Masked

XXI

"Taran you shouldn't be ashamed to wear that," I told her for the millionth time as we drove up to Jackson's house.

"I know but I don't want to give other guys attention, only you."

"Relax, once they realize you're with me, they'll back off. Same with the girls, and Taran even if you wore a hoodie and jeans, I would still find you sexy."

Taran smiled and added, "by the way you look like a hot, sexy, model."

I laughed as I examined my tight polo shirt and jeans. Taran was wearing a gold strapless dress and heels that matched. It was short but not clingy. It did make her tan more noticeable and man was she HOT! I made her drive because I didn't know how to get there, and I couldn't stop looking at her with my mouth open. She laughed and kissed me as we parked.

"You know we could just have a party in the car," Taran said trying to tempt me.

"That will be the after party, I need to be more social in order to gain approval from recognition as your boyfriend."

Shaking her head, Taran got out and walked in with me. Guys whistled as she walked by but stopped short when I shot them a look and wound my arm around her waist.

"Taran when did you get a boyfriend?" a girl said coming up to us with her black cascading hair around her shoulders. She was evidently checking me out and I could tell she wanted to flirt. She swung her hair to the side and I saw how low cut her dress was. Sure she was cute, with a black lacy revealing dress, but no one compared to Taran tonight or ever.

Taran answered directly with, "since you last broke up with your boyfriend bitch. I'm impressed you idnd't hook up earlier with him and then dump him. Seems like this is a record of what? Two weeks? I'll make sure to make a banner for you and send it in the mail saying, Carley, the most hated person and slut known on campus." With that we walked away, leaving her fuming.

"Taran I've never knew you had such vulgar language. Who was that by the way?" I asked still unsure of why she had acted that way.

"Carley Kanton, she's really Jack's girl. They love to steal others though because they really don't think of themselves as boyfriend and girlfriend, more so brother and sister. Anyways she hit on Derek because we had run into them at some point in time before I moved, so he wasn't a jerk at the time and hadn't fallen for her." She left it at that and towed me over to some other people who were talking and introduced me to them.

We talked and danced with the normal people, avoiding Carley and Jack almost the entire night. Key word, almost.

"Hey Taran, wow you look sexy. Underneath the gold must be even better," Jack said coming up behind her.

I was joking off with Kevin and Nick before I heard Taran mouthing off to him, "Jack you better leave or Michael will embarrass you again. You don't want that do you? How about you go and cry to your slut of a girlfriend Carley and ask her to do whatever the heck it is you want?"

"Because she has already been there and done that. Come on Taran, just one night." I watched as he inched closer to her.

I waited for Taran to yell my name but it never came. She stood frozen as he leaned forward and slapped him.

"Are you insane? You're drunk Jack, get out of my face okay?" she started to leave when Jack pulled her back and started kissing her while groping her body.

"Michael!" Taran yelled but Jack cut off the rest and made out with her.

There were a bunch of hollers and I raced toward Jack with my fists flying.

He pushed Taran to the ground and smiled greedily. I socked him in the nose and heard a crack. He cussed and ran out the door with Carley on his heels. Everyone stared at me and Taran who was on the ground curled up in a ball. I got down on my knees and touched her arm.

"Taran he's gone."

She looked at me and stood up shakily while gripping me tightly.

"Let's get out of here," she whispered as Jackson came up to us with a concerned look, "sorry guys, I had told him to leave when he showed up. I could tell he was drunk, but obviously he went around the other way. Anyways that was my fault and I should've checked on that. Are you alright Taran?"

"Yea I'm fine Jackson thanks. I think we're going to leave just because of all the commotion we caused, sorry."

"Hey don't be sorry, I could care less when it comes to someone showing him a lesson."

We left without another word and this time I drove as Taran looked out the window speechless.

"Taran I'm sorry I didn't intervene earlier, I thought maybe you were going to handle it... or thought you would call my name sooner. I shouldn't have left your side, and I'm terribly sorry i let that happen to you again, but this time in public at a party. Please forgive," I was cut off when she kissed me and I braked on the side of the road.

"Michael shut up okay, it was my fault and don't blame yourself. I'm over it and want to move on and go have an after party with you."

This I had to laugh at because I was being insanely ridiculous and at how fast Taran could change her moods with me. When we walked in, I carried Taran up to her room and laid her on the bed. She yanked her heels off, as I pulled my shirt off and shoes.

"Michael what kind of after party were you thinking of having?" she asked obviously in how I would react.

"Honestly I didn't get that far," I admitted feeling unprepared and idiotic.

"Well we can wing it?" Taran said looking at me with the eyes that Lacie used to give me.

"That's what scares me Taran. I don't want to go too far, and be like the rest of the guys who did wrong to you. I won't hurt you like they did."

"Michael you're different, and I will stop you. Relax okay? I trust you enough to know that I won't be reckless and lose my virginity again. I'm almost like a goody two shoes and am staying abstinent til marriage."

I appreciated her honesty and knew exactly how far we would probably end up going. Besides we had already had plenty of hot make-out scenes.

"Me too Taran," I ended the discussion and kissed her softly.