Beautiful Lessons

by Rebecca Brooke

  “What happened to Seona?”

  “Oh, so now you care about your girlfriend, after she witnessed you sticking your tongue on someone else’s neck? Since when do you act like an asshole?

  Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I drop my head into my hands. Whatever’s left in my stomach starts to churn.

  “Dude, bathroom’s down the hall.”

  There’s no way I’m keeping this down. Covering my mouth, I race past Brendan to the bathroom, my body heaving until there is nothing left for my stomach to expel.

  “Shit, I only drank one beer.”

  “You were so shit faced I had to drag your ass home. You’re lucky I covered for you with your parents.”

  I drop back down onto the bed. “I didn’t even think about them, but I swear I only had one beer.”

  Brendan’s watching me as if he’s trying decide what to believe. “Okay, say I believe you, then how the hell did you get that drunk?”

  Shaking my head, I try to put together the bits of memory in my head. “I’m not sure. The last thing I really remember is going to play beer pong with Chaz.”

  “Motherfucker!” he yells.

  The sound is excruciating to my ears. “Don’t yell,” I whisper, trying to control the noise in my brain.

  “Sorry dude. I think that asshole put something in your drink.”

  “You think he drugged me?” Not that it should really surprise me that Chaz would pull something like this, but I would think he has more sense than that.

  “How else do you explain the fact that, one Chaz apologized, and two you end up drunker than I’ve ever seen you, doing some really stupid shit?”

  “Good point. Right now I don’t want to think about that. How bad did I screw up with Seona?”

  The more I think about it, the harder the jack hammers pound in my head.

  “Pretty bad, dude. But I think you can fix it...if you grovel.”

  “I’ll grovel. I’ll beg. I’ll do whatever she wants me to do, as long as she doesn’t dump my ass.”

  “The first thing you need to do is take a shower,” he says, gesturing towards my clothes. “I’ll lend you something of mine. Then you need to drive your ass over there and apologize to her.”

  “Yeah, but I can run home and shower.”

  “No you can’t, because you don’t have your car and how are you going to explain to your parents why you don’t have it when you were supposed to be hanging out at my house?”

  “What did you tell them?”

  “I texted your dad from your phone and said you were spending the night here.”

  “Why would I spend the night here?”

  “Don’t be an ass. I told them we were having a video game tournament.”

  “That works. Now I think I should get in the shower so I can get to her house sooner rather than later.”

  “Let’s go see what we can find you to wear.”

  I follow Brendan to his room, where he pulls out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. After a quick shower, I had Brendan drop me off at my car, right down the street from Vanessa’s house.

  My truck looks lonely sitting on the street by itself. I can only imagine what my parents would think if they saw it here. Jumping out of Brendan’s car, I immediately run to the driver’s side of mine.

  Ever since the shower, my mind has been racing about Seona. In my head, I’m rehearsing all different ways to apologize. What I didn’t expect when I arrived at her house, was the brick wall that opened the door.

  “You look like hell,” Travis says the minute he takes a good look me. “What the hell happened?”

  “Nothing. Is Seona here? I need to talk to her.”

  “Dude, I know you better than that. You show up on my doorstep with eyes so bloodshot they’re almost a solid color and banging on my door way earlier than should be normal for a Saturday morning. So tell me what’s going on, or I’m not waking her up.” He spreads his feet and crosses his arms over his chest,

  Quickly, I weigh my options. If I don’t tell him, then I have to wait even later to talk to Seona, stewing the whole time about what to say to her. On the other hand, Travis is going to freak when he finds out the truth. Deciding that I would rather deal with Travis being mad and trying to kick my ass than lose Seona, I tell him what I can remember from the night before, including waking up at Brendan’s house this morning.

  “What the fuck,” Travis thunders when I finish.

  My body tenses, waiting for something to happen, except it never comes. Travis steps back into the house and begins pacing the living room. Acting calmer than I feel, I follow him into the house, all the while he continues to rant about stupid decisions and choices.

