Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Mom gives up pounding on my bedroom door or asking if I’m all right. The first tears I shed over a guy finally dry up. I pull out my phone:

ISABELLA: Anna, you won’t believe what happened.

ANNA: Details.

I put my phone on dictating mode and start talking into it. There is way too much to type.

ISABELLA: He picked me up after the doctor’s appointment and we went to Tim Hortons. We stayed in his car. He asked me how it went. I told him that my skating career might be over, I will have to wait and see. The doctor said I had a torn hamstring. Anyway, I was upset, and he was really nice to me.

He told me that he broke up with Juliet. He kissed me. It was amazing. He said he wanted to be the first guy to ever kiss me. I reminded him of my psycho mom and he said he was willing to take his chances. It was so hot. Then his phone chirped. He said that Juliet was watching us in the parking lot. He floored it out of there. I said that he should go back and talk to her and he said no way. Then I pretended to text her on his phone and he went ballistic on me. He told me to give him back his fucking phone. I told him to drive me home. I handed him his phone and all I had typed into it was ‘Tricked You!’ as a joke. He didn’t realize that I hadn’t texted her until I was already in the house.

He’s called five times I blocked his number now.

ANNA: What an asshole! you totally shouldn’t have played that trick on him though. Why do you care how he treats Juliet? He’s into you!

ISABELLA: Because I could be next to be treated like her. I’m so done with him before we even started.

ANNA: I think you are overreacting. you don’t know their situation.

ISABELLA: He cut all his hair off just Because he knows Juliet hates it that way.

ANNA: Ew, how did it look?

ISABELLA: Not as good, but he’s still hot.

ANNA: He must still have feelings 4 her, to do something like that.

ISABELLA: You know!

ANNA: Totally! We have to go shopping for the Cultural dance.

ISABELLA: Ok, come over for dinner and then we’ll go after.

ANNA: Can’t, mom wants me to eat here tonight. Will pick you up after dinner.

ISABELLA: Ok.

ANNA: See you later.

I use the excuse that I want to rest my leg before shopping with Anna for a reason to eat in my room. She picks me up shortly after seven and we head to the mall.

Anna and I check out several stores before settling on overpriced costumes from a movie. She is being the best BFF she is, doesn’t dare mention Michael’s name the entire time we are out. She even manages to make me laugh asking me when I am going to meet Scott while holding a fairy costume. She is righteously firing out subliminal messages.

I know what I should do, I have to push Michael out of my head and focus on healing and making this alleged partnership with Scott work.

nna picks me up a half hour before the dance starts. Her short blond hair is disguised by a wig that’s long and brown. Her blue eyes remain unchanged with the exception of the bold colors she used on her lids.

Her eye lashes are darkened, emphasizing their beautiful length and her dress colour is a Royal Blue making her look the noble part. Her natural beauty is highlighted in this costume, I hardly recognize her!

She freezes the second I sit in her car, “Oh my God, Isabella! You look amazing! Everyone’s going to be throwing themselves at your feet tonight!”

“I highly doubt that,” I say self-consciously. “My makeup is too light, the long blond wig isn’t sitting on me properly, and the light blue dress makes me look chunky.”

“You’ll see,” she grins, “lose the wig, your own hair looks better.” “Seriously?”

“Totally!” I take the wig off and start fishing through my purse for a brush. When I find it, I start mindlessly running it through my hair, “Do you think Michael will be their tonight?”

“I thought you are mad at him,” she says shortly.

“I am,” I admit lamely.

Anna starts squealing and tapping her hand against the steering wheel with excitement, “I have major gossip! Lara’s leaving Johnson tonight!

Jeremy asked her out, and she’s in love with him. Johnson isn’t going to know what hit him! He’s going to be on the market before the end of the night, and I’m going to snatch him up! He’s going to be all mine!”

“Can you be any more confident? It might ruin your friendship with Lara if she see’s you with him.”

“She’s the one breaking up with him! So, our golden rule doesn’t apply in this case.” Anna reminds me. “By the way she says she has something to show me!”

“What?”

“I have no fucking clue! Do you think Johnson is going to like the way I look?”

“What guy wouldn’t?” I answer honestly.

She pulls into the parking lot and we play music for twenty minutes, so we won’t be the first ones at the dance.

“Do you think Michael is bringing anyone?”

“Juliet is out of the picture, so who would he bring? I think he’ll come stag.”

“Are you ready to go in?”

“Never more!” she says enthusiastically.

