Sanity Siphoned

Ch8: Hope Crushed

Chapter 8

After that night Julienne was sure this Michael was an alien from another planet. There was no way someone could be that different in the matter of three weeks. This Michael could be really sweet. He took them several miles into the ocean before turning off the engine. The sky was a dark heavy blanket of stars and a full moon.

He revealed a table full of various desserts. He knew by then her mother had made sure she had dinner and decided to present her with dessert. They feasted on chocolate cake and all kinds of cookies. Next he pulled her into his arms and they danced to whatever was playing on the radio. It was going really well until the swaying of the boat mixed with the sweets made her stomach turn.

"If you feel like vomiting let me know so we can get you to a trash can."

"I'm not going to vomit…I might if we keep saying the word."

"Ok no more V word. Come on." Michael led her downstairs to the cabin so she could lie down. "Maybe if you don't see the water it'll help."

Julienne laid back on the full size mattress and tried to feel better while ignoring the embarrassment working its way though her system as well.

Michael sat next to her. "I can distract you if you want."

"I bet." She tried to fight his infectious grin but this time she lost.

"A smile, whoa I am shocked. I really must be wearing you down." He leaned down and kissed the base of her neck. "Now that I think about it a distraction is exactly what you need to forget about being sick." He moved on top of her and trailed the little butterfly kisses lower. When he reached the buttons of her dress he undid them until they stopped at the waist. He inhaled sharply at the sight of her shapely body, his own body tightening with anticipation and want.

Julienne's breathing was all over the place, her body felt foreign as new emotions and desires slammed into her worse then the waves rocking the boat. He had seen her in her underwear; they had kissed a lot but this time, this moment felt much more different then the others. She was comfortable; she enjoyed the other times but hadn't been comfortable with what she felt to act on it. This time she let her hands touch him.

She trailed her hands under his shirt and pulled it off at the same time. His skin was warmer then she expected, his eyes mirrored that warmth as they darkened with fire behind them.

Staring into each other's eyes she realized what was happening and felt her stomach roll over. "Oh god." She jumped out of the bed and made it to the bathroom in time. She threw up dessert, dinner and probably some lunch.

"Julienne, are you ok?"

"Yeah." The word was weak.

"I'll go turn the boat around and take you home."

Julienne sat there on the cool tile floor and decided to stay there a moment just in case. She used the time to think; was it sea sickness or did she freak out over the fact she and Michael were about to have sex? She had never dwelled on what she imagined her first time to be like but it certainly wasn't like this. She knew Michael for years except she didn't really know him either, he was a stranger in every sense of the word and she had been willing to give him her body. What the hell was wrong with her?

~*~

Michael had the mother of all erections to the point he was in pain. He wanted nothing more then to go back downstairs and finish what they started. The memory of her hands touching him and her body wiggling beneath him only worsened his predicament.

Julienne had a deadly weapon in her arsenal and didn't even know it, her innocence only added to her appeal and drove him mad.

He sat at the wheel of the boat and concentrated on getting them home. Their night was over and he had to accept it. When he planned their getaway he swore he wouldn't push her and actually took sex off the table. The night was meant to gain her trust, not scare her off. He hoped he hadn't and made a note that their next encounter would be on dry land.

~*~

When she heard the engine turn off and the waves lessen Julienne went back up to the desk. She quickly stepped back when she heard voices.

"What are you doing out here, man?" it sounded like one of Michael's friends from school; Cody or Marko.

Michael's chuckle was nervous. "Ah…getting some air."

Julienne's heart sank and started to crack around the edges. She knew he wouldn't broadcast what they were doing and would lie in a situation like this, but to hear him actually do it stung in a heartbreaking manner she didn't know.

"Alone?" the other boy taunted. "Dude its Friday night, talk about a dry spell. You know Anna would jump at the chance to be your sea queen."

"Nah, that's high maintenance I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. Don't worry about my social life, I'll see you Monday."

Julienne hung back a little longer until she was sure they were alone. She used the time to remind herself she couldn't be angry at him about lying. She would've lied too.

Michael found her still seated in the stairs. "Did you hear that?" she shrugged and offered a weak closed lip smile. "Are you mad?" she shook her head no. "Are you going to speak to me?" this time he was tense.

"Nothing to say."

He grabbed her hands and sighed. "Damn it Julienne what did you want me to say-?"

She pulled her hands free and narrowed her eyes. "Don't get mad at me. I don't care what you say. I would've lied too because this is fucking ridiculous."

He didn't hide his surprise to hear her use so many words and curse at the same time. "I didn't lie because I'm embarrassed or something to be seen with you. But I know you would be." Of course it was easier for him to put it all on her.

She didn't believe him and didn't want to get into it so she stayed silent on the subject. "Take me home now."

She reverted back to the girl she was before their time in the ocean, there was no talking or smiles, there was nothing but emptiness. She was quiet the whole drive home and thankfully he didn't push to know why.

Her small streak of luck ran out when she got home to find her mother in the living room waiting. Ellen opened her mouth then shut it as she took in Julienne's appearance. "You're wearing a dress and I didn't have to beg you to put it on? Where have you been?" It wasn't that late out, just past ten, she wasn't angry as much as she was curious.

Julienne's shoulders sunk, she didn't know how to explain this. A moment later a plausible lie started to come out her mouth. "The marina was having this mini cruise thing for those wanting to take a boat ride and they had a dress code. I thought it'd be a good idea to get some air and veg somewhere else besides the couch."

Her mother gave the biggest and brightest smile humanly possible. "I'm so glad to hear you went out. You used to love the ocean. Did you have fun?"

"It was ok until my stomach started feeling funny. I'm gonna go lay down." She turned toward her room. Tears slipped down her cheeks. "Goodnight mom"

"Goodnight sweetie."