by Bruce Thomas
"Then I have some place to be." I pushed off the sink and headed for the door.
Fred's eyes seemed to ignite and he stepped forward blocking me in between the bathroom sink and the door. "Fine, I do." I looked up at him. Now he was just messing with me. He just couldn't stand that
I was not crying after him probably like he expected. This was all just part of his game.
He reached out and moved my hair off my shoulder revealing my neck to him. I told myself to move away from his touch but my body was frozen in place. A shiver went straight through me and I saw the corner of his lips turn up. I flinched when his fingertips grazed over a sore spot on my neck. "You didn't even bother to cover it up," he smirked meeting my eyes in the mirror.
Tilting my head further to the side I stepped closer to my reflection to see a giant hickey on the side of my neck. How I missed it, I don't know, but this just made the situation worst.
Now it looked like I was wearing the mark proudly. His mark.
I looked at my reflection seeing my blue eyes round and shocked, and my cheeks pink with embarrassment. My fingers reached around to hide the purple and red blemish from both of our views. I flung my hair back to cover the spot and pushed past him to get away from him. But he pressed me back against the counter harder than before. Why wouldn't he just let me leave? "If you go back out there right now people are going to start to think something is up. Do you really want people sticking their nose in our business? No." He pushed my hair back off my shoulder, bearing the mark that he gave me again. "Everyone will know that I put that there. That you enjoyed it, if I remember correctly and trust me, I do. You are mine while you have that on you."
Mine.
But he clearly wasn't mine. I turned to him even more pissed off than before.
If
he thinks he can get me riled up I know how to get him too.
"I didn't agree to your stupid idea. Fred."
"Yet, here we are."
"So you're confessing your love for me in a restaurant bathroom?" I sneered.
Mine.
I did care about what they would think of me but seeming my hair has covered the mark the whole time we were here without any of them, including myself seeing it, I could conceal it long enough to walk out there, grab my Patet, and leave.
"I'm not confessing anything to you. God, you're so annoying." He threw his hands up in the air giving me leeway to brush past him and leave him standing in the restroom alone.
I wasn't going to take his rude words. I didn't have to take this from him. I had to stick to my plan on ignoring him before I turned to putty in his hands just like every other girl that walked this city. I walked back to the group of people and left money on the table for my food. Everyone looked at me with worried expressions.
"I'm not feeling well," I explained putting a hand over my stomach for dramatic effect. "Must have been the food. I think I'm gonna head home." I turned to Janet and she nodded to me understanding. "I'm sure I will feel better for your party tonight Elmer. You can count on me being there to be the best beer pong partner you've ever had, Becs," I said trying to muster up the most believable smile I could. She smiled back but it didn't meet her eyes. She wasn't stupid.
"Do you want me to come with you? I could walk you back the dorms so you're
not alone," Dakota offered. I smiled at him feeling even more guilty for putting him in the middle of this. He was such a nice guy and I was treating him like he was nothing.
Just when I was about to accept his offer, Fred bounded back through the restaurant. "She doesn't need your help, she's fine," Fred's voice came booming in. His eyes were crazy towards Dakota and his breathing was unsteady under his white shirt. I quickly walked out the entrance of the mexican restaurant before Fred could start something. He was so confusing, first wanting nothing to do with me then becoming all territorial when someone else did. He was like a child who didn't want a toy until one of the other kids wanted it. I was not a toy.
"Stop," he commanded grabbing me outside of the door.
I jerked his hand off my elbow and moved away from the windows where I'm sure people from the table were watching.
"Stop," he forcefully instructed, gripping onto me again Annanging me to a stop. Another round of anger shot through me.
"No, you stop." I jabbed my finger accusingly into his chest. I was so angry. I don't remember ever being filled with this much anger. I felt like my chest was caving in.
"Will you just listen to me for a sec." He was close to my face trying to get me to look at him but I refused. I wanted to burst into tears.
