Chapter 34: Chapter 34

“Okay, pens down.” I feel a tap on my shoulder. Exams from behind are being passed forwards. Once the teachers have our papers in their hands, the gym is in complete chaos. School is out for summer, and my high school years are officially over. I crack my knuckles and stretch my shoulders and arms as I stand up searching the gym. Anna is upfront with Johnson.

I wrap my arms around Anna, “It’s over! Time to get wasted!” “My pool’s not open yet,” she warns.

“Don’t worry; as long as you have spirits, I’m sure it will be fine. Do we have the place to ourselves?”

“As Per!”

“I’ll go home and have dinner and then come right over.” “You don’t need to, have dinner at my place.”

“Okay, I’ll text mom.” I pull my phone out of my school bag and turn it back on.

Suddenly hands cover my eyes, rendering me blind, “Lara?” “Fuck, you always get it right!” She complains excitedly.

“Well, Anna’s standing in front of me you twit! How did you do on your exam?”

“Not bad, considering I hardly studied for the fucking thing!”

“Shut the fuck up!” Johnson admonishes, “The teachers haven’t vacated the gym.”

“So what are they going to do?” Anna challenges. That is when I see HIM with HER. They are leaving the gym together. His arm is cloaked around her shoulders like they had been together forever. They run into Jeremy who is looking through the glass on the gym door for probably us. I’m fixated on them as I watch them talk for a few seconds. Jeremy points to us, in particular, Anna, and then Scott nods.

They leave the gym, but Jeremy comes in. He is headed straight for me. “Tell me you didn’t?” I ask.

“Invite them to Anna’s? Johnson go in one car, Jeremy and I in his.

When we are alone in his car he asks, “Is Lara seeing anyone Isabella? Tell me the truth.”

“She is very single. I don’t think she’s dated since the abortion.” He winces at my words. “Are you thinking of getting back with her?”

“I miss her Isabella,” he admits.

“No worries, she misses you too.”

He smiles looking hopeful, “How are you and Michael getting along?” “Amazing, but I don’t expect it to last.”

“Why not?”

“I haven’t forthcoming with him,” I admit. “You need to be,” he encourages. He pulls into Anna’s driveway turning off the car. He gives me a big hug and I whisper into his ear, “Good luck.” The front door is left open an inch for us. Music is blaring from within. I see Lara adjusting the music and scream over the noise, “Turn the volume down, I can’t hear myself think!” Jeremy follows me in waiting for her to turn it down. I don’t hang around and watch them stumble into a heated conversation. I search for Anna to help plan dinner.

Anna is searching for something in her freezer when I find her, “Have you heard from Michael?”

“Johnson says he’s on his way back.”

“Oh shit, I better go do my makeup.” I dig in my pocket pulling out two twenty-dollar bills, “Let’s order Chinese, here’s all I have.”

I take the stairs two at a time rushing into Anna’s room to get started on my makeup when a big blob on her bed catches my eye. I turn the light on and recognize Lara and Jeremy right away. He’s on top of her and their clothes are strewn all over the floor. The blanket is covering his buttocks, but I can see his bareback and her breasts. They don’t waste any time.

I turn the light off and scoot past them into her bathroom closing the door behind me. I put the fan on to muffle their sex noises. I’m praying tonight will go well for them. I hear voices from the front door, Anna is greeting Michael. I cover my eyes as I pass by the bed again and leave Anna’s room to say hi to Michael whose standing at the base of the stairs, “Hi Isa! Where’s Jeremy?”

“In Anna’s room with Lara,” I say slightly embarrassed.

“Stupid fuck, he’s taking her back,” he says more to Johnson than to me. “They love each other,” I defend Jeremy’s choice.

“She slept with your fucking partner,” he curses. Anna is getting angry at Michael’s zealous comments; it’s obvious by her stance alone. Johnson steps out of the living room handing Michael a beer, “Chill, let him make his own fucking mistakes. You can’t tell him who he can dick.”

