel was shocked to see Rob go flying, nearly across the parking lot.
Rob’s friends took pause, too. They were clearly caught off guard by what they saw, yet at the same time, they were already charging, and too close to Benji to change course. The three of them all dove at him, as if trying to tackle him.
But in one swift motion, he leapt high in the air, over their heads, and the came down, kicking two of them hard in the back of the neck, and sending them, face first, down to the ground. The third guy he grabbed by the back of his shirt and hurled in the opposite direction, with such force, that he went flying off the ground and up into a large bush.
Rachel couldn’t believe here eyes. She blinked, thinking she must have imagined it all. But it was true. It was all really true.
Benji, still calm and composed, reached for his leather jacket and said, “I’ve gotta get out of here.”
“I want to come,” Rachel said.
“You can’t come,” Benji said, “It’s dangerous.”
“I have to be with you,” Rachel said.
“Do you want to risk everything to be with me?” Benji said.
“Yes,” Rachel said without hesitation.
Before she could even blink, Benji put on her helmet, clipped it under her chin, and they were riding off into the night. Rachel loved the feel of his waist in her arms. She had longed to hold him again and to be one with him. She knew tonight was going to be special.
As the two came upon a quiet, covered bridge, Benji slowed his motorcycle until it came to a complete stop.
He helped Rachel off the bike, and they walked to the side of the bridge to look off onto the stream below.
“Rachel, I really care about you, I do,” said Benji. “I want to be with you.”
“I do, too,” Rachel said, “I think about you all the time,” Rachel said. “Please just tell me who you are, I need to know. Whatever it is, I can handle it.”
Benji looked at the stream, then back at Rachel.
“If I tell you, you have to promise you won’t say anything to anybody,” Benji said.
Rachel said as she looked deep into his eyes, “I promise, I won’t.”
“You have to promise,” Benji said, more firmly.
“I promise,” Rachel said again in suspense.
“Do you swear?” he asked.
“I swear!” Rachel said.
“Again. Swear again.” Benji asked.
“I swear. I swear I will never tell.”
Benji held out his hand. Rachel reached out, grabbed it, and felt his icy cold fingers weave in between hers, as he leaned in close, to whisper into her ear.
COMING SOON…
Book #2 of the Vampire Legends
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