Breaking Down (The Breaking Series)

by Smith, Calista

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you worked up.” I apologize.

  “It doesn’t take much.” He laughs “I’m ok. You don’t have to apologize. It’s kind of cool. I mean you don’t really hear of many eighteen year olds who are still virgins.” He grabs my hands into his.

  “I’m still seventeen.” I quickly confess.

  “Oh shit! I did not know that.” His eyes widen, as he practically throws my hands away.

  “I turn eighteen in a couple months, Dante.” I laugh.

  “Damn, you’re full of surprises.” He lets out a quick small laugh that doesn’t really seem to belong to him. We both sit there sort of confused about what to do next, as what seems like forever passes by.

  He reaches his hand out to me, like we’re meeting for the first time, “So, hi, my name is Dante. I’m eighteen. I have a dog, a boxer, named Tabata. I love sports, working out and pretty much anything outdoors. I don’t have any STD’s and I’m not a virgin. I love Mexican food. I don’t really go to church but I have visited a couple. I do own a bible and I dabble with it when I get time. I can’t wait to graduate and get the hell out of here.”

  “Oh wow. That’s a lot to process.” I laugh, taking his hand. I’m amused by his spontaneous way of lightening the awkward moment. “I guess it’s my turn. My name is Raquel, Rocky, and I don’t have any animals. I do however take care of my mom’s bird. I work at a restaurant and volunteer at a nursery as much as I can. I don’t have any STD’s and I never have.” I add. “I’m a virgin. I love Mexican food too, but pizza’s my favorite. I haven’t been to church in a while but I read my bible on a pretty regular basis. I know exactly what I want to do when I graduate but with the way my life has changed so much lately, I kind of feel unsure now. I haven’t decided exactly what I would do if it doesn’t happen for me. Is that all?” I realize I’ve gotten off course a bit.

  “Pizza, huh?” He smiles.

  “Tabata?” I giggle at his dog’s name.

  “Yea, I’ll have to explain that one another time. So you like babies?”

  I laugh realizing he mistook the type of nursery I volunteer at. “I like them, yea, but I work with plants; that kind of nursery.

  “Oh okay. That’s cool. So what is it that you had your heart set on before all the crazy went down?” He scoots back, resting his back against the arm rest and crossing his legs in front of him.

  I turn myself towards him, bringing my legs up and wrapping my arms around them. “I want to travel. Get away. Out of the country for a couple of years; do some volunteer work.”

  “Interesting.” He says, but I’m sure he isn’t really interested.

  I try explaining a little further. “I want to join the Peace Corps; do some agricultural work. I know that sounds funny.” I shrink, embarrassed at what he’ll think.

  “That doesn’t sound funny. It’s different, like you.”

  “Thanks. I think.” I smile.

  “I like how different you are. I like that you’re still a virgin.” I make a face at him, “I like how embarrassed you get all the time. I like you.” He moves forward, uncrossing his legs and scooting up to me.

  “I like you too, Dante.” I’m nervous by his sudden closeness.

  His kisses start out slow, building up quickly. I hear our breathing growing rougher and feel myself grow slick with excitement. Laying myself back this time, I pull him on top of me and prepare for him to lose it. His hands roam up and down my body, as he places kisses on my neck and then gently sucks his way down to my chest. I tremble with anticipation as I feel his hands reach between my legs. The pressure he applies feels better than anything I have ever experienced. I squirm beneath him and he grabs my hand, placing it on him. I’m unsure what to do, so I start to rub with the same amount of pressure he’s giving me. He pushes himself into my hand, as his kisses grow even more intense. Quickly he unbuttons my pants and then hesitates before he reaches in. I nod my approval and he smiles against my lips. I’ve only felt this feeling, alone, a time or two and it has never been this good. My body is losing all control and I swear my eyes roll back into my head. My heartbeat reverberates loudly in my ears. I have no choice but to let myself give into everything I’m experiencing in this moment with him and I want for nothing more.

  ***

  “I think Aiden and Natalia may have fallen asleep, should we go wake them up? We only have an hour till we got to get to your house.”

