Masquerade (Masquerade #1)

by S Williams

  “If you would hold on a minute, I was going to lie down beside you then we can talk.”

  He takes his shoes off and climbs into bed with me. He wraps his arms around me, kissing my cheek.

  “What do you want to talk about?”

  “For starters, I’m not too drunk to know how I feel about you.”

  “You know. I love you too.”

  I turn to face him. “Seriously, Chris. I love you like in a boyfriend kind of way.”

  I lean up, grapping his face and turning my head. I lay my lips gently on his. I gage whether or not he is going to let this happen. He seems to have gone stiff, so I put more pressure on his lips. He grabs my head to deepen the kiss.

  He licks my lips, seeking entrance with his tongue. He swirls his tongue with mine, making me moan in his mouth. He pulls back, nipping my lip.

  I have never been kissed that way. He has my head spinning, and it isn’t from the alcohol. I feel like I have sobered up from that kiss.

  “Holy shit, Chris.”

  “My words exactly.” He leans down, pecking my lips. “Julia, I have loved you from the first time I saw you. I just knew you were with Alan, but tonight when you said all those things, it really hit a nerve. Please, tell me that tomorrow morning you won’t regret what we have done or said.”

  I grab his face, kissing him again swiftly, “I will not regret this. I need this. I love you. I hated seeing you with Mindy. It tore me up inside.”

  “Julia, how do you think I have felt? I have watched you and Alan for almost a year now. Sweetie, I was waiting for my time to have you. Now that I do, I’m not letting you go.”

  “Good. There is only one thing that I need to do. I need to talk to Alan. I don’t want to do it first thing in the morning though. Is it okay if I wait until after we have gotten our diplomas?”

  Sweetie, you tell him when you think you need to. I will be here waiting. I have waited for a year. I’m not going anywhere.” He leans down, kissing me ever so gently. “You need to get some sleep, Jules. We have a busy day with graduation.”

  I close my eyes, but I know he thinks I am going to forget all about this. I know I won’t. I have been waiting for this day.

  I wake up, jumping out of bed as hear Mindy’s alarm going off. That was not the best thing to do considering how badly my head is throbbing. I walk over to her alarm and unplug the son of a bitch. I get myself a bottle of water out of the mini fridge. I look on top of the fridge to see our Ibuprofen bottle sitting there. I decide to take three and climb back into bed.

  I am covered up, almost asleep when I comprehend that I am the only one in my room. I peek out from underneath my covers to look again. Nope. No one is here. Am I missing something? I shrug my shoulders and pick up my phone to see what time it is. I have about four hours till graduation.

  I roll back up in my covers, thinking about the previous night. I had so much fun but drank way too much. All of a sudden in the pit of my stomach, I start feeling nauseous. I close my eyes to make the nausea stop, and then I remember that I wasn’t alone last night. Someone was here with me.

  Oh, Shit! Chris brought me home last night, and I declared my love for him. I even kissed him. I touch my lips with my fingers, still feeling his lips on mine. I smile at the memory, thinking it was well worth the wait.

  I fly up out of the bed panicking, gripping my head as the pain rushes all over the top and straight down to the bottom of my skull. I let out a loud, “Fuck. What about Alan?” I know I need to tell him. I told Chris I would. I need to talk to Chris.

  I run to the bathroom and force my hair into a messy bun. I look at my reflection in the mirror and catch a glimpse of my face. Massacre runs under my eyes, and to be honest, I look like I have just been hit by a train. I find a rag to wash my face quickly and brush my teeth.

  I run back out into my room to pick my shorts up off the floor and shove them on while finding a bra to put on underneath the t-shirt I already have on. I find some flip flops and push them on my feet, and I find my keys sitting on my desk. Clutching them, I haul ass out of the door and run full force.

  Running a couple of blocks over, I finally reach the frat house’s door and hurl it open. I rush up the stairs and down the hall to find Chris’ room. I take in a few deep breaths and knock.

  I knock three more times till I hear, “I’m coming. Hold on a damn second.”

