Chapter 6
When I woke up the next morning, it wasn't like Cinderella – you know with the little birds? Oh no, it was like Mulan woke up – at the camp, remember? Mushu woke her? Anyways, Rob practically yelled at me to wake up.
"Alright, alright. I'm up. What's the big deal?" I yawned as I sat up and stretched.
"Don't you have school today?" Rob asked simply. He was dressed and smelled like he had a shower. He smelled delicious.
"Ah, crap!" I muttered as I jumped out of Rob's bed and fluttered around his room like an idiot.
"Do we need to go back to your house?" I stopped fluttering and turned to face him. I looked at him like he was crazy.
"We don't have enough time, Rob! Look at the clock," He glanced over at it.
"I tried to wake you before I took a shower, but you're one heavy sleeper, Mastriani. I'll call Wendell to see if he can take you to school," Rob said as he started to walk out of the room.
"No!" I said a little too desperately. Rob's head reappeared in his doorway and looked at me questioningly. "I mean, why? Why does Wendell have to take me?"
"Because I have work. What's wrong with Wendell? I mean, I know he's a little stupid at times, but he's not bad. He didn't do something to you, did he, Mastriani?" Rob said, his fog colored eyes lighting up as if they were on fire. Did this mean he was jealous of another man liking me and therefore about to proclaim his love?
"Let's just put it this way," I said slowly. "He sort of has a thing for me."
"That's it, let's go," Rob said as he grabbed his keys.
I looked around his room panicking, we couldn't leave yet, I wasn't even dressed, my hair wasn't combed, and I smelled horrible. My morning breath was eeking up to my nose. I couldn't go to school like that! "Wait, Rob! I haven't had breakfast yet," I called after him, hearing his feet crashing down on the steps as he ran down them.
"Don't worry about it; we'll get some donuts on the way,"
"But –"
"Mastriani, let's go!" Rob yelled angrily.
"I CAN'T!" I screamed, he obviously doesn't think clearly in the morning. I mean didn't he see how horrible I looked and smelled? Well my breath anyway, the rest of me smelled like him and he always smelled good – unless he hasn't showered in a couple days then he smells bad, but that's never happened before.
"Why?" Rob ran back up the stairs and looked into his room.
I looked at him amazed. How could he not see now? I mean, he's eyeing me pretty closely and he still can't tell? "I can't go to school looking like this!"
"Oh, right. Um, borrow some of my clothes. There are some jeans in the closet and some shirts in the third drawer." He said as he walked back out of his room. "I'll wait for you downstairs."
I quickly changed into a gray shirt that was tighter on him, but really loose on me, and a pair of jeans. Luckily, I had my 5" heel boots on so the pants weren't as long on me. I walked into the bathroom, brushed my hair and used my finger to brush my teeth and proceeded downstairs where Rob was comfortably lying on the couch. He looked up as I walked in and sad, "Ready?" I nodded.
We stopped at Dunkin Donuts on the way. Then we were off again to school. Instead of dropping me off, Rob parked and got off the bike with me. I had no clue what he was doing, but he sure did seem mad. I followed Rob to the doors and we walked in. Rob's expressionless eyes searched every which way as I, again, followed him through the school. Then it hit me: he was searching for Hank. This couldn't be good. I mean, Rob had a very temper and had a tendency to act on impulse. Was that why he got on probation: because his tempter and impulsiveness collided? Gah, this wasn't the time to think about this. I closed my eyes and sighed.
"Rob," I said firmly. Luckily, he turned around to look at me.
"What, Mastriani?" He sounded irritated.
"Now, ever since I told you about Wendell, you've been a little tense. Anything the matter?"
"Well, yea, Mastriani, something is the matter. A creep I have never liked is crushing on my girl, and I don't like it."
Aww, he called me his girl. But, unfortunately, this didn't mean he loved me. It would just mean he cared for me a lot – but wouldn't that mean he loved me though? Too bad I couldn't linger in the moment because Rob went:
"Don't get all girly on my, Mastriani. This is serious," He sighed and shifted his weight onto his right foot.
I snapped out of my fantasy of our wedding – where he said he loves me – and tried to play it cool. "Right, go on, Rob," I said as I nodded my head, gave him a sympathetic look, and motioned that it was his turn to talk.
