KISS (7 page)

He felt a shift and sank gratefully
into her embrace. His mommy was loving and would always protect
him.

“
Bumblebee?”

“
Yes, mommy.”

“
Would you tell me if
something was wrong? It hurts mommy when you’re sad.”

“
I promise.” He wouldn’t
keep anything from Mommy if it made her sad. He like to see his
mommy happy. He grinned happily once he saw she was satisfied with
his answer. “You are my world honey. Mommy loves you.” He laid his
head in her lap while she stroked his hair. They would get through
this together.

***

Iris walked the halls, she felt like
everyone was watching her and the feeling unsettled her. She was
the runt of the pack surrounded by wolves who wanted nothing but to
see her fall. A frown marred her pretty face when she noted an
unfamiliar female approaching her. She felt her hackles rise; after
snapping earlier at Crystal she didn’t feel very trusting at the
moment. Things with Axel seemed off, and she still couldn’t shake
the feeling that she was the main attraction at a freak show. Iris
held the retort that threaten to spill from her lips when the girl
steps fell in line with her own.

“
Did you hear?” she asked.
Iris continued walking hoping the girl got the hint. She sighed
internally as the girl continued. “Axel and Brad got into a fight.”
Iris didn’t spare the girl a glance, she didn’t understand what
this had to do with her.

“
Word is the fight was over
you.” The girl said stopping Iris in her tracks by standing in
front of her. Iris watched her with a blank expression, the girl
was waiting for her to give something away but she wouldn’t give
anything away. She probably was one of Crystal’s lackeys
anyway.

“
Iri! I’ve been looking all
over for you,” Natasha said running up to her. She gave the
brunette who held Iris up a cool glance.

“
Becky,” Natasha said
coolly. Iris watched in surprise as the girl Becky flushed before
taking off.

“
What the hell was that
about?” Iris asked.

“
You alright?” Natasha shot
off cutting her off. Iris wondered if she purposely change the
topic or if she was really concerned about her. She did act out of
character. There was so much going on, her emotions were running
rampant between Axel and Cheese.

Why am I so conflicted? I
mean they’re both hot.

“
Yeah, I was just fed up
with her crap. I don’t even know why I wasted my time with her,”
she griped. She knew why. She did it for her mother. Crystal and
her friends were the kind of friends her mother would expect her to
bring home.

“
I only stuck around for
you. You should’ve seen her face after you walked away. It was
hilarious,” they both giggled exiting the school. “Well you want a
ride home?” Natasha asked her heading towards her car. It wasn’t
the first time she offered and Iris always rejected the idea. She
was still terrified of the possibility that everyone she called a
friend would use her for money and exploit her. It happened to the
rich and famous all the time. People always called them snobbish
and snotty when they kept to themselves and within their social
circle. They did it because it was safe. You wouldn’t have to worry
about someone who’s just as wealthy as you, using you for money.
They had their own.

“
Thanks, but you know my
ride is on its way. I’m good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“
Have it your way. Axel is
a good guy. Different but good.” Iris frowned after Natasha’s
retreating form. Why would she say he was different? It didn’t
sound good when she said it. Was she trying to warn her about
something? She climbed into the vehicle when Ryan pulled up. He was
a life saver, he never drove anything ostentatious always taking
her feelings into account. He was so thoughtful of her. She climbed
into the Ford fusion and looked up in surprise. Chester was
stretched out in the back seat. He reached over and dragged her
into the vehicle. She giggled falling across the seat into his
lap.

“
Cheese what are you
doing?”

“
I’ve been in the studio
all day and I’m bored. You left me. You should come with me. You
would have so much fun. You could come on tour with me.” Iris
fought the flush that started in the pit of her stomach and worked
its way up; clearly she was a boiling pot with the lid on ready to
explode. He was always jesting with her. She still couldn’t stop
the dramatic thump in her chest. Her heart wouldn’t be able to
handle it. She was simple and plain. She was just Iris.

Chester watched the blushing girl and
he groan. He was feeling stiff and in more than one places. The
blushing girl didn’t help matters. She was so beautiful and she
didn’t see it. He would give anything to keep her by his side. She
was the one constant never changing. “No hug for me?” He watched as
she mumbled before flinging herself in his arms. It was where she
belonged. He sighed blissfully when she buried her face in the
crook of his neck. Her honey color eyes were beautiful. They were
so warm, the brown so light that they looked golden, long lashes
fanned her eyes and he smiled. There was no mascara or anything or
her face. She always complained that it made her eyes stick. He
chuckled at her. She hated makeup to her mother’s horror. He
thought she was perfect. There were other qualities she couldn’t
hide no matter how hard she tried, like her ample breasts and
shapely hips.

“
How was your
day?”

“
Pretty boring. Nothing
spectacular or anything happened,” her mind immediately flashed
back to Axel and the comments Becky made. Was it true? Why would he
be fighting? His blues eyes flashed in her mind. Then she gazed
into Chester’s violet ones. God, she was so screwed.

When they arrived, her mother was at
the entrance waving and calling for her. Iris wanted to become a
bug, and scurry away into the darkness forgotten and alone. “I’m
sure it’s not that bad.” Chester laughed, noting her
reaction.

“
Jean-Pierre is here. He
wanted you to walk in one of his shows Iris! How
wonderful!”

“
Then again maybe it is.
See ya. I’ll be in the studio.” Iris stood after his retreating
thunderstruck. Why would he leave her?

Traitor! Sellout! You hot
hot betrayer. Damn you!

