Startling

by Arabella Rose

  “You can’t just pull me away. Why are you leaving? What happened to the blonde?”

  The alcohol has taken over and has full effect on me now.

  As for Taj, he seems completely sober.

  “Turner can find his own way home. Get in,” is all he says.

  My head starts shaking again. “I’m not here for you. I’m here for Nash. You leave,” I say crossing my arms. He turns his head looking away from me. I watch closely, the ticking of the vein in his neck intrigues me.

  How come he has no fat there? How come he has no fat anywhere? That’s just unfair.

  “I do have fat.”

  My body jumps. Did I just say that out loud? I wave my hand in front of my face.

  “Whatever…” I turn to leave, but his arm captures me again.

  “I think you should leave,” is all he says as he ushers me to his car door again.

  “How come you’re trying to get me to leave? What about Nash? Other girls? I’m sure they’ve drunk more than I have.”

  I hear his intake of breath as he looks down at the floor then back to me. “I don’t care about any of them. Now get in the car.”

  “You don’t know me enough to care about me.”

  “I do! Now get in before I throw you in.” His tone is deadly serious. He’d definitely throw me in, I have no doubt. His knuckles are white as he grips the door handle. I look back over his shoulder, the party still in full swing.

  I didn’t want to come here in the first place, so why am I even fighting him on this?

  “Just take me home,” I say climbing in.

  He doesn’t say anything more, just closes the door after me. I watch his movements as he gets in and starts the car, the way his arms flex with each change of the gears. He doesn’t look my way, but he knows I’m staring. My eyes not moving from him at all.

  “Who was she?”

  He side glances me and raises his eyebrow. “Monica?” he asks.

  I shrug my shoulders, I wasn’t given an introduction. “The blonde,” is all I reply.

  He looks at me again when he pulls the car up at a stop light. His stare is intense. “Are you jealous, Skye?”

  My eyes go wide at his remark. Shit! I am.

  I wave my hand. “Ignore me. Don’t answer that.” I look away.

  A little further he pulls into a parking lot of a taco house.

  “You need greasy food before you pass out.”

  I nod my head but don’t wait for him to come and open my door. Instead, I yank it open and start walking to enter the restaurant. Only a few people are in here, all college students eating a late night snack. He directs me to one of the booths then walks off. I watch as he steps over to the counter and orders, then I look down when he looks my way. Obviously, he was feeling my eyes on him. I don’t hear him return when he sits in front of me on the other side of the booth. I’m getting tired now the buzz has worn off.

  “She was my girlfriend.”

  It takes me a moment to realize he’s speaking—to me. His dark eyes are on me, and I notice he has some green specs in his usually dark brown eyes.

  “Who broke up with who?”

  He doesn’t hesitate to answer me. “I did.”

  Relief floods through me. If Taj said it was her, I’d assume he still has feelings for Monica, but then again he still could have.

  “Why?”

  His cell starts ringing, his eyes leave mine just as the waitress brings over our food. He looks down then back to me choosing to ignore it.

  “She’s beautiful.” I push my glasses up on my nose. Doubt setting in. I’m nowhere near as beautiful as she is.

  “So are you. Does that mean we should jump into something before we know it’s right?”

  “We’re friends,” I say defending myself.

  “For now.” His lips quirk, and my heart skips a beat.

  I pick up my food and take a bite trying my hardest to not speak or to entertain the idea of anything further.

  Why would it work with us?

  It wouldn’t.

  We’re two opposites.

  And someone like me doesn’t end up with someone like him. He’s too perfect for words. I have words for how I look and they’re ‘I ain’t anything special.’

  “Do you want her back?” I didn’t want to ask, but the question nudges at me and I can’t stop it before it leaves my mouth.

  He looks up, his chocolate eyes pin mine as he shakes his head. “Someone else has my sole interest.”

  “Friends…” I correct him. I’m not sure I can handle him, but I don’t want to see him with anyone else either.

  “For now,” he repeats.

  “Do you have many? Friends… I mean?”

  “No. But that’s by choice. I’m sure if I wanted to I could have a whole household full of friends. But I guess you could say I have trust issues.”

  “Why?”

  HHe shakes his head, holding his smile back. “I’ve been used too many times. Guards come up, then they lock in place. It takes someone special to break them down.”

  This time it’s my turn to smile. “Are you saying I’m special?” I blow a piece of hair from my face, giving my best seductive smile. He laughs, a full belly laugh, his hands smack the counter where our food is while his eyes become teary from laughing so hard. I almost forget he’s laughing at me being so lost in him. Then my resolve snaps and my arms cross over my chest. It takes him longer than necessary to notice I no longer find any of this funny.

  He wipes at his eyes, then straightens his back. “What’s wrong?” he asks concerned at my sudden change of demeanor.

  “Tell me you weren’t just laughing at my attempt to flirt.”

  He laughs again. His hand grabs ahold of his belly and I sit there shocked that he’s doing it again. I stand to leave but he’s faster than me, capturing and pulling me down to sit next to him on his side of the booth.

