The Necklace

16: He Did What?

My alarm wakes me up in the morning and I can still almost feel Calvin's arms wrapped around me. I fell asleep in them not long after we kissed.

I can say what I want about the guy, but he really knows what he's doing. Which is the problem I suppose. He's probably just trying to mix the power of the necklace with his stupid attractive face so I'll marry him quicker.

I'm trying my best to stay strong against the necklace. But it's easier said than done. I started out as being repulsed by him, but each time we meet I feel myself starting to like him more and more. I never in a million years thought we would kiss how we did last night.

I start to feel warm as the memory of Calvin on top of me replays in my mind.

Yeah, I think I might be fucked.

My fantasizing is interrupted by the ding of a notification on my phone. It's a text from Jesse asking if we're still on for lunch today.

I respond to him to confirm and begin to worry about how lunch will go. He got so upset when he found out that Cal could touch me in my dreams. How pissed is he going to be if he finds out about last night? I guess I don't have to tell him, but he's the reason I'm mixed up in this in the first place so he should know.

I get ready for the day and watch TV with Sienne for a few hours while I recap last night to her.

"Sounds like you like him" Sienne says after I tell her everything.

"I don't. I think it's just the necklace playing tricks on my mind. It's making me more submissive to him and having softened feelings about this is a part of that." I reply.

"I know, but how far is this going to go? Are you just going to inevitably become a slave to him?"

I hadn't thought that far ahead to be honest. How far does the power of the necklace go? If it makes me more submissive, than will I eventually end up losing all of my free will?

"I don't know" I say.

I go to my room to get some things since Jesse should be here soon. I remember the page from the book Madame Ziad gave me and shove it into my purse. Jesse took Latin in college and I think he could show it to his old professor maybe. When I tried to translate the page online it didn't come out clearly.

My phone dings again and it's a text from Jesse saying he's outside to pick me up for lunch. I say goodbye to Sienne and head out to meet him.

I get in Jesse's car and he drives over to our favorite pizza place. During our senior year of high school we would come here almost every week to get a couple slices and catch up. That feels like ages ago now.

The waiter brings us our drinks and Jesse breaks the silence.

"So... how have things been going with the necklace? I see you're still wearing it." He says.

"Yeah. I kind of can't take it off. You know the story. But besides that things have been going okay."

"Have you had any more dream visits from Calvin?"

"Yes, a few."

"Did he try anything with you?!" He asks, with a look of anger starting to spread across his face.

I can see Jesse is getting upset. I'm not sure if it's because he feels bad he put me in this situation, or if it's jealousy. Or maybe a combination of both. Either way, I feel like I owe him an honest answer.

"Yes. We kind of kissed last night..." I finally respond.

I can see Jesse's knuckles go white as he clenches his hand around his drink tightly.