The Shadow Box: Paranormal Suspense and Dark Fantasy Thriller Novels

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The Shadow Box: Paranormal Suspense and Dark Fantasy Thriller Novels Page 69

by Travis Luedke

“No problem.” I kissed her on the forehead. “What would I do without you?”

  “I was thinking the exact same thing.” She spanked me on the butt. “Okay. All set?”

  I nodded yes, but she was looking at me funny, like I’d forgotten something. Nadia reached into her hoodie pocket and pulled out a little white box. That hoodie was like a magician’s hat into which many things disappeared and all sorts of unexpected things emerged. This time she held Trojan condoms. “I think you might be needing these.” Her eyebrows rose with a knowing look. That girl was far too worldly.

  “Uh, yeah. Could be a good idea.” My face burned in embarrassment. I could hardly look her in the eyes as I accepted her gift.

  “You’re so cute, Misha.” She kissed me on the cheek. “Have fun, and don’t worry, I’m not jealous. I like Anita. She’s the right one for you. You belong together.” I didn’t understand it, but it worked, so I went with the flow.

  On the way out the door my Dad stopped me. “So this is the big night, hunh?”

  “Yep.”

  “You look real good son, real handsome.” I nodded, impatient to get out the door. My father held his hand out. “Here, I want you to have this.”

  He put a $100 dollar bill in my hand. It was the most money my father had ever given me at one time, the only money he’d given me in the past six months.

  “Thanks, Dad, I appreciate it.”

  “You’re a young man now. It’s hard to believe how fast you’ve grown up. Listen, Mike, I haven’t always been there for you – not much at all lately – but I want you to know that I’m gonna try harder. I’m gonna try to do better by you.”

  My father’s uncharacteristic sentimentality made me very uncomfortable.

  He patted me on the shoulder and stepped back. “Well, get going. Don’t wanna be late for the big date. Tell Anita I said hi.”

  “Okay … um … bye, Dad.” Richard looked like he was about to shed tears. Feeling the pressure, I scooted out the door quickly.

  Nadia waited in the car, having gone out my window. My secret nightlife with her had become an easy habit. Her slinking in and out past my father didn’t seem wrong at all. I dropped Nadia off at the intersection of Pioneer Way and Hill Avenue, a half mile before Anita’s house.

  “I’ll catch up with you after you get home.” She patted my hand and took off walking.

  Anita’s father, Manuel Gomez, answered the door. He checked me out for a moment before letting me in the house. “You look nice.” He had a pronounced Mexican accent.

  I didn’t know how to respond beyond, “Thanks.”

  It was awkward. Senor Gomez had always been courteous when Anita was simply a friend, but now that she was my girlfriend, a new tension existed between us. I stood in the tiled entryway with Anita’s red rose corsage in hand, waiting. Senor Gomez did too. He had something to say, and took his time getting around to it.

  “You’re a good boy, Mike. I’ve always liked you, despite your father.” I nodded, not sure what to say. Kinda hard to live down Richard. Senor Gomez looked me square in the eyes, scrutinizing me. “I’m glad it was you she chose to start dating. You’re good friends and that’s important.” My head kept on nodding nonstop, and then it occurred to me what he was after.

  “You don’t have to worry about me, I respect Anita. I would never hurt her, she’s my best friend.”

  “Qué bueno, that’s good.” He turned his head and yelled back over his shoulder down the hallway, “Anita … Mike’s here waiting, are you coming?”

  “Be out in a minute!” She yelled back.

  I saw it in his eyes, he finally decided to come out with it. He leaned in close in a low tone only I could hear, “She’s my baby. She’s sensitive. If you hurt her, so help me God, I’ll make you regret it!”

  My throat seized up tight with embarrassment. My face burned a suffocating red, and the starched collar of my dress shirt was choking me. “I … I would never, sir.”

  Anita’s father stared hard and then continued in the same snake-hiss menacing tone, “And make sure you keep your hands to yourself!”

  I choked, “Yes, sir!”

  Anita came to the rescue, swishing into the living room from the hallway in a gorgeous black strapless dress. Must have cost several hundred dollars. The fit was perfect, accentuating the healthy curves of her golden brown breasts and tapering nicely to the waist. She seemed slimmer than ever before. She didn’t look fat really, just thick … where it counted most. Her shiny, raven black hair was pinned back up off her neck.

