by Jemma Grey
Through her, I'd met the rest of my family which was Brandon - her boyfriend, Daren, and Danny. My thoughts soon went to the last day that I had seen Daren, and Danny had pulled me out of the room. Then suddenly I was remembering the rainy day at the cemetery.
It was days after the funeral, and I didn’t want to be in school. I hadn’t been back since, hadn’t answered any of their calls, messages, and when they had come looking for me, I'd run from the house as though it was on fire. I was too afraid to face them, especially Kris. I didn’t think that I could. Instead of going to wherever I was supposed to be, I had always found myself parked outside the old cemetery, wanting to say goodbye, but never knowing how. I could never find the right words. Looking out at all the tombstones rising from the earth seemed to somehow suck them all away.
Without thinking, I opened the door and stepped outside the car into the pouring, ice cold rain. Within seconds, I was soaked but I didn’t mind. I took a breath and again it was more of a chore than anything else. That was how it felt all the time, like I was constantly holding my breath.
Suddenly light flashed across me for a brief second, and tires screeched to a halt inches from me. I didn’t have to look to know who it was - I already knew from the perfect hum of the engine. Lightening brightened the cemetery for a short second, making it seem like the tombstones were crawling towards me. I didn’t make a move to get into the car, instead I stood literally frozen, staring at the cemetery.
“Jen!” I heard Danny growl and at once my head snapped to him. He was staring at me through the passenger’s side window. Thunder cackled above my head and lightening laughed along. “Get in the car, Jen or I’m calling her! Now!”
I hesitated for a second, then stretched my hand out, opened the front door and got in. As soon as I was in, Danny sent the glass up, sealing us in the car. I could feel his eyes on me, and I didn’t turn to face him. “You’re leaving,” he accused.
I turned to him now, seeming to finally acknowledge his existence. “How do you know?” My voice sounded strange to my own ears.
“Your aunt told me.” I turned back to the cemetery and then nodded slowly. A silent moment rolled over us. The only sound came from the raindrops beating against the car. “Where are you going?”
“Home,” I whispered blankly, but that wasn’t really true. I didn’t have a home anymore. I was going back to my parents, two persons that I hadn’t seen for years. My aunt was my mom, she was the woman who’d raised me and where ever she was, home should be. But I couldn’t stay here. It hurt too much to be here.
“Jen, this is your home, you are home!” he shouted grabbing my shoulder. “Fuck, Jen, you’re so cold.” He was annoyed with me, but I didn’t care. He turned the heat up and then threw something at me. I looked at it and found that it was his shirt, instantly I turned to Danny and found him shirtless. He then turned away from me so I could change.
“Why are you here, Danny?” I asked without making a move to take off my jacket.
“I came to find you. No one has heard from you; we’re worried. Daren is dead and Brandon is missing... Kris is going crazy thinking about you, she doesn’t know-”
“Have you told her?” I didn’t have to say what I was talking about. He already knew. Danny turned back to me and shook his head. I closed my eyes. “Promise me that you won’t... ever.” I looked up at his face, silently begging him. “Please... promise me... No matter what happens Kris can never know what really happened,” I urged. He turned away from me, staring out at the rain.
“Danny, promise me.” For the first time in days my voice wasn’t blank. I couldn't bear the thought of Kris hating me. She lost her boyfriend, and cousin because of me, and even though she had every right to, I didn't want her disgust and hate.
A bell echoed in my head loudly, making me jump out of my skin and back into the classroom. I realized a second later that my cheeks were wet and before anyone could see, I wiped my face dry and stood up as the classroom became chaotic with students trying to get out as quickly as possible. I waited until they were all out to make a move.
Just as I was about to step out of the classroom, the phone Eric had given me came to life suddenly, blasting ‘Sex on Fire’ by Kings Of Leon. I pulled it out, frowning as I stared at the screen and found Eric’s face plastered on it.
“Nice ring tone,” he said when I answered. I could hear the amusement in his voice and I pictured him grinning. Of course he would put that song as his personal ring tone.
