(Dreams Come True Series) CALIFORNIA HORROR

(It is a little Erotica, but it's more of a romantic than anything.)1

His name was Marc.  Marc Reynolds.2

He was my only friend throughout elementary school, junior high, and most of high school (with the exception of one other, but I’ll tell you about that later).   He was friends with everyone, but we had a special bond.  We had been friends all of our lives, and people are still trying to figure out why.  I wasn’t active in sports, so that automatically didn’t make me cool.  He, on the other hand, was cool.  He played football, basketball, wrestling; you name it, he did it.  Yet, he still had time for all his friends, especially me.  He used to invite me to hang out with him and his other friends, but not anymore.  I went with him once, and I regretted it.  I won’t ever make that mistake again.3

Me, I’m Jane Jones.  I’m 17 and I’m in my junior year of high school.  I have brown eyes and light brown hair.  I’m 5 feet 5 inches and I weigh 120 pounds.  I live with my mother in Spiti, South Carolina.  It wasn’t always just my mom and I.  My father left and my parents divorced when I was 8 and my sister died a few years ago.  I’ll tell you about Kelsey later.4

“Jane!  Get down here!” yelled a voice up the stairs.  My mother was calling me.5

I got up and walked down the stairs and went towards the front door.  “Yeah, Mom?”6

“Hey,” said a deep and familiar voice from behind me.7

I spun around, and there stood Marc.  I smiled as he pulled me into a hug.  I wrapped my arms around his neck as he placed his arms around my waist.8

“Hi,” I said, pulling away.9

“Do you want to go and get something to eat?” he asked.10

“I’d love to, but who’s going?” I said, my stomach tightening.11

“Just you and me,” he said reassuringly.12

I breathed a sigh of relief as I ran to my room to get a light jacket.  The knot in my stomach loosened up.13

I returned to him a few moments later and I found him and my mother speaking in hushed tones.  Once I appeared back, the silent talk stopped.  Marc looked up at me and smiled.14

“Ready?” he asked.15

“No, I just have my jacket and shoes on for absolutely no reason,” I said sarcastically.  He smiled as he opened the door to let me out first.16

We walked to his car and were soon on our way.  We were heading to Ocean Waves, a popular and expensive restaurant.  He got paid yesterday, so he offered to pay.  On the way there, it was silent.  Curious to know what he and my mother discussed, I broke the peace.17

“Marc,” I began.  “What were you and Mom talking about?”18

“Don’t worry about it,” he said quietly.19

I began to get a little frustrated.  “Why won’t you tell me?” I said, slightly irritated.20

“Because you’ll find out later,” he said, looking deeply into my brown eyes with his beautiful blue ones.  Gosh, I thought.  He’s so gorgeous.  I shook my head and sighed.  Marc placed his hand on mine and gave it a little squeeze.  I placed my head on his shoulder.21

That’s one thing about our friendship.  We not only had an emotional friendship, we also had a physical one.  We could lay our heads on each other without us thinking anything.  Well, I wish he felt the way I did when he laid his head on me.  We are that close and comfortable.  I’ve liked him since junior high, but I’ve never gotten the nerve to say anything to anyone.22

“Jane,” he whispered, breaking my thoughts.  I sat up and looked out the window.  We had arrived at Ocean Waves.  Marc parked, and we walked inside.23

We were seated right away, which was rare.  Marc, the gentleman he is, pulled my chair out for me.  He sat across from me, and soon as he sat down, our waitress came.24

“Hi, my name is Janice, and I’ll be your waitress this evening.  Can I start you with anything to drink?” she said.25

“Water,” we said at the same time.26

The waitress wrote it down and left.  We sat in silence for a few moments.27

“So,” I said, adjusting myself in my seat.28

“I have something to ask you,” he said, reaching for my hand.29

He paused, and I gave a nervous laugh.30

“Sorry, I’m just trying to figure out how to say this,” he said, holding my hand gently.31

I sat, waiting for him to continue.  The knot in my stomach returned.32

“I guess there’s only one way to say it.  I’ve been thinking about… us.”33

My heart began to race, fearing the worse.34

“I can’t help how I feel.  I really like you, and I would like to take this one step further.”35

I felt as though I was being lifted up.  My breath became shallow and I suddenly felt lightheaded.  Marc gave my hand a little squeeze.  A smile went across my face, but my mouth just asked, “Why me?  I’m not popular, or pretty, or athletic!”36

“I think you are very pretty, but I like you for who you are, not what you do.”37

I felt my cheeks get warm and the smile on my have grew.38

Our waitress came back, put our water in front of us and took our order.  We order the same thing each time we come: Marc got chicken Parmesan and I always got the grilled chicken salad with Italian dressing.  After we placed our order, we sat in silence.  I took a long drink of water and I remembered to breathe.  I was still sitting in shock.39

“So?” Marc said.40

“So what?” I said obliviously.41

“Are you willing to take this further?” he asked, smiling a little.42

My answer was clear.  I leaned across the table and I kissed him gently on the lips.  I felt sparks fly and my knees became weak, so I broke the kiss and sat back in my seat.  My face was red; I could feel it.  Marc smiled and said,  “That wasn’t an obvious answer.”43

I let out a small laugh and soon our waitress greeted us again with our food.  We ate our food silently and paid the bill.  We left and Marc took me to our favorite spot of Spiti, South Carolina: the cliff that over looked the Atlantic Ocean.  It was always a beautiful site to see.  The sunset over the horizon and for some reason it was usually deserted every night.  That never made sense to us.  The ocean was crystal blue and the sounds of the water hitting the shoreline were very soothing.  We sat with our legs hanging over the cliff.  He grabbed my hand and I put my head on his shoulder.  I was in total bliss.  He elevated my chin and brushed his lips against mine.  His tongue parted my lips and his tongue entered.  I felt his other hand be placed on my hip and I began to lay back.  He broke the kiss right when we laid on the ground.  He kissed my neck and then rested his head on my chest and we fell asleep.44

Chirp! Chirp!  A warm breeze, the ocean waves hitting the shore.  These were the sounds I woke up to.  My eyes opened up slowly as the sun beat down.  I inhaled deeply and stretched, careful not to wake Marc, who looked adorable as he slept.  His head went up and down on my chest as I breathed slowly.45

“I could get used to this,” I whispered aloud as I sighed.  I began to play with his hair and I shut my eyes because the sun was shinning brighter.  I felt movement on my chest and next to me, the grass rustled.  I opened my eyes and saw Marc turning over.  His eyes opened slowly and I gave him a half smile.  He cuddled closely to me and I started to move.  I rolled out from under him and I began to giggle.46

“It’s too early to play games, you know that I hate it,” he complained and moaned as he laid his head on the ground and rubbed his eyes.47

“Oh, well, I’ll see you later then,” I said, pretending to be hurt.  I got to my feet and began to walk away.48

“Jane,” he whined.  I heard him sigh and get up.  I was halfway to the stop sign that was 100 yards away from where we were, when I heard tired steps walking towards me.  I kept walking.  The steps turned into a jog, so I picked up the pace.  The jog turned into a full on run.  I began sprinting and tried my hardest to not slow down.  I turned down the path before the stop sign that lead to the beach.49

“Jane!” Marc called to me.50

I turned around and I lost my balance.  I realized that there was a hill in front of me a little too late.  I fell backwards down the hill that I didn’t see coming.  I tumbled down the sandy side and I ended down near the bottom of the hill.  I was on my back.  I started to laugh as Marc ran down the hill towards me.  Besides getting all sandy, I was fine.  Marc kneeled down at my side and asked, “Are you ok?”51

Laughing, I said, “Yes.  Hahaha!”52

Marc shook his head as my laughter died down.  I grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to give him a kiss.  Our lips locked and he cradled my head in his hand.  His other hand began to touch the part of my stomach that my shirt did not cover from my fall.  My stomach tightened a little bit.  He felt me tense up and he broke the kiss.53

“Sorry,” he said.  He took his hand away.54

“No,” I said.  I grabbed his hand and placed it back.  But then I led his hand a little more north.  I placed his hand on my right breast and I pulled him down again for a passionate kiss.  He lay next to me as we kissed and soon, we were out of breath.55

“If I told you I was in love with you, would you think I was crazy?” he asked me quietly, as he began to kiss my neck gently.56

“If I said yes, I’d be lying,” I said, short of breath.  “Because I’m in love with you too.  I’ve been in love with you since junior high.”57

He got up and lifted me up.  “I have an idea.”58

Cradled in his arms, I asked, “What?”59

“Tonight we are coming back here.  For a little swim,” he said, carrying me up the easy path to go back to the car.60

About 20 minutes later, we were at my house.  He parked in my driveway and followed me inside.  My mom wasn’t home and so, we were home alone.  I ran up the stairs and went into the bathroom.  I heard Marc follow a few moments later after I was undressed and in the shower.  He opened the door and entered with me.  He got undressed and joined me.  The warm water felt so good to the both of us.  After we actually took a shower, we remained in there for a few minutes more.  We sat down in the tub, with the water beating down on my back.  He looked at each part of me as his hands began to explore my body.  I let him touch places that I never though he would ever go.  Two of his fingers entered me and I looked him dead on into his eyes.  I moaned deeply.  I kissed him hard as he began moving them as though he was inside me.  I moaned, “faster” in his ear, and I noticed he got hard.  After I had an orgasm, I placed him in my hand.  I put my hand around him and began to massage him.  Soon my hand was moving back and forth, working him.  He groaned and got relieved.  I laid on him and he said, “Tonight will be something special.”61

“When?”62

“I’ll be by to pick you up at 12:30,” he said, as he licked my right nipple.63

I suddenly felt a small pang of uneasiness.  I knew what he meant.  I started to feel like we went too far as it was.64

“Are you ok?” he asked softly, looking into my eyes.65

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile.66

“No, you’re not,” he said, reading me.  “What’s wrong?”67

“Nothing, I promise,” I replied, kissing his forehead.68

“Jane-“ he started.  I put my finger to his lips.69

“Marc, I’m fine.  I’m tired is all,” I said, which was mostly true.  I just didn’t want him to think that I regretted what we had just done, when I didn’t.70

“I want to wait,” I said aloud, not meaning to.  My cheeks changed to a bright red.71

“Then why didn’t you just say so?” Marc questioned, sounding a little hurt.72

I couldn’t stand to hear the tone in his voice,  “I didn’t want you to think that I regretted what just happened,” I said, getting up and I shut off the water to the shower.73

