The Bad Boy's Chain

Chapter Two, Part Four - Dirty

Most of Saturday I spent camped out in my room, avoiding Jesse like I had pretty much all week. I thumbed through fashion magazines, collecting styles and tips I never used, while in between answering Kerry's incessant last minute texts. It was the evening of Jesse's surprise-party and she was convinced he wouldn't fall for it. She knew him even better than she gave herself credit for-which was why I dreaded seeing them together that night. I wasn't looking forward to the party at all-until Carlos' text.

Tonight. Date #3

I smirked. Apparently, getting your ass kicked was the new dinner-and-a-movie. His boldness encouraged a secret smile that only grew wider at the thought of seeing him.

With renewed energy, I swept aside the outfit on the bed-trading the jeans and t-shirt for their tighter, slinkier counterparts. I hardly ever wore make up, but as soon as I left the shower I applied it with an amateur's careful attention. The giant silver hoops were an afterthought, the ankle boots deliberate. I bit my lip, admiring a fiercer, unfamiliar reflection-good girl gone bad. For a night, anyway...

Jesse was waiting downstairs. Since our conversation outside the probation office, there hadn't been much more to us than hasty glances and hastier retreats. With Kerry hovering between us, I knew tonight wouldn't be much different.

I called out to Jess, grabbing my jacket on the way out the front door. "Night-night, Billy!" I waved and Billy took off-he knew Jesse wasn't far behind me.

In the car, I cranked up the radio, letting Banks drown any potential for awkward silence. A few minutes later Jesse slid in the passenger seat, the sharp sweetness of his cologne mixing with the air like incense. His hair was damp from the shower, tousled to perfection, the rest of him neat and clean-cut. He stretched for his seat belt, the hem of his Space Ghost tee separating from his dark jeans and the red-checkered shirt tied at his waist. I glanced away, pretending I hadn't noticed the smooth tease of peach skin, or that sexy gray strip of Calvin Klein fabric that had me biting my lip...

"That's nice of you, luv, getting all dolled up for me."

Smiling, I kept my eyes on the road. "Who said it's for you?" Jesse laughed, but only because he assumed I was kidding.

Eventually, the buildings we passed gave way to The Gentle Woods-forestland already half-naked for autumn. Gold and red leaves tumbled on the air, clinging wetly to asphalt and windshields, their brilliant coloring illuminated by the twilight dusk. Jesse stuck his arm out the window, letting his hand ride the current as the smell of the sea grew stronger. There would be no trip to the beach tonight, but a party at Coral Lake always did the trick.

Once we pulled into the sandy parking lot, our friends were already gathered down the hill. Elise had done an amazing job. Lights were strung through the trees and wound about the dock's tall wooden posts, reflecting off the water like diamonds. She had even sprung for a bunch of those fancy deck chairs with big white umbrellas. Rustic, white-painted canoes dotted the shoreline, filled with snacks and refreshments. Occasionally, a hand dipped in, shaking the ice from a beer. Grinning with satisfaction, I shut down the Sedan's engine, making room for the gently blaring pop music.

"Kerry did this? All of it?"

I turned to Jesse, surprised by his frown. "Well, yeah. I mean, she had help, but she still went to a lot of trouble. I guess."

Jesse blew out a breath it seemed he'd been holding forever. "This is big. I mean, it's not even me birthday."

"I don't get it. Why do you make it sound like such a bad thing?"

"Because. It means we're getting serious." He stared at me, his tongue poked his cheek-the signal of distress. It felt like maybe he was waiting for me to say something, but I didn't move. I didn't even blink. Jesse left the car and I trailed after him, guilt-ridden and confused.

I watched from the sidelines as Kerry led the mob that swallowed Jesse. Beneath the whoops from our friends, Chet Faker sang about love and gold. I traipsed my way down the shoreline, snagging an ice-cold Rolling Stone from a canoe already running short. From there, I took a seat in a deck chair, watching the sun set on a filmy blue haze.

"Hey-there, Lonely Girl." Aidan dropped to his feet, reclining comfortably in the sand. "Y'know, you are way too hot to be sitting by yourself."

I sighed. "It's probably karma. I deserve to be alone. I haven't been laid since Evan dumped me."

"Ouch!"

"Last year."

"Double ouch! Dude, no offense, but you've probably re-grown your cherry by now. You should check down there just to make sure. At the very least there's cobwebs--ow!" Aidan snorted with laughter, sloshing beer down his front.

As the night wore on and Aidan continued to distract me, I thought less and less about Jesse and his indecision towards his relationship. He didn't love Kerry, that much was clear, so I told myself he would do the right thing. Soon Jess will dump that witch for good, and I won't have to worry about losing him to the truth... It had kept me awake too many nights already.

Those were the thoughts that consoled me as I climbed my way back up the hill, rubbing my arms against the rising chill. No worries-my jacket was in the backseat of the Sedan.

And that wasn't the only thing.

I stopped short, my heart sinking in my chest as I watched my car bouncing on its wheels. I didn't have to see inside to know who Jesse was with. I was right-the party was exactly what Kerry needed to break the ice. Now their dry spell was over, with me to thank.

I stepped back, prepared to drown my sorrows in another beer, but was halted by the sleek roar of an approaching engine. A dark blur jetted its way into the parking lot, zipping between the other cars. The black and silver bike halted a few rows away, the shiny visor of a skeleton helmet swiveled in my direction.

Suddenly, I was warm again. Hands jammed in my back pockets, I sauntered my way to the biker. "You're early."

The owner removed his helmet. "You don't care." Carlos smirked back at me, decked in all black, dressed for the devil's work. Time to get dirty. "So, you in or you out?" There was an extra helmet in his hands.

"Out." I took a last look behind me, to the rocking Sedan. "But Mary's in." I grabbed the helmet.

Jesse was right. Things were getting serious.

And that's it for Chapter Two! Drop a comment below and let me know what you guys think, and if you liked what you read pretty please vote and add this to your library! <3 <3 <3 Thanks, luvs!