I want to thank everyone that reads and especially those that take the time to review.
Ch. 6 Half Ecstatic, Half Dejected
(CLARE)
Mindlessly I follow Asher from the building and into his car. I'm just trapped in my head, stressing over my relationship with Eli. I'm sure that I love him but worried that I don't react to his touch the way I do to Mike's. It's only when I realize that we're headed north on Don Valley Parkway that I stop thinking about Eli and begin to get nervous about where we're headed.
"Uh Asher where are we going?" I inquire.
"There's a little spot I know," he responds.
The way he says it sounds like we're on a date, he also hasn't said anything about there being a story or this having anything to do with my internship yet.
"Okay why? What does this have to do with my co-op?" I question getting more and more anxious with every rotation of the wheels.
"Well honestly nothing," Asher admits turning off into a desolate and heavily wooded area. "However I've been staring at your picture and I can't get it out of my head," he tells me turning onto a dirt road and driving even farther into the woods. "If I'm keeping your secret then I think I should get something in return, after all I'm saving your career and reputation," he tells me, his tone slipping into lasciviousness and slime, which makes my skin crawl.
"You're insane let me out of the car!" I snap at him trying to open the door but he has it locked and he's still driving, albeit fairly slow. "I'll go to your boss, te…"
"Oh I don't think so," Asher says cutting me off. "If you come forward then I have to show them the picture. I'll say you gave me the picture and I have it on my phone, I hit one button and it gets sent out to everyone in my contacts. Now what do you think that will do to your future career, your reputation, your family, your life?" Asher questions and my heart sinks.
My stomach churns in knots and a hard lump forms in my throat as tears rush my eyes. As much as I hate it I know Asher is right and this will ruin everything. If my mom even sees the picture she'll go berserk! No good school will take me if that's on my record, Eli will leave me and if that picture comes out then so will my summer with Mike. Asher is blackmailing me, he's in his thirties and I'm sixteen, he could be about to ask me to do anything but I'm stuck. As awful as it is I have to give in because is not nearly as bad as it will get if Asher exposes the picture then everything gets ruined. Whatever Asher wants I have to give in and can't do anything about it…at the moment.
"What do you want?" I ask in a trembling voice and can hardly get the words out.
"Let's start with you taking off your jacket and top so I can see your big soft breasts in the flesh," Asher says as he parks the car.
He no longer sounds anything like a professional journalist; his voice is growling in lecherous anticipation and dripping with carnally lecherous lust. I shiver in disgust and a little fear but unbuckle my seatbelt, taking off my coat and then I remove my top for him, showing my black satin bra and Asher grins. I look down and try to cover my breasts with my arms.
"Now the bra," he instructs.
I take it off and cover my breasts again, a few minutes of humiliation so that Asher gets his sick perversions out of the way is better than him ruining my life, and he could. I look down biting my lip and don't see Asher lunging at me until it's too late. He grabs my breasts and his lips violate mine in a hard and sloppy kiss. I pull in a breath, shocked and appalled at the feel of his lips but Asher is not Mike and he's not Eli. I'm not under some spell unable to say no and he's not my boyfriend so I'm not going to let him do what he wants to keep him happy.
"STOP!" I demand in a harsh voice pushing Asher away. "You got what you wanted now take me back to school!" I'm trying to sound confident, demanding and unafraid but I'm shaking so I'm not sure that it's working.
He looks considerate like he might ask me to do more; he knows he has my head in the noose so to speak. By some miracle he doesn't, he simply starts the car again and begins driving. I exhale a grateful breath and get my clothes on as quickly as I can. I leave my coat off for now simply because it will be hard to get on while in the car. Asher drives up to the school and I realize I shouldn't be here yet, second period just started I should be at co-op another 45 minutes. I reach for the car handle and he grabs my arm forcing me to look back at him.
"Remember if you care about your career, if you care about your reputation and your family you'll keep your mouth shut," he warns me, his tone menacing, and a clear warning that if I dare to speak then he'll destroy me, I nod unable to get out any words. "See you tomorrow Newsie," he smiles releasing my arm.
