Cheers to New Beginnings

Chapter 3: Blast from the Past

            Lilibeth:

            "No way!" I shouted. My sister had left for work while Cadience had stayed around, much to my dismay. We were discussing the upcoming Spirit Week at school. Since most schools scheduled homecoming for the last home game of the season, HBH scheduled ours for the first home game, the second week of school! Voting would take place during homeroom on Monday, but Monday was "Blast from the Past" day of Spirit Week. Most people dressed up as famous characters or couples from decades passed, but Logan's group had discussed Friday night that we should all go dressed and styled as we did when we were seventh graders. Although Amber and Ken had loved the idea, I hadn't planned to dress up.

            "Don't be such a wimp, Lili! You can't just spray your hair and make it look blond!" Cadience had been annoyingly determined to hang out with me all day. He'd suggested I participate in Monday's event.

            "I'm not doing it! I don't want too!"

            "Why not?" He asked moving to perch on the coffee table in front of my chair so that he could see directly into my eyes.

            "Because I don't want to," I said coldly. I couldn't go back to my old self that soon, even if I was only pretending. I just couldn’t imagine it, though I did like my blond hair better than my plain-Jane brown. Cadience leaned in and captured my gaze. He smelled of Axe Cologne and man-soap. His eyes held a sort of mysterious gleam as he asked me what he seemed to believe was a serious question.

            “Look me in the eye, Lil, and tell me you like your brown hair better than the platinum.” I stared at him but didn’t answer. I knew he’d see right through any of my lies. He always had. “Exactly.” He held the dye up in front of my face. “I’ll help.” I bit my lip and slowly nodded.

            As his fingers worked the dye onto my head, I almost moaned in pleasure. I’d always enjoyed him playing with my hair. Often while we were dating, he would brush and braid my hair repeatedly just to get me to go to sleep. I miss it… him… No! I quickly reprimanded myself. He was an addict and an alcoholic. He belonged to the past.

            “You aren’t going to fall asleep on me are you?” he whispered, his voice low and husky. It might have been the sexiest thing I’d ever heard.

            “No, not with this stuff on my head.” My voice came out a little defensive, and I knew he had an idea of what I had been thinking. “Make sure you get all my hair! If I end up looking like a skunk, I’ll kill you.” He chuckled softly, and I couldn’t help but want to hear it again.

            “I promise you won’t or I will pay to have it professionally dyed.” An awkward silence fell, and I soon decided that I’d just ask what I wanted to ask. I’d never been shy around him before.

            “So, are you still on drugs, like for real?” I felt him move in front of me. His knees popped as he knelt to my level.

            “I have not touched drugs since the night Heather died. I ended up in juvenile detention back in May. I haven’t had more than two beers at a time since then.” I could see the truth and the sorrow in his eyes. He still blamed himself, and it ripped my heart apart. Almost without my control, my hands caressed both sides of his face.

            “It was not your fault. Do you understand me?” He tried to look away, but I jerked his head back again. “It wasn’t. I told you that last night, and I will continue to tell you that until you realize it’s the truth.” He stared at me for what seemed like ages. When he breathed I felt it glide across my face. We were only inches apart, I realized. He did too.