Chapter 12: Flashback

They threw Christian in the pool with a big splash, and I thought he was finally getting his payback after years of tormenting people.

But I was wrong. It was just his teammates’ way to celebrate that they won the soccer tournament. And since he was the captain of their team, he was the one who got thrown in the pool.

Eventually I was done eating my burger, and it seemed like Simon had been waiting for it because he immediately tried to start a conversation.

“So…How have you been? I’ve barely seen you lately.”

I wanted to roll my eyes but didn’t want to be rude, so I frowned instead. Truth was that we saw each other at school almost every day. We even had several classes together.

“Good. I’ve been busy with this big biology project,” I replied. Then I mentally slapped myself. Why did I say that? We took the same class, dammit! He knew that.

That’s why I felt the need to elaborate, just to make him understand that I was busy. Too busy for him, anyway.

I hadn’t done anything to lead him on, and the fact that I always tried to avoid him should give him a hint that I wasn’t interested. My problem was that he was too dense to understand.

“…and I am trying to get a better grade. You know, working together with Keesha doesn’t really help much.”

I giggled a bit, since we both knew Keesha was really laid back when it came to homework. Sometimes, a little too laid back, and I had to help her out.

But I didn’t mind doing a little extra. Especially if it meant that I didn’t have to deal with horny guys I didn’t like. Like Simon.

“Yeah. I’ve been kind of busy too,” he said, and I tried to look interested. “My dad’s been needing some help at his office. He’s been too caught up with constructions to be able to get the paperwork done. So, I…you know.”

“You help out a bit?” I said and filled in the blanks. “Wow. That’s impressive.”

Simon smiled and blushed. “Thanks. But it’s only the easiest parts, though. Like sorting different papers into different folders, shred things, and stuff like that.

“But it’s nice to earn some money. I’m saving up for a new car. Dad’s old pickup isn’t exactly a chick magnet.”

I laughed awkwardly. Everybody knew Simon had a weakness for old cars. Mustangs especially. And not surprisingly, he had a favorite model he just had to get. A classic that cost a fortune.

“Cool,” I replied. Then neither of us said anything. Me, because I didn’t want to talk, and him, probably because he couldn’t think of anything interesting to say.

He just kept scratching his arm or combed through his hair while he chuckled nervously for no reason at all.

“So…want to dance?” he asked at last, and I sighed. No matter how badly I wanted to say no, I kind of had to.

I didn’t have any excuse since Keesha obviously had ditched me, and I didn’t have much else to do, anyway.

Despite that, I let him beg for a short minute before I followed him, relieved that he at least had the decency to keep a little distance between us and didn’t try to grab my hand.

The second we entered the living room where all the furniture was removed to give room for sweaty, half-drunk people, I missed being outside. It was too warm, and the music was too loud.

Not to mention that I hated crowds. Then I found that it actually was easier to pretend that I was dancing with someone else but Simon and started to loosen up a bit.

Until he wrapped his arm around my lower back and started grinding against my thigh. That’s when I’d had enough.

“I’m thirsty!” I shouted above the music. Simon looked surprised.

“But we just started dancing!” he shouted back. And he was right. Bruno Mars wasn’t even done singing “24K Magic,” yet I was so done that I couldn’t get out fast enough.

Simon offered to get us something to drink, and I told him I’d wait outside. But just as I reached the hall that led to the backyard, I met Keesha and Brad.

“Where the heck have you been?” I exclaimed, and Keesha looked guilty at Brad, who snickered with a self-satisfaction that couldn’t be misinterpreted.

“We… uhm.”

“We got ourselves a room,” Brad stated, and he grinned even more widely.

“Okay! No further explanation needed!” I exclaimed and held my ears.

“What have you been up to?” Keesha asked, then hollered when she saw my face. “That bad, huh? Where is he now?”

“I don’t know. Either at the bar or outside waiting for me.”

“Oh. You should go then.”

Then we looked at each other before we burst into laughter.

“Why are you so mean to him?” she asked and faked a pout, but I couldn’t care less. “He’s a nice guy.”

“And I don’t care, so shut up. Let’s dance.”

So that’s what we did. One song. Two songs. Several songs. We danced until we were sweaty and hoarse from singing along with the music.

