by LJ Amodeo
At half past seven, the front door bell chimed. I opened the door to find a large bouquet of pale pink roses in Michael’s hands. Taking the roses from his hands, I inhaled their delicate fragrance. Although, sometime had gone by, I was still upset with Michael. Not enough, however, to stop me from giving him a small peck of gratitude in return for the beautiful flowers.
“Thank you. They are beautiful!”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love,” he chimed.
My eyes widened.My love.The two little words I yearned to hear for what felt like an eternity. Michael’s beautiful face and melodic voice, made it impossible to stay upset. No one had ever made my heart skip like he had. I was ashamed of my behavior these last couple of weeks. Michael was kind. Never boastful or offensive. Before I was able to apologize for my unacceptable behavior, my mother entered the room.
“Hello, Michael. It’s wonderful to see you again. Aren’t those flowers beautiful, Beth? I’ll take them and put them in a vase for you, Sweetie.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I murmured handing Mom the roses.
“You ready to go?” Michael asked, as Mom shuffled into the kitchen with the flowers in her hands.
“Yes, I’ll get my bag.” Before I turned, Michael placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Elizabeth, I know you and Sophie never saw eye to eye. Do you think this is a good idea?” he asked doubtingly.
“Of course, why would I pass up the opportunity to ruin her night?” I winked trying to lighten our mood.
“Just asking,” he smiled, backing off with his hands.
Sophie’s home was exactly how I had pictured it. Expensive and elegant. The large foyer was furnished in ornate hand painted antiques and plush flower arrangements, while the silk damask wallpaper dripped in rich green and gold tones. Lustrous draperies hung above the oversized windows. Sophie scuttled to the door when she saw me and Michael enter. She gave me an awkward hug while her eyes devoured Michael from head to toe in a very Sophie-kind-of-way.
“So happy you came,” she smiled at Michael. “I’m Sophie Wellington. You must be the new guy on campus.” She flirted, giving him her daintiest handshake. Her burgundy dress accented the creamy color of her skin and her neatly combed golden ponytail. Looking passed the foyer, I noticed her friends were also dressed in russet colors to represent the spirit of Valentine’s.
“You have a beautiful home. Thanks for inviting us,” Michael remarked, courtly. His demeanor, proper and very British, aroused the desire to hold him close, allowing Sophie to brood over our intimacy, as I discreetly rubbed it in her agitated face. He was mine, and I wasn’t about to let that fair-haired vermin take him from me.
Beneath her false smile, Sophie batted her large blue eyes at my date, hiding her dark side extremely well with her refined mannerisms. My stomach turned.
“Beth!” Freddie slid over to us interrupting our uncomfortable moment with the dog slayer. He darted so rapidly that he hip bumped right into me, pushing me into Sophie who in turn spilled her drink on her expensive silk dress.
“Freddie!” Sophie’s incensed bark exposed the darker side of the well-polished socialite as she tried wiping the liquid from the already stained blouse. Freddie totally ignored Sophie’s grumble and went directly over to Michael who diplomatically refrained from laughter.
“Yo, Mike, my man! How’s it going bud?” He said, giving Michael a friendly handshake. Michael snorted under his breath at how easily Freddie ticked off Sophie. He was his own animated character, with his paisley cravat and smoking jacket. His attire gave Michael a good laugh. All he was missing was his old man’s pipe.
“Hey, Freddie. You’re looking quite debonair.” Michael gestured at Freddie’s attire, still smothering his laughter behind his cupped hand.
Freddie tugged at his collar and nodded approvingly. “Why thank you, my fine lad.” He replied with an awkward British accent, imitating Michael’s.
Jordan strolled over to us, followed by Annie, Sophie’s protégé, who lagged close behind. My stomach twisted. “Hey! Happy Valentine’s Day, Beth.” Jordan said stifling a smirk.
“Thanks, same to you.” I replied blankly.