  “I can’t believe you let that happen. My sister should kick your ass. I encouraged her to go for you because I thought you were a nice guy. And you go and pull this shit.”

  Needing his attention, I step in his path with my hands in a gesture of surrender. “Look, I know I fucked up royally, but I’m here to try and fix it. Would you please get Seona so I can start begging her for her forgiveness?”

  “I’m not sure you deserve a chance to make it up to her. What you did was pretty fucking low.” His hands drop and clench at his sides. “I should kick your ass and send you packing. And if your dad wasn’t like a second father to me, I would.”

  I don’t say anything. Right now, it seems likes he’s going to let me see her and I don’t want to ruin it with questions and comments.

  “I’m going to wake her up, but it’s up to her if she wants to come down. I won’t force her to see you if she doesn’t want to. If she does, you better grovel. And I’ll warn you that if you ever do anything like that to my sister again, I will kick your ass from here to next week.”

  “I swear I will never do anything to hurt her again.”

  Travis watches me for a minute, before giving me a brisk nod and heading for the stairs. While he’s gone, I think about what an idiot I am. I knew Chaz was being way too nice and should never be trusted. Either way, it’s my mistake and I need to own up and fix it.

  Thoughts of Seona parade through my mind. Last night I told her that sex doesn’t matter, then I go and have my mouth all over Claire. How could this have happened? Everything was going so well after the game.

  There’s a creak at the top of the stairs. I look up to see Seona standing at the top, looking down at me. Her eyes are bloodshot like mine and puffy. It kills me to think that I made her cry.

  I almost think that I would rather have Travis beat the shit out of me than watch the pain I caused her all over her face. She slowly takes one step at a time, never taking her eyes from mine. When she finally reaches the bottom, I let go of the breath I started holding the minute I saw her at the top of the stairs.

  Whatever I’m going to do starts now and I can’t get it wrong.

  “Hi Seona,” I whisper.

  Chapter 16

  Seona

  Slowly walking down the stairs, Jayceon meets me and holds out his hand, but I move away and head towards the couch. I need to have a clear head and touching his hand, even a simple touch, will cloud my thoughts.

  We sit down on the couch and I make sure to keep the distance between us.

  “Let me explain,” he starts to say. “I don’t get it though. I had one beer and that’s all I remember. I don’t remember taking the body shot off Claire or passing out on Chaz’s couch. I don’t remember anything, Seona.”

  His voice is low and sad. Should I believe him? I know what I saw and I know how guys are. “I saw you though and you looked like you were having fun with your tongue on Claire. Maybe you should make her your girlfriend.”

  “I don’t want her. I want you.”

  “Listen, buddy. I’ve been around a little longer than you. I’ve blacked out to the point of not remembering and I’ve done some shady things. So I know when I’m being used. I’ve been used my whole life!” My voice cracks, fuck. I don’t want to cry! “Don’t sit there and te
ll me you didn’t know what you were doing because you did. You told me how amazing I am and told people you and I are dating. This is not how you start a relationship.” I breathe in and out, trying so hard not to break down. “Please go. I’m done with the games and being used.”

  “Seona,” he takes my face in his hands, so gentle, but domineering. “I want you, okay? I promise you, I don’t remember drinking more. I had one beer and that’s it. I want you to listen to what Brendan thinks. He thinks that Chaz put something in my drink because having only one beer isn’t going to make me drunk. I’ve drank before and it takes a lot more.”

  Chaz. Why does his name piss me off? Oh yeah, because he’s a dick and I swear I want to kill him each time we’re around each other. I think back to last night and how nice he was to us. Something told me not to trust him and I fed Jayceon to the devil.

  “I’m not using you. I meant what I said to you. I’m falling for you every day and I want you as my girlfriend.” He pauses, studying my expression. I’m not showing him that his words are making me melt. “You’ve seen Chaz. Do you believe me?”

  “I want to believe you and yes I know how Chaz can be. The thing is Jayceon, I don’t want to be a conquest,” I whisper, looking down, not able to look him in the eyes.

