by Kait Rose
Chapter Ten
Stella
“She’s a virgin dude. She is innocent while I definitely have my sins. I need a girl more on the risky side and not so innocent, I guess you can say.” Ezra’s words broke another piece of my heart. I felt angry and sad at the realization he isn’t who I thought he was. When I first heard Ezra and Jude talking I was going to turn and head back to my room, but then I heard Jude ask Ezra the real reason he didn’t want to be with me and I was glued to my spot. Hearing what Ezra’s real reasons were hurt worse than the day he walked away from me.
I silently walked back to my room and tried my hardest to keep the tears at bay. When I got back in my room without being caught by the boys, the tears finally fell. I was done with being judged for being a virgin. Ever since my old roommate Lola found out and told everyone in sight, it has been annoying as hell. Almost every day someone would ask me out last year and I knew the real reason. There was even a bet who would pop my cherry first, but when Knox heard it he shut it down pretty quickly. It was one of the reasons I made Brad wait for so long, now I’m wishing I just got it over with.
I stared at my books and realized all these romantic stories I would read about how the girl finally gave herself to her true love fucked with my head. Angry that I held on waiting for my one had me taking it out on my books. I cleared every shelf of romance books and packed them in boxes. I was officially done being the hopeless romantic.
When I got done packing them I carried the boxes and put them out to the curb. I prayed someone found them before they got ruined outside. I felt like this was a decision I would regret later, but knew I needed a fresh start to my new image. I placed them on the ground and headed inside before changing my mind.
“Madison!” I yelled when I got inside. I refuse to go to her room. I swear every time I knocked on their door, her and Jude were going at it.
“In here.” She yelled from the bathroom. When I walked in she was shaving her legs and listening to her music.
“I need help.” I pulled her away from the tub while she protested she wasn’t finished yet.
“You really couldn’t let me finish?” She gave me a pointed look while she wiped the rest of the shaving cream off her leg.
“Nope, this is a fashion emergency.” I went straight to her closet and I could hear her sigh a mile away.
“Stella we're not going to a nightclub, can’t I just wear jeans and a nice top?” She said defeated.
“Yeah that’s fine, but you need to help me find a more edgy, non-pink, and eat your heart out kind of outfit.” Madison rose off the bed and put her hand across my forehead. I swatted it away and said, “What are you doing?”
“Checking to see if you're feeling well. When do you ever ask me for fashion advice?”
“Since apparently my innocent virgin look is a turn off.” I said while laying on her bed looking at the ceiling.
“Who the fuck said that?” Madison said pissed.
“I overheard Jude and Ezra talking...”
“I’ll kill him. Jude never knows when to keep his mouth shut.” Madison cut me off before I could finish. She was almost at the door to leave and find Jude before I stopped her.
“Wait Madison, it wasn’t Jude who said it.” I said quickly before she went and made a scene.
“Thank god.” She sighed in relief and came back to sit by me.
“He asked Ezra the real reason he doesn’t want to be with me and he said the whole innocent virgin thing is a turn off. I think my high expectations of finding the one are pushing him away so I threw my books out.” I could tell my words pissed Madison off.
She sprung off the bed and pulled me into a seating position. She cradled my face to make me look in her eyes and said, “Stella Ryan there is not one thing wrong with being a virgin. If he can’t accept who you are then he isn’t worth a second of your time. You’ll find your person and they will love every inch of you inside and out.” Her words were true and I felt like an idiot that I was wanting to change myself for somebody else, but part of me wanted to be a little more risky.
“You’re right, but honestly I do want to change things up for myself.”
Madison nodded her head and had a look on her face that she was thinking of a plan. “Ok we can make your outfit for tonight less princess and more eat your heart out on one condition.” I nodded my head yes and she continued to say, “You need to go back outside and grab your books.” I ran out of her room before I could even agree. I prayed to all things holy that my books were still outside, but when I opened the door my box of books were nowhere in sight. Fuck, I murmured to myself. Maybe it was finally time to take Knox's offer and invest in a kindle.
“They’re gone?” Madison said in shock when she saw me come back to her room empty handed.
“I’m such a idiot, but hopefully whoever took them takes good care of them.” I said somberly.
“We can always replace them. Let’s not let that ruin your night, we can worry about it tomorrow.” I nodded my head and Madison pulled out an outfit I had never seen before. “I was saving this for a night to get Jude all horned up, but I’ll give it to you.”
“Don’t say Jude and horned up in the same sentence. I swear do you guys ever not have sex?”
“Well sometimes we....” I slapped my hand over her mouth and said, “Don’t you dare finish that sentence.” I took the clothes out of her hand and I must say I was pleasantly surprised with her choice. She picked mini distressed black jean shorts, a Beatles t-shirt, and her new doc Martin boots.
“You really think this outfit is going to make Ezra eat his heart out?” Don’t get me wrong I love her picks, but I felt maybe this was too casual.
“Trust me, we’re going to a dive bar and a mini dress will make it obvious that you’re trying to make him jealous. I have a plan anyways. When you’re done getting dressed, don’t wear a bra with that shirt.”