Jordan was the imbecile who mocked me in fourth grade for wearing his second-hand sneakers. He was the reason why the entire school population knew about my hand-me-downs. Jordan played for Houghton’s football team. Because of his size, he was the team’s defensive lineman. His broad shoulders and shaggy blonde hair made him stand out among the other players. Yet for a boy whose head was a large as his shoulders were wide, his brain lacked in comparison. Jordan was a prankster, occasionally enjoying a practical joke at the expense of the staff and students who lacked quarterback dimensions. Luckily, for him, his father was the team’s coach and he rarely got detention for his crude pranks. Annie and Jordan were the on again, off again kind of couple. Wherever Jordan was, Annie followed, like a puppy following its trainer. If Jordan broke-up with her, she’d very likely be trailing behind Sophie, instead. I almost pitied her, at times. She never had her own identity. Jordan used her whenever he was smashed, taking out his frustrations on her, while Sophie molded her into something she was not. Her clone. I didn’t feel so bad for myself, after all.
“Hi, Annie,” I said, peeking around Jordan’s bulky frame.
“Hey,” she said casually, looking down at her polished nails, trying her hardest to look cool while snapping her gum.
“Jordan, this is my . . . my—” After things had gone astray between me and Michael, I stuttered on making his introduction.
“ . . . boyfriend, Michael.” Michael interrupted my brain freeze. The sound of his voice referring to our relationship as more than friends made me happy. He had ways of making me feel important. Like I mattered. I wasn’t the oddball or the loner any longer. Jordan and Annie frowned when they heard Michael refer to himself as my boyfriend. The look on their faces was priceless.
“Yeah, Freddie introduced us on the field at practice on your first day of school.”
“Sorry guy, I don’t remember. I met so many people that day. Freddie had my head spinning.” Michael smirked, eyeing me as he made the ape feel anything but important. I squeezed my boyfriend’s arm unnoticed by the goon.
“No problem. You’re the talk of the town, huh Annie?” Jordan nudged Annie’s ribs with his beefy elbow. She turned all shades of red. “Good seeing you, again.” Jordan said.
“Same here.” Michael replied less enthused. They exchanged a hand shake and Michael followed it with a wink to Annie whose cheeks blushed brighter than the color of her dress. Michael and I swapped glances. I was lucky to have Michael as my boyfriend, and not the buffoon who rudely poked Annie, who walked away rubbing her side. We observed the others who gathered around the room. Everyone seemed to enjoy the loud music, as their laughter and voices echoed off the velvet wall coverings.
“Would you like a drink? I’m gonna get myself a soda.”
“I’ll have bottled water.”
Before turning away to get our drinks, Michael leaned close to my ear, whispering, “Did I mention how beautiful you look?”
I flushed. “Michael––” I called before he stepped away. “I’m sorry for how I’ve been acting.” I whispered pulling my fingers around and around on the sash of my borrowed top. He inhaled deeply.
“Never apologize. You had every right to be upset with me.” He raised my hand to his lips. My body reacted as his fingersbrushed the swells of tiny bumps on my skin.Thank you, I mouthed with my lips, without uttering a sound. He stood only inches from me that if I swayed even a bit, our lips would touch. His warm breath swept across my cheek drawing me closer to him, making me sway. Everyone and everything around us slowly faded, leaving only the two of us staring into each other’s eyes under a blanket of starry skies. He was the air I breathed, my shining light. The love of my life. My soul mate.
“Hey, lovebirds!” Freddie called out, breaking the connection and extending his arms for a group hug.
&
nbsp; “How’s it going?” Michael said, peeved at Freddie's premature interruption.
“It’s going, bud. It’s going. Bethy, let me check you out.” Freddie chimed, stepping between us. Taking my hand, he spun me around to get a better look. “Wow! Look at you all dressed up and beautiful. Not bad for a tomboy, eh Mike? She never cleaned up nice for me like this!” He smirked, soaking up my appearance with a tint jealousy deep in his eyes.
“Freddie!” I griped, giving him a threatening, yet lovable stare-down.
“She is beautiful, even for a tomboy.” Michael’s gazed at me, suddenly turning his attention to Freddie, “Who are you here with?” Michael glanced around the room, curious to know who my friend arrived with. My heart nearly halted, knowing who Freddie had come with. I gulped so deeply that it almost choked me. I tried to think of something to say to change the course of conversation. But couldn’t. It was foolish of me to forget about the animosity between the two them, deeply regretting my decision to come here. I scanned the room quickly for signs of Sam. Michael must have sensed my tension. I bit down hard on my lips.