I throw open the door and jump out of the car all but running back into the school, not realizing I've left my coat in Asher's car but right now I just want to be away from him. I go to my locker and start to put my book in but my hand is shaking and I keep screwing up the combination. I give up, turning against the lockers, crashing against them and sinking to the floor, bringing my knees to my chest, I take my backpack off and lay my arms on my knees, my head falling onto my arms and the tears that I've been holding in finally burst out. Sobbing hard enough to shake but sobbing silently I sit there for I'm not sure how long as I lose track of time.
"Clare?" Adam's voice is comforting but I don't look up.
"What's wrong?" Bianca questions as they each take a seat on either side of me, each putting an arm around me.
At first I think the bell has rung for lunch and I was crying so hard I didn't hear it, but then I remember that they both have a spare this period. I'm crying too hard to talk so I just shake my head.
"You want to go home?" Adam offers and I nod.
"Come on I'll take you," Bianca says.
"Where's your coat?" Adam asks and I just shake my head knowing it's in Asher's car.
They help me to stand and with each of them holding an arm they manage to get me out to Bianca's car, I shiver in the cold and they squish close to me so I get their body heat. Bianca turns the heat up as high as it will go, Adam tells her how to get to my house and I manage to find my keys in my purse.
"Thanks Bianca," I tell her in a hoarse voice when she parks in front of my house.
"No problem, whatever it is Clare it'll pass and get better," she tells me.
I nod and manage a tiny smile for her, I know she's right that this can't last forever I mean my co-op will be done in a few months and Mike will graduate, but I wonder how long I can survive like this.
"Adam can you sign out for me at Miss Oh's class please?" I request knowing Adam can forge my signature.
"Yeah sure Clare," he smiles, "you should go get some rest I'll call you later."
Grabbing my stuff I get out of Bianca's car, I'm calmer now, not shaking or crying so much but I'm still a bundle of nerves and a wreck. Still I manage to get out my key and go inside. Locking the door I go up to my room, close the bedroom door and lie on my bed. I don't cry again but I'm suddenly very tired, the stress and events of the day, of the last two weeks,have exhausted me and I fall asleep.
(DALLAS)
The bell rings for lunch and I leave class with Drew and Owen, Owen tells us he'll see us in the caf and walks off, he seems to be going in the direction of Clare's locker. We see Bianca and Adam in front of a classroom where Adam is signing a sheet.
"Hey Beautiful," Drew says kissing his girlfriend and then looks at his brother as he keeps an arm around his girlfriend. "What you doing little bro you don't have co-op?" Drew questions.
"I know but Clare does and we just took her home," Adam informs us and I grin at the thought that Clare's home alone.
"Yeah she was really upset and didn't have her coat," Bianca adds.
"What was wrong?" Drew questions.
"I don't know she wouldn't talk," Adam says with a worried tone. "She spent the night at Eli's last night and I know they did some stuff. Eli was happy about it but I think Clare maybe let him go farther than she wanted him to," Adam remarks and my jaw clenches.
"If she let that fucking Goth freak fuck her I'll kill him! I told her not to do anything but kiss! Now I'm definitely going over there." I think to myself and start walking toward the front, "See you guys I have something I gotta do," I tell them walking down the hall.
I hear Drew and Bianca telling Adam to eat with them and I already know Eli's meeting with Becky on play business. This means I have a good 45 minutes alone with a vulnerable Clare, which is just how I like her. I made myself a copy of Drew's keys and I take his car since I know they're eating in the caf. I know where Clare lives and she's only a block and a half from the school. I park a couple houses down and stroll up to the front door, which I find locked but that's no matter I've been lock picking and breaking into places since I was twelve. I've never been caught and I can break into just about anything now, I even carry the kit with me just in case I need it.
