Chapter 7
“Boys think girls are like books, If the cover doesn't catch their eye they won't bother to read what's inside".”
-Marilyn Monroe
-Marilyn Monroe
DO NOT THINK ABOUT JAMES! DO NOT THINK ABOUT THE CHANGE! DO NOT THINK ABOUT WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED! DO NOT THINK ABOUT JAMES! DO NOT…
“Uhm, Jess? Are you okay? You’re squeezing your eyes harder than I squeeze my butt during my firm-butt exercises. Are you even back?”
I open my eyes and see Lucy’s hand waving in front of my face. When she sees I’m fine she lets out a huge sigh.
“God, you scared me.”
I got up and realized that we were still in the parking lot of the mall.
“How long was I out?”
She looked at the time.
“About two hours.”
“Felt shorter.”
She shrugged.
“I guess your world needs some serious clocks. Either that or you were having fun.”
She smirked and I looked at her with confusion. She sighed.
“You know because time flies when you’re having fun?”
She rolled her eyes and started the engine. She started out of the parking lot. I just kept looking at her. Instead of staying quiet, I decided to talk. I was tired of staying quiet and caring about how other people feel.
“Where exactly do the guys think we are?”
“Shopping, where else?”
I am so annoyed right now. How can she be so rude and be an angel, but I guess that’s what Connor meant when he said that angels adapt.
“Obviously, but for two hours?”
She shrugged.
“Not unusual for me.”
She glanced at me from the corner of her eye.
“But I guess you wouldn’t understand that.”
I really feel like punching her, but that didn’t work out when it came to Connor, and I didn’t feel like breaking my hand. I just smiled at her.
“Unfortunately, genius, we have no proof of us shopping. What’s your story? That we window-shopped for two freaking hours?”
Ha. I guess she needs some Aloe Vera for that burn. She shook her head and pointed to the back. There, covering the entire back of the car, mountains and mountains of bags and more bags ranging from American Eagle to Foot Locker. I kept staring, mostly because I didn’t want to see her expression. Knowing I can’t stay looking back there forever, I turn around and just as I suspected see her smile on full notch. Maybe I need that Aloe Vera.
“When did you get those?”
She rolled her eyes, again.
“When you were…”
She tried finding the word and I decided to help her.
“While I was out.”
I smiled at her and she did not return the favor. We just kept on driving when something occurred to me.
“You just left me in the car while you went shopping?”
She nodded.
“Did you at least leave the car on?”
She shook her head and acted like what I just asked her didn’t even cross her mind.
“So you just left me in the car with it off? Are you serious? I could have died!”
She pulled the car over, took her seatbelt off, and turned to me.
“Listen, you disgusting tri-blood, one you would not have died because unfortunately you are at least a third good a.k.a. angel. Two, I cracked a freaking window.”
She was looking daggers at me. I didn’t know what to do but I knew that I couldn’t just let her intimidate me. I met her once and she liked me then. Just because Mason had hurt her, doesn’t mean that she has to take it out on me.
“Okay, sorry for freaking out but I still could have got hurt. What’s your problem with me anyway?”
She turned towards the steering wheel and sighed.
“I told you that I hate you.”
“Why? Because of Mason?”
She looked at me.
“He told you?”
Maybe if I went along with what she was saying, I could get a little of what happened to them. I nodded, hoping and praying that she wouldn’t get that whole feeling angels get when they know someone is lying.
“I knew that he would…”
“…n’t. He wouldn’t. Do you forget that I’m an angel?”
I shook my head. I can’t believe that I even tried. She looked at me and sighed.
“I kind of figured he wouldn’t, you know?”
I just let her talk. Maybe if I kept quiet long enough, she would admit to me what happened between them.
“I was the only one that was there for him. I met him when he was about eleven, but you know that. He was so broken up about Celia. He was like my brother. He has always been. Then one day he just… I mean out of nowhere…”
She sighed.
“You know what? Forget it. Just know that no matter what, I will always hate you. Angels aren’t supposed to hate and I know that but I do. I can’t stand you and no matter what you say or what you do I will always hate you. Don’t you get it? I HATE YOU! The thing is though, I don’t want to. I want to forget everything and just go on and have a regular life but I can’t because of my feelings toward you.”
