44~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dangerous Mind
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 8: Lies
It was a typical day at work for me, but it seemed the small record store seemed to have a few more people than usual. I stood stationary behind the counter with that pleasant smile plastered on my face. It's not that I hated work. It was really easy in fact, but damn was it boring.
But after that night with Noah, my pleasant smile seemed to be a little more influenced by happiness. He was really, really great. And I mean that in a platonic way... unfortunately.
He was just like that dream guy you'd hope for when you played Mystery Date at slumber parties with your girlfriends... not that I really know what that's like... but it sounded like a good analogy to me. He spoke to me gently and earnestly, not once ignoring me when I spoke as well. We talked mostly of bands and concerts, and our love for music, but every once in a while we would speak lightly of our thoughts on life. Now, don't get me wrong... I explain it as if we were serious individuals, sharing tea as we planned what we wanted for the next generation's lives. It was NOT like that at all... In fact, we spent most of the time joking and making fun of things. We just totally understood each other.
But, there was one eensy, weensy problem...
He understood me as a friend... nothing else. Now you're probably wondering, how am I supposed to know something like that? Trust me... I know. I mean, not once did he send me those clues guys always send. He never hinted of sex... never gloated his own 'physical' strength... never complimented my body structure... never teased me... never tried to touch me in any way... and so on and so forth. At first, I tried those flirty things girls always do to hint they're interested. Well, either I'm really bad at them, or he's extremely naive. Either way, I'm totally screwed.
I slumped in the small inflatable chair behind the counter, letting out a large sigh. Work was a total drag... surprisingly. I mean, you'd think someone like me would love to work in a music store. But even 'Revolution Records' can become monotonous after six months of employment. It was still an interesting place though. I mean, hell, the whole place's theme was hippie-like. Every doorway was decorated with beads, and every wall was painted in bright, trippy flowers. The room most loved by customers was the 'happy hours' room. Now, I know what you're thinking... and it's definitely what you think. It was a room with bean bags and inflatable chairs where customers could go and listen to music... oh, yeah, they could also pass the doobie whenever they pleased. Damn, what was our world coming to.
The nagging, brassy bell rang, alerting me of another customer, and I jumped up from the chair. It wasn't until I laid eyes on him that I realized he was a regular customer.
" Noah?"
His eyes widened as he searched the room for the voice who had recognized him. " Serena?"
I came from behind the counter, moving towards him. " What are you doing here?" Wow, that's a dumb question...
" That's right... you work here..." He paused, chuckling, " I forgot."
" I knew I had seen you somewhere before I met you... you're the guy that comes every Friday with his recently cashed check..."
" And buys exactly two new C.D's and a pack of inscence... yeah... I now its dorky."
I rolled my eyes." No, it's not..." I paused, cocking my head, " But today's tuesday..."
He chuckled, blushing a bit. " Yeah... tomorrow's my sister's birthday and I came to buy her some new C.D's..."
" Aww... how sweet. How old is she?"
" Seven... with a horrible taste in music..."
" Oh? The Britney Spears and Hilary Duff curse?" I teased him, trying those girly hints again.
" Boy, did you hit the bullseye... those are the exact C.D's she asked for."
I chuckled. " Trust me, I work in a C.D store, I see this type of thing everyday." I paused, resting my finger on my chin. " Well, have you ever tried to get her to spread her musical boundaries?"
" What do you mean..."
" Follow me..." I raised a brow leading him down the isles and picking out a few C.D's.
He followed me, watching attentively as I gathered the C.D's quickly, almost as if I wasn't even thinking about the choices.
I turned around swiftly, holding up the C.D's as I spoke. "Any girl interested in pop music is interested in popular music... the type of stuff they see on MTV and read in magazines. That's why they listen to it... because everyone else does. All you have to do is pick out some rock and punk driven bands that are popuar."
His jaw dropped as he listened to me, realizing how much I really know about music.
I held up a C.D. " No Doubt. Every girl is in love with Gwen Stefani's edge and attitude. Simple Plan. Every girl is in love with Pierre..." I paused, rolling my eyes as I handed him the C.D's. " Avril Lavigne. Every girl thinks that they've suddendly turned punk just by listening to her. And last but not least... Pink. Every girl loves the pop sound and the punk attitude."
He stared at me for a few seconds, mouth ajar. " So... if every girl loves these C.D's... does that mean you own them as well?"
" Im not like every girl." I stated, sending him a warm smile. " But, trust me, she'll love them more than any Britney Spears or Hilary Duff C.D. And maybe someday, she'll see how good rock music really is."
" Thanks, I think I need this more than she does." He smiled, setting the C.D's on the counter.
I checked his C.D's out in silence, a small blush growing on my cheeks. It was hard to be around him without getting nervous. He was like angelic or some shit... like he was so much more better than I, even though I know he didn't think so.
I handed him the bag. " Just a hunch... she'll like the Avril Lavigne C.D the most."