  I am standing there looking around when the door swings open.

  “What the hell do . . . Julia, what are you doing here.”

  “We need to talk.” I walk around him to get into his room and turn around to look at him.

  He shuts the door. “So . . . is everything okay.”

  Really? He is asking if everything is okay. What the hell? I walk up to him and reach up for his face. I bring it down to mine and kiss him sweetly.

  “I didn’t forget what happened last night. Why did you leave me?”

  He puts his hands in his hair. “I didn’t want Mindy to come in and see us there in the bed together.”

  “I call bullshit. She has seen us asleep in the bed together plenty of other times you have fallen asleep with me.”

  He lets out a long sigh. “I was scared. I wanted you to forget, but I wanted you to remember. You have a fucking boyfriend, Julia, who happens to be my friend too.”

  “You think I don’t know that, but, sweetie, I am in love with you. I have been for a year now. I want you and nobody else. Please tell me you feel the same.”

  The next thing I know, I am being thrown on the bed with him following on top of me. He kisses me with so much passion. He pulls away from the kiss too soon to look down at me. “Does that explain how I feel about you?”

  Chapter Seven

  A tear falls inadvertently down my face, and before I can wipe it, Chris kisses it away. He is eyeing me with uncertainty in his voice. “Jules, baby, you okay?”

  I stand quickly and start pacing. “I’m surprised, scared, overwhelmed, but most of all, I am elated. I am so happy you feel this way. I didn’t ever think we could do this,” I say, motioning with my hands between us. “I just don’t know what to do now. I mean, I do but—”

  “Sweetheart, quit babbling and burning a hole in my floor. We can get all this worked out, but right now, you have an hour to get ready for graduation.”

  I stop to look at his gorgeous smile. “You’re right. After graduation, we talk.” I walk up to him and stand on my tiptoes to kiss him hastily.

  I walk backwards towards the door to continue to marvel in his smile and the fact that he is standing in only his boxer shorts. Once my hand is on the door knob he says, “After graduation.”

  I grin like an idiot. “After graduation.”

  I open the door and haul ass out, hoping I don’t get caught. I never look up until I feel myself falling and arms holding onto me. I look up to see Alan. I feel all the blood drain from my face and the knots starting in my stomach.

  “Hey, Red. You okay. You seem to be in your own world.”

  “Umm, yeah. Sorry, I don’t know where my head is at today.”

  “It’s okay. Where are you coming from anyways? I thought I wouldn’t see you until after graduation.”

  Shit. Shit. Shit. “Chris took me home last night because I had drank a little too much. He wanted to make sure I got home okay then I puked on his shirt. I washed it and brought it back to him, so I wouldn’t forget.” By this time, I hear and feel Chris behind me. This isn’t going to go well, is it?

  Alan looks over me saying, “Chris, man, thanks for taking care of her. She can’t handle her liquor sometimes. Sorry to hear about the shirt.”

  I never turn around when I hear Chris say, “No problem, man. You know she is my best friend.”

  I feel my heart breaking into thousands of pieces. How can I be such a cold hearted bitch? I finally get my thoughts together and walk past Alan to turn around and eye Chris.

  “I better get going. I need to get ready.” I look back at Alan with
the best smile I can plaster on my face.

  He leans down to kiss me on the mouth, but I turn my head for him to kiss my cheek. He looks at me. “Is everything all right?”

  I Rub my head. “Yeah, I am just still feeling my hangover,” I say, hoping like hell he buys it. “I need to go to get ready. See you guys later.”

  I turn and haul ass down the stairs. Luckily, Alan doesn’t run after me to ask more questions. I walk out the door to start sprinting down the sidewalk back to my dorm.

  He is going to know something is going on. I didn’t let him kiss me on the mouth. Why did I do that? I know why. I didn’t want him tainting my kiss from Chris. I could still feel him on my lips. Its official, I have become one of those two-timing bitches I always talk about. Damn me and my mouth.

