You and I (You and I #1)

by H. M. Irwing

  "Don't cry," Jake groaned before rolling over to rest on top of me. He buried his face in my neck and held me as I tried to contain my sobs. Looking back I had been awful to him in our childhood. Playing him trick for trick. Not realising that he had been just lonely. I had been a bully secure in the love and support of my family. I realised then that while Jake may have had everything given to him growing up and even now, I was still the spoilt one of us two. For I had been showered with the abundance of love from my parents and siblings.

  My tears poured out anew in regret. I was overcome with sorrow over our past and regret over the future where we will have to remain apart, in bed at least. I held him tight and sobbed my heart out.

  "Honey... stop... this is not what I had in mind when I asked you to get horny with me," he smiled caringly down at me making me sob all the more harder.

  "You... don't deserve... me," I hiccupped out incoherently.

  "O-kay," Jake looked at me in askance.

  Then I realised what I said and nearly screamed, "NO! That’s not what I meant."

  "I meant you deserve better," I sobbed out brokenly.

  "You're so funny, Lucy," grinned Jake not at all put out by my weirdness.

  I gave a watery smile back. Feeling suddenly tired out I pushed him back onto the bed and climbed on top of him.

  Jake sighed heavily cuddling me close. "Our last night together and I can't believe we're going to waste it sleeping," he groaned out grumpily. I smiled sleepily and pressed a kiss onto the chest beneath me.

  Chapter 11

  "You what?"

  "I lost my virginity," said Cat pitifully as if she had just lost her pet cat and not something vitally important like her V-card.

  I rounded on Emily, "How could you be so irresponsible?" I demanded forgetting my own many near misses with Jake.

  "Why are you scolding me? Cat's the one who did It!" Emily stated annoyed.

  "Just how stupid do you think I am? I know Cat is just covering up for you taking the blame onto herself for your wrong doings like always," I said sarcastically.

  "Well this time she isn't. This time she did the wrong all on her own," barked Emily angrily.

  "Hey you guys I'm right here. I can answer to my own mistakes," said Cat mournfully.

  "What is wrong with you? How could you just go and...Oh My God! Were you raped?" I asked horrified.

  "No... NO! I don't know just how it happened only that it did," Cat stated unhelpfully.

  "Alright let’s all calm down," I said more to myself than to anyone else, "I want you to tell me exactly what happened."

  Then another horrifying thought struck me and I burst out interrupting her even as she was about to begin, "Did you use protection?"

  "I...I don't know," Cat erupted into a wail. I scrunched my face and clenched my teeth in reaction.

  "Just tell it already!" Emily demanded impatiently.

  "I was at the party last night with Emily," begun Cat stupidly for that we already knew. I rolled my eyes but otherwise did not interrupt.

  "He came up to me at the party-"

  "Who?" Both Emily and I yelled impatiently.

  "I don't know! I don't even know his name!" Wailed Cat.

  "Did he spike your drink? It could be that date drug!" I exclaimed fitfully.

  "No I was not drugged," Cat replied earnestly.

  I just didn't understand it. I looked at Emily confused but she only said tightly, "Stop interrupting and let her tell how it happened."

  "So like I said this guy turned up at the party looking completely out of place and I knew instantly he was a gate crasher that he shouldn't be there," Cat begun her explanations sending butterflies of tension crawling in my midsection. I shuddered in horror expecting the worst.

  "He was so cute. I mean really cute. You know how I'm unlike Em in thinking that every guy is the cutest thing on earth but this guy. He really was. I was struck standing there watching him and he noticed. Over the din and in the crowded room filled with girls dressed to impress he saw me. Plain and simple me," she explained matter-of-factly.

  I cringed knowing I was somehow to blame here for Cat was anything but plain. She was afterall, Emily's identical twin. She may not be as flamboyant in her dress sense... alright she dressed as bad as me but otherwise she looked hot. I didn't get how she could miss it. She was Emily's twin for goodness sake.

