Authors: Christina Leigh Pritchard
Nineteen
Jealousy Shows Itself
I ran back to the room with a whole six pack of cokes. “Donna, Ally, you’ll never believe who I just saw!”
“Oh, my goodness, who did you see?” Donna squealed jumping on her bed.
She’d changed into normal clothes and so had Ally. I realized I was the only one at C I N who still wore her uniform. I grabbed a shirt out of my bag and put it on.
“The suspense is killing me. Don’t tell me you saw Alex and Michael in the hall fighting over you. That would be so romantic, don’t you think? Oh, you must be so happy having two absolutely gorgeous guys after you.”
“No, they weren’t fighting in the halls; really, Donna, come down from whatever planet you’re on.” I sat down on her single bed and placed my hand over my beating heart. “I saw Frank and I think I
know
him. He looks so familiar.”
“That’s your exciting news?” Donna frowned. Ally laughed.
“That’s what I love most about Lisa Brown; her silly stories. She’s so amusing, isn’t she?”
Donna didn’t respond. She pushed play and poured some M&M’s into the popcorn bag. “I like the chocolaty taste mixed with the popcorn. It changes things, somehow.”
“Yeah, actually, I like it, too.”
“I hate it,” Ally said.
“When I was first turned,” Donna chomped on some popcorn. “I was afraid I’d never be able to eat food again. Isn’t that silly? I was a nervous wreck. All I thought about was my family and how I was going to live without them. Alex is really kind for letting us see our parents during the summers. Most of them are really old now and it’s making us realize the reality of the situation.”
“Donna, if you don’t shut up,” Ally growled, tossing her pillow at us. “I can’t hear the movie.”
“Why don’t you sit over here with us,” I suggested. Ally’s eyes narrowed. She turned onto her side, showing us her back.
“I wouldn’t want to interrupt the two of you.”
“Nonsense,” Donna said, throwing the pillow back at her. “The more the merrier.”
“That’s what I say!” I giggled, grabbing a handful of popcorn with melted chocolate. It really was terrific together. I guess when you’ve been a teenager for over twenty years you learn a lot of cool tricks. Someone else had told me about the mixture once. I didn’t think then that I would’ve liked it. But I did.
There was a tap at the door. I got up and opened it. Alex stood with Pig. He smiled, offering his hand. It was time for our ‘touching’ session. I hesitated. If I kept touching him and cuddling with him I’d end up dependent upon his touch, or worse—I’d become
his
. If I went with him right now then I would regret it later after he screamed at me or said something horrible to me. What if we ended up doing something that we couldn’t take back? We’d be stuck together at this school forever and never get away from each other. What a horrible thought.
“We’re having a movie night. I think I’ll take a rain check.” I turned away, slowly closing the door. Alex put his foot in the door and grabbed my hand. It was as if butterflies invaded my insides, flapping their wings violently. Maybe just one more night with him wouldn’t hurt. When was he going to start his ‘detox off of Alex’ program? Was that even possible?
“Why’re you so scared?” Alex wondered, gently forcing me out of the room. Donna sat up.
“Where are you going?”
“I need her for a second,” Alex answered, slamming the door fast. My heart pounded. Where was he going to take me? Was he really living on campus? Would we walk into his room in front of everyone? They’d all think I was a slut. First day of eternity and I was already a harlot. I looked down at Pig. He pranced around on his hind legs. It felt like ages since I’d seen him.
“Hi, there, Pig.” I leaned down. He backed up and I swallowed the lump in my throat. Bipolar wasn’t growling to be evil. He did it to keep those who tried to touch him safe. If I touched him, I’d lose my longevity just as all the others would. I wonder why he was afraid before I was struck, too.
That
didn’t make any sense.
“Come with me.” Alex pointed to the stairs. We took them slowly. To the left on the second floor was a pool table. Reginald, his three groupies and Michael congregated around it. I glanced over at Michael who poked his butt out as he bent over, aiming his pool stick at the cue ball. When he saw me holding Alex’s hand, he scratched, dropping his stick onto the table.
“Lisa, why?” He frowned, inching forward. “Not with him.”
“It’s not what it looks like,” I stammered. Alex pulled me closer and Michael’s lips tightened. He stomped his feet and stood only a foot away.
“It looks a lot like you’re going to his room with him; alone.”
“So what if she is. She already told you it wasn’t like that. We’ve lived in the same house for the past week and nothing has happened. I think you need to chill out and finish playing your game,” Alex said. I looked at him. His eyes sparkled and his lips trembled slightly. Was he timid?
“Lisa,” Michael grabbed my arm, jerking me away. “Don’t go with him. It’ll be a big mistake, trust me.”
Alex stood, frozen in the center of the game room. I looked up at Michael and then back at Alex. Michael’s eyes were angry, and Reginald and his groupies stood against the wall with frightened looks upon their faces. Were they really afraid? I knew I was! His grip tightened and he forced me over to the pool table. “Stay here, don’t you dare go to his room.”
