Untitled 123 (2) “ I’m sorry about that back there. They’re just not used to seeing boys come to the house especially after what happened.” Casey apologized. “ Listen, don’t worry about it,” Ryan smiled. “ I have a little sister, so I know what it’s like.” “ Thanks. So, where are we going?” She asked, as he helped her in the car. He closed the door behind her, then walked to his side and got in. “ I thought we might go grab a bite to eat, then whatever you like. There’s a party at Jay’s, so we could stop by if you would like.” Ryan said, as he pulled out of the drive way. “ Sounds good. Thank you for picking me up.” Casey turned her gaze to look at the road as it passed by. Ryan kept his eyes on the road, but his thoughts kept turning to Casey and he wondered if she liked him. He wanted to say something more, but every time he went to open his mouth, nothing came out. He still couldn’t believe how much she had changed over the summer. No longer was she a geek who wore braces, with eyes that were too big for her face, or a mouth too lush for so harsh a face. He felt his eyes slide back over, to skim down her form. He wondered what sex would be like with her. He bet it would be amazing. Then his thoughts brought back Josh’s party the other night. He wondered why she had acted so strange around Brand. It seemed that she knew him, but how? Before either one knew it, they were in front of Jay’s house. “ Wow, there’s a lot of people here for one o’clock in the afternoon.” Casey said in amazement. “ Yeah, most people don’t miss Jay’s parties. He always seems to throw the best ones. This will probably last until late tonight. But we don’t have to stay long if you don’t want to.” Ryan unbuckled his seat belt, then got out of the car. Casey did the same. They walked hand in hand to the party. Brand couldn’t believe his luck. She was here, but she was with him. He wanted to ask her who she was, but didn’t want to risk messing with Ryan. “ You, ah, sweet on her or something Brand?” Jay asked, as he placed a cup of punch in his hand. “ Nah, there is just something about her…” Brand said, wondering who the hell she was. “ I know what you mean, she is fine. I wouldn’t mind taking my chances with her, but I bet you she’s a virgin.” Jay said. “ Ah, yes. Off limits, aint she?” Brand laughed at his friends expression. “ We never said they were off-limits, just that we should avoid them because they have little experience. But she might be worth it.” Jay said. “ Amen to that. Damn, but she is fine.” Brand sighed when he saw Ryan’s hand slip possessively to the small of her back. “ Looks like we’ve been beaten to her though.” “ Ah, but that’s the best part, she’s a challenge now. What’d you say?” Jay asked. “ Hm. Now that’s a thought.” Brand smiled. “ What’s the deal?” He asked, in on the plan. “ Just something simple. Find out if she’s a virgin.” Jay grinned. Brand was having second thoughts now. “ Dude, I don’t think we should mess with her feelings. Besides, looks like Ryan has her pretty much now. Why don’t we just let it go?” Brand suggested. “ Fine. Do what you want, and I will do what I want. Just remember what I’m offering.” Jay turned and walked away. Brand let out his breath, looked at Casey, then left the room. He was almost positive that they had met before now. Alls he had to do was find out when and where. *** When it began getting dark, Ryan turned to Casey. “ Will you be ok alone for a bit?” Ryan asked. “ Yeah, go have fun, I’ll be here when you get back.” She smiled, then he gently kissed her and left. “ He your boyfriend?” Came a deep voice from behind. Casey slowly turned around to face the guy behind her. Turquoise eyes met silver ones. Her breath halted. She beheld the third hottest guy she had ever seen, in the past two days. “ It’s complicated.” She found herself saying. “ Oh really? So he wont mind if I steal you for a bit?” He asked her, flashing her a smile, meant to weaken. “ Steal me? For what?” Casey asked, confused. “ Anything, I guess. I just couldn’t help but notice how beautiful you are. I saw you across the room, and thought someone like you shouldn’t be alone. So here I am.” He smiled again. “ What’s your name?” Casey asked, sure he hadn’t mentioned it already. “ I’m Jay. You’re Casey, right?” He asked. “ Yeah, how’d you know?” She asked, positive she hadn’t told him. “ I have my sources. You don’t think I would approach you without knowing your name first?” He teased lightly. “ I didn’t know. Sorry.” Casey blushed, when he teased her. “ You don’t need to apologize. So, do you wanna go for a walk?” He asked, changing the subject. “ Where?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to go anywhere with someone like him. He seemed familiar, she knew she had seen him before. “ Outside.” He suggested. “ Um, sure. Let me grab my coat I guess.” Casey turned away, but ran into a hard wall, that felt like steel. She looked up into eyes, as green as emerald. She gasped when she realized she had walked straight into Brand’s arms. She quickly entangled herself and tried to side step him. He wouldn’t let her though. He shook his head no, then lifted his eyes to look at Jay. “ What are you doing Jay?” He asked, his tone deadly. “ Nothing that would concern you. Why don’t you go back to Steph?” He challenged. “ Why don’t you leave her alone? She’s here with Ryan.” Brand shot back. “ I don’t care. I just wanted to talk to her. Look, you seem to be upsetting her.” Jay reached for Casey, and she let him