Part III

Chapter IV

A doll's thrown to the wolves

When it came down to experience, she guessed Billy boy was not new to the art of making love. The need made she felt like one of those horny teenager boys makings pledges about whoever loses their virginity first wins. She thought it was sad, no doubt, but there was no holding her horses. She had this idea that all the angst would come to an end the moment she and Billy kissed, and touched and smiled against each other's lips as they clung to one another.

So, when it came to knowing your next move, she asked Jill for advice. She had expected the whispering kind of conversation; Rebecca herself would blush, and then they would share their most ridiculous fantasies and private secrets, while fidgeting in expected discomfort, giggling nervously to conceal awkward silences. But Jill was not the secretive, whispering kind.

So she decided for Claire. The redheaded girl would do, of course. She was infinitively more discreet, a quality Rebecca valued very highly when her object of desire could walk into the room she was sitting in at any moment.

Not much had happened since Billy and her brother came back; the former would spend his days speaking on his phone, looking quite serious, but, now and then, a smirk would spread on his lips as he teased whoever was on the other end. Rebecca would feel a pang of jealousy, of course, that she quickly suppressed every time he hung up and offered her a full smile that would make the sternest of women swoon.

Claire kept talking, but Rebecca was not listening. Billy was clicking his tongue and scratching the back of his head, messing his dark hair, and the way his arm muscles flexed was making Rebecca's dress unbutton itself. It was pure magic.

He was so unaffected, like he didn't know that even right at the very moment he woke up, distracted and groggy, he looked like most men could only dream of looking like; and was that kind of casual magnetism and effortless attractiveness that made people gravitate around him.

So she took a deep breath, focusing her eyes on Claire's blue ones, but Billy happened to become a very distracting figure on her peripheral vision.

"I enjoy talking to you," Claire said, taking Rebecca's chin to direct her whole head to face her own, but Rebecca's eyes were still glued to Billy's figure. "Totally not one-sided, you know."

The fabric of Billy's shirt rode up as he stretched an arm to the wall to support his weight on.

Claire would have not, in a million years, expected sweet Rebecca to turn out this way. She was supposed to be the modest, albeit feisty kind of girl; very down-to-earth and humble. But, lately, she seemed just so distracted, so out of touch with reality; wandering eyes and parted lips.

"I like him," Rebecca suddenly blurted out.

"Believe or not, I figured that out long ago," Claire said.

"No," Rebecca wailed. "I mean, I really do like him. I'd been having these dreams…"

Claire's mouth started to shape into an "o" as she realized what Rebecca really wanted.

"You are still 17," Claire said. "I'm not a lawyer or anything, but I do believe it's illegal in most states for the two of you to... you know." She made weird movements with her hands, like she couldn't decide the proper way to convey such an act into a universal gesture; but Rebecca blushed furiously which let her know she had succeeded.

"That doesn't mean we can't talk about it," at the final word, Rebecca's voice went up in doubt, like she was trying to convince herself more than Claire. "It must have happened to you, as well…" then her voice turned into a whisper, "and you cannot tell any of this to Jill. You got to promise me, Claire, or I'm never going to hear the end of it."

Claire nodded, understanding more that she cared to show. To Jill, secrets were like old clothes, she only kept them when she was sure she could use them in the future. Most often than not, to blackmail someone, which, in the case of old garments, didn't work. But Jill would find a way.

"Sometimes… okay, just don't tell anyone; sometimes, I have these thoughts… and they aren't just thoughts. Sometimes, it's the feeling I get…"

"Okay, Rebecca? We are not four. We can talk about sex now. Really."

"You wouldn't understand!"

"That you are having wet dreams? It's not like you invented them, Becca. Trust me, they have been happening long before you lay eyes on Billy. Surely he has been featured in a lot of them. Even myself, once or…"

Rebecca made something of a mixture between a shriek and a hushing sound.

"What it is?" Damon's head popped from behind the wooden bars in the staircase. At the sight of him, Claire jumped and let out an embarrassing yelp of surprise.

"Go away! It's private!" Rebecca said, puffing her cheeks.

"Then move now! I need to crash."