“Lisa,” Alex whispered. My fingers twitched. “Please, let’s go. You and Michael can play pool tomorrow. We need to do this so that I can find out what’s wrong, remember?”
My knees weakened and I could hardly stand. I glanced over at Alex. His blue eyes saw straight through to my soul and it made me crumble like a mound of jello.
“No, Lisa, don’t go with him.”
“Dude, what’re you doing?” Reginald whispered. “You’re going a little too far. I’m not with him on this one, Alex, so don’t take it out on me later.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” Alex folded his arms across his chest. “Lisa, please come here.”
I slowly pulled away from Michael. He kicked the leg on the pool table and it collapsed. Balls rolled on the floor, falling over the edge of the balcony and smashing the hard wood floors below.
My heart pumped harder than ever before. I’d never seen him so full of rage. He grabbed the pool stick and broke it in half over his upper leg. Pig barked and growled at Michael. He stood, silently now. Reginald and his groupies slammed themselves into the wall.
“I’m outta here, man,” Reginald said, creeping towards the staircase. Alex motioned for me to come to him.
“I don’t want to go with either of you.” I wiped my eyes. Was I crying? They were both crazy. Why hadn’t I noticed Michael’s psycho side? He seemed so laid back and fun.
“Please, Lisa, I won’t hurt you.” Alex promised.
“Yeah, right.” Michael kicked the broken pool table. I winced, recoiling. I didn’t trust either one of them now. “Look what he’s done to us! He’s placed us in this prison and stolen us from our families.”
He was right. I was stuck in Lynn forever. But, Michael would’ve died in the warehouse if Alex didn’t intervene. He never would’ve gotten to spend these last twenty years with his mother; even if it was for the summers only and his mom would’ve buried him instead of the other way around. No mother should have to ever bury their own child. That’s the worst kind of punishment ever. Alex had saved his life.
I inched forward, grabbing Alex’s hand. He guided me through a corridor and up a spiral staircase. Michael stood at the end of the hall. “You’re going to regret it, Lisa Brown.”
“He’s not going to do anything to you. Michael is just jealous,” Alex whispered. “I see you’ve finally decided who you want to be with.”
“No, I guess I just figured I would stick to my original plans.”
“Liar.”
“I’m not lying. Plus, you seem to be the lesser of two evils at the moment.”
“Why do you fight yourself? I’m the man of your dreams.”
I laughed loudly, shoving him in the chest. “You’re the man of my nightmares.”
“So you do think about me! I bet you wake up seeing my smiling face.”
“You don’t smile.”
“Well, you imagine me with a smile, anyway.”
“Your ego is so inflated!”
“I do have a big ego.” Alex smirked. He pulled me inside his room. It was small with only enough room for a twin sized bed and end table. I sat on the bed and he stood in front of me, peering down. His hair fell around his face and he placed his hands on my waist.
“You sure you’re talking about your ego?” I swallowed, feeling myself tremble. He wasn’t talking about ego at all. I could feel his thoughts. He chuckled, climbing on top of me. He sat across my lap and took my face in his hands. “No, definitely not talking about your ego.”
“I’m happy; you make me happy, Lisa. I’ve been empty for such a long time and I never thought I would ever find love. Everyone here has someone at least most do and I thought I was going to be alone for all eternity.”
“You still might be.” I leaned back, farther away from him. He put one hand on my back and pushed me forward so that I was inches from his face. My lips had their very own heartbeat. Did I actually want to kiss him? He trapped me in this smelly town for all eternity. I’d never be able to go home to Florida and—
“I’m sorry; please don’t hate me for what I’ve done. I only did it because I wanted to keep you from harm. I didn’t want you to be miserable anymore.”
His lips gently pressed against mine. I could feel his teeth behind them. My heart fluttered and for the first time in my life, I knew I was truly loved. I could feel every emotion he possessed in just a single second. He really struggled with himself to stay in control so that he wouldn’t go too far with me even though he knew I wanted him to do more. I lay on my back and he rested his body across mine. I grew breathless and wanted nothing more than
more
. I couldn’t get close enough to him. Even with his body smashed against mine, it wasn’t enough. I wanted him inside me. He had to do it.
He wouldn’t
. He struggled against himself, crying out softly in such agony.
“I love you, Lisa Brown,” Alex whispered. I took deep breaths, clutching his shirt. He pulled me up into his lap. I tugged at his shirt, trying to remove it from his body. He ripped it away and I placed my hands on him. He was warm and strong.
Alex’s hands crept inside my shirt, following the curve of my back. I arched forward at his touch. It was gentle and yet firm. He kissed the nape my neck. I wrapped myself around him and ran my fingers through his hair. It was soft and made me tingle. Or maybe it was where he’d placed his hands.