Rob grinned as he shook his head and looked at the floor. He looked back up at me with his infamous half-amused, half-disgusted smile. "There was nothing else,"
"Oh, well, in that case, you need to get to work, remember?" I said. I could tell my behavior was annoying him, but it was fun watching his expressions change.
I walked over to him, took his arm and led him towards the entrance. He seemed a little resistant at first, but eventually walked with me without my arm-holding. We walked together all the way until we got to his bike, where we stood looking at each other.
"Well, I have to get ready for first hour," I said, breaking the silence.
"Right. Well, see you after school?" Rob asked.
"Sure," I said as I took a step into the gap between us and wrapped my arms around his neck. "You really are amazing, Rob. Thanks for everything."
In reply, Rob kissed my head and hugged me back, resting his chin on my head. I felt so safe in his arms, I didn't want to let go. Unfortunately, I had to. Rob disentangled himself from my arms and all too soon, he was gone. I watched him ride away until I couldn't see him anymore.
I walked back into the school where I met with Ruth and, conveniently, Wendell.
"Jess," Wendell sneered. "You know, Rob is such a loser. I don't know why you waste your time with him."
I was seriously getting tired of his snide remarks about my boyfriend. It was so old already and it had only been like a week or so since he'd started saying them. So, I spun around to face him. "Because, you filthy little ingrate, he's everything I asked for. Why do you care anyway?" I retorted.
Wendell shifted uncomfortably. "How is he everything you asked for? Has even said 'I love you' yet?" When I didn't answer to that, he went, "Yea, I didn't think so. Any guy who hasn't said those three words by now either really doesn't like you, or he's cheating." These last few words hit my like an anvil. Kind of like how Wylie Coyote always gets hit by anvils, only I'm sure my anvil hurt worse.
"Go to hell, Wendell," I retorted as I walked away, with Ruth trailing along close behind.
"Wow, who stuck the stick up his ass?" Ruth asked timidly.
"Nothing; he's just jealous," I replied, picking up my pace.
Ruth half ran. Half walked to catch up. "Jealous of what?" I stopped and looked at her like she was mental. Maybe she was, but I decided against voicing this particular thought.
"Rob and I, Ruth!" I practically yelled. She shrunk back a little.
"Oh," We continued to walk on a little in silence.
"So how's Rob?" Ruth asked when we got to my locker.
"Great; he's great," I said with no enthusiasm. I mean, we were great and everything, but Wendell was intent on ruining everything.
"So, why'd he drive you to school this morning?"
"I stayed over," I started pulling a few books that I hadn't left at home out of my locker and handing them to Ruth to hold onto while I got organized. Ruth stood next to me, her mouth hanging open, eyes bugged six feet out of her head. "Ruth, that's a very unattractive look for you; and I think Todd will agree with me,"
"What; you stayed over? Did anything happen?" Ruth interrogated.
"Nope," I knew I was being brief, but that thing Wendell said was irking me. What if Rob was cheating? And if he was, whom with? Probably some Darla or Charlene or Teri from Chick's.
"Why?" Ruth snapped me out of my thoughts.
"He didn't say he loved me," I replied simply.
"Oh, right; that's an excellent reason," Ruth was silent for a moment. "When will you?"
"When he says he loves me. So, how did things with you and Todd work out?"
"Oh, fabulous, Jess! I can't wait for our romance to bud and blossom into one like yours and Rob's," Ruth said as she got that far away look in her eye that told me that was fantasizing.
"Have fun when you get there," I muttered to myself. My relationship was awesome, don't get me wrong, but it's not the way I imagined… not that I had imagined anything, just fantasized a teeny, tiny bit. "Speak of the devil, here is he now," I perked as Todd walked over towards us. Ruth snapped out of it and turned all mushy. God, this was getting gross; somebody gag me.
"Hey, Todd," Ruth greeted him. Her voice, I noticed, had raised a couple octaves – and in case you don't know what an octave is, it's when your voice raises its pitch.
Ahh, to be young and in love. I felt like Edith and Archie from All in the Family; Ruth was Gloria and Todd… the son-in-law – what's his name again?
