A/N – Ah, finally the chapter that decided to change a huge part of itself half way through, is finished! What a bugger this one was. :) But I couldn't be too annoyed with it, 'cause I was still fritzing from the amazing response to the last chapter. Fifteen reviews! *Squeals * Y'all made me the giddiest girl alive the more the love came in! I'm just . . . speechless! And so, very incredibly grateful to you all! Thank you, thank you, thank you. :) I really hope you like this chapter! I do. :D Reviews are love! *Huggles for all!*
Anonymous review replies are up on my profile page. :) And props to ticklemecuite for the Mario Kart idea! Cheers hun. ^^
Chapter Ten
Count to ten and try again, I said to myself as I rummaged through my closest for the pair to the wedge shoe I was holding in my hand.
"A-ha!" I cried triumphantly, pulling out a shoe that looked like the one I was holding, but in fact wasn't. "Oh for cryin' out loud. Gina! Have you seen my other shoe?!" I shouted, walking out of my room and towards the kitchen where she was lounging against the counter eating some toast and reading the paper. Just like a normal day. It would have been nice if it was a normal day. But since I woke up, everything seemed to be going wrong and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Excuse the pun. "Gina, I can't find my other shoe. Have you seen it?" I tapped her on the shoulder with my wedge still in my hand and finally made her look up at me.
"I heard you the first time, Suze," She said, sitting back and scrutinizing me through narrowed eyes. "Who's ruffled your feathers? Let me guess; you're nervous about tonight?" She evaded my question, getting straight to the point about what the real problem was. Something I had every right to be nervous about.
"Maybe a little," I sighed, slumping across the breakfast bar. "Remind me again why I accepted the invitation to a high school reunion? I'm losing my memory."
She laughed and held up her hand, ticking off the points on her fingers as she went. "One; because you'll get to see all the snooty bitches you hated and see how fat they are now. Two, because you'll get to see some old school friends you haven't seen since you've been back. Three, it's a good reason to have a drink. And four, because you used to be the class vice president and it would look just a little strange if you didn't go; considering you live here again. Is that enough or do you want more? Five – "
"Okay, I get it. No getting out of it, fine. You're still coming right? I'm not doing this alone. Sister Ernestine's probably still gunning for me for some missed detentions or something," I rolled my eyes. It didn't matter that I actually graduated high school; the nun will always look at me like I was something nasty she stood on. "I have to go and pick up my dress from the dry cleaners. Do you have everything ready?"
Gina got up off the stool and walked towards the cupboard instead of answering. When she turned back around she had a bottle of wine and a bottle of cheap Tequila in each hand as her answer. I grinned. "Of course I'm all set, Simon. My outfits all ready too." She grinned back, putting the bottles down on the counter.
"You want to get drunk before you go?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Not drunk, just have a few good drinks. None of that punch rubbish they'll be serving. Don't worry, I promise to be good," She smiled innocently. She sat back down on the stool and eyed the shoe I'd tapped her shoulder with. "The other one to that is in my room. I borrowed them for my date the other day, remember?" I didn't, but nodded along anyway. Feeling and hearing my phone bleep that I had a new message, I tugged it out of my back-pocket and scrolled through it. My bottom lip getting tugged between my teeth the more I read. "What's wrong?" Gina asked, watching me read the message.
I shook my head with a sigh, trying to decide if my Mom's needed favor was a good distraction or a bad one. "Nothing; It's just my Mom. She needs me to pick something up from the house; Alisa left behind last night and take it to Jesse's place. It's some kind of letter or something. She doesn't know if it's important or not, but she said he has the week off so he should be in. It's something to help pass the time I guess," I shrugged, hoping my tone didn't sound too gleeful as I said it. My heart thumped a little quicker at the thought of seeing him. So I made a good effort to quell the excitement bubbling beneath the surface.
"Uh-huh, getting to check the Doctor out in his native environment. Sounds promising." Gina grinned, taking a full interest again.
"That's one way of putting it," I said. I didn't bother to stop the grin this time. I just pivoted on my bare foot and disappeared after my other shoe. When I came back out, Gina had moved to the living room and stretched out along the couch. She was reading the paper still, but it didn't look like she was taking any of it in. "Hey, you okay?" I asked, frowning where I stood behind the sofa looking down at her. When she didn't hear me, I waved a hand in front of her eyes. "Gina!"