“I have size D tits Madison, I can’t pull off not wearing a bra.” I gave her a look that said don’t be ridiculous.
“Your tits are perky so yes you can. Now get dressed, I’ll be right back.” Madison left her room and I agreed to give her plans a shot.
One minute I was bent over tying her Doc Martins and the next someone was grabbing my ass and saying, “Do you have time for another round?” I shot up in the air to see who was behind me and Jude fell on his ass shouting, “What the fuck!”
“What the fuck is right!” I yelled back while Madison was laying on the ground at the doorway laughing her ass off.
“Madison..I...I swear I thought that was you.” Jude said nervously.
“I didn’t know Madison was blonde.” I said staring Jude down. I knew he would never touch another woman, especially Madison’s best friend, but I couldn’t help tease him.
Madison wiped the tears from her eyes and pulled herself up to say, “I’m sorry, but the look on your face was priceless. It was so worth letting it happen to see your reaction.”
Jude got up and picked Madison up and slapped her on the ass while saying, “You little shit. You're so in for it later.”
“Are you going to teach me a lesson?” Madison said seductively.
“You two are disgusting, I’m right here!” I said annoyingly. I’m glad everyone else in this house is getting some action, but I don’t need to see or hear it especially now.
Madison shimmed out of Jude’s embrace and said, “I’m sorry Stella. Jude you’ll need to wait til later, I have a makeover to do right now.”
“You’re making Stella over? Doesn’t Stella usually do that for you?” Jude looked surprised.
“Well since people like to talk shit about my bestie being too innocent looking, we are going for more of an edgy look.”
“Madison!” I should have known she was going to eventually slip in front of Jude. Those two anymore tell each other everything.
“Fuck, you over heard us in the kitchen?” Jude looked over at me and I can see the guilt on his face.
> “I accidentally overheard, but listen I’m not mad at you, but I will be if you tell Ezra I know.”
“I’ll take away sex for a month if you say a single word anyways.” Madison gave him a look saying she really would.
“My lips are sealed and you girls have fun.” Jude was out of the room quick and I really hope Madison’s threat kept his mouth shut.
“Men.” Madison shook her head.
“More like boys.”
“True, now hold still.” Madison came at me with scissors and the feeling of panic started to grow inside me.
“What are you going to do with those?”I said wearingly.
“I’m cutting the shirt, but what do you think about an edgy bob haircut to go with your new look?” I looked in the mirror at my long blonde hair with hot pink highlights that has been the same length since I could remember. Maybe a change would be good.
“Ok work your magic.” Madison screeched in excitement and got to work on erasing my princess look.
Chapter Eleven
Ezra
“You my friend are in trouble.” I clapped Jude on the back when Madison came walking down the stairs in the shortest jean shorts I ever saw. She would definitely have every guy drooling at the bar.
Jude let out a breath of air and shook his head saying, “For fuck’s sake little bird, are you trying to get me into a fight tonight?”
“Maybe.” She shrugged innocently, but had a smile on her face like the devil.
“What am I going to do with you?” He picked her up and slapped her on the ass while spinning her around. Nobody knows how much I wish that could be me and Stella.
I went over to the end table and grabbed my phone and wallet. I was ready to tell them I’ll meet them there, but Jude came over clapping me on the back like I did to him and whispered, “You my friend are going to be the one in trouble.” I looked up to see what he was talking about and instantly my eyes went wide as my mouth dropped open all the way to the floor.
Stella came down the steps in a complete opposite look than what she usually wears. She had on Doc Martens, black little jean shorts, and a crop band tee. When she got closer I saw she cut her hair shorter, but she pulled it off.
“Hey.” She came sauntering up to me. I couldn’t help but check her out one more time and that is when I realized she wasn’t wearing a bra. For heaven fucking sakes.
“Are you fucking kidding me? March your little ass back upstairs and put a damn bra on.” She huffed in disgust, threw me the middle finger, and walked out to the car with Madison right behind her.
I stood there in anger and shock staring off at them heading to Jude’s car, when Jude came up and slapped me behind the head. “You fucking idiot. First you compliment her and then phrase it where you think she should put a bra on because guys will be all over her and you don’t want to get into a fight tonight.”
“Dude, women are complicated. Why in the hell would she wear something like that anyways? Don’t get me wrong, I love how sexy she looks, but it’s not her.”
“Fuck.” Jude hung is head and looked back at me to say, “I’m going to tell you something that risks Madison taking away sex from me for a month if you don’t keep what I say to yourself.” He looked back out at Madison and back at me while looking unsure if he should tell me.
My heart was racing with anxiety of what he was about to tell me that he is willing to risk losing sex with Madison. “I swear I will, now out with it.”
He took one last look at Madison and whispered, “Stella overheard our whole conversation in the kitchen earlier today.” My heart stopped and I felt myself cringe as I replayed the conversation over in my head.
“Let me guess she now thinks she needs to change herself to win me over?” I said rubbing my forehead. I felt the headache already coming on.