She banged her head against the steering wheel and I actually feel bad for her. I know she hates me but I don’t hate her at all. I mean, yeah, she’s like the biggest douche in the world but I still don’t hate her. I tried touching her arm but she pushed it off and looked at me.
“Don’t touch me. I don’t need your sympathy. Just forget everything, okay? Listen, you stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours. Got it?”
I nodded my head. She started the car and pulled back on the road. We drove the rest of the way in silence. She blasted the music and I was very thankful for that. When we pulled up to the house, I could see Connor standing in front of the door. Mason was right behind him. Connor hurried to open the door for Lucy and Mason rushed to me. He opened the door and when I got out he opened the back door. Connor opened the second one and they both looked at the bags, then each other then me. I shrugged while making sure to focus on Mason. I hadn’t forgotten my little brouhaha with Connor and I didn’t intend to. Lucy spoke while making sure to focus on Connor, whose eyes I felt were piercing my side.
“Yeah, she didn’t pick out anything. I picked out everything that makes her look somewhat like a girl. Good thing, too because we are going out tonight. There is this really good dance club called Club Plum.”
She smiled and looked at Connor, who had his eyebrow raised. She pushed him playfully. Barf.
“Shut up! Listen, I know the name is gay, no offense to Mason, but I am telling you that my friend Russell said it was the best place he had ever been.”
Connor caught her in his hands and pushed a hair out of her face.
“Okay, fine. What time?”
She shrugged and looked at her watch.
“I can be ready in five.”
He looked at her credulously.
“You, of all people, can be ready in five minutes?”
She smiled her gorgeous smile.
“More like hours. I have to look good and plus I have to deal with her.”
He looked me and up and down, which made my face get hot.
“You sure you only need five hours?”
She laughed and told them to bring all the bags in the room. When they did, she shooed them out and locked the door. It took her about an hour and a half to get ready and she looked stunning. She wore a skimpy white dress, which looked amazing against her white skin and her curvy hips. She straightened her hair so it looked silky and smooth flowing down her back. She looked like a true angel. Her angel mark on her cheek actually made her even more gorgeous, even though people couldn’t see it. She did her make-up and finished off her outfit with five inch heels and looked at herself in the mirror. Finally satisfied, she turned to me. I looked her up and down and shook my head.
“I am not going to look as amazing as you, so why even try? I can wear jeans and a t-shirt.”
I went to the bags and started rifling through them, but she caught my arm and turned me around.
“Listen I know I said I hate you and I haven’t changed my mind but if you are going to be seen with me, you have to look hot. If you look ugly, my friends will think that I hang out with losers which makes me one.”
“Okay, whatever.”
She looked at me and rubbed her chin. Suddenly, as if she got an amazing idea, she snapped her fingers and smiled. She rubbed her hands together like a villain from a movie and headed towards me.
“This is going to be fun.”
She plucked, prodded, and perfected me. In all, it took about two hours. When she was finally done, I went to go towards the mirror but she stopped me.
“Remember that I made you look the way you do right now. You look mad hot but don’t get cocky.”
I fixed my dress and looked in the mirror. I turned around to see who the gorgeous person looking back at me was but I realized that it was me. I was wearing heels that made me look like a giant. My hair was curled into the perfect waves. My face looked fake because of how beautiful it was. The make-up she had put made my eyes pop. I looked at my lips and almost screamed. She made them look even bigger than normal. I tried to wipe whatever it was away, but she caught my hand and shook her head. Not really wanting to fight, I didn’t resist. I continued examining the stranger in the mirror. The dress was breathtaking and made me wonder if I we were going to a Latin dancing club. The dress was dark green and had ruffles. It fell to about mid-thigh and showed of the rest of my tan body. It was strapless and I suddenly felt naked. I almost couldn’t breathe because of how nervous I was going out like this. I could barely walk in the heels and was tripping every five seconds. I turned to Lucy and as if she had read my mind she approached me.
“Listen, we aren’t supposed to do this, but I can’t have you looking clumsy out there. Hold on.”
She walked with such grace, almost as if she was floating, towards her closet. She looked through her things and came out with a little vile. It looked like it was shining and she walked over and offered it to me.
“Drink it. Don’t ask questions. Just know that it will make you walk like an angel, literally.”
I wanted to question but decided better of it. If it would make me walk like I wasn’t a complete idiot, then what the heck? Y.O.L.O., right? I gulped it down and immediately felt the effects. I started walking around and it was like someone else was controlling my legs. I watched myself walk in the mirror and was awed. I walked like my aunt used to and how Lucy did. I smiled and turned to hug her then thought better of it.
