I grabbed my book for my next class, closed my locker, and leaned my shoulder against it for support. “Since I met him.”
Trevor winced for a moment. “When was that?”
I felt more guilt and tried to be kind. “Really want to know?”
He swallowed hard and looked down. “Probably not.”
“I never cheated on you.” I needed him to know that.
Trevor nodded but wouldn’t look at me. “I believe you. Funny, I guess. I was always jealous of Romy. Little did I know there was someone else.” He inhaled deeply. “I never cheated on you either, Marlena. I know I’ve been an ass here lately, but—guess it don’t matter now.”
“No, it doesn’t,” I told him as gently as I could.
“It’s the way you look at him,” Trevor said so quietly I could barely hear him.
“What do you mean?”
I never thought the day would come when I would see Trevor be emotional, but there I was, watching his eyes well up as we stood in the empty hallway. He swallowed again. “In the cafeteria, the way you looked at him… that’s how I knew I’d lost you.”
Those words told me our break-up was not our goodbye—this was.
He finally looked at me, as if to confirm the words bringing him pain. There was nothing I could say to change the truth. “I’m sorry.”
Trevor, king of the playground, lost hold of his emotions for a few seconds. Then he caught his breath. “I’m going to miss you, Marlena.”
Even though we would see each other every day, I knew what he meant. Nothing between us would ever be the same. Tears fell from my eyes as my heart not only forgave him, but appreciated what he was giving to me at this very moment. A true gift was being delivered to the wounds in my heart. I learned that Trevor was the guy I had always believed him to be. The asshole cover that I had seen recently was just an act.
“I’ll miss you, too.”
The last tears I would ever see come from Trevor’s eyes slid down his cheek as his hands gently captured my face. He spoke out choked words. “Goodbye, Marlena.” He kissed my lips. I knew Romy was going to have a fit, but I needed that kiss. I needed that goodbye and peace in my heart, so I took it.
The simple, meaningful kiss ended. I touched his face. “Goodbye, T.”
He chuckled, leaning his forehead to mine. “You always know how to make me laugh.”
I grinned. “Some things will never change?”
He released me and wiped his eyes. “I hope not, girl.” He stopped and looked at me with a big smile.
I giggled. “Now what?”
“You made me into a damn a country song!”
“What?” I laughed.
He walked away, laughing and singing “The One That Got Away”, a song by Jake Owens. Maybe not the most cheerful song, but my lifelong friend was smiling. I knew he would be just fine.
Chapter Ten:
Magic and More
“Marley!”
Sebastian looked so much better after his class and excited to see me. The two Battered and Tattered Ts that were clinging to each of his arms were shed again, and he ran to me. My feet didn’t ask or wait for my brain’s command. They took off running to Sebastian. When our bodies slammed together, my eyes closed. It felt as though his soul was comforting mine. I think it was. I think it always will.
I consumed every rub and coo his face offered until he froze. A growl escaped my Sebastian, notifying me that Romy wanted to be heard. I could have been scared, but I was too happy. What Trevor had done for me, even though it annoyed Romy, had me on such a high that I felt free. I laughed at Sebastian preparing to throw a fit and I kissed him.
I had kissed my best friend many times, but not on the lips, and not like this. The sensation was so shocking to us both that we neither would nor could shut our eyes. While I held my lips to his, Sebastian’s face went from anger to wonderment. His full lips were so soft and wonderful to feel, I wasn’t sure I would ever find the strength to pull away. Sebastian was no longer worrying about scents on me as he pulled me closer, his large hands flat on my back.
Since the hallway had many students passing us and staring, I finally withdrew my lips from Sebastian’s. He rapidly inhaled. “I’m feeling something, Marley.” I stood in front of him, mirroring him, nodding in absolute amazement. His hand clutched his chest. “Marley, my heart’s pounding. Why?”
The warning bell rang. Neither of us moved.
“I-I have to go.” I was pleasantly enlightened to see my kiss affect him so. He nodded and slowly backed away from me. Since he seemed to be as much in a trance as I was, I was shocked when he turned, grabbed, a girl and… kissed her.
I squealed. “What are you doing?”
He released her—and her confused expression—then looked at me and smiled. Walking backward, he answered, “Experiment! Seeing if all kisses can make my heart thump.”
I smiled, shaking my head in disbelief. “And the discovery?”
He looked excited. “Marley is the only one with magic kisses.”
My hands flew over my inflamed, blushing face, as my peers looked to see who gave out magical kisses.
As we walked to the bus, Sebastian’s smile was undeniable. I was electrified with the hope he was smiling for the same reason I was—the kiss.
Sebastian leaned down to whisper in my ear. “I urinated in a urinal today.”
Nope, he was not smiling for the same reason.
I struggled for words. “Umm, how exciting? Good boy?”
Sebastian stood up straight and proudly walked. “Thank you. It was… liberating.”
I rolled my eyes. “Can only imagine, Wolf Boy.”
At the bus, the happy moment shriveled, and reality struck me hard. How can I have Sebastian on the bus with me? Where would he get dropped off? Will he be okay? I was sure I was going to hyperventilate with worry.