“I wouldn’t’ve.  I respect what and how you feel,” he said, getting up also.  He got my robe off the bathroom door and wrapped me in it.  He kissed my nose and said, “I’ll be right back.”  He put his boxers and jeans on, leaving his shirt behind.  He grabbed his keys off of the counter and headed to the front door.  From the bathroom, I heard my front door open and close.  I sighed and went downstairs.  I walked into the kitchen and started the stove.  I was hungry.  I got out the eggs, butter, milk, cheese, sausage, and bread.  I got out two pans: one for the eggs and one for the sausage.  I began to make omelets and I put bread into the toaster.  I had never made breakfast for anyone outside of the house.74

After the meal was made and I had made the table and served the food, Marc’s car appeared in the driveway.  In his arms, he held a bouquet of red roses and a small teddy bear.  My heart melted as I watched him walk towards the house with the gifts.  He entered and noticed the table was ready for the two of us.75

“Wow, it smells great,” he said, kissing my head and handed me the roses and teddy bear.  “Here, these are for you.”76

“Thanks,” I said, smiling.  “Lets eat.”77

Marc sat across the table from me and he dove right in.  I couldn’t help but smile.78

After breakfast, Marc and I laid on the couch and I fell asleep because I was happy and tired at the same time.79

I woke up to the sun setting outside.  My mom still wasn’t home.  My robe was half off me and my left breast was left uncovered.  There was a hickey right above the nipple and a note was taped to my boob.80

“Dearest Jane,81

I had to go to work, as you probably figured out. It is currently 11:35 am, a half an hour after you fell asleep.  I get off work at midnight, so I will be by to pick you up at 12:30 pm sharp!  Thanks for breakfast.82

-I love you-83

Marc”84

I yawned and looked at the clock.  I saw that it was 9:17 pm.85

‘Three hours,” I grunted as I stretched.  I got up and walked up the stairs to my room.  I searched through my drawers for my bathing suit.  It was baby blue with yellow flowers over the nipple part.  They tied on the top and bottom.  My mother picked it out for my 17th birthday.  I got changed in front of the mirror.  I took this time to actually look at my body.  My thighs were hideous and my calves weren’t that much greater.  My hips were almost perfect though, with one flaw.  There was a scar the size of a bullet on my left side.  My arms were fine, so I really couldn’t comment on those.  I stared at my chest.  I had B cup size boobs.  “These aren’t boobs,” I said, poking at one of them.  I noticed the hickey that just barely peaked out of the top of the bathing suit.  I touched it with the pad of my forefinger.86

Finally 12:30 rolled around and I heard someone pull into my driveway.  I lifted the blinds that lead straight out to the driveway and saw Marc’s car in the driveway.  I got my towel from the downstairs closet and walked out my front door.  I stopped, gave Marc the “one second” finger and I ran inside again.  I left Mom a note letting her know where I was going to be:87

“Mom-88

I’m going to be out with Marc.  I don’t know when I’ll be home, but if you need me, call Marc’s cell.  The number is on the fridge.  Love you!89

Jane”90

I returned to Marc’s car where I was greeted by a kiss.  I smiled and said, pulling away, “Lets go.”91

Marc smiled and pulled two small packages out of his pocket, “I’m all ready when you are whether it’s tonight or sometime in the future.”92

My heart fluttered a little, but I got the feeling in my stomach again.  I wasn’t sure if I was ready, but only time could tell.93

We got back to our “spot” and he parked where he usually did.  He opened his trunk and pulled out a blanket and a thermos full of French Vanilla Cappuccino.  “For energy,” he said in a sexy voice.94

We walked down to the beach where he laid out the blanket and we sat down.  Something was bothering me and I could tell that Marc was starting to notice.95

“Marc,” I started, a worry in my voice.96

“What’s wrong?” He noticed the tone in my voice and grabbed my hand.97

“What if I’m not ready?” I asked him, looking down at the ground.98

He lifted my chin, but I refused to look into his eyes.99

“Then I can wait.  I’m ready because I love you.  I’ve liked you for a while now and I see it as making up for lost time.  I’ve liked you since your sophomore year, my junior year.  If I had told you that I liked you a year earlier, then we would probably have been dating for a year.  Since I’ve known you since you were born, I knew it was only time before we liked each other.”  He paused and held both of my hands and stroked them with his thumb.  “If you’re not ready, I understand and respect that.  I just wish there was a way besides saying it to show you that I love you.” This time, he looked at the ground.  100

I took his arms and placed them around me and looked into this beautiful ocean blue eyes and said, “I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”101

Marc looked confused.  “What do you mean?”102

I looked at him as though to send him a mental note that I was ready.  “Lets go for a swim,” I said, my voice low.103

I followed him to the water and I dove right in.   The only thing that I was actually good at was swimming.  My mother taught me and I’ve been told by a few people that I should be in swimming, but I was self-conscious around people with my body.104

As I resurfaced I saw Marc swimming towards me.  I stood up to where the water was just below my chest.  He took his fingers and ran it over my nipples covered by my top.  They were hard from the cold water.  I lifted my chin and we kissed, tongues swimming in each other’s mouths.  I moved closer and I wrapped my arms around his neck.  He lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around him.  I felt him move his hand up and untie my top and took it off.  I broke the kiss for him to lean over to kiss my chest.  He started to move towards shore.  We sat where the water would wash up on the shore.  I was on his lap.  He kissed all over my chest.  I really wanted him to lick my nipples again, since I liked how it felt.  As though he read my mind, his tongue escaped and the tremendous feeling flowed all through me.  He licked all over my chest, and I began to breathe very deeply.  I felt him sucking a little and left a hickey right below the other breast that didn’t have a hickey already on it.  I began kissing his muscular chest and I kissed all over his abs.  I lowered his trunks a little and kissed right above where his penis was.  I pushed my chest to his private part and with my chest, I felt him get hard.  I pulled his trunks lower and I placed him in my mouth.  This was a different feeling for me.  I worked my way from sucking the lightest at the bottom and sucking the hardest at the head of his penis.  I heard him moan and I went in a circular pattern, causing friction between him and my mouth.  I sucked harder and his moaning got louder.  Soon, he let go, and I spit the semen out on the beach and watched it get washed into the ocean.  He brought me up face to face to him and he asked me with the eyes if I wanted him to return the favor.  I lead his hands to the ties of my bottoms and laid my legs on either side of his legs.  I took his trunks fully off and he removed my bottoms, knowing what I wanted.  He started to take out the condom that he had, but I took it out of his hands and threw up on the shore.105

“Not for my first time,” I whispered, kissing him.106

He nodded, and kissed me back.  We laid down on the beach, rolled over, and I was on the bottom. I wrapped my legs fully around him and I felt him enter me.  Our bodies began to rock back and forth.  Because it was our first time, we had trouble finding a rhythm at first.  But once we found it, that’s where the fun began.  His body began to move a little faster, but that wasn’t enough for what I wanted.  He laid on top of me and I said, “Harder.”  My breath was shallow and I could tell he was in an advance sexual state.  Without showing any noticeable signs that he heard me, I felt him thrust harder.  I felt his penis slipping in and out, but not coming fully out of me.  The sensation drove me crazy.107

“I want to be on top,” I said breathlessly into his ear.108

We rolled over and I began thrusting.  I moved our private parts into a circular motion and I felt him lift his lower body.  I took that as he was demanding more, so I pushed harder.  His hands were clutching the sand and he moaned my name.  I placed my hands underneath his elevated body and secured my legs more.  The more I thrusted and pushed, the more he moaned.109

“It feels so good it hurts.  Please let me get back up on top,” he moaned, his hands on my butt as if to secure it in place.  I refused at first, thrusted a few more times, then gave in and we rolled over.  He took my arms and held them down with his own and drove his body into full gear.  The vein in his forehead was showing and I rolled my eyes into the back of my head.  I began to raise my lower body as he did, but it fell to the ground as he started to push more.  I moaned loudly and was almost whining.  To make it more interesting, I sat up and he let go of my arms.  I felt him hit inside of me in a new way and drove me to moan in his ear.  He held my lower back to him and pushed harder, never wanting to stop.110

“I.  Love.  You,” he said, saying each word every time he thrusted harder.111

“I love you too,” I gasped.  I lifted myself a little and the sensation of his penis hitting my vagina wall felt so good.112

We rolled so I was on top one last time and I spun myself around so I was facing his feet.  This was a little difficult at first and uncomfortable for a moment, then I began to move as though I was pulling him down while he was still inside of me.  I felt him grab my hips from behind and I humped him harder.  I did this for a few, turned back around and he took over again.  He moved our bodies up to a tree where he was able to thrust without me moving. He picked me up and I was wrapped around him still.  I wrapped my arms around the tree from behind.  He was able to work it from there and I started whining.  It felt so good.  I rolled my eyes back into my head once again.  He laid me back down as his thrusting began to slow a little.  113

“I’m not at my climax yet,” I said.  I could tell he wasn’t either, but he was wearing down.114

I opened my eyes and looked at our lower bodies.115

I managed, “Marc look.”  I nodded down towards where I was looking at.116

He looked at his thrusting and that made him hornier.  He kept his body close to mine as the climax came and his thrusting came to an end.  He released for the second time that night and we began to breathe heavily.  We were both sweating, covered in sand, and our heart rates were high.  He removed himself and kissed me, tired.117

“I love you,” I said in my after sex voice.118

“Love you too,” he said as he laid down on top of me.  I brushed his hair and I remembered the water that was washing up on the shore by our now tired bodies.  The water felt cool on my skin, yet it felt nice.  I couldn’t believe it.  We just made love on a beach.119

The only noises made ten minutes after our passionate lovemaking was the water hitting the rocky shore 100 feet away and the water hitting the shore where we laid.120

Marc got up, put his trunks back on, and said, “What did you think of it?”121

A smile crept across my face as I began to put my bathing suit on.  I said, “There are no words.”  I noticed a look in Marc’s eye that made me feel bad.  “What’s wrong?” I questioned.122

“Do you think we went too fast?”123

I sat there for a moment, letting his question sink in.124

“I’ll admit, I loved it.  But I feel we should wait a while before doing it again.”125

I nodded, agreeing.  “It was beautiful, but I agree.”126

Marc kissed my forehead and helped me tie my top to my bathing suit.  He looked up at the sky and said, “Do you think Sherry watched us?  I’m sure she’d be happy for us.”127

I looked up and stared at the skies.  “Yeah…” My voice drifted off.  One by one, hot tears fell from my eyes in remembrance of Sherry.128

