Chapter Four: Bleeding Love
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Degrassi or anything. I do own the characters Holly, Mona, Sasha and Lawson, however.
As pissed as she was over her argument with her father, Holly Mason cooled down on the ride to her friend's house with her mom. They blasted the top 40 music and sang along loudly with smiles on their faces. Sasha was always much better than understanding their teenage daughter than Gavin.
"So, I'll just call you for a ride?" Holly checked while looking herself over in the car mirror.
"Yeah, for sure. Call the house phone, my cell's acting up."
"Okay." She said while trying to tame a few wild and stray hairs.
Sasha pulled up into Mona's driveway and turned the music down slowly.
"See you!" Holly couldn't have unleashed herself from the car quicker. It was like she had just downed a whole cup of sugar.
"Hey Holly Hob," Sasha leaned foreword and called at her daughter through the open door.
"Mom, what?" Holly was in a rush.
"First of all, you talk to me nicer than that." She warned. "Also, go easy on your Dad. He's got a lot going on right now." She said sweetly with all her intentions in the right place. It was always strange to Holly to hear her parents say such kind things about one another and still openly treat each other like gold. They were on their way to getting divorce, the least her mom could do was try and take all her Dad's money and he could call her a horrible name sometime. That's what Holly figured.
"I'll try." Holly huffed before closing the car door behind her. "Bye." She waved and then ran up to the door of Mona's bungalow.
With her pajamas on already and brushing her hair over, Mona answered the door slowly.
"Geez, Mona, you could help me sell this a little." Holly looked her friend over and joked. She glanced behind her to make sure her mom was leaving and sure enough she was watching her daughter while pulling out of the drive.
"When you called I was getting into my pajamas. I'm exhausted." Mona yawned and led her friend into the foyer of her house. "Did you take Kwan's English test today?" Mona watched as Holly pulled off her sweatshirt and fixed her tank top with a low sweetheart neckline in the mirror. "My dad says he had her when he was in school, too. So, it's true, she's got to be about a hundred years old."
"Uck, I have the test tomorrow. I'm not ready at all. I've only read up to chapter six."
"Maybe, you should study." Mona advised.
"And pass up the chance to hang out with Lawson?" Holly gave Mona a look that asked honestly "Are you serious?"
"Alright, are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, your dad is pretty adamant about you not seeing him."
"What he doesn't know about can't hurt him." Foolishly, Holly claimed while shoving her sweatshirt back into the knapsack. "Can I just leave this here?" She checked.
"Yeah." Mona nodded. "I'll probably be in bed, so my sister will let you in when you come back."
"Thanks so much, Mony." Holly wrapped her friend into her arms. "I owe you big time."
"If your mom calls though, I'm not lying."
"Mona."
"If your dad calls," Mona continued. "I don't know what I'll say."
"Just say I'm in the washroom or that I went to the park with our friends but, you left early." Holly was pretty proud of the lies she made up on the spot.
"Fine, go, have fun." Mona opened her front door for Holly to leave to go over to Lawson's house.
"I will!" She rang and rushed over the five lawns between Mona and Lawson's house. She knocked twice and after just a few seconds, the door swung open and she was greeted by the unshaven face of Lawson's dad.
"Holly, how are you?" He grinned and held the door open with one hand.
"I'm good, thank you." She said extra politely. "How are you?"
"Good." He nodded. "Come in." He held the door open completely to allow her to wander inside. "Lawson actually just went over to the store to pick up some pop and a movie but, he'll be back in, like," Dean glanced up at the clock above Holly's head. "Two minutes."
"Alright, thanks." She nodded and shoved her hands in her jean pockets which showed Dean how uncomfortable she was and unsure of herself.
"Come in, I was just about to make myself a snack."
"Okay." Quietly, Holly followed Lawson's dad through the living room and into their tidy kitchen. It was spotless and designed with a very modern feel. Mentally, Holly took the time to imagine Lawson in there using their stainless steel griddle to cook her pancakes in the morning with bacon and eggs over top to create a smiley face.
"Can I get you anything?" Dean glanced back at her while sifting through the refrigerator.
"No, I'm good."
"You're not hungry?"
"My mom and I grabbed something at the restaurant in my dad's hotel."
"He owns a hotel?" That caught Dean's attention. He carefully closed the fridge door while holding a frozen bag of whole wheat bagels in his hand.
"He's the manager of the Sheraton on Gertrude." She explained. It almost came across like she was proud of her dad. She'd heard stories that college was a struggle for her dad and everyone knew high school had been very hellacious for Gavin, too. She was happy to tell people that he really made something of himself.
"Good for him. You know, your dad and I go way back."