She stood looking after him forlornly
as he escaped. If he wanted to take her with him, this was the
perfect time to do it. She remain the sole speck on the glass
before it was obliterated by a wet paper-towel driven repeatedly
into her with circular motions until she no longer existed. This
was probably just an excuse for Jean-Pierre to feel her up. She
thought they liked their models taller and skinner.

“
Hi honey,” her mother said
pulling her into a hug. She shot daggers at Jean-Pierre who stood
behind her mother.

What a pig.

She entered the house with her mother
and set her things down.

“
Well, I leave you two to
it. I told Angelo that you’ll be using a portion of the studio to
do your work. He’s at the gallery right now.”

“
Perfect. I’ll be able to
work in peace.” Iris shivered and it wasn’t a good thing.
Jean-Pierre made her nervous. Why was a twenty-four year old man
interested in a seventeen year old girl like her anyway?

Once they were alone in her dad’s
studio she sneered at him. “I know what you’re up too, and it’s not
happening? Trying to get me alone and make your move.”

“
Why don’t you call me
Jean,” he whispered in her ear. The sound reverberated in her ear
making her shiver. She held her breath and attempted to back away,
but he moved closer to her.

“
It seems I’m not the only
one with sinful thoughts parading around in their mind.”

Iris bit her lip. She was afraid it
was going to bleed. Her fist remain tight at her sides. Jean-Pierre
was dangerous and his eyes glittered mysteriously. “I’ll be your
lip. I won’t cry. You can bite me.” He whispered seductively into
the air. Iris body grew warm, he was experienced mature and
everything she wasn’t. She wanted to return to the safety of
Chester’s arms.

“
I don’t think I’ll be able
to walk in your show.” She gasped.

Dear god, don’t let me
sound needy. This is not happening. He’s a perve!

“
Why not!” he exclaimed.
“You are perfect!” he said his hands going to her lips. Iris felt
like she been touch by fire. It was such an intimate gesture. She
held still completely out of her element. His hands travelled up
her sides; his touch feathery. Iris hadn’t realized her breathing
had been coming in short pants. He’d woven a spell. She stood
before Asmodeus, vulnerable and terrified of his power. The ring of
her phone broke the spell. Her hand tremored as she place the phone
to ear.

“
Are you done yet
Iri?”

“
Chester,” she sighed
happily into the phone. She backed away slowly away from
Jean-Pierre and once she was near the door she fled. She didn’t
know why her traitorous body responded to him. What was wrong with
her? She smiled joyously when she spotted Cheese on her bed looking
at his phone. His blond hair styled messily on his head. When he
turned those violet eyes on her all thoughts of Jean-Pierre were
obliterated from her mind. She climb into bed and snuggled with
him.

“
Are going to do
it?”

“
No, fashion isn’t really
my thing. Thanks for deserting me by the way.” He howled and rolled
away. “That hurt Iri.”

“
Serves you right for
leaving me,” she huffed out. He smiled as they both lay face to
face staring deeply into each other eyes, there legs
intertwined.

“
I will never leave you,”
he whispered. Iris smiled at his declaration and knew everything
would be okay.

9

Innocent Rose

Iris waved at Chester forlornly before
going to school. She wished his declaration of never leaving her
side would mean more, but they were only friends. She remained the
prime specimen in a lab, people continued to stare and whisper. Did
something else happen that she wasn’t aware of? Suddenly, one of
the people in question walked up to her. She looked at him
perplexed.

“
Sorry, didn’t know you an
Axel were dating. Be careful, he’s dangerous you know.”

She frown further. What was Brad jocks
doing talking to her? Even though she was ranked among the popular
she remained in her own class. She wanted to rebut him, but she bit
her tongue. Why would she please any of them? She ignored him and
continued to her next class.

“
See ya round, innocent
rose.” He chuckled as he walked away. Iris eyes widen for a moment.
Was that what this was about? Her virginity? This was clearly a
testosterone filled issue. It had nothing to do with her. She shook
his comment off and continued to her class. Settling into her seat,
it felt strange to not have Axel sit behind her. Oddly class had
been boring, Natasha sat to her left rocking in her desk. The
sounds she made were in sync with the ticking of the clock. She
wondered what Axel was doing and the reasoning behind his absence
in school. She hoped it didn’t have anything to do with his mother
being sick. He held up his end of the bargain, she would have to
give him her number.

“
Hello anyone
there?”

“
Huh?” she looked up at
Natasha. “I wondered what’s got you spacing out.”

“
I was just think about
Axel.”

“
Really?”

“
No Natasha not like that.
I just, oh I don’t know. He wasn’t in class and Brad said something
pretty weird to me.”

“
What did he
say?”

“
He called me innocent
rose.”

“
Well, from the sounds of
it. Axel kicked as his butt. He was banged up pretty bad. You know,
if you want to see him that bad he doesn’t live too far from the
school. Here’s his address.” Natasha said passing a piece of paper
to her. Iris looked at her in surprise. She didn’t know Tasha knew
him.

“
Our parents are friends,”
she said answering her unspoken question. She watched her friend
retreat down the hall. Why was everyone acting so strange? She
wondered if there was anything in the lunch meat.

Iris found herself in front of a nice
two story two car garaged home. It was the type of home you’d
expect to see in suburbia middle class America. The red brick told
of his traditional style, and the bushes were trimmed meticulously.
It was a nice colonial styled home. She stood facing the door with
her hand raised and wondered why she was even here. She was just
here to drop off Axel’s homework and hightail it back home. She
glanced behind her. She had Ryan parked the car a couple of block
away from the house.

“
I don’t even know what I’m
doing here,” she said aloud running her hands through her
hair.