Chapter 2

"Two months?" Mina asked blue eyes wide.

"No phone, no computer, no going out..." Serena trailed off. E.P Scarlett cafeteria was buzzing with activity. Jocks flocked around a makeshift basketball net, while a group of gamers played cards on the opposite side of the large space. Five girls sat at their usual table.

"Well, what did happen?" Raye asked.

"I honestly don't know. You guys left, I had a glass of champagne with Jon, then I think he left and I woke up to fuming parents. There was a mess all over my room, stuff that I wouldn't even know where to get." Serena blushed as she attempted to avoid saying what was really in her room that morning.

"Like weed?" Lita piped up. She was leaning over Amy to get closer to her pig-tailed friend.

"No... dirty stuff..."

"Like dildos?" Lita added again

"What??" Serena blushed deeper. "No, but they looked used. I think. I dunno. Did anyone leave the party while we were dancing? Maybe someone went into my room to fool around and left the mess. I never got drunk before, not even at Lita's birthday, I must've fell asleep."

"Serena, you only had 2 beers and apparently a glass of champagne. Even with your petite size, the alcohol level in your blood would not have been high enough for that type of reaction." Amy's gaze returned to her book. She always would throw something reasonable into the conversation.

"So they were condoms!" Lita leaned back against the ply-wood chair now that her curiosity had been sated.

"Back off for a bit!" Mina voice brought four pairs of eyes onto her. "Did you forget that Serena is grounded for two WHOLE months, and that she would never do what her parents have accused her of. Can't you see how bad this is? For all of us?"

Serena's cherry face deepened a shade and tears welled in her eyes. "I gotta go."

Leaving the four stunned girls at the table Serena ran to her locker. It wasn't unusual for her to cry, especially not with her best friends, but she couldn't take it. Something happened that night. As much as she didn't know exactly what, those condoms were used. As much as she wanted to think that all of those possibilities were accurate, she knew that she wasn't a virgin anymore. She could feel it. Sure Lita had her exploits, and Raye had boys falling all over her. Serena didn't. Serena wanted to wait. Serena never had a boyfriend.

The hallways were a blur. Some groups of kids were huddled in doorways eating their lunch and for once she was thankful that her locker wasn't near the cafeteria. Orange lockers streaked past as she ran finally stopping at her own. Grabbing the lock she started to turn the dial when she fell on the floor sobbing, still holding the lock. She wasn't wailing this time. Her wails were for minor things. This was real. Her friends hardly defended her. Mina did. Mina always did.

Suddenly there was a hand on her shoulder. Expecting to see Mina, Serena turned to lean on her friend only to find concerned violet eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Serena didn't know what to do. Jon's touch that seemed so nice before suddenly frightened her and she scampered away on her hands.

He came closer. "Serena, what's wrong?"

His voice sounded so sincere, so worried. Serena finally let him catch her and she hugged him. "Something happened."

"Serena c'mon. Tell me what's going on. Why are you crying?"

"After you left the party. I must've been drunk. I must've forgot to lock the door, someone must've come in. It's the only thing I can think of. I don't know what, but something happened. And I'm scared."

"Shhh shh." Jon pulled her tighter against his lean frame. "What are you scared of?"

"Don't hate me!"

Jon's white silk shirt was soaked with tears where she was leaning against him. "I won't hate you. I could never hate you."

Serena cried without saying anything. Jon just held her. Eventually she mumbled into his shoulder.

"Babe, I couldn't hear you"

"I don't think I'm pure anymore"

Jon began to stroke Serena's cascading blond hair. "I don't understand."

"I think I was... "

"It's ok, I'm here for you. Just let it out."

"It's my fault"

"What was your fault?" Jon asked, his voice was soft, and he shifted to be able to see her face. He leaned against the lockers. Serena turned to lean against him. The warning bell sounded indicating 5 minutes till class. Students started to gather at their lockers interrupting their privacy.

"Hey, skip class this afternoon. Come to my place and we can talk. We'll make an excuse for your teachers. Cheer up, ok?" Jon stood pulling Serena with him. She hastily rubbed red eyes attempting to erase any signs of crying.