“I miss her,” he said, taking my hand, not noticing that I was crying.129

“Me too,” I croaked and wiped away the tears that were falling.  Marc noticed and brushed away the tears as they fell more.  The memory replayed in my head.130

Sherry.  She was the only good friend I had shared with Marc.  She died two years ago.131

It started the day that Marc, Sherry, and I were walking home from school my and Sherry’s freshman year, Marc’s sophomore year.  Sherry’s mom had called her cell phone.132

“She said Dad was drunk and getting pissed off.  I really’ hate this.”  She huffed, her hazel eyes ablaze.  “I’m supposed to moving in with my Aunt Terry today.  Mom said I need to get home ASAP and grab what I REALLY need and leave.” Sherry pulled out a cigarette from her big pink purse and placed it between her perfectly red lips.  I pulled out the lighter I carried around, even though I don’t smoke, and lit her cigarette.  She inhaled deeply and said, “I’ll call you later, Jane.  Later, Marc.”  She blew the smoke out of her mouth and took off after giving Marc a hug and me a smile.  She ran towards her house, her red hair flying in the breeze and her slender body moving gracefully.133

An hour later I sat in my room.  I was watching the news for my Government class when the phone rang.  I got up and answered it.134

“Hello?” I said.135

“Jane?!” said a panicky voice.136

“Yes?” I couldn’t recognize the voice.137

“It’s Sherry.  I need help,” she said, bursting into tears.138

“I’ll be there in two minutes,” I said, getting my shoes on.139

“Hurry,” she said.  I heard a scream and gunshots in the background.140

“Sherry?!” I almost yelled.141

“Hurry Jane!” she screamed.142

I hung up the phone, not thinking to call the police, and my heart raced.  I ran the three blocks to her house and ran inside.  I let out a loud gasp.  There in front of the door on the inside was a woman’s body lying in her own blood.  The red hair and figure looked familiar.  It was Sherry’s mother.  Sherry heard me and ran towards me.  With a small hug with relief, Sherry and I turned and ran out of the bloody house.  We heard gunshots and I got one to the hip.  I fell to the ground, crying in pain.  I looked at my hip and saw blood staining my jeans.  Sherry stopped, but I said, “Go!  Teddy’s house in only a block from here!”  Officer Teddy was a close friend to Sherry’s family and he worked for our high school.143

“No!” Sherry said.  That was the last thing she was able to say.  More bullets were shot and Sherry fell to the ground only two feet away from me.  Blood was oozing out of her.  Her dad struggled to walk towards her; the smell of alcohol was strong on him.  He fell on his knees at Sherry’s side.  He dropped the gun he had used and started to sob uncontrollably.  I tried to move away from him, afraid that he was going to shoot me again, but the pain was unbearable.    The pain in my hip shot through me and I cried out in agony.144

A few minutes later, the police and an ambulance came.  Sherry’s dad was arrested at Sherry’s side.  Three stretchers were brought out: one for Sherry’s body, one for her mother’s body, and one for me.  Marc showed up about a minute before I was taken to St. Hillside hospital.  During the time I was there, my mother and Marc visited me every day.  I was there a week.  When I was released, I was on crutches for two weeks, and I had surgery to get the bullet removed.145

Tears continued to fall down my cheeks.  I finally realized what day with was.  It was the two-year anniversary of Sherry’s death.  Marc pulled me into his arms.  There I started to cry harder, soaking his chest with tears.146

“It’s ok,” he said, choking up himself.147

We stood like that for a few minutes more while I collected myself.  I looked at his watch.  It read 2:30 am.  We got into his car and he drove me home.  He pulled into my driveway and I just sat there for a few moments.  The lights in my house off and there was no sign of my mom anywhere.  The car was gone still.148

“I’m sorry,” I said, my throat cracking.149

“For what?” Marc asked, turning to face me.150

“For what just happened.  With all my crying, “ I said with a weak smile.151

“Don’t apologize.  We both miss her,” he said quietly, kissing my cheek.152

I closed my eyes and sighed.  “I’ll see you later.”153

He kissed me quickly on the lips.  “ ‘Bye.”154

I got out of the car and went inside.  I watched Marc pull out and drive himself home two streets over from mine.  I climbed the many stairs to my room and passed out on my bed.155

“JANE ANABELL JONES!!” screamed a voice from the level below where I slept.156

I moaned and my eyes fluttered open.  I was still in my bathing suit.  I slowly got out of bed, put on my robe, and said to myself, “Mom’s finally home.”  I climbed down the stairs that I just went up 5 hours before. I went into the kitchen and was welcomed by the smell of alcohol and the scrubby look my mom was wearing.  I noticed a beer that was in her hand.  I automatically knew something was wrong when she drank.157

“WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!” she screeched as she pointed to the counter with only a few crumbs on it.158

“The counter,” I said bluntly, but in the back of my mind I knew I shouldn’t have said that.159

“Don’t give me that crap!  You knew what I meant!” she spat.  She grabbed the hair on the back of my head.160

“Ow, dang, Mom!” I said, trying to pull away.161

“WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!” she repeated, shoving my face towards the counter.162

My mother was out of her mind.  “IT’S THE DAMN COUNTER, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS?!” It was my turn to get mad.163

I said the wrong thing at the wrong time.  She took my head in her hands and smashed my face into the counter.  I fell back onto the floor and clutched my nose.  Blood dripped from in between my fingers.  My mom kicked the cupboards below the counter and ran out of the house.  She got into her car and drove away.  I picked up my house phone, which was on the wall next to where I sat, and dialed Marc’s phone number.164

“Hello?” said a sleepy voice.165

“Mom just smashed my face into the counter,” I said with my speech impaired because of my nose bleeding.166

“Jane?” he said, sounding fully awake.167

“Yeah.  She just took off.  She’s drunk,” I said, getting off the ground and got some Kleenex for my nose.168

“I’ll be over in a few,” Marc said.169

“No, don’t bother.  I’ll be fine-“ but the phone clicked on the other line.170

I sighed and walked to the door.  Mom had left it open, so I left it open for Marc.  I walked up the stairs and went into the bathroom.  I threw away my Kleenex and I looked at my reflection.  My nose was swollen, but it wasn’t bleeding anymore.  I had a bruise forming on my left cheek and a cut was on my chin.  “Mom has never been this bad,” I muttered, washing my hands of all the blood that was on them.  After I dried my hands, I heard the screen door to my house open.171

“Jane?” I heard Marc said.172

“Upstairs!” I shouted.  I washed my face and dried it.  He ran up the stairs two at a time and I saw him turn into my room and then into the bathroom.  He was still in his boxers that he slept in.173

“Oh my God,” he said, seeing the bruise and cut.174

“I’m ok,” I replied.  I flinched as he went to touch the bruise.  “Please don’t,” I added.175

He nodded.  “What all happened?  Why did Mom do this?”  (Ever since we were little, Marc adopted my mom as his because he grew up without his.)176

“Well, I was in a deep slumber when I heard her use my full name.  I got up, put my robe on, and went downstairs.  I could smell alcohol on her, and she looked like she just got out of bed.  She said, ‘What the bunny is this?!’ and she pointed at a few crumbs.  A few crumbs!  Then I got mad at her for drinking and I said, “The counter.”  She yelled at me, told me that I knew what she meant and she repeated her question.  I repeated my response and she took my head and smashed my face into the counter,” I said, relaying everything to Marc.  “I would give you details, but that’s not my favorite part of the story,” I added, walking into my room.177

Marc followed with a dumbfounded look on his face.178

“I’ll be fine,” I said, sitting on my bed.179

“That’s not right,” was all he could manage.180

“It’s over with,” I said, laying back.181

Marc joined me.  “That’s still messed up.”182

I looked at my clock.  “8:23 am” it read.  “Do you have to work?” I asked, hoping he’d say no.183

“No, but we do have school tomorrow,” he said.184

“Wow this weekend went by fast,” I said.185

“Yeah it did.” His voice got soft.  He laid down on my stomach, listening to the sounds it made.  Out of the blue, he said, “When is your next period?”186

I laughed, but he continued on, “No, I’m serious.  We had unprotected sex.  You could be pregnant.”187

“First off, I won’t know if I am today because it’s the day after and two, what if I was?” I said.188

“I’m not going to leave you, if that’s what you mean.”189

“Then don’t worry about it.  I’m not supposed to start for another two weeks.  You should know that.  Sherry and I used to tell you every month so you could wear your cup,” I said, giggling a little bit.190

“I forgot,” Marc admitted.  He picked his head up and stroked my stomach.  “A baby.  Can you imagine?”191

“Yeah, but I hope I don’t get pregnant until we both graduate,” I said, hitting my stomach loudly like a drum.192

“I’ll be leaving for Franklyn College this fall.  We only have 2 weeks left of school,” he said, grabbing my hand.193

“I don’t want you to leave,” I said, adjusting my head so I had a better look at Marc’s face.194

“It’s only a 20 minute drive.  I’ll be staying at home,” he said.195

“Yeah, but you’re going to be taking day AND night classes.  I’m a girl, I need my attention,” I joked, playing with his hair with the hand he wasn’t holding.196

“Yeah, but that’s so I can get out early in the summer.  Plus, each class is an hour long.  I’m taking an hour class during the day and two hour classes at night.  It’s not going to be that bad,” he said, sitting up.197

“True,” I said.198

“Plus, the latest my night class will probably get out is 9-”199

“But you know my bed time is at 9:30,” I cut him off.200

“I’m making an assumption.  It’s supposed to get out at 8.  I talked to Kel, who also got my schedule for me from Dad, and he said the latest he ever got out of the same class I’ll have last was 8:45 and that was because the professor was always late,” Marc finished.  “My afternoon class gets out at 2:10, so I can pick you up from school and we can do something from there on the days we aren’t busy.”201

“How are you supposed to juggle a job, friends, girlfriend, and school?”202

“The way I was able to last year.”203

“That’s not the same though.  You’ll be in a totally different school with different people.  You’re friends and I will be in school from 7:15 ‘til 2:25 and you go to school at what, 12:50, and you get out at 2:10.  Then you work, then go to school from 6-8,” I pointed out.204

“True.  But it’s not like I work everyday either.  Dad and Kel said they’ll help pay for school so that way my money from my job can go towards my car and insurance so I don’t have to work everyday.  The days I don’t have to work I’ll spend with you and the rest of The Crew,” he said.205