"It's not even noon!" Rebecca complained.

"Move now," he let out in a low growl. He sprinted upstairs once the pair had stood up and moved aside.

"Do you think he heard anything?" Rebecca asked as they both walked towards the back door. She slid the glass doors open to step outside. The dry grass slightly pinched the skin of her bare feet.

"Oh, definitely! Now he will have to challenge Billy to a duel in the name of your maidenhood," Claire teased. She was glad that Rebecca was all free from the prior drama; she was once more that happy, naïve and kind girl. "I don't think Damon suspects anything. All he cares for is food, guns, cars and guitars."

"He does have a girlfriend."

"Named Gibson or Mercedes, by any chance?"

They both laughed heartily. Claire stared at Rebecca with a light in her eyes.

"What?" the smaller girl asked.

Claire shook her head. "It's just that… it's great to see you smiling and all. I mean, I'm glad for you."

"Unlike those times when I was all gloomy and sad, crying for a guy that could never be mine!" She faked a lament, fully aware that she had managed to tease herself. She peered over her shoulder to see said guy hang up. "It wasn't that bad, was it?

"You had it bad," Claire had to admit, but did with a smile on her lips, nevertheless. "I was sure you were going to start your very own poetry club at any moment. Write some dark verses about unrequited love, drink some poison, that kinda stuff."

Billy was watching her smile. When she turned once more to look at him, he suddenly put on a serious expression, like he realized something he had forgotten, and walked away.

Rebecca's own smile disappeared.

Usually those moments turned out very differently. She was the one who would clumsily walk away, and he would grin, amused at her shyness.

She wondered if anything had changed. Might be wishful thinking, but every now and then, Rebecca would also notice the cracks in the mask he would put on for the world. Like when she passed by him, she would hear him sniff through his nose to catch the smell of her, like he wanted to taste her in the air… or maybe he was just holding his breath, refusing temptation; either way, he would go very still when she came close, and closer she would get, testing the will of this man despite her own common sense, just to be sure that it wasn't all in her head; his hands would close into fists, and she would slide closer, their thighs almost touching, and the heat of the bodies mingling in a slow dance, like smoke from burning incense.

He was on leave for at least another month, after spending almost a year in that forsaken place. He would not talk about it, about whatever happened, and Rebecca would not push. He got out alive and that's all that mattered.

As they sat on the grass, they saw Jill walk through the front door and run across the house, jumping over the sleeping form of Damon's retriever, holding a plastic bag in her hand.

"I brought supplies," she said in a noble tone, bowing slightly; the other girls clapped in response. "Thank you, thank you."

"Where were you last night?" Claire asked bluntly.

"Home. Why?" Jill said, frowning, and dropped to the ground next to them.

"I called you," Claire said, smiling wickedly, "and you weren't there. Actually your dad said you spent the night at Rebecca's."

She looked at the smaller girl with intention. "Is it a crime to spend some quality time with your best friend?" She slid an arm around Rebecca's shoulders, crushing the smaller girl as she brought her closer to herself.

"I guess not," Claire answered very nonchalantly, "but what's weird is that I spent the night at Rebecca's… and hold and below, you were not here."

Jill's chin dropped as every word she had in mind got caught in her throat. She looked quite like a fish.

"What is it that you want?" Jill said, letting go of Rebecca, her brows knitting in a worried expression. "Please, tell me you didn't tell on me. My dad will have my head."

Rebecca watched the exchange with mild interest; she had no idea what was so wrong about Jill lying over whenever she was last night. She would always do what she pleased.

Also, the popsicles that Jill had brought ended up being far worthier of her attention.

"He will have my brother's head, you mean," Claire said through her teeth, standing up; she patted dirt and grass from her shorts.

Rebecca's mind worked very slowly over the last sentence that Claire uttered, like a rusty machine getting started. When it came to school and science and math, and all she could read about and memorize, Rebecca was the sharpest girl, a genius almost. But this, she could not figure out. In the matters of people, she was clueless.

Besides, the popsicles were starting to melt, and she would hate to toss them into the freezer and have to wait until they were solid once more.

