by J. L. Ostle
It’s like he wants to kiss every part of me. I wrap my arms around his neck. He deepens the kiss, and all I can hear is our pants echoing in the stairway. He grips onto my leg, lifting my thigh, pressing himself further into me. He growls into my mouth before stepping back.
He pulled away.
It’s normally me who does that, but he did it. He’s hunched over a little, trying to gather his breath. I stay where I am, I just watch him, my hand on my chest, feeling my erratic heartbeat. He shakes his head, he stands straighter, turning around facing away from me, his hands go through this hair.
He walks over to the wall, near the door opposite me and turns, leaning back. “I shouldn’t have done that.” But he’s looking at me with dark eyes, like he’s trying to control himself. All I can do is nod. “Fuck.” He looks back up at me, his eyes on me. He storms over, kissing me again, kissing me harder than before then pulling back once again. “Fuck,” he repeats. “I was only here to pass on a message to you. I wasn’t expecting… I didn’t think you…” He starts to pace.
“Pass on a message?” My voice is a little hoarse.
“Yeah. We’re having a movie night, and everyone needs to attend.”
Movie night? “Why a movie night?”
He rubs the side of his jaw. “We were told that you and Aisha were planning one and Lucas just decided to throw one. He wanted me to tell you in person so you know that your presence is necessary.”
That brings me back from my cloudy daze. “You heard us talking about that?”
“You were in line in the cafeteria and some of the guys heard you talking about it.” God, do they have ears everywhere? “You are expected to be there in an hour.”
He opens the door, ready to leave.
“What if I don’t show up?” I call out to him.
He doesn’t face me. “Then you will have Lucas to deal with. He will come and get you if need be.” Then he’s gone.
I stare at the door. I scream so loudly that I’m sure he must have heard it. I kissed him. I have kissed three fucking boys within five days. Technically four days as I didn’t start speaking to any of them until Tuesday.
If there was anything to throw, I would. I stomp up the stairs, banging my front door open and slamming it closed. I scream into the room, stamping my feet as I go. I am so angry and disappointed with myself.
I flop onto the couch when my phone pings with an incoming message and it’s from Lucas, telling me that I’d better come.
These two weeks better hurry up.
The more I’m around them, the more my body caves.
At this rate, it wouldn’t surprise me if I end up sleeping with all three by the time the two weeks are up. At least that’s one way to make sure they stay away as they don’t sleep with the same girl twice.
I don’t know how friends can just share girls. I shiver with the disgust of it. I just hope they wear protection.
I take a quick shower and decide to dress way down. I choose my worn-out leggings that have seen better days, a tank, and a very oversized jumper to go over it. I put my hair in a very high ponytail, not even bothering to blow dry it. I put on no make-up at all.
If everyone is invited, I’m sure Kimberly and her girls will be there and they will have probably dressed up as if they were walking down the catwalk.
I look in the mirror, satisfied with my attire. I’m still looking in my reflection when Axel’s words cross my mind. He keeps telling me I’m pretty. I know I’m not ugly, but there are girls way better looking than me. Kimberly is prettier. Yeah, she’s a grade-A bitch, but she looks like a model.
I hide my phone just in case this is a ruse for them to come into my apartment. There isn’t anything to steal. I have no secrets out in the open here so if they did come for a look, they wouldn’t find anything interesting.
I lock my door, and I take the stairs down as it’s just one floor. When I open the stairway door to their floor, Lucas is standing there, looking at his watch. He smiles when he sees me. “You’re early. That’s a good start. Come.” He extends his hand for me to take but I walk past it.
“Let's just get this over with.”
“As you wish.” I know it was sarcasm. He guides me to his door and opens it. When I step inside, I’m shocked by what I see.
Chapter Eighteen
This place is double the size of mine. How is that even possible? I thought each apartment would have the same layout. The kitchen is on the far side, just like where mine is, but it’s ten times bigger. I turn to Lucas, who is watching me.
“Why is your place bigger?”
He walks into the middle of the room. “When I moved in here when I was a freshman, I made the two apartments into one. I like my space.” That explains why he can have parties. This place can hold one. If they use the other two places, which I’m guessing are Elijah’s and Axel’s then the whole floor is technically theirs.
But what will happen next year when he’s graduated? Will this always be one place where a person who is made of money decides to take it while they enjoy their college experience?
I look towards the living area and there are three couches arranged as a square, with a huge television on the wall. It looks like his own personal cinema. This whole place screams money. It’s a waste, really. It’s all here to show off his wealth and power.
The main thing I notice is that no one else is here.
“Where is everyone?” I start to feel nervous. My mouth going a little dry and urge to play with my fingers. I hate when I’m alone with any of them. It’s like I have an alternate personality and that personality likes being close with them.
“Like I said, you’re early. People should be here within the next five to ten minutes as they know I hate tardiness when I’ve made plans.” He walks over to a self-made bar and starts making drinks. “Do you drink anything in particular?”
I walk over, taking a barstool. “I’ll just have a soda, please.”
“A soda? Don’t you drink?”
I shrug. “Now and again. I’m not much of a drinker. I don’t like to get drunk. It doesn’t agree with me.”