"Come on let's go somewhere," Fred cooed in my ear. I pushed him away getting out of his grip. "I'm not going anywhere with you." I started walking back the way Janet and I came, angry tears threatening to spill. I blinked them away and pushed forward hearing Fred calling behind me.
He caught up quickly and grabbed my arm.
I hated when he did that. I hated his hold on me and I hated that I was finally accepting that fact that I like him. Well, liked him. No I like him. Gawh, this was so frustrating! "Why are you mad at me?" He had the gaul to ask.
I snorted sarcastically and started walking away from him again.
"Anna, stop walking away."
"No Fred, why don't you!" I screamed in his face spinning around to face him. People on the streets looked our way but shook our tone off as a lovers quarrel. "Why did you leave this morning, or was it last night?" I was holding back my anger and I'm sure he could tell. I eyed the bystanders walking around us, trying to calm myself down.
Fred grabbed my upper arm again ignoring the hard look I gave him while doing so and pulled me under the canopy of one of the many shops steps.
"Look," he started, letting go of my arm exasperated. "Last night probably shouldn't have happened but it did and I want to be completely sure that you know that it was just for fun. It didn't mean anything. I told you, if you wanted this, it would be on my terms."
It didn't mean anything.
Terms.
Good God, I am an idiot.
You will not cry Annaanna.
"I am not one of your girls who you can use and toss aside, okay? I have morals and even though they didn't stick last night, that will never ever happen again. You are never allowed to touch me again, alright? I mean it Fred. Now I would appreciate it if you stay away from
me." I rushed around the corner, luckily not coming in contact with people also turning. I couldn't get the image of Sydney's lips on Fred's out of my mind. I literally thought my dinner was going to come up as the picture flashed across my sight again and again.
There were no tears leaving my eyes like I thought there would be because I wasn't sad, I was hurt. I should have known that last night meant nothing to him like it did to me. I had just watched too many romantic movies.
The adrenaline was starting to leave my body leaving me jittery and drained as I pushed open the door to my dorm room.
I wonder how Fred was going to explain him following me outside of the restaurant to his friends. No doubt he would have a good cover up for his actions.
Anna, just left her keys. You know her, she's such ditz. Or maybe he let on that I was in love with him or something. Yeah, she just can't stay away. She's obsessed. Had to set her right, ya know? I am so mad. I am so mad at myself.
Tonight, I am going to keep my head high, be the best beer ponger that dorm room as ever seen, and I was going to stay away from Fred Montgomery. I will.
***** Janet and I walked up to Elmer and Bruce's floor to see that Elmer was in his normal hosting spot just outside the door. I took in the way his face lit up when he saw my roommate walking towards him. It was enough to Annang back that pang in my chest I have been trying to ignore for a couple of hours now.
After pecking Janet on the lips he turned his attention on me displaying an apologetic look. I waved it off with a flick of my hand and walked past him after patting his shoulder. I needed alcohol and I needed
it now.
Winding my way through the crowd of people standing by the coolers of alcoholic beverages, I finally reached the far end of the room and grabbed myself a Mike's Hard. Snapping off the top, I drowned half the bottle before taking a breath.
"Rough night?"
I couldn't stop the grimace from appearing on my face. Was me telling him to stay away not clear enough?
"Buzz off Fred," I groaned Annanging the bottle to my mouth again finishing it. This solution was weak and I needed something stronger.
"Shot?" He offered holding up the clear bottle with clear liquid. I eyed him while he reached for a small glass on the counter and filled it to the rim.
Taking the shot glass cautiously, I waited for him to pour himself one too. This was what I didn't get about Fred. Not even twenty-four hours ago we were in the same bed, then not even a couple hours ago were screaming at each other, and now he's acting like we're long lost friends. I can't keep up with him.
"I wouldn't pin you for the partying type," he said sounding bored, side eyeing me while he spoke. He drained the potent liquid from his shot glass with a toss of his head.