  When she smiled nervously, I blurted out without thinking, “You’re so beautiful!”

  Anita walked right up and kissed me in front of her father. She was so elated she didn’t care if he was watching. I blushed again as I handed her the corsage. It was a good match, the blood red rose, shiny black dress, and Anita’s warm skin color. Her father put his arm around Anita. “Hay mija, está bien Hermosa. Te amo mucho, cuídate.”

  She smiled, beaming with the praise. We said goodbye to her father and I gallantly opened the passenger door for her. When I was out the driveway and heading down Hill Avenue she quizzed, “What did he say to you?”

  “Oh, nothing really. If I lay a hand on you he’s probably going to castrate me and donate my junk to science.”

  “No way! Are you serious?”

  “Well, he did say to keep my hands to myself.”

  “So … are you?”

  “What?”

  “Are you gonna keep your hands to yourself?”

  “I don’t see how I can with you in that dress. You’re entirely too sexy for your own good.” She had that look again. And no matter how many times she looked at me that way, I always got tight in the pants.

  She was so … different. Anita was all woman, with a woman’s expectations from a man.

  I pulled into the parking lot at Michael’s on the Lake, one of the ritziest restaurants in town. I couldn’t keep my promise to her father. I turned to Anita and leaned over to whisper in her ear, “If I’m going to break your father’s rules, I might as well get an early start.”

  I kissed her delicately, sliding my hand along her neck, collar bone, and down into the top of her dress. She was so damn sexy, and all that smooth golden skin begged to be touched. She gasped as her breast filled my hand. Her arms wrapped around the back of my neck to hold me in place. I was right where she wanted me, no escaping her this time.

  Our kisses became hot and deep, our tongues dived back and forth. I fought for control of her mouth, delving deeper and deeper. And then she swallowed my tongue, pulling me all the way in, working it with her tight, intense suction.

  I thought I was gonna blow a load in my pants right there. Where did she learn how to do this?

  I had her dress down, both of those golden D cup breasts open to the air and my hands. Anita moaned and whimpered as I learned every inch of her chest. Every time I brushed her hard nipples I felt a jolt hit her, followed by a sweet little sound. It was like pressing buttons to make her groan. She was so large, no way her breast would fit in one hand.

  Two-handed breasts.

  As she worked my tongue, sucking hard and frantic, I knew that’s what it would feel like inside her, buried, warm and wet and loving. My whole body reacted, humming, vibrating with arousal and need. I wanted her like I have never wanted anything else in life.

  I needed her, Anita. I needed her beautiful warm body. I wanted to tear her dress off and bury it in her till she screamed.

  Before I knew it, Anita had her hand between my legs, grabbing onto all that she could find. Her touch was like hot syrup pouring over me, warming me instantly.

  Oh god, I needed her so bad.

  When she unzipped my fly and reached inside my pants my need exploded, literally. A warm, wet, and wonderful explosion. Convulsing with the shock of the moment, I started to realize what we were doing, had done.

  “Whoa …”

  I sat back into the driver’s seat to get a breath from
this wild woman who tried to follow me – reaching, grabbing, and kissing like there was no tomorrow. “Anita … wait … stop.” It was too much, too fast.

  Anita was breathing heavy as she sat back in her seat with a protest. “Argh!” She looked frustrated, unsatisfied.

  “Phew! That was … I don’t know what that was, but we better chill out before we go in there.” My hands were shaking, and I could hardly breathe.

  Intense.

  Embarrassed, I stepped out of the car to catch some cool October night air and wipe the worst of my mess with a napkin. I needed to get to the bathroom and clean up properly.

  “Yeah.” Anita admitted in a husky voice, tucking herself back into her dress. She tugged the front of her dress up, trying to reduce her impressive cleavage.

  We caught our breath and then she stepped out of the car and came to me with a smile. “We’re not finished. Remember that later. I’m gonna hold you to it.” She reached down to run a lacquered fingernail over my crotch. One little brush and she had reignited that fire all over again.

  “I don’t think I’ll be able to stop next time.” I smiled, feeling the heat of my embarrassment.

