Authors: April Brookshire
“If you do that, I’ll write my name o
n your forehead while
you
sleep.” One hand moved up my waist and was just under my breast.
“That wouldn’t be a good idea. Someone might make the mistake of thinking you had a girlfriend. I couldn’t imagine anything worse happening than that!”
My mock horror made him chuckle.
“Very funny
, princess.” Caleb rolled me over onto my back with him on top and
damn
did he feel good there. We started kissing again and I slowly inched his shirt off.
“What are you doing?” he mumbled
against my lips.
I quickly
tugged his shirt over his head, so just his arms were still in it. “I want to see your tats!”
He lean
ed back, pulled his shirt over his head and gave me a good look. Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. He looked so fucking hot! It made a girl want to give up her virginity. I guess I should’ve known since he had one eyebrow pierced, that both his nipples were pierced too. His body was ripped. I’d never noticed him going to the gym, but he must fit it in sometime with abs like that.
On his chest wa
s a really cool Chinese dragon tattoo done in red and black. I touched it and he asked, “Do you like it?”
“Yeah, do you have any other ones?”
He started to unbutton his jeans and I put my hands over his. “Wait! I don’t want to see that one!” I don’t, right? I’d probably faint and never be able to face him again.
He laughed and said ambiguously with a strange
glint in his eyes, “I’m just kidding. Maybe.”
Now I
had to wonder if he really did have a tattoo somewhere under those jeans. Damn him! The idea of getting a little payback popped into my head. I leaned up to lick his nipple, flicking the ring. He shuddered as I sucked his nipple into my mouth.
“Gianna,
” he moaned. “
Fuck.
We should stop before this goes too far.” He didn’t sound as if he really meant it.
“That won’t happen,” I
told him confidently. “My first time isn’t going to be with a player.”
He
sprang away from me so fast I swore I felt a whoosh of air. “Whoa, first time? You’re a
virgin
?” The way he said it, you’d think I’d just told him I had the clap.
“Yeah, so what?
Why’s that so bad?” Anger was building in me at his attitude.
“
I do
not
mess around with virgins.” He picked his shirt up and yanked it back over his head.
“You’re an asshole,” I
told him, not believing his attitude. “Peace out, motherfucker!” I snatched my bag off where it’d fallen on the floor and left the apartment. My whole point had been that I’d never have sex with
him
, but the way he’d acted you’d think I threw myself at him.
As I walk
ed to my car, I was thankful I didn’t have to drive home with him. I’d have probably followed through with number one on the list and punched him in the face. I was pissed on the way home, until I realized the best way to handle how he just treated me was to get a little payback. Now, I just had to figure out how to do it.
CHAPTER
TEN
“In youth and beauty, wisdom is but rare!”
-Homer
CALEB
After Gianna stormed
out of the apartment in a huff, I laid back on my bed. Crap! I almost had sex with a virgin. Crap! I almost had sex with my stepsister! We may not be blood-related, but I still thought us hooking up was something most people would frown upon.
Besides, Julie may
have liked me, but I didn’t think she’d like me banging her daughter. That woman had some serious issues when it came to her child and trying to live through her. She saw Gianna as her perfect little angel. No wonder she’d never caught on to Gianna’s Saturday night activities. All Julie could see was perfect looks and pom-poms.
Speaking of pom-poms, I hope
d Gianna realized she’d seen the end of those. I did have to admit, though, that I loved seeing her in her little cheerleading outfit at the football game Friday night. It gave me lots of school spirit.
Go Team!
I wonder
ed again what number thirteen on her list meant. Since I was blackmailing her, I was sure I could make her tell me. It was probably some stupid girl thing. Back to the blackmailing thing, shouldn’t I have been getting more out of it? I guess I was having fun messing around with her life. Plus, I got the satisfaction of being in control.
Maybe
we didn’t just almost have sex. She did say she had no intention of giving it up to a guy like me. That she didn’t want her first time to be with a player. It was like she was asking me to prove her wrong.
No! Don’t think like that!
I didn’t sleep with virgins. They were too emotional about sex.
What kind of tattoo did she want?
Probably a butterfly or daisy. Chicks always got stuff like that. Speaking of chicks, it was hilarious when Gianna got jealous of that girl at the diner. What was her name again? All I vaguely remembered about her was the weird sounds she made during sex. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned to that girl the night we hooked up that I always ate at the Rocky Mountain Diner.
When I was back at my dad’s house,
I parked out front. I hoped it wasn’t awkward between me and Gianna, but I mostly hoped she wasn’t still pissed. From the foyer, I heard Julie and my dad talking in the kitchen. In the living room Gianna sat in front of the television playing video games with Chance.
“Hey,” I
cautiously greeted.
Their heads turned around almost as one.