My life is terrible.
"Bye, Jess," Ruth waggled her fingers at me as Todd led her away. And there I was, all alone. I hated that word: alone. It just sounds so… lonely, for lack of a better word. I headed off to class to start another boring day.
The rest of the day was slow and long. Ruth and Todd were too busy being infatuated with each other to even notice me at all. So, as you can see, it was a relief when that final bell rang and I walked out into the open. I was about to start walking home, when the purr of a black Indian pulled up beside.
"Need a lift?" Came a sexy low voice I knew and loved. The only difference with this
sexy low voice was that it seemed different somehow. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it just seemed a little more secretive all of a sudden; or maybe it was my imagination.
"Mastriani!" Rob's voice yelled. I snapped out of my crazy thoughts and smiled broadly. Rob smiled back, and I almost melted right there, but I kept my cool factor. He handed me the spare helmet and I climbed onto the bike behind him, wrapping my hands around his washboard abs.
"Home please," I said into his ear so he knew where to go. Rob nodded and took off.
Rob came inside with me. We decided that he'd help me study. No, I'm not kidding; he really did help me study. So, we were sitting there, working, when the thoughts of all Wendell said came flooding back. I must have been pretty out of it because Rob's beautiful hand came waving in front of my face. When I didn't respond, Rob's beautiful hand suddenly turned ugly as he smacked me in the face.
"Ow! What'd you do that for?" I exclaimed as I held on to my nose. Hey, I may be a tough girl, but Rob is the only person that can hurt me – emotionally and physically.
"Mastriani, you were totally spacing; what's with you today?" Rob said, his voice all light and happy. I looked down at my hands. How could I tell Rob that I was suspicious of him for cheating on me? "Jess," Rob's voice grew serious. His hand came up to my chin and lifted my head so I was looking directly into his fog colored eyes. My eyes wandered down. "What's wrong?"
I looked back at him and took a deep breath. "Are you cheating on me?" I asked so quietly even I could barely hear it. Silence followed after that. Rob dropped his hand and looked at me like I was the ghost from Christmas past, his mouth dropped open. "Rob, please say something," I whispered desperately. What if he was? Cheating on me, I mean. Would I lose his trust; would he dump me?
Rob took my hands in his in one of his and held my face with the other – this didn't seem like cheating news to me if he was doing this, but then again, I have been wrong before. "Jessica Antonia Mastriani, I would never ever cheat on you. Do you trust me?" Rob whispered sexily. Wow, he had never used my full name before. He must be serious.
He leaned in for a kiss, but I put my fingers lightly over his lips. "So you do like me?" I asked a little more playfully, a smirk spreading over my face. Rob looked at me like I was mental, or maybe I was, I don't know.
"Mastriani, if I didn't like you, why would I be going out with you?"
"Good point. But some people actually do—"
"Mastriani," Rob whispered.
"Yes?"
"Just shut up," And since my fingers were still over his lips. He tore them away and came at me and kissed me with every ounce of want, desire, and passion he had. Or maybe he had more, but that's what it seemed like to me. He kissed me so hard that I fell down and Rob came on top of me. The make-out session went on for a long time – probably one of our longest – until my bedroom door opened and we found, who other than, my mother and father standing there, gaping in at us.
"Jessica!" My mother snapped.
"Mom," I gritted through my teeth, warning her to leave us alone. I seriously felt like a lioness protecting her territory these days. "Rob was helping me with my homework."
"Oh, really?" Dad asked his eyes wide. He crossed his arms and glared at me.
"Yea and he's staying for dinner…" I nudged Rob in the ribs. "Right, Rob?"
Rob shivered, "Yea, right – right, I'm staying for dinner," He sputtered nervously. I looked at Rob strangely. Rob glanced at me quickly, then looked back at my parents, and looked back at me again with a 'what' kind of expression on his face.
Then, we both looked back at my parents and smiled sweetly. You know the kind, totally fake, but they buy it anyways.
"Whatever," Mom said with a huge sigh, like it was killing her to do this, and walked away. My dad followed her like a duck follows its mother.