I cringed at the name “The Crew”.  That’s what his major group of friends called themselves.  Marc and Toni, his cousin, were the only two who everyone else in the school liked.  Except for me.  (I’m sorry; I just really don’t like people who call me a loser or a bunny for no reason.)  I never really liked Toni and she never liked me.  I was talking to Marc last year in the hallway.  This girl who liked him told Toni and the rest of The Crew that I was flirting with “her man”.  If Marc hadn’t found out, I don’t think I’d be walking today.206

“Jane,” said a voice breaking my thoughts.207

“Hm?” I asked, coming out of my cloud of thoughts.208

“I asked if you wanted me to give you a ride tomorrow,” he said.209

“To where?  School?” I asked.  “We walk to school every day.”210

“I know, but maybe we could drive this one time,” he said.211

“I’d think you wouldn’t want people knowing that we were together,” I said, getting a little nervous.212

“Ok, that doesn’t make sense.  I propose that we take it a step further in public restaurant and we kissed, and we made love on a public beach, risking the chance of anyone seeing us.  At this point, if I didn’t want that, then we wouldn’t’ve done what we had,” he added.213

“I guess I’m just overreacting,” I said, getting out of bed and walked over to my closet.214

Marc got up too and said, “You’re just worried.  I know you very well.”  He pulled me near him and gave me a tender kiss on the lips.215

“Almost too well,” I said, turning towards my closet and pulled out a pair of jeans. Marc picked out a tight shirt that I only wore to family functions because I knew no one would think anything of it on me.216

“Put this on,” Marc said hanging me the light blue somewhat low cut shirt.217

I walked into the bathroom, closing the door, and I heard Marc complain from behind the door, “Ok, we’ve made love, but I can’t see you get dressed because…”218

I laughed and said, “Because I’m a tease.”  I looked over at the counter and saw something of Marc’s.  I got dressed quickly and held open the door.  I grabbed the shirt of his that was lying on the counter and I threw it at him.  “You might want this,” I chuckled.219

“Naw,” he said, putting it on my dresser.  “You can have it and wear it at night.”  He finally looked at what I was wearing and his eyebrows went up.  His jaw dropped a little bit and he said, “You look great.”220

“What, so you’re saying I look like bunny every other day?” I asked, pretending to be hurt.221

“No!” he panicked.222

I laughed and smooched him.  “I’m kidding.”223

“Good,” he said, picking me up.  He threw me over his shoulder and I screeched and laughed.224

“Marc!” I said, laughing.  “Put me down.”225

“No,” he said.  He climbed down the stairs with me over his shoulder and I pinched his butt.  “Ouch!  Jane!”226

“Put me down!” I said, kicking a little bit.227

“Fine,” he said, and he threw me down on the couch.  I giggled and he jumped on me.  “You are such a tease.”  He bent down to kiss me but I dodged him.228

“I know,” I replied, smiling.  I rolled out from under him, but he caught me again.  I was very unfortunate that he was in wrestling.  We wrestled on the ground and soon we were tangled up like a pretzel.229

“Well, this would definitely be an interesting sex position,” Marc said, causing me to laugh.230

Instead of fighting back I just let myself be beat.  Once he felt my muscles relax, he loosened up.  I got out of his hold and I jumped onto his back.  We rolled around on the ground for a while.  Our muscles grew tired and we stopped.231

“I want ice cream,” I said all of a sudden.232

Marc laughed and said, “Mm, vanilla ice cream.”233

“Chocolate,” I said, looking over at Marc who laid a few inches away from me.234

“Sounds like fun,” he said, getting up.  He helped me up and gave me a piggyback ride.235

We walked out the front door and we walked down to Dairy Mart and ordered two cones.  We sat down at a picnic table near by and ate our ice cream in peace.236

“So,” Marc said, finishing off his cone while I was still working my way down to the cone.  “Now what?”237

“I dunno.  I’m still eating,” I said, picking some of the chocolate ice cream off the cone and flicking it at Marc.  He dodged it and gave a small chuckle.  He bent over and ate some of the ice cream.  I took a bite and stuck my tongue out at him.  It had ice cream on it.  He took the bait.  He pulled me towards him and kissed the ice cream off of my tongue.  He took a bite and we began kissing again, mixing the chocolate ice cream in each other’s mouths.  Marc accidentally bit down on my tongue.238

“Ouch!” I yelped.  I checked to make sure there was no blood.  “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m already bruised and cut up.”239

“Sorry, babe,” he said.240

I winced when he said “babe”.  I never really did like pet names.  “Please don’t call me that,” I said seriously.241

“Sorry,” he said.242

“It’s alright, don’t worry about it,” I said.  I put my lips in the chocolate and kissed his cheek.243

“Ewww,” he joked, acting like he was at 7.  “Cooties!”244

I laughed.245

Back in first grade (Marc was in 2nd grade) I was out on the blacktop with Marc and we were playing on the monkey bars.  He hopped down and said, “Janie, follow me.”  (He used to call me Janie.)  So I followed him.  We went to our “fort house” back by the soccer field.  It was deep in the bushes.  We sat down and did out secret handshake.  It was a simple handshake with our tongues sticking out.  We would sit there and talk about grasshoppers and spiders.  At one “meeting” that we had, I said, “Marc.”246

“What Janie?”247

I kissed his cheek.248

“Ewww!  Girl cooties!” he said, wiping his face and he ran out of out “fort house”.249

“Jane,” he said, moving his hand in front of my face.250

“Call me Janie like you used to,” I said, grabbing his hand, totally abandoning my ice cream.251

“Why?” he asked.252

“You just said ‘cooties’ and it reminded me of when I kissed your cheek when I was in first grade, do you remember that?” I asked him, nudging him a little.253

Marc searched his memory.  “Yeah, I think so.”254

“You ran away yelling, ‘Cooties!’ and you wouldn’t talk to me for 10 whole minutes,” I said, laughing a little.255

“Yeah, I do remember that,” Marc said.256

“Say it,” I said, giving him the puppy dog look.257

“Janie,” he said.258

“I liked it when you called me Janie.  It’ll be you’re little name for me instead of ‘babe’.  That bugs me,” I said, looping my arm with his as we walked towards our old elementary school.259

Johnson Elementary School was closed after I started high school two years ago.  The principal went on a rampage and threw a kindergartner down the front steps of the school.  He was arrested and the school was closed down.  We walked onto the blacktop where Marc and I once roamed.  We walked over to the corner of the blacktop where we used to have a snail game drawn.260

“Look,” I said.  I pointed to a faded blue chalk outline.  “It’s still there.”261

“Wow.  It’s been like ten years,” he said, bending down.262

We looked at the same thing and said it at the same time, “Our initials.”  JAJ and MJR were written next to the snail games.  Below it were other initials like KLP, NHR, and FRD.263

“I guess we started a tradition,” he said.264

The snail game was still visible so we played a quick game of snail.265

“Lets go to the monkey bars,” I said, pulling Marc in the direction I wanted to go.  I let go of his arm and ran towards the monkey bars.  I reached up and touched them.  “I hate being this tall,” I commented as I lifted my arms only a little ways to touch the bar.266

“Well, at least your head doesn’t touch it,” he said, ducking under the bar.267

“That’s your fault,” I teased.268

“Sure, I asked God to make me this tall.  I’ve always wanted to hit my head on bars and low leveled doorways,” he teased back, tickling my stomach.  I flinched and giggled.269

“I wanna see if our fort house is still there,” he said.  He began to walk out towards the soccer field where elementary school kids were playing soccer.  I followed him and when we got to the spot where they usually were, we were disappointed.270

“They cut down the bushes,” I said sadly.271

“The swings are still here.  Lets see if Sherry’s nail polish is still on the broken one,” Marc said.272

We walked the 20 feet to the swings and sure enough, Sherry’s hot pink nail polish was still there.  Sherry’s sister, who was in 6th grade at the time, painted Sherry’s nails during recess.  Well, Sherry got a hold of the nail polish and painted the broken swing hot pink.  Though many people had chipped away at it and swung on the swing, there were still hot pink nail polish on it.  I sat down on the swing and swung a little bit.273

“I would give anything to be back in elementary school,” Marc said.274

“I wouldn’t.  Up until high school, elementary and junior high were the worst years of my life,” I mumbled, kicking the woodchips that were underneath me.275

“I want to see if we can get into the school,” Marc said.276

“I don’t,” I said.277

“I just want to see how much had changed,” he replied.278

“Ok, two years of sitting there, of course there’s going to be stuff that changed.  The color will be because of all the dust,” I commented.279

“Haha, very funny,” he said.280

I didn’t say anything.  I looked at the school, not wanting to really go inside.  When I was in 3rd grade, my teacher yelled at me because I had an accident in class and made me sit in wet clothes all day.  I went home smelling like urine and my mom called in and had the teacher fired.281

“Jane, er, Janie, you seem to like to zone in and out,” he said, getting a little aggravated.282

“Sorry Marc.  I just keep having memories flood into my mind,” I replied.283

“I just feel like you keep ignoring me,” Marc said.284

“Aww, I’m sorry,” I said, feeling awful.285

I got up and began to walk away.286

“Jane, don’t do this,” he said, following me.287

I stopped and he wrapped his arms around me from behind and said, “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”288

“But you did.  I don’t mean to let my mind drift,” I said, resting my cheek on his.289

“I know, I’m sorry Janie,” he replied, kissing my cheek. 290

We just stood there like that for a while.291

“Marc,” I began.292

“Yes Jane,” he said.293

“I love you so much,” I whispered.294

“I love you more,” he said, blowing in my ear.295

“Ahh!” I said, squirming out of his arms.  I took off towards my house.296

“Jane!” Marc shouted after me.297

We ran down around the block and we got to my house.  My mom’s car was parked behind Marc’s car.  My happiness died.298

“I’m afraid to go into the house,” I said, squeezing his hand.299

“I’m here with you,” he said, placing one arm around my waist.300

We walked up to the house and I heard a loud snoring noise coming from the basement where my mom slept.  Marc and I crept down the stairs and I saw my mom in her bed fast asleep.301

“What are the chances of her remembering what she did to you?” Marc whispered.302

“Slim to none,” I whispered back.303

We crept back up the stairs and I went into the kitchen.304

“Janie, there’s a note,” Marc said, picking up the pad of paper off of the refrigerator.305

“Janie Girl,306

I have no idea what I did to you.  All I remember is that I got mad and drunk.  I don’t remember what I did to you.  I’m so sorry, Baby.  I love you.307

Mom”308

“I told you it was slim to none,” I said, showing him the note.309

“You called it,” he said.310

“Lets go upstairs,” I said.311

Marc looked down at his watch.  “It’s 2:45pm.  I’m really tired.  You did wake me up at 8, and I’m guessing that you were up at 7:30.  Lets take a nap.”312