"He's mentioned that." She hoped Mr. Walters would tell her the story of what it was that had her dad so fried at him.
"Yeah, I always thought your dad was a cool guy. I don't think he thought the same for me." He slyly smiled while cutting open the bagel and popping it into the toaster. "Sure, I can't make you one?"
"No, I'm fine, thanks."
"So, Lawson tells me you're quite the actress." He grinned while pulling up a chair to the table where Holly was planted.
"I don't know if I'm any good." She giggled. "I do like it, though."
"What's your favorite movie?" He leaned foreword and engaged his dark eyes into hers. He still had that boyish charm that could make any girl melt. Holly always joked with Mona that Lawson's dad was hot for an old guy but, Dean wasn't that old. He and Lawson's mom had had Lawson when they were in first year University right when Dean turned eighteen.
"I don't know. Pretty Woman, I think." She was slightly embarrassed to admit. "That's pretty girly, huh?"
"No. That's a good movie." Dean agreed. "A beautiful girl," He pushed his chair closer and attempted to play footsie with Holly. "A older guy." He winked. "Cute storyline."
"I guess." Holly didn't know if she should pull her feet away or not. It could've been an accident or maybe, he didn't know he was doing it. Plus, she didn't want to be rude.
"My favorite movie is A Clockwork Orange, personally. You ever seen it?"
"No." Holly said. It sounded kind of creepy.
"Read the book?" He asked while getting out of his chair to retrieve his bagel that had just popped.
"No." She shook her head and murmured.
"It's a great read." He nodded while pulling the peanut butter and margarine out to paint over his toasted bagel. He held one half of his snack in his hand and began to butter it while he leaned his back against the kitchen counter to face Holly. He slowly underdressed her with his eyes and she could feel it. "I've been meaning to lend it to Lawson, actually."
"He'd like that." She said generically.
"I'm back!" Lawson said against the sound of the front door slamming. Holly was entirely relieved. She found being alone with Mr. Walters to be a complete displeasure and she couldn't wait to get out of his sight.
"We're in the kitchen." Dean called back, as he went back to concentrating on his bagel.
"We're?" Lawson asked while kicking off his shoes and coming inside his house.
"Holly and I were just talking."
"Oh, hey Holly." Lawson smiled at the sight of her folded over his kitchen table. "Sorry, I wasn't here, I just had to pick some stuff up." He dropped the plastic grocery store bag on the kitchen table in front of her.
"That's okay." She said in a quiet high pitched voice. "Want to go downstairs and watch a movie?"
"Sure, what did you rent?" She asked and started to get up from the table. She didn't even notice Mr. Walter's smirking and staring her down.
"300." He pulled out of the bag and revealed. "I've heard it's awesome."
"Sure, let's." She eagerly grinned.
"See you, dad." Lawson quickly led Holly out of his kitchen and down to their basement. It was a lot colder down there; Holly was overcome with a quick chill as she closed the door behind them.
"Don't worry; I'll get you a blanket." He could hear her shivering behind him.
Lawson turned the television on and then grabbed a blanket from next to it off the floor.
"Here," He wandered over to the loveseat Holly had placed herself on and wrapped her in the knitted blanket. "Better?" He checked while staring down into her. Holly knew the feeling she felt is what teenage romance movies were made of. She couldn't take her eyes off of him yet, she couldn't look at him for fear she'd start blushing fiercely.
"Much better." She giggled, awkwardly.
"Good." Lawson wandered away and put the movie into the DVD player and hit play right away. He came back to the loveseat and sat right beside her.
"Here, we can share." Sweetly, she opened up some of the blanket off her and draped it over his legs.
"Thanks." He chuckled and turned to face her better. "So, what did you and my dad talk about?"
"Uh, stuff. Nothing too deep. Movies, jobs, things like that." She nodded.
"He didn't say anything embarrassing, did he?"
"Yeah, he pulled out your baby photo album. You had some cute cheeks." She teased. Lawson's whole face melted pale. He was absolutely humiliated. "I'm kidding. He didn't say anything that was bad."
"Girl, I'm going to get you for that!" He declared while sighing in relief. He was slowly getting color back in his face. He pressed play on the remote and waited for the movie to begin. He glanced back at Holly who was trying to concentrate on the screen but, kept sneaking peeks of Lawson.
"Holly," He quietly whispered.
"Yeah?" She eagerly turned around to attend to him.
"I've kind of wanted to kiss you for a long time." He stared down at the cement floor and noticed the holes in his socks. He was embarrassed and shy but, he really wanted to let her know. Plus, one of his best friends was saying he'd ask Holly out soon if Lawson didn't.
"No way." She accidentally let slip out of her lips.