Jolted out of her daydream, she glanced up sheepishly. "Sorry, I was miles away. What did you say?"
"I asked if you're okay. Thinking about it, you look exhausted. Have you been sleeping? Or just been too busy burning the candle at both ends again." I leaned on the cushions, giving her a critical look. "You can skip the reunion if you want and just catch an early night. You look like you could do with it." She didn't take offence, just scrubbed her hand over her eyes and rubbed them until they were red. "Are you coming down with something? Maybe, Jesse should come here instead." I slyly said, making her snort and laugh.
"I don't need a doctor Suze, I'm fine. And yes I'm coming tonight. You'll back out if I don't," She wagged a finger at me with a mock-scowl. "It's just weeks of barely enough sleep and a slower pace that's catching up to me is all. I'm used to being busy, busy, busy."
I stood up and slid my bag up my arm. "Give it a few more weeks and you'll be, 'busy, busy, busy' again. Enjoy the slowness while it lasts. You'll be complaining when you don't have it any-more," I laughed, dodging the pillow she threw at me. "Want me to get you anything while I'm out?" I called, walking across the room to the front door. She shouted a negative back, so I shot her a concerned look before leaving. "Get some shut-eye. You're starting to look how I did a few days ago." She laughed and told me to get lost.
"Say hi to the good doctor for me!" Rang through the door just as it clicked shut, and I strolled down the hall with a smile on my face.
The drive to my parents' house was quick and uneventful. Mom left me a note on the fridge with a letter about Alisa from her dance teacher about a Fall recital. It was creased and wrinkled and had chocolate smudges on it where the little girl had been handling it. Smiling, I unclipped it and folded it up and slipped it in my back jean pocket. Alisa told me all about her Ballet classes and how much she loves them, while we made sand-castles. Jesse had listened on with a proud look in his eye. She'd been tip-toeing around the sand when she was playing. Or make her hair fly out around her when she would twirl in place. It made me question again, how someone could want to give them both up.
I don't know the whole story, or even part of it, about what happened with Alisa's mom. But I'm hoping Jesse will tell me one-day.
Looking down at Jesse's address and number down on a slip of paper that was with the letter, I reversed out of the drive-way. I almost called ahead, but thought better of it. I haven't spoken to Jesse down the phone before, but I can already figure his voice will make me go gooey. Just like his strained voice sounded when he was hovering over me at the beach, after I fell. It was so tempting to just kiss him right then. I saw he wanted to, too. Just like I nearly leaned over and kissed him on the cheek after he dropped me home. And I was kicking myself the whole of the elevator ride up to the apartment that I didn't. It was bad enough he was so close when I leaned through the seats to say goodbye to Alisa, let alone invade his space willingly. As much as my body and mind is calling out for Jesse - and boy is it! - I don't want to push him. He's been burned in the past; he has every right to be wary.
I pulled on to his road, checking out the suburban neighborhood while I crept up the isolated road. The houses looked homey and comfortable. Big enough, by the looks of it, to fit a family of four in and still have room to breathe. They also looked . . . secure. A good place for Jesse to raise Alisa on his own. In a stable environment big enough for the both of them. I'm no expert, but I know kids need stability at any age. And Jesse has done his hardest to keep that for her. Even as a single-father trying to do his best for his daughter. And then in I come, rocking the boat and throwing his careful stability off kilter.
Suddenly, with a huge bout of clarity that almost made me slam my foot on the break in the middle of the road, I understood just why he was so quick to push my friendship away. I thought I got it before. I figured he was just being over-sensitive. But this time . . . It felt more real. Like this is . . . for real. I got it. But at the same time, it made me more determined to prove to him that I'm not going anywhere. He's expecting me too. I can see it deep in his eyes. His trust in people limited to a minimum.
The sudden lightning bolt of understanding and clarity left me with a much clearer head then when I started out on the errand. Enough so that when I pulled up to the curb in front of his house with lush green lawn and a tree in the front yard that shaded the home, giving it an air of privacy, I was totally calm. Eerily calm, even. I saw a pink bike with tassels on the handlebars sitting near the few steps up to the door as I walked past. And other kid's toys dotted here and there. After I knocked, I looked down the length of the porch, seeing a swing that looked comfy enough to sleep on, creakily swaying on its own.