  “You’re not.”

  “How can I be sure? I know what I saw and it makes me sick.”

  “I’m sorry, Seona. I’m so sorry about it all.” He leans in and gently kisses my lips, then the tip of my nose and forehead. “I want you to be my girlfriend. Not Claire or anyone else, just you. You make me smile and I’ll tell you over and over again how amazing you are and how you make me feel if you need to hear it again.”

  “I don’t want to get hurt. That’s all and last night, you hurt me.” I push him away, but he holds his ground.

  “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened, but you have to believe me. I would never want to make you cry.” He kisses each tear. I close my eyes, reveling in his kisses and feeling wanted. He makes me feel needed and wanted. “Please tell me we’re still together.”

  We’re facing each other and the torment is clear in his eyes. Both sides are pulling at me. I don’t want to get hurt and I don’t want to miss a chance with a great guy. Neither of us talk. I need the silence to think.

  “I keep thinking that you’re this great guy, Jayceon, and we should be together. But I can’t get what you and Claire did out of my head. There’s nothing else you can say to make me forget what happened. If Chaz did what he did then that’s shitty, and it’s not your fault, but it’s still hard to forget.”

  Suddenly Jayceon’s lips meet mine. His hands cup my face, holding me tight, not wanting to let me go. I think about pushing him away until his tongue enters my mouth. Everything in me is screaming to hold him. This is the moment. This kiss is telling me what I need to do. Pressing against his chest with my hands, I rest my forehead against his.

  “Okay,” I softly smile.

  “Okay?” He smiles back and I nod. “I will make this up to you, Seona. I promise I’m going to try to be the boyfriend you want me to be. I’m going to mess up, but I’m going to try.”

  “Me too.”

  “All right, I think I need to make it up to my beautiful girlfriend for being an inconsiderate jackass. What do you wanna do today?”

  I tap my finger against my lip. “Hmmm…well boyfriend…” I climb into his lap, straddling him, feeling some movement. “I think you should take me on a day date. Lunch, strolling through the park and then we can go to Travis’ game. How’s that sound?”

  He kisses my forehead. “Perfect.”

  I couldn’t control the smile on my face. We’re both taking a chance on each other and something is telling me this is a good thing.

  Jayceon and I lounge around my house for a little while longer, watching TV and snuggling before Travis comes in and joins us. Jayceon lets me go and moves over a little. “Are you scared of Travis?”

  “Yes,” he immediately answers.

  I look at Travis and see a smirk on his face. “Good answer.”

  “I’m gonna head out and get ready. I’ll be back.” He kisses my forehead and walks himself out.

  “Don’t be a jerk!” I throw a pillow at Travis’ head and run upstairs to shower and get ready. Throwing on my pink linen shorts and a white tee, I blow dry and put soft curls in my hair. Finishing up my makeup, I skip down the hall and head downstairs to talk to Travis. I need help.

  “Big brother.” I smile, taking a bite of his sub and sitting down next to him on the couch. He turns off the TV and turns to me. “I need help.”

  “All right.” He snatches the sub back. “First, don’t touch my food. I’m starving.”

  “Ha ha. Okay seriously. Do you think Chaz is capable of drugging Jayceon?”

  “He had only one drink? Are you sure?”

  “I mean, I think so. I don’t think he’d lie about that, do you?”

  “Na,” Travis shakes his head. “Doesn’t seem like the type who knows how to lie. Do you think Chaz slipped him something?”

  “Yeah, I really do.”

  “Tell me everything that happened last night.”

  I told Travis everything, from the moment we walked into Chaz’s house until I walked home. After finishing the story, now that I think about it, he didn’t seem drunk drunk. He seemed high.

  “Shit.” I get up from the table and grab his keys. “I’m gonna kill Chaz!” Running out of the house, I jump into Travis’ car and zoom down the road and pull into Chaz’s driveway. Oh, that little douchebagasshatesonofabitch, I’m going to kill him.

