City to Sticks

Chapter Eleven

11—Holly P.O.V.

It was now later March and we were starting to have some warmer days. Thank God! Jake told me that I shouldn't wish the cool days away, because once summer hits it would get brutal around here, but I was tired of winter. Things with him were, in a word, great. We were sneaking around though, unsure how my family would feel about us dating. Jake didn't like the secrecy, but I wasn't ready to tackle that just yet. I promised him that I would tell them soon.

It was Saturday morning and we were just finishing up with our last cow. I had gotten better, with time, and could now do more than the original dozen Grams had assigned to me. We finished with the cows and began to clean up. I was almost done cleaning my station when I felt two hands come around me and lips landed on my neck. I tilted my head to the side, giving him better access. Jake began to nibble on my neck and I shivered, arching my back, and instinctively pushing my butt into his groin. Jake moaned and rubbed against me a little, before suddenly turning me around and slamming his lips onto mine. I clung to him, eager for his delicious assault.

He then lifted me onto a workbench nearby and I quickly wrapped my legs around his hips, pulling him intimately close. Jake's moan increased and he reached down to unzip my coat. His hands began roaming inside and it was my turn to moan when he placed his palms over my breasts. I arched my back, pressing more firmly against him. He tore his mouth from mine and rained kisses down my neck, pushing my coat further out of the way. Things were heating quickly and I definitely liked where this were going.

"Holly there is a—whoa!" Grams stood just inside the barn and was looking at us in shock. Her jaw hardened and she said, "Holly, you have a visitor, but first I think we need to talk about what is going on in here."

"Um..." Shit, what could I say? It was pretty clear what had been going on in here.

Jake straightened and blurted, "Holly and I are dating. We have been for weeks now."

"I see. Well, we'll discuss this more later. Right now Holly has a guest waiting in the living room." Grams said and the disappointment was clear in her tone. Crap, this is what I'd been afraid of and why I hadn't wanted to tell my family. I didn't understand why Grams was so mad though. I knew that she adored Jake.

I was curious as to who was in the living room though, so I figured that I'd do as Grams suggested and discuss it later. Jake helped me hop off the bench and I hurried inside. When I found Shawna, of all people, sitting on the couch, I almost walked right back out. She looked up when I walked in and a huge smile appeared on her face, before she jumped up and ran over to hug me. It didn't take her long though and she was plugging her nose and stepping back, "Wow, Holly, you really stink!"

I laughed. I don't know why, but I found it hilarious. I nodded, "Yes that's what happens when you work near cow poop all morning."

"Gross, well, I'm here now and not a moment too soon. Look at your nails and, oh my, when was the last time you got your hair done? I'm on spring break this week and it's a good thing I decided to talk daddy into shipping me down here. You need my help, girl." Shawna was going off on one of her rants that I used to find enjoyable. What the hell had been wrong with me?

Grams entered the room and asked Shawna, "How long are you staying, Dear?"

"Um, I'm not really sure." Shawna said and looked at me.

I shook my head, "Don't look at me. I'm confused why you're even here to begin with."

"Holly don't be rude." Grams scolded.

Shawna narrowed her eyes at me, "I think we need to talk."

I shrugged and headed up to my room, hearing Shawna follow. I could almost hear her silent judgement of my room and the house in general. I'd judged it when I first came here too. I looked out my window, as I waited for her to speak. Jake was down there and I knew our plans for me to sneak out tonight were now ruined. Jake was spending the night in the barn, as one of our cows was about to deliver a calf. We'd planned for me to sneak out and provide Jake with a little distraction while he waited for the calf. That won't be happening with Shawna here.

"Who is that? He's hot." Shawna was suddenly standing beside me. I let my curtain fall back down, shielding Jake from Shawna's gaze. Shawna snickered, "Oh possessive much?"

"Yes well, that's the thing about boyfriends, I'd kind of like to keep them out of your bed." I snapped.

"So I'm guessing that you know about me and Kyle?" Shawna asked.

I rolled my eyes, "Cut the crap, Shawna. Why are you here?"

"I thought we were friends." Shawna huffed.

I nodded, "So did I, but then I find out you were screwing my boyfriend behind my back."

She sighed, "It wasn't even about Kyle, you know? It was about you. Everything you set your mind to...you make it happen. You want cheer captain, the spot magically opens up. You wanted to date Kyle and he suddenly takes an interest in you. It's been that way your whole life. Just once, I wanted you to know what it's like to not always have the perfect life."

My eyes were threatening to pop out of my face, "You're kidding me, right? You think I have the perfect life? Do you not see where I'm living?"

"Yes and you've even landed on your feet here." Shawna said, sounding disgusted.

"If you feel this way, then why are you here?" I still didn't get it.

"I just didn't think you'd let a boy ruin our friendship. I know that I shouldn't have seduced him, but if it hadn't been me it would have been someone else. Did you honestly expect Kyle to survive a long distance relationship?" Shawna sneered.

I shook my head, "I don't doubt that Kyle and I would have broken up eventually, without your help. I can admit that now, but that doesn't change the fact that friends...real friends don't seduce their friend's boyfriends. So yes, I'm ending our friendship, but not over a boy. I'm ending it because you don't give a damn about me. You never did. Now please leave."

Without another word Shawna walked out. I didn't turn to watch her go. Instead, I went back to the window, pushed the curtain aside and watched Jake for a minute, until he entered the barn and I couldn't see him anymore. What I did see, though, had my blood boiling to epic proportions. Shawna pushed her boobs up and pulled her shirt down, maximizing her cleavage and then she sashayed into the barn. Oh hell no. I didn't fight her over Kyle, but that bitch was dead if she touched Jake with one finger, I thought as I stomped downstairs.

"What's wrong? I saw your friend leave." Grams asked, drying her hands on a dish towel. Gramps sat reading the paper while mom was tossing a salad.

"One of you call an ambulance because this witch is going to need it, if she thinks she's taking my man!" I say venomously and March out of the house. I heard Gramps laughing, Grams muttering "oh dear", and mom asking what the devil was going on. I was about to get my hands dirty. Very, very dirty. That's what's going on!