*~~*
Down on the alley, Charlie had noticed Melisa.
“Bitch alert!” she announced.
“Oh, hell no!” Isabelle’s hands fisted up. “I smell a ho.”
“Relax guys; I got this.” Lisa smiled and stood. She walked confidently toward the concession stand as Melisa was still coming on to Heath.
“Come on, I can take you out back and suck your cock — just like old times.” She licked her lips and batted her eyelashes.
“Yeah. I wouldn’t want you sucking my worst enemy’s cock. I mean, what if you pass something along and he’s allergic to penicillin? Those STDs can be hard to clear up.”
“Baby, I’m so sorry I’m late. Have you been waiting long?” Lisa ran up and hugged Heath, kissing him hard.
“Lisa?”
Lisa turned her head halfway, her lips still on Heath’s. “Melisa Ridge? Oh my God! How have you been?”
“Fine. Um — you and Heath?”
“Oh yeah, for a while now. He’s the sweetest thing. And his family — wow! Just LOVE them!”
Lisa smiled and rubbed Heath’s ass.
“I was just bringing the soda, babe.”
“Oh you go on ahead. Melisa and I have so much to talk about!”
After he left, Lisa noticed that Melisa’s eyes were following Heath.
“He’s gorgeous isn’t he?” Lisa swooned, playing it up.
“Yeah, well. I already had sex with him.” Melisa sneered. “And I can get him again.”
“Go for it.”
“What?”
“What Heath and I have is real. I didn’t manipulate him into bed. In fact, we haven’t even made love yet — it’s called getting to know each other. Unlike bedpost-notchers like you, mature people who care about each other do that. So you can try to get Heath back, but you’ll fail.”
“You actually want to get to know him?” Melisa spat. “His parents are gay! That’s so gross!”
“Ah, so you used him, didn’t you? Not the other way around, as you claimed. That’s just like you to play the victim card, Melisa.”
The other girl shrugged and looked bored. “Whatever.”
“You want to play the victim? I’ll give you plenty to work with.” Lisa smiled as she walked away. She turned and walked a few steps back. “By the way — that feeling you have right now? It’s called regret. Swim in it, bitch.”
The whole group had lined up to catch the show. They could hear everything from their vantage point.
“Wow, that fucking rocked!” Damon guffawed.
Tyler studied Melisa’s face. “I think she might cry.”
Charlie laughed. “Good! Ugh, I freaking hate her.”
“Yeah, she was always quite the bitch,” Steve laughed. “Never understood what Heath saw in her, beyond the obvious. And even if it was lined with gold, it still couldn’t have been worth putting up with her.”
“Shhh! Lisa’s coming back!” Isabelle giggled.
Lisa walked right up to Heath and planted a kiss on him. Her hands went into his hair and he picked her up as they kissed deeply. They broke apart when the whole group clapped and shouted.
“You’re something else, Lisa Lewis.” Heath kissed her on the nose. There was no more drama as the group ragged on each other’s bowling skills.
Heath drove Lisa home and walked her to the door.
“Thanks for tonight.”
She took his hand and led him into the house. They went to her room and she shut and locked the door. She pulled off her shirt, pulled Heath in and took his shirt off so she could run her hands up his chest. Heath kissed her as his hands undid her bra and took it off. His bare chest was pressed to hers. Her hands went to his hair and he picked her up and put her on the bed. He was propped over her, his hand on her stomach. He could feel her trembling.
“Hey, are you okay?” He looked into her eyes.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
“We won’t do anything you don’t want to do, okay? Tell me what you want.”
“Kiss me.”
Heath’s lips met hers. They kissed slowly, tongues sliding over one another.
“Take my pants off, Heath.”
He looked her in the eyes as he undid her pants, sliding them down her long legs. His hand ran up her bare thigh.
“Take off your pants.”
Heath got off the bed and took his pants off, standing before her in his boxers.
Lisa stared. He was so beautiful.