I turned back when the door opened.
"Susannah!" Jesse exclaimed, his dark chocolate eyes widening in surprise. But not, thankfully, in a bad surprised kind of way. I casually checked him out behind my sunglasses, enjoying the look of him looking relaxed in his cargo pants and white t-shirt, stuck with some kind of stain on the hem. It should be illegal with how good white on him looks, I sighed when I tucked my hands behind my back to stop the ache to run my palm over his stubbly cheek and chin. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect picture. His hair was hanging over his forehead in rumpled disarray that would have looked messy and too long on someone else, but was just right on Jesse. There was something strangely intimate about catching him in casual wear, his black socks sticking out against the cream carpet.
"I wasn't expecting you." He recovered; the faint sweep of his eyes over me didn't go unnoticed.
Feeling confident enough to look him in the eye after checking him out, I pushed my sunglasses on to my head. "Sorry, I should have called ahead first. I didn't mean to interrupt you."
"You're not. I was just, err, practicing Mario Kart on the Wii. For only four-years-old, Alisa is better than I thought," He said, looking half-way between proud and disgruntled. I choked back my laugh and pushed a lock of hair out of my eyes. "Do you want to come in?" He offered, pushing the door open wider in invitation. I chewed on my lower lip trying to decide whether to or not. Would it be such a good idea being alone with him without any interruptions? In the end I refused, seeing a flicker of disappointment cross his eyes. But it was gone so quickly, I couldn't be sure if I actually saw it or not.
"I wish I could stay, but I still have some errands to run," I pouted, genuinely meaning it. It seemed to be enough for Jesse, because his broad shoulders that I hadn't realized were tense, relaxed under his t-shirt. Instead, he stepped out on to the porch with me leaving his door wide open. It was hard not to peer inside with the curiosity cramping me, so I settled for leaning against the doorframe. "I came to bring you this. Alisa left it behind last night, my Mom didn't know if it was urgent or not." I'd slipped the folded letter out of my hand and passed it to him, his fingers brushing over mine when he took it. The bolt of awareness made me jump and glance up clashing eyes with him.
He swallowed and reluctantly tore his eyes away to open the letter. Skimming it with his eyes quickly. "Thank you for bringing it by. It's not urgent, but it needs to be returned by her next dance class. She has a habit of forgetting to give me these letters." He chuckled, fiddling with the paper in his hands.
"She's a kid. Any letter from a teacher usually means bad news. At least, mine usually did. " I winced slightly.
A breeze whistled across the porch and threw his house, blowing my loose hair into my face. Fumbling to move it aside, I sucked in a silent breath when I suddenly felt Jesse's hand gently brush it out of my eyes; his fingers skimming across my temple and hovering as he stroked the strands between his fingers before letting it go. His touch was so light; I was holding my breath without consciously realizing it. But I missed how close he was the second he did let go. And my hair felt like it was sparking with electricity from roots to tip. One simple touch; that was all it took. I knew then I was going to have to seriously re-evaluate the sexual tension arcing between us. And whether I could stand it or not.
"Thankfully, Alisa's letters only usually hold good news," He gruffly said, clearing his throat before he went on like nothing had happened. Or that's what it looked like he was trying to convince himself. It was hard to tell when half of his face was in shadow when he moved to stand on the other side of the door-frame opposite me; barely leaving any space between us. It felt so good and so bad at the same time; I pressed my back closer to the wood, stupidly trying to ignore the primal call to just reach out to him. Just once. 'What harm could it do?' Gina had said.
"She had a lot of fun at the beach with you. It's all she's been going on about for the last couple of days in fact. As hard as it is to admit, it's been some time since I've seen her that happy and care-free. I guess I was blinder to her needs than I realized. Still, I'm keeping my fingers crossed it won't all fall through."
I licked my dry lips and gave him a measured look. "It won't." I simply said, my eyes forcing him to trust me. He stared back just as fiercely before he nodded jerkily; relief coating his eyes. His hands stilled on the letter he'd gone back to tapping between his hands with his long brown fingers. The flash of those fingers that had been rubbing up and down my back that lingered there longer than they probably should've done, flashed in my mind with a spotlight. I stood up, my back ram-rod straight, reacting even more to him.
'Snap out of it, Suze!' I chided myself, Jesse's liquid tone rousing me from staring at his hands.
