Sweet Is Revenge

by Victoria Rose

  I stayed there for awhile longer before finding a few willing women to dance with. I always kept my eye open for Lillian though. She danced like a professional. After a half hour on the dance floor I went back over to the bar. I had just ordered another drink when she sat down next to me. I looked over at her and she was looking at me expectantly.

  "You order me a drink, smile at me, then turn away from me and dance with other girls. I can already tell you're going to be odd," I looked at her, shocked for a moment. This was something I didn't expect. I just wanted her to catch a glimpse of me. I wasn't expecting a conversation yet.

  "I wanted to buy a drink for a beautiful woman, nothing more to it," I said coolly. She stared at me for a moment before ordering another drink.

  "Where are you from?" She yelled over the music.

  "A couple hours north of here," I answered, not giving details.

  "What brings you here?" She asked, taking a sip of her drink. I contemplated for a moment.

  "Family business," I finally answered. It was vague enough and true enough. She nodded.

  "Right on, well, enjoy your stay in our Podunk town, it's nothing compared to the city, but it's home nonetheless," she said, standing up. I put my hand on her bare arm.

  "How did you know I'm not from a small town?" I asked and she grinned.

  "When you live in a small town long enough, you learn these things, you realize when you're not talking to one of your own," and with that she walked away. I quickly got up and followed her, grabbing her arm once again. She turned to me with a raised eyebrow.

  "Do you want to dance?" I asked with a smile. She laughed.

  "So now you want to dance? You're too late, friend. Maybe some other time," she put her hand over mine and removed my hand from her arm. I smirked as she walked away. Yes, she was different alright. I was going to have fun breaking her independence and charisma. Break the spirit, and what do you have left?

  Nothing.

  This would be the most fun game I had ever played. I could already feel it.

  Chapter Four: A RunHaven't we met?

  You're some kind of beautiful stranger.

  Madonna- Beautiful Stranger

  Lillian

  It was odd, waking up in my own bed on a Sunday morning. Beth had gotten a serious case of alcohol poisoning, so I went home Saturday night after helping the man she brought home take care of her. My parents were pleasantly surprised to have one of their kids home on a weekend. I wanted to do them a favor, so I called my brother and told him I'd buy him some Superman ice-cream if he came home for the night. That always wins him over.

  So we had our first family night in a long time. We rented some movies and pigged out on junk food. I cooked dinner for a change and we had a really good time. But the junk food did not agree with my body. I don't eat junk food a lot. It just makes me feel disgusting. So when I did wake up on Sunday morning and looked down at my stomach I could have puked. Actually, I did puke. Since I'm small, even if I eat a little something, you can tell in my stomach. There is literally a physical change. I looked like I was pregnant.

  I decided that even though it was only eight in the morning and like I've mentioned, I'm not a morning person. I was going to go for a run. I knew that Brian would be feeling like me too, and I was going to force him to go running with me. So I got my running clothes on, shorts and usually a sports bra, but I decided to wear a tank top because I was not showing off my stomach when I was so full. I put my hair up in a messy bun and made my way to Brian's room.

  I jumped on his bed, my favorite way to wake people up. "Get the fuck off me monkey," he growled. I rolled over and looked at him. I pulled the covers down and looked at his stomach.

  "Okay fatty, we're going for a run," I demanded.

  "It's too early, I'll go later," he said, covering his face with his arms.

  "Look at yourself, you're as bloated as I am. Do you really want to go out later, when the rest of the world is up to see you?" I tried to play on his vain streak, and it worked. He moved his arms and looked down at his stomach.

  "Ugh, you're right. Get out of here so I can change, I'll be downstairs in a minute," he said, flipping the covers off and walking over to his closet. I went downstairs and got two bottles of water from the fridge and put on my tennis shoes. Brian walked down shortly after in track pants and a wife beater, stretching and yawning. I threw a water bottle at him and stood up.

  We helped each other stretch in the front yard before getting started at a jog. "What'd you do this weekend sis?" He asked after awhile.

