Magnolia's Fall From Grace

by Zara Teleg

  “My God, Maggie Grace, you are the most beautiful woman on this earth.” His hand reached around my neck, pulling me close. The heat of his chest against my bare breasts, his fingers gently caressing my back, and his tongue licking its way down my neck had every part of my body tingling. I moaned as he gently bit the skin on my shoulder. He returned a heavy groan as I reached into his unbuttoned jeans.

  My body begged for his touch. My insides ached so much it was almost painful. When his fingers slid into my panties, I nearly screamed in pleasure. My head fell back. I wanted him to be inside me so badly.

  “Please, Vincent, don’t stop,” I begged when his finger entered me. I was crushed with waves of pleasure with every stroke his long fingers made.

  “Maggie, I want you so bad, but I need to know you’re sure. I mean, really sure.”

  I placed my hands on his jeans, tugging them down along with his boxers. “I’m positive, Vincent. I don’t want this summer to end until I have experienced everything with you.” His fingertips brushed across my face as his other hand slid off my panties. My legs wrapped around him as he hovered above me. I could feel his hardness at my entrance. My fingers scratched the skin of his back as I waited impatiently.

  “Maggie, this is going to hurt.”

  “I don’t care. I just want us to be joined as one. I need to feel all of you.”

  He was right, it did hurt, but the kisses and pleasure I felt shortly after made it all go away. We were one. There was no space between us. Everything was beautiful. Perfect.

  Climaxing at the same time, we both shared the moment that took me to heaven. Every inch of me was tingling. I surrendered to the pleasure and let it take me.

  We looked into each other’s eyes as he came down on his forearms, resting the weight of his body on mine.

  “I love you, Maggie Grace.” His violet irises pinned mine. I knew he meant it.

  “I love you, Vincent.” The words bonded us like scars that would forever mark our hearts. No one could ever take this from us, this summer, this moment.

  We loved each other, and I knew this would forever change me.

  I played those words over in my head again and again until I fell asleep. Vincent loved me, the meek girl from Atlanta with whom he had nothing in common. Except, something drew us together, and I knew it wasn’t wrong the way I felt about him. How could it be? When your heart just feels so full it could explode, how could it possibly be wrong?

  I decided to tuck away the guilt that was trying to erase the magical evening. I wouldn’t let it. I was a grown woman who could make her own decisions. And I decided I loved Vincent, and I didn’t want this summer to end.

  The next week we spent more time all over each other than we did talking. The girls knew something was different about me. On our trip to the mall, I confided in them.

  “Maggie, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m so happy for you. Venom is a good guy, well, most of the time anyway. I mean, you can’t be part of the MC without having some degree of dementedness. He is as tough as they come in the MC, but for him to be that way with you is pretty special.” Sissy adjusted the mirror in the Firebird, catching my eyes in the back seat. Shannon seemed to be more into the song on the radio than my heartfelt confession.

  “You have nothing to feel bad about,” she mumbled, keeping the cigarette between her lips as she drove. “You love him?” Sissy glanced at me again.

  My eyes met hers in the mirror as I nodded. “Yes, more than I thought possible. The fact that we only have a few more weeks together actually makes my chest hurt.” Did I just admit that out loud?

  “Wow, I can’t even imagine feeling like that. I wish I could use the term ‘made love,’ but it’s different for me. I can’t get attached to anyone related to the club. I mean, I love them all and appreciate the life they have given me. God knows where my mom and I would be without Voodoo, but I will never be her. I want my own life. I want to fall in love someday, far away from all this shit.” Sissy rolled down the window a little, flicking out her smoke.

  Shannon reached for the knob, turning up the volume. “So you did the deed. Good for you. Stop whining. You aren’t going to hell for it, no matter what those crazy nuns say.”

  “Maggie, please don’t tell me that’s what you are worried about?” Sissy looked at me again through the rearview mirror.

  I squeezed my eyes closed, biting my lip. At times, the guilt choked me, all the lessons I had learned about lust and abstinence running through my mind.