  "I watched him approach me looking amazingly sexy and ruffled and I wanted to get all over him just like that," she explained and I was catapulted headlong into the past on my 16th birthday when I felt that same onrush of feelings towards Jake. Oh my god!

  "He approached me and leaned down close so he could speak right in my ear and he said 'Want to fuck?' and I just said yes," Cat explained simply.

  Both Emily and I strained forward stunned waiting for more but Cat had fallen silent and appeared lost in thought.

  "Where the hell did you go fuck?" asked Emily looking on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

  "In Lisa's brother Mark's room. I guess he must know Mark," Cat said mildly.

  "If he's Marks age then that's illegal, what he did. He had sex with a minor. Mark's what? twenty?" Emily pounced on wanting to dig her nails into the asshole.

  "I don't want him to go to jail. I think I'm in love with him," announced Cat stunning us all.

  I felt my head start to spin. This was a lot to take in right after my tearful farewell to Jake this morning and Celine would be here any moment to take me shopping and I'm still in shorts and T. I have to make an effort to look good next to the glamorous goddess. I really hated shopping ...and Celine.

  "You didn't even get his name?" asked Emily still fuming mad. Then I felt bad for thinking about anything other then what just happened to Cat. I was a horrible sister.

  "Nope," cried Cat regretfully. It appeared that was all she regretted over losing her V-card.

  "He was just so mouth wateringly delicious and lost looking. I loved that he looked so lost and lonely," Cat sighed stupidly.

  "He was a fucking gate crasher of course he looked lost!"

  I tsk tsked automatically at Emily's swearing and earned myself a glare in return. Then the blare of the horn jolted me into action. Celine was here and I looked like shit.

  Deciding I really couldn't care less, I dashed off downstairs to get the front door.

  "Richard?" I gasped surprised.

  "Is something wrong? You're looking panicked," said Richard.

  "No… nope. I just need to get my bag. I'll see you in the car," I replied shortly before rudely shutting the door in his face.

  I rushed back upstairs and grabbed hold of my bag before hurrying back to face Cat. I interrupted the blasting Emily was dishing out to her," I have to rush. Cat I need you to tell me exactly what happened and be quick about it. "

  Cat put up her best pouty look before finally giving in to my unflinching glare.

  "He took my hand and sparks flew. Before I knew it I was in the room with him and then he dropped his lips down to mine and I crashed out. I simply have no recollection of actual thoughts; I only felt, and those feelings were mind blowing. Before I knew it we'd done it. He passed out after and I panicked and took off. I found Emily and hauled ass home."

  "Wait! You said he passed out. Was he drunk or high on drugs?" I asked.

  "Nope, he was sober as me. Neither of us had any alcohol. As you know I don't drink, and I smelt nothing on him. I tell you it was all so strange and unusual, but if he were before me again and if the same feelings arose I would unhesitatingly jump his bones again," Cat stated matter-of-factly.

  I didn't know her. I had just realised I didn't know my sister at all. She obviously felt no remorse for her actions. Was this her way of seeking the attention that was always directed at Emily? Had she finally flipped out? I didn't know, and I didn’t have the time to figure it out now.

  "I have to go now. Don't do anything until I get back," I yelled out while making a dash for the front door. Not too far out
from there I found a fuming Richard steaming behind the wheel of a Beemer.

  "Sorry, I had a crisis to attend to," I muttered as I got into the car. I saw no sign of Celine.

  "Where is Celine?" I finally asked into his stony silence.

  "I sent her off to accompany Jake on his business trip," he said shortly.

  The scoundrel manipulating them to his own ends. The tension in the car shifted. Now it was who sat in stony silence. I could tell that he snuck several sideways glances at me before he finally gave in to say, "So what gives? Tell me what the fuck is wrong? "

  I jumped, startled by his angry tone, but I was already provoked so I said, "Where do I start? How about how you're a manipulative asshole or that my sister just…."

  I caught myself in time. I was not about to confide my family problems in him. He was the enemy.

  "Tell me," he ordered shortly, and something in me snapped. Just like that I opened my mouth and spilled the beans and later sobbed in regret of having confessed at all. I was a mess.