“Sounds good,” I said.313

We walked up the stairs and got into bed.  We cuddled close and fell asleep almost instantly.314

“Jane,” I heard a soft voice.  I opened my eyes and saw my mom standing over me.315

“Hi Mom,” I said quietly, turning over carefully not to wake Marc.316

“Did I do that?” she asked, pointing to the bruise and cuts.317

“And you bloodied my nose.  You smashed my face into the counter,” I said, not holding anything back.318

“I’m so sorry, Baby,” she said, tears falling down her face.  I touched her hand.319

“It’s ok.  What happened to you?  I’ve never seen you that drunk before,” I asked.320

“I got fired,” she said.  “Because I wouldn’t sleep with the boss.”321

“My ass,” I said.  “That’s crap.  They shouldn’t do that.”322

“I know.  But I’ll let you sleep.  Marc looks cute,” my mom commented, smiling at him.323

“Mom, I love you,” I said.324

“I love you too,” she said, kissing me on the forehead.325

My mom left my room and I looked at the clock.  4:25 it read.  I rolled over and rested my head on Marc’s chest and fell asleep listening to his beating heart.326

“I’ve got only you to hold.  In the dark,” I heard someone sing.  I rolled over and opened my eyes.  I saw Marc standing in the bathroom in my room with a towel around his waist and his hair wet.327

“Hey sexy,” I said my voice cracking a little.328

“Hey Jane,” he said, walking over to me.  He kissed me tenderly and added, “Your mom told me she talked to you.”329

“Yeah, I hope she’s ok.”330

“She’ll be fine.  She’s out to dinner with Dad right now.  He’s going to see if there’s anything he can do to help her find another job,” Marc said, sitting down on the bed.  His towel came undone and he was just covered.331

“You’re towel fell,” I said, rolling over away from him.332

“I know,” he said, not fixing it.333

“Please fix it,” I said, not looking at him.334

“Why do you care so much?  You gave me oral and we made love.  Is this ‘deny body parts’ day?” he said, lying on top of me.335

“No.  You just don’t think about it when you’re having sex though, oral or intercourse,” I pointed out.336

“True, but I like to think about it,” he replied, kissing my neck.337

“That’s good to know,” I said, laughing as he licked my ear.338

“I’ll get dressed for you,” he said.339

“Good plan,” I chuckled.340

He laughed and went into the bathroom and got dressed.341

“Marc!” I called from my bed.342

“What?” he called back from behind the bathroom door.343

“What time is it?  My alarm clock got unplugged,” I complained.344

“It’s 5:30,” he answered.345

“Thanks,” I said.  I rolled over and put my face in the pillow.  I remembered how Sherry would talk about how her boyfriend liked to have anal sex.  “Marc, I hope you know we are never doing anal sex whether we’re married or not,” I stated.346

“Why’s that?  I don’t want to,” he added quickly.  “I just wanted to know why you asked.”347

“Because Sherry used to talk about how her boyfriend liked it.  That would hurt,” I said.348

“You know, it’s funny,” he said coming out of the bathroom.  “We’ve only been dating for two days and I feel like we’ve been dating almost all our lives.”349

“How long were we friends?” I pointed out.350

“17 years.”351

“Point made,” I said, sitting up in bed.  I saw him comb his hair and put his shoes on.  “Going home?”352

“Yeah, I’ve gotta feed JJ and RJ,” he said.  They are his birds.353

“Alright,” I said.  “Call me later,” I added.354

“Ok.”  He kissed me.  “ ’Bye Janie.”355

About an hour passed when I realized something: “I’m very lazy,” I said aloud.  I sat up and put on my jacket.  I walked down the stairs and out the front door.  I began to whistle “Only You” when a black mustang drove by and it reminded me of my dad.  Thoughts of my father flooded in my mind.356

When I was about 8, I never could really sleep.  My parents were always arguing and they usually did it at the foot of the stairs.  One night they got really into it, hitting one another.  My father left and never came back until about a week later with a U-Haul truck.  Despite the fact I was so young, I knew what it meant.  My Dad was leaving me.  Nothing could ever change that.357

“Daddy,” I remember calling out late at night.358

But he never came.  I sobbed hard each night for a year after that.359

I still get a call from him a few times a year.  He lived in southern California.  He started a new family and I have a few stepbrothers and sisters now.  I visit him on Christmas, but none of my siblings like me.  The oldest one, who is now 8, stole some of my clothes and threw them into the pool.  The other two, who are 5 and 3, only listen to their older sister.  They would do anything what their big sister did.360

I laid back against the wall of my house.  I heard the phone ringing, but I didn’t get up.  I wasn’t really motivated to get up from where I was sitting.361

“Hello, you have reached the Jones residence, leave your name, number, and a short message, and we’ll get back to you ASAP.  Thank you,” said the answer machine.362

“Jane, I know you’re there,” said a deep voice over the phone.  “It’s Dad.”363

My heart skipped a beat.  I raced up and ran into the house.364

“Daddy?” I said into the phone.365

“Hey baby.  How are you?” he asked curiously.366

“I’m pretty good.  How are Angie, Skylar and Jana?” I asked, not really caring about my stepsiblings.367

“They’re on vacation.  What are you doing this summer?” he asked, rushing to his question.368

“Nothing really.  My boyfriend and I might be hanging out,” I said, forgetting that my dad had no idea who I was talking about.369

“Who’s your boyfriend?” he asked, getting a little protective.370

“Marc,” I said.371

“So you two are finally an item?” he kidded.372

“An item?  Sounds like something you buy or sell of give away,” I retorted.373

“Yeah.  Anyway, I was going to see if you wanted to come down for a month and let it be just you and me.  Johanna will be with the kids in Washington visiting their old home and their grandparents.  I don’t really want to go, so I’ll be home for the time they are away.  What do you say?” he offered.374

“ ‘What do I say’?  I think I would love to,” I said getting excited.375

“You’ll have to talk to your mother about it,” he reminded me.376

“Yeah.  But I’m sure she’ll be happy about getting me out of the house,” I stated.377

“I don’t know about that.  Hey, if Marc can get the month off, he is welcome to come too.  I haven’t seen him since my last visit two years ago at Sherry’s funeral,” he said.378

“I doubt it, but I’ll run it by him,” I said.379

“Alright, well, I’ve gotta run.  The boss called an hour ago and he’s expecting me to be at work in an hour, so I’ll talk to you later.  I love you,” he added.380

“I love you too, Dad.  I’ll call you tomorrow if I can go or not,” I said.381

“Alright.  I need to know by next Friday,” he said.382

“Ok. ‘Bye!”383

“ ‘Bye.”384

I hung up the phone and I couldn’t hold in my excitement.  I started to jump up and down.385

An hour later, I decided on this: I was going for a bike ride.  I walked out to the garage; the placed I tried my best to stay away from.  I got my bike and I saw the place I last saw Kelsey.386

A few years ago, I don’t remember how many, I walked in and found a body hanging in the garage.  It was my older sister Kelsey.  She was 3 years older than me.  She had been depressed for a couple years at the time and was suicidal.  When we first discovered her cutting herself, we got her help.  The therapist said she was recovering well and soon she was happier.  One day my mom and I were coming back from the junior high, because it was too far to walk, and I didn’t hear her usual loud music.  I walked outside and called her name.  I went inside the garage and I let out a scream.  There were cuts on her wrist with blood dripping down and her feet dangling just above the ground.  My mom ran outside and she fell back into the door.387

While my mom called the police and they came and took Kelsey’s body away, I stayed in my room and cried.  I couldn’t get the image of her dead body hanging out of my head.388

Riiiing!  Riiiing!  My phone rang, tearing my thoughts.  I ran inside and picked up the phone.389

“Hello?”390

“Jane, it’s Marc,” said my boyfriend.391

“Hey.  I said to call me Janie,” I replied.392

“Sorry.  What are you doing?” he questioned.393

“Nothing.  I just got off the phone with Dad and I’m about to go for a bike ride,” I said, taking the cordless phone and sat on my bike outside.394

“What did you and he talk about?”395

“We talked about me possibly going to Southern California.  He said if you could manage to get a month off, you can go with,” I relayed to him.396

“I doubt it,” he said, sounding a little mad.397

“What’s wrong?” I asked bluntly.398

“I don’t know if I like the idea of that,” he said.399

“Why not?”400

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” he said.401

“I haven’t seen my dad in 5 months.  There’s got to be a real reason to why you don’t want to go,” I said.402

“You might find someone else,” he finally said.403

“Are you serious?!” I exclaimed.404

“Yeah,” he said softly.405

“Don’t you trust me?” I asked, clearly hurt.406

“I do, but I don’t trust that you won’t find someone else,” he said.407

“Marc…” my voice drifted.408

“I’m sorry,” he said.409

“You’ve got to trust me.  I love you,” I said silently.410

“I love you too,” he said.411

“Then you’ve got to trust me.”412

“I’m just worried,” he admitted at last.413

“I’m just visiting my dad,” I reassured him.414

“It’s hard not to be worried,” he said.415

“I know.  Hey, I’ll be over in like 5 to 10 ten minutes, ok?” I said.416

“Ok.  ‘Bye, I love you,” he said.417

“Later,” I said, hanging up the phone.418

I got back onto my bike and sped off towards Marc’s house.  About 6 minutes later, I appeared at his back door.  I parked my bike and I walked right in.  Ever since we were younger, we’ve always been able to walk right into each other’s houses.419

“Marc!  Jane’s here!” shouted Kel, who saw me as I walked in.420

“I noticed,” Marc yelled back, meeting me at the foot of his stairs.  He looked up and said, “Come on down.”  He walked away as I started down the stairs.421

I entered his room and saw him sitting at his computer.  I came up from behind and wrapped my arms around his neck.422

“Hey Janie,” he said, kissing my neck.423

“Hey.”424

I looked over at his clock.  It read “6:54”.  I took my place on his bed.  He spun in his chair and pushed himself towards me.  He kissed me very intimately.  I laid back and he climbed on top of me.  I felt his hand crawl under my shirt and held the small of back towards him.  Chills ran up and down my spine.  I broke the kiss and said, “Are you still worried?”425

He sighed and rolled off of me.  “A little,” he confessed.  “More worried that you’ll meet someone else than I am about you cheating on me.”426

“I wouldn’t do that, and you know it.  I’m in love with you, so no one else will do,” I said, getting underneath his covers.427

“You better not,” he teased as he began to tickle me.428

“Stop!” I yelped, laughing as he poked my sides.429

“Stop what?” he kidded.430

“Stop!  Tickling!  Me!” I laughed.431

“Why?” he asked.432

“Please!” I said, squirming.433

“Fine,” he said as he poked me one last time.434

“Thank you,” I said, catching my breath.435

“When are you going to California?” he asked.436

“My dad didn’t say.  He told he needed to know by this upcoming Friday,” I relayed.437

“Oh, ok.  I’ll see if I can get it off when you let me know when the trip is,” he said finally.438

“I’d love it if you went.  You could see Dad again.”  I rolled over on my side to face him.  “He hasn’t seen you since Sherry’s funeral,” I added.439

“Yeah.  That’s true.”440

We sat there in silence for a few moments.  All you could hear was our breathing and the television that Kel was watching from above Marc’s room.  From above, I heard National Treasure come back on after the ads that played every 10 to 15 minutes.  Three of the characters, Riley, Abigail, and Ben were on their way to Philadelphia to get the Silence Dogood letters and Riley was saying, “When are we going to get there?  I’m hungry.  This car smells weird.”  Once that part played, I cracked up.  I had never seen the movie, but that line made a giggle escape from my lips.  Marc raised his eyebrow as I begun to crack up more. 441

“I’m.  Sorry.  It’s just so funny,” I laughed.442

“You are bizarre,” Marc said, pushing me towards the end of the bed.  I ended up rolling off, causing more chuckles to arouse.  My head hit the ground and tears filled my eyes both in laughter and in pain. 443

“Are you ok?” Marc said, panicking a little.444

“Marc, you have a habit of hurting me,” I stated through my tears.445

“Yeah, I’ve noticed that,” he said, removing himself from his bed and sat down on my stomach.446

“Marc!  You better be behaving down there!” shouted Kel from upstairs.447

“We are!” he hollered back as he placed himself at my side.448

Marc and I stayed quiet while we listened to Kel’s footsteps retreated from above them and out of earshot.  Marc bent over and lightly touched his lips to mine.  A familiar sensation flowed through my body.  I let my hand touch his cut stomach and I let my fingers outline the creases where his abs were.  My fingers felt his smooth skin and he lifted his shirt a little.  He sat up and I kissed each one of his abs, all six of them.  I licked the last one and I looked up at him.449

“Are we being very physical?” I asked.450

“What do you mean?” he questioned back, lowering his shirt and sitting up on his chair.451

I sat up and said, “Well, we’ve only been dating for what, a few days, and we’ve already done what most couples have done in a course of a year.  What do you think Sherry would say?”452

“She would probably say she expected it, but she would also say we are fast,” he said, after taking a few moments to think about it.453

“That’s what I thought,” I said, standing up.  I glanced at the clock and it read 8:15 pm.  “I need to be getting home.  I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”454

“Wait, you never answered my question about me giving you a ride to school,” he remembered.455

“I told you, we always walk to school.  I’d like to walk tomorrow,” I said.456

“Ok, that’s all I wanted to know.  I’ll meet you at our usual spot at 6:45 so we can walk,” he said, a little bit of bitterness in his voice.457

“Oh, quit pouting,” I said, kissing his lips tenderly.458

“Ok.  ‘Bye, I love you,” he said, kissing me back.459

“Later, I love you too,” I smiled.460

After I got home, I went up straight to my room.  My mom was home and in the shower in my room.  I knocked on the door.461

“Mom!” I shouted through the door.  “I’m home.”462

“Hi Dear!” she shouted back.463

“Dad called,” I said.464

“What did he say?” she asked.465

“He wanted to know if I wanted to go to California for a month during the summer.  Can I go?” I asked hopefully.466

“Sure.  When?”467

“I don’t know.  I have to ask him,” I admitted.468

“I’ll call him and let you know tomorrow.”469

“Ok.  ‘Night mom,” I said.470

“Night.”471

I got undressed and put on my pajamas.  I got into bed and fell asleep without hearing my mom get out of the bathroom.472

The next morning, I awoke to my alarm clock.  I looked at the time and it read: 6:30 am.  “Crap,” I mumbled as I rushed out of bed.  I quickly got up and changed my clothes and brushed my teeth and hair.  I didn’t even bother putting the usual lip-gloss and mascara on.  I put my deodorant in my purse to put on when I got to the corner.  I got my books and shot out the front door.  I gazed at the clock on the wall by the front door and I had 5 minutes to get 4 blocks to where I needed to be.  I ran down the street, clutching my books to my chest against the wind that was blowing in the opposite direction that I was going.  I arrived at the corner to find Marc waiting for me with his backpack on and his CD player on.  I heard MegaDeth playing through his headphones.473

“Good morning Jane,” he said, greeting me with a kiss.474

“It is?” I retorted, mad because I didn’t hear my alarm go off at 6.475

“Bad morning?” he guessed.476

“Kind of.  I got up at 6:30 and had 10 minutes to get ready.  So I look like crap and I even forgot to put on deodorant, but I have that with me,” I rushed.  I went into my purse and pulled out the tube and applied some deodorant on.  “That’s better,” I said, putting it away and started in the direction of our school.477

“Ah, the life of a teenage girl,” he teased.478

“Shut up,” I said, picking up speed.479

“Hey,” he said grabbing my arm and he stopped in his tracks.  “Why all the hostility?”480

“I told you.  It’s kind of a bad morning.  Can we keep the sarcasm and jokes to a minimum for now?” I asked looking into his eyes.481

“I’m sorry Janie.”  He pulled me into his arms and gazed back into mine.  “I’ll try my hardest for now.  When you’re in the joking mood, let me know,” he added.482

“I will.”  I put on a half smile and kissed him.483

Beep beep!  A car flashed by honking their horn.484

“Woo!  Marc!” some guy shouted out the window.485

Marc shook his head as we started walking.  “I knew Hank was going to do that.”486

“Wait,” I started.  “You knew he was going to drive by?”487

“No, I meant I knew he was going to do that whether or not I knew he was coming,” he reassuringly.488

“Oh,” was all I could say as we began again to walk towards the school.489

“Can you believe it?  Only 2 weeks left of school.  It’s the end of May,” he declared.490

“That’s true.  That reminds me, I need talk to my mom.  She said she was going to call Dad,” I said.491

The rest of the way there was quiet.  I felt like a walking zombie.492

We arrived at school about 10 minutes later.  We had 20 minutes to walk around.493

“I have to go to my locker,” I said as we entered through the front doors.494

“I’ll meet you there in about 2 minutes.  I have to go to mine too,” he said, giving my hand a squeeze before he went in the opposite direction of where I was headed.  He walked towards the hallway where his locker was and I disappeared around the corner towards mine.  I spun the combination on mine quickly and I opened it.  Inside my locker were pictures of Marc, Sherry, and I.  I smiled at the one that was taken at the water park right before Sherry’s death.495

It was October 23rd, and the freshman class had planned a trip to the water park in a nearby city, though it was an hour away.  Sherry and I shared a seat near the front of the bus while Marc sat with The Crew in the back.  When he walked by, we said hi, but he said nothing in return. Sherry and I were a little mad that Marc wanted to sit with them over us and he ignored us, so our plan was to ignore him until he got as mad as we were.  It was an hour trip, so we made the best of it.  The Crew sang the song called, “I know a song that gets on everybody’s nerve.”  It didn’t drive Sherry or me crazy because we had taught ourselves to tune them out.  Finally, our English teacher Mrs. Johnston told them to stop and then The Crew started up “99 bottles of Coke” because beer wasn’t school appropriate.  Sherry and I, still ignoring The Crew, talked about what water rides we wanted to go on.  From water rides, we talked about music and movies.  Before we knew it, we were at the water park.  Sherry and I were the first two off and we stayed a distance away from the group.  Marc tried to talk to us at one point, but Sherry and I walked away using that old, “Do you hear something?” technique.  Marc became confused, but he refused to think about it at first.  He would get in line behind us in one ride or slide, then we’d leave our place and go to the end to leave him by himself.  He tried other attempts to talk to us, but each one failed more miserably than the last.  Soon, he was frustrated.  He pulled us aside and asked, “What’s going on?  You two have been ignoring me all day.”496

“Don’t like being ignored, do you?” Sherry snapped.  She had a bad temper, but she held this one in longer than she usually did.  Marc finally got the hint and he apologized.  “I didn’t know I was ignoring you.”497

“How did you not know?” I asked, trying to stay calm.498

Marc couldn’t answer that.  He told The Crew that he was going to hang out with us the rest of the time there.  Near the end of the day, we found a gift shop.  Sherry bought a camera and took as many pictures as possible.  She got a lot of Marc throwing me into the deep end in one of the pools and she got a lot of Marc and I sharing a tube in the wave pool.499

“Jane.”  A voice brought me back out of reality.  Sharon Haddon was standing there.  “Can you please move?  You’re blocking my locker,” she said, her nose in the air.500

“Sorry,” I mumbled.  I grabbed the books I needed and shut my locker.501

“Thank you,” she said, snottily.502

“You’re not welcome,” I said under my breath.  I stood a few feet away from her and I saw Marc walking in my direction with Hank, who was also Sharon’s boyfriend of two years at his side.  As they headed my way, I noticed Hank give her a look of resentment and didn’t go her way.503

“Hey.”  Marc welcomed me with a quick kiss.  I smiled and I glanced at Sharon, who was staring at Marc and me.  As though Sherry was inside me, I blurted, “If you really need something to look at, look into a mirror.”  Her eyes got really wide and her jaw dropped.  She turned on her heel and stomped away.  I covered my mouth, surprised.  “I did not just say that,” I said, my voice muffled.504

“Yes you did,” Hank said, equally as shocked.  “Someone finally put her in her place.”505

“What happened between you two?” I asked.506

“We got into a fight Friday night and I broke up with her.  She wanted to have sex and I wasn’t ready,” Hank said.507

“She’s not right for you then.  Guys need to be treated as well as girls do,” I said.508

“That’s true,” Marc said.509

“Yeah.  Speaking of couples, when did you two hook up?  I know Marc hear,” he said, slapping his friend on the back.  “Has been wanting to ask you out for a while.  I’m the only person he told, but I’m sure now that Sharon saw you two kiss, the whole school’s going to know that you are a couple now.”510

“It happened on Friday and I asked her at Ocean Waves,” Marc said, blushing a little.  I smiled and kissed him.511

“I’m glad he did,” I said, a big smile on my face.512

“Aw, damn,” Hank said, laughing.  “Hey, there’s a party this Friday before graduation.  You two should go.  It’s at my place.”513