I looked back to Rob and kissed him again. We had another make-out session before dinner, which was just as amazing as the first. You'd never believe that we'd be making out like this since that first kiss on the back of his bike, but we were. We've come a long way, I tell you.
All too soon, my mom called us down to dinner five times before we actually came down. I could tell she was very suspicious, but luckily she didn't say anything about it; I was so tired of making up lies.
Anyways, we all sat down at the table, prayed, and began to eat. I ate like a hawk that's just been staring at his future meal for eight hours and had just begun its feast. Everyone stared at me with wide eyes.
"What?" I asked with my mouth full. They kept on staring, then Rob chuckled a little; this made everyone else start to laugh, which made me very confused. I continued eating and, eventually, they stopped laughing. That was such a relief, let me tell you. This was followed by everybody eating in an awkward silence. That is, until my mother broke it. The silence, I mean.
"So, Jessica, how is that Hank fellow?" I dropped my fork onto my plate and looked at her with big, wide eyes – I tried to give her a warning signal, but I was just too shocked. I felt Rob's expressionless gaze bore into me. Uh-oh, this wasn't good. Not good at all. I knew she was just trying to make Rob jealous of me – which, in her mind, would lead to our imminent breakup; but would, in reality, only bring us closer together – but how did she know about Wendell? I decided to play it cool.
I picked up my fork and replied, "What Hank fellow, Mother?" I asked calmly, shoving something food into my mouth. My mother looked at me in disbelief. She looked around and smiled at everyone.
"Well, you know. That boy that always calls here and wants to talk to you," My mom said impatiently.
I nodded my head like I understood. "Oooh, that boy. Rob is good, Mom," I smiled at Rob, who gave a nervous smile back.
Mom shook her head angrily. "No, his name is not Rob," She looked at me furiously and threw a mean glance at Rob. "His name is Hank. Hank We… Wen-something or other,"
Rob, who started to return to his food, looked back up at me, all confused. "Jess," He said in a sexy, low voice. I would have found this sexier, however, if it weren't for the fact that it was a bad 'Jess.' I looked over at him innocently.
"Yes?" I asked, batting my eyes.
"How is that Hank fellow?" He asked. His eyes were shining furiously and his face went back to being expressionless. Rob really isn't all that scary; in fact he isn't scary at all - contrary to what others believe – but when he didn't show any emotion on his rugged face, he was. Scary, I mean.
My mom had a smug little look on her face, like she had won. In reality, she hadn't. Mine and Rob's love could beat anything… oh my God, that sounds so cliché, even to my own ears. In other words, this wouldn't break us up. Well, at least I hope it wouldn't.
"Um" I felt myself turn red with all the eyes that were on me that I could feel. I looked over at my mom – she had continued eating, but was still looking up at me – and made a face at her that said "You're dead," Or at least I hope it did.
"Jessica, I asked you a question," My mother asked in that annoying voice she gets when she's impatient. Mom had stopped eating and was now looking at me crossly.
"Yea, Jess, she asked you a question," Rob's voice butted in. This was so humiliating. I mean seriously. My mom was totally harassing me in front of everyone and Rob was as well because he suspected me of cheating. My life, I swear.
I hit Rob in the stomach, or at least I tried to, but he grabbed my wrist in time to stop me. I looked over at him to find that he was gazing intensely at me. Only, it was a very angry intensity and not a loving intensity. I gazed into his eyes for a couple seconds, but had to look away. Jesus, Rob is so good at this staring stuff. I averted my gaze down into my lap and Rob let my wrist go.
"So, I got the lead for the spring musical," A voice that you can only assume said. But just incase you didn't assume correctly, I'll tell you it was Claire Lippman. It was just at that moment that I realized that 'everyone' had meant everyone: Douglas, Mike, Claire, Tasha, Mom, Dad, and Rob and I.
"Nice job, Clairebear," Mike said in a loving voice. He smiled at her and held her hand over the table. I wish Rob and I were doing that now, but no! My stinking mother just had to bring up the fact that Hank Wendell calls me every single day.
Claire looked over at me sadly and I gave her a 'thank you' look. I returned to eating my food.
"Jess, you never answered my question," My mom's voice returned unhappily.
"Oh, let her go, Toni. You're going to embarrass her," Dad pleaded.