While I start picking the lock on Clare's front door I smile to myself remembering when I picked the lock on the fence at the carnival last summer. We snuck into the fun house and I fucked her in the hall of mirrors. That was a good night, watching her face in about a dozen mirrors as I fucked her hard from behind. I get the door open, slip my tools in my pocket and quietly close the front door. The bedrooms must be upstairs so that's where I go, there's four doors but only one is closed and that must be hers. I open the door and find her fast asleep on the bed, her shoes still on and everything. Bending down I seize her lips for a kiss and her eyes shoot open. She doesn't push me away, she never does, getting into her head last summer was pretty easy. When I found her she was broken, everyone had taken a little piece of her, Jake, Eli, her mom and Dad, Alli, even Adam. I put her back together, I just put her back together the way I wanted her.
"What are you doing here?" She asks sitting up rapidly when I take my lips from hers.
"Adam and Bianca said they brought you home so I came over since I knew you were alone," I grin sitting on the edge of her bed and she moves over to make room.
"Yeah well after my boss took me into the woods, blackmailed me into showing him my breasts and then kissed me I was a little upset," she says with a sharp tongue.
"Speaking of other guys touching you what the hell were doing with Eli last night?" I question keeping calm but I say it through clenched teeth.
"He's my boyfriend Mike," she responds getting off the bed, her back facing me as she leans on the desk chair.
"I know but I don't want him touching you. I told you before to break up with him and if you're not then he doesn't get to touch you except to kiss you," I remind her getting off the bed.
"He's my boyfriend, he's the only one that actually has a right to touch me," she counters biting the words out like they're hard to say.
"He's not good enough to touch you, touch you at all let alone sleep with you," I tell her coming up behind her, she turns around to spit out a response but freezes when she sees me so close.
Her breathing hitches briefly before she can speak, "That sounds funny coming from you," she responds lacing some venom into her tone.
"But you like it when I touch you," I respond brushing some hair back so I can kiss the nape of her neck.
Her breathing hitches, her body tensing the second my lips are on her skin, she grips her desk and her knees begin to shake. My lips leave a wake of goose flesh and I kiss her again, trailing open mouth kisses along her neck to the corner of her jaw and nipping her earlobe. She starts to moan and then strangles it in her throat, my fingers go up under her shirt just lightly grazing her belly and her muscles tighten under my fingertips. I stop kissing her neck and look at her, her eyes are closed, she's biting her lip, her head down a little like she's ashamed. I tilt her chin up and seize her lips again, she doesn't move but releases her lip and kisses me back, softly and timidly at first and then she gives in.
Her lips part for me allowing my tongue to snake in, I wrap my arms around her ass and pick her up, she doesn't move much but I simply turn and get her on the bed. She moans softly, her body giving in and I break the kiss pulling up her shirt a little more. Getting my fingers on her abdomen again and her muscles tighten again. Tugging the button on her jeans I get it open, then I tug a little harder forcing them to unzip and my hand goes in. She seems to be wearing G-string and I tug at it, pulling on it with one finger until I feel it go between her pussy lips and rub at the tender flesh. She whimpers and then moans slightly, I keep her G-string twisted around my finger as my thumb presses on her clit. She moans and her body jolts, then begins quivering as I rub her clit softly. I kiss her a little harder and then remove my hand, from her panties and my lips from hers.
"Now about your boss? What did he do to you?" I ask her sitting back on the bed so that I'm not touching her at all any longer.
"That was mean," she pouts in a begging tone.
"Yeah well you don't seem to talk when I touch you and I need to know what your boss did so I know what I'm killing him for," I reply leaning back against her footboard my arms behind my head.
"Mike you can't kill him he's my boss. I threatened to go to his boss and he threatened to send the picture to everyone in my contacts that he'd tell everyone I sent it to him. If it gets out then my career will be ruined before it began and it will destroy my fami…" she starts ranting so I cut her off.
"Shut up will you," I bark at her and she jumps a little closing her mouth, "I'll make sure he doesn't do anything."
"How are you going to do that?" She questions.
"I'll take care of it," I respond.
"Mike how d…" she starts and I kiss her to get her to shut up again.
"I like it better when you're not talking, I'll take care of your boss now then let's take care of you," I tell her leaning forward to take her lips again and then we hear the front door open.
"Clare?" Eli calls into the house and I growl, that little punk is just asking to be hit.
"It's Eli you have to go," she pleads pushing me away; she seems to get defiant when her little boyfriend is around, I'm really not seeing the point in letting him live at the moment.