  "Clean up. You're a mess," he said tossing his handkerchief at me. Who in the hell used this anymore? I gratefully blew at my nose into it before turning back to scowl balefully at him.

  "So you don't know who this guy is? No idea at all?"

  I mutely shook my head refusing to say another word for fear of incriminating myself further. I stared at his intense profile instead and marvelled at how he managed to ignore all my ramblings in between the torrent of information I poured out at him and zoom in on the key issue.

  "Hmmm...," was all he said in reply.

  "Hmm… what?" I asked rudely. He just brought out the worst in me.

  "Your stop has arrived," he said cutting off the engine and getting out before I could catch my breath to question him further. I turned then to look out the window and gaped at what I saw.

  I stared in awe.

  "We're going in there?" I asked breathlessly. Then," We can't go in there!" I exclaimed adamantly.

  But Richard only raised a sardonic brow at me before marching on ahead straight at the revolving doors. I rushed after him thrown into a panic. I really couldn't go in there. My meagre savings wouldn't stretch it.

  I grabbed at his arm and tugged but Richard's expensively shod foot was already within the revolving doors of Chanel. The momentum tugged me off balance and I found myself brought up against him.

  "Are you alright?" Richard peered down quizzically at me. I flushed red and nodded my head counting the seconds before I could leap out...and away from him. I tried to pull back. There was room for two in here but his hold hadn't slacken. Instead his grip tightened holding me in place.

  I watched in fascinated horror as his lips seemed to inch down closer to mine. But then we were moving. As if caught up in a trance I floated after him as he emerged into the expensive store holding firmly on my arm to tug me along.

  "Can I help you Mr Reeves?" asked the snottiest snob of all time as she deliberately ignored me to give all her attention to Richard. I saw dollar signs then something more sparkle in her eyes. I recalled then that Richard was a celebrity of sorts. He was certainly photographed in the papers often enough.

  But Richard ignored the lady completely and merely sped on towing me willy nilly after him. It looked like he knew exactly where he was going he had obviously been here before. With Celine? Or someone else? Strangely, I felt my stomach squirm at that possibility.

  Then suddenly he drew to a halt. I looked about me and gasped out loud.

  "You know I won't be able to afford anything here don't you?" I blurted out finally unable to contain myself. Pride be damned before the price brought me to my knees.

  "Don't worry I never let the women I take out for shopping pay," he said smirking down at me. That shook me. Were there many such women that he lavished his money on?

  "I can't let you do that," I said earnestly.

  "Do you think you can stop me?" He smirked annoyingly. I merely shook my head at his arrogance and wrung my hand free from his grasp. Then I turned heel to head back the way we came.

  "Stop," Richard called out angrily.

  "No you stop!" I called back just as angry. I hated the way he treated me. As if I didn't matter. As if I was a puppet whose strings he could pull and twist at will.

  My hand was caught and I was tugged back unceremoniously mid-angry-strides to land with my back against his hard chest.

  "Don't leave!" He instructed even as he breathed heavily in my ear. My rebellion served to work him up into a fine seething rage. He buried his face into the curve of my neck pressing his lips to my skin. I struggled within his hold trying to break free. He opened his mouth to suck hard at the base of my neck.

  "No don't!" I called out wanting him to stop. I knew what he was trying to do...to mark me...as his.

  "Do not fight me on this," he said roughly as his lips left my sore skin. His tone implied that I do not fight him on anything else either.

  I found myself being marched back to face the array of expensive clothing. I lost what little desire I had to shop at all. It suddenly didn't matter if I looked like shit over the weekend. Jake abandoned me here at the mercy if this lunatic. I decided I would look shitty for him... for both of them.

  I made a beeline for the gaudiest dress on display and was caught up short with Richard's arm about my waist.

  "Uh..uh," he shook his head reprovingly at me and chuckled out right. "I knew you would be more trouble than you were worth," he whispered huskily in my ear before calling out loudly to the sales assistant watching with avid interest at the sidelines.