“Right, well, you need to come in when I tell you to. The guys need to take in my beauty first and once they are completely engrossed in me, I will call you in. Trust me, when I’m around, I am the center of attention in all males’ eyes.”
She smiled and walked out. I scurried after her and stood by the door, making sure it blocked me. I peered out the crack and saw Mason sitting on the couch, legs crossed, in a nice black shirt and white tie. He had slicked back his hair, so he looked like a modern day James Bond. He was wearing nice beige slacks. When Lucy walked in, he scanned her up and down and shrugged. I guess with gay guys, nothing really excites them in girls. I looked over at Connor and realized that he was wearing the same thing as Mason, except that he added a white vest to his outfit. They could have been twins. When Connor saw Lucy, he gathered her up in her arms and whispered something in her ear. She laughed and pushed him away. She started talking to him. I saw her finger twitch in the back of her and assumed that was the signal. I took a deep breath in and opened that door. As soon as Mason heard the door open, he stood up. When he saw me his jaw almost dropped to the ground.
“OHMIGAWD! JESS! YOU’RE WEARING A DRESS!”
He ran to me and gave me one of his famous hugs. I laughed. He let go and offered me his arm. I walked arm in his to Connor and Lucy. Connor looked at me then back at Lucy. He made sure to make a big deal out of leaning close to her.
“Good job, babe.”
I rolled my eyes. I was not about to let Connor ruin my night. We piled into the car; Mason and I in the back, while the two love birds shared the front. We drove in silence that whole way to the club. When we got there, I felt all eyes on us. Of course, everyone was looking at us because we were the most gorgeous set of people anyone had ever seen. Most people staring probably think we are celebrities. Lucy, with her head held high, waltzed up to the door man and worked her charm. She waved us forward, two seconds later. When we got in the club, I was overwhelmed. It was two stories. The first story was a dance floor bigger than the angel reservation my parents lived on. The second floor was the bar which contained any drink you could possibly think of from water to a Tequila icee. The third floor was the make-out/pool. The pool was shaped like a big pear and was surrounded by little booths. Everyone in the booths looked like they were having dry sex. After getting our cokes, we went to the first floor to start dancing. I was a horrible dancer, but I still did it because of how fun it was. All the songs were Latin, which confirmed my thought about this being a Latin place. We danced like crazy. I always danced with Mason and the two lovebirds danced together. At some point Lucy had to go because she had work in the morning. She kissed, like a full blown make-out, Connor and headed out. As soon as she left, Connor went to the second floor. Mason and I danced our butts off. I tried shaking the hips, I knew I didn’t have, and was having an amazing time doing it. Mason had to go pee, so I told him to go. I kept dancing and even found another partner. It was guy named Lucas.
“Hola, chica, tu eres muy bonita.”
He smelled sweaty and I suddenly got a very bad feeling. I started to walk away from him, but he held onto me. I tried getting away but he grabbed my wrists and dragged me closer to him. He whispered in my ear.
“Usted puede ser mi noche ángel.”
He leaned in close and I could smell the alcohol on him. I tried pushing away but he just kept holding on. Mason came back and saw me. He looked at the guy practically humping me and gave me a thumbs up. He walked away and started dancing with another guy, who didn’t seem to mind at all. I knew then that there was no way of escaping whatever this guy had planned for me. He came in closer and closer and I tried pushing him harder and harder. He puckered his lips and I closed my eyes but the lips never came. I felt the guy no longer there and opened my eyes to Connor throwing the guy on the floor. He then grabbed my arm and dragged me outside. Mason followed slowly behind.
“Connor, let go of her.”
He loosened his grip but didn’t let go. He kept dragging me down the sidewalk, Mason following closely behind. He finally stopped and let go. He pointed to the sidewalk. I sat down and swept off my dress. Mason sat next to me and put his arms around my shoulders. Connor was pacing back and forth in front of us. Mason was the first to speak.
“Are you okay, Jess?”
Connor stopped pacing and turned to Mason.
“Does she look ok to you? Did you see what that pervert was doing? Why didn’t you stop him? I told you to keep an eye on her.”
“Stop scolding him like he’s a child.”