"Why?" I question after all if Eli catches me here and thinks Clare is cheating he'll breakup with her and then I get her all to myself, unless of course I decide that someone else can play.
"Mike please," she begs, her voice trembling from fear.
It would be fun to play, to let Eli catch us and watch them breakup but I have something else to do so I give in. "Fine but I'll be back tonight, leave your window open," I tell Clare.
I hear Eli coming up the stairs and I barely make it out Clare's window before he gets in the room.
"Didn't you hear me calling?" Eli asks her as Clare jumps up.
"She heard you, she was just a little busy," I mutter as I climb down the tree and go through her backyard.
I almost drive to the Interpreter and then think better of it, instead I drive to Jimmie Simpson Park, I get out my phone, find the number for the Interpreter and call it.
"Toronto Interpreter how may I direct your call?" Chirps a voice.
"I need to speak with Asher Shostak, he'll want to speak with me right away," I reply.
"Just a moment," she chirps again and then I get transferred.
"Asher Shostak speaking," he says.
"Come to Jimmie Simpson Park, I'm in a blue Chevy sedan, meet me now," I command.
"Who is this? Why the hell would I leave work to come meet you?" He inquires.
"Because I'm the one that took that picture of Clare you like so much and I have more," I reply.
"Be there in fifteen minutes," he says and hangs up.
Geez what a perv, no wonder he was so eager to grope Clare. Asher pulls up next to me a short time later and gets out of his car, coming around to get in the passenger seat of mine.
"You got here fast," I comment when he closes the door.
"You have something I want, so how much more is there?" He queries with a lewdly eager grin.
"A lot more and I'll let you see it but you can't touch Clare anymore," I tell him.
"Wait I know you, you dropped her off the other day. No deal, you can't expect me to work so closely and not get the urge to kiss her and touch her. I got her to let me feel her up I'm sure I can get more from her and if she doesn't do it I expose the picture and totally ruin her life. If I'm not going to destroy her life then I want more than I got today," Asher replies.
"So what do you want then?"
(CLARE)
Mike jumps out my window just as Eli reaches the last step, having fixed my jeans I jump off the bed and rush to the door just as Eli is starting to come in.
"Didn't you hear me calling?" Eli asks.
"Sorry I was sleeping," I lie, "what are you doing here?" I ask leaning in the doorway to prevent him from going all the way into my room until I'm sure Mike is gone.
"Adam said he and Bianca brought you home when they found you crying in the hall, what happened?" Eli queries brushing a curl behind my ear and then stroking the back his fingers along my cheek gently.
"I…uh…" I fumble for a response because I can't tell him the truth, "my great aunt died." It was a terrible excuse, I don't even have a great aunt but it's all I can think of.
"Oh I'm sorry Blue Eyes, where's your mom shouldn't she be home?" Eli asks putting his arm around me and we walk back to the bed.
"It was my dad's aunt, he's uh…he's picking me up later," I reply as Eli lies on my bed and puts me in his arms.
"Guess you were close huh?" Eli queries as he starts stroking my arm.
"Yes very close," I nod but I'm not referring to my nonexistent dead great aunt, I'm referring to what Mike was doing to me a short time before Eli came in.
Actually I'm still horny and Eli is here, and he is my boyfriend. I turn in his arms until I'm lying on my side and I pull up his shirt to get my hand under. He shivers slightly from my cold fingers but smiles at me. I don't really want to touch him but I want to want to and at the moment I'm just going with the fact that I'm horny and as my boyfriend Eli should be the one to take care of it. I lift his shirt more, crane my neck down and kiss his stomach.
"Clare what are you doing?" He asks while sucking in a pleasantly surprised breath.
Rather than replying I sit up and take off my shirt, Eli looks shocked for a split second and then a very happy smile creeps across his face. I bite my lip and take off my bra, for a minute he just stares at my breasts and then he reaches for them. He squeezes a little too roughly and I bite my lip preventing a painful whimper. Eli doesn't notice as one of his hands starts trying to get the button on my jeans open but unlike Mike he's not able to easily undo it. He pulls on up on my jeans forcing them into my crotch and I suck in a breath of pain. Suddenly I don't want this, suddenly I don't want Eli to touch me and I'm not horny anymore.