“Yep. How are you going to fix this?” He looked at me seriously. He may not be that close to Stella but with her being Madison’s best friend, he was protective of her also.
“Well how am I supposed to apologize if I can’t say that I know?” I gave him a pointed look.
He smirked and said, “Figure it out yourself. Maybe you should just tell her the truth.”
“Ok I’ll tell her I know.” I smirked back.
“Do so and I’ll be sleeping in your bed for the month when I get kicked out.” I went to say something back, but he turned around and said one last thing, “By the way, I sleep in the nude.”
“Hell to the fucking no!” At that point I had a lot of thinking to do on how to fix this without risking letting them know I know. I wouldn’t mind not having to hear them fuck for once, but I wouldn’t put it pass Jude to actually climb in my bed naked.
Madison and Jude were sitting in the front while Stella was as close to her door as she could get while sitting in the back with me. The ride over to the bar was filled with awkward silence at first until Madison turned the radio on. Even with the music drowning out the silence, I still felt the need to say something to Stella. “You look cute, but I miss the pink.”
“What every girl wants to hear.” She said quietly with a sad tone to her voice. I decided to keep my mouth shut for the rest of the ride because I had a feeling no matter what I said, Stella would get pissed either way.
After fifteen more minutes of awkward silence we finally arrived at Gryff's Bar and I was definitely in need of a strong drink if I was going to survive Stella tonight.“Whiskey sour and keep them coming.” I slapped my card on the bar top and the bartender nodded her head and started making my drink. She was quick and as soon as it was in my hands, it was ripped out of my hands just as fast.
My hand was still in the shape of when I was holding my glass when I looked over to my right to see who was dumb enough to steal my drink. My eyes bulged out when I saw Stella chugging it down better than a grown man who's been drinking most of his life.
“Stella...” She put her finger to my lips to stop me from talking while she finished my drink. I was praying she wouldn’t throw up on me because I barely ever saw her drink, but she was full of surprises tonight.
She slammed the glass on the bar top and called over to Madison to meet her at the jukebox. I was about to signal over to the bartender to make me a new one, but she already had one ready for me. “Free of charge on this one, looks like you’ll need it tonight.” She slid me another drink while nodding to Stella flirting with some asshole.
“Thanks.” I said while looking over at Stella. I couldn’t look away if I tried. My eyes never left her and I knew she could feel my heated stare by the way she tried her damndest to avoid looking in my direction. I swear she is in for it when we get home with her games trying to make me jealous. First the bonfire at Thanksgiving where she was all over that asshat she last dated and now here she is all over this douche in the polo.
“How’s stalking going?” Madison plopped down on the bar stool amused at my predicament.
“Don’t think I don’t know you were the mastermind of this plan. Stella is beautiful as she is and didn’t need to change who she was to please me.” Madison’s smile was wiped right from her face and replaced with a scowl.
“Jude you promise!” Madison shot him a look while he turned white as a ghost. Nothing intimidates Jude, but little Madison was a force to be reckoned with.
“I didn’t.” He shrugged innocently at Madison while mouthing to me, what the fuck.
“Bullshit. Enjoy that hand of yours for the next month.” She grabbed her beer and headed towards Stella.
“Little Bird now wait a damn minute.” Jude said in shock that she really meant it. Madison flipped him off and didn’t look back.
“My bad.” I said passing my drink towards him and signaling to the bartender for another one.
“Yeah your bad! You know for a fact she will make me wait the entire month now.” Jude said while he downed the rest of my drink.
The rest of the night Jude and I sat at the bar while we stared at our woman do their damn best to make
us jealous. Madison was shooting pool, but the way she kept sticking her ass out had Jude ready to explode. Stella on the other hand was currently sitting on the douche’s lap while she… “What the fuck!” I shouted.
Jude jumped from his barstool with me and we both headed towards the girls. He swooped a protesting Madison and carried her right out the door. I came behind Stella and pulled her off douche’s lap and threw her over my shoulder. She was little and light as a feather, but she put up a fight trying to get down.
“Let me down!” Stella yelled while punching my back. While douche got up and puffed his chest out saying, “Who the fuck do you think you are!”
“Her husband.” I said to him in which he put both hands up while backing away saying, “I’m sorry.”
“He’s lying!” She screeched.
“One day it will be true.” I mentally slapped myself once I realized I said my thoughts out loud instead of to myself.
“What?” She said softly.
“Nothing. Let’s go before you whore yourself out.” I needed to say something to piss her off and get her mind off of what I accidentally said. I just hope tomorrow she won't remember it.
She started pounding on my chest and calling me every name she thought was mean like a jerk face and douche bag. With people at the bar starting to stare at us, I went out the exit and into the alley. I put Stella down between the wall and me. She must have been feeling feisty because next thing I know she raised her hand to slap me. I was shocked because I only heard of Stella getting to that level of anger once when Chanel said some very cruel things to Madison. I was faster than Stella though and grabbed her arm mid swing. “I wouldn’t do that babe.”