“We’ll think about it,” Marc said.  “No alcohol?”514

“Nah.  Gave that stuff up about a month ago,” Hank said.  “Sharon got alcohol poisoning right before I decided to quit, so that was even more of a reason to.”515

“That’s good,” Marc said.516

I suddenly felt shy.  I had just realized that this was the first time that Hank and I had ever given each other a chance.  He seemed like a really great guy.517

“So,” Marc said as he grabbed my hand and we began to walk.  “What did you do this weekend?”518

“Me?  Besides breaking up with Sharon, I went to my mom’s this weekend.  That was jacked up.  My mom was wasted on Saturday and she still has a major hangover,” Hank said shaking his head.  “I’ve got a screwed up family.  My dad’s a con artist, my mom’s a pot head, my sister’s a thief and doing time in jail, and my brother has 4 baby’s with 3 different woman.”519

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, resting my hand on his arm.  “You know Sherry’s family was just as messed up.”520

I saw him flinch a little at the name.  He had dated Sherry before she died.  He didn’t know she had died that day because he was at a party getting drunk and didn’t listen to his messages until the next day.  He went to call her and he noticed a missed call on his cell phone.  Once he heard the news, he refused to leave his house for a week.  After that, he had begun to date Sharon because she was there in his time of need.521

“Yeah, but she didn’t have any siblings to worry about,” Hank said, clearing his throat.522

“But her aunts and uncles made up for it,” Marc said.523

Hank nodded and stared right ahead of him.  There was awkward silence until we turned the corner.524

“Oh my God, Jane is so going to get her ass kicked.”  My ears picked up that sentence and I could tell Marc did too, because the muscle in his jaw twitched.  Sharon and her crowd were standing in the middle of the hallway and she was telling them our little mishap.  Toni was the one who had said that I was going to get into a fight.  Marc put his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him.  I wrapped mine around him, hoping it would make me secure.  I was wrong.  Out of nowhere, I was grabbed by an arm, swung around, and shoved into some nearby lockers.525

“Sharon, don’t!” shouted Hank, as he and Marc pushed through the crowd to get to me.  I look up to see Sharon red in her face.  The hallway was quiet with anticipation.526

“You stupid pathetic girl!” she screeched as she took a lazy swing at me.  I easily dodged it, my adrenaline rising.527

“Sharon, I said don’t!” Hank tried again.528

“Shut up!” she spat at him and I took that chance.  I swung hard at her and she fell down backwards.  I saw the rest of her crowd stand there, amazed and then ready to jump in.  529

Marc stood in front of me and said to them, “Grow up.  You’re 16, 17, even 18 years old, for crying out loud.”  He held me close to him as he shoved through the people that stood there stunned.  530

Sharon had gotten back onto her feet and she had a bloody lip.  I heard her go, “Humph” and walk towards the girls’ bathroom.  Two of her loyal followers went with her.  The others stood there, talking about what just happened.531

“Well, that was a nice ‘Welcome back to school’, lemme tell you,” I said, sarcastically.532

“Yeah,” Marc said.533

“Well, I’ve gotta split.  Goober is going to sterilize me if I’m late to class for the second week in a row,” Hank said, as the five-minute bell rang.534

“Later,” Marc and I said in unison.535

“See ya,” he said.536

Marc and I walked towards our classes.  They were right next door to each other.  I had Pre-Calculus and he had advanced Law and Government.  We stood by my door and I leaned against the wall.537

“Well, I hope the rest of the day isn’t as eventful as it just was,” I said.538

Marc placed his hands on my hips and said, “If Sharon hadn’t been a girl, I think I would have kicked her ass for touching you.”539

I smiled.  “You’re very protective.”540

“I know,” he grinned back.  The two-minute bell rang and he said, “I’ll see you after class.  Oh,” he stopped.  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a brand new cell phone.  “I got this for you.  Kel got a deal and he got us a joined plan.  2000 day minutes, 1000 apiece, and unlimited night and weekends, unlimited texting, and no extra charge on long distance.”541

My jaw dropped and placed the phone in my pocket.542

“It’s on vibrate, so if I text you, no one can hear it,” he said slyly.  I smiled back.543

“I’ve gotta go,” I said.  We kissed quickly and went into our separate classes.  I took my seat in the back right corner of the room.  This should be interesting, I said, as I felt my phone vibrate already.  I took my cell out of my pocket and saw that Marc had sent me a message.  I opened the flip phone and read it:544

“Hey Janie.  Maslow’s not here today.”545

Maslow was the nickname that the social studies and Psychology classes gave to Mr. Johnston, Mrs. Johnston’s husband.  People thought he was as crazy and brilliant as him.546

I lowered my cell phone underneath the desk after Mr. Burtus sat at his desk and typed, “Hey Marc.  Burtus is taking attendance.”  I sent it and I rested my head down on my arms.  A few moments later, my phone vibrated and Mr. Burtus began to talk.547

“Ok, here’s the deal.  I know we are supposed to take notes but my wife’s father had a stroke and so we are taking today off.”548

The class cheered and I smiled and checked my phone once again.549

“That’s cool.  What are you guys doing in your class?”550

“We get a free day,” I typed back.  I shut off my phone then and I looked up.  There in front of me stood Jackie McDonald, the class president.551

“Jane, right?” she assumed.552

“Yes?” I asked.553

“I don’t know if you know me, but I’m Jackie McDonald.  I’m the class president and also I’m part of the school’s newspaper.  I was wondering if I could get an interview with you on our article about teens that date in high school and the do’s and don’ts,” she explained.554

“Sure,” I said.555

“Ok, first off, how long have you known Marc?” she asked.556

“How did you know we’re together?” I asked back.557

“I saw you two kissing and holding hands,” she smiled.  “Anyways, how long have you known him?558

“I’ve known him all my life,” I said.559

“How long have you been dating?” she asked.560

“About a few days,” I replied.561

“That’s it?  It seemed like you guys were dating a lot longer than that,” she said, surprised.  “Ok, what are your do’s and don’ts in the hallways of school?”562

“No making out, holding hands and a peck here and there is fine,” I started.  “Basically keep PDA down to a minimum.  Don’t brag about going out with someone because people get sick of it after a while,” I finished.563

“Ok, thanks!  Look out for the next issue,” she said, grinning.564

“You’re welcome and I will,” I said back.565

She got left and I shook my head.  I took out my desk of cards and played Solitaire.566

“Hey Jane,” said a deep voice from the right of me.567

“Yeah,” I said, not looking up.568

“Do you know how to play Euchre?” said the voice.569

Once I heard the word “Euchre” my head snapped up.  Tommy Green was leaning towards me.570

“Yeah,” I said.571

“Do you want to play?” he asked.572

I nodded and I was getting very confused.  No one talked to me this much, or invited me to play cards with them.573

“Come on,” he motioned.  He turned four desks to face each other and I sat across from him.  The other players were Georgette and Frank.  I sorted my deck out and shuffled the cards together while Tommy got out the scorecards.574

We played about two games and soon the class was over.  As I got my stuff, I went out into the hallway and saw Marc talking to Toni.  I kept walking towards the homeroom that Marc and I shared.  They didn’t have enough senior homerooms so they put Marc and a few other people in my homeroom.575

I walked into the classroom and took my place at the desk in the back of the room.  I sat down in my seat and turned on my phone.  No new messages, but I decided to play with the games on the phone.  I began to play Poker when Marc walked in.576

“Where were you?” he asked me, sitting down next to me.577

“I saw you talking to Toni, so I came here and I didn’t want to interrupt,” I said honestly, playing on my phone some more.578

“It wouldn’t’ve mattered.  We weren’t talking about anything important,” he said.  “Hey, pay attention to me.”579

“Hm?” I teased.  “Did you say something?  I wasn’t paying attention.”  Marc raised his eyebrows and I smiled,  “Kidding.”580

“You better be,” he said, adjusting himself in his seat.581

I put my phone away.582

We didn’t talk for the rest of the time in homeroom.  We really didn’t know what to talk about.  After the 15 minutes were over, Marc and I walked in the opposite directions to our second hours.583

The rest of the day was a blur.  First hour and homeroom were the only times I saw Marc.  I saw him after lunch, but he usually is talking to his other friends.  When I waved to him on the way to 5th hour, which was a first, he gave a small smile and continued to talk to Hank, who was with him.584

“Dude,” I heard Hank say.  “Your girlfriend just walked by.”585

“I know,” Marc said, and I could feel his eyes on me.586

“Why didn’t you go with her?” Hank asked.587

“I’d be late if I did,” Marc said.  I could tell in his voice that he didn’t know why he didn’t go with me.  Truth was, our classes were right above each other’s.588

I just kept walking, even though Hank was encouraging for Marc to follow after me.  I spun on my heel around the corner of the hallway towards my last class: History of Music.  I played guitar, but I hadn’t practiced for about a month now.589

“I should do that,” I said to absolutely no one.590

“What did you say?” asked a voice from behind me.591

I twirled around and there stood Tommy.  “Nothing, I was talking to myself.”592

Tommy gave me a big smile.  “Ok, I just wanted to know.”  I began talk away when he said, “Hey wait.”  I stopped and turned to him.  “There’s a concert with a few local bands tomorrow night.  I was wondering if you and Marc wanted to go.”593

“I’ll ask him and I’ll get back with you on that,” I said.594

“Alright.  Later,” he said, turning towards his class that was right next to mine.595

I shook by head and entered my last class.  “Only 45 minutes of torture left,” I mumbled to myself.596

After the final bell rang, I got up numbly.  I couldn’t think of what I needed to do.  I walked automatically to my locker and put my things inside.  I leaned against my locker, closed my eyes, and sighed.597

“Janie,” said a soft voice as I felt my body be lifted into a pair of strong arms.  My eyes opened and I saw Marc holding me.  “Are you ok?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.598

“Yeah,” I said, standing straight up.  I lifted my chin and kissed his lips.  We stood with our lips locked for a few moments before an “Ahem” broke it.  I broke the kiss and looked to see who made the noise.  Hank was standing there.599

“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, grinning.  “But I believe you can go home and do that.”600

I gave a small laugh and Marc said, “It’s not like you haven’t done more than this in school.”601

“Lets not talk about that,” Hank said bitterly as Sharon walked by.602

She gave me a nasty look.  I brushed it off.  “Lets go,” I said, pushing my way through the crowd.  Marc stopped me and said, “Wait.”  He kissed me once again.603

“Come on you two,” Hank complained.604

We walked outside and started out towards our houses.605

“I’m in pain,” Marc said looking into my eyes, as we were a few blocks from the school.606