"Oh, I thought you might want me too." Lawson couldn't believe he was getting rejected by a girl. Let alone Holly, who was the kind of pretty you read about in Avon catalogue's and who happened to be younger than him.
"No, I do. I do. I meant, no way, like, yes." She giggled. They were awkward teenagers with googly eyes for another. All they both could do was stare at the floor and chuckle.
"So, I can, then?" Lawson looked up at her, anticipating her answer.
"Sure." She nodded. She'd never been kissed by a boy before.
"Then, I will sometime." He breathed out and nodded.
"Sometime?"
"Yeah."
"Okay." Disappointed, Holly returned back to the screen. She could hear Lawson breathing nervously and she herself was fiddling with her hands on her knees beneath the blanket.
"How about now?" Lawson leaned closer and before Holly could say anything she felt his lips close over hers. She mentally applauded herself for wearing her best flavored lip gloss that night, raspberry shiver.
Neither Lawson or Holly could say they actually knew what the movie was about since they spent the night cuddling, kissing, and enjoying one another's company. Holly fell asleep quietly against Lawson's rising and falling chest. She felt very warm against him. However, next thing she knew was he was shaking her shoulders and telling her it was nearly one in the morning.
"My mom's going to kill me!" She shouted and jumped to her feet.
"Just tell her we fell asleep." Lawson tried to calm her down, as she rushed up the flight of stairs to his main room. "Here, I'll drive you home."
"No, you can't." She exclaimed. "I'm not supposed to be here. She thinks I'm at Mona's."
"Holly, I don't want your parents to not like me and if you feel you have to lie to them, they're going to hate me."
"No, it's not that. I'm working on them. My mom likes you."
"Let me drive you home."
"No, you can't. I'll see you on Saturday? At the twin's birthday?" She checked before leaving.
"Yeah, I can drive you there."
"Alright. I'll see you." She patted his chest and then sent herself rushing out of his house. She was mortified when she spied her mom's car parked outside Mona's house and faster than she knew she was able to run, she ran over the lawns and jumped in front of Mona's door step. She wondered why she couldn't run that way in gym class when they were doing their bi yearly health test. She didn't even bother to catch her breath; she just knocked on the door frantically. Holly felt very relieved to see Robbie in the foyer with Mona. Mona was half asleep when Robbie had gotten there twenty minutes prior and she was trying to conjure up a good lie to tell him but, nothing was working.
"There she is!" Mona exclaimed and yawned at the same time. "How was….Sarah's house?" Mona made up. They didn't even have a friend named Sarah which Robbie was well aware of. He knew where Holly was but, he didn't bother to say anything right there.
"Great. I fell asleep." Holly explained while staring at Mona. "Alright, see you tomorrow, Mona! Thanks again." She said as she grabbed her back pack. She then let herself and Robbie out of Mona's house.
Embarrassed, Holly walked in front of her brother and never even glanced behind her. He had a bright smirk on his face and he was watching her with a funny expression over his face.
"So, did Sarah like the view of your cleavage there?" He teased. She didn't really have any cleavage but, he had to make a crack at her top.
"Robbie, please don't tell Mom or Dad." She begged as Robbie got in the driver's seat.
"No way, this is too good." He said before unlocking the passenger seat door.
"They'll kill me."
"Good, I've always wanted your room."
"Robbie, please, I'll do anything."
"Anything?" He liked the sound of that as he was driving. He thought quietly and racked his brain for a genius idea of something horrible he could make Holly do but, Robbie wasn't like most guys. He loved to goof off with his friends but, he was pretty straight edge. At the end of the day, he did care about his sister, sincerely. "Alright, stop seeing Lawson."
"No!" That had always been out of the question to Holly but, now that she and Lawson had kissed, it seemed impossible. "What is everyone's deal with that?"
"Clearly, if Dad is so hung up on you not seeing him, there's good reason."
"Or Dad's just pissed he couldn't make his relationship work that he doesn't want me to be happy."
"Do you actually believe that?" Robbie frowned down at his little sister.
"Lawson kissed me." She admitted very softly. "It was great."
"Holly," He grinned while checking to change lanes. Sometimes, she was so naïve and cute, it was humorous. "I'm happy for you. I think it's awesome you've met someone you're into but, is it worth pissing off Dad?"
"Yes." She said without a breath.
"Next time, I ask you that will you think before you answer?"
"If Dad told you that you couldn't see someone you were into, would you listen?"
Robbie answered his little sister very honestly.
"I don't know." He cleared his throat. "I haven't met anyone yet but, I know I respect Dad enough to hear him out and not sneak around behind his back."
Holly felt that shot but, still, you couldn't stop thinking about how yummy it felt to be kissing Lawson Walters and she wanted to do it again and again.
Read and Review, please.
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis