Pulse

by Wade, Matthew

  The girls realised what power they held over the boys, and were challenging them to come and dance. They knew that this presented a moral dilemma in the guys: Dance with the girls who were obviously coming on to them, but risk looking uncool in front of the wolf pack, or try and look disinterested and maintain their composure, in the hope that this will give them more kudos with both sexes later on.

  Many of the boys opted for option three: Stand there slack jawed and drooling, neither dancing nor looking cool.

  The girls loved the attention too. They were more self-assured and confident than the boys, and it wasn’t long before straps were slid provocatively off the shoulders and seductive poses were perfected.

  “Oh God yeah! Woooo!”

  Confidence rising, one of the girls paused in front of the fire and started to lift her t-shirt over her head, but stopped at the x rated limit.

  “Oh yeah, Oh yeah. Here we go!”

  She let her shirt drop back down again, before anything post watershed was seen, and beckoned one of the boys over with a slow finger. He nervously grinned and looked around at his team mates, who were shoving him in the shoulder, causing him to stumble forward, until he had to succumb to peer pressure, and strut as confidently as he could muster up to the young temptress.

  As he got within reach of her, she motioned for him to get down on his knees on the ground. The boy, now fully committed to the role play, obeyed her every move. She danced around him a little, leaving her hand on his shoulder as she strutted behind him. The boys were now at fever pitch.

  As she circled back around behind him, she raised her leg to his shoulder, and face planted him to the ground, walking off and discarding him like a gladiator who has slain the lion, turning the wolf pack into cowering meek kittens.

  Sitting on a log further up the hill was Blake. He had been observing the night’s activities with interest and amusement. He liked to watch his fellow classmates go crazy, but he was never into it himself. Perhaps it was his Father that had instilled a sense of self control in him that prevented him from going wild, or his Mother walking out years ago when she got bored that made him question and value relationships. He was not particularly fussed about having one night stands or chasing women. When the right one comes along, he will know. Just let it happen naturally.

  He had admired some girls from afar in his school. In particular one girl from his English class. She was more reserved that the others. She did not flaunt her assets like a lot of girls do nowadays. She was self-assured, but level headed. Proper. Not lusting over men every waking moment. She valued the idea and ideals of a solid relationship. Sure Blake could get any girl he wanted. It wasn’t as through he struggled. They practically threw themselves at him. But ironically he found that a turn off. It’s not just about sex. It’s about a connection that two people have.

  So Blake was surprised when she came up to him at the party, dressed well but conservatively and asked if they could talk in private. She made her feelings plain and clear to him, and said that she would like to get to know him better. He liked that. Not “How about a roll in the hay?” or, “You are so gorgeous” but “I want to get to know you.” Proper. Get to know someone. Like them for who they are inside, and not just a cheap thrill to be discarded later when you get bored with your new plaything.

  They hardly touched each other until he gave her a kiss on the check at the end, but he could tell she was right for him. Maggie Finlay. A girl his Father would approve of.

  Blake felt really positive about this one. They had arranged to go out to dinner next Saturday, to an out of town restaurant which was nice and quiet where there was no risk of being bothered or spotted by anyone they might know from school who would inevitably start rumours and make it awkward. Just keep it low key, take it slow, just go out together and get to know each other a bit better, and if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. Nice and simple.

  His thoughts were interrupted by someone running down the hill, from the other side.

  From a distance he couldn’t make out who it was by face, but Blake could tell by the clumsy gait and body shape that it was Stuart Gibson. He looked to be running down the hill straight towards him, arms flailing like he was doing the backstroke and shouting something. This was clearly someone in distress.

  Some of the party had already spotted him and were pointing up at the grassy bank that he was thumping and pounding his way down.

  Stuart was a slightly overweight kid who never really lost his puppy fat when all of his peers sprouted and grew. He still looked like a child, struggling to fit into a man’s world. He was always the last to be picked for sport, but the first to be picked on in class (along with Robert Finlay, but that was purely by association). So that is why, when the crowd at the party spotted him, they reacted the way they did.

  “Hey Gibson – You wanna try out for the swim team next?” said one guy, pointing to the lake.

  “Hey honey – You can borrow Stacey’s bra if you like – She won’t be needing it later.”

  Cue more drooling from the wolf pack.

  “Hey Gibson – Where’s your boyfriend? Did you to have a fight? Aww poor baby didn’t want to suck on it.”

  By now the whole party were laughing and pointing at the distressed looking wretch.

  The first person he came across was Blake Simpson, who was watching the scene from his log perch.

  “Please, Blake, can I borrow your phone – Bobby – He collapsed up by the roadside. Neither of our phones worked and...”

  Blake was already standing up and rummaging in his pocket. He pulled out his phone, unlocked it and punched in 9-1-1.

  He handed the device to Stuart.

  *

  Tina and Maggie were in full animated chat in Tina’s car when Blake came running up towards them. Tina let out an exited squeal when she saw him coming. Maggie’s brain thought that he had changed his mind and he wanted to call it off.

  Maggie quickly fluffed her hair and straightened her top as she tried to compose herself.

  Blake was already talking when Maggie had wound down her window. “Maggie.” Her heart thumped at the sound of his voice saying her mane. “Bobby’s collapsed on the way home – There is an ambulance on its way to take him to the hospital.”

  Twelve

  The drive to the hospital was what Maggie hated the most. It reminded her of her mother and the trips to and from the hospices and hospitals when she was ill. She was in the back of the ambulance with her brother. Tina was following behind, and so was Blake. He had offered to take Stuart (knowing that Tina didn’t want Stuart in with her and also that the police wanted to ask him questions as a “Witness.” Quite what he was meant to have witnessed was baffling him).

  Now Maggie, Blake, Tina and Stuart were sitting in a waiting area, while the doctors were assessing Bobby’s condition. The doctor that came out to see them every hour or so was a humourless man who seemed to have no bedside manner. The first time he spoke to them he told them that Bobby had drunk too much and fainted, and that you kids should take more responsibility for yourselves. It was Blake who challenged him by saying that he was at the party for about half an hour and had not been drinking.

  The second time Mr Personality came out they were told that he had not been drinking and that he had gone into shock. They were also told that he had burns on his chest, which is consistent with electrical cabling.

  When Maggie finally was allowed in to see him, Uncle Steve and Aunt Karen were there, with Steve having an animated discussion with the doctor.

  It was five and a half hours after they arrived at hospital that they seemed to finally get some answers. “Doctors say that he must have tripped on a fallen power cable near the lake. He will be fine, just needs to rest here for a day or two.”

  “What about the rest of the party – Did no one see anything? There must have been fifty or so kids there?” said Karen.

  “They had left and were up near the roadside when it happen
ed. Stuart told me that Bobby had gone out of sight down the bank to take a leak when he saw a flash and went running down to take a look. Bobby was already out cold when he got there.”

  “Oh my lord – Poor guy.” Karen said, placing a hand on Bobby’s sweating brow.

  “Anyway – Nothing more we can do now. We should go home and get some rest and come back in the morning. The hospital will call us if anything changes.”

  “How’s Maggie? She must be going spare.”

  “I think she will be OK – She seems to have someone to comfort her” he said, looking through the glass out into the waiting room. Stuart had been dismissed by Steve and Karen when they arrived and Maggie was now alone with Blake in the waiting area. She had his jacket over her like a blanket and had gone from leaning on his shoulder to lying on his lap, legs curled up like a kitten under her, with his hand stroking her head. Both of them looked weary, but contented.

  Steve and Karen walked up to them. “Hey” said Karen, with a wry smile.

  “Hey” said Blake.

  “We are going to go now, you should too. Do you need a ride?”

  “No I have my car. You guys go – I’ll take Maggie.”

  Karen gave Blake a wry smile and they said their goodbyes.

  *

  Blake’s car pulled out in front of Maggie’s Aunt and Uncle’s house. She was still wrapped in the jacket he had given her and was grateful for the warmth. She hadn’t planned to be out so late, and although it was a balmy evening, tiredness makes you feel the cold more.

  “Is this you?”

  “Hmm? Oh, yes this is it. Listen. You didn’t have to stay. I appreciate it. You were really nice to me tonight.” She caught herself and took a deep intake of breath.

  “About what we talked about at the party.”

  “Oh yeah the party – That seems a long time ago now.”

  “I mean, next Saturday – do you still want to, you know...”

  Blake was gazing out of the front window, but suddenly realised where Maggie was driving the conversation. He sat more upright in his chair and faced Maggie, looking purposefully into her eyes. All tiredness leaving him, being replaced by adrenaline.

  “Of course, of course.” He said “It’s a date.” He grinned and then added “I hope your brother gets better soon. Call me, and let me know.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. Without realising it had happened, they were locking lips and holding the back of each other’s necks. They started cautiously, each not knowing how far to go with the other, but soon Maggie’s lips had parted and softened, with all of the stress and tension that had built up through the night being released on each other. When they finally broke, their lips were full and red. Maggie grinned at him. “Do you need your coat back?”

  “Na – Keep a hold of it. Gives me an excuse to come see you again.” His face broke into a boyish, lopsided grin.

  Maggie left the car and trotted up the driveway to the house. Blake watched as she opened the door, making sure she was safe.

  After the stresses of the day, both of them were smiling.

  Thirteen

  In the hospital bed, Bobby was in a deep sleep. The monitors he was hooked up to beeped and recorded. Bobby’s breathing changed from slow and deep, to quick, shallow breaths.

  Whuuuummm.

  The bedside monitors fizzed, popped and went dark. A small plume of blue smoke seeped from the back of one of the screens.

  Bobby’s breathing returned to normal.

  Part Two – Greed and Confidence

  “What if everything around you,

  Isn't quite as it seems?

  What if all the world you think you know,

  Is an elaborate dream?

  And if you look at your reflection,

  Is it all you want it to be?

  What if you could look right through the cracks?

  Would you find yourself,

  Find yourself afraid to see?”

  ~ Nine Inch Nails

  Fourteen

  By Monday morning, word had gotten around school about the party, and had elevated Maggie, Stuart and Bobby to minor celebrities. Their fame was in part to do with the You Tube hit rate of the video of Stuart running down the hill, but mostly rumours had been circulating about Maggie and Blake, and many of the school were keen to lap up any info they could get their hands on about the new celebrity couple.

  Maggie was so preoccupied with her brothers’ well-being, that she was oblivious to the excitement that had been brewing amongst the gossip merchants. Her first warning was a text from Tina.

  “hey babe OMG you and b are like the new kim and kanye all over skool LOL!”

  Maggie was genuinely surprised to read her best friends message. She hadn’t even considered the social ramifications of dating Blake, let alone prepared herself for the social elevation it would give her in the intricate social network that was high school.

  Blake she knew wanted to keep it all low key – he wasn’t one to seek attention in that way.

  She quickly typed a response to try and gauge the impact before she arrived in her first class.

  “Hey girl stop playing – no one is interested in little ‘ol me!”

  Maggie could feel her heart beating faster as she clutched her phone and waited for a response. The buzzing signalled the arrival.

  “no im serios Monika kale and her lot have been non stop asking questionz n the girls from gym class r asking me all about u. u n blake r set 4 prom king n queen lolz!”

  Maggie could feel her blood pressure rising, but at the same time she felt a tinge of excitement. Her phone buzzed again. This time it was Blake. Her heart quickened once more.

  “Hey – meet me on the way in? By the parking gate?”

  She quickly replied “Yes love 2 xxx.” and carried on her walk to School. Her day brightening with every step. Blake was standing there with a smile on his face when she rounded the corner to the school car park.

  “Hey gorgeous” he said. He held her waist and kissed her, which made her blood pressure climb another few millibars. She looked away as if embarrassed by his opener.

  “Hey” he said, using a finger under her chin to lift her face back up to his. “You are gorgeous, so you better start believing it.”

  Maggie was never what you would call shy, but lacked the forceful confidence that some of the other girls had. She was what you would call ‘Down to earth’. A quality that Blake loved in her. She didn’t realise how attractive she was.

  She visibly blushed at this. She bit her bottom lip as a thought entered her head. “Well I guess I’ll need a big strong man to protect me from all those admirers. Care to escort a helpless damsel to school?”

  “Well, my lady, it would be an honour.” He said, holding out his elbow for her to link her arm through his.

  As they approached the school entrance, small pockets of gossipers turned and looked over towards them. A group of three girls stopped and started at Blake, and then looked Maggie up and down, comparing themselves to her in a what has she got that I haven’t? sort of way.

  Another group of girls were looking at them wide eyed, one of them whispering to the others with her hand shielding her mouth.

  “Girls can be so bitchy” said Maggie. “And I hate it.”

  “Rise above it, babe. You’re better than them in every way.” He said, and put his arm around her and gave her shoulder a squeeze. He looked at her and gave her a kiss on the lips. You could almost hear the jaws of the group of whispering girls hit the floor.

  Good thought Maggie.

  Walking towards them were some of the guys from the football team, who all stopped and hand slapped Blake, tipping Maggie a wink as they did it.

  Guys she thought. So much more relaxed and cooler about this whole thing than the girls are.

  Maggie’s heart then did a triple flip as she spotted Gavin Clarke and Monika Kale walking towards them. Best to get this over with early, I sup
pose. She thought.

  “Hi Maggie, hi Blake” said Monika in an overly cheerful tone.

  Blake let go of Maggie to give Gavin a reverse handshake and a slap on the back.

  “Hi Monika, how are you?” said Maggie, grimacing inwardly. Let’s just get through this.

  “I’m good. I love the look, by the way. Where did you get the sneakers?” The subtle condescending tone wasn’t lost on Maggie, but she resisted the urge to say “The outlet store on way past your trailer park. Does the local wino know you are wearing his cologne?” Instead she opted for “Oh just the Converse store in town.”

  “Hey you know what. We should all go out on a double date – It would be fun!” said Monika. I’d rather tear my eyes out with a rusty spoon Maggie thought.

  “Sounds fun” Maggie said.

  “Hey bro” said Gavin. “You got a little more something for tomorrow?” subtly flicking his head up as he said it.

  “You know me – always in control” said Blake as he reached into his pocket and produced a rolled up page which Gavin quickly pocketed, hardly letting it get exposed the outside air.

  Maggie looked at Blake confused. “What’s that?”

  “Nothing for you to worry about.” He said. Dismissing her question. Maggie looked pensively at the floor and then nervously at Monika, who gave her a wry smile.

  Maggie didn’t like secrets, and didn’t want any between her and Blake, and even more so that it was exposed in front of someone else who seemed to know more than her.

  Their attention was distracted by a group of students from their class who were all laughing and cheering, all seemingly crowded around a tablet screen.

  Gavin, seeing them look over answered their curiosity “Video of that fat kid running down the hill at the party at the lake. It’s had a couple of hundred hits on You Tube” he said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.