  Ringing his doorbell, I wait for him to answer. When the door opens, a smug smile takes over his face. Oh, how I want to kick him so hard in the balls. “Seona,” he says, “what’s up? Bored with Snitch?”

  “Listen you asshat, I know what you did to Jayceon’s drink last night!” Chaz quickly steps outside and closes the door. “You did something and I wanna know what!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I study his movements and see his left eye twitch. Hmmmm. “Listen, it’s not my fault your boyfriend got drunk and did stupid shit last night.” Twitch again. He’s lying.

  “Just tell me the truth.” I quickly come up with a lie. “He’s in bad shape and his dad is pissed. I think Coach found out and is about to bench everyone who was at the party if someone doesn’t speak up. Please Chaz.” I think about my mom and I know it’s shitty but I need to cry. “Jayceon’s in the hospital.”

  “What! Are you fucking serious?” I nod and see him panicking. “I can’t get in trouble, all right. You need to help me. It was just Zantac. I didn’t even give him a lot. He is okay?”

  Great, now I feel like an asshole, but at least I know the truth. “You’re such a dick, Chaz. Grow the fuck up and learn how to be a better man!”

  “Wait, is he okay?”

  “Of course he is, you idiot,” I shout. “He was never in the hospital and Coach doesn’t know anything. The next time you fuck around with Jayceon or anyone else, you’ll regret it. Don’t fuck with me, Chaz.”

  His face contorts in anger, but then quickly changes to something else. Two can play his game. He has no idea who the fuck he’s messing with. “Can we call a truce and be friends?”

  “Friends?”

  “Yeah.” He leans against the railing, keeping his eyes on me. “Come on Seona. We’re running with the same crew. I think we should at least be civil.”

  “You and I will never be friends, Chaz. Get. It. Through. Your. Thick. Head. And seriously, stop playing games.” Not wanting to waste another minute, I turn away from him and head back home.

  Chapter 17

  Jayceon

  When Seona said she wanted to go on a date to the park, I jumped at the chance. Whatever it took, I needed to make up last night to her. Now that I’m on the way home and everything is better, I can worry about dealing with my dad. Hopefully he believed what Brendan told him. Damn if
I didn’t owe him for helping me to clean up the mess I made.

  He’ll flip the hell out if he finds out I was wasted last night. He’s not dumb enough to think that I haven’t had a drink, but to be so drunk that I practically pass out, that’s going to cause some shit. If he didn’t fall for that text and I’m lucky, he’ll still let me take Seona to the game and ground me starting tomorrow. The least I can do is beg.

  Pulling up in front of the house, I dread going in, but it’s better to get it over with sooner, rather than later. With a deep breath, I step out of the car and head into the house. Opening the door, it surprises me to not find Dad in the foyer, pacing. Brendan’s text must have worked.

  The sound of music in the kitchen leads me that way. Walking through the door, the smell of cinnamon buns hits my nose.

  “Morning,” Dad says, a smile on his face.

  “Morning?”

  He looked at me, his brows pinching together a bit. “Yeah. You know that time before noon, when the sun is up.”

  I shook my head, trying to clear the last of the cobwebs without Dad realizing anything is wrong. “Yeah, sorry. Long night.”

  “Well, I hope you and Brendan didn’t stay up all night playing video games. Last night was a rough game and you both need your sleep during the season.”

  Video games? Oh yeah. That’s what Brendan texted him last night.

  “Yeah, we got some sleep.”

  “That’s good. I’m glad to see you hanging out with your teammates again.”

  If only he knew how much of an asshole most of my teammates are. Not wanting to talk about this anymore so Dad doesn’t ask more questions that I can’t or don’t want to answer, I change the subject.

  “Where’s Mom?”

  “She’s out for a run. She left a while ago so she should be back anytime now.”

  And as the words come out of his mouth, I hear the door from the garage open. Seconds later, Mom walks into the kitchen. “Hey hon,” she says, coming over to kiss me on the cheek. “Did you have fun last night?”

  I force a smile, knowing that I really don’t want to tell her what happened. “Yeah, we had a good time.”