"I'm glad you're here actually, I've wanted to call," He said, my heart leaping in my chest. Just to drop rapidly to a normal rhythm again. "Or rather, Alisa has been insistent on doing it. I'm taking her and her friend, Kody to the fun-fair tomorrow afternoon and was wondering if you would like to join us? I know Alisa would like you there and to be honest, you could help me keep my sanity. And stop me from buying any-more soft toys. She has more than enough already."
"Is there going to be a carousel and candyfloss?" I brightened up, bouncing on my toes. He laughed, not chuckled, laughed watching me practically jump on the spot. "Hey don't laugh, I'm serious," I mocked, even though I was grinning while I said it. "Carousel's and candyfloss are my weakness. That's enough to win me over every-time. I'll help you out with resisting the plushies on one condition though? You promise to buy me a toffee-apple and come on the Ferris wheel with me."
He looked casual where he was leaning, his thumbs hooked in to the pockets of his pants. "That's all you want?" He said, his darks eyes hard to read or resist. His tone boiling my blood.
"Well . . ." I trailed off, biting my lower lip. His eyes dropped to my mouth, intense and full of a consuming emotion. I weighed up the options of what I was going to say next. But then I just didn't care. My body was reacting to him in ways that was leaving me restless on my feet. My hair still felt like it was sparking with energy and the light flirting was making me lose sense of everything but the lean man standing close, his spicy cologne invading my senses and winding around me in an invisible lasso, drawing me to him. "There is one thing – "
But I never got the chance to finish the sentence. Or even the thought. Because the next thing I knew, Jesse's rough hand was cupping my cheek and his mouth was slanted across mine possessively. His thin lips whipped the breath from my lungs with a harsh, barely controlled kiss. That left me more shaken and weak; more aroused and needy than one kiss could possible do. My hands clutched at something behind me, a moan escaping me as my eyes closed, wanting so badly to give in to the amazing feel of him. The kiss was . . . was . . .
Over just as quickly as it started.
One second he was there and the next, he was staring down into my eyes I lazily blinked open. Half expecting to wake up from the cruellest, most vivid dream I've experienced of him yet. But I wasn't waking up. And Jesse was still there, cupping my face with his warm, labored breath blowing across my throbbing parted lips he'd just claimed, took and possessed! His eyes stared down in to mine as bewildered as I was. But, his lips were twitching a smile. And my hand slowly rose to rest against his chest in response. My mind was whirling and my body was screaming for me to have more. Taste, touch, feel, and explore him! My fingers clenched around his shirt to pull him closer again. "Jesse," I whispered; my head tipping up to brush against his lips -
And the damn phone rang!
Jesse jumped away from me on reflex and looked in to the house without seeing it at first. But he was quick to come out of the daze a hell of a lot faster than I was. He dashed into the house, his steps lethal and heavy, picking up a phone and barking a harsh greeting to the poor sap on the other end that interrupted us. His hand, that should have been mine doing the honours, ran through his hair in agitation. I realized I was running my hand through my hair too when my sunglasses clattered to the wooden porch. Jesse's head whipped in my direction, his voice coming from far-away, fighting to pay attention.
"Charity Benefit . . ." He slowly trailed off, before the proverbial light-bulb went off. "Right! Yes, I remember now. I have the invitation around somewhere; I thought I already got back to them. Well, no, but - " He closed his eyes, his fist braced on the wall, his head leaning on his out-stretched arm. I looked away from him and bent down to pick up my glasses clumsily. I was moving through cotton. Soft, safe and comfortable cotton wrapped around me. Jesse's voice glided over me, like his lips had done on mine a minute or so before. It could have been forever and I wouldn't have noticed. Or cared. "Yes. Yes, I know it's important, but I - Wait. Never mind. Tell them I'll be there. That's not necessary, I already have one."
I heard him drop the phone with a metal thunk and turned when he slowly made his way out of the house to me. He wasn't exactly avoiding my eyes, but he wasn't making much of an effort to catch them either. He released a tired sigh and ran his hand through his hair again. My mind was starting to catch up with me at last and I put a bit of distance between us. I couldn't afford to let him invade my senses again like that. A small voice was screaming at me that I was nuts for stepping back. But I needed it. Just one little breather. The moment we'd had was killed the second the phone rang.
