Tattoo [Rucas Short Story]

Fighter

Riley was flying. At least that's what it felt like after she'd drunk - how many jello shots was it? Three? No, four. Or maybe it was six? She guessed it didn't really matter as along as she wasn't thinking about him. She couldn't even remember his name. Louis? Luke? Luther? He wasn't even here anyway. No use in bringing him into her head. Out of sight, out of mind as they say.

"So, what do you say?"

Riley's thoughts were interrupted by a deep male voice. She looked up to see David - or was it just Dave? - smiling down at her. She'd been so wrapped up in her thoughts she had no idea what he'd been talking about for the last fifteen minutes.

"I'm sorry, David. I spaced out for a second." She giggled. "What were you asking?"

"My name's actually Dave." He smirked.

"Whoops." Another giggle. Jello shots really made her happy. Maybe she should get another one.

"It's okay. They both sound the same anyway." He shrugged then proceeded to lean in closer. Lowering his voice he continued, "I was asking if you wanted to find someplace quieter to talk."

"Talk?" Riley furrowed her brows. Wasn't that what they were doing now?

"Yeah." Nodded Dave. "It's really loud in here and I want to get to know you better."

Riley jumped when she felt a hand at her waist. Looking down, she saw it was Dave's.

Realization hit immediately. "Oh." There was nothing to giggle about anymore.

During high school Riley had a boyfriend. His name was Brandon. He was a troubled kid, always acting up in class, sometimes even skipping school. They were both complete opposites but Riley couldn't help being attracted to him. He was dangerous and exciting - everything she wanted to be but was too scared to become. Brandon challenged her like no one else, making her experience moments she'd never thought she'd go through again. She thought they'd be together forever but once she'd confessed to him she wouldn't be sleeping with him, he'd broke it off.

It was the typical good girl meets bad boy cliché, broken heart and all.

This particular situation with Dave caused her to remember that night again. It started the same way with Brandon. His hand on her waist, suggestively offering for them to go to a quieter place, and her heart racing in fear. It's not that Riley was afraid of intimacy. She'd kissed Brandon tons of times. Even let him get to second base once. The issue was that she was afraid of hitting that home run with Brandon specifically. She didn't know what it was, but her gut instinct told her not to, to instead wait. Now when she thought about it, she realized her gut had been right. If he couldn't wait for her, then he didn't deserve to have that part of her. Just like Dave didn't either.

"You know what?" Riley grabbed Dave's hand from her waist and placed it at his side. "I think we're just fine right here."

Dave chuckled. "Nah, I think we'd be better off somewhere upstairs." There went that hand again. Except this time it was making it's way to her back, and creeping dangerously low.

Riley started to panic. Where was Maya? She'd gone off to the bathroom a couple minutes ago. How was Riley going to get out of this without her?

"Um." She stuttered. Was her voice shaking? "Can you please stop touching me?"

"Oh c'mon." he urged. "You don't like it?" His hand was really close to her behind now. Just a few inches...

"No, I don't like it." Her voice was firmer now, but still a bit wobbly. Darn it, she needed to get a grip. She put her hands up to Dave's chest, trying to push him away. It didn't work. Instead Dave just brought his other arm around and pulled her tighly against him.