As the hour passes I hear nothing back from her but finally our lesson is coming to an end. I quickly head out and to the girls bathroom to wash my hands. Frog juice everywhere!

  I check my phone, still no messages! Is she still at the hospital? Is everything ok? I send another message to ask for an update on Sophia and head out; as I do I bump into none other than slut of the century.

  She bumps me on purpose, “very funny Lucy, I know you saw me so next time have some manners, I know that’s hard for you,” I state with sarcasm, “and if you need to know what they are then get a dictionary, if you can read one and maybe next time say sorry for bumping into people.”

  She breathes a little laugh, a sort of spiteful one, “You think he is going to come back to you? Why would he want a pathetic little virgin like you who lives in a crazy house, with crazy people?”

  Okay, say what you want about me, I can defend myself, but do not bring my family into it. This bitch knows nothing about what we have been through or what we are going through.

  “Better than living with someone who couldn’t keep their legs shut and doesn’t even know who the father of her own daughter is, sorry I believe that’s your mum,” I see the anger boil in her face, “like mother like daughter,” I smirk, “oh don’t forget to wash your hands, they’re a bit dirty. I guess that’s from doing nothing better than being on your hands and knees like the trashy slut you are.” I turn and walk away leaving her stood there mouth wide open almost touching the floor.

  I take a deep breath and calm myself. It is taking every part of me not to walk back in there and hit her. My god her face is so smug sometimes I could punch the shit out of her.

  But the last thing my mother needs is a called from the principal to say her daughter has been in school fighting. She has enough stress on her plate as it is!

  I head to my next class trying to put the whole thing behind me, she really can get under my skin and I guess I let her know that she can.

  I get a text from Jack as I sit down:

  ‘I saw you walking down that hallway looking mighty fine ;) J.xx’

  I giggle; he certainly knows how to cheer me up, even with his weird ass messages. As I am texting him back I finally get a text from my mother. I was expecting her to sound worried but the text is simple,

  ‘That’s fine, stay out and have fun, I love you, Mom x

  It seems really cold for my mother. Yes it says ‘I love you’ at the end but something just seems a little off. I put it to the back of my mind, maybe I’m just over-reacting. A part of me is happy though, at least I get to spend the night with Jack.

  I send him a quick message to let him know, I know once he reads it, he will have the biggest smile on his face.

  Chapter 3

  As the school day begins to draw to an end, I find myself holding back my excitement. I want to jump up and down but then the other half of me says ‘stop’ your mother has been with Sophia all day.

  Should I go home? I mean, things could be bad, really bad and I’m off out leaving my mother to deal with it. I text her again, I need to make sure she is sure about this,

  ‘Mom, I’m just about to head to Jack’s, are you sure this is ok xoxo’

  I see Jack waving at me by the school bus inviting me over. He is waiting for me bless him but I need to get an answer from my mom first. As I casually walk towards him my phone bleeps,

  ‘Of course it is, have fun’

  Again no kisses, just seems cold. She seems happy for me to go so I’m going to go. It will be nice to get out of the mad house anyway.

  Jack and I get on the bus and head towards his house. It’s a long drive on the bus to Jack’s as he is the last stop living the furthest away.

  I have always liked Jack’s house since we were kids. It’s private and hidden away from the streets. A long drive-way leads to a sort of tree-house style home but incredibly large and extravagant. It has a pond in the front of the house and is surrounded by stilts that the house sits upon.

  It has large top-to-floor windows with French style drapes hanging and antique furniture. Now I know it sounds old but it is very stylish and beautiful.

  When we were kids, Jack and I used to use under the house as our playground. The large tall stilts made the house high enough for us to be able to play under.

  As we approach his house, the place I used to call home and have not visited in a while, I get that familiar smell that always surrounded it. That smell of wild flowers and homemade cooking that always drifted down the drive-way.

  I miss being here. The peace and quiet, the tranquillity of the running water flowing through the fountain perfectly situated in the middle of the pond.

  “Home,” Jack smiles, taking my by the hand and walking me up the drive-way.

  Home, yes I guess it is home and always has felt like a home to me. Before my dad left, when the arguments were really bad, I used to retreat here to get away from it all. But then Jack and I would argue sometimes making things worse.

  They were like a second family to me, a second family I grew to love and adore just like my own.

  As we walk through the front-door, I hear a high pitched happy squeak and then the clacking of heels on the floor. Out from the kitchen comes Jack’s mum, still as beautiful as ever.

  The woman is in her fifties but you would never tell. With thick glossy brown hair, sparkling blue eyes and slim fit figure, she looks no older than a twenty one year old.

  “My darling, we’ve missed you, it’s been so long,” she squeaks happily embracing me in a hug.

  “I know, I’m sorry. After Jack and I, well things just been a bit all over is all,” I smile awkwardly as I hug her back.

  She always was the nicest woman. No matter what was happening in my family she never ever judged me. She was always there as someone to talk to, someone I needed.

  When Jack and I broke up I stopped visiting over fear that they would all hate me or at least wouldn’t feel the same way, but that’s not the case at all.