"It's rude to assume things. You know, it makes an ass out of yourself, but really you do that any way so..." I was shocked by how strong my voice was coming out when really I was just bitter and tired. "You're a feisty drunk!" Fred laughed. "I like it. You're full of surprises."
I
didn't correct him on how drunk I was because I wasn't drunk, at lease not yet. I was trying very hard to be though.
"You don't know me at all Fred." I reached for the bottle in his hand and poured myself another shot. If he was going to stick around and annoy me I was going to need something to blur him out. "Oh, but I do," he mocked, grabbing the bottle out of my hand and hiding it behind his back when I went to pour myself another. A nice buzz was filling my head and I was starting to feel better about this past day.
"You see," he said moving towards me. I couldn't tell how much he had to drink and that scared me. I stepped back with every step he took forward. I gasped when the back of my thighs touch the counters. He now had me blocked.
"There are several types of people in this world, the weak and the strong, and you Annaanna, are weak. You give your emotions away too easily." He leaned in close enough that I could smell the vodka on his breath. "You need to work on that."
I could feel the heat burning in my cheeks at his observation. I was not weak. After what I confessed to him on the roof top, he should know at least that. I stood there pressed against the front of Fred barricading me from moving, glaring at him with all I had. I hated him and I could tell he hated me too by the way his face was scrunched up in a sarcastic manner and his breathing was coming out in raged burst across my face.
We were snapped out of our glaring contest, which I'm sure Fred would have won, by a high pitched voice coming from the living room.
"Fred, come and play!"
He drug his focus away from me to a tall brunette with an extremely low cut shirt standing a few feet away. His jaw clenched as he steadied his breathing.
"Coming," he answered shortly angling his head back towards me.
I continued to study the girl waiting for Fred to come and play one of their stupid games which I'm sure revolved him and some random chick leaving together.
"You coming?" Fred asked already halfway out of the kitchen snapping me out of my envious thoughts. Did I want to follow him? I've played one of their games before but I guess that really wouldn't be considered one because it was based around me. I'm sure this one was real.
My mind went back to the brunette waiting for Fred in the other room. My feet started making my way to him without my brains consent. =================
19
As I trailed behind Fred, I came to see people gathered in a circle on the floor. I measured the circumference of the group searching for a familiar face but recognized no one.
"Sit by me, Fred," the busty brunette purred patting the space beside her on the ground. Fred didn't even spare me a glance as he left me standing awkwardly outside the circle to abide the girl's command. Once he was seated on the floor he motioned for me to sit across from him with a flick of his head.
I sighed inwardly but didn't bother to hide my glare at him, none the less, doing as he said. The guy sitting next to an empty spot gave me a friendly smile and I squeezed in next to him. I got an eerie feeling as his knee knocked against mine on the carpet and stayed there. "So what are we playing?" I asked trying to scrunch my body up so that no one's limbs were touching me. Fred smirked across the circle at my obvious discomfort.
"We could play spin the bottle," the guy next to me suggested. A couple 'yeahs' and 'alrights' waved around the circle but Fred shook his head.
"No, let's shake this up a little." He grabbed the beer bottle in the center of the circle and gave it a rough spin before he stopped it with the palm of his hand. It stopped with the neck of the bottle pointing straight at me intimidatingly. "Let's play Too Hot."
I raised my eyebrows at him. He rolled his eyes and rubbed his hands together before balancing his weight on his forearms behind him.
"For those of you who don't know what that is--" He dramatically tipped his head in my direction making everyone else look at me. He grinned as he watched me blush and squirm anxiously. I hated him. "You spin the bottle and you have to kiss that person without touching each other. If one player touches the other, they lose. The winner gets to do whatever they want to the loser."
The brunette rubbed her chest up against the side of Fred's arm and he looked down smirking at her boyishly.
