“No, no, it’s fine.” I leaned back a little on the couch. “My life wasn’t bad all the time. It was different; unlike yours I’m sure. I didn’t realize how different until I came here. I guess you could say it was very controlled. My dad was strict.”
“How strict?” She asked.
“Well,” I said afraid to say the rest. If she thought I was innocent, she really had no idea how much. I took a deep breath before replying. “No pants, no bathing suits, no makeup, no cell phone, no internet except for the main computer that my mom schooled me on, but I wasn’t allowed to use it, no public school, no boyfriends until after I turned eighteen, no friends outside of our close nit circle which included one girl, and the list goes on and on. We lived on a farm so my days consisted of chores at six a.m. and bed by 8 p.m.”
“Wait a minute.” She drawled out her words. “Back up. No boyfriends.” She exclaimed.
“Nope.” I popped the P.
“So you have never had a boyfriend?” Her eyes grew wide as she waited for my answer.
I laughed. “No, no boyfriend. And before you ask, that also means all of the things that go along with it. I haven’t dated, held hands, kissed…” I trailed off because I couldn’t possibly mention the fact that I had just experienced my first kiss with her brother. I smiled at the thought of it.
“That is sad Grace. You are seriously deprived.” Her face fell.
“No I’m not.” A small smile crept up on my lips. “So I’m getting a little bit of a late start.” I shrugged. “I don’t mind. There were very few boys within a twenty-mile radius of my house. I never even cared to date. Besides, I learned a long time ago, that if you never had things then you never missed them. You know?” I explained.
She continued polishing my toes and I didn’t say anything for a while. It was the first time that I ever wondered what someone was thinking about me.
“Done.” She smiled closing up the bottle of nail polish.
I eyed my toes and wiggled them around. “I love it.” I beamed. It was another piece of freedom that I could cross off my list. “Thank you.”
Kennedy eyes lit up. “You’re welcome. And thanks for sharing all that personal stuff with me. I’m glad you trust me with it.”
“We’re friends.” I urged.
“Yes we are.” She agreed. “I would never make fun of who you are Grace. I want you to know that. It’s okay that you aren’t as experienced as most girls, because then you wouldn’t be Grace.”
At that moment, I realized that she was the closest friend I’d ever had. I could trust her with anything. I wanted her to hang around, because at this rate we’d be best friends soon. I wanted a best friend, more than anything.
I looked over my toes again. I was in love with the deep red polish that covered them, and she was right when she said it would be rebellious. It felt down right illegal.
“You want something to eat?” I asked.
“Sure, so long as it is full of sugar.”
We walked into the kitchen and raided the cabinets for the sweets. Then we went back into the living room and binged out. I loved every minute of it.
The hours passed by so quickly and she said that Jackson was on his way to pick her up. Just the sound of his name peeked my interest.
“Oh my God,” she sat up quickly. “I have the best idea ever.”
I bit down on my lip and peered up at her. I had a feeling this was going to be bad. Of course it was going to be bad. This was Kennedy after all.
“Come with me and my friends tonight.” It was more of a statement than a question.
I was already shaking my head as if it were a bad idea. “I don’t think so.” I started to oppose.
“Grace,” she wined. “You’ll have so much fun and you’ll be with me all night.”
“Where are you going?” I sighed. Her winey voice super annoying, and I would almost do anything to get her to zip it up.
“We are going to a local club that we always hang out at called The Edge.” She said and before I could say HECK NO, she interjected. “Hear me out.” Her hands rested on my shoulders.
I fought to keep from rolling my eyes at her. Which was normally something she would do. She was rubbing off on me.
“Everybody from school goes to this club. You only have to be eighteen. Nothing bad ever happens. Plus you will get to hang out with me. It’ll be fun. I swear. Please.” She pouted her lip.
The thought of a club scared me a little. I mean I didn’t really know what to expect. Whether it would be dangerous or not? Staring at her big lip that stuck out far from her face was killing me. How her parents ever told her no was beyond me.
You’re not at home Grace. This is your time to experience life. Quit being such a scaredy pants. The internal battle in my head was going strong.
“Fine. I’ll go. But if it’s too crazy for me, then I’m going home.”
“Eeeep.” She squealed wrapping her arms around me in a hug. One of those things that still felt weird and uncomfortable to me. There was a knock on the door and I knew this time that it would be Jackson. “I’ll be here at 8:30 to pick you up.”
“Oh Kennedy,” I called after her.
“Yeah.”
“I’m dressing like I always do.” I said honestly.
“I know.” The smile stretched widely across her face. “See you later.”
“See ya.” I waved.
I threw myself roughly down on the couch and crossed my arm over my face.
“What am I getting myself into?”
12
Jackson
The club wasn’t too crowded yet, as we walked in and found our table. Holly was attached at my hip and had been since I picked her up. I didn’t mind too much, because I loved the way her body felt pressed up against mine.
I’d been a little distracted all day after seeing Grace wave to me from her porch. How could such an innocent girl have such an effect on me? It was the question that I’d asked myself time and time again. Yet, I had no answer for it.
The music started from the back of the bar and I pulled Holly in front of me to stand between my legs. Jeremy had already left us as he walked over to the bar to get our drinks. I wanted something warm that would burn as I drank it down.
Jeremy brought back my drink, and we sat there cutting up as the music played. More and more people started piling in through the door. It didn’t take long before the place was packed. The weekend crowd was always the biggest. It was really the only place that anyone hung out, at least any of my friends. Nearly all of the guys from the team that I hung out with were hanging out by our table. Girls were everywhere seeking their attention. A part of me wished that I were single again, so that I didn’t have to worry about appeasing one girl. I could do what I wanted. I’d at least put more effort into going after the girl that I couldn’t stop thinking about. Or would I? Another part of me was glad that Holly was constant in my life. I didn’t have to worry about my game, or which hoe I’d take home at the end of that night. It was always her.
A shift in gazes from around the table, made me snap my head around to see what everyone was staring at.
Fuck me.
She was here. Grace was here. Kennedy and her were walking through the crowd of people and over to our table.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
Jokes were being tossed around about her, and I flinched with their hurtful words. But I didn’t say anything. I listened as they continued.
“What is she wearing?” I heard.
“She must be looking for her sheep.” Someone else said.
“She can’t be serious.” I heard Holly say, joining in.
Still, I said nothing.
Kennedy and Grace walked up to the table. I glanced nervously down at Holly’s back, and then back around the table. I could tell now that the guys were finally seeing Grace’s face. They were seeing how beautiful she really was, but that wouldn’t stop the jokes.
“Hey guys.” Kennedy said.
People were still snickering and staring with their eyes wide.