“See you at home?” Sebastian whispered.
Pulled out of my thoughts, I faced him. “How will you get there?”
His smile was full of confidence. “The same way I got here.” He spoke as though my need to worry about his transportation was unjustified. Seeing I wasn’t satisfied, Sebastian added, “I have followed your bus several times to see the best way to get here and the layout of your school—to learn more about buildings and structures.” He pointed over his shoulder to my school.
Looking at the mountains and woods, it was easy to see how he had stayed hidden but close enough to gather input for his surprise. His surprise spooked me again, and I panicked, grasping his hand.
Before I could say a word, he asked, “Can I have some more magic?”
For the second time that day, my cheeks set fire, and I became so bashful it was probably nauseating to anyone witnessing it. I nodded like the shy schoolgirl I was becoming. Everything went silent as his lips came for mine. I could only hear his breath and mine. As soon as our lips met, the same tummy tingle rushed back to me, stealing my breath.
Sebastian was right and wrong about our kisses. They were definitely magical, but it was because of his magic, not mine.
As I got on the bus, catcalls were shouted, and my mortification began.
Jimmy mocked me. “I do know him, Jimmy.”
Trevor sang, “The one that got away…”
They both loved my humiliation. It was nice. It felt right to sit on the bus and be teased and toyed with. It felt as if old times were coming back and that my friends and I had not missed a beat. I wasn’t even bothered when another girl sat in Trevor’s lap. Parts of my world were coming full circle, while others were just opening up.
All the way home, I thought and planned how to fit both Romy and Sebastian into my life, now that Sebastian was becoming part of the general population. I also thought about what kept making my be
lly quiver: the kiss. Never would I have imagined kissing one boy could be so unlike kissing another, but my feelings for Sebastian seemed to compound with every touch, and I could only imagine what it would be like for us to experience a more extensive moment.
The bus pulled up, and Trevor playfully said, “Ol’ Faithful.”
My head jerked up. It can’t be!
Romy sat at my bus stop, waiting for me with his tongue hanging out as he panted. All the stops unloading the students had given Romy a head start. I ran off the bus to greet him, as if I hadn’t just kissed him forty-five minutes earlier.
Anxious to talk to Sebastian, I ran inside and told my mom I was spending time with Romy in the woods. She was in the kitchen, of course, and no questions were asked. She looked at Romy from the sink as he greeted her with a nuzzle. “There you are. Haven’t seen you all day.”
His tail wagged and wagged for her. He missed my mom. Of course he had. She was who he was with whenever I was at school. I placed my hand on my chest, sighing. Romy sat in front of me, waiting.
“Be back in time for dinner,” Mom called out as Romy and I left.
I ran with a wolf nipping at my heels, teasing, playing with me. Yelping in excitement, I picked up my speed. Once out of sight and near hidden clothes in a tree, Sebastian appeared, smiling. As he reached up to a branch to gather what was stored in a plastic bag, he asked, “Magic?” He pulled on some jeans, waiting for my response.
I laughed, realizing Sebastian was a true male at heart. “No, no magic ’til we talk.”
He stuck his tongue out at me and sat down on a big boulder.
I paced in front of him. “What were you doing at my school?”
He smirked. “Didn’t we go over this? I’ll follow you anywhere.”
I stomped my foot and tapped frustrated toes. “How am I supposed to argue with that?”
He leaned back onto his elbows, looking as if he were being served on a platter. “You’re not, Marley. Just take time to reflect and know how much I love you.”
Yes, my knees went weak, again.
“Sebastian, stop that!”
He sat up, alarmed. “What did I do?”
I told the sky above me, “He doesn’t even understand!”
“What do I not understand?” He rushed to me. “Marley, I thought we were playing around.”
“We are, but I’m worried, and I’m trying to be serious. We need to discuss things like my parents and people now having seen you, a-and it is soooo hard with you looking like that.”
His arms came around my waist. His expression was full of concern. “What am I looking like?”
“Like, like something making me want… more!” I almost yelled.
A war was being waged inside my body. On one side of the battlefield was my heart, worrying for my best friend. The opposing side was full of hormones, demanding to be released to conquer the beautiful young man holding me. I was intensely aware of every touch he offered, whether on purpose or not. His bare chest brushing my clothed breast had never captured my attention before, but now, each of his moves had all my focus. Sebastian’s hand rested on my cheek, heightening my desire for his kiss.
“More?” His eyebrows furrowed.
Nestling my face into his palm, I struggled to voice my needs. “I want… I want… Yes, more.”
“Tell me what more means, and I will give it to you.”
The same hormones ran and celebrated with victory flags as they sensed my surrender. I looked into his eyes and sounded as if I were begging. “Magic.”
I think I was begging.
Shiver.
Sebastian’s body stiffened as a revelation crossed his face. A sudden flash of insecurity spoke to my ego when it occurred to me Sebastian might not want me the same way I wanted him. I tried to retreat, but his arm tightened around my waist, pulling my body against his. The contact caused another wave, but this one was even stronger.