  “Oh, crap. Yea, let’s go.” I jump up. He stands and straightens out his shirt smoothing the wrinkles out. I start to walk towards the stairs and feel his arms wrap around my waist from behind. He buries his head into the crook of my neck inhaling deep. His hands wander into the front of my shirt. We get to the top of the stairs and I break free from his arms as we approach the doors to the rooms.

  “Where are they?” I look at him. He walks over to the far end of the hall and knocks hard and loud, scaring the crap out of me. I flinch and bury my face in his shoulder.

  “What the hell, man. What do you want?” Aiden yells from inside the room.

  “We got to go soon. The girls got to be at Rock’s in less than an hour.”

  “Okay, we’ll be right there!” Nat yells.

  Dante turns and hooks our pinkies together, leading me back downstairs. “I hope we didn’t interrupt anything.” He winks. I turn around and smack him in his chest. Suddenly my face flushes as I feel his defined body beneath my touch. I immediately drop my hand to my side and turn my head away from him, heading quickly down the stairs.

  “Hey where are you running off to?” He catches up to me as I reach the bottom step. I sit down and look up at him; eyes wide. I feel myself tremble at the look in his eyes.

  “Dante, you scare me. I, I really lose myself around you. You’re so, so enticing.”

  “Enticing?” He crooks his eyebrow at me and sits down bumping me playfully with his shoulder. “That’s a first. I don’t think anyone has ever described me as enticing.” He laughs.

  “Asshole, maybe. Jerk, dumbass, douche bag—” Aiden interrupts from behind us, calling Dante every name in the book. I stand up mortified that they heard the conversation. I feel my face get hot and resist the urge to run and hide. Nat laughs at me, knowing all too well I’m embarrassed.

  ***

  We finally get to my house. I hang up my keys and walk to my room to put my stuff away. Turning to leave, I see Dante leaning against my door frame. This guy has no idea how scrumptious he is. Or maybe he does.

  “So this is where the princess gets her beauty sleep?” He eyeballs my room and suddenly I’m very concerned about what my room says about me; I look around. My shoes are all lined up on a rack near the closet, an old bookcase sits against the wall, with all the classics neatly stacked, my rickety desk is messy with papers and my pink fluffy comforter is thrown haphazardly over my unmade bed. I glance over at my nightstand, where my alarm clock sits, along with a water bottle from the night before and another book opened up beside that. Yup that’s my room. Luckily my dirty clothes made it into the hamper beside my door, or that would’ve been really embarrassing. I look at his face.

  “Interesting.” He glances down at me, his face expressionless.

  “Not really. It’s a mess, sorry. I wasn’t expecting company.” I shyly explain.

  “No, it’s cute. Different than I imagined.” He says.

  “How so?” I look around again, worried about what he’s seeing that I’m not.

  “Well, it’s really girly and I take it you like to read a lot?” He looks at my nightstand again.

  “Oh, yea. I love reading.” I confess. He wraps his arms around me, turning me into him as he walks backwards to my bed and sits down, pulling me onto him. Just as he’s about to place his gorgeous lips on me, my phone buzzes. I check it, knowing it must be Shaun.

  I know I messed up. I do care about you Raquel. I won’t say I’m sorry, it won’t be enough. I can’t make it tonight. I just can’t. I’ll see you around. Bye. ~S

 
I immediately feel a tear fall from my eye. That’s it? That’s his explanation? That’s what our friendship amounted to? Wow.

  “What happened? Who is it?” He reaches to grab my phone and I pull it back. He huffs loudly.

  I stand up, throwing it onto his lap. “It’s not important. He said goodbye. It’s over. Just let it be over.” I throw myself onto my bed and let the tears fall. I hate that Shaun did this. He messed with my head so much and for what? After a couple minutes I feel the heaviness of Dante’s body on my back. He wraps his leg around mine and wraps his arms around me, pulling me sideways into his body. My bed creaks.

  “I’m sorry, Raquel. Are you okay?” He reaches around to wipe the tears from my cheek.

  “I’ll be fine.” I sob.

  “You don’t sound fine. Can we talk?” He nuzzles into my neck placing light kisses as he makes his way up to my jaw and ends beside my lips.

  I slump into his body, wiping my tears. “I’m fine. I’m over it. He screwed me over. I want to get mad. I want to yell at him. Then I hold back because I don’t want you guys attacking him. He’s not worth that.” I confess my fears to him.