  "Will take that one," he pointed out to a grey dress then casting me aside, he went on as he moved through the racks," and that one...and that."

  I stood back and observed as he completely commandeered this shopping and turned it into an expedition of massive proportions. I watched as the heap of clothing grew and struggled hard to contain the smirk that threatened to emerged every time I noted the various shades of grey that each article of clothing he picked blatantly displayed. I recalled his conversation over the party in his home where he stated that he would pick greys to match my eyes and here he was doing just that.

  I shook my head at his extravagance and was already cataloguing all that I would have to return. It would be disappointing to part with the clothes but it will have to be done. I accepted the glass of champagne from the assistant that appeared to offer me with a flourish. I moved back further to perch myself on a comfortable settee and drink myself silly.

  **************

  The ride home was strained to say the least. I watched his grip on the steering tighten. Then gulped when I saw his two hands become four.

  I honestly didn't think I could get drunk on a flute of champagne...ok several flutes. The assistant had kindly left the bottle by my side.

  Richard had been livid to return from his little shopping extravaganza to find me slumped to the side lolling on the settee.

  "Say something," I slurred out unable to take the silence between us anymore.

  "What would you have me say? How I'm right that you're unfit to be in Jake's company. How Jake is a fool to want you...how I am a… never mind," he bit out sharply.

  Instantly my eyes welled up in tears that poured down my cheeks. I sobbed and looked about for something to mop up and finding nothing but the used hanky of earlier, I used the hem of my t-shirt.

  Richard's fluent curses bit into me pulling my sobs up short. I then wiped up on my sleeves and opened my eyes wide determined not to cry anymore, at least till I got home.

  Richard pulled up at the front of my house. I immediately fumbled with the door latch trying to get it open but falling miserably. I stopped finally to turn to face Richard. "It won't open," I got out meekly.

  I heard Richard sigh in frustration and refused to meet his eyes. I kept my gaze fixed on my lap as I waited and waited. I waited for what seemed like forever before Richard leaned over to reach across me and with a simple pull had the door
opening as if by magic.

  I felt my tension strain away as if by magic. I beamed up a happy smile at Richard and saw his own amused expression fade away to be replaced by something else. Something darker that was tightening his features even as his face closed in on mine.

  "Wha...?"

  His lips slammed onto mine. My question was cut off midway and my open lips devoured in and onslaught that brook no hindrance. My lips clung to his of their own accord. My will gone. I struggled and struggled to remember... to think why this was wrong …and then I remembered.

  "Jake," I sighed out just as his lips released mine for air.

  The string of tightly restrained curses still had me flinching but I had achieved the desired result for Richard had released me and moved back to his seat. He stared stonily ahead refusing to look at me.

  I tumbled out of the car without a word and made my way into my home.

  Chapter 12

  Last night had been surreal. I had gone straight to my room and locked myself in before collapsing on the bed to sleep off the alcohol. When I came to, night had fallen and the house had been a buzzed with chaos and with someone hammering on my door. I opened the door to see my mum summoning me downstairs. I immediately went down after her wading through the heaped boxes of clothing that Richard had arranged to be dropped off from our little shopping expedition earlier. I hadn’t realised just how many purchases there were but seeing them littering the path to reaching the stairs made me cringe in anxiety. I jogged down closely on the heels of my mum.

  I could hear the loud disappointed tones of my Dad, "...you bring disgrace to our family...." Suspecting the worst, I sped up my pace to intervene and save Cat's ass. But what I saw pulled me up short.

  It was not Cat who was getting chastised but Emily. As soon as Cat saw me she rushed over sobbing hard. I wrapped my arms about her then looked in askance at Emily. What the hell was going on?

  "Ah there you are, Lucy perhaps you have the answer to what I seek? Why did Emily go off and punch her best friend's brother in the face?" Dad put forward the enigmatic question to me. I stared back uncomprehendingly. What the hell happened? Then the bulb clicked in my fuzzy mind and I rounded on a cringing Emily, to cry out unwittingly," You didn't!"