  “Girl, stop. Love is love. You can’t possibly think it’s wrong to give yourselves to each other like that in love. Now, I’m a sinner.” Her smile was wicked. “And Lex, holy shit, the things that boy did to me are probably going to take me straight down the road to hell. I’m going to be sad to see him go home, but for now, that fine ass is all mine.” Sissy was so casual about sex, I almost envied how she was so comfortable and free when it came to talking about it.

  “Girls, today, we are going to do some damage.” Shannon held up a hundred-dollar bill. “My grandma sent it. Let’s put it to good use.” She managed to show every one of her braces as she smiled.

  Our mall trip was a success. We got new clothes for the carnival in St. Genevieve this weekend.

  “Venom is going to shit when he sees you in those jeans.” Sissy pushed my boobs up as she fussed with the white baby-doll lace tank with spaghetti straps that she insisted went with the dark-blue jeans that felt like they were painted on my body. She had just put the finishing touches on my light makeup. I smacked my silvery pink glossed lips as I looked at my image in the mirror. I held my head high, admiring the confident woman in the mirror, she didn’t resemble the timid girl who arrived here earlier this summer.

  “You can’t wear those shoes to the carnival. You need cute sneakers.” Sissy glanced at me through the mirror she was applying mascara in.

  “You can keep those earrings. They look way better on you.” The large gold hoops shined through my hair, swaying with each movement.

  “Are you girls ready?” Viper yelled for the third time.

  “I see what took so long.” Lex hooked Sissy around the waist, and his mouth landed on her neck as she giggled. “Maybe we should meet them later,” he growled in Sissy’s ear.

  “Lex, come on, I’m sure we can have some fun on the Ferris wheel, high above this shitty county.”

  Vincent was walking in from the porch with a troubled expression. His eyes softened when they landed on me.

  “Hey, angel.” His stubble tickled my cheek when he kissed it.

  “Ain’t that sweet.” Sarcasm laced Voodoo’s tone as he entered the kitchen with a half-naked woman hanging from his side. The tiny hairs on my arms stood when Voodoo’s black eyes darted between Vincent and me. Voodoo’s black hair was down, the length of it rivaling my own.

  He gave the girl a nod, and she practically ran from the room. “You’re all headed to the carnival?” The group fell silent as he spoke like they needed permission to answer.

  Vincent’s fingers tightened around my hand.

  “You know, if the Devil’s Damned show up, you could find yourselves in trouble, so you better be prepared.”

  Lex and Viper both patted the knives that hung from their jeans.

  Voodoo turned to Vincent. “Venom, you ready for any trouble, or are you relying on God to save you?” His tone had the hairs standing on my arms again as he directed the last part to me. I met his eyes, not wavering.

  “No, sir,” Vincent replied.

  Voodoo scowled for a moment before reaching down his pant leg and sliding a sheathed knife out from his boot. He removed it from the leather, and the razor edge gleamed in the light. Voodoo ran his finger across the blade to the point.

  “You do remember how to use one of these, don’t ya, son?” His black eyes flitted to me as the next words tumbled from his lips. “I know it’s been a while. It seems you may have gone a little soft over the summer.”

  Vin
cent reached out, taking the knife. “No, sir.”

  “Let’s hope not. You can’t let yourself be caught off guard. Don’t wanna spend too much time thinking, or you’ll be the one cut into pieces…this time.”

  I watched as Vincent’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Voodoo seemed to be alluding to Vincent having used a knife violently before.

  “It’s a public place; I’m sure we will be fine,” I spoke up.

  Voodoo’s eyes squinted. “Yes, Pollyanna, I am sure in your world nothing goes awry, but in Venom’s world, we have a lot of enemies. You can never believe you’re safe.”

  “Let’s go. We got this,” Viper interrupted the uncomfortable conversation and began pushing everyone toward the porch.

  The two of us were the last to walk out when Voodoo spoke again, his hand stopping us at the door.

  “Venom, a word, alone, before you go.”

  Vincent glanced at me. His eyes closed for a second as his fingers let go of mine.

