Beautiful Life

by Bruce Thomas

  Fred's hands moved up and down my back guiding me to move. I could feel my body loosening up with every sway of my hips. He grinned down at me and I got lost in the music.

  He got closer to me the longer that we danced. His hands kept running up and down my back until the song ended and another began then his large hands moved to my sides again. My mind seemed to have forgotten that I didn't like this man. After a week of him stalking the campus that I go to and dodging every question that I throw at him about why he was there, to what his problem was, it didn't phase me that he was touching me.

  I knew I should have been panicking at the fact that he was near me and I knew that I didn't trust him but my mind was hazy. People's faces seemed to blur and the noises became muffled. I've been drunk before. Even though my experiences with alcohol was limited because the smell of the liquor brought back memories of my mother and her tantrums that were always directed at me. But this didn't feel right.

  I didn't feel normal. My movements became sloppy and my limbs felt like they were detached from my body. My eyes became heavy and all I wanted to do was curl up and sleep on the hard cement dance floor. I'm sure I wouldn't even feel the impacts of heels and leather soles puncturing my body.

  My knees buckled underneath me

  "Anna, what's wrong?" Fred wrapped both of his arms around my back holding me up.

  "O-Fred, I c-can't see." My breathing sounded uneven to my own ears. The world went black then focused once again, just to repeat itself.

  His features turned dark as his gaze darted around the club. I heard him curse before his hands tightened around my arms. Before I knew it, I was being dragged through the crowd of people.

  He stopped several times when my legs gave out. His curses and warnings for people to move were muffled in my ears but I could imagine people obeying his every command. I would be scared of him too. I was scared of him.

  "Sit here, okay." His deep voice vibrated through my very core. "I mean it Annaanna. I'll be right back."

  What?! He was leaving me here alone? I truly wasn't sure if I could keep my eyes open for another second. Within mere seconds, or what felt like that, I was hauled up to my feet again. I started to protest at the hands dragging my body towards the exit but was silenced by Fred's voice close to my ear. "Calm down, it's just me."

  When the balmy New York air hit my skin I felt goose bumps brush the surface of my chest regardless to the temperature. Even though it was hot out, it was hotter in the club.

  Fred's POV

  This was all my fault. I looked at her completely passed out in the passenger seat of my SUV, her face covered by her unruly hair. I gripped the steering wheel tighter to fight the urge to push the hair off her face.

  "Fùck!" I shouted angrily slamming my palm over the round leather wheel. I wasn't worried about waking her, she was out cold. That's what being roofied will do to you. Was this girl really that stupid that she would be so oblivious of someone slipping something into her drink? Surely she knew the rules of not taking anything from anyone. Especially in a god damned night club.

  The thought of what could have happened to her made my stomach clench and I felt the need to vomit. This was all my fault.

  I usually don't remember the faces of who I provide service to but this I was certain: I gave the drug to that asshole who Anna was openly flirting with at the bar. I should have kicked his ass then. He sauntered up all business guy looking and passed over the money. It didn't click that he was one of the many people I dealt to at the club tonight until Anna started acting strange.

  A shiver passed through me. I swear if I would have laid eyes on him before we left I would have killed him.

  I swerved through traffic trying to get her home as fast as possible. I wasn't going to Annang her to the hospital because I didn't feel that it was that serious. Anna groaned in her unconscious state. If she threw up in my car I swear...

  Before I pulled up to her dorm building, I sat in the car just looking at her. We had two problems here: One: How the hell was I going to get her up the flight of stairs and Two: Why did I care?

  Why was I here with Anna in my car? She was just some innocent girl who clearly wouldn't have anything to do with me if she knew what kind of a person I was. Hell, she didn't want anything to do with me as it is.

  I showed up to the campus almost every day last week. Trust me, I wasn't watching for her, no, I was just doing a few favors for some "clients". Seeing her that first day was just a coincidence. I was passing things along to some guys before that boring art lecture started and decided to stick around when I saw her sit down in the seat a couple rows ahead of me. She was flustered, I could tell by the tinge of pink on her cheeks, when she entered the hall just in the nick of time before the professor took his place up front.

  I was going to get up and leave--I was--but the thought of her embarrassment from my little game resurface and I knew I couldn't resist seeing her roll her eyes at me again or scowl at something that I had said.

  She walked out of the building without me noticing which humored me because I was almost positive I was right on her heels leaving the lecture hall. I knew she would have a few words to throw my way because of my constant bantering.

  There was something about her untamed hair that turned me on. I wanted to run my hands through it and wrap it around my fist.

  When I saw her leaning up against a tree, a book in her hand and the wind blowing her hair I felt something shift inside of me. I ignored it and went in for the kill.

  I absolutely loved the way she threw curve balls at me, denying anything that I would say to her.

  Girls normally would accept anything that I offered, putting on that fake sweet girl exterior to make them seem more approachable but not Anna. She had the look of an angel, the wavy hair that framed her face and blue eyes that looked like they've never seen any bad but she was guarded. Then she opened her mouth and shots were fired. Well, at least towards me.