“Come here,” she whispered.
Heath stood where he was. “I think we should wait.”
“Heath, don’t you want me?”
“You’re not ready, Lisa. I can wait.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Heath’s penis cursed him. “I promise you, sexual attraction isn’t the only reason I’m crazy about you.”
*~~~*
Damon’s seventeenth birthday party was in full swing. Decorations were everywhere, and Stefan and Jordan were busy getting more food out of the fridge in the garage.
“So, do you think Damon might — you know?” Jordan asked Stefan.
“Wow, you can’t even say it can you? No wonder the kids come to me about sex,” Stefan laughed.
“Fine. Have sex. Now that he’s older, do you think Damon will have sex?” Jordan spat the words out.
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him about Tyler yet. But he’ll come to me for advice. He always does.”
“I’m glad the kids feel comfortable going to you for that information. God knows I haven’t made the sex talks easy. On purpose, of course.” Jordan looked smug.
“I think Isabelle is still scarred from your PowerPoint presentation,” Stefan snorted.
“Hey! I worked on that for a long time!”
Stefan pulled him in for a kiss. “You’re so cute, Jordan.”
“Oh my eyes! MY EYES!” Charlie screamed as she entered the garage. “Stop with the PDA!”
“The garage isn’t public. By the way, I saw you outside with Steve, young lady. You had your own PDA going on.” Stefan raised an eyebrow.
“What?” Jordan looked at her. “You’re using protection right?”
“For kissing? Dad, chill. We haven’t done that. Yet.” Charlie smiled sweetly.
Jordan looked like he was going to throw up.
“See, Dad? That’s what I’m talking about!” She looked at Stefan and pointed to Jordan.
Stefan checked out Jordan. He did look like he was going to be sick. “Jordan, she’s just baiting you.”
“Come on, let’s get back inside.” Charlie took their hands.
Tyler had gotten Damon a football jersey from his favorite NFL team.
Damon went nuts. “Wow! Thanks, Tyler! How did you know?”
Tyler laughed. “Like you don’t talk about that team all the time!”
“Damon?”
Everyone turned to see Mark standing nearby, holding a gift.
“Oh, hey, you made it.” Damon smiled at him.
“I wouldn’t miss your birthday, Damon.”
“Um, Tyler, can you give me a minute?” Damon searched Tyler’s face, expecting to see jealousy or anger. When Tyler smiled, Damon relaxed.
“Take your time.” Tyler took his hand.
Damon squeezed it in gratitude.
They went outside to the pond, away from everyone else. Mark shifted his feet in the grass, his head down.
“So. You and Tyler are together, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Is it serious?” Mark lifted his head, his eyes searching Damon’s face.
“Look I’m not going to lie to you, okay? I like him a lot, Mark.”
“I know you won’t lie. I just — I miss hanging out with you, you know?” He took Damon’s hand.
“Me, too. I want us to get back to what we had. I miss your friendship.”
“Is that all you miss?” Mark looked at him hopefully.
“I can’t go back ther
e, Mark. I told you I wanted you, that you were the only one I wanted. You didn’t trust me. We’ve been friends for years, yet you didn’t trust me.”
“I know. I don’t know why I acted the way I did. I guess I was so jealous I couldn’t think straight, but I can now. I want you back, Damon.” Mark tried to kiss him and Damon stepped back.
“Mark, please don’t.” His brow wrinkled. “You smell like beer. Have you been drinking?”
“What do you care? I’m sorry. I should go, this wasn’t a good idea.” Mark turned and left.
Tyler watched Damon and Mark. He felt someone come up behind him.
“You should go to him.” Stefan said quietly, putting his hand on the young man’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
“Thanks, Mr. Youngblood.”
Tyler walked down to the pond, where Damon was sitting in the grass and skipping stones across the water.
“Hey. You okay?” Tyler sat next to him.
“Did you see…” Damon didn’t finish.
“Yeah, I did.”