“Caleb! Watch me play!” Chance demanded.
Gianna smiled
sweetly at me and I wondered what that was all about. “Hi, Caleb.”
“Hi?” I
repeated, confused. Wasn’t she still the least bit pissed at me? Wasn’t she the one who said
peace out, motherfucker
?
I sat
down on the couch behind them and watched them play. Chance was whooping Gianna’s ass at Mario Kart. I’d hooked up my Wii the other day and he was now obsessed with the game.
Gianna turned around and whispered to me, “
Caleb?”
“Yeah?”
I answered warily. What was with the whispering? I leaned forward and so did she.
“You
remember what we were talking about earlier?”
“Yes,” I replied, no
t exactly sure what she was referring to.
“Well, I think you were
right,” she whispered.
“Right about what?”
I asked, still confused.
“We’l
l talk about it later,” she said on a conspiratorial wink. “Come to my room later.”
That sounded like an invitation for more than talking.
“Dinner’s ready!” Julie called from the dining room. Okay, not sure what Gianna was talking about, but I guess I’d be finding out later.
We sat down to eat the spaghetti and garlic bread Julie made
. Gianna was acting oddly happy, which was making me wonder what the hell happened between her leaving my mom’s apartment and her coming here. After dinner, I went upstairs and turned on my laptop. I felt weird going over to Gianna’s room, but eventually I found myself knocking on her door.
“Come in!”
I shut the door behind me, almost bracing myself for whatever it is she wanted to talk about. She sat at her desk in front of her computer, watching a music video online.
“You said you wanted to talk about something I
was right about earlier?” I said slowly.
“Caleb,
the way you acted about me being a virgin, well, you were right.”
“I was?”
Where was she going with this?
“Yes, you were
, and I’ve decided it’s time I lost my virginity.” She was serious about this from her earnest expression.
“Gianna, I told you I don’t mess around with virgins,” I
reminded her.
“No, not you.
Jared.” she blithely blurted out.
“What the fuck
, Gianna? You’re not having sex with Jared!” I yelled.
“Shh! Do you want my family to hear?
And why not Jared? He’s one of my best friends and from the kiss he gave me last night, I can tell we have some chemistry. He isn’t a jerk like Josh or a player like you. He’s perfect!”
Okay, I didn’t see any of this coming. She
was technically right. If she was going to lose her virginity, she should lose it to a guy like Jared. That didn’t mean I’d allow it. “When do you plan on this happening?”
“I figure the sooner the better. I’ll see Jared on Saturda
y, so probably then.”
Good to know when I
needed to be prepared to stop this mistake. I would stay informed of her plans and stop them. “Why are you telling
me
this?”
“Duh!
I need your help.”
“You need my help to lose your virginity . . . to Jared?” I ask
ed skeptically.
“Of course, you’
re the biggest manwhore I know. You can give me pointers and help me out with what lingerie to wear. We’ll go to Victoria’s Secret together. You know, you may as well add this to my list. Lose my virginity, number fourteen.”
“
All right,” was all I could manage to choke out.
What the hell ha
d I done? I wanted to be a bad influence on Gianna for the right reasons, not the wrong ones. Sure I’d had sex with a lot of girls. I’d be the first to admit I was a manwhore who loved easy girls, but I couldn’t let that happen to Gianna. She was too special to turn into me
or
one of those easy girls. She deserved her first time to be special, too.
Most of all, I d
idn’t want anyone else touching her. Not that douche Jared, not that date-rapist Josh, no one. Since I couldn’t have sex with her, the best plan was for Gianna to stay a virgin. If I couldn’t touch her, she’d just have to be happy staying untouched. I wondered how she’d take it if I tried blackmailing her into staying a virgin.
GIANNA
After Caleb left my room, I buried my face in a pillow and let all of my
pent up laughter out. That was the funniest thing ever! I had a hard time controlling my laughter when he was here, but I did. That was what he got for treating me like a leper for being a virgin. And I meant it when I said earlier today I’d never lose my virginity to a player like him. I had no intention of having sex with Jared on Saturday night. I mean, I was in no way against the idea of sex, but I figured it’d happen when it was meant to. It just hadn’t happened yet for me.
The look on his face, or I should say the many looks on his face were hilarious.
Shock, jealousy, irritation, anger all flashed over his handsome mug. Oh, it was a beautiful sight! He probably thought he’d kept his cool too, but I was looking out for it. I was deciding how far I should take this revenge. I thought I’d take it as far as I could without actually having sex with Jared. Caleb deserved it for blackmailing and insulting me.
I knew this would work. I had to deal with Josh’s jealous and possessive ass for long enough to know that no matter what Caleb
felt about me or my virgin status, the thought of me having sex with Jared would bother him. Caleb may not want to be with me, but being territorial just came naturally to guys.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
“
The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.