  She was fire and I was playing with it. And then the following day, I watched her walk from one building to the next. I was going to approach her for some more fun when another girl came up to her and walked alongside her. I, of course, had no clue who the girl was but Anna just smiled and started talking animatedly with her hands. It wasn't until Friday that I actually spoke to her again. That dįck Dakota called for her while I was flirting with some little Asian girl. She was sweet and giggled when I whispered provocative things in her ear but she was boring and an easy target.

  I knew he was going to ask Anna out or some pathetic shit by his awkward gestures and constant licking of his lips.

  When I stepped in, Anna was so pissed. I could practically feel her shaking under my arm. I wasn't planning on gripping her hand, that was just improvised. But man was that a good move! Dakota looked like he was going to sink into the concrete and Anna--Shit, Anna--her expression was priceless. It played over and over in my head for the rest of the afternoon.

  When I told her about my intention of us "hanging out" instead of her spending time with Dakota, I wasn't expecting her to actually say yes, I just wanted to get under her skin. Friends. That word falling from her lips made me crack up. Friends? She would never get caught dead being my friend. Most girls go through that phase of wanting to be with a bad boy. Every girl loves a bad boy. It was something that every mother hated and gave their daughters a reason to rebel.

  Pshh friends. No, I didn't want to be her friend. She was quite frankly annoying as far as I could tell and she clearly didn't have a smart cell in her body. She was nice to everyone, overly nice to everyone, but me, which I liked because it kept me on my toes but I don't think I could breathe the same air as her for more than small amounts at a time. Not to mention her friend drove me crazy.

  When I told Elmer I was taking Anna home, Janet, who sat next to him blatantly trying to ignoring him by gossiping with that other girl who Anna seemed to like, freaked out.

  "Hell no, she isn't going anywhere with you! Where
is she?" She searched the place like a mad woman, stretching her neck to gain more height.

  "She's sick and needs to be taken home," I blantaly stated already turning around to get back to Anna who was slumped over on the couch. I didn't need this girl's lip right now.

  "Well if she's sick then we better go too." She and Anne stood up and started making their way off the couches. I gritted my teeth and turned to Elmer as if to tell him to control his wannabe girlfriend. Just the word made me cringe.

  "I think Fred's got this," Elmer assured the girls taking Janet by the elbow to pull her back down beside him.

  "No. There's no way that's going to happen." Janet shook off Elmer's hand and started to stand up again. "Yeah, Janet you should go," Sydney suggested making me grimace. I danced with her a few times throughout the night and even let her suck on my neck though I didn't feel a majority of it. She was like a leech.

  I knew Janet was aware of what I did with my free time. Even though she was invisible to me last summer, I'm positive she was aware of me and my exploits with women, along with my occupation.

  I made my way back to Anna before she could follow. The last thing I wanted was her barking in my ear with her annoying high pitched voice. I don't know how Elmer did it.

  Anna stirred in her slumber when I opened her car door and moved her arm around my neck. There was no use in delaying this any longer. I had better things to be doing. "Why are we moving?" She whined standing on her two feet, not so steady may I add. I straightened her up and started moving towards the entrance of the building. Her moves were sluggish which made it hard to maneuver her up the several flight of stairs.

  I asked her what floor she was on and what her room number was. I was over the moon that she was somewhat coherent because this could make for a long night and I wasn't about to stay in the hallway with an unconscious body.

  When we reached her door I sat her down against the wall. I dug into the black satchel that hung across her body that couldn't possibly belong to her because of the gaudy sequins that were plastered on the outside and pulled out her key. I'm guessing the ugly bag belonged to her roommate. Giving the lock a little shake, it popped open revealing an empty apartment. Pulling Anna up by her arms I practically carried her inside. I followed my instincts and guessed which bedroom was hers. It was a guess between a black and gold leopard themed bedspread to a plain floral print one. I may not know this girl well but it didn't take a brain surgeon to take a pick.

  I laid her down on top of the bed. Well I sorta dropped her but she didn't say anything except groan. My job was done and my guilty conscience was at ease for getting her home safely. I straightened up and started walking towards the door.

  "Don't go."

  Her words were so softly spoken that I wasn't sure if she really said them or if my sick mind was playing tricks on me.

  I turned around slowly to face her. She was laying on her side curled up in a ball, black makeup that I'm sure Janet made her wear smudged underneath her eyes. She looked like a perfect mess. "Please," she begged softly. It seemed the effect of the drug was beginning to wear off which meant she didn't obtain too much of it, just enough to make my life hell.

  She sat up slowly as if her body hurt. I stayed put in my spot in the doorway. This was uncharted territory. To my surprise she started to stand up from the bed.

  I rushed over and forced her back down before she could hurt herself.

  "Seriously, Anna."

  Even through her drugged up state she managed to glare at me. "What do you need?" I asked with annoyance.

  I sat on the side of her mattress suddenly feeling tired. I know for sure I didn't get drugged but my body felt like it could beg to differ. "Water? Crackers?" She lifted her deep blue eyes up to mine stunned. Her eyes became glazed and her mouth slacked in confusion. I had an urge to roll my eyes at her doe-like look; her eyes big and innocent. She better answer quick before I change my mind and stick to being an asshole.