The cafeteria is dark with the only light being a strobe light in the center of the ceiling. White strings of cotton-like moss off willows is hanging everywhere. Skeletons with blood and amputated body parts are scattered all over with the exception of the dance floor. Against three walls are little round tables that seat two with fake candles on them.

There is also a loser wall that has a row of chairs for dateless people who want to be asked to dance. That is where I will be the majority of the time. ‘Thriller,’ by Michael Jackson is playing when we walk in.

Everything is already in full swing. “Anna yells into my ear, “Loser wall?” “No, let’s get a table!”

She grabs my wrist, so we won't get separated and starts leading me to the opposite side of the cafeteria, “Here?”

“Sure,” We take the last vacant table. “Do you see Johnson?” “No, you?”

“No.”

“Do you see Michael?” “No, you?”

“No,” That’s when ‘Johnson ' spots us. Johnson is dressed like the guys on Sons of Anarchy. I kick Anna under the table, “Look at Johnson, he’s headed in our direction!” Anna’s eyes light up. Her wishes are coming true! We watch him stroll in our direction, expecting him to stop in front of her, but he doesn’t. He stops in front of me. His hand is stretched out, he is inviting me to dance. I’m floored by his gesture. I look at Anna who coolly gives me a nod of encouragement.

Eric Clapton comes on and suddenly I find myself pressed right up against tall lanky Johnson with his arm wrapped tightly around my waist. He whispers in my ear, “You look beautiful tonight.” A chill goes up my spine as his breath tickles the sensitive part of my ear.

“Thank you,” I say politely.

His hand starts gliding down my back. I don’t like where this is going considering Anna is all into him. “Are you forgetting Lara?” I remind him. He shouldn’t need reminding. He replaces his hand back in its original spot, I just can’t get over how beautiful you look,” he explains.

I close my eyes, wanting to feel the music when I hear Michael’s voice,

“Do you want to fuck off now? With friends like you,” he complains. Johnson stops dancing with me immediately and backs away. The animosity between the two is palpable.

Standing before me is Juice from ‘Son’s of Anarchy,’ shaved head and all. He is wearing his leather jacket and faded blue jeans that sit low on his waist. He looks intimidating even to me. He has a fake tattoo on his freshly shaved scalp.

I’m about to walk away but he grabs my wrist authoritatively and says, “Dance with me.”

“Let go of my wrist,” I demand, trying to free myself from his grasp.

He holds me tighter, “Not until you listen to what I have to say.” I try getting myself free one last time to no avail. His grip around my wrist only tightens.

“Once dance,” he insists.

I surrender to him knowing I can’t escape him. At least, Johnson is free to dance with Anna now. He takes me into his arms and any resolve I muster to stay away from him disappears into thin air.

His voice is deeper and gravellier than before, “I’m sorry for the other day,” he apologizes. His warm breath sends another chill down my spine. I never knew my ears were so sensitive.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“It’s your breath on my ear, it gives me the shivers,” I admit.

“Oh, it does, does it?” he whispers again. This time he takes the tip of my earlobe into his mouth and begins caressing it with his velvety tongue. He looks rebellious and sexy, and it’s so hot, I let out a gasp. He continues licking my earlobe and nipping at it as his warm breath surrounds the sensitive area.

“I don’t want to see you in anyone’s arms but mine,” he whispers possessively.

“Are you asking me to go steady with you?” I tease.

“No, I’m telling you,” he corrects. He takes hold of my wrist and starts leading me to Anna. When we get to where she’s dancing with Johnson (Johnson) on the dance floor, he says to her, “I’m taking your friend to my car, it’s the black Mercedes in the parking lot.”

“Sure,” she says winking at me.

We leave the cafeteria; the music can be faintly heard behind us. It is dark out; the parking lot is full. We don’t even make it inside his car. He backs me up against it and starts pressing himself against me. His lips begin pressing against mine demandingly. He reaches for the back door, “Get in and lay down,” he bosses.

I do as I am told. I lay down on his cold black leather interior and feel the weight of his body as he slowly lowers himself on top of me. I lose my breath as he steals my air, kissing me wildly, reducing me to gasping for breath between his long sensuous kisses.

I run my fingers over his shadow of a Mohawk, “What did you do to your hair?” I complain.

“You don’t like it?” he asks between kisses.

“It makes you look bad ass,” I comment.

He pulls away from me for a second and stares into my eyes. He takes my hand and intentionally glides it over the area of his head that is bald and says to me, “I want you to be like this when I take your virginity,” he orders. Shockwaves of excitement course through my body. Suddenly I want my virginity to be his for the taking. I will do whatever he wants me to.