Hormones and Lies

XX

Sunday.
Michael.

I stepped out of the car, nerves coursing through my body. Even after last night I was worried Eric wouldn't show up. I tapped my foot and began fiddling with the hem of my shirt. Gabby discreetly moved beside me and leaned up to whisper.

"Stop worrying. He'll be here."

"How do you know?"

"I just do. Now stop fidgeting!"

My Adam's apple bobbed as I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. I was worried Eric wouldn't show because of how definite his 'maybe' sounded the previous night. Perhaps he had family things going on? Maybe he couldn't come because of that blonde girl that showed up in his room? Bryn, his cousin, I reminded myself. Suppose this was Heather's plan all along? To tear us apart right when we were coming back together after all the hardships. My eyes flickered up; Heather was walking ahead of Gabby and I into the church, standing out in the masses of people. She wore a white, off-the-shoulder dress that ended just above her knees.

Her hair fell like a waterfall between her shoulder blades, her smooth skin shimmering from the way the sun hit her makeup. She was her own definition of beautiful; dangerously, poisonously beautiful. I lowered my eyes as I took my seat, glancing toward the front of the room to steal a look at an empty seat. I prayed with all my might to whoever was up in the clouds, real or not, that the next time I glanced upward at the priest's podium that Eric would be sitting in that very seat.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear, I thought to myself as our priest took his position and began preaching about some angel. I let my head slump into my hand, my eyes trained on the floor. My shoes glinted in the artificial lights of the church, shining differently each time I twisted my feet. Soon, I was being pulled to my feet by my elbow, the sound of shuffling bodies pulling me out of my thoughts. I glanced around, my eyes landing in the empty seat. Eric stood in front of it, hair fluffed out wildly like he'd just been running. My eyes flicker back down to stare at my shiny black dress shoes.

Everyone around me began to join in on some song the priest had started about the angel. My eyes fluttered up to scan the room, a pair of crystal blue eyes connecting with mine. The blonde boy' face flushed before he whipped back around. I smiled to myself;

He came.

People around me began to fall silent, the song coming to a close. My mother smiled proudly, echoing the last verse before puffing her chest out proudly. Josh mirrored her and Gabby shook her head, palm pressed against her face in shame. As the song ended, the priest blessed us all farewell and safe traveling. People began trickling out of the church, fresh chatter filling the air. I made a smooth lie about how I wanted to talk with the priest. I almost let myself visibly gawk when my mother smiled wistfully and told me how proud she was.

She took a smirking Gabby and a scowling Josh out to the car to wait for me. I waited for the blonde boy to pass me before I grabbed his arm and whisked him away to behind the church. I saw a flash of black hair but didn't pay mind to it. I pressed Eric to the wall, his eyes wide with obvious shock.

"What are yo-"

My lips crashed into his, my tongue swiping across his plump bottom lip. Eric responded with a moan as his body arched into mine. His fingers tangled through my hair as mine gripped his hips with passion as hot as flame.

"Sinners!!"

A woman's voice screeched, making us tear our bodies away from one another. Breathing raggedly and heavily, hearts thumping in our ears, sweat beaded across our foreheads. Eric grabbed and squeezed my hand, fear projected in his eyes. I turned to the woman, the flash of black hair and green eyes appearing again, a smirk on pink painted lips.

"It's not what you-"

"Grotesque, don't you agree? I saw them skulking around out here through the windows as I was talking to Father Gordon."

The woman marched toward us, red faced and muttering bible verses. Heather grinned like an evil Cheshire Cat. We'd been caught. My eyes glanced worriedly into Eric's. He began to shake in my grasp, his fear rattling around his body like loose change in a purse. The woman grabbed us by the ears and started pulling us toward the street. She called to Heather, telling her to fetch our parents. The woman, Colleen Mable, dragged us all the way to my house. I suddenly felt a cold chill, as though I wasn't welcome hear anymore. A screech of tires alerted me that my mother just pulled up. She flew out of the car and over to our little trio.

"What's going on?"

"You might want to head inside and sit down for this one, Belinda dear."

"Tell me now, Mable. Or I swear you want walk in those heels again."

"Your son was caught kissing this boy!" She squeaked, backing away from my mother.

My mother stumbled back, Josh helping her down onto a front step. He looked up at me, chest swollen and face red.

"You're a disgrace to this family!" He shouted flying at me and pushing at my chest. "What would father think of your disgusting behaviour-?!"

"Dad would've supported me!" I roared, pushing Josh