"Um, excuse me please," I said quietly. I threw my napkin on my plate and slid out of my chair. I then proceeded to run upstairs. My room, I have mentioned before, is all the way at the top of the house. Now, I ran into it, slamming my door, and throwing myself on my bed. When I was little, I used to do that a lot when someone had hurt my feelings or angered me in any way. I did that now, only this time I slid under my covers, pulling the blankets up to my head. I heard someone walking up the stairs, shut the door, and start walking towards me. "Leave me alone," I squeaked.
The person who had trespassed into my room walked all the way to my bed and plopped down on it next to me. The person was particularly large – well not fat or anything, just bigger than me – and I'm not very good at deciphering who people are when I am covered up to my head in my blankets. I decided to peek out real quick. I saw Rob, sitting there – well technically laying – and smiling an odd type of grin. Why was he smiling? I thought he was mad at me, but maybe he forgot that he was mad at me because his love was so strong and deep and … yea right. Anyhow, I brought that blanket back over my head after I saw Rob and, for some reason, shivered. I felt Rob poked at the blanket and try to pull it away from my head, but I only gripped the top harder. Then Rob started to poke me! I'm – not very well known but still – very ticklish so I started to squirm and tried my hardest not to laugh. Unfortunately, I did and I kicked and squirmed so much that Rob fell of the bed. By this time he was laughing as well, but he stopped immediately when I popped out from the blankets and showed my head to the world – well just my room, but you get the point. Rob's face, at this point, turned expressionless. He had stood and went over to a wall and leaned against it, looking at me like I was food and he was a vulture waiting for me to die. Although, I don't he'd have liked me to die because I think he'd be awful lonely.
"Well?" Rob finally said, quite rudely, I might add.
I just sat there stupidly because for a couple moments I had forgotten why he was even in my room and why I was even under my blankets, hiding away from the world.
"I was blushing because I knew you'd react the way you did," I answered after a moment.
"Ok…" God, he was very rude that night.
"We don't really talk, well he talks to me, but I don't talk to him. Anyways, if you think about it, it's kind of funny because we were just talking about cheating on me and trust and you're coming up with the same conclusions," I chuckled nervously.
"I'm not laughing, Mastriani," He replied, shortly.
"Or maybe not," I added quietly. "Look, I'm doing anything with Wendell, ok? I guess he's calling here, but my mom never told me anything about it. I swear. You have nothing to worry about. Besides, how can I cheat on you when the only person I love—" I paused and Rob looked at me intently. "Is you?" Rob's expression grew more serious. He walked all sexily towards me and kissed me, gently at first, but then with more enthusiasm. I can't say I objected at all, and he didn't either – or at least until my mother called us back down to dinner. We walked back down the stairs, smiling happily.
"So what were you guys doing up there?" Mikey asked.
"Making out," I answered. Rob looked at me with wide eyes, my mom looked about the same and then made a disgusted face, my dad continued eating, and my brothers and their girlfriends pretty much looked like Rob – only not nearly as hot.
"Jesus Christ, Jess, you guys make out more than Claire and I do," Mike announced. "And that's a lot," He added. I guess he just wanted to brag about how much he kisses one of the hottest girls in town.
"Who cares, Mike," Douglas replied, throwing a pea and Mike's head. Mike looked like he was about to throw mashed potatoes back, but caught the eye of my mother, who glared him down like a hawk.
"Now, boys, behave. Jess, keep your love life to yourself," My mother intervened. I smiled over at Rob and continued eating. A few minutes later, a hand had moved over my thigh to find my hand and held it throughout dinner. I figured it was Rob's since I felt the somewhat roughness of them. Things were really starting to look up for me.
That's what I thought then.
A/N: Really long chapter, I know. But I'm really excited about it! It was like 13 pages on Word. Anywho, I hope you liked the chapter and I apologize that you guys had to wait so long. I hope to have next chapter up sometime this week. It's still in writing, but I may just split it in two; I haven't decided yet. Also, this is the last fluff chapter for now. The actual story will start to pick up within the next 2 chapters. Review please. I won't update until I get at least 5 reviews. SO CLICK THAT CUTE PURPLE BUTTON NOW!!!