”
GIANNA
Waking up the next morning with a feeling of anticipation, I felt better than I ever had on a Monday morning. I hurriedly dressed for school and went downstairs. Grabbing a breakfast bar and Gatorade, I sat at the kitchen table, tossing my backpack on the chair next to me.
My mom
snatched the Gatorade from my hand and replaced it with a bottle of water. “Honey, do you realize how many calories are in just one Gatorade?”
“No
, mom.” The bottle of water got a scowl from me. My mom got another one as she left the kitchen.
Caleb walked in and awareness coursed through me
. Did he have to be so hot? His body was freaking ridiculous. He was obviously irritated. This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with our little chat last night, would it? I hoped so.
“Good morning
, Caleb!” I said cheerfully.
“Morning,” he grumbled
while pulling the Gatorade I wanted back out of the fridge.
“So when are we going shopping?”
He finally looked at me, eyes wary. “Shopping? For what?”
I
leaned forward and whispered, “For Operation Pop My Cherry.”
He was in the mi
ddle of taking a drink and spewed red liquid all over the countertop. I turned my head to the wall, holding back laughter.
“A
re you serious, Gianna?” he asked, his eyes flaring wide.
“Of course I’m serious.
You’re a dude. You’ll be able to help me pick the sexiest outfit for Jared.” I thought my patient tone was a nice touch.
“You want me to go with you to pick out an outfit for you to lose your virginity in?”
His own tone of disbelief and horror was priceless.
“Well, I probably won’t be losing my virginity in the outfit.
The goal is to drive Jared so wild he rips it off me first,” I explain coyly.
“Please someone save me,”
he muttered distractedly.
“What was that?” I
pretended not to hear.
“Nothing, we’ll go later this week, I guess,” he
agreed reluctantly.
“Thanks
, Caleb. You’re the best stepbrother ever!” This revenge stuff was fun. Picking up my backpack, I slung it over my shoulder.
“Wait, Gianna,
I’ll drive you today.”
“Why?”
“Just do what I say,” he barked out irritably.
“Um, okay,” I
said quietly. Why would he want to drive me?
We
drove to school in silence. I couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked in a white Henley and dark blue jeans. The Henley was tucked in only at the front, showing his belt, which added a bit of sexiness.
He managed to get a close spot
in the school parking lot. I grabbed the door handle but he put a hand out to stop me. He was about to say something but changed his mind, shaking his head. People approached both of us as we got out of the car. If you put a camera in their hands, they’d be paparazzi.
I
zeroed in on Josh standing by the front doors, staring our way. God, I’d totally forgotten about him. I glanced over at Caleb to see him glaring back at Josh. I was surprised Josh didn’t come up to me. Maybe he was taking this breakup better than I thought he would. Well, that was a relief. I had been worried he’d do something crazy or embarrassing.
P
eople crowded us as we entered the front doors. I mostly ignored them and nodded my head here and there. My gaze met Josh’s when I passed by him. “Hi, Gianna.”
“Hi
, Josh.” Deciding that was polite enough, I kept walking.
Some girl
I’d never seen came up and touched Caleb’s arm, hanging on as if she were afraid to let go. He smiled charmingly at her and she giggled like an idiot. I had the urge to pull her bleached hair. At least my naturally dark blonde hair didn’t look like straw. I couldn’t believe I was getting jealous again over a player. It defied logic. A guy like him shouldn’t even be taken seriously.
I
ignored their flirting and walked to my locker. So much for Hannah, I guess she was last week’s flavor like I’d thought. Speak of the she-devil; she was waiting by my locker.
“Hi
, Hannah.” Turning the dial, I unlocked my locker and unloaded a book from my backpack to replace it with another. Finding a Gatorade I’d left there on Friday, I opened it and took a big gulp. What my mom didn’t know didn’t hurt her.
“Do you know what your stepbrother did to me on Friday night?”
Hannah hissed angrily.
I
thought to myself,
do I want to know?
But I instead said to her, “Nope.”
She stomped
her foot, and I thought,
oh my god did she just stomp her foot?
“I asked him if he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend!”
Oh no, the G-word. That was taboo with Caleb.
“And do you know what he did?” she asked insistently.
“No
pe,” I repeated, hoping she would just go away.
“He laughed and told me
, ‘As long as you’re okay with an open relationship.’ What the hell is that, Gianna? I can be his girlfriend as long as he’s allowed to be with other girls. That defeats the whole purpose of being his girlfriend!” Hannah screeched, oblivious of the attention she was drawing to herself. Two sophomore boys were her rapt audience.