  "Went to The Club, Beth got alcohol poisoning," I said sighing.

  "She never knows when to quit," he said with a laugh.

  "Maybe this will teach her. She was really sick. She met someone nice at The Club though, he stayed with her and took care of her," I said, picking up my pace a little bit, Brian easily stayed with me.

  "Who the hell is it? Usually only the creeps hang out there," he said and I playfully hit him. "I was talking about the guys, not the girls," he added.

  "I have no idea who it is. But really, being nice is all he has going for him. He's a short guy, maybe my height, he's overweight and his hairline is receding, he's only like, twenty-three I think," I couldn't believe Beth had taken him home. He had put the moves on her all night and finally she gave into his chivalrous charm. It wasn't unusual for Beth to take someone home, but usually they were attractive.

  "Her standards have obviously dropped," he said in a bitter voice. Beth and him had a fling for awhile and she decided she wanted to end it. That was something that Brian was not okay with. Usually he chose when to "ditch the bitch," as he put it. It caused not only problems between them, but between Beth and me as well. I don't care about any other guy she messes with, but when it came to my brother, I was almost as over-protective of him as he was of me.

  "She'll never get better than you, she'll just keep going down," I said, winking at him. He laughed and started running faster. I kept up with him like it was a piece of cake. A lot of times we raced, but right now it was more for our bodies than for fun that we were running.

  "Did you meet anyone? Not that I would approve of you picking up anybody in that hell hole," he added. I scrunched my eyebrows up. Yeah I had met someone. But I couldn't recall anything except that he was extremely tall with amazing eyes. I couldn't even remember the color of said eyes.

  "Yeah, but I don't know him. I don't know a name or what he looks like. I had never seen him before. He was from the city. He bought me a drink and then danced with some other girls, not even talking to me until I approached him. It was so odd," I admitted. Brian smiled.

  "I've done that a few times. He was either trying to make you jealous by dancing with other girls, or he lost his nerve to talk to you after he bought you the drink," he explained. I nodded.

  "But then, I went over to him and confronted him and he looked shocked. Then I got up to go away and he grabbed my arm and asked me for a dance. I declined him, I'm not sure why though. As far as I remember, I thought he was really hot, but I just don't remember any details," this was a weird situation. I never forgot what people looked like, no matter how much I drank.

  I was off in my own little world, forgetting about conversing with my brother, or looking where I was going for that matter. I didn't hear anything until Brian's voice broke through my thoughts with a yell of my name.

  It was too late. I hit something hard and fell backwards, whatever I hit falling with me. I landed on my back, smacking my head on the concrete. I realized I ran into a person and luckily they had more grace and caught themselves, before falling completely on top of me. I groaned and opened my eyes. I was looking straight into dark blue eyes, amazing dark blue eyes at that. He quickly got off and reached out a hand to me. I ignored it and got up on my own, my head spinning with the spin.

  Once my vision cleared, I took another look at the guy who felt more like a brick building. I damned my short mother, and acquiring most of her
genes, for a moment when I had to actually look up at him. Blonde hair was messy on top of his head. His jaw was squared and his cheek bones were sharp. His nose was perfect and straight. He looked like a walking Ken doll. He was tall and muscular, almost having my brother beat. He was gorgeous.

  "Are you alright?" He asked in a baritone voice. I nodded, cocking my head and lowering my eyebrows.

  "Do I know you? You look familiar," I said, my brother had joined my side the moment I got up, acting as my silent protector.

  "I met you at The Club on Friday night. I bought you a drink and you denied me a dance, ring any bells?" He asked with a half smile. My eyes widened in recognition. This was the guy I was just telling my brother about.

  "Oh yeah, you bought me a drink and then didn't talk to me. Then when I finally approached you, you asked me for a dance, and I denied you, that sounds like the more realistic version of the story," I said, crossing my arms. He smiled.

  "It's all in the details," he held out his hand. "I'm Decklin," I took his hand in mine.