  “Ok.” He says.

  I flip over to face him, causing my bed to squeak more. I look into his deep brown eyes searching his face. “Ok?”

  “Yea, if you want us to leave him alone, we will. I won’t say anything to him. I won’t go after him. You’re right, he isn’t worth it. We’re together now. That’s all that matters, right?” He places a soft kiss on my lips. I reach my arms around his neck and kiss him. First soft kisses, but quickly I lose myself in his kisses and lose my breath in the process. Rolling to his back, he brings me with him; reaching down, he pulls my knees up, causing me to straddle him. My hair cascades around his head like a water fall.

  “You are so enticing.” He licks his lips and pushes his hips up into me. Embarrassed, I collapse down to his well-defined chest and snuggle up to him, wrapping my arms beneath each of his shoulders.

  “Hey, you two, Aiden wants to know if you’re getting hungry.” Natalia pops her head in the room startling us. I immediately jump up causing Dante to grunt beneath me. Oops.

  “Where do you think you’re going, huh?” He gets up behind me, laughs and pokes my sides. I squirm like crazy; my arms flailing around like a mad woman. Unintentionally, I smack him right in his face.

  “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry.” I start to giggle, but I try to cover my mouth, “Dante, oh my goodness, are you okay?” I’m worried, but I can’t stop laughing at the same time. Only I would do something so stupid.

  “I’m fine,” He assures me. “Remind me never to tickle you. You go all ninja.” Grabbing my hand he walks up to my desk, peaking around. He picks up the packet of info from the nursery. “What’s this?”

  “It’s a mission trip I’m saving for. That nursery I volunteer at has a group going soon and I really want to go, but it’s a little expensive.”

  “Oh,” He gasps at the cost. “Yea, that is pricey.” He reaches for his neck rubbing it, his sleeve falling below his bicep muscle. Yummy!

  “What’s wrong?”

  He drops the packet onto the desk. “Huh? Nothing.” His expression is one of a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

  “Dante, what’s up? Why the guilty face?” I walk up to him and look down at the packet.

  He chuckles and turns his body towards me, wrapping me in his arms. “It’s nothing. I was just trying to think of a way to help you.”

  I stand on my tip toes and kiss him, “Now that is adorable … ,” I kiss the tip of his nose, “And unnecessary.”

  CHAPTER 16

  The next morning as Nat and I get ready for school, we decide to have some fun. The day is really cold and gloomy, but our moods are totally opposite. We throw on dark jean shorts and matching black hoodies with our high tops. Not even bothering to straighten our hair, we opt for a curlier hairdo and the two of us go for a dramatic cat-eye look for our eyes.

  We arrive at school and our friends are all gathered in a group.

  “Whoa, mama, I think I’m seeing double.” Aiden teases us, as he wipes his eyes to refocus.

  “Twins! I love twins.” Dante chimes in, running towards us; his arms stretched. Nat dodges him, but I run right into his arms.

  “Oh, my gosh, you guys really do look like twins. Did you plan that?” Val asks.

  “Yes, we thought it would be funny. Clearly we got the reaction we expected.” Nat says as she slinks her way into Aiden’s arms.

  Dante pushes me back to look at me again and then links his pinky to mine, as he curls himself around me from behind. “You do realize it’s going to rain today, right?”

  “Yea, but it’s not like we’ll be hanging outside, anyway. I’m not cold.” I point my chin and tighten my lips.

  “Mm-hmm. You say that now. We’ll see later. Don’t even think about me giving you my pants either.” He teases.

  “Oh, gosh, Dante, I’m so sure!” I twist and smack his arm.

  Nat looks at Aiden and he says, “You can have mine, babe.” then, places a kiss to the side of her head.

  “Aww you’re so sweet.” She grabs his face mashing his lips together and plants a kiss on them.

  “See, why can’t you be nice to me?” I look at Dante, as I point to Nat and Aiden.

  “Oh I can be.” He raises his eyebrows suggestively. I immediately bury my face in his hoodie.

  The bell rings and I look up at him. “I got to go. I don’t want to be late to class.”

  “Such a good girl,” He says to me and then looks at Aiden. “I’m going to walk her. Cover for me?”