take hold of her hand. She could feel the tears run down her cheeks. She was back in the one place she had promised herself, she would never be again, Brands arms. Just being this close to him upset her, and she would not let him do it to her again. Brand didn’t understand where the tears had come from. He had done nothing to her, so why was she crying? He wished he could remember where he knew her from. He looked from her to Jay, knowing that he should leave, but the thought of leaving her with Jay just didn’t sit well with him. Even though Jay was his friend, he knew how Jay played the ladies right into his bed. He would not let Casey end up there too. “ Casey, come on, lets get out of here.” Jay guided her through the crowd, away from Brand and out the door. Once they were outside, Casey felt better. She looked beside her at Jay. “ Thank you.” She thanked him. He had no clue what he really did for her back there. “ No problem. I’m just glad we finally have some time alone.” He smiled then pulled her into a thick bush that concealed them completely. “ What are you doing?” Casey asked, starting to panic. “ Kissing you, what did you think I was doing?” He asked, before crushing her mouth beneath his. Casey tried to push him away, but he wouldn’t relent. His mouth moved down her face, down along her throat. It came to rest at the base of her throat. He continued to kiss her while he undid the buttons on her shirt front. “ What are you doing? Leave me alone!” Casey tried to yell, but he covered her mouth with his hand. “ Don’t worry baby. I promise, it wont hurt.” Jay was so caught up in the heat of the moment, that he ripped her bra off, exposing her to him. “ God, you’re beautiful.” Casey whimpered when his mouth closed around her. She felt so violated and was in so much pain. Finally getting the courage, she bit his hand, which prompted him to let go. Now was her chance. She shoved him off her, and quickly got to her feet. She bolted from the bush and ran straight into Brand. When she looked up and saw who it was, she could have died. Instead she broke down in heavy sobs. She clutched at the remains of her shirt and bra, so he wouldn’t see her, but it was no use. Her clothes were beyond repair. When Brand saw Jay take Casey outside, he knew he had to follow. Sometimes, his friend did stupid things, and he had a feeling that tonight he would. He felt his heart pick up its pace when he didn’t see them outside, then he heard something in the bushes. He quietly made his way over there, when she sped right out and into his arms. He would never forget the look on her face when she ran into him. She looked like she wanted to run from him as well, but instead began to sob against his chest. He noticed her shirt and bra were undone and she was clutching them to her as if they were her shield from him. He stood stock still as she sobbed against him. He was afraid to put his arms around her to comfort, he thought she might try to bolt from him too. Finally he couldn’t resist, and tightly wrapped his arms around her. He was surprised when she slipped her arms around him, but he had a feeling she wasn’t aware she had. They stood like that for a few minutes before either moved. Then Jay came out from the bush. “ Get the hell away from her!” Brand’s voice thundered. He had never been so sick with his friend in his life. “ What the hell are you talking about? She’s the one that led me on. Now she’s acting as if I did something wrong. Maybe she shouldn’t lead guys on like that. Look what I get for trying to have a little fun.” Jay showed Brand his hand, where he could see the bite marks. He wanted to hit his friend, knock him on his cocky ass so hard. But he restrained himself. “ I don’t care what the hell she did to you. Get the hell away from us! Or I will call the cops. You forget Jay, I know you. I know the real Jay!” Brand challenged. “ Fine. I see where your loyalties lie. Just don’t come crawling back to me. You’re out Brand. Never come around again.” Jay walked away from Brand and Casey, never once looking back. When he was finally gone, Brand rested his gaze on Casey’s head, wishing she would look at him. “ Are you ok?” He asked gently. “ What?” She asked confused, “ Why are you here? Get away from me! I still haven’t forgiven you. First you, now him! Will it ever end?” She yelled. She pushed herself away from him, and started running back towards the house. “ Oh no you don’t! I want answers, and I want them now!” He ran and caught up with her. He firmly gripped her arm to halt her, she turned and attacked him. “ Get your hand off me! You have no right touching me!” She smacked him, spit on him, and punched him. He let her continue for a few more minutes, before she finally tired. “ Are you done now?” He asked, pulling her closer. “ Don’t talk to me!” She spat back. “ What have I done to make you hate me?” He asked, what he thought was an innocent question. “ Let me go! You have done enough already. Now get your hand off me!” She screeched. “ Or you’ll do what? Yell? Scream? Cry?” He offered up answers. “ I would rather die then show you any weakness!” Casey just wanted to wake up from this nightmare. “ Will you just tell me how we know each other?” He asked. “ Why? So you can rub it in my face? She yelled. “ What are you talking about? Why would I rub it in your face? Look, I know I’ve seen you before, but I can’t remember. Will you just tell me? Please?” He asked once again. “ You probably don’t remember because you were drunk! It was the end of freshman year, and it was Stacy’s annual summer party. Only this time, there was alcohol, and a lot of it. Everyone around me was getting drunk and doing crazy things. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Then I turned and there you were standing in front of me, in a pair of blue swimming shorts. You were so hot and I was nervous around you. You offered me a drink, but I declined, knowing that there was probably alcohol in it. We spent the rest of the night together. See, it was special to me because you were going to be a junior, as where I was going to be a sophmore. As the night went on though, things started happening.” She paused, and Brand knew she was replaying the whole scene in her mind. He did not like the way the story was starting to go. She went on. “ You started kissing me, and I was fine with that. They were just innocent kisses, right? Well, then you began to deepen them, and I was a little scared because I had never been with a guy like that before. You finally brought me into the house though. I was nervous, because it was going to be my first time, but you told me it would be fine.” “ When we were done, you took me back downstairs. I didn’t see you for the rest of the night. I was a little upset. Then someone told me you had gone home. So I decided to go as well, knowing that I wouldn’t see you again that night. I just never imagined that I would never see you again until last night. You never called me or looked for me at school. I walked by you and you didn’t even see me. I was heart broken because you wouldn’t acknowledge me. A whole year went by, then I finally gave up thinking that you would come back for me. Then everything changed over the summer. And now I get so much attention, I don’t know what to do with it.” When she was finished, she looked at him as if she saw right through him. He was horrified by what she had told him. He remembered the party, but he vaguely remembered her. Now he really recalled her and what they had done. The very touch of her burned him. He couldn’t believe what he had done. No wonder why she hated him, he hated himself. “ Oh God, what did I do?” He asked incredulously. “ You were drunk. I understand that part. But do you recall anything about that night?” She asked, obviously, in pain. The sad part was that he didn’t, until now. He remembered the feel of her beneath him and how he had seduced her to get her upstairs. She was right, he had been drunk. “ I do now. But the only thing I remembered was the head ache I had woken up with. I had dreams of it, but that’s all I thought they were. I’m sorry, I never would have done that, or I would have at least called you. I’m so sorry!” He apologized. “ I see.” Was all she said. They stood side by side for a little bit, before she realized she was still in her ripped clothing. Brand noticed her shiver and could have kicked himself for forgetting that she was half dressed. “ Come on. We should get you home. Here, take this.” He slipped his coat around her shoulders then guided her to his BMW. Once they were in his car, he turned on the heat for her, then the radio. Snoop Dog’s voice pulsed through the speakers as he pulled away from the curb. Casey sat rigidly erect in the leather seat. She was afraid to let her guard down around him. She peered from the side of her eyes at him. He was reclined in his seat, with one hand beating a tempo against the steering wheel to the song. He kept his gaze on the road, never letting it waver. She couldn’t help but stare at him. Ryan was nice to look at, but Brand was something totally different. His raven colored hair was cut short, but fell into his eyes. His blue Abercrombie shirt set his tan off nicely and his jeans hugged lean hips. Casey knew he was wearing blue and white Nike Shox, because she remembered staring at his feet to keep from staring at him. When she dared to glance at him, she caught him looking at her. He quickly brought his gaze back to the road. Casey wondered why he had been looking at her, but then gasped. “ My purse! I left it at his house. And I forgot to tell Ryan I was leaving!” Casey felt terrible because Ryan had been the farthest from her thoughts at the moment. “ Well we can’t really go back, it would definitely create a scene with you looking like that. What if you called Ryan and asked him to grab your purse for you?” Brand suggested. “ My phones in my purse.” Casey said. “ Here,” he said reaching for his in the center console, “ use mine. You should get signal here.” He handed the phone to her. “ Thank you.” She took the phone from him, then dialed Ryan’s number from memory. “ Hello?” Came a voice on another line. “ Ryan, its Casey.” “ Casey who?” He asked, confused. His words were slurred a bit. “ Casey Winchester. Ryan, I need you to grab my purse for me and bring it to me tomorrow. Can you do that?” She asked, frustrated that he sounded drunk. “ Who is this?” Came the slurred voice again. “ Casey! Ryan please!” She pleaded. “ Ugh, this isn’t Ryan. This is Seth.” The voice said. “ What do you mean? Where’s Ryan?” She asked impatiently. “ He’s outback in the pool. Who’s this?” He asked again. “ God! Never mind. Just tell him Casey Winchester called!” She hung up the cell and placed it back in the console. “ That didn’t sound like it went well.” Brand said after awhile. “ No. The idiot was drunk!” Casey was still fuming. “ Who, Ryan?” Brand asked in astonishment.
Copyright © 2007 Devin M McDaniel |