I manage
d to hold back my laughter, but at the same time I thought,
what a creep Caleb was
. But then, it’d been his whole purpose, to discourage Hannah from thinking relationship-type thoughts.
Before I had
to suffer any more of Hannah’s whining one of Josh’s friends came up to me. “Hey, Gianna, can I talk to you for a minute?”
I
gave him a grateful smile. “Sure, Seth, do you want to walk with me to class?”
His green eyes
lit up. “I’d love to.” I’d always liked Seth. He was such a sweet guy. He was kind of cute, too, with brown hair and green eyes. He played on the football team with Josh and we’d chatted in the past.
While we
were strolling down the hall, he cleared his throat nervously. “Josh told me about you two breaking up. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not,” I told him
. Truthfully, I really wasn’t sorry at all. Josh suffocated me with his attention and possessiveness. It felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, the weight of a smothering ex-boyfriend.
His expression transformed from nervous to
relieved. “I know this is kind of soon, but I was wondering if maybe you’d want to go out with me after the game on Friday night?”
Hearing an obnoxious
giggle, I turned my head around to see Caleb and that idiot girl leaning into each other in a flirtatious manner. I spun back to the guy next to me. “That sounds like fun, Seth.”
His shocked face
made me smile. Seth reached out for my hand. “Thank you.”
“What?” I asked,
laughing. Did he just thank me for agreeing to go on a date with him?
“Oh
, I mean, I’ll meet you in the parking lot after the game,” he rushed to say, blushing.
“Okay, see you later,” I
responded, entering my first class. I’d never thought of Seth in a romantic way before and I hoped I didn’t regret going out with him. I hadn’t foreseen him asking me out, being Josh’s friend and all. I probably would’ve said no, but seeing Caleb flirting with another girl after the weekend we just had made me jealous as hell. So, I figured, why not?
My first few classes
were a nightmare. News spread fast about me and Josh breaking up. I’d had three more guys ask me out already. I declined by saying I was already dating someone new. Hopefully news would spread just as fast about me being off the market again. A lot of girls liked Josh so he was probably going through the same thing.
Hurrying to
third period across the building, I felt someone grab me from behind and pull me out of a set of doors leading to football field. As I was pushed up against the brick wall, I saw it was Josh who’d yanked me out of the building.
“What are you doing
, Josh?” I yelled at him, getting scared at the hostility in his eyes.
“I should be the one asking that,” he
gritted out. “What’s this I hear that you’re already dating someone new, Gianna? Since when? Were you cheating on me the entire time?”
I fought against his hold, but he was too strong.
“No, of course not. And I’m not really dating anyone else yet. I have a date Friday night, that’s all.”
He pushed his body harder against mine.
“With who?”
“None of your business!”
I tried pushing back against him, alarm flashing through me, but couldn’t move.
He
squeezed my jaw roughly with one hand and planted his lips onto mine. His tight grip was hurting my face and I couldn’t help crying. “Shh, don’t cry, baby. I’m sorry. It’s just that I love you so much and the thought of you with someone else drives me fucking insane. Tell me you won’t be with anyone else, baby.”
Not wanting to antagonize him, but refusing to get back together, I told him,
“We’re not getting back together, Josh.”
His face turning red, he grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed
me against the wall. I cried out from the pain of hitting my back and head against the brick. “Don’t say that!” he screamed at me.
I start
ed crying harder because he was still hurting me. “Please let go of me, Josh!”
He
swooped in for another kiss, but I turned my face to the side and his lips met my cheek. Enraged, he slammed me against the wall again, but the doors suddenly opened and a P.E. class filed out. He released me at once and I took the opportunity to run away from him and around the building. I didn’t stop until I reached Caleb’s car in the parking lot. Checking the doors, they were locked, so I circled around to the other side of the car and crouched down against the side of it. I was worried Josh would come looking for me and I didn’t want him to find me if he did.
I pull
ed out my cell from the front of my backpack and sent Caleb a text.
Me
:
Can you give me a ride home?
I was relieved when he answered immediately.
Caleb:
Right now?
Me
:
Yes PLEASE!
Caleb:
Ok meet me at my car
No problem
, I thought to myself. I still sat against the side of his car when he showed up. “What are you doing down there?”
I quickly wiped
my face with my hand and said nonchalantly, “Just waiting for you.”
“Why were you crying?”
“I wasn’t crying,” I denied, then changed the subject, “Hey, if you don’t want to miss class, I can just take your car and pick you up after school.”
“When
did you get the impression I gave a fuck whether or not I missed class?” His hazel eyes still roved over my face, taking in what I was sure were red eyes and blotchy cheeks. “Come on, get in the car.”
I had to circle the car again
to the passenger side. Once we were out of the parking lot and on the street, he demanded, “Tell me why you were hiding on the side of my car, crying.”