  “Yea, yea, what’s new?” Aiden laughs and walks off with Nat, hand in hand.

  “I would offer to carry your books for you, but it might be a little weird, me wearing two backpacks and all. Plus hot pink has never really been my color.” He flicks my backpack.

  “Shut up! You’re such a dork. I think I can manage with my backpack, thanks anyway.” I laugh and flick his backpack. Instead he latches his pinky to mine. We get close to my class and he stops just short of the door.

  “So, I’ll see you later?” He brushes the back of his hand across my cheek and I have to remind myself to keep calm.

  “Yea, when?” I feel a quiver building up slowly from deep within.

  “Text me when you get out of third. We can walk to lunch and then I’ll walk up to fourth with you.” He twists his fingers in with mine and I get distracted by his lips. “Raquel?”

  “Oh, yea. Okay. I’m sorry, you said to text you when?” I snap back to reality.

  He laughs, “After third. What were you busy thinking about?”

  “Nothing, why?” I’m completely flushed and embarrassed at getting caught. He turns me towards class, pushing me slightly to the door and smacks my butt. I sit at my desk, but I can’t concentrate on anything.

  ***

  After school Dante and I go back to my house and hang out. Mom’s working so I take the opportunity to spend some much needed alone time with him. It doesn’t take much time before we end up in my room making out. He’s lying sideways on my bed with me on top of him when things start to get a little too heavy. I pull away and push the hoodie and shirt I’m still wearing back into place. He smiles, knowing we probably should both take a break. Moving me off of him gently he sits up on the side of my bed. Grabbing the bridge of his nose he sits there a minute hanging his head.

  “I’m sorry, Rock. I don’t want you to feel pressured. We should probably take things a little slower.”

  “It’s fine. It’s not like you’re forcing me, Dante. Believe me, I get just as carried away as you do.” I wrap my legs around his waist from behind and start massaging his shoulders. He slowly lets the tension release, rolling his shoulders as he looks up at me in my closet door mirror. I smile and then see a puzzled look on his face. I realize what he sees and I want to crawl under a rock.

  “Does that say my name?” He looks puzzled and I
try to hold him back but he stands up to walk to the doors. I tug on his arm trying to pull him back to the bed, but instead he pulls me up with him as he drags me over to my closet. “Who the heck is the wizard?”

  I squeal and run back to my bed. Burying my face in my pillow, I try to shrink. “Raquel, who are you talking about? Are you referring to me on there? Don’t make me tickle you.” He teases.

  Turning over I yell, “Oh, my gosh Dante, don’t you dare even think about it. I will hurt you!” I put my arms and legs up in defense.

  He gets his hands in a ready position to tickle me, moving closer and closer. “Who are you talking about on there?”

  “Shut up, Dante! Oh, my gosh! You weren’t supposed to see that.” I cover my eyes.

  “Is it Shaun?”

  My anger spikes immediately. “Are you kidding me right now?!”

  “Okay, Jeez, calm yourself. Who is it then?” He creeps towards me slowly again, raising his hands.

  I quickly realize the Shaun comment was a ploy and I blurt out, “You. It’s you! You’re such a brat, you already knew that.”

  He laughs and sits on the bed next to me pulling me up to him. He grabs my face lightly in his hands placing a gentle kiss on my lips. The fire in my belly ignites and I can’t help myself. I get up onto my knees forcing him to deepen his kiss. He doesn’t fight it. I climb onto his lap moving my lips to his neck and gently sucking. He lets out a low groan and his hands start to wander. He pulls my hoodie off and accidentally, I think, removes my tank top too. I’m sitting on his lap in my black lace bra. Our tongues dance and it’s getting so intense our teeth nearly clash, as he pushes me down onto his lap, forcing his hips up into me. He starts kissing my neck, trailing kisses down to my collar bone— so much for taking it slow. That’s when I hear the front door close. Oh crap! We both jump up and I scramble to put my shirt back on, but my hoodie is tangled with it. I try to force it on but it gets stuck on my head, my arms raised up above me. Before I get a chance to fix myself my mom is standing in the doorway to my room. She clears her throat and I’m in a panic since I can’t see her. I finally manage to stuff my hoodie the rest of the way over my head; pulling everything into place.