“I’m here with theGaven girl,” Freddie answered slowly through gritted teeth. I let out a long sigh. Michael did not react. He remained calm and still, keeping his eyes on me. Freddie, continued whispering something to Michael, but eventually spoke loud enough for me to hear him over the music that was playing.
“She’s in the kitchen with Annie and Sophie, who are trying to convince her to try out for the team. Sam doesn’t look too happy! In fact, she looked P. O.’d.” Freddie laughed, giving Michael a probing look.
“I’ll be back in a bit. Yo! JP.” Freddie shouted, strutting over to one of the boys on his soccer team.
My mouth suddenly became dry, “I’ll take that water now,” I mumbled tensely, hoping to distract Michael from the idea that Sam was under the same roof.
“I’ll be right back. Don’t disappear on me.” Michael advised and headed in to the crowd. I twisted nervously at the strap of my clutch, this time. I was in a mess.How can I please them both without sacrificing what I have with either of them? If it were only that easy, but somehow I had to make it work. They were both important to me, yet my attempt to keep them from fighting would soon prove to be worthless. Worthless, like my relationship with Sophie.
Sophie had many friends at school, and was part of a large sister society called the DEB’s. Short for Debutantes. To be in Sophie’s graces, one was required to be beautiful, well dressed, and of a certain social status. Luckily, I lacked all three. The faces around the room were familiar, some more than others. One face appeared in the crowd that was definitely recognizable. We ran toward each other with sheer excitement, but a bit more trepidation on my part as I gave quick glances across the room.No sign of him. I felt relieved.
“Sam, you look great! Look at you! You have the best clothes.” I squealed. I had to admit, I resented how amazing she looked tonight. She was the envy of every girl in the room and the fantasy of every guy, except for one. Her red plaid skirt swayed high above her knees, exposing the black crinoline bottom, making it flirty against her long, tan legs. Her red sleeveless turtleneck added definition to her tone shoulders. “Where on earth did you find this outfit? I’ve never seen anything so cool.” Any fashionista would coo over her outfit this evening.
“I guess it pays to be moi,” she teased fluttering her long lashes.
“Hey heard that Sophie’s trying to lure you into her popular girls club?” I giggled.
“Ha! In her dreams!” Sam hollered over the crowd, laughing simultaneously.
My laughter abruptly was cut short when I looked over Sam’s shoulder to see Michael glaring at us. He stood away from her, tightly gripping the drinks in his hands. Sam’s immediate reaction had her straightening her posture as she looked in to my wide eyes and stunned expression. She knew perfectly well who stood just inches behind her. Her smile wavered slightly, subsequently turning wicked, while her face paled in color. Flipping her long black hair behind her shoulders, she turned and for the first time, faced Michael.
Michael’s quick motions had him standing at my side, making Sam pivot just as quickly. I remained still, trembling, unable to utter a word. Unsure of what was coming. My eyes leapt from left to right, watching Sam and Michael’s uninhibited scowls directed at one another. Neither spoke a word. Yet the voices in my head screamed in all languages bouncing from Arabic to Latin to English and back, starting the vicious cycle over again. Their cries vibrated through my skull shouting, whispering, whimpering, and pestering me to listen to their messages, to understand their pleas.Una dies nobis; You belong to your father; DIABOLUS! He speaks his native tongue, for he is a liar, Ille homicida erat ab initio and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him, Allah yaxşıdır,the voices proclaimed. I cupped my ears to block out their noises, to run from them, from the confusion in my head and the eyes that watched me in silence around the room.Why now? Why the urgency for me to listen to your cries now, with so many watching me. I yelled back in my mind. But, it was not just anyone in the room I worried about watching me fight my inner demons, it was Sam’s eyes alone that were enough to make the ground tremor. To make my skin cower.