  “No need to worry my darling,” she fusses over me, “you are always welcome here no matter what, you’re like family. Now I’m making lasagne and fresh garlic bread so I hope you’re hungry,” she heads into the kitchen then pops her head back around, “oh and be careful of the new cat, he’s a scrammer if you get too close.”

  I look and Jack and laugh, “your mum seems full of beans.”

  “She’s just happy to see you, when I told her you were coming she was over-come with joy. You know how she is.”

  Indeed I do, happy all the time, always looking good and willing to do anything for you. Jack takes me by the hand and we head upstairs to his room.

  It’s still the same as the last time I saw it. Bedroom a mess, bed not made and clothes all over the floor. Nothing changes.

  “Sorry, I didn’t think I was going to invite you over so I didn’t clean my room.”

  I laugh, “You never used to clean it before so doesn’t make a difference.”

  He laughs with me and before I know it he has grabbed me and pulled me in for a kiss. His soft lips touch mine ever so gently. His hand caresses my face as he leans down, kissing me tenderly.

  I pull back quickly, partly shocked and partly not knowing what I should do next.

  “I’m sorry,” he quickly apologises; I know he thinks I didn’t like it.

  “No, no don’t apologise, just a little shocked is all, I didn’t expect that.”

  He smiles and this time pulls me closer a little more slowly. He lifts me up so he doesn’t have to bend down and kisses me softly. His tongue enters my mouth as mine does his. I taste him, my god he tastes so good.

  “Mmm, I have waited all day to do that, I’ve missed that sexy mouth of yours,” he gushes.

  I feel my cheeks blush as a smile appears on my face from ear to ear. I have wanted to kiss him for weeks, not just today but I have held back. I wasn’t sure if kissing would be a sign that we were going to get back together. We have been getting c
loser and closer but I held back. We argued so much and didn’t speak for two months.

  After everything I and my family put him through, I thought he would have left me alone and run a mile, but he has never left my side even as my friend. Just those two months when we weren’t speaking, well, some nasty things were said. He dated some other girls in those two months and I hated him for it, he lost his virginity to one of them and I couldn’t look at him, but eventually I got over it and he has since never left my side.

  He throws me on the bed causing me to laugh out loud as he playfully jumps on top of me. He begins tickling me, I hate being tickled and he knows it.

  It does make me laugh but sometimes, when I laugh too much I uncontrollably dribble, which is always embarrassing. It’s like playing with a toddler that cannot control their own saliva.

  “Eww,” he laughs still tickling me, “look it’s dribbling down your chin.”

  “Please, please stop,” I wriggle laughing, trying to break free from his grip. He stops and then leans down and kisses me, just as his mother knocks on the door.

  “Hey guys, dinner is ready,” her happy voice speaks from the other side of the door.

  “Just in time,” he winks at me.

  As we head down to the large dining room, the food is neatly laid out plate by plate, place by place like a lovely restaurant setting.

  Snobby you may think, but she really isn’t like that. She just likes things in a certain way. It’s nice to sit down for a family meal.

  In my house, this normally consists of my mother cooking, sitting down with me and then Sophia kicking off. I am normally left to eat on my own as their dinner goes cold.

  As we sit and eat, chatting about our days. I realise how much I miss family life and how much has changed in the past year. I’m going to be seventeen soon, I doubt things are going to improve at home, but I cannot leave, I could never leave my mom.

  As I look around the table at their happy smiley faces, I want to burst into tears. Why can’t I have a family like this? Why did my dad up and leave like he did, if he was still around maybe things would be a little easier.

  After dinner, Jack and I give our thanks; help clean the dishes, playfully hitting each-other with the dish cloth before heading upstairs to watch a film in bed.

  His mother is pretty cool; she will let me stay in his room. I guess that’s what comes with being a virgin, you have that sweet and innocent look like ‘she never does anything wrong.’ To be fair, I’m pretty good; I’m too scared of disappointing my mother.

  As we lie on the bed watching TV, we start talking like we used to. As if nothing has happened in the past year, it flows from our mouths so naturally. Our days, what’s happened to me at home, what’s been happening with him and his Dad.

  You see, Jack’s Dad is a very strict man, a professional businessman owning several restaurants in the city. He wants Jack to follow in his footsteps, become a restaurant manager and take over.

  He has pushed Jack for so long to do this but this isn’t what Jack wants. Jack wants to become an mechanic, he is amazing with machinery and tools but his father will not approve of this. He wants Jack to go to the same college he went to, to study business and at the end, join the restaurants.

  Jack does well at school; he plays football and is one of the best on the team. He has the highest grades, and despite his popularity he is a nice guy.

  It’s been a nice night. Family dinner laughs and giggles and I have been totally relaxed, which has not happened in a very long time.

  Lying in Jack’s arms, I slowly fall asleep.

  Chapter 4

  I hear something whistling, like the howling of the wind brushing passed the house, it’s enough to wake me up. As I open my eyes I’m surrounded by darkness, it’s still night-time and Jack is fast asleep.

  It’s cold, much too cold for this time of year. I look at the clock next to the bed and see its 2:30am. I shiver at the thought. This is normally the time Sophia wakes up screaming or talking to herself, according to reports it’s the time her mother was murdered.