  “Good, you better not.” She grabbed my hand and we walked to the door of the restaurant.

  I escaped to the bathroom, cleaned up, and rushed back out to Anita. We were led to a table for two by the window facing the lake. Michaels also had a large outdoor veranda, where people could sit and eat and look down on the lake. Our view was of the veranda and the lake. The table had crystal rose petal centerpiece with a candle that the hostess lit for us as we took our seats. With the lights down low, candle flickering, and a wide open view of the waterfront, this had to be the most special night ever.

  Definitely the most romantic.

  Looking at the menus, Anita whispered, “Are you sure you can afford this place?”

  I squeezed her hand. “Yeah, my Dad gave me some money. Is that weird or what?” I conveniently forgot to mention how much money Nadia had been giving me on a regular basis.

  Anita chuckled. “Somebody call the Guinness book, that’s gotta be a record!”

  “I know.”

  “If you need it, my Dad gave me some money too.”

  “How about you take care of our pictures at the dance?”

  “Sure, no problem.” She was always conscientious of the fact I was dirt poor. Anita took great pains to avoid spending my money. Her father worked as management at a semiconductor plant making six figures a year. She always had money for things she needed, and most of what she wanted.

  We ordered the prime rib special and enjoyed the view sipping on cokes. My high from the parking lot was still a warm buzz, tingling all over my body. I had an idea, but I didn’t want to tell her yet. I wanted to surprise Anita after the dance by renting a hotel room to finish what we started.

  Tonight was as good a night as any.

  The food was awesome, Michael’s had a good chef. I can’t recall ever having prime rib before. Just not something we ate at home, and Dad couldn’t cook for shit. It was so good I actually left a tip. Guess there’s a first time for everything.

  On our way out the door two couples entered in tuxedos and dresses. I stood face to face with Rachelle in her gorgeous shimmery blue dress. Precisely as I had seen her in my vision. She was followed by Tommy, Justin and April Lindsey, a slight blonde girl on the cheerleading team with Rachelle. I figured Rachelle had roped her friend into the double date.

  Tommy reached his arm around Rachelle, squeezing her close, with that insolent-gloating look on his face. Like he had something I couldn’t have. Anita slid up at my side, gliding under my arm.

  I had everything I wanted right there. I felt no connection to Rachelle, not even the slightest. The look on her face spoke volumes. This Rachelle was not the girl I dated in Junior high. I had been chasing the past, pining over someone that didn’t exist anymore.

  They say beauty is only skin deep. It wasn’t even that deep with Rachelle. In my eyes, her ugliness had started to show through to the surface. I could smell the perfume on her. The same scent that had bombed my locker.

  What was I thinking? How could I have missed Anita, this wonderful girl who was right there in front of me all along?

  Tommy started in with his smartass mouth, “Look it’s Mikey! Say ‘Hi’ to Mikey.” Tommy jerked Rachelle’s arm up and down like a marionette, forcing her to wave as we walked past. She looked embarrassed, with that I’m-putting-up-with-something-horrible snarl to her upper lip. The alcohol on Tommy’s breath washed over me, strong and disgusting. He smelled like my father.

  He reminded me of one of those evil elves in a dark fantasy comic book as he grinned, nasty. Idiot Justin was laughing right along with him.

  I ushered Anita out the door. Tommy kept up his act, forcing Rachelle to turn and watch us go. Rachelle waved again, Tommy’s hand shaking her arm in a limp flop as he yelled in a high pitched girly voice. “Bye bye Mikey!” Tommy was an obnoxious drunk.

  We made a quick escape, laughing at stupid Tommy. It’s hard to stay angry with people you just don’t care about anymore. But they were laughable. I was enjoying this night too much to let anything bring me down.

  The homecoming dance was held in the high school gym. They had decorated in silver crescent moons and starscape on a midnight blue background. We hit the photo line first. The photo area had a set of silver pillars and the same background. Anita chose a three photo fold-out of glossy eight by tens, one picture of us individually and another one together. She ordered two identical sets so we could each have one.

  After taking pictures we roamed around looking for familiar faces. It was something of a lost cause, skaters aren’t into dances.