  “Please don’t try to flirt. You don’t need to flirt. But if you ever feel the need to make me laugh, flirt away by all means.”

  I kind of want to punch him and kiss him at the same time for that little remark.

  Chapter 10

  I managed to get through the rest of the week without any kind of dramas. I didn’t have Turner sitting next to me for any of my classes. Henry has become someone I speak to every day, and I really enjoy his company. He’s different to most boys I know—he’s calming, intense as he concentrates on his work, and doesn’t care for social status unlike most.

  I’m getting ready to leave for home to have a visit with my parents today. My mother has called me almost every day since I’ve been here. She has planned a full weekend of clothes shopping and eating. Which I would usually groan at, but not today, I’m actually excited to be away from campus and away from the powers that Taj seems to have over me. It’s like he has his own super power, and it’s all to do with me losing my brain cells one by one in his presence.

  Nash bounces into the room, dressed and ready for tonight’s festivities. Another party. I can’t do as many as they do. It feels like that’s all they ever do.

  Someone broke a nail—let’s party.

  Someone broke someone’s heart—let’s party.

  I sometimes enjoy it, just not as much as the others. Well, compared to Nash anyway.

  “Nash, how’s your classes going?”

  She stops picking up her heels from the floor and her eyes pin on mine. “Fine, why?”

  I try to not let my face show any emotions to her reaction just then, but I can’t help the squint that takes over my eyes. She notices straight away, looks back down to the floor and picks up her heels.

  “You’ll understand when you have a life,” she says.

  I don’t think it was meant to sound mean. Actually, I know it wasn’t. Except it was a very mean statement. She straps her sky-high shoes on, jumps over to me, kisses my cheek and basically bounces out the door, full of happiness.

  Is she failing? I don’t want her
to.

  I know she isn’t here on a scholarship like me. Her parents are wealthy, they pay for everything. Allowances worth more than the average person gets working full time.

  When Taj dropped me off last week, he’s messaged me almost every day. First, it was about food, which he knows I love, then it morphed to telling each other our likes and dislikes. Taj hates mushrooms, milk, and doesn’t have a sweet tooth at all. Whereas I can eat anything sweet. I would live off sweets and deserts if I had half a chance, including baked goods just like my mother makes for me.

  My cell beeps. I expect it to be my father because he should be here at any moment to pick me up, but it’s Taj. I haven’t heard from him today, I thought maybe he was busy, so I haven’t bothered texting him either.

  Taj: Don’t go.

  It’s all his message says. He knows I’m leaving to see my parents for the long weekend. Plus, it doesn’t make any sense. Why would I not go? Before I have a chance to reply my cell beeps again.

  Taj: Please.

  So simple. My fingers flash across the face of my cell as I type a reply out fast. My father’s text comes in at the same time, telling me he’s arrived and is out front. I grab my bag while typing and walk out the door.

  Me: I’m leaving now, sorry. What’s wrong?

  I can tell he’s read it, but no little bubbles pop up so I assume he’s finished talking to me. I shove the cell into my pocket as I see my father standing next to his truck. He wraps his giant arms around me and messes my hair before he steps away. As soon as I’m in the truck, I check my cell, there’s still no reply.

  ***

  After a few short hours we arrive home. Taj hasn’t messaged me again. I’ve contemplated messaging him, or even ringing him.

  I wonder why he didn’t want to tell me why he wanted me to stay?

  My mother is standing at the door, her arms crossed over her slim body, cold from the slight breeze blowing in across the gully. She shivers and smiles warmly at me. As soon as I’m out of the car, I’m running straight into her arms. She smells like vanilla and home. She pulls me in, rubbing my arms, and gives me a light kiss on my forehead. My father carries the discarded bag I left in the car.

  “I’ve missed you so much.”

  Nothing has changed, the house is exactly the same as when I left. A beautiful two story wooden home in cream with ornate brown trim contrasts with a sprawling garden of green grass and an assortment of rainbow colored flowers. Walking inside, the area is mostly open space with wooden floors and cream walls. There’s pictures of all shapes and sizes covering one wall above the cream sofas that are coated with colorful cushions. There’s a massive television on the wall where my father usually watches his football. A crackling fire spreads it’s warmth throughout the living area.

  As the door shuts behind my father I smell food cooking. Garlic bread wafts through the house.

  “I’m making carbonara,” she says pulling my arm. She leans in and kisses me again, my father gives me my bag and walks to the sofa to sit and flicks his football back on. My mother rolls her eyes as she heads back to the kitchen. I make my way up the stairs and straight to my room.

  Logging into Facebook on my cell, which I hardly ever do, I type in Taj’s name. He has friend requested me so I accept, and start to scroll through his page viewing all the photos he’s tagged in—there’s a lot with girls. Except he doesn’t look or touch any of them, his eyes seem to be focussed somewhere else. The only photo where he’s really smiling is one he’s shared.

  Then I gasp.

  It’s me, right next to him.

  The one from the party last weekend.

  My face isn’t clear, my head is looking down, but his eyes are on me. He didn’t take the photo, some girl did. The caption reads, ‘What I wouldn’t do to have that smile directed at me’ with a few inappropriate hashtags.