“Well, if all it takes to get us hot and bothered is being in the same room, sex is going to be like fire,” I grinned back, even though he couldn’t see me.
“Feel like testing that theory out?” he chuckled. “How’s your day going?”
“Good so far,” I told him, choosing not to go into detail of how depressed starting school made me feel. “Yours?”
“Spent most of the morning at my dad’s office catching up on meetings and all that crap. I missed you a lot,” he sighed. “Are you eating lunch already?”
“No.”
“Great, meet me outside. I’m taking you to lunch,” he ordered and before I could tell him anything, he hung up on me. Sighing, I put the phone away and started for the front of the building.
Once outside, I stood in front the doors, scanning the area for him. It seemed like almost half of the school was outside, having lunch on the perfectly maintained lawn instead of the cafeteria. When I found Eric, my vision blurred with anger. Standing directly in front of him were three girls, all skinny, blonde and perfect in every way that I could see. Two were flanking the tallest one, which was directly in front of him. She had her hands raised, wrapped around his neck in a way that suggested more than a friendly hug.
A low animal-like growl rose from my chest as anger boiled in my veins and I found myself wanting to rip her perfect, blonde, Barbie-like hair from her head. Acting instantly and on impulse, I stormed to Blondie and her sidekicks, shoving myself between Eric and the girl. I was literally touching both of them, and the girl took a small step back, glaring at me. Immediately I wrapped my arms around Eric’s neck and pulled his head to me, kissing him deeply and with much more passion than needed at the moment. My statement here was blunt and clear: Eric belonged to me alone and I was not sharing.
This kiss was different from all the others. This one was fierce and angry, and it made my blood even more heated than before. Anger fuelled me, making the kiss lustful and passionate in a predatorily hungry way. It was like a savage had taken me over completely.
My hands combed through his hair and at that exact moment Eric’s hands slowly trailed down my body resting on my waist, pulling me closer to him. His fingers left sparks on my skin, which only burned hot as the seconds ticked by. The more I took from him was the more I wanted. I didn’t want to let him go and almost as if he knew exactly what I wanted, his fingers dug into my skin, pinning my body to his.
I was torn. A huge part of me wanted to keep kissing him. I never wanted this to stop, but another part of me, the part that was pissed off and enraged, wanted to show up this blonde twat. Eventually that part of me won out and I tore myself away from Eric before my brain could completely fry itself. I looked up at him with nothing but pure lust and desire coating me. It was there, shining in my eyes, glistening on my skin, in the way I breathed and moved. I wanted him and it was clear, but more than that, I wanted to crush the blonde girl staring wide-eyed at me. I turned around to claim my prize.
“Hi,” I smiled triumphantly, “I’m Jen, Eric’s fiancé,” my smile brightened as I held out my hand to her and a loud round of cheering exploded around us. I didn’t pay any attention to it though, right now I only had eyes for the stupid girl glaring at me.
“Whatever,” she finally said spinning on her heels and then stormed off without looking back at me. As soon as she disappeared into the school another round of cheering erupted. I looked around and saw that it was coming from the largest group that was made up of all bo
ys. Most, if not all the students outside was now staring at us. Furious I turned back to Eric, glaring at him.
“I was just about to tell Tiffany-” he began, leaning off his car and reaching for my hand.
“Fuck off, Eric,” I snapped through clenched teeth as I glared at him in the middle of the school's car park. I was so pissed off at him, yet equally I wanted him too. I could feel the raw intense anger bubbling in my veins, mixing in with the mindless lust. I didn't know which was stronger. I wanted to beat him to a pulp, as well as drag him out of the school and have my way with him.
“What was that? You were practically ripping my clothes off,” he said amused and I shrugged carelessly.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. When I saw the girl touching him, it was like a switch had flipped in my head. I immediately stopped rationalizing and anger pushed me to react. It was like an instinct, one that was wild and animallike had taken over. “I was angry… but it was more than just anger… it was rage…” I tried to explain, frowning deeply.
