Chapter 3 - Elevator Blowup
There were some things she hated about their affair. She hated the awkwardness between them the next day and at other family events. She hated the condescending voice he used on the phone when he told her he was busy and wouldn't let her sleepover. But there were some things she loved. She loved how forbidden it was, the quiet feeling of victory she got lying to his mother and sneaking to his apartment. She loved the way that he was amazing in bed, but didn't know it. She loved the way he whispered in her ear, unintelligible half-sentences that she could only hear bits of. (He was always complimenting her! He'd whisper things like, something-something-something "…You're so beautiful…" something- something, "I can barely stand it…" something-something.)
Boone was in school for most of the duration of it, so Shannon would tell her step-mother, if she was home, that she was sleeping over at a friends how, but we all know what she really went to do.
Upon arriving at his house, Boone's dog, Jake (and Shannon's professed love of her life) would practically knock her over in his excitement. After she finished greeting Jake, she would stand up and give Boone a platonic hug, but pretty soon he was laying kisses on her lips, and she would push him against the wall, opening her mouth and coaxing his open. After a few minutes of hardcore making out, she would gasp, "Your…room… now!" Wholeheartedly obliging, they would fall onto his bed, piling their clothes on the ottoman, and they would totally screw. At least twice. When they woke up, it would be dinnertime, and usually at least one childish fit would ensue.
"I want Thai food!" She would whine.
"No, we had that two nights ago, can't we just make something we already have?"
"No!"
"Um, why?"
"Because what the hell do you have to eat here?"
"I have chicken."
"Fine. We're never fucking again."
About three minutes later, the Thai food would be on the way. They would eat, and Boone would always try to make her eat more, which would cause another quarrel.
"Is that all you're going to eat, Shan?"
"Yes."
"Like, two bites?"
"Leave me alone."
"Shannon –"
"Leave me. Alone!"
"How about I leave you alone when you're being hospitalized for starving yourself?"
"Jesus, Christ! I'm not hungry anymore, so just leave me the fuck alone!"
"What the hell is your problem? I'm trying to help."
"Well, newsflash, dumbass, you're not."
"But –"
"Shut the fuck up, Boone!"
"Why don't you shut the fuck up?" He retorted.
"Because I didn't say anything, stupid!"
"I'm the stupid one? Hmmmm, who's failing all their classes again?"
"I am NOT failing all my classes!"
"Oh sorry, half."
"You know what? First of all, my lowest grade is a C-. Second, I'm leaving."
"No! Don't leave, please!"
"Cue 'baby, I'm sorry' mode, right?" She asked bitterly.
"I am sorry."
"Yeah. Sure, you're sorry now that you know we're not going to do it again tonight! You are so fucking predictable!" Suddenly the look on his face changed.
"You are so hot when you're screaming." So, much to Jake's confusion, they started making out – again.
It was different when Boone was on school break and at home. This made it easier to get to each other, but more difficult to keep their secret. When Shannon took a shower, Boone would quietly knock on the door, claiming, "I have to get my hairbrush," and then he would come in, lower his voice and say, "Can I join you?"
Shannon would answer flirtatiously, "You'd better." So, laughing at the forbiddingness of it all, he would step over the brim of the bathtub, say, "Hey beautiful" and look at her for a second.
"You checking me out?" She asked in mock-worry.
"No." He deadpanned. "The most gorgeous girl in the world is standing in front of me, naked, and, for God's sake, dripping wet, and I'm not checking her out."
"You're a pervert."
"I think you enjoy my pervdom, Shannon." She giggled and started to kiss him under the faucet. He grabbed onto her hips, hugging the curves of her body, and kiss her neck, his tongue snaking out from between his lips as he bit her ear softly. She moaned, and he cupped her mouth to compress the sound so that his mom wouldn't hear.
One day, Shannon was heading over to Boone's apartment, and as the bellman opened the door for her, he noted in a rather strange tone, "You've been here a lot lately." As she opened her mouth to respond, a sickening feeling pervaded her stomach. Oh… fuck, she thought. He could she have been so ridiculously dumb? The bellman knew they were siblings (well, sort of siblings), Sabrina had dragged Shannon along when they had bought the place.
Fuck!
He had also seen her leave his house in yesterday's clothes early in the morning, almost everyday. What could this bellman think of her? She looked at him, and he looked back, as if challenging her. He was short, fat, and probably gay (if her gaydar proved correct). She was gorgeous, tall, thin, and as hetero as they come… oh, and he thought she was incestual.
"I… I…" she stammered.
"Are you going to go up or not?" he asked coldly.
"Yes." She answered defiantly, walking towards the elevator, only to find Boone walking out of it. She pushed him back into it, punched in the highest level, and the moment it closed, Shannon shrieked, "Holy FUCK! We are so stupid! The guy, he knows! About us, we –"
"Shan," he said, touching her arm. "I can't understand what you're – "
She snatched her arm away. "I – you – we –" she sputtered. "The bellman… he knows, okay? About us! And he's going to tell all his stupid little gay friends, and it's going to get back to people, and everyone is going to know –" she exhaled in frustration, "We're fucking. Except not anymore, obviously."
"Jesus Christ! How did he –" Then the elevator stopped. Boone typed in the first floor.
"Hmmm, let's see," she said sardonically. "I come at night, and sneak out, with my hair all screwed up at six in the morning, and that's how it happens in all the movies, so maybe that's how."
"This is – this is bad!"
"No, duh."
"How could you have not thought of this, Shannon?" He asked, visibly annoyed.
"Me? Me? This is my fault! You didn't notice it either, you fucking idiot!"
"Don't talk to me like that, you bitch!" He shouted.
"You promised you'd never call me a –"
"Yeah, well, it's about time I started calling you what you are! You know, some other names might fit into that category, like wh –"
She screamed as loud as she could. "I hate you, I fucking hate you!" Tears ran down her cheeks. "Aren't you going to apologize?"
"No."
"I don't know what to –"
"Does it matter for you? I mean you're – "
"A whore? A slut? It doesn't matter what people think? Like it matters for you – you're a wannabe and everybody knows it! At least I have a reputation, ass!"
"You don't… You don't know shit about me! YOU DON'T FUCKING KNOW ME!" Just then, the door of the elevator slid open peacefully. She ran out of it before he could stop her, leaving him behind. She opened her purse quickly and took out a 100 dollar bill. She'd seen this done in movies, and she didn't know what else to do.
Approaching the bellman, she said, "Don't you dare –" The bellman looked taken aback, "Tell anyone." She slipped the bill into his hands, and rushed out of the lobby, thinking, hoping she had left their whole mess of a relationship behind. She didn't quite realize that is was just going to get messier.
(Photobooth by Death Cab for Cutie)