I crossed my arms. No one lectures Mason and gets away with it. Connor turned to me.
“Your right, it’s my fault. It’s always my fault right?”
He looked daggers at me and I looked at him. I wasn’t going to break. He being a jerk like this reminded me why we broke up a long time ago. He broke the gaze and turned to Mason. He raised an eyebrow at him.
“Well?”
Mason had his arms around me and his head on my shoulder.
“Sorry. I mean I thought the guy and her were just doing some dirty dancing. I mean, he wasn’t ugly and she looked like she was having fun.”
Connor let out a huge sigh and turned around. I looked him straight in the eye.
“It isn’t anyone’s fault. No one knew that guy was a creeper, okay? Let’s forget it and go home.”
“For once, Jessie, you’re right.”
Connor called a cab and Mason got in. He scooted over and I got in. Connor went to go sit in the front but the taxi driver said that no one was allowed there. Connor let out a huge sigh and I shrugged. He pulled me out and shut the door. Mason re-opened it.
“What the world are you doing?”
“Well, since I can’t trust you to keep her safe, I am going to stay with her.”
Mason started scooting out the cab.
“So we find a cab that sits all three.”
Connor held Mason from leaving the cab.
“There is a chance that no taxi driver will. Listen, we will find another cab and go home. I would love to send her with you but it is my job to protect her, which obviously is impossible for you to do.”
Mason nodded and shut the cab door. The cab drove off and left me alone with Connor. He sat down on the curb. We stayed there for awhile in silence. I saw a cab pass us about five times and Connor did nothing to stop them.
“Connor?”
He just kept looking forward as if not even hearing me.
“Connor?”
He wouldn’t look at me and my history with Connor told me that he was not going to.
“Whatever you can listen or not but I think you should know that I’m going pretty sure I am going to my world soon and we should get going, unless you want to carry me home.”
I crossed my arms and looked away. There was only about one streetlight on and it was flickering. I would have been scared if I was alone but I had Connor and no matter how much we hated each other, he had to protect me. I heard him sigh and looked back to him. He had his head in his hands and was shaking it. He kept doing that for awhile until he looked to me.
“Come on.”
He offered me his hand but I refused. I wasn’t a stupid damsel in distress and I wouldn’t act like one. I took my heels off and stood up. He extended his arm for a cab and soon one arrived.
We slid in and I tried tuning out Connor telling the cab driver our address. We were driving for about 30 minutes and I became confused. Usually it only took about 15 minutes to get to Lucy’s cottage. I looked over at Connor and he didn’t seem fazed by our cab driver’s obvious lack of sense of direction.
“Where are we going?”
Connor pointed to a sign that said now entering Quebec.
“But home is in Edmonton. Maybe our cab drivers lost.”
I was leaning forward to tell the driver that he needed to turn around when Connor finally spoke.
“He isn’t lost. We aren’t going back to Lucy’s place.”
My heart dropped to my stomach and I felt like throwing up all I had to drink. My palms became sweaty and all in all I started freaking out!
“What do you mean we aren’t going back?”
I tried keeping voice down because if I lost control, it wouldn’t be good. I have a short temper and it isn’t very pleasant when I get mad. He just shrugged. I was hoping that he was just kidding me. I waited until we stopped at a hotel, until I spoke to him again.
“Listen, I won’t yell at you anymore or anything. Just take me back to Mason.”
He looked at me and shook his head. He got out and made sure to tell the cab driver to keep an eye on me. He went to go check in and I was left with the weird cab driver. He turned around and I swear I almost fainted when I saw him. It was none other then Neil. I peered at him and was about to speak when he put his finger to his lips.
“Shh.”
He pointed towards Connor, who was walking toward us with a set of keys. I nodded and he passed me a piece of paper. He turned back around and Connor opened the door. He motioned me forward and threw money at Neil. I waved back to Neil but he was already gone. I looked at the hotel. It was tall and gorgeous. Its name was Hotel Clarendon. We walked through the lobby and up to the room in silence. We came to room 712B on the 7th floor. I waited until we were in the room to speak. Connor set the keys on the table and went to scope out the room. When he was satisfied he sat on the bed. I walked and sat next to him.
“You going to tell me what’s going on?”
I felt my eyes burning from holding back tears. Neil’s note was safely in my bra, where no one could find it. Connor looked at me and finally spoke.
“We need to talk”………………………..
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