“Oh,” Eric replied, understanding flashing across his face. He wrapped a hand around my shoulder and pulled me into his chest.
“What?” I mumbled.
“We are very… protective and territorial especially over other people,” he whispered, studying my face. “It’s our most basic instinct,” he explained and I nodded finally understanding.
“I was staking my claim on you?” I whispered, breathing in his scent.
“You must love me,” Eric grinned and I opened my mouth to tell him I didn’t, but was cut short when a hand suddenly appeared in front of me. I followed the hand up and found a girl with shoulder length, fire red hair standing in front of me.
“I just wanted to say that you are fucking amazing, dude. The bitch totally had it coming,” she smiled.
A confused frown plastered my face, but I took her hand and shook it anyway. “Charde,” Eric began, “what are you...” he trailed off. He then sighed and turned to me. “Jen, this is Charde. We sort of grew up together. Charde meet Jenifer - my future wife.” I stared at Eric intently, trying to decode what he meant. Did he mean that Charde was like him?
When Eric didn't give me any hints, I turned back to the girl, staring at her. “Jen,” I corrected him. Charde seemed human enough though and her eyes weren’t blue.
“Whoa hold up Eric. So it’s real? You’re really getting hitched?” she exploded, her.
“Yes,” Eric nodded proudly.
Charde then turned to me frowning deeply. “And you’re marrying him, like a real wedding with cake, flowers, and a big puffy white dress?”
“Unfortunately,” I laughed.
“Aren’t you a little young for marriage?” she asked frowning at us as if we were about to commit mass murder. “I mean what are you like sixteen… seventeen?”
“I’ll be eighteen in a few months,” was all I said.
“You rich folks are so weird,” she frowned to herself.
“I’m not rich,” I pointed out.
“And I keep telling you Charde, I’m not weird,” Eric stated.
“And normal sane teens don’t get married this young, but whatever floats your boat. Eric, you can barely keep one girlfriend as it is, how are you going to survive a marriage to a girl that’ll beat the crap out of you if you ever cheat?” she laughed and I couldn’t help smiling at her. I really liked this girl.
“Charde, please stop,” Eric coughed and I turned to him. I then turned back to her instantly.
“What do you mean?” I asked amused.
“Well, Eric here,” she smiled, looking at him wickedly, “was the school’s pretty boy.” Her eyes then returned to me. “Almost every girl in the school wanted him, some still do. And those that he did date, want him back. You’ve already met one of them, his latest ex, Tiffany. I swear she was the worst. I thought that he had shit in his head for two months and-”
“Okay,” Eric interjected, cutting her off while covering my ears, as if that would help. I pulled his hands away at once. “That’s very interesting, Charde but let’s not rehash my school days, please,” he begged.
Charde and I both burst out laughing. “I like you,” I admitted.
“Yay!” she cheered, clapping her hands. “I like you too, Jen, if only because you screwed Tiffany.”
“You should ask her to come with us,” another female voice put in at our side. Simultaneously we all turned and found Emily smiling at me. “I'm Emily,” she waved at me casually. Emily, my guard...
“Right!” Charde cheered, turning back to face me. “Jen, my friends and I are going out for pizza, you should come with us,” she stopped, frowning. “Eric’s not invited because he’s been a dick to me these last few days, you know… ignoring me and not wanting to lend me his old chemistry notes, the stingy bastard.”
I looked to Eric who had suddenly gone pale and then back to Charde smiling. “Sure.”
Eric’s eyebrows went up instantly. “You’re leaving me, but we had plans for lunch...” he frowned.
“Not anymore,” I said smiling as I went up on my toes, brushing my lips against Eric's lightly and then pulled away. “Next time don’t flirt with other girls.”
I was led to a black Subaru that was already humming seductively, with its driver already inside waiting for us. He had dirty blonde hair that fell in his dark eyes. His skin was smooth I imagined he could make any girl swoon with just the right kind of gaze in her direction.