Then we went over to the bar to get something to drink and found Simon still sitting there.

I hoped for the longest that he’d found someone else to talk to or maybe a new girl to help him through the night.

But the way his head hung low and shoulders hunched forward while he stared into a red cup filled with whatever told me that his mood wasn’t the best.

“Yo, Simon!” Brad said and nudged him, and as soon as Simon saw us, he went from being serious and thoughtful, to being cheerful as ever.

“Hey, guys! Where have you been?”

Keesha and I glanced at each other, and both knew that Simon was pretty wasted. His eyes were dazed, and his speech was slurred, and his smile was way too wide to be real.

Brad leaned over to say something to him, and Simon snickered and wiggled his eyebrows. That made Keesha slap Brad’s arm, since it was pretty obvious what he’d said, and I laughed until my stomach hurt.

Simon got up from his chair and took a few steps until he managed to find his balance. He was drunk, all right—And now he was stumbling toward me.

Luckily, Keesha stopped him and pushed him up against the bar where she ordered a bottle of water. Then she forced Simon to drink it.

“Can we go outside?” I said into her ear so Simon wouldn’t hear, and I begged her with my eyes.

And with a sympathetic smile, she led the way while I followed suit.

What we didn’t notice though, was that Brad and Simon followed too. Not until Simon suddenly stood right behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“You’re beautiful tonight,” he mumbled and smiled the way only a drunk man can. “As always.”

I was so startled by his sudden approach that I jumped away from him with a little scream. That made his smile disappear and he looked defeated.

“Why are you always avoiding me, Skylar? Why don’t you like me? Have I done something wrong?”

He looked so sad that I actually wanted to give him a hug, but since I didn’t want to lead him on, I just stood there. Keesha and Brad found it best to go somewhere else and left me on my own.

“Simon…,” I started, but I didn’t really know what to say or do. I was afraid he’d take everything the wrong way.

If I was too nice, he’d think he still had a chance, and if I was too honest, he’d probably break down and cry. That’s why I sighed and weighed my words carefully.

“I don’t have anything against you. You know that. I just…”

“Oh really?” he nearly shouted. Then he tried to calm himself.

“Look, Skylar. For the last year, I’ve been trying to find a way to show you…To tell you…Fuck it! I’m in love with you! And you keep pushing me away like I’m some sort of creep. I don’t know what to do! I’m crazy about you!”

He reached out for my hand, and I let him take it. But when he tried to entangle his fingers with mine, I instantly backed away. This didn’t feel right at all.

“See? That’s what I’m talking about! You keep avoiding me, and I can’t take it anymore! I just…Please give me a chance, Sky. I promise I’ll treat you like a princess. I just want to show you how much you mean to me.”

A sudden boldness made him pull me into an embrace, and there was no doubt about his state of mind. I could clearly feel a large bulge squeezed between us.

“I can’t hide it any longer. This is what you do to me, Sky. And it fucking hurts! But do you know what hurts more? My heart! I can’t stop thinking about you. I dream about you. And I just can’t…”

I rubbed my face and folded my hands in front of my mouth as I felt guilt wash over me. Why couldn’t he just understand that I didn’t feel the same way?

It wasn’t like I could fake being in love with him. That would be wrong for both of us, and I would end up hurting him even more. But how could I make him understand?

Out of the blue, he suddenly decided to kiss me, and it was the most longing kiss I’d ever gotten in my life.

It took a couple of seconds until I registered what happened, and when I did, I pushed him away so hard that he almost fell.

“No, Simon. This is wrong,” I said, and I was so flustered that I was shaking.

But what I didn’t expect was for him to kiss me again. And not only that.

He backed me up against an espalier plant while greedy hands started to explore my body, and a little moan of surprise escaped me, fueling his desire even more.

“SIMON! NO!” I shouted, and out of instinct, I kneed his groin and pushed him away one more time. And this time he fell to the ground, cupping his balls with his hands.

“FUCK!” he groaned. Then he rolled around, groaning in pain.

A group of people came over to see what the fuss was about and started cheering without really knowing anything, and I was so embarrassed that I turned on my heels and ran.

But I didn’t get far until someone hooked my arm and stopped me, and to say that I was surprised to see who it was, was putting it mildly.

“Going somewhere, sweetheart?”