  “I’ll meet you at the truck.”

  Venom

  Voodoo circled his finger in the air, and like magic, the room emptied, leaving only the two of us.

  “Son, what did I tell you about that girl not belonging here?” He shook his head. “I get it, she’s a piece of ass, and she has spunk. But that girl…” He pointed out the window where everyone was piling into vehicles. I spotted Mongo giving Maggie a hand to get in the truck, a goofy smile planted on his face. “She’s the kind that can get you caught up and pussy whipped. She’s the kind that will make you question your allegiances. Believe me, I know that girl. If a fight goes down, you will be worried about saving her, not your brothers. She’s weak, and she will make you weak. You need to figure this out before you get too far gone.”

  My teeth ground at his assumptions about Maggie; he didn’t know her at all. I knew his little comments about the knife were to put doubt in her head, make her question who she was with. Voodoo was clever, but I wouldn’t let him destroy us.

  “Yes, sir.” That was all I could answer. Voodoo’s mind was made up.

  “Just so we are clear. Trouble starts, you protect your brothers.”

  “I got it.”

  “I hope so. You’re the one I thought I could count on to take my place someday. Vicious started a family, and he’s too distracted to be president anytime soon. And Viper, well,” he shook his head, “his hotheaded immaturity is not ready for that kind of responsibility. You were always the one with the brains. The one who could think fast and make rational decisions, you were a born leader. I hope you know how much this club is counting on you.”

  Beeping sounded off several times.

  Voodoo gave me a final head nod. “Go. But think about what I said, Venom.”

  I stayed silent during the ride. Everyone else was having a good time. Both vehicles were swerving one in front of the other, and music blasted out the windows as a bunch of young and dumb kids spent one of the last weekends of summer on rides and games.

  “You alright?” Maggie yelled her best in my ear as her silvery hair whipped around the truck. I ignored the question and pointed to the lights of the rides illuminating the black sky. Two giant beams were crossing over each other high in the sky. I placed an arm around her and tucked her in close.

  “I can’t wait to win you something to bring home so you can never forget tonight.” My finger tipped her chin up before I kissed her lips, hoping that she wouldn’t pry into what Voodoo had said.

  The ride became rough as we drove off the road, following the long line of cars being directed where to park.

  “Don’t you just love carnivals? The smell, the sounds, the lights.” Shannon beamed as Mongo helped her down from the back of the truck bed. Sirens from games and music from the rides echoed through the air. I couldn’t help but relax from the off-putting conversation with my father when I saw Maggie’s reaction to the carnival. Her excitement had us speed walking to the gates.

  “You know, I haven’t been to a carnival since I was a little girl. I don’t think our tiny church fair counts. My mother thinks that only lowlifes go to carnivals. She forbids us from even attending the county fair.” Maggie inhaled as we approached the ticket stand next to the cotton candy cart.

  At first, I ignored the tap on my shoulder as I pulled out a twenty to purchase our wristbands for the night. Another tap. “What now?” I turned to Viper, who was pointing to a long line of bikes parked along the front row. A bearded man with a big gut and a jean cut with a demon on the patch leaned against his motorcycle.

  Fuck. Voodoo was right.

  I just nodded and shook my head, not wanting to alarm the others.

  “Pink or blue?” a gruff woman swirling the fine threads of sugar onto a paper cone asked as Maggie tried to make her decision.

  “God, I don’t know, what do you like?” she asked me, her eyes pleading for an answer.

  “Blue, always blue.”

  “Blue, please.” Maggie’s smile widened as the woman handed her the cone.

  “You haven’t had this before, have you?” I asked as I watched her looking at how the others plucked pieces of the sugary cotton into their mouth, letting the sweetness dissolve.

  “Not since I was five.” She did as I did, plucking off a chunk and popping it into her mouth. “Wow, that is sweet.” She scrunched her face. I should’ve gotten pink. Now my tongue is going to be blue.”

  That earned a comment from the peanut gallery. “Blue to go with—” I cut Viper’s remark off, covering his mouth with my hand before he embarrassed Maggie.