“I didn’t kiss him, Tyler.”
“I know, Damon. Don’t worry about it. I trust you.”
Damon looked at Tyler. “You do?”
“You haven’t given me a reason not to.” Tyler took his hand.
“You have no idea how that makes me feel. It’s everything to me.”
“Happy birthday, Damon,” Tyler whispered and then leaned over and kissed Damon slowly.
*~~~*
Charlie was out front, sitting on the hood of her car while she waited for Steve to come back out.
They had been talking about sex lately — as in Charlie wanted it and Steve was resisting. It wasn’t that he didn’t want it; he had made that clear. He just wanted to make sure they were both ready, and he didn’t think either one of them was. She saw Mark come around the side of the house.
“Hey, Mark, are you okay?”
“Oh hey, Charlie. Yeah. I just talked to Damon.” He walked over to her.
“Oh. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I guess I just thought maybe he’d give me another chance.”
“I’m sorry, Mark.” She hugged him and then pulled back. “Have you been drinking?”
“Maybe a little.”
“Did you drive here?”
“Nope, I got a ride.”
Mark was still hugging her and his hands landed on her ass.
“Mark, stop it!”
“What? I’ve never been with a girl. I know you used to like me.”
“When I was twelve, Mark. Come on, knock it off!” Charlie tried to push him away but even though she wasn’t a wimp, she was no match for Mark.
His lips found hers and he stuck his tongue in her mouth, his hands still grabbing her ass.
“Get off me, Mark!” She tried to push him away again, but sitting on the car gave her no leverage and he held on.
“What the fuck is going on?” Steve came out of the house and pulled Mark away. He punched him hard and Mark hit the ground. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Mark?!”
Charlie was shaking and Steve tugged her from the car and into his arms.
Everyone in the house came out, alerted by Steve’s yells.
“What’s going on?” Jordan looked from Steve and Charlie to Mark now sitting on the ground, rubbing his jaw.
“I came out here and found Mark trying to kiss Charlie!” Steve glared at Mark.
“Mark?” Damon gasped in astonishment.
The look on Damon’s face hurt Mark more than Steve’s punch had. He leaned over and threw up.
“Oh Christ,” Jordan sighed.
Stefan took charge. “Everyone in the house. I’m taking Mark home.”
Charlie started crying, and Steve pulled her into his chest. “Hey, it’s okay,” he murmured into her hair.
“Steve, take Charlie inside now,” Jordan instructed.
The others went with them as Stefan and Jordan watched Mark get up and dust himself off.
“Mark, that was unacceptable,” Jordan began.
“I know. I’m sorry — I’m so sorry.” Mark started crying again, and as angry as Stefan was, he’d known Mark since he was in diapers and felt badly for him.
“Come on, I’ll take you home.” Stefan put his arm around the young man.
“Stefan.”
“I know, Jordan, I’ll be back soon.” Stefan smiled at him.
Stefan studied Mark in the passenger seat; he looked like he was going to throw up again.
“You want me to roll down the window, Mark?”
“No, I think I’m done. I’m sorry, Mr. Youngblood. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You were hurt when you saw Damon and Tyler. That’s what you were thinking.”
“I should have never…oh, poor Charlie. She’s been nothing but nice to me.”
“I’m sure the alcohol played a part in that, but that’s still no excuse for you to put your hands on my daughter, Mark.”
“I know,” Mark mumbled.
Stefan didn’t think he’d ever seen anyone look so completely miserable.
“It’s going to take time, Mark. But trust me, you and Damon will be friends again someday.”
“How do you know?”
“Why do you think the kids call my ex ‘Uncle’ Morgan?” He winked.
~*~
When Jordan entered the house, Steve was laid out on the couch with a sleeping Charlie snuggled into him.
“Hey, you want me to wake her?” Steve whispered.
“No, just stay with her.” Jordan turned around to leave and then swiveled. “No funny business. I’ll call your parents and let them know you’re staying.”