  I run into my dorm, stripping my clothes to start getting ready. I make the shower as hot as my skin will allow. I guess I am hoping that the scalding water will wash away the fact that I am about to hurt a guy who has never been nothing but there for me. I lean my head up against the back wall of the shower, letting the water hit me.

  Feeling somewhat normal, I get out of the shower to get ready. My family will be here soon, and I have a stage to walk across.

  I have a short, black, spaghetti-strap sun dress on underneath my graduation gown. I look in the mirror and adjust my cap to make sure it is in place. It’s as good as it’s going to get, so I get to moving out the door to the auditorium.

  I walk in to find the spot assigned to me yesterday during the ceremony run-through. I wait with all the other students until we are told to be served out on the floor in front of the stage.

  As I am marching out, I look up and see my little sister waiving at me with the biggest grin on her face. I love that girl. I would do anything for her. I waive and blow her a kiss. I look over and find Chris looking in the direction of my kiss blowing. He then turns back to me and winks.

  I sit and don’t pay any attention to what has been going on around me. I know the president and the dean of the college have spoken, but what about, I couldn’t tell you. Finally they tell us to stand up, and this is the moment I get to make that stage my bitch.

  I’m getting my degree in Art History, something I have been in love with for as long as I can remember. I guess I should rephrase that and say, since my accident and my parents telling me. Anyways, I couldn’t be happier. I finally have a genuine smile on my face.

  My name is being called as I am walking up the steps onto the stage. Once up there I walk to the president and shake his hand. My next stop is the dean who hands me my diploma with his left hand and shakes my hand with his right. I walk past him but not before I look into the crowd to see my mom crying, my dad holding Lucy on his shoulders, and her screaming my name. Waiving back, I can’t help feeling love. Also, can’t help feeling accomplishment. I walk off the stage back to my chair.

  With everyone having received their diplomas, the dean says, “Congratulations, Class of 2013.” Everyone removes their hats and throws them in the air. College is now behind me, and I will be saying bye to all my friends and hurting a boy who has been my world.

  Finding my cap on the ground, I pick it up to hear Lucy screaming and running towards me with her arms wide open. I pick her up, spinning her and kissing her face. “I love you, Julia.”

  “I love you too, Lucy.”

  My parents are next in line to give me a hug and kiss me. Alan walks over to us, saying hello to my parents. It’s funny because as long as we have been together, Lucy has never really cared too much for Alan, but she says hello to him anyways with her hands on her hips and an annoyed look on her face.

  “Alan, we are going to take your girl out and steal her away from you for a while. We are going to take her to lunch,” Mom says, hugging him.

  “Sounds good. I will see you later then, Julia.” He kisses my cheek and walks back to his parents.

  “Julia, I’m ready to eat, and you might want to wash your face where he just kissed you. That’s yucky.” Lucy says matter of factly.

  Laughing, I pick her up. “You’re something else, you know that?”

  We end up at a local diner that my parents are fond of and is close to the campus. After eating, my mom and dad present me with a present. I open the box to find the family heirloom that my mom always wore: a gold ring with an opal in the middle and sapphires surrounding it.

  Tears spill down my face. “Really? You are giving this to me?”

  She kisses my head. “I got that when I graduated college, so now I am giving it to you since you have graduated.”

  “I love it. Thank you two so much. I love both of you.”

  Lucy stands up, nearly yelling, “What about me? Don’t you love me too?”

  Leave it to Lucy to make a sentimental moment into a funny one. “Yes, I love you more than my big toe.”

  After looking up and thinking of what to say, she responds, “I love you more than my pinky finger.”

  I shake my head and smile at Lucy. We gather our things together to leave the diner. I kiss them goodbye, telling them I will see them tomorrow. I want to stay one more night, so I can go to the after party.

  I walk back into my dorm, and as I am sitting on my bed, I hear a knock at my door. I put my head in my hands. I know it’s Alan, but I really don’t want to discuss this all right now. I just don’t have it in me.

  I get up, dragging my feet to the door. I open it to see a gorgeous pair of blue eyes looking back at me. Immediately, I pull him in, lock the door, and put my lips on his.