"We kiss right in front of everyone or are we aloud to take it somewhere more private?" She asked blinking up at him and biting her lip. I scoffed and rested back on my hands. Fred shrugged and turned back towards the group. "Whatever the person spinning decides." "For how long do we lock lips?" Asked a guy sitting on the other side of me a few people down. "As long as it takes for one of you to touch the other," Fred answered with a smirk.
"Okay," the brunette said clapping her hands together. She flicked the bottle with the tops of her fake nails and sent the green bottle spinning. Her shoulders slouched when the bottle didn't land on Fred, but a pretty blonde girl sitting next to me.
The circle exploded in sounds of excitement. My eyes went large. They weren't really going to kiss each other, right? Both girls giggled and made their way to the center of the circle. I looked across to see Fred watching them with glazed over eyes, clearly excited about the turn of events. I watched the two girls hook their arms individually behind their backs and connected their mouths.
People who weren't even playing the game stopped to watch the scene, cat calling and howling like animals as the two girls blantly made out. They were balancing themselves on the tops of their knees and when the blonde leaned too far in, the brunette's hands shot out and grabbed her shoulders to steady herself from falling over. The booze in their systems didn't help.
Another round of chaos roared through the room at the sight of one of the one girl losing. "Get me another beer, bitch," the blonde giggled as she chose her command. "And when that one is gone, get me another. You are going to be my personal bartender tonight." The brunette bowed dramatically and got back up to her feet, sauntering into the kitchen. Fred now grabbed the bottle and spun it. My eyes watched the bottle as it circled around and around. My heart was pounding in my ears as it moved in slow motion and exploded into stardust as it stopped on me.
Our eyes snapped up to face each other at the same time. A large smirk plastered Fred's face which was met with my frown. Why do I keep putting myself in situations like this? But I couldn't lie and say that I was ecstatic that it landed on me and no one else on the floor.
I couldn't stand to watch Fred kiss someone else in front of me again. "Let's go somewhere more private, Raine," Fred shot across the circle. I could just imagine the shade of red my face was as everyone watched me get up and follow Fred o
ut of the living room and down the hall.
I could still feel the slight buzz of alcohol running through my veins but I felt the need to turn back around and take another swig of something before following Fred into Elmer's room. I jumped when
the door shut and the lock twisted. Well, I was trapped now. It was just kissing though, I've kissed Fred before. No biggie.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that, my subconscious sarcastically chided.
"Okay," I said turning to face him. "let's get this kiss over with." I straightened my shoulders and looked him straight in the eye.
The lazy smile on his face turned cocky. He took a step towards me and I tried my hardest not to take a step backwards.
"Let's sit on the bed." He walked over and sat down on Elmer's surprisingly made bed but I stayed where I was. I crossed my arms over my chest and sighed. Every time I'm around Fred the universe has its way of putting me in terrible situations. Last time it was in his bedroom and now it's in his best friend's. Talk about awkward.
He patted the spot next to him with quick taps and continued to mischiefly smile up at me. "I'm not sitting on that bed," I said dropping my arms and narrowly stare at him. "Who knows what's happened on it." Just the thought made me uneasy.
"Imagine what we could do on it..." Fred bit his lip in a seductive way that nearly made me want to throw myself at him. I shook my head quickly and continued to watch him. The moon was beaming through Elmer's bedroom window casting shadows across Fred's face. I wish he would have turned on a light. But that would make this less intimidating in a way, and of course, he lived for making me uncomfortable.
With a sigh Fred stood back up. He better swoop in quick and get this over with. I was a hair away from backing out and
going back to my dorm to die soundlessly in my sleep. "Fine," he said closing in on me, leaving a few inches between us but not touching in any way. It was horrible. "When I win, we'll just take it back to my place and you'll have to do what I say." I scoffed. "You wish." I mentally prepared myself. There was no way I was going to let him win. When I win, I was going to command him to leave me alone. Not just for the rest of the night, but for the rest of my four years here in New York.