While Michael’s breaths remained unruffled, Sam’s chest inhaled and exhaled like mad. She forced back her glossy lips, carnally licking them, positioning herself in a stance resembling a crouched lioness ready to attack her prey. Her eyes, meanwhile, reflected an entirely different humor. Sam and Michael’s comportment, left me no choice but to intervene before the situation escalated.
“Enough! Both of you, just stop! I don’t know what is going on between the two of you, but this insanity has to stop! I can’t stand it anymore! You’re both tiring me out! Whatever bullshit you have going on, grow up and get over it!” I yelled, reprimanding them before an audience of high school seniors. But both continued holding their defensive stance in case one decided to attack.
“How can it be that you say you don’t know each other, yet you detest one another? I’ve never seen anyone act this way!” I admitted, attempting to quell the situation, instead believed I had made it worse. So, in hopes of getting them to see it from my perspective, I conjured up enough nerve to step between them, facing Samantha first.
“Sam, please. As my friend, understand that Michael is important to me. Let’s figure out a way to work this out.” By this time, the virulent dispute began drawing the attention of more guests to the room. Everyone stepped closer, closing the circle around us. The humiliation of this spectacle would be the buzz around school for weeks to come. I didn’t care. There was something I needed to prove to the assholes who have labeled me a freak since grade school. It was time I got some things off my chest and since I had the right audience, it was perfect timing.
“What are you staring at? All these years, not one of you ever acknowledged me. You never gave a shit about me. Now you want to hear what I have to say? For most of my life, I’ve wondered what I did to you, listening to all of you call me a loser, a freak. Well now, I’m the one feeling sorry for you! It’s pathetic how you use one another to be popular, or to look cool only to impress your friends. Look around, does anyone actually care what team you play for,” I pointed an accusing finger at Matt. “Or what label you advertise across your sweatpants on campus,” I sneered at Mikaela, who turned multiple shades of red. “Or who’s hooking up with who!” I hissed, pointing at Kate. “And you . . . you’re nothing more than a steroid junkie,” I jeered, directing my anger at Jordan. My next accusation was directed at Annie, who slid behind her boyfriend, “I’ve always pitied you Annie, because you’ll be nothing more than Sophie’s shadow. So, yeah, in your eyes, I may be a loser, but at least I don’t wake up every morning to ashamed to look myself in the mirror! Get over yourselves! You’re not all that!” I barked with intensity in my voice and passion in my words that I never knew existed. I turned to look Michael this time, determined to make him see it my way. I took a deep breath
before I stepped toward him.
“Michael, I never met anyone who makes me feel the way you do. I would be crazy to end what we have. You make me breathe, you make see things differently. With you, I’m not afraid to be myself. But please, consider my friendship with Sam.” I regrettably found myself questioning what I shared with Sam. Was it truly what I wanted? Especially how cruel she had been toward me lately. I couldn’t take back my words now. It would only lead to more ridicule and my own demise. I rubbed my temples, fighting to keep away the voices at bay.
A raspy sound resonated behind me. I jerked my head to see Sam sneering at Michael. “Seriously? Are you kidding me, Sam!” I wailed at her throwing my arms up in the air. The crowd gasped. I couldn’t help but graze over the shocked faces of my senior classmates. It was difficult to suppress my lips from curling up into a victorious smile.
“We should go, Elizabeth.” Michael whispered bitterly, with his eyes transfixed on Samantha.
“Maybe you should tell her why you’ve come Mik-ael.” Sam growled the word “maybe” in a spine-chilling, bloodcurdling, heinous scowl. I stepped away from Sam. I knew that voice all too well. My eyes darted back to Michael, whose crossed expression pierced vigilantly through Samantha.
“Why I’ve come? By the way, Sam, how’s your father? Send him my regards,” he snapped back at her. In a beastly attempt, Sam lunged for Michael, but Freddie stopped her pounce, as she clawed at the air with her sharp fingernails. Her lips curled in a most bizarre way, resembling that of an animalistic savage.
“My father would haveowned you, you swine! You would have fallen just as easily! You don’t scare me, Mikael. Your day is coming, Sinner! I guarantee it! And can almost taste it.” she carnally licked her lips.