I can't help but think you are dumb like your real dad sometimes." She stands Up to her feet. I am not new to being hit with those words. It leaves a bitter taste and feeling in me every time.
"You have to move in with us. We can't have you living alone at a critical time like this. You may end up being kidnapped and used as a weapon to make him back away from the position!" She reasoned.
"You are just being dramatic mom. I doubt anyone would be dumb enough to do that. I am not his child!" I counter.
"Listen Simona, I am done trying to reason with you. You are moving in with us, and that's final."
She said in a convicted tone.
I angrily slam the front door shut and jogged down the frontier stairs. I hopped on my bicycle, heading to school. I can't help but recall the fight I had with mom few minutes ago. I can't believe she wants me to play house and happy family with her husband. I agree that her reasons are somewhat valid, but still... I can't go from living alone to a shared space even if it's a ridiculously big mansion. The little concept of family I had, vanished from my mind and soul when I was six years old. Living in a horror house is so much appealing to me than a familial house. People born and raised together butt heads, let alone strangers.
Something is different today. I felt it since I parked my bicycle and began walking in the school's premises. People's gaze linger on me. They never did before. Even some group of the most popular girls waved and said hi at me when I passed by them. What is going on? I was happily unnoticeable before. Google map could not find me in this school even if I was a towering skyscraper. That's how much of a wallflower I am. And I was happy with that. But now I've got the attention of every single person I pass by. "Simona!" I turn in the direction of the voice to see Solange and her clique of friends approaching. Erica is the only one I recognize out of them. "Great game last night." Said Solange with a wink and a full sweet smile. "Yeah, great game." Erica chirped in. "You are not as shy and innocent as you seem. You went straight for the kill and got it. Perhaps I should come take wooing lessons from you."
"What are you talking about?" I can't grasp a single thing. They all have me confused.
"Shit! Bitch, don't tell me you blacked out everything?"
"Blacked out what?" I ask, deeply puzzled.
"O. M. G!!!" They all exclaim dramatically. "She totally blacked it out. How could you?" Another girl said accusingly.
"Let's fill her in girls." Solange snaps her finger and all four of them form a circle around me and began spilling in hushed tones at the same time. "You were dared to kiss someone last night, and you choose Freddy Leal."
"Wait. What?" How many times have I said that phrase just this morning? What they are saying... it can't be true, right? I kissed someone? Freddy Lee? Who is that?
"We all thought he was going to push you away. We even placed bets on it, sorry. But he didn't. He just held your head sideways and went for a deeper kiss."
"What really got me was the way he looked at you before going for the second kiss.
Oh fuck, I can still feel the sparks!" Erica moaned.
In the midst of their overlapping explanation details, my mind reels back to last night. Not all of it. Just flashes. I remember playing truth or dare. I remember chugging down cocktails and booze. I also remember being asked to pick a guy and make out with him as a dare.
"Play the video, Kayla. She still doesn't remember."
The girl named Kayla passed her phone to Solange who then held it in front of me. On it was a video. In it, I was staggering. Nearly tripping on my own drunk footsteps as I walked towards Elion from behind. I got close and pulled him into a kiss. I gasp, my hands going over my mouth in surprise. I initiated my first kiss. He had no time to think or react. He was shocked. I remember now how his body stiffened against mine. I pull away and that is when I see his face in the video. The person in front of me wasn't Elion, but another guy. He stared at me for a while before pulling me in deeper. Cheers could be heard in the video background as we kissed. I am not sure that I even realize that it wasn't Elion then. I am glad it wasn't. He and the guy I kissed were wearing the exact same beach shorts. They are also roughly the same build. It's no wonder I mistook him for Elion. Relief floods through me. So does unease. I had kissed a guy last night but don't remember it. That is not an ideal first kiss.
"We should go now. See ya later Simona!" Solange and her friends scurried off. I turn around in the opposite direction to see a guy behind me. The guy I kissed. Freddy fucking Lee!!
"Hi."
"H-Hi." I stutter.
He smiles, and holds me a small bottle. "Here. It's a hangover drink. You were pretty wasted last night." He says.
"Thank you. But huh... I am fine and I don't..." He holds my hand and places the drink in it. "I'II see you later. " He walks away after saying that. I stood awkwardly transfixed. I look at the drink in my hand, and then at his casual retreating figure. Solange and her friends reappear, squealing and singing to my ear that he is into very much into me.
"Lucky you, bitch. You no longer need to masturbate to his fantasy. You have him right in your hands now."