  He deepens the kiss and lays me back on my bed. “I have missed these lips.”

  “Mmm. Me too.”

  He kisses me again before pulling me back up to stand on my feet. “What the hell are you doing?”

  He begins to chuckle. “I told Alan I would come get you to take you to the party. He was still with his folks but wanted to make sure you got there.”

  I reach up, putting my arms around his neck. “Just lay me back down.” He does for only a few minutes until he pulls me up to my feet again and pulls me along beside him.

  The party is in full swing when we finally get there. Chris leaves me while I am talking to Mindy. He comes back with two beers and hands me one.

  “So are you excited that it’s all over?” Mindy says, yelling over the music.

  “Yes and no.”

  “Yeah, me too.” She leans down to whisper in my ear. “I never want to lose you as a friend, so I am going to say this because in all honesty, I am happy for you. Good luck with Chris. You two were always meant to be together.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “I came home early last night. I saw you two in a heavy make out session. I thought it was Alan to start with until I saw Chris’ face in the moonlight. I snuck back out giving you two privacy.”

  I stand stunned when she continues. “I have seen the way he looks at you too. Just promise me you will let Alan down as easy as possible.” She kisses my cheek and walks off.

  Fuck. If she knows then surely Alan knows. Chris turns towards me, and his eyes go wide.

  “What the hell did she say to you?”

  “She knows.”

  “Knows what?”

  “About me and you,” I say, pointing between us with a shaking finger.

  “How the hell does she know?”

  I put my hand over my mouth. I feel sick. I shrug my shoulders, turn, and run out the front door. I run till I hear someone calling my name. I stop to turn around to see Alan with a concerned look on his face.

  “Julia, I have to tell you something.”

  I can’t say anything. I just give him a look as if to say, “Go ahead; I deserve it.”

  “No one could find you anywhere, so I got a call from the police.” He starts getting frantic.

  I shake my head in confusion. “What call from the police? What the hell are you talking about?”

  Chris is standing beside me now waiting on Alan to elaborate.
“Your parents and Lucy where in a bad car accident. They have been rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital. It’s not looking good.”

  “No. This isn’t happening. Please tell me this isn’t happening.”

  “Julia, I’m so sorry.”

  Looking at the pity on both of their faces, I yell louder than I probably should have. “Somebody take me there now.”

  Alan walks to his car and opens the door for me to get in. I grab Chris’ arm and pull him with me. I let Chris into the back of Alan’s Honda Civic, and then I jump in the passenger’s side ready to go.

  Chapter Eight

  My eyes are completely unfocused to everything going on around me. I feel like I’m having an outer body experience. This has to be a dream. I have to be in my dorm asleep. I could almost make myself believe it too until I look over at Alan to see he is in fact driving, and that Chris is in the backseat. This is happening.

  The whole ride to the hospital a hand is on my thigh while a pair of hands are on my shoulders, rubbing lightly, and all I can do is stare out of the window. I see things zooming past me like a blur. All I can think about is getting to the hospital as fast as I can. I need to see their faces to know everything is okay.

  The car stops, and my door is opened with Alan standing over me. “Were here.” He reaches his hand out for me to hold, but I just stare at it. Getting out of the car, I look at my surroundings and find the emergency room door. My legs start moving towards it. Before I know it, I am running.

  The doors automatically open as I dash through them, looking around to find someone to talk to. A lady is sitting at a desk, typing on a computer. She looks over her glasses at me. “May I help you?”

  “Yes.” I say quietly. “I am looking for Mike and Tara Falls. And for my sister, Lucy Falls.”

  She starts typing on her computer. “Are you related to the patients?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She is still looking at her computer. “How?”

  Huffing, I say, “I am their daughter, and Lucy’s sister. Julia Falls.”

  Her eyes drop from the computer and shoot straight up to me. “They are both in surgery, and your little sister is in a room back in emergency. Let me call a nurse to come and get you to take you back to her.”