He grabbed the bag, smiling at me. " Thanks alot, Serena." He, paused turning to leave, " See ya around!"
" Bye..." I watched his back as he left the store, the annoying bell following.
As the store slipped into silence, I let out a heavy sigh. This was going to be harder then I thought.
~*~
I entered the loud, booming party, eyeing the passed out cheerleaders on the floor. I rolled my eyes, stepping over them as I followed Damien and Bianaca throughout the trashed house.
Yes, that's right... Damien and Bianaca. I actually went somewhere with those two... even after my experience with Damien. Okay, so it's probably the stupidest thing I've done in a while... but there's a reason why I agreed to go to a pointless party with pointless people...
" Noah! What's up man!"
Yep... you guessed it.
I watched Damien and Noah do their friendship handshake thingy, and I cringed, realizing that the man I want is shaking hands with the man I secretly 'had'. Feeling a bit out of place, I began making wy way towards the kitchen to get myself a beer.
" Hey, Serena, where you going?" Hearing his voice made me stop in my tracks, my heart beating faster and faster.
" Oh, I was just going to get something to drink from the kitchen..." I glanced over at the room I claimed to be going. Since when did closets become kitchens?
He chuckled. " Hey, why don't I come with you? I'm really craving a beer."
I blushed, my heart beating faster. " Sure..."
Damien narrowed his eyes at me, finally catching on to my nervous behavior. " Well, why don't you get me one too?"
I narrowed my eyes back at him, turning swiftly on my heel towards the kitchen... not the closet. I stomped into the kitchen pushing drunken people out of my way as I reached for the keg.
" Are you and Damien mad at each other?"
I glanced up at him, my eyes softening. " I don't know... he's been really cold to me lately, and I'm not sure how to act."
He shot me a funny look. " Damien? All he does is talk good about you... in fact, that's all I've heard lately."
" Wait... what?"
He grabbed a cup, filling it up. " Yeah, he always tells me how great you are..."
I blushed. " Great? In a friendly way... right?"
He raised a brow. " It depends on how you define friendly."
My jaw dropped, my face turning beet red. What a slithering bastard. He's been gloating to his friends about me... Boy, would I like to get my hands on him...
My eyes dropped to the floor as I turned to leave. " That's extremely embarrassing..."
Without looking back once, I sprinted...fast. Passing up Damien, I shot him one last cold glare as I made my way upstairs.
I rested my head against the hallway wall, sighing heavily. No wonder Noah only saw me as a friend... he didn't really have a choice. I can't believe Damien would do such a thing. Is this some sick, twisted way to get back at me?
" Serena..." Hearing his voice, I cringed, holding back the urge to strangle him with my bare hands.
I narrowed my eyes at him. " You're sick..."
He moved closer. " What do you mean?"
I seethed, balling my fists up angrily. " What do I mean?! Why have you been telling people about us?"
He sighed, moving even closer. " I haven't... I just told Noah. " He paused, stepping closer. " It's just... I can't keep my feelings for you in."
Holding back the urge to cry, I simply sighed. " What feelings... we were just having sex..."
Resting his hand on mine, he leaned in closer. " Only to you..."
" But..."
" Shhh..." He grasped my hands, pinning me against the wall.
I gasped, struggling to get away. " What the fuck are you doing?"
" You know you want it Serena... just give in..." He leaned in, capturing my lips in his.
At first, I struggled... but... there was something about Damien that was intoxicating... something you couldn't control.
Keeping me pinned against the wall, he carressed my neck with his tongue, but I didn't move... I should've... But I didn't.
" Damien..."
" Shhh..." Grasping my arm, he pulled me into the room next to us, shutting the door behind us.
I stood there in the dark room, dumbfounded. I hated him... but I still wanted him... It didn't make sense...
Pulling me in towards him, he kissed me hard, letting his hands wander across my body. I stood frozen.
He stopped abruptly, pulling away to look at my face. " What's wrong?"
" I... I don't know..." Lie...
" Here, I'll take care of it..." Pushing me on the bed, he began massaging my neck. " Is that better?"
" Yeah..." Lie...
Tugging his shirt off, he pulled my body against his. " You're still okay with this?"
" Yep..." LIE!
Without any regrets, he began tugging my clothes off as I sat there... letting him do so. Stripped of every piece of clothing, he pushed my naked body on the bed, pinning me against him. He began caressing my body with his wet mouth... and I actually started liking it... getting into the mood of it all.. don't ask me how... I just did.
" Da...mien..."
Just when all felt good, I hear the bedroom door swing open. Glancing over, my eyes widened. With one last scream, I pushed Damien off of me, covering my body with any type of clothing I could find.
Oh, shit...
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Cliffie! Woops... sorry. Who is it standing there? And when will Serena start running from Damien as fast as she can? Only the author knows for now... but you'll know soon...
I want to thank everyone for their reviews! They mean so much!