  I start scrolling through the comments mainly from girls.

  “Who’s the girl in the glasses?”

  “She isn’t even pretty.”

  “He can do better.”

  I don’t comment or like any of it. Because it’s like a vortex, it sucks you in and you can’t help but not pull away.

  “Loser…” I hear Lauren’s voice as she pulls the door open. She runs in, jumps on me on my bed and tackles me to the floor. My cell gets lost somewhere between it all. She’s laughing so hard that tears are falling from her eyes. “I so didn’t expect us to fall to the floor,” she says in-between laughter. I stand giggling away with her and squeeze her tight. “Hold up! How come I had to find out from your mother you were coming home? Why didn’t you tell me?” Her hand flies to her hip, her fringe drops over her eyes and she blows it away. I push my glasses up my nose, and turn to look for my cell.

  “I forgot, sorry. Classes have been kicking my ass,” I say sitting back on the bed. When I look at the page I was on, I’ve accidently liked the photo, the one of Taj and me. I hit unlike straight away, hoping no one notices. They shouldn’t have, after all, it has over two-hundred likes already.

  “What are you looking at?” Lauren’s voice comes close, she sees the photo and snaps the cell from my hand. “Wow! He looks at you like he wants to eat you.” I grab it back and lock the screen, shaking my head.

  “He doesn’t, we’re just friends.”

  She rolls her eyes at me. “Friends with benefits… maybe?” Her eyebrow’s rise up and down in suggestion.

  “No! Now tell me… who’ve you been sleeping with?”

  Lauren likes sex, there’s no denying it. She tells me about all her sex stories, way too vividly sometimes.

  “He’s the captain of the football team, and he makes my knees quiver just from looking at him. Except… he comes way too fast. Like seriously… bada-bing, bada-boom. I told him I couldn’t fake it anymore. He has the looks… everything… but man, way too fast. I got frustrated with him after he ended up getting off me, laid down next to me, and he didn’t even notice I was fuming. I was worked up, you know?” she asks looking at me with her eyes wide. “He noticed something was wrong straight away. Then I couldn’t hold it back anymore. There’s only so many times I can sleep with him and not want to pull my hair out. So I said, ‘if you don’t start making me come, no more pussy.’ His eyes went wide when I said that. Then, he went to town on me, and oh my God, Skye, best head of my life. Now I make him go down on me every time, no more one-way street, please.”

  “Umm… I don’t even know what to say to that!”

  She shrugs her shoulders and walks to my closet, pulling out my clothes. There’s some brand new items in there. Obviously, my mother hasn’t stopped shopping since I’ve been gone.

  I’m so glad Lauren’s stopped seeing her ex, it makes me more than happy. I’m so glad she’s found someone other than him.

  “I need you time… movies and dinner.” She flings clothes everywhere, picks a pair of jeans and sweater, and starts to remove her clothes replacing them with mine. “And don’t think that leaves you off the hook with telling me all about him,” she says pulling her hair up into a high ponytail.

  Chapter 11

  We ended up watching The Girl on the Train, and I was completely blown away. That movie actually had a killer that I didn’t guess straight away. I managed to leave my cell off and not check it at all. Lauren would grill me if I even glanced at it, considering I hardly use it anyway unless it’s to call or text. But I want to Facebook stalk him, and it’s taking everything in me to not do it. As soon as she walks off to use the ladies room, I pull my cell out and go straight back to his page. He’s been tagged in his frat house, which I roll my eyes at, he lives there. They crave his attention like a whore craves cock. I slap my hand over my mouth like I said that out loud, I can’t believe I just thought that. Turner has tagged him in a few photos, some with Nash as well, only a few hours ago. I guess he didn’t need me to stay that desperately if he’s partying.

  Taj: Stalker

  My Facebook Messenger dings. Taj is sendin
g me a message. Weird. He didn’t reply to me on my normal cell messages. I open the message, his face is a bubble on the side panel, he has a hat on and is looking down.

  “Chicken or beef,” Lauren says coming up to the table. I drop my cell looking guilty, but she just rolls her eyes apparently already knowing what I was doing.

  “Chicken,” I reply then watch her walk off.

  Taj: Having fun?

  Another message from him, I don’t answer this one. I leave it where it is, flashing on my screen. Lauren comes back and just as we start eating, our names are called. When I look up Matt is standing near the door with two other guys we went to school with. He turns away from us then turns back and walks over.

  “Should I tell him to fuck off?” Lauren asks, eyeing him as he makes his way over to us. I shake my head. His friends follow closely behind him, chairs are scrapped as he pulls them out, and they sit around us. Lauren ignores them completely as she eats, not even bothering saying hello.

  “So what’s happening with you and Taj?”

  Lauren coughs on her food, and all our heads swing to her because it’s loud. She holds up a finger indicating for us to wait, then spits her food into a napkin before she looks back to us.

  “You lost that… you lost the right to ask her who, when, and how. You wanting what you can’t have, Matt?”