  "Lillian," he took my hand and kissed it. I rolled my eyes. "That is such an out dated move, you won't make my heart swoon with that one," I lied. I loved it when guys showed an old sense of chivalry. I just wasn't keen on accepting it. My brother started laughing to himself, reminding me he was there. "This is Brian, my brother," I said. Brian quit laughing and gave a curt nod. Decklin nodded back. "Anyway, Brian and I were just finishing our run, can't keep a body like this and eat junk food without working it off," I said nervously. There was something about him that made my heart jump. I'd had plenty of good looking guys come onto me before, but none compared to this Decklin character.

  "I was running too. Do you guys mind if I join you? I'm going to be around here for awhile and I don't know anybody," he said, scratching the back of his head. He looked as nervous as I felt. I looked over at Brian, I could tell that he was a little hesitant, but finally he sighed and I knew he had given in.

  "Alright, hope you can keep up," I said with a smile and started running again. Soon all three of us were running in unison and I decided to show off a little. I sped up, it barely phased me because I run every day. Brian soon caught up to my speed and I went to look back to see how Decklin was doing when he raced past me. I was stunned for a minute, I was going fast and he just zooms right past like it was a snail race? I don't think so. We took turns passing each other until I felt like I was going to die. He was good. I couldn't let him beat me though, so I kept up until my heart felt like exploding and my lungs felt non-existent, we had left Brian a long way back some time ago.

  We reached the park and I collapsed on the grass, breathing heavily. Decklin stopped next to me, his elbows on his knees and breathing just as heavily as me. I started laughing, for no reason. Decklin looked at me like I was from another planet before joining me, collapsing on his back next to me, his hands on his stomach. I don't know how long we laughed, but it was refreshing.

  "I have never run so fast in my life," I admitted breathlessly.

  "Neither have I, you are fast," his voice sounded amazed. I turned my head to look at him. He looked back.

  "Well, I've been running since I could walk… Actually I think running came before walking, nobody could slow me down. I love it," I smiled brightly which he returned with one of his own smiles.

  "Well it paid off, no one's ever been so close to beating me, which you didn't by the way."

  "I totally did beat you. It's okay to admit you were beat by a girl," I said, teasing.

  "It's okay to admit it when it's true, but in this case it wasn't. If anything it was a tie," he said, I rolled my eyes.

  "Fine, but next time we're timing it so I can keep a record of it," I frowned. Next time? Where had that come from. He was obviously wondering the same thing.

  "There will be a next time?" He asked me, propping himself up on one elbow. I shrugged.

  "If you're lucky," I told him, standing up. He followed suit. "Anyway, it was nice meeting you," I began to walk off when I heard his voice.

  "Are you doing anything today?" He asked. I stopped and turned back around. "Like I said, I'm going to be here for awhile and I don't know anybody, you seem nice enough," he added.

  "I'm actually going to the shooting range with my dad today, you can come with us if you want," I offered as Brian finally caught up.

  "You… Guys… Suck," he said between breaths. I laughed and pushed him. He proceeded to dramatically collapse to the ground, breathing deeply.

  "You know how to shoot?" Derek said when he was done looking at my brother, humor was shining in his eyes. His beautiful blue eyes. Man, would I ever get over them? Probably not.

  "I know how to do a lot of stuff," I said with a shrug. "Shooting I just happen to know how to do well."

  "I'd like to see that. 'll go with you, sure. You wouldn't happen to have a pen and paper would you?" I shook my head. "Stupid question, who really carries those running anyway?" His nervousness was amusing me highly.

  "My brother has a photographic memory. Actually, that's not true, but he's good with numbers and names and things like that. Total opposite of me, I guess that's what we get for being twins," I could have slapped myself. Why was I rambling on like an idiot?

  "Will he remember my number?" He asked. I nodded and kicked Brian lightly.

  "B, listen up. He's going to give you his number, remember it for me," I demanded.

  "What do I get out of it?" He asked in a whiney voice. I rolled my eyes.