  The lights from the street illuminated her room making her skin look porcelain white. She looked so lost and for a few seconds the thought crossed my mind for the second time that she was just as broken as me. She was just as alone in this world as I was. In some morbid way it was comforting.

  We were sitting shoulder to shoulder on her bed, a toxic silence between us. I watched her eyes dart to my lips before she brought them back up to mine, her pupils dilating.

  Anna swallowed forcing my attention to her slender neck as it bobbed then shifted. When I raked my eyes back up to her face she was watching my mouth again.

  I knew I shouldn't do it. I knew she would hate me for it in the morning if she remembered it at all. It was just a kiss. A simple thing that people did all the time. But Anna was different and I'm sure she would react differently to something that was just a measly kiss to someone else.

  Plus knowing that she was inexperienced and not in her right state of mind, I didn't trust myself to only kiss her.

  But I was selfish, I knew I was, I never pretended to be anything but. Her lips just looked so kissable, I couldn't help myself.

  I moved towards her head, keeping my eyes open long enough to see her close hers. Letting my eyes flutter close I continued to close the distance. =================

  8

  Anna's POV

  I couldn't stop the magnetic pull I was feeling as Fred's head moved down to mine. My mind felt jumbled and vulnerable. I knew I didn't want him to kiss me but then at the same time that was the only thing I could think about.

  He's been nothing but rude to me since the day I met him. Except for tonight.

  He saved you, my subconscious egged me on.

  I had to admit, Fred was devilishly handsome. He had eyes that couldn't seem to make up their mind on what color they were. From far away they appeared almost brown, dark from the shadows of his lashes, hazel when his gaze was intensely pinned on you, and a dark grey when close up. That's how they appeared now, a clouded grey like the ocean during a storm and I was drowning.

  My stomach twisted. My nerves were all over the place trailing my mind along with them. I felt the bile slither up my throat before I could speak. The next thing I know, just before Fred's lips grazed mine, my head turned away, my stomach emptying itself on to his lap.

  I was thankful darkness took over me before I could hear a single word come from Fred's lips. Lips that were so close to being on mine. Fred's POV

  This was karma. Proof that I shouldn't get close to her, and especially not kiss her.

  Grimacing, I got up from the bed trying my best not to breathe through my nose. The clear liquid that spewed on my lap was starting to seep through my pant leg. This is what I get for helping someone. Good deeds always backfire.

  Before leaving her room I allowed myself one more look at Anna.

  Once

  again her hair fell over to face, her lips pressed together in a pout. Even in her sleep she seemed guarded. Her arms folded around her body like a barricade keeping anyone out.

  She was so oblivious to the angry world around her.

  Just as I was about to walk back over to the bed and brush her hair out of her face I heard the front door pop open.

  Thank God. This was getting too weird for me.

  I rushed out of Anna's bedroom so no one would catch me watching her. No doubt it was Janet. Her heels tapped the floor in a rapid pace sounding like my heartbeat.

  I greeted her out in the entryway with silence.

  "Well," she said crossing her arms over her nonexistent chest clearly not happy with me being here in her apartment. "Empty your pockets before you leave so I know you didn't steal anything." I didn't hold myself back from rolling my eyes. I really couldn't stand this girl. "Anna's asleep. Just let her sleep it off. She should be fine by morning." I walked passed her and headed for the exit. The last thing I wanted was to actually have a conversation not to mention I was practically wearing vomit.

  "What happened tonight?" She stopped though before adva
ncing towards me? Talking a step back. "What is that smell?"

  I grimaced, trying not to breath in the smell of acidulated vodka. "Long story."

  Janet looked down at the wet spot on the front of my pants and gave me a disgusted look. I was going to tell her to get her head out of the gutter but the girl was already speaking. "One minute she was getting drinks

  and then next..." She huffed out an exasperated breath. "I was too caught up in being upset with Elmer to even notice she was gone for long. Wow, I'm a shitty friend."

  I was still surprised that Janet wanted to be Anna's friend. Yes, Anna was a very likeable person as far as I can tell but those two were complete polar opposites. Anna was all small town-country-breath of fresh air while Janet was full on city charm. Anna was plain Jane and Janet never left the house without a full face of makeup.

  That girl passed out in her bed in the other room was just so different from the girls that I'm used to seeing Janet with.

  "Someone roofied her."

  Janet's drug in a quick breath, her face suddenly paling under her dark complexion. She seemed to not be able to form a complete sentence as she stuttered, rubbing her temples.

  "Well then," she said dropping her arms at her side in exhaustion. "Thanks, I guess, Fred." Okay, this was getting too Hallmark channel for me. The last thing I wanted out of this night was ReJanet Johnson thinking I was a hero in this situation.

  Before I could twist the door knob to leave, Janet's voice stopped me.

  "I don't know what this is about Fred--with Anna and all, but don't think this is going to become anything more than that. She's a sweet girl. You should leave her that way."

  I felt my lungs constrict with sigh I wanted to release. Did she think I didn't know this? If she even knew why Anna was in the situation she would have kicked me out without a single word. I muttered a whatever and left the apartment as fast as I could.