His eyes closed as his mouth opened, exposing the softness inside I wanted to taste.
Shiver.
Sebastian moaned as his hand tightened on my face. Not opening his eyes, Sebastian seemed to be tuning himself to every electrical pop and sizzle that my body experienced. He groaned, “Marley,” and opened his eyes to show me a hunger matched by no one who had looked at me before.
Shiver.
Another groan.
His hand slid to the nape of my neck, and his fingers tangled in my hair, taking hold of me, positioning me for what he intended to do next. My desire elevated as his eyes fell to my lips. My breathing became impossible to control as he panted with need and an excitement that left me helplessly at his mercy.
With his luscious lips parted, Sebastian leaned to me and took my upper lip between his. I whimpered. I shook with want as my lips closed around his bottom lip. Never could I have guessed that something so gentle could be so sensual. His eyes closed as his lips drew mine in. His eyes squeezed shut. He captured my bottom lip. With every caress of lips, our breaths mingled and created an intimate warmth that I felt down to my toes.
He whispered my name while we both experienced exquisite new sensations.
When his tongue slowly and tentatively entered my mouth, I thought my world would end because my heart was going to explode with need. But his tongue touched mine, and I realized my world was not going to end. It was just beginning.
Chapter Eleven:
Blissful Ignorance and Lies
Lying in the dark with Sebastian had become an every-night event, but it wasn’t innocent any longer. The part of me that was becoming a woman craved the man who held me. Our special friendship was now partly desire, infused with the love of a lifetime.
Love of a lifetime.
I was astonished by the leap I took that day. How effortless it felt to see Sebastian as mine forever. No words had been spoken to label what we had become, and Sebastian had asked no questions. What was transpiring between us was so natural that I lay in that bed, wishing every young woman could experience such a liberating event. To know someone is truly committed to you is to have the sensation of another soul blending perfectly with yours.
His fingers drifted up and down my arm. “Do you remember when I told you about why I believe in God?”
“Yes, you felt something around you. You never felt alone.”
After a quiet moment, Sebastian softly said, “I believe you are a part of God.”
My throat tightened with the incredible words.
“Even when I’m not with you, Marley, I feel you all around me.”
My eyes closed as his love soared through me.
“Marley, I believe moments like this… emotions like this… they’re what God wants for all of us, all his creatures. I thought your kisses were magic. but now I know it’s you. It’s you, Marley. You are magic to me.”
A tear slid down my cheek to rest on the pillow we shared.
Entranced with the love I felt for Sebastian, I was blissfully unaware of all the danger surrounding us. My age and innocence made it so that the cruel world lurking over our shoulders could not be felt as the magic Sebastian spoke of circled the two of us in a frenzy. I didn’t care about his illegal paperwork sitting in the school office, waiting to be discovered. I didn’t care that students stared at Sebastian and me as if we were aliens. I didn’t comprehend that time was not on our side.
“Anything to tell me, Marlena?” my father asked at the dinner table.
I shrugged. “Don’t think so.”
Mom’s lips pursed. “We want to meet him.”
My body jolted. They had already heard about Sebastian. “Umm, okay.”
“Where did you meet him?” Dad asked.
Lying to my parents was more difficult than I had suspected it would be. “Uh, at the store. Mom s
ent me for some things.”
“When?” he asked.
“Recently.”
“What’s his name?” Mom asked in a stern voice.
“Sebastian.”
“Where does he live?” I was surprised to hear my father’s irritation.
“Over by the apple orchards somewhere.”
Mom’s eyebrow rose. “Ever been there?”
“No, ma’am.”
“How serious is this?” Dad inquired.
“I-I like him.”
“Why haven’t we met him?”
I looked at my dad. “I didn’t want people to think I was just trying to get over Trevor.”
His shoulders softened. “Little girl, I know that was hard on you, but I wouldn’t think you capable of using a young man to get over another.”
After a quiet moment passed, my mom picked up her fork. “Can we have him over for dinner?”
I wanted to say that he was already there, sitting on the floor right next to me. “He wants to meet you. I’ve been the one holding back.”
I knew my dad would appreciate a young man trying to be proper. “I like hearing that. Shows he has good character.” He began to eat again.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have Romy inside when Sebastian comes over,” my mom suggested.
My father nodded. “I agree. Don’t need this young kid getting bit by a jealous wolf.”
I was stunned. I hadn’t thought about that detail either, but was grateful my parents had already solved the problem, for now. “Uh, okay. I’ll put Romy outside before Sebastian comes over.” I poked at my plate. “He’s a great guy. I think you both will like him.”
They did.
Sebastian knocked on the front door that weekend, saying his father had just dropped him off. It was awkward, but Sebastian acted as if he had never been in this home and had not been living with the parents he was supposedly meeting for the first time. Maybe knowing my parents so well was how he knew what to say, how to act, and how to have my parents fall head over heels for him. Or maybe Sebastian was just being himself, and that was enough for anyone to think highly of him.
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