Page 13

Abby

Just as I suspected, my head starts spinning after the second beer. I stumble when we’re leaving. “Shit!”

“Watch out!” Ve catches me at the last moment. I end up in his arms. And here it is: the wave of heat passing through my body again. Strange, but I like it.

I get a hold of myself fast. Walk in a straight line, I keep saying to myself. You drunken dolt, adds my subconscious.

“Why don’t you take my arm, eh?”

“Yes, that seems like a good idea.” No boy has ever walked closer than a couple of feet from me. This closeness is an interesting experience.

We grab a bus and sit at the end. It’s nearly empty. There are only two other people riding with us, and they’re sitting in the front.

The beer is doing its job. I’m relaxing. Ve is watching me, I can feel it. I raise my head. When our eyes meet, a surge of unusual emotions washes over me. I’d like to kiss him. No! You’re drunk! Get your shit together! my subconscious screams. I think he sees my inner struggle, as he breaks me out of it, asking, “What’s up? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, no, it’s alright,” I lie.

“’Cause you’re looking at me like…”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. As if inside you’re just screaming: kiss me!”

“Oh, my God! That’s right! Oh, no, did I say that aloud?”

How to get out of this? My head is alight with thoughts, desperately trying to come up with a clever explanation. Ve laughs at my casual directness.

“I told you, I’m drunk and I’d like to kiss you,” I say. I can feel my cheeks burning. I’m so lame. “But I won’t do it,” I add quickly.

“Why not?” he asks with interest.

“Because I’m drunk and I might regret it later.”

He smiles, and now I see it: he’d like to kiss me too, but he respects me too much to do anything about it now. This boy impresses me more and more. Or maybe he’s just playing the gangster, wearing a mask beneath which he’s hiding his real, gentlemanly, sensitive personality? He said it himself, didn’t he? He’s shy.

Finally, we reach the tanning salon. Jesus, alcohol can really screw with your head. I ask where the restrooms are, and the receptionist points me in the right direction. I barge into the stall. I’m so relieved! I go wash my hands, but I notice myself in the mirror.

“Sweet mother of God! I look terrible!”

My cheeks are flushed—that’s the alcohol, I’m sure. My gaze is clouded. I rinse my face with cold water, touch up my hair and leave. The receptionist is already preparing my bed. Yeah, I only use tanning beds. They may be less hygienic, but my head always spins in stand-up tanning.

Lathered in lotion, I jump on the bed. It’s starting to feel like a very stupid idea. When the heat goes up, I’ll feel even worse. I replay the date in my head, our conversation, his movements, gestures, and words. There is something in him… Those eyes. Those lips.

I’m brought back to reality by the chime telling me ten minutes have passed. I get up, dry myself with a towel, dress, and… nearly fall on my face. Fuck, this was such a bad idea. My head is spinning like crazy.

We leave the tanning salon. Seeing the state I’m in, Ve grabs me by the arm and clasps it under his own. I’m so grateful. As we start heading home, Nikki rounds a corner and crosses our way. She’s with Elsa, the girl who likes Ve. I immediately cuddle up to him. Let her see he’s mine. I can’t control it. Shit, I’m losing my mind after that beer! What do I mean: he’s mine? I don’t know the guy!

Nikki sees me and recognizes my condition.

“Hey, Abby! Everything alright?”

“Yeah. Nikki, this is Ve, the one I told you about.”

She barks a rough “Hi” and asks me where we’re going.

“Ve’s walking me home.”

“What will your parents say when they see you like that?”

“Well… they’re not home.”

All the while, I watch that Elsa girl. I don’t like her. There’s a strange glint in her eyes. I need to watch myself around her. She’s probably plotting something already.

“Just great. Okay, I’ll take Elsa and be at your place soon.” Saying this, she gives Ve a hostile glare, signaling that he’d better watch it.

Ve takes me upstairs. I stop by the door to my apartment.

“Wait a moment. I’ll put on something a bit looser and be back in a second.”

I can’t wait to get rid of those trousers and shoes. I grab my sexy shorts. They’re so short, my ass sticks out. Then I go back to him. The moment he sees me, he gasps. I think he likes me.

“Do you have the slightest idea what you’re doing to me,girl?!”

“Me? What did I do?” I ask innocently.

“First you look at me that way, getting me all hard, and then you show up half-naked and expect me to do nothing?” His words are an immediate turn-on.

“That’s exactly what I expect,” I reply with a sly smile.

The elevator dings, and the door opens. It’s Nikki. She looks me up and down.

“Nikki, go inside. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

“Okay, just be quick about it,” she says and walks inside.

I glance at Ve and roll my eyes.

“She’s overprotective.”

“She’s worried. It’s good, no?” he asks.

No. I think that’s as bad as it gets, as I’d like him to stay a moment longer. I’d rather spend some more time with him without feeling the pressure from Nikki waiting in my room. She came too soon, which must be the doing of that slut, Elsa. She didn’t want me spending too much time with him.

“Well, I guess I’ll be going then,” Ve says.

“It was nice.” I sound like I didn’t expect that, but that’s the truth. The plan was to go out with him so he left me alone afterward, but the date has made me choose a different path. I liked it a lot. Unbelievable!

Ve shifts closer and props his arms on the wall right behind me. He’s dangerously close. I can see his lips hovering closer to mine. I feel a jolt inside, running through my body and stopping right there… I quickly reign myself in and withdraw. Ve’s face twists in a strange grimace. A mix of surprise and disappointment.

“Not even a smooch?”

“No. Not yet. But thanks for today,” I say, trembling inside.

I spin around and slowly walk inside, letting him take a good long look at my ass. I turn my head briefly to glance at him one last time. His eyes shine. I hear him inhaling loudly. He rubs his clean-shaven head and places a hand on his heart as if trying to make it slow down.

“Bye, Ve!” I call out and close the door behind me, leaving him aroused, full of desire.

“Did he do something?” Nikki asks nervously.

“No way! Why would you even say that? It was really nice.”

“Jesus, you’re hammered,” she cries, ignoring my words.

“Just a bit. Nikki, I think I might be in love.” I topple on the bed, my back slamming into the mattress.

“So… it was nice?”

“Jesus, he’s incredible. We talked and talked.” I’m surprised by my own words. But that’s what I feel.

“Okay, if you’re safe, I can go.”

“Wait a minute. What are you actually doing here at this hour?”

“I was at my gran’s. Ran into Elsa, and we took a walk together.”

“I don’t like that Elsa. She’s bad news.”

Nikki pecks me on the cheek and leaves. I call Vicks, who arrives a moment later. We talk until three in the morning, when we both fall asleep.