“What do you mean?” I asked, puzzled.607

“I’m in pain,” he repeated.608

“Wait, are you intending what I think you are?” Hank asked, stopping in his tracks.609

“I don’t know,” I asked.  “I have no idea what he’s talking about, honestly.”610

“Jane,” whined Marc.611

“Marc,” I mimicked.612

“I’m in pain,” he said again.613

“I have no idea what you mean by that.”614

“I think I do,” Hank said.  “He wants to get laid again.”615

“What?!”  I was in complete shock.  “Marc, you told him?!”616

“It just slipped,” he admitted in a small voice.617

I groaned. “My ass,” I muttered and started walking fast towards my house, leaving Marc and Hank in the dust.618

“Jane!” he shouted to me, but I kept walking.  I broke into a run, tears streaming down my face.  Marc and Hank just stood there, not knowing what to do.619

A few moments later I arrived at my house and I ran straight up to that bathroom and turned on the water to the tub.  I filled the tub up so I could take a bath.  I couldn’t believe it.  Marc told someone about our most personal moment ever.  Tears started to roll down my face once again.620

I got into the tub and the warm water was soothing.  I put on the shower radio and my favorite song was on.  “Ohio is for Lovers” played and I sang along with it.  I soaked in the tub for about 20 minutes.  I got out and dried my body.  I wrapped my body in a towel and went into my room.  I pulled out my CD holder case and I pulled out a CD that said “Relaxation” on it.  It put into my stereo and I sat on the floor.  I took my pulse before I did anything.  I had 106 beats per minutes.  That’s how stressed and upset I was.  I sat Indian style and I placed my back against my bed.  I kept my chin up and I closed my eyes.  My lights were off and the sun was in the west, so it didn’t shine into my room.  I took in deep breaths as I listened to the music and relaxed.  I let everything in my head just clear and I let everything go.  I gave myself a verbal massage and began to concentrate on how fast and quickly I was breathing.621

After 15 minutes of just concentrating on my breathing, I took my pulse again: 58 beats per minute.  I felt rejuvenated and I felt like a ton was lifted off of my shoulders.  I didn’t get up right away.  I sat there for a few moments.  I finally got up and got dressed.  I heard my cell phone ringing a few moments later.622

“Hello?” I answered.623

“Janie-“ a voice started.624

I hung up the phone, not giving Marc the chance to explain himself.  I was still mad about him telling Hank about what we did at the beach.  My phone rang again, but I didn’t answer it.  A few minutes after that, my home phone rang and the answering machine got it.625

“Jane, I’m really sorry.  I was just so happy that I had to brag about it.  I’m sorry that I hurt you.  Please, answer the phone…”626

I sighed and picked up the phone, giving in.627

“You really hurt me,” I said.628

“I’m sorry,” he said.629

I didn’t know what else to say.  We sat there on the phone in silence.  As much as I wanted to be mad at him, I knew I couldn’t stay mad.630

“Jane,” he said softly.631

“I’m here,” I whispered.632

“Can I come over?” he asked.633

I paused.  “Sure.”634

“I’ll be there in a bit then.  Bye,” he said.635

I just hung up the phone and went outside.  I laid down on the green grass in the front yard.  I stared up at the blue sky.  Big shapes of clouds hovered above and I noticed some looked like the shapes Sherry used to see: rabbits, frogs, and strange enough, a vibrator.  I heard a car engine come down my street as it broke my thoughts.  I sat up and saw Marc getting out of his car after parking it.  He walked up to me and sat down on the ground.636

“Hey,” he said, keeping his distance, not sure how to act.637

I pulled him close to me and I kissed him gingerly on the lips.  Tears poured down my face all of a sudden.  He pulled away and wiped them off my cheeks.638

“What’s wrong?” he asked.639

“I don’t know,” I said honestly, laughing a little.  I looked into Marc’s eyes.640

“Shh,” he said, putting a stray strand of hair behind my ear.  He kissed me again, only more passionate that before.  I felt the world disappear beneath me and I felt as though I was being lifted into the sky.  Marc’s arm found the small of my back and he picked me up.  Still kissing, we made our way inside my house, without my mom home, and he carried me up the stairs.  He broke the kiss and shut my door.  He put me down and kissed me again.  I found my way to the wall where I placed my hands down his butt pockets.  His hands found their way up my shirt, undid my bra, and he placed them on my breasts.  My nipples grew hard, as they usually did when he touched me, and he begun to play with them with his fingers.  I drew my hands from the pockets and placed them slowly down him pants.  I felt him get hard and his breathing was growing short.641

“Jane,” he started.  “I’m really in pain.”642

“That’s what your hand’s for,” I teased, pushing my body against his as we walked towards my bed.643

“Please,” Marc said, laying me on my bed and climbing on top.644

A replay of the beach flowed through my mind.  I took his shirt off and he removed mine.  We stripped down until we were naked and we got under the covers.  I helped Marc put a condom on him.  Marc was on top and he entered me.  The familiar sensation flowed through me as our bodies started rocking back and forth.  Since my mom was going to be home in less than half an hour, we knew we had to do it quick.  Marc pushed hard, sending me on a trip as we rolled off the bed and onto the floor.  Pain shot through my hip, but it went quickly away as Marc thrusted harder, fulfilling my every desire.645

Once we reached the climax and he removed himself, we laid down on my floor breathing hard and sweating.646

“So much for waiting,” I said, playing with Marc’s hair.647

Marc smiled.  “I didn’t think that we would do this again.”648

I sighed.  “I feel really dirty.”649

“Why?” he asked, sitting up.650

“Because we’ve had sex twice in, like, four days.  That’s really fast and I feel like I’m fast,” I admitted to him, getting up and I got dressed.651

“You shouldn’t,” he said, coming up from behind and kissed me lightly on the neck.652

“Well, I feel it. Especially since you told Hank about the time before,” I said, turning around.653

Marc put his hands slightly under my shirt and placed him on my hips.  I wrapped my arms around his neck and said, “Please don’t tell him.  Or anyone.”  I kissed him gently on his neck as he sighed.654

“I promise,” he said, kissing my nose.  He proceeded to kiss my neck and I felt him suck a little on my neck.655

“Marc!  I don’t need a hickey right there!” I said, wriggling out of his arms.656

“Ok, you totally like to ruin moments,” Marc said, throwing himself on my bed.657

“I don’t want one on my neck,” I said.  I leaned down, putting my clothed right breast in his face and pointing at it.  “If you want to leave one, you put them there so no one can see.”658

Marc laughed.  “That’s good to know.”  He lifted my shirt and sucked on my right breast.  He resurfaced after he made sure it left a mark.659

“Just make sure you don’t give me more than like 3.  I’ll become a leopard if you do,” I said, poking his sides.660

He squirmed.  “Stop.”661

“Marc’s ticklish!” I exclaimed as I begun to tickle his sides and stomach.  He wriggled around, trying to escape my touch, but it wasn’t working.  662

He laughed so hard that he finally grabbed my arms and managed, “It hurts, please stop.”663

I couldn’t resist one more poke and then I quitted.664

A phone rang then.  It was Marc’s cell.665

“Crap,” he said, picking up his phone.  “Hello?”666

I heard muffled voices over the phone and only listened to Marc’s answers: “Yeah Boss…  No, I wasn’t thinking…  What?!…  Ok, I’ll get them tomorrow…  Alright, bye.”667

“What?” I asked when Marc sighed heavily.668

“I just got fired,” he said, putting his phone away.669

“What?  Why?” I asked.670

“I called in sick today and Tracy, my co-worker, told on me because she’s mad that I don’t like her, and so, I’m fired,” he said.671

“Wait, Tracy who?”672

“Tracy Flemington,” he said.673

“She likes you?” I asked disbelievingly.674

“Well, she did until I turned her down for a sexual favor,” he said.675

“When was this?”676

“The same day you and I had sex,” he said.677

I sat there, stunned.  Marc truly must love me or, being like almost every other guy, he would have taken Tracy up on that offer.678

“But anyway, I am now able to go to California with you,” he said, smiling.679

“Wait, you’re not mad?” I asked, moving away from him a little.680

“Not really.  Truth was, I was going to quit and apply for a job at Henderson’s Bakery.”681

“I’d be mad,” I said.682

“I don’t freak out about this.  Apparently my mom came into work looking for me too and my boss asked my mom where I was.  As wonderful as my mom is, she lied and said I was sick too.  But, Tracy opened her big mouth and spilled everything.”683

“Nice,” was all I could say.684

We stayed where we were for a few moments.  “So, anyway, did your mom talk to your dad?”  “No, not yet.  She’s supposed to call me and let me know,” I said.  As if right on cue, the house phone rang.685

“Oh, what do you know,” Marc said, handing me my phone as we walked down to the kitchen.686

“Hello?”687

“Jane!  I just got off the phone with your father.  July 5th to August 6th is when the trip is,” she said.688

“Alright.  I’ll call him and let him know,” I said.689

“Okay.  Oh, and I’ll be late today.  Marc’s father and I are going out to dinner to celebrate.  I got a new job,” my mother said excitingly.690

“Congrats.  Well, I’ll let you go,” I replied.691

“Ok.  Love you, bye!”692

“Bye,” I said, hanging up the phone.  “Ok it’s July 5th through August 6th.”693

“The two days before your birthday and 4 days after mine,” Marc said.694

“How ‘bout this,” I said.  “No sex until our birthdays.  We’ll pick one day for one time.”695

“What if I can’t wait that long?” he asked.696

“That’s what lotion and your hand if for,” I replied, smiling.697

“Haha, very funny,” Marc mumbled.698

“I thought so,” I said, kissing him tentatively on the lips.699

“Mm,” he said, going in for another kiss.  The kiss caused giggles to escape and the vibration from my laugh caused me to laugh harder.700

“You are a moment ruin-er!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms up.701

“Oh, live with it,” I said, poking his side.  His arms came down hard and caught my right arm.  I flinched in pain.  “Ow!”702

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” he said.703

“I’m ok.”704

I picked up the phone and dialed my dad’s number.705

“Hello, George residence,” said my father’s voice.706

“Dad, it’s me,” I said.707

“Hey baby!  Can you come?”708

“Yeah, and so can Marc.”709

“That’s good.  Listen, I’m waiting for a phone call,” my dad admitted.  “I’ll call you later tonight so we can work out details.”710

“Alright, bye.”  I hung up the phone.711

(I'm still working on more, so I'll post it when I get finished with another part!)712