When Jill blushed, it definitely caught Rebecca's attention. "What's happening?" the girl finally asked in a voice so quiet she sounded years younger.

Both her friends kept quiet, but no worries; Rebecca's own mind would get to the conclusion… almost there.

"No!" Rebecca let out in a horrified gasp, and clasped her mouth with a hand. "Since when?" she whispered at Jill, afraid that somehow might hear of her friend's mischief.

"A while ago," Jill answered with no apparent shame, crossing her arms. "Not like you guys didn't suspect it. Well, probably not you Rebecca; you wouldn't have guessed it even if we had done on the kitchen counter, right in front of you."

"Anyhow!" Claire said, not very comfortable with the idea of Chris naked on the counter that moments ago she sat by to have breakfast. Cheerios would never be the same for her again. "I'm done lying for you, so you're not putting me in the middle. Sorry." She walked into the house, leaving them behind.

"Wuss," Jill muttered, taking a popsicle out of the bag. "No popsicle for you, Miss Righteous Right… whatever." Her determination failed her mid sentence.

"Did you…" Rebecca started, but, from the way she squirmed, Jill knew she was working out a way not to use any kind of bad words. "For how long?" She spoke so quietly, Jill had to lean over to listen to her.

"Mrs. Chambers!" Jill said with great delight and they both turned to look at Rebecca's mom.

"Oh, Jill," Mrs. Chambers said, "why don't you put those in the freezer? They'll turn into slushies!" Great minds think alike. "Becca, dear, I'm leaving. Your dad won't be back until tomorrow, in case you were wondering. You can order some pizza, I let some money in the kitchen." She blew some kisses and turned on her pristine white heels; she said goodbye to Billy and Claire on her way out and then they were only the four of them, not including Damon that slept like a log.

"I should go," Jill suddenly said, not sounding annoyed or irritated, actually she looked very earnest to get out of there.

Rebecca looked confused. Jill loved eating pizza, would eat half of it and the toppings of the other half. Rebecca knew the only reason Jill had come was because she heard Mrs. Chambers was going to be out all day, which meant she got to eat as much pizza as she wanted. Free of charge.

"And you should come with me," Jill yelled to the redheaded girl.

Claire shook her head, the ponytail swaying from side to side. She looked at Jill, and only at her. She had a way of anticipating her friend's train of thoughts, a cunning that Rebecca lacked almost entirely.

"Yes," Jill said in r

esponse, widening her eyes. Jill decided she had had enough of it; she was determined to throw sweet Rebecca to the wolves. That very night, if possible.

Rebecca was left in the dark once more and no one but herself to blame for it. Jill and Claire would plot without uttering as much as a sound. What she lacked in quickness, she made it up in probity, working as a conscience; whenever their two friends were getting ahead of themselves, Rebecca was there to stop them from having too much fun.

Soon enough, both Claire and Jill were at the door, waving goodbye, the scorching sun bathing their forms as they walked away, leaving behind them but their shadows. Rebecca put a hand over her squinting eyes, waving enthusiastically at them with the other one.

Claire felt short of guilty, but was comforted by the very fact that Billy was just not a pervert, and would gladly stab himself before hurting Rebecca. And Jill, well, she had it all figured out.

"She needs to be told what we have in mind." She pressed the send button, after writing a devious text.

"What's on your mind, you mean. Why not telling her before?"

"Because!" Jill smiled like a Cheshire cat, "otherwise, she would have never let us leave."

"So we escape."

"It was going to happen, sooner or later! We can't be her buffers forever, Claire."

"Nothing is going to happen, Jill."

"I wouldn't be so sure," she responded, teeth sinking on her lower lip.

And while Rebecca was the good one, and Claire the cold-headed one, Jill was the sliest of them and, maybe, she would be right after all.

Jesus Christ, I suck! I neither fixed the typos from past chapters, nor I updated quickly enough! It's been what? Like a year! You would think I was busy curing cancer and saving the world, but nope! Just plain old school, you know! D=

Anyways! I hope ppl still reading and reviewing! Pretty please! ): 3 Love to everyone who takes time of their day to read my story! MANY THANKX!