  "I bought you Superman ice-cream last night," I reminded him. He sighed and nodded. Decklin gave us his number and we went our separate ways.

  "I can't believe you invited him to the shooting range. You know he's going to have to meet dad. And dad will suspect something going on between you two, and he'll get all… Parental and shit. Not only that, I'm not even allowed to go to the shooting range with you guys, this is totally unfair," Brian said once Decklin was out of ear shot.

  "I'll just tell dad that there's nothing going on between us. He trusts me. And as for you, quit being a whine ass," and that was that. I was pretty excited, probably too excited, to show off my shooting expertise to Decklin. He was just so damn hot. I couldn't wait to see him with a gun.

  Chapter Five: Shoot your Heart OutRage keeps the person who feels it company.

  It moves into the hollows left by grief and loss, and turns inside you like a dark furred animal that grows and fills you; it kills off loneliness and takes its place.

  –Paula Sharp, I Loved You All

  Decklin

  It was so easy, playing the part of the nervous good guy. I could hardly believe it. I was patting myself on the back the whole time. It helps that I have a boyish charm to me. She never guessed that my intentions were anything but innocent. And the act of 'I'm going to be here for awhile and don't know anybody', worked perfectly. I smiled to myself as I got dressed for the shooting range.

  I wasn't even trying to run into Lillian earlier. Yes, I did make sure I was running around the area that she lived, but that's not hard in a small town like this one. Luck was obviously on my side. Fate was encouraging to get my revenge. I wouldn't disappoint.

  I had just got done with my hair when I heard my phone ring. I checked the ID and it was a number I didn't recognize. It was Lillian. She gave me her address and said that they were leaving in a half hour. When I hung up with her I had a grin on my face. Part one of my plan was going smoothly. I had a story planned out to tell her father when he asked me all the questions he was bound to ask.

  I knew that he would probably look me up in the records he had of my family, but since I was never really initiated in, he wouldn't find shit on me. I had changed my last name to the very common, Brown, and luckily the only part of me that even resembled my father was my blonde hair and the shape of my jaw. Now that I think about it, I probably should have changed my first name as well, Decklin isn't very common. But it's very possible they had never even heard of me.

 
I made my way over to her house, and walked up to the door. I was about to knock when it opened. I came face to face with a tan man with black hair that was cut just below his ears. He was looking at me suspiciously. I cleared my throat and held out my hand. "Hello Sir, I'm Decklin," I introduced myself, getting back into the façade of a nervous boy. He took my hand and grasped it firmly.

  "Isaiah," he said simply. "Are you trying to get into my daughter's pants, son?" He asked straight off the bat. I was stunned momentarily. I blinked a few times. He didn't waste any time.

  "No Sir. I just wanted to get to know some people around here. I'm working for my uncle, he wants to know how small towns run. He needs me to check out the different shops and tell him how the hotel is. I'm going to be here for awhile. Your daughter and I bumped into each other a couple times, once quite literally," I added a laugh after that. "She seems very nice and I am not trying to 'get in her pants,' as you put it," I finished. He stood, glaring at me for a moment.

  "Dad! You better be being nice," I heard Lillian's voice yell from somewhere in the house. He sighed and rolled his eyes, then waved me in.

  "I'm always nice babe," he yelled back. I followed him through a foyer and into the living room. "You can have a seat in here, we're almost ready," he eyed me one more time before walking away. I let out a breath. That man was intimidating, even to me.

  "Don't worry about him. He's a big teddy bear," I heard Lillian's voice and turned to her. She had her hair pulled away from her face, showing off her cheek bones. She had tight jeans on again and a tank top on, that didn't cover her stomach. She drove me mad and most of her was still covered. This was not normal. I clenched my teeth and thought about the real reason why I was here. Mom and dad both in the grave, everything I lost, the hell I was going to give her.

  I started feeling that familiar hate and that was much easier to deal with than lust. Hate was my best friend, and very welcomed at that moment. I did have to keep it under control though, so I could keep acting like the nice guy.