Even though my body was singing for his touch even more than ever.
"Is everything okay?" I asked finally because the silence was killing me! "Look, if it's about what just happened – "
"No! No. It's nothing to do with that, querida," He roughly interrupted me. The strange Spanish word that sounded so smooth and gentle from his lips roused me out of my Jesse-induced-coma even more, with a pleasant shiver jumping across my nerve-endings. Or was it the hard-to-read look in his eyes seconds after he said it? I pondered. "That kiss was . . . something else," His lips quirked the most knee-jerking grin that made me look away before I melted into a puddle of goo. The fact he didn't seem to regret it was a huge bonus that was threatening to send me spiralling back down into the star-studded happiness I was in before. "Actually, I need to ask you a favor."
I swallowed; my mouth dry again. "Go ahead; I'm all about those today." I shrugged with a smile, resisting the urge to slip my sunglasses on.
"There's a Charity Benefit coming up on Saturday that my practice is a sponsor for, and I was wondering if – "
"I would baby-sit, Alisa?" I got out in a rush, closing my mouth with a snap of my teeth.
"Um, actually, no. I was wondering if you would like to go with me. I was hoping to avoid it myself, but I can't get out of it. But with you there with me, it will be ten times more bearable," He surprised me again. I must have looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a car, because he was back-tracking quicker than a light-up yo-yo. "You don't have to if you don't want to. These events can be very boring if you're not used to them. I just thought – "
"It's fine, Jesse. I'd love to go with you," I stepped forward and put a hand on his arm to stop him. The instance my hand touched his arm, he relaxed. My fingers prickled when I pulled my hand away. But then I knew I had to go. Fast! Before I gave in to the crazy idea of jumping on him, slamming the door closed and seeing if my dreams would match up to the real thing. I was already convinced it would which was so not helping my equilibrium or making me get away from him any quicker. I just stuttered and waved my hand around looking stupid. Huh, I thought absently, a speechless Suze. There's one for the record books.
"Look, I have to go, but tell me the details tomorrow. What time do you want me ready to go?" I was slowly backing up to the railing and blindly stepping down the stairs, my eyes still riveted to Jesse's. He looked too amused for his own good. And it was just encouraging me to act like an idiot even more.
"I'll come and get you around four o'clock if that's okay?" He answered, watching me carefully. He took a step towards me, venturing. "Susannah maybe we should talk about."
"Jesse, I'd love to stick around and talk about it. I would. But if I don't walk away right now, then you and I know something more than a fleeting, earth-trembling kiss is going to happen and as much as I wouldn't mind that, I really don't want to rush this . . . err,this. Okay? I promise I'm not running out on you. I just need to clear my head." I stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked up at him, terrified he wouldn't understand. I definitely wasn't running. I was just saving my last shred of sanity before I lost it completely.
"It's okay; I know you're not running away, querida. The talk can wait. I'll see you tomorrow. Be safe driving home." He smiled disarmingly, a dimple appearing in his right cheek when he quirked a grin. I stayed standing there for longer than normal, just staring at him. Eventually I nodded once, put on my sunglasses and practically ran for the car. When I looked back when I was safely inside, he was still standing there in the doorway watching me. Shaking my head of the replayed memory of the kiss, I started the car and pulled away. Still smiling like a crazy woman with only part of my mind on the road.
I didn't even think about my nerves for the reunion. Or how exhausted Gina was looking. Or anything else for that matter.
I was too busy imagining a night with Jesse, all on my own. No children or best friends involved. It was enough to make any woman delirious! Especially when coupled with that kiss.
xXx
"You're not going to chicken out on me are you?" Gina asked once the cab that had dropped us off at the Junipero Serra Mission Academy drove away.
The warm buzz of wine I'd had before leaving for the reunion was warming my body and fighting off the chill. Gina had made a huge dent in the bottle of Tequila, by-passing the wine to me after only two glasses. She told me she'd had a power-nap on the couch while I was out, so the alcohol wouldn't affect her so much. But she was already on her way of slurring her speech a little. I promised myself before we left the apartment that I'd keep my eye on her. She's not a rowdy drunk. She's mellower if anything. But she was running on little to no sleep and that's not such a good combination with Tequila.