"Eli stop," I tell him pushing him away and he looks at me, "I'm sorry I can't do this, please don't be mad."
"I'm not mad Clare," he tells me but he doesn't sound like he means it.
"I'm sorry it's just…I'm not thinking very clearly and I'm upset and…" I start to ramble and Eli silences me with a kiss.
"Blue Eyes it's okay, stop apologizing," Eli insists and he still doesn't entirely sound like he means it.
"I should probably get back to school," I tell him putting my bra back on and then my top.
"Let's go back to school then," Eli says standing up and taking my hand.
Since my other coat is in Asher's car I grab another from my closet, grabbing my backpack and purse we go down to Eli's car and he drives us back to school.
"Hey feeling better?" Adam asks when he sees me at my locker.
"Yeah," I smile at my best friend.
"What happened?" Adam inquires.
"Her great aunt died," Eli answers for me.
"Oh sorry Clare, you sure you want to be here? We only have biology and math," Adam points out.
"Yes I'm sure I was just really upset when I first found out, I'm okay now but can we not tell anyone why I was upset earlier?" I request.
"Of course Blue Eyes, I have play stuff after school, we have to make the final selection for cast but I can come by after," Eli offers.
"That's okay Dad's picking me up remember?" I remind him; hey at least I can keep my lies straight.
"Right well come kiss me before you leave school then," Eli says with a smirk then kisses my cheek before going to his English class.
I smile and walk with Adam to biology, I force myself to concentrate in my last two classes of the day and push away any thoughts of Mike, Asher or Eli. When the last bell of the day rings I walk out of math with Adam, K.C., Alli, Jenna and Connor.
"I'm headed to band practice, call me later if you need to," Adam tells me.
"I will," I reply and Adam leaves us.
I start heading for the auditorium to kiss Eli before I leave but I'm grabbed and pulled into a supply closet.
"You know I'm getting tired of being dragged into dark rooms," I tell Owen and I see him twist his face me by the little bit of light coming under the door.
"Why'd you come back from co-op early and then go home upset?" Owen asks but keeps his voice low.
"Don't you have a bus to catch to practice?" I question.
"Clare what happened?" Owen asks again.
"It's too much to tell you now and I'd rather not talk about it at school," I respond.
"Fine," he says pulling his keys from his pocket, "go to my house then you can take my car," he tells me handing me the keys.
"Excuse me?" I inquire thinking he's surely gone and lost his mind.
"If you're not going to tell me here then you can tell me at my house. Tris is sleeping at Tori's and my parents won't care if you're there just tell them we we're working on homework and I told you to wait there for me," he says.
"If I drive your car then how are you going to get home from practice?" I query.
"Luke can drop me off it's on his way I'll see you at my house," Owen tells me leaving the closet.
I put Owen's keys in my purse and start walking to the auditorium. Jake barely lets me drive his truck and he's my stepbrother and was my boyfriend at one point. I barely know Owen and he gave me the keys to his car and is having me wait at his empty house for him. Actually I think if it wasn't for Owen I'd have cracked by now, it's been a lot easier to talk to him than Adam or Alli or someone. It's not like Owen is a complete stranger but he also doesn't know me as well as they do. I'm not so worried about what he thinks of me or how he sees me and yet he's been protective and caring, in a lot of ways better than Eli. Speaking of my boyfriend with a penitent for black I see him standing at the auditorium doors with Imogen.
"Hey Blue Eyes," Eli smirks when I put my arm around him from behind.
"Hey just came to say goodbye, good luck with casting," I tell him kissing him softly.
"Thanks, I'll call you later," he says.
I nod, wave to Imogen and walk out the front doors just as the Ice Hounds bus is pulling away. Mike gives me an odd smile and Owen gives me a compassionate look. When the bus is out of sight I walk to Owen's car unlock it and drive to his house. No one is home when I get there and it takes me a minute to find the house key before I can get the door unlocked. I lock the door behind me and go back to Owen's room setting my stuff down, at first I sit on his bed but that feels a little weird so I sit at his desk and start on my homework. Just after five and when I'm nearly done with my homework I hear the front door opening again.
