Wander Lust

Chapter 3

Word spread like wildfire and I soon had people I hadn't talked to since pre-k coming up to me to tell me the news. Stevie Jenkins tapped my shoulder during psychology class and asked, "Did you hear, Adelyn?" I looked at him knowingly. "Yeah, Stevie. I already heard about Taylor," I said before turning around. "Well you're taking it better than I thought," he huffed out. "Taking it? What's that supposed to mean?"

"If I was on her hit list I would have fled the state, hell maybe even the country," he answered. "Yeah well I have balls," I told him before returning to the small doodles scattered across my notebook. Apparently, more than just Stevie heard my comment and the whispers spread across the room and through glowing screens. The words floated in circles. Around and around they went slowly transforming into a tornado of harsh comments and baffled expressions.

I was sitting in the eye of that storm and felt calm; relaxed even. I could care less what these people said or thought. Senior year is and will be different. My attitude is making a reappearance and I don't think Newt will be able to tame it this time.

********

"Okay so have these people ever heard one even remotely dirty word pass through those pouty lips of yours, Sweetness?"

"What?"

"Is it so much of a rarity for you to say the word 'balls' in public that my entire Calculus class deemed it absolutely necessary to spend the whole period gossiping about it rather than do work?" Sloane asked as we walked down the worn hallway littered with random students, pieces of graffiti, and teachers waiting for the moment to pounce and give out detention slips.

"She's never even said 'crap' in front of other people. Addie only lets those dirty words fly when we're alone," Newt jumped in.

"Jesus, Kid! How have you stayed this good and pure for this long? It's an anomaly."

She poked my side and I jerked away into Newt, who caught him and I before we both crashed into a row of nearby lockers. "She broke my nose and the lamp on my nightstand in eighth grade because I was tickling her," Newt said to Sloane's questioning expression.

"Duly noted," she responded with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Hey, Isaacs! Eric is about to fight Rhenzo in the parking lot!" Dallas shouted out of breath from down the hall. They always had the decency to wait till after school before ripping each other a new one. Newt's ear perked up at what he said and I watched him hesitate and look at me for approval before he ditched Sloane and I.

"Go. Don't let Eric kill Rhenzo," I said and smiled when he kissed my cheek promising to come for dinner later as he ran towards the parking lot.

My cheeks slightly reddened as I watched his muscular figure disappear through the moss green metal doors. I didn't realize I hadn't moved an inch and was lagging behind Sloane until the door slammed shut. "You're falling behind, Sweetness!" she sang out. Her head turned to look at me and an ear-splitting grin appeared on her face when she saw me charge after her.

We ran past the fight and didn't stop until we reached Fernandez Park two blocks down the road where I finally caught up and threw my bag before tackling her to the ground. She landed on her stomach with me on her back and didn't hesitate to roll us over so she was on top. Her warm fingers wrapped around my wrists and planted them next to my head in the grass. My futile attempts to escape her hold didn't go unnoticed and I watched in annoyance as she laughed her head off.

"I have three older brothers. There's no way you're getting out from under me," her victory laced tone rang out. The desolate park offered some comfort by assuring that no one else would see me get my ass kicked. All that could be heard was our heavy breathing and the low whistle of the wind as it flowed through the vacant playground and the nearby bayberry trees. Heat was beating against me from every angle and I couldn't tell if it was emanating from the girl currently straddling me or from the sun.

I didn't realize I was squinting until she moved her head an inch away from mine blocking the sunshine. My breath caught in my throat and all I could do was remain absolutely still and inspect every inch of her face. Her heart shaped visage was tanned to perfection and the tops of her golden cheeks were sprinkled with light brown freckles that were the results of spending too much time in the sun. The two almond shaped cerulean eyes were located under two flawlessly plucked eyebrows and were framed by endless lashes. Lastly, her lips. They were sultry, the color of ballet slippers, and headed full speed ahead for mine.

I simply stared at her in shock and remained frozen in place. It only lasted a moment and was over just as soon as it began. She pulled away from me with a small look of nervousness and a face slightly flushed with embarrassment. Before I knew what I was doing I sat up placing my hands on either side of her face and laid my waiting mouth on hers. This time I could feel it. I could fully enjoy it. The small tugs and squeezes of my lower abdomen made themselves known and all I could do was think sinful thoughts.

Her hair felt just as soft as it looked and my fingers laced through it as though they had minds of their own. The small moan that escaped her lips when I slightly tugged on her inky locks snapped me out of whatever trance I was in and I ripped our mouths apart. We were breathing harder than we had been while we were running and I had to lay back down to pull myself together. I had to be my own cold shower.

Sloane got up and off me before offering her hand to help me up. I quickly released her hand afraid of what my promiscuous fingers would do had they lingered too long on her supple skin. That's when a million questions flooded my brain. Why did you do that? You're not gay...right? Does this make me a lesbian? Am I gay because I liked it? Can I still be straight? Is Sloane gay? Does she want to be my girlfriend?

She must have been able to tell I was overloading because she held my hand and said, "You'll figure it out." Although she was the root of all of these newfound problems, her comfort was welcomed and helped me calm down slightly before I remembered Cindy. "Shit!" I said as I tore my hand from hers and put it in my hair pulling at the roots. "What?" she asked.

"Cindy! I forgot all about her!" I picked my bag up off the grass and started to run back to the school with Sloane in tow. "Who's Cindy?" she yelled after me. "My sister! I have to drive her home today and school got out an hour ago. She's probably been standing by the car this whole time! Crap!"

We didn't exchange anymore words as we made our way back to the school parking lot where I found my extremely annoyed sister sitting on the ground by my car with headphones in her ears. I didn't stop running till I was a foot in front of her and said, "Cindy...so sorry...totally forgot," between labored breaths. She didn't say anything but walk to the passenger door and hop in the car after I unlocked it.

Sloane wasn't too far behind me and arrived soon after I did. "Is she okay?" she asked. "She's pissed at me but she'll be fine." A few moments passed and neither of us made a move to say anything or leave. I started to say something when she wrapped her arms around me. I placed my head in the crook of her neck and hugged her back but froze when I felt those plump lips kiss my neck. "I'll see you tomorrow, Sweetness," she whispered in my ear before planting a big one on my cheek and walking away.