He takes the drink from Johnson, “Thanks, bro.” Anna and I look at each other completely disgusted by Michael and Johnson’s vulgarities. He saunters over to me after taking a swig of his beer and kisses me, his mouth wet and cold from the beer, his kiss aggressive, making me want him. I’m curled into him on the sofa nursing my second drink when Scott walks in with Juliet, his arm is cloaked over her shoulders. It’s a hard pill to swallow, seeing them together for myself, my best friend dating a girl that doesn't deserve him. He’s a status symbol to her, a popular, Olympic athlete, driving a Mercedes, she’s using him, can’t he see it? Can anyone see it?

Anna greets them at the front door, helping them with their jackets. “So nice of you guys to make it!” Anna gushes. “Help yourselves to drinks in the kitchen. We ordered Chinese food for dinner.” Anna is gauging my reaction. Michael and Johnson are distracted during a heated discussion about an exam they wrote two days ago, so I motion to Anna with my eyes to meet upstairs.

Her sheets are all messed up on the bed and her underwear is still lying on the floor. Maybe it’s Lara's? “They could have at least given me the common courtesy of making the bed after doing it here,” she complains.

“They are back together again,” I tell her. “How do you know?” she asks.

“He told me he’s going to ask her in the car.” “Oh, that’s so sweet!”

“What do you think about Scott and Juliet?” “Lucky Bitch! What do you think?”

“I think she’s using him.”

“Can you blame her? He’s so friggin hot! How you can choose Michael over him is beyond me!”

“This conversation isn’t making me feel better,” I complain.

“It’s not supposed to,” She reasons, “I’m trying to talk sense into you. Do you still have feelings for him? Are you going to finally admit to me and most importantly to yourself that you’re madly in love with him?”

“You’re talking stupid Anna. I’m in love with Michael.”

“If that’s the case then why does seeing Scott with Juliet bother you?” “Point noted,” I acknowledge.

“Does Michael know you’re going to the same University as Scott?” “Not if I can help it,” I grin.

“Seriously, he needs to know, it’s only eleven weeks away.” “I’ve been meaning to tell him,” I say honestly.

“Someone might beat you to it. I’d get on that,” she suggests. “We better get back down before they notice.”

“Where’s Lara and Jeremy?”

Grinning, I point to the bathroom door where I notice light escaping from the bottom. It was locked but Anna knows how to open it. She pries the lock open and we burst in, the lovebirds are soaking in her tub, “I should charge you” she says. “Make the bed when you’re done and please wipe down the tub!”

“Add some fucking bubbles!” I crack sarcastically seeing way too much. We run out of the bathroom giggling. When we get back downstairs the mood turns like the wind. It changes from light and happy to serious and dark. “The air’s filled down here,” I comment.

Johnson glances up at us, “We’ve been discussing which Universities we’ve chosen.”

“Oh!” Shit! Scott is smirking. His arm isn’t around Juliet anymore. She looks pissed.

Johnson continues, “Scott was telling us he’s chosen Western, that’s the one you’re going to, isn’t that right?”

“Oh, yes, that is the one I chose too. What a coincidence!” I try keeping my voice light and upbeat not shit-baked and caged. I down the rest of my drink using that as an excuse to leave the room.

I hear cushions shift and someone behind me. I’m hoping it’s anyone but Michael, but his growl is unmistakable, “Not so fast! You knew, didn’t you?”

I turn to face him, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I say innocently.

“You knew, why didn’t you tell me.”

“I didn’t, honest.” Wow, now I’m telling bald-faced lies.

I pour myself an even stronger drink than before. Michael pins me against the fridge and starts rubbing himself against me mimicking fucking motions. His lips cover mine claiming me. He grabs my sex whispering, “Get the fuck upstairs, I’m going to fuck you silly.” He releases me and I start rushing out of the kitchen when Johnson and Anna come in smiling, “Fix the sheets when you’re done.” He chases me up the stairs slamming the door behind us. Michael mixed with the spirits I’ve had side-tracks me from thinking about Scott and Juliet.