  I look around the dark room, shadows of the trees outside reflect on the walls, Jack never draws his drapes. The house is so private he never needs to. Plus Jack hates complete darkness, he likes the light of the night from outside to help him fall asleep, if not that then he usually falls asleep with the TV on and I hate that.

  I sneak out of bed and head to the bathroom; now that I am awake I might as well pee. But I get a strange feeling come over me, that I am being watched or followed. As I go into the en-suite, I quickly shut the door behind me and turn the light on.

  Taking a deep breath I try to calm myself, ‘it’s just your imagination’ I tell myself. I’m freaking myself out. I pee faster than I have ever pee’d in my entire life, this unnerving feeling hasn’t gone away.

  I flush and was my hands and turn out the light. Opening the bathroom door, I am stunned and frightened to see a dark figure standing beside the bed.

  It’s still and is looking right at me. Those white eyes staring at me, I see no face, just those eyes. Who or what the hell is that?

  It glides over to me, this black figure shimmering as if under water. I feel my heart beating hard in my chest. As the thing approaches it whispers ‘all is not what it seems, find the truth, save him.’

  It goes to grab me but I scream. Kicking and screaming I feel something grab and shake me.

  “Rayne, Rayne wake up,” I hear but all I want to do is fight whatever it is.

  I open my eyes and realise I had been dreaming. Jack is leaning over me, his hands gripped on my arms and a frightful look on his face.

  I could have sworn that was real. It felt so real. I felt the icy coldness on my skin, my hairs stand on end. I could feel my heart beating hard in my chest; I felt whatever it was grip me.

  “Jesus, I have never heard you scream like that,” he gasps just as his mother and father run into the room.

  They see the nervous sweat dripping own my face, “my dear are you alright?” his mother asks.

  I nod, “yeah I’m ok, just had a nightmare is all, I’m so sorry to wake all of you.”

  “Nonsense,” she smiles coming over to bed and giving me a hug. She kisses my forehead tells me she is always there if I need her and leaves. Is father gives a polite nod.

  Jack pulls me into his arms and snuggles down beside me. I cuddle into him hearing the calming rhythm of his breathing in my ear.

  I feel too scared to fall asleep and even if that was a dream, it wouldn’t be the first time I have seen something that has frightened me half to death.

  “You’re safe with me,” he whispers.

  “I doubt I’m safe anywhere,” I mumble back to him, eyes wide open scanning the room.

  “You’ll always be safe with me, I will never let anyone harm you,” he snuggles his head into my neck and I feel his lips press against my skin.

  I turn over to face him, its dark with just the light of the night sky and the street lamps in the distance shining through the window.

  “I don’t think I can keep my hands off you,” he whispers sliding his hands down my back and onto my bum pulling me into him.

  “Jack, I....” I stutter, “I want to, I really want to but I’m, I mean I, you know.”

  He gives cheeky grin, “I know it’s okay. Trust me okay, I’m not going to hurt you.”

  That’s easy for him to say, I know he isn’t a virgin, besides it’s my first time, this is going to kill.

  “I will be gentle, if you don’t want to we don’t have to,” he whispers again.

  “It’s okay,” I wrap my leg over him, “I want to,” I pull him into me and kiss him softly.

  His tongue fills my mouth as mine his, his hands move all over my body slowly and softly. I feel tingly, warm and eager for more.

  His hands slide down my body, over my naval and into my pyjama bottoms. I realise at this moment I am not wearing any underwear and from the slight little moan he gives,
so does he which appears to amuse him.

  He touches me softly, slowly rubbing his finger over my clitoris and then moving down to feel my wetness. His finger slides inside me which makes me gasp; he quickly kisses me in order to keep quiet.

  I feel his smile as his lips press against mine. I smile back trying not to giggle, if his parents catch us no doubt they will hit the roof!

  He rolls over and lies on top of me. I feel his erection dig into me. He slowly slides my pyjama bottoms off along with his and finally I actually feel it. Skin to skin I feel him, I feel all of him.

  He kisses me softly caressing my breasts and pushing his erection against my wetness, rubbing up and down. His hand slides down my body and grasps his erection as he slowly pushes the tip inside me.

  I quickly bite my lip to stop me from moaning out loud. Little by little and ever so gently, he pushes the full length of him inside me. My hands grip hold of his biceps and he leans down to kiss me. As I moan into his mouth I feel his deep thrust pushing in and out of me gently and slowly.

  My god this feels good, this feels amazing. I want to scream out loud as a reaction to the pleasure surging through my body, but instead I moan into his mouth quietly, which seems to spur him on.

  He moves a little faster, “are you ok,” he whispers breathlessly.

  “Yeah, I’m ok,” I moan quietly.

  This is intense, deep. Our passion sours beyond our physical movements and I can feel our bond deep in my soul. I pull him closer and lift my hips wanting him to go deeper.

  His thrust intensifies and I feel something pulsing through me, it’s getting stronger and my inner loins begin to shake. I want to scream; Jack senses this and quickly kisses me as he moves quicker.