  We eventually found Cleo. She looked shocking as ever, her slim, boyish body crammed into a form-fitting hot-pink dress. She still had her foot-long dreadlocks, but they were dyed a matching color of obnoxious pink. She attracted attention nonstop, which was probably what she hoped for.

  She brought a skate punk named Taylor to the dance. Two years older, having just turned eighteen, technically Taylor was still in high school, but he spent half his days at the skatepark. He wasn’t even from our school. He’d been going to the alternative high school by the old Larson Air Force Base – The Base. They kicked him out of MLHS last year. Taylor’s shaggy dirt-blond hair spiked out in all directions, but at least he had the standard-issue black and white tuxedo. The two of them were obviously in rebel mode, their eyes a bright veiny red from all the weed they’d smoked. Rebels without a clue.

  I sat next to Anita, surveying the dance floor, contemplating taking her out there. I couldn’t help but think about that vision. Everything was exactly as I’d seen it, the lights, the music, the whole atmosphere. Anita noticed my attention was elsewhere and pulled me down to talk directly in my ear, yelling over the loud music, “I’m not much of a dancer. Don’t get your hopes up.”

  “Me neither, but I’m willing to play the fool if you’re up for it.” I knew I would dance. Why fight it?

  “Maybe a little later.” She tickled my ear with her lips as she spoke. She shrugged as if to say whatever, but she was smiling. It didn’t matter to her either way. I guess she was happy just to be there.

  Taylor sipped from a thin metallic flask in his jacket. The liquor smelled strong. He offered some to me, but I’d seen my father wash half his life away in drink, and had no desire to go there. Taylor offered it to Cleo who downed a gulp and handed it off to Anita. She looked at me with a mischievous twinkle in her eye and tossed it back, bravely swallowing down a deep swig.

  Grimacing, she croaked, “Oh god! What is that?” Anita wheezed, barely able to speak after having her throat seared.

  “It’s Baaacarrrdi 151!” Taylor rolled it off his tongue like the name of a fine French wine.

  We hung out for a while at the table. Mostly to finish off Taylor’s liquid stash. The girls gossiped about who came with who while I chatted with Taylor abo
ut skate tricks and plans for the next video shoot. Between the three of them, they drained the flask in a half hour. I didn’t care much for sitting around watching people get sloshed. This was our night, homecoming, and I wanted to enjoy it with Anita.

  I grabbed her, yelling in her ear, “Come on, it’s a slow song, let’s dance!” I turned to Cleo and Taylor, “Come on guys, let’s dance!”

  Taylor had that deer-in-the-headlights look. “Dude, I do not dance!” Cleo was disappointed. She kicked him in the shin while scowling down at him as he sat there like a bump on a log.

  I didn’t wait for Anita’s answer. I pulled her out onto the dance floor. We hugged close and swayed to a slow R&B love song. Anita seemed fine with shuffling around to the easy pace and she laid her head on my shoulder to rub her lips on my neck, kissing me lightly. Eyes slightly glossy, she had a good buzz going. I had never seen Anita drink, so it probably hit her hard and fast.

  My Dad could drink non-stop.

  As we spun around the floor my eyes landed on Tommy and gang leaving the photo area, surrounded by wrestlers and their dates. Tommy hadn’t spotted me yet, and I was glad for it. I definitely didn’t want to deal with any confrontations on this night. For a brief second Rachelle looked up, right at me, locking gazes. She wasn’t very happy with her drunken, obnoxious date. Then Tommy said something to her and walked out to the exit leaving her standing alone.

  The music shifted to faster paced hip hop, the dancers adjusted to the beat, moving faster and more erratic, gyrating, bouncing, and grinding on each other. Anita wasn’t up for it. She wanted the slow romantic flow of things, so we returned to Cleo and Taylor at the table. Cleo stood thumping her foot, swaying to the beat, bored of Taylor’s deadbeat presence. Anita sat down, but I had the dancing bug, and bumped hips with Cleo, knocking her back a step.

  Anita cackled like that was the funniest thing ever. She was drunk. “Why don’t you go dance with her?” She yelled over the music and pointed out to the dance floor.

  Cleo seized on the idea. “Yeah, let’s go!” She grabbed my hand and took off.

  I asked, “You sure?” as Cleo dragged me out onto the dance floor. Anita waved me off, laughing and smiling.

 

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