“Something that doesn’t agree with you. No wonder why you don’t do it.” He laughs.
I watch him make himself a drink and pour some Coke into a glass. I giggle he adds a couple of cherries and a cocktail umbrella. I lift the glass, looking at it before taking a sip. “Thank you.”
He bows his head a little. “You’re welcome.” He walks back around. “You should do that more often though.”
“Do what?” I spin around in my seat when he’s in front of me.
“Giggle. Smile. It makes you look different.”
“Well, I only smile and giggle when I’m not being tormented.”
He raises his glass at me. “Touché.” He takes a sip of his drink. “Come. I’ll show you around so you know where everything is.” He extends his hand for me to take again, but this time, I take it as he helps me off my stool. He links my arm into his. “As you can see, this is the kitchen. When you’re here you can help yourself to what you want. You may come for a few visits so if you have a particular drink you like, or snacks, there’s a note pad on the fridge.” He walks me to the kitchen area.
“Living room. This seat right here.” He points to a spot on the couch. “That’s my place.” He walks over to the wall the TV is hanging on and there is a small cupboard. He opens it up to hundreds of DVDs. “Movies, but I do have Netflix.” He walks over and takes my arm again.
He then heads over to a door on the far side. He opens it up and I’m assuming it used to be a bedroom, but it’s been turned into a spa area. Right in the middle is a hot tub. There are heated wooden benches around the room, and a towel rack. “This is where I like to relax. Only a certain few can use this. You can help yourself.”
I face him so quickly I almost get whiplash. Only a certain few and he is allowing me?
The next room he shows me is his study. There are shelves full of books, a m
ahogany desk with a laptop, paperwork; everything you would expect in an office type space. I wonder if there is any information here that would help me.
The last room he shows me is his bedroom. The bed is massive, You could have five or six people sleep on it and still have space. I walk farther in when I see photographs on the far wall.
There are pictures of Lucas and the guys as kids, in football uniforms, graduating high school. A picture of them where they are standing in front of a building, but they look so young. This must have been taken when they were freshmen.
There are only a few with him and his parents. I feel him walk up behind me, looking over my shoulder. “You look so different as a kid. Less serious,” I tell him.
He huffs. “When you’re a kid, you don’t feel like you have that many responsibilities. Just get good grades and stay out of fights.”
“Did you get in a lot of fights?”
“I did. You get guys who think they can take what’s yours if they think they can fight you and win, but unlucky for them, I have never lost.”
I eye a certain picture of him. “How old were you there?” I point to it.
He leans in, looking closely. “About fifteen.”
Fifteen. The age my world changed. “When did you become an asshole? I’m guessing it was some point in college as your face seemed softer in a few of these, and ones that I can tell that are recent, you just smolder at the camera.”
“I do not smolder.”
I turn my head so I’m looking at him. “You so smolder. You’re even doing it now.” I laugh. “I think the only time I notice you smile is when you think you have got the better of someone. Not a natural, happy smile.”
“I guess there isn’t much to smile about. I do when I’m with Axel and Elijah behind closed doors, of course.”
“Of course.”
He shrugs. “I guess showing a smile shows weakness. I don’t want people like you thinking they can get away with shit. That wrecks the order of things around here.”
I fully turn around and face him. “The order of things? Do you ever stop and listen to yourself when you talk or do you just like the sound of your own voice? Why try so hard to be in charge of this place? Once you graduate, that’s it. You leave here. You will leave all this behind you. Do you just like being the boss? Is it the control over people? You treat people like shit, like they are your servants or slaves. Telling that poor girl to get us drinks even though we can do it ourselves. Getting our own doesn’t show weakness,but forcing people to do stuff against their will is just cruel and mean. Girls want you because they either want the same amount of power as you or it’s because you’re good-looking. Apart from Elijah and Axel, I assume the rest of the guys follow you to stay within the in-crowd and they’re scared of you. You try so hard to stay on top, but what do you really get out of it?”
His eyes pierce mine. He doesn’t say a word. We just stand there in silence for what feels like forever but is probably just mere seconds. “Yes, I like control. I don’t like people to walk all over me. I like that people are scared of me.”
“Why though? I get that you don’t want people to walk over you, I’m the same, but the way you act towards others, people who are minding their own business, who are trying to deal with their own lives and problems. I guess you and the girls bully people who don’t act, dress, or have the same amount of money as you. Can you imagine being in these people’s shoes? Afraid to come to school in case they get hurt and upset. Do you know how many people kill themselves…” My voice starts to break. “Just because they get bullied. Because they’re told they’re worthless.” The last part I say is just above a whisper.
“You were hurt,” he says, his eyes changing. “Lucille…”
I jump back when we hear the front door open. “Sorry, we’re late. We know you hate that, but this dick broke the elevator,” Elijah shouts out. “We all have to take the fucking stairs until it’s sorted, whenever that will be.”
“We better get out there.” I walk around Lucas but he quickly takes hold of my hand.
“Something happened.”
I pull my hand back. “Something always happens,” I tell him before walking out of his room to whistles, and all the guys from the table are slouching over the sofas.