“Jen, this is Noel, he’s my boyfriend,” Emily introduced, as we all climbed into the car. Boyfriend, I wondered… was that what she meant by being deep under cover? And just how much of this did her ‘boyfriend’ know. I got the feeling that Emily had convinced Charde to talk to me, just so she could stay close. I liked Charde so I didn't mind. I did feel weird though, knowing that Emily was only here to guard me, and I began to wonder how much of her friendship with Charde was real.
“Hi,” I muttered, looking out the window as he put the car in gear and then drove out the school’s parking lot. I didn’t want to think about any of these things anymore.
A few minutes later, we pulled up at Pizza Hut. Charde and Emily led me to a table at the back of the main eating area, where a couple was already sitting. “Hey guys, meet Jen,” Charde introduced me, as soon as we were standing over the table. “She is Eric’s girlfriend.”
“I’m not Eric’s girlfriend,” I stated instantly, a little annoyed.
“With what just went on at school, you’re Eric’s something,” the girl at the table smiled. It took me a while to recognize her from one of my earlier classes. Her name was Amelia. She had brown eyes and deep brown hair. It reached inches below her shoulders. She pointed to the tall, dark haired boy sitting next to her, “This is my boyfriend, Mark.”
“Hey,” Mark waved as Charde, Noel, Emily and I sat down. “So is it true about Eric tying the knot?” he asked, and Amelia smacked his chest lightly while glaring at him. “What?” he asked smiling at her.
“It’s fine,” I said at once then turned to face Mark. “Yep… it’s true,” I admitted desperately trying not to let my mind wonder off about my upcoming, undesired wedding. But that wasn’t all I had to worry about. The wedding was just a prelude for a much more drastic change; becoming like Eric and his family. Suddenly now the wedding wasn’t that big of a deal…
The rest of lunch flew by in daze. They all wanted to know about me, who I was and where I moved from, why I was getting married to Eric at such a young age, and a whole shitload of questions that I didn’t have the answers to. Mostly I talked about Trinidad. It was the safest topic I could think of. I went into an all out detail of Carnival and described what J’ouvert and old mas was, since none of them knew.
For the second time in the same day I found myself lost in my head, remembering my old life back in Trinidad. I remembered my very first Carnival with Daren, Kris, and Danny. They’d literally dragged me out of my warm, cozy bed before the sun had risen, into the streets to witn
ess what ‘mud mas’ was. It had been amazing. There were people by the hundreds, all caked in mud and paint of every color you could imagine. It had been like a massive party on the streets, with everyone dancing and just having fun. Then every few hours or so, huge trucks loaded with speakers and DJs would clear a path through the dancing bodies, blasting music, and the DJ on the stage would stop his music until they’d passed by. Sometimes the trucks carried steel pan bands, with people banging on their drums, filling the streets with the sound of nation’s instrument. It had been so otherworldly, yet at the same time pure Trinidadian culture at its finest.
I was jolted back into reality when everyone at the table started to pack their stuff up. Without saying anything, I did the same. We then paid the bill and left, going back to school. “What subject do you have next?” Charde asked when we were back and walking through the corridor towards our lockers.
I thought back for a minute. “I think psychology with a Mr. Mano,” my voice came out unsure and questioning even though I could remember exactly what was on my time-table. What had me frowning was that I remembered it, yet I must have glimpsed at the paper once this morning. I was remembering things better now, another one of the more subtle changes Eric had told me about.
“Oh cool,” Emily said, “that’s Noel’s next class… and Mr. Mano is hot.” My eyebrows went up at that - she was taking her cover to an extreme. She almost seemed like an average teenager when she spoke like that.
We walked out of the hall, and then went our separate ways, Noel leading me to our classroom. Emily was right; Mr. Mano was hot. I walked up to the teacher and gave him my slip to sign. He then directed me to the back of the class - as all the seat in front were filled with girls - next to a boy he called Ryan.
Ryan was short, blonde and built from what I could tell. At the first glance he looked like one of those typical rich, pretty boys. A few months ago, I would have deemed him an idiot, but since meeting Eric - who was also a pretty, rich boy - I didn’t. Instead I stretched out my hand towards him.