"No, I'm totally fine," I replied. Because after the fleeting kiss that was nowhere near enough, but yet was more than any reaction I expected; any nerves I had, were effectively killed. Gina's suspected something happened between Jesse and me, and it was only with a strong-will that I managed to fight her off about it. I didn't want to jinx it. After-all, it just a tester kiss. We were just going in for the proper one when the stupid phone rang. "Honestly!" I laughed, brushing off her suspicious glance.
We waited behind the people standing before Father Dom and Sister Ernestine, shaking hands and talking a bit. No one came to approach me and I barely recognised the people laughing and joking as they walked in. A novice was ticking names off a list and giving named stickers out like I guessed they would. I groaned under my breath before plastering on a fake smile when it was my turn. The good Sister looked like she was chewing a wasp when she recognized me, so I happily turned my back on her and spoke to Father D. His sharp blue eyes still as jovial as the first time I met him.
"Susannah! What a pleasure to see you again!" He beamed taking my hands in his. I've got a soft spot for my old principal. It didn't matter how much trouble I got in, he was always patient with me and managed to get me out of some hot water with the vice principal a time or two. He isn't like other priests I've ever met. He enjoys his job and he's damn good at it. So I managed to conjure up a sincere smile for him. "Your step-father, tells me you have moved back to Carmel to open a business here. Congratulations! I'm sure your Mother is glad to have you close again. Thank you for coming tonight."
"Thanks. And it's good to see you too, Father Dom," I said, ignoring Sister Ernestine grinding her teeth behind me. "This is my friend, Gina Augustin. She's who I'm opening my, err, business with. She came to school with me for a week, way back when. I'm not sure if you remember."
"Yes. The one that was caught smoking in the ladies restroom. Hardly going to forget that are we, Ms Simon?" Sister Ernestine bristled, making Father D wince, and Gina grin proudly.
"I'll be sure to use the guy's restroom tonight then, Sister." Gina blinked innocently. It was the wrong thing to say judging from the puce colour, Ernestine was turning.
"So we're just going to go in now . . . It's good to see you, Father D," I smiled at him, took the sticker from the novice after she asked my name and threw myself into the breezeway with Gina. "Ouch! That was painful," I cringed, gesturing back to the two heads of the school greeting more people. "Trust her to remember something as stupid as that. And trust you to have the last word." I rolled my eyes, waiting for Gina to finish tucking a strand of loose hair back into her up-do, before we took off for the twinkling lights, soft music and banter of people in the courtyard. It didn't look much different to how they used to decorate it for dances. The only difference being the lights weren't as dim or intimate.
"Don't forget to wear your sticker," Gina said.
"No thanks," I snorted, sticking it on my old locker as we walked past it. Gina waggled her eyebrows as we got to the courtyard, walking in to the throng of people with the confidence and ease she was born with. Not long behind her I joined the party too, the wine still warm in my stomach.
The first person to come up to me and chew me out for not getting in touch was, CeeCee Webb. After giving her a lousy excuse about not getting round to it since I'd been back, we soon broke out into laughter and got swept up in the sudden appearance of old friends with their spouses or dates. Adam was quick to sweep me up into a tight hug and lead me off to the punch table, smugly meeting the stare of any jock that picked on him in school. I let him have his moment. Getting on well with Gina the first time around, CeeCee soon had my old friend laughing until she cried with her witty remarks about some of the people in the crowd.
I got varying reactions from different people as they came up to us out of politeness or curiosity. Most I didn't even recognise. Back in my old school in Brooklyn, I was given the title of girl most likely to end up in jail. But at the Mission Academy, I wasn't given any kind of title, other than class vice president. I got the feeling people were expecting something from me though. I didn't bother to correct them on my comfortable career in New York or my plans in Carmel. I love to prove people wrong.
I had to take a breather away from everyone a couple of times, before I got sensory overload. It was as I was standing by one of the pillars near the breezeway that Adam found me.
"Hey, there you are, Suze!" He cheered, appearing out of nowhere and grabbing my hand. "You and me; dance now," He grinned good-naturedly and pulled me out of my hiding place. I let him carry me across the courtyard to the space reserved for dancing. Mostly because I didn't have a choice. "So I've been thinking; you're single and beautiful. I'm single and handsome. Put that together, we could make a great combination. Whatcha say, Suze? Fancy a little sneak away to the Chemistry lab?" He winked, over-exaggerating it.