I roll my eyes. I look down to see I have been cradling my drink the whole time. “You were in Lucas’ room?”
I don’t need this right now.
I turn around to see Kimberly standing there with her hands on her hips. “Yes. He was showing me around the place.”
“I thought we weren’t allowed in his room,” Mercedes asks, confused.
“We aren’t!” Kimberly shouts. “Does he know you were…” She stops when Lucas joins us.
“Yes, Lucas does know,” he informs her. “Have you got a problem with that?”
Kimberly shakes her head. “I was just making sure she wasn’t going into rooms she shouldn’t be going in,” she says sweetly to him. When he takes his spot on the couch, she points at me. “Remember, two weeks and then you’re gone. If you have some agenda it won’t work. If you think you can be by his side, think again. He gets bored easily.” She walks over to a different sofa to Lucas’ and she and her friends take a seat.
Axel and Elijah are on the same couch as Lucas, and the other guys are on the third one. I don’t mind taking a seat on the floor. I walk over and sit on the hard ground, crossing my legs, ready to watch whatever shit they put on. Knowing my luck it will be an action movie.
“Lucille.” I’m called out and Elijah is looking at me weirdly. “What are you doing?”
I look down. I’m not doing anything. “I’m ready to watch a movie.”
He pats the space between him and Lucas. “You’re not sitting down there the whole time we’re here. Get that fine ass of yours here.” He pats the spot harder.
I eye the space. I really prefer to be on the floor. “I will be okay here, but thank you.”
“See, she’s fine. Let's just pick a movie and start,” Kimberly says in a whiny voice.
“Lucille, get your ass on this couch before one of us lifts you from the ground and puts you here by force,” Lucas orders me.
I stand up grudgingly, staring him down. “I don’t like being ordered. Next time, ask nicely.” He and Elijah grab my arm, pulling me down, causing me to flop on top of Elijah so I’m almost straddling him. His hand is close to my ass.
“Now this I wouldn’t say no to.” Elijah winks at me. I slap his chest, making him laugh.
I move so I’m sitting in the empty spot. Their bodies are so close to mine that I’m going to be tense all night until I go home. “What time do we stay here until?” I need to know how long I have to suffer.
The guy with the dirty blonde hair who was telling me to come to the party answers. “A few hours, until Lucas kicks us out.”
Great.
He will probably keep me here until I’m ready to pass out, but no way am I falling asleep with these people here. They may shave my eyebrows off or draw on my face with a permanent marker.
They said they will treat me like any other person here and I’m sure it’s something they would do to each other.
Chapter Nineteen
“So, what movie are we watching?” Chloe asks, looking at her nails like she finds them fascinating.
A few people start shouting out suggestions. I groan at some of them. The guys are choosing guy films while the girls are asking for chick flicks. I enjoy a good chick flick but I’m not in the mood for romance right now.
I jump when my arm is nudged. I didn’t realize I zoned out. “Lucille, what do you want to watch?” Elijah asks me. “Please don’t pick a lovey-dovey movie.”
I point to myself. “Do I look like I watch lovey-dovey films?” I do, but not around guys.
He shrugs one shoulder. “You might. You are a girl.”
“Thanks for that observation.” I roll my eyes. “I’m in the mood for a horror. I want something that wi
ll make me jump and hide behind a pillow.”
“Yes!” all the guys agree.
“No.” All the girls groan.
Lucas walks over to the case of DVDs and puts in a disk and takes his seat again. After a few clicks, I grin when The Conjuring appears. I have seen all the franchises but this one I was told to never watch on my own.
It takes around twenty minutes before I’m pulled in, but when I am, I stop thinking about the guys, and where I am. My mind is set on the story being unfolded in front of me.
I know something scary is about to happen, so I start pushing myself back into the couch, hugging myself, and when the painting jumps out, all the girls scream, causing me to scream. I jump, holding onto Lucas and Elijah’s arms, my face hiding in Lucas’ shoulder.
“Fuck, I chose the wrong seating.” Axel leans forward, watching us before sitting back.
I peek up to see Lucas looking down at me. “Sorry,” I whisper. Sitting straighter, I face the television once again. I can feel Kimberly watching me. I turn to her and she is glowering. I stick my tongue out at her and that just pisses her off even more. Lucas and Elijah laugh beside me. Kimberly crosses her arms, pouting.
“Lucy, why don’t you join the girls’ sofa.”
“It’s Lucille or Luce, and…”
“She’s fine here,” Lucas tells her. “You’re okay here, aren’t you?” he asks me.
I know he’s only asking because he knows I would rather stub my baby toe than sit with her. She will probably put a knife in my back if I’m close to her. “Yeah, I’m happy here, thank you. It’s nice to have three strong men close to protect me from the ghosts.” I say with a sugary sweet voice.
“What am I, chopped liver?” one of the guys on the opposite couch says. “Look at these bad boys.” He starts flexing.
“Calm down, man. Don’t scare her away.” Elijah laughs. The guy gives him the finger.
“Fuck you. The girls love the guns.” He brings his biceps to his lips and kisses them.