"Ok."

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"Do you want something to drink?" Jon asked.

Serena murmured an agreement looking round the bungalow. It was smaller than the one she lived in, but it was decorated in a more modern way. The living room walls were harsh white. They contrasted drastically with angular black leather furniture. The lack of color sent chills down her spine. Her eyes followed Jon towards the open kitchen. Stainless steel pots hung over the island separating the rooms, the kitchen maintained impersonal decor with a darker grey on the walls. It was then that she noticed no family photos, no awards on the walls, no artwork even. She made her way to the couch and sat down to find the leather stiff against her weight.

Jon came back with a glass of water for both of them. He jerked his head towards the darkened hallway leading to the bedrooms. Serena followed straining to see in the dark. She had to follow the white blond of his hair to determine where she needed to go. He opened the last door revealing his room. It looked just like the rest of the house.

Jon sat on his unmade bed motioning for Serena to sit beside him. She did and he handed her a glass of water. "So tell me what's going on. What are you afraid of?"

Serena downed her glass of water. "Can I have some more?"

White eye brows raised in surprise before Jon handed her his glass of water. She downed that glass and looked around nervously. Black furniture, white walls. Did nothing have personality here? She scanned the room. Nothing was out of place except the unmade bed. A lone picture sat on the desk. Jon's brother Scott smiled back. She remembered that at school they called him Sapphire.

"Can I have something to eat?" said suddenly. She knew she was avoiding was she was there for but she had lost her nerve on the way over and needed to work up to it again. Jon left back to the kitchen without a word. He came back with an orange. She made a face at the fruit. He chuckled and went back to the kitchen.

How can she tell her boyfriend what happened. She didn't even tell the girls. She was so embarrassed about it. She could hear him rummaging in the cupboard. Jon was the first guy to really show an interest in her. Boys seemed so alien to her. He was ecstatic when she finally agreed to a date, and not long after to be his girlfriend. If he knew what she had done, there is no way that he would still like her.

Jon came back with hostess cupcakes. Serena smiled and dove into the chocolate treats. Jon sat behind her on the grey sheets of the double bed leaning against the wall. Soon Serena was licking chocolate off her fingers and Jon started to rub her shoulders.

Serena relaxed. She closed her eyes and focused on the feel of Jon's hands on her shoulders. It was like he was rubbing away all of her worries. Everything seemed less terrible. He massaged her for nearly ten minutes. Pressing circles he moved forward to the front of her shoulders Jon pulled her back to lean against his torso, long legs straddling her. Serena leaned back and Jon wrapped his arms around her.

"Want to tell me yet?"

"Hmm... oh yeah..." Sernea's eyes were still closed. She remembered that there was a reason she didn't want to tell him, but she couldn't seem to remember it now. All of her senses seemed focused on Jon, his touch, his musty cologne, warm breath at on her neck. "I haven't told the girls yet..." she murmured.

"It's ok. I'm your boyfriend. You want to tell me."

"I'm not a virgin anymore" she said it so bluntly. When did she decide to do that? Not that it matters, nothing matters with Jon.

"I know."

"You do?" Shouldn't she be surprised?

"hmmhmm"

"Oh. Are you mad?"

"I could never be mad at you. But I don't think you should tell the girls. They will be mad."

"Of course they will be." Jon was so smart now. He was taking care of all of her problems. Serena felt so lucky. The fog in her mind didn't let her ask how Jon knew, or to consider asking who she had slept with. The mist cleared only on Jon. Everything he said made so much sense.

"What should I do now?" she asked.

"Trust me. Trust only me. Everyone else won't listen to you. If you are ever scared, only talk to me. Okay?" His voice was right in her ear, smooth as silk.

"Thanks Jon Diamond. You're the best boyfriend ever." Serena turned so she was leaning her side against his chest. Jon pulled them both to lie lengthwise of the bed. Serena was on her side, blue eyes yet to open again. Jon lay behind her, their bodies fitting together like spoons. Serena couldn't see him, but Jon smiled.