"Owen shouldn't you be at practice?" A female voice calls, which I assume to be Owen's mom.
I leave Owen's room and go out to the kitchen to make my presence known. "He is at practice, he wanted to meet me here after and let me drive his car from school. I'm Clare Edwards," I explain holding my hand out to the tall woman with dark hair.
"Oh, it's nice to meet you Clare; I'm Laura, Owen's mom, so you go to DeGrassi then?" She asks.
"Yes I'm a junior," I reply.
"Well I'm just about to start dinner will you be staying?" Laura inquires.
"Umm I'm not really sure, Owen just said to meet him after his practice," I reply feeling a bit like I'm intruding.
"You're welcome to stay, it'll just be me and Owen tonight, Tris is at a Tori's tonight and my husband Steven is working late," she tells me.
"Okay thanks, I'm going to go wait for Owen in his room," I tell her and turn to walk back there when something occurs to me. "Oh he gave me his keys so I don't think he has a way to get back in," I inform Laura.
"Ok thanks for letting me know I'll just leave the door unlocked, he should be home soon," Laura says.
I smile and go back to Owen's room, I finish my homework and then I start wandering his room. I look at the awards he's won for various sports, the trinkets on his bookshelf, and then I find a photo album. I sit down to look at it and giggle when the first picture is of a naked baby Owen; his hair was much lighter as a baby. I flip through a few pages of adorable baby Owen pictures before his voice in the doorway makes me jump.
"Oh geez don't look at those it's embarrassing," he grouses tossing his backpack into the corner and flopping on the bed next to me.
"Hey you've seen a topless picture of me from a few months ago, I should at least be able to see a naked picture of you from eighteen years ago," I point out.
"Fine just don't tell anyone you saw those, so what happened today?" He inquires.
"After you dropped at me at co-op Asher told me to go with him, I thought he was bringing me on another assignment so I went," I tell Owen.
"Where did he take you? What did he do?" Owen asks clenching his fist.
"He drove out to the woods off Don Valley Parkway; he parked the car and said he wanted to see my breasts in the flesh. I threatened to go to his boss but he told me he'd send the picture to everyone in his contacts. The mayor is in his contacts, the police chief, his editor, and he'd tell everyone I sent the picture to him which would mean I'd get fired and everything with Mike last summer would co…"
"So you let him," Owen states covering my mouth with his hand to silence my rant, I nod as a tear slips from my eye. He uncovers my mouth and wipes the tear away, "He do anything else?" Owen asks, his voice is worried and compassionate and yet growling with anger.
"He kissed me and started to grope me, I pushed him away and he took me back to school but reminded me that he'd destroy my life if I even tried to come forward," I inform Owen.
"Dinner in ten," Laura says peeking in the door and I jump a little, Owen puts a hand on my shoulder.
"I have to wash up you can tell me the rest after dinner," Owen asserts getting up and going into the washroom.
I start to walk out to the living room to ask Laura if she needs help and then my phone rings, it's Mike. "What?" I question sharply.
"Where are you?" He asks.
"Somewhere safe now what is it we're about to eat?"
"I told you I was coming over later," he replies in a scolding tone.
"Which is precisely why I'm not there," I shoot back. Actually I'm only not at home because Owen told me to go to his house but Mike doesn't need to know that.
"You should be here, I fixed your problem and you're not even here to thank me," he says.
"Fixed it how?" I inquire.
"Meet me and I'll tell you," he says.
"No," I reply.
"Excuse me? You better re-think that answer," Mike growls.
"No," I tell him quickly and hang up.
"Was that Dallas?" Owen asks coming in the room again and I nod. "You want to sleep here tonight?" Owen offers and I nod again.
I send a text to Jake to tell my mom that I'm sleeping at my dad's, and when I hit send I immediately get a text but not from Jake, from Mike.
Mike: You shouldn't have said no to me.
Update next Wednesday starting from about here in Owen pov.