  “Can we go on this next?” Maggie jumped up and down as we stood in line. The roller coaster whooshed over our heads. The way it clicked as it climbed the hill made me regret eating before we had gone on the rides.

  Lex and Sissy kept themselves entertained, making out in each line. By the fourth ride, Viper was on the hunt for chicks. We all broke apart and wandered around. Shannon asked Maggie to carry the goldfish she’d won while she and Mongo hit the bumper cars.

  “Win the lady a prize.” The tattooed, nearly toothless man held out the darts to me. Behind him, a wall of colorful balloons.

  “Aww, look at that cute bunny.” Maggie pointed to the oversized pink fuzzy rabbit that dangled next to a line of other stuffed animals.

  “Come on, the first throw is free. Hit three balloons and the bunny is all yours, doll face.” He leaned into Maggie’s space. I stepped in front of her, accepting the darts.

  “You got this, Vincent.” Maggie let go of my arm and stood by my side, cheering me on as I popped the first balloon.

  Most people thought this was an easy game to win, going for what they believed were the obvious targets. But I was more familiar with it. I ran this booth two years in a row at the Sheriff’s carnival when an underaged Viper and I were doing our first round of community service.

  I leaned in and popped a second balloon, earning squeals and claps from Maggie. The man gave me a dirty look.

  “I think I need a kiss for luck on this one.”

  Maggie gladly obliged, giving me a long, slow kiss that made the entire carnival fade away for a moment.

  “Are you going to throw or what?” the man growled. I turned my head to the game, aiming my dart with Maggie still pressed into my body. I threw the dart, stabbing the balloon and earning cheers from the onlookers.

  “How did you…?” the man grumbled as he squinted at me before pulling down the bunny to give to Maggie.

  “Thank you.” Maggie’s smile was a mile wide as she hugged her new friend. “Look, a photo booth. Let’s take a picture.” She again dragged me to a line. “I want to always have a memory of tonight. She reached her hand up and ran her fingers through my hair.

  “Hey, have you guys seen Lex or Mongo?” Viper yelled as he approached us, entering the booth.

  “No,” we both answered.

  “Can you hold Shannon’s fish as we take a picture?” Maggie thrust the poor little guy in the plastic bag to Viper.
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br />   “What, eww, no.”

  “Please, just for a minute.” She pouted. Viper was putty in Maggie Grace’s hand.

  “Fine,” he huffed. “Make it fast.” He leaned against the booth, kicking up his foot as we took our seat. I took out a bill and pushed the button for it to be accepted.

  I stole a kiss in the first picture, keeping Maggie and me from looking at the camera. She laughed. “Come on, I want a good one of our faces.” She turned us both to the camera before it snapped again. “Oh, I almost forgot our new friend.” Maggie held the bunny between us for the third.

  Before the snap of the last picture, Viper popped his head in over ours and smiled before we could get him to stop.

  “Viper!” we both snapped.

  “I think you guys should get out here—trouble’s brewing.”

  I was prepared for it to be from another club. Instead, I looked where a scene was forming. Flaming red hair caught my attention.

  “You fucking skank.” I could hear Sissy yelling. Maggie sprinted ahead, running to aide her friend. “Maggie, wait.”

  “I knew you were a piece of shit!” Sissy yelled at Lex and the blonde who had the same lipstick on Lex’s face.

  Oh fuck. Of course. It had to be Tara. Mongo was holding back Sissy as she screeched cuss words. Maggie came to a stop.

  “Let me go!” Sissy thrashed against Mongo.

  “No, you are not getting arrested. You are already on probation. Not over this whore,” he said calmly.

  “Who are you calling whore, Baby Huey?” Tara spat out.

  “Tara!” Maggie cut through the yelling.

  “And what are you going to do, Blessed Virgin?”

  My jaw nearly hit the ground when Maggie’s arm reeled back before flying forward, punching Tara straight in the nose, causing her to shriek. Holy shit, did she just…?