If I didn't know Adam McTavish, I would have popped him one in the eye. But I knew he was only fooling around by the twinkle in his eye.
"Hmm, tempting," I grinned. He laughed and twirled me away from him before bringing me back, grabbing my hand and spinning me around. Talk over, I lost myself to just enjoying being with an old friend. It wouldn't be too long before he would be leaving town again, so I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible. And when he dragged CeeCee in to the dance too, it was starting to feel like ten years hadn't passed between us. We ignored the looks from the some of the more snooty people and just had fun. Before I knew it Gina was there too and laughing along with us. We got some strange looks. But we didn't care back then and I sure as hell didn't care now.
Until Kelly had to deliberately bump in to me as she was dragging her way-too-good-looking date, he had to be a fake, across the floor.
"Oh excuse me I - Oh, never-mind, it's only you, Suze," She grinned maliciously. I stopped dancing and stared at her. "Yes? Do you have something to say to me?"
I thought about it for a second, eyeing her date that looked bored, before finally speaking. "No, I'm good." And I turned back to my friends and carried on dancing as if Kelly wasn't there.
Effectively dismissed, she stormed away in a huff and for another hour and a half; I was running between the punch, buffet and the dance floor. Gina's balance had been starting to waver and her speech slurred even more as the night had gone on. So I skipped having my own drink offered by my brother and kept my eye on her. When Brad sidled up next to me for the second time all evening where I was leaning against an empty table, watching Gina out on the floor, he grinned lopsidedly. "Having a good time, sis?" He asked me eventually.
"It's better than I thought it would be," I answered, shoving him hard enough to nearly topple over. "Stop leering at my friend! Speaking of, what drink have you been supplying her? She can barely walk straight. I saw you spike the punch earlier too."
He laughed and threw me a side-glance. "She's just had, J.D. And I added a little Vodka to the punch to give it that extra . . . punch!" He laughed again, looking half-cut too. I shook my head at his lame joke and mentally cringed at the bad assortment of alcohol running through Gina's blood and probably curdling in her stomach. Wine, Tequila and Jack Daniels? She is definitely going to be feeling it tomorrow, I thought with a sigh. "Geez, don't sound so depressed. She's having fun isn't she? What's the harm?"
"Okay, if she starts complaining she feels like crap tomorrow, I'll tell her to go whine to you." Not that he looked too upset about that. "You're a pain in the ass, Brad," I rolled my eyes standing up from where I was leaning against the table and popping a cannolis in my mouth to stop the rumbling of my stomach. With a lurch from where he was standing, Brad gave me a half-hearted wave and disappeared back in to the throng of people. I stayed where I was watching my friends and realizing with a pang, just how much I'd missed them.
"Your friend's looking a bit wasted, Suze," Kelly's voice sounded from beside me. I didn't bother to look in her direction, and tried to let her icy tone wash off me. "Sister Ernestine's been keeping a very close eye on her all evening. From what I've heard, someone tipped the good Sister off that your friend walked in here already drunk and has been secretly sneaking off to the breezeway to have more. I'm counting down the seconds to when she's either told to leave, or forcibly removed. Such a shame, she looks like she's having a good time too. Disappointing isn't it, to leave for ten years and come back to find . . . you've not really changed at all. You're still just . . . plain old Suze Simon."
Even though I told myself that what Kelly was saying wasn't true; none of it; it still got to me. Just like she wanted.
I rounded on her, talking through my teeth. "And I wonder who that person was to tip her off with a blatant lie," I glared, glad to see a flicker of unease pass through Kelly's eyes before she raised her chin and stared me down. "What is your problem, Kelly? It's been ten years, I honestly thought you might have grown up some in that time," I uncurled my fists where they'd tightened at my side and gave Kelly a smile. She wasn't expecting it and her expression faltered for a second. Shaking my head I dropped my tone to sound conversational.
"You know one of the great things about a rumour? Knowing the truth. And personally for me, it's also about knowing what the person on the other end of that lie would do if she found out about it. So do yourself a favor Kelly, and walk away now. And drop this stupid grudge you've got going; it's just not healthy."