“Yes, sir,” Steve whispered and grinned.
Damon was out back with Tyler, looking out at the water.
“Wow. I never expected Mark to do that, and to my own sister.” Damon shook his head.
“He’s hurt and drunk. I know that’s not an excuse, but…” Tyler trailed off.
“I’m glad you’re here, Tyler. Thanks for coming.”
Tyler took his hand. “Damon, I really like you — a lot.”
“You do?” Damon spied Tyler smiling.
“Yeah, you make me feel…”
Damon turned to look at him. “How do I make you feel?”
“I don’t know.” Tyler glanced away and blushed.
“Yes, you do.” Damon pulled him in, brushed his lips over Tyler’s and then deepened the kiss before pulling Tyler in tighter. They finally pulled apart, lips just barely touching.
“Wow!”
“Yeah.”
“I gotta go, but I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Tyler hugged him.
“Okay. Thanks, Tyler.”
“No prob. Happy birthday.”
Damon went to his room, changed and crawled into bed to read. He heard his dad come home.
“Dad?”
Stefan poked his head in. “Yes?”
“Can I talk to you?” Damon sat up.
“Of course, what is it?” Stefan sat down beside him.
“How did you know when it was the right time to, um, you know.” Damon blushed.
“Oh. Wow. Well, everyone’s different. I mean, I didn’t have sex with Morgan until about two years into the relationship.”
“Two years?” Damon’s mouth dropped open.
Stefan laughed. “Yeah, well.” He ran a hand through his hair.
“How will I know?” Damon studied his dad; he could tell Stefan was about to get serious with him.
“Look, son, like I said, everyone is different. When you make love with someone, it’s serious. You can’t take it back once you’ve done it. Just make sure when you do have sex it’s with someone you really care about.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Well, I hope I helped. Just remember, you have questions about anything you come to me or your father, okay?”
Damon laughed. “Yeah, cuz Dad SO wants to talk about this with me. God forbid he
pulls out his PowerPoint presentation again.”
Stefan laughed. “Okay then, come to me — or whoever you feel comfortable with, okay?”
“Did Heath come to you? You know when he…”
“Yes he did, and at the time he felt he was ready. I told him to use protection and be careful. Look, as your parents we can’t stop you, but we can make sure you’re educated about sex and make sure you have what you need to be protected.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet. I’m just getting used to kissing and…well…”
“When you’re ready, you’ll know.” Stefan leaned over to kiss Damon’s forehead, got up and walked to the door.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for talking to me. I know this can’t be easy for you.”
“I love you, Damon. I just want you to be happy. And safe. Happy birthday, by the way.”
“Thanks, Dad. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Damon.”
Chapter 8
Isabelle was nervously getting ready to go out on her date with Jacob. They had been together before, but that was two years ago. It was New Year’s Eve and the rest of the family was celebrating at the farm. Isabelle had talked to her father about tonight before the rest of the family left.
“I know you and Jacob were together before, Isabelle, but this is different. He has to return to active duty at some point. Have you two discussed that?” Stefan didn’t know if he could watch her go through a repeat of what happened last time.
“We’ll talk about it tonight, I promise, Dad. Thanks for letting me go.”
“I love you, honey. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Stefan had kissed her and left. Now she sat on the bed holding the letter from Tristan. She hadn’t read it yet. Half of her didn’t want to. She opened the envelope and read.
Isabelle,
I’m so sorry I didn’t believe you that night at my apartment. I was so angry with your great-aunt that it never occurred to me that you had been a victim too. I hope someday you can forgive me for the awful words I said. Just know that I did care for you. I always will.
Tristan
He left his number at the bottom. Isabelle folded the letter and put it back into the envelope. She couldn’t think about that now. She had Jacob — kind, loving Jacob. Even though it had almost killed her when he left last time, she wanted to try for a relationship.
An Eye for an Eye (The Santorno Stories 2): The Santorno Stories Page 10