I turned back around and resisted the urge to fold my arms over my chest. I did let go of the breath I was holding though, blowing a piece of hair out of my eyes at the same time. Surprisingly, I was feeling better than I thought I would for saying something. She'd been firing me icy glares all evening. Rising to the bait with Kelly, was something I've rarely, if ever, done. But when she starts making threats to my friends . . . Well that's like asking for me to arrange a new nose job for her. Just with my knuckles.
"You can threaten me all you want, Suze, but I'm not afraid of you." She threw back with a load of false bravado, cocking her slim eyebrow.
I turned my head and felt the corners of my lips tilt with amusement. "Yes you are. But I wasn't talking about me. I was talking about, Gina. Sheis the one you really need to be worried about, Kelly." I stared at her for countless seconds while she tried to figure out if I meant it or not. In the end I shook my head and left her standing there gaping after me. Letting the smile drop from my face, I moved towards, CeeCee, casting a worried look at my old friend. "I've got to get Gina, out of here. Ernestine is tracking her," I said in her ear, looking around for the determined nun. CeeCee didn't say a word. She just nodded and helped me coax Gina away from the dance-floor, with Adam in tow.
When I got her to the edge of the courtyard and away from everyone, I finally stopped. "What's going on?" She blinked against the lights illuminating the breezeway, swaying on her feet. Her eyes looking more than a little glazed over. "Where we going? I thought you were having fun, Suze."
CeeCee was standing with Adam, who looked amused. "My feet are killing me, I'm going home. CeeCee and Adam are coming to, aren't you guys," I shot them pointed looks and they both nodded instantly. Relieved I turned back to Gina. "See? We're gonna order pizza and ice-cream, it'll be more fun. Let's go." I urged her on. Shrugging she let me lead her along, helping her when she tripped. "Thanks for this, guys. I'm sorry you're missing out on the party."
"Are you kidding? This is tons better. I only went to see you two anyway," Adam grinned, waving it off. I looked to CeeCee and she just repeated what Adam said. "I'll go and bring my car round." He pulled his car keys out of his pocket on the inside of his jacket and twirled them on his finger like he did when he first got his VW Bug all those years ago. He walked off ahead, CeeCee matching his stride as they disappeared into the shadows.
"Okay Simon, spill," Gina spoke up when they were out of sight. Even though she'd obviously had more than a couple of drinks, she was still alert enough to notice something was up. I'd been hoping she wouldn't notice until, say, tomorrow? She rolled her eyes and abruptly stopped. "I'm not moving until you tell me what's going on."
I sighed and looked behind us; but we were alone. "It's nothing I couldn't handle. Just a bit of ten-year bitchiness. Seriously Gina, it's fine. Can we go now?"
"Fine, but I'll get it out of you eventually," She sniffed, stumbling her way towards the gate. "Ugh, how much did I drink? Maybe I shouldn't have started on the wine so early. I think I'm getting a hangover already," She complained. The fresh air, after being surrounded by people, had gone straight to her head and made it all coming rushing on her in one go. A little sympathetic, I helped her across the crunching gravel a couple of steps. "Oh wait, I forgot my bag!" She exclaimed.
I don't think I'll ever forget what happened next.
With the sudden realization that she didn't have her bag, Gina pivoted on her heel and out of my hold. Because she was so drunk and dizzy, she lost her footing and pitched forward before I could catch her. She went down to the gravelly path, hard, her hands braced to stop her fall. But her momentum carried her down too quick! And with a snap that sounded far beyond painful, she collapsed on her front. It all happened within seconds; it took that for it to catch up with me!
Surprised, I dropped to her side and helped her up and into a sitting position; her wrist cradled in her other hand. "God, Gina! Are you okay?" I frowned, the expression on her face as she part hissed with pain and part laughed at herself, was confusing. She looked like she didn't know whether to laugh or curse.
Adam decided to pull his car around at that point, his headlights shining over us both before swinging away. But it was light enough to show me the graze on her nose and forehead where she hit the gravel. I tried to control my wince, but it didn't look pretty at all!
"Ugh, Suze," She slurred either from pain or the alcohol, I couldn't tell. Biting down on her lip that was oozing blood, her eyes narrowed to focus on me. "I think, possibly, I might have broken my wrist." Even as she said it her hand looked like it was swelling up. She cringed looking down at it.
Concerned and mentally shaking the hand of Fate for such a great end to the night; I said the only thing I could think of as Adam and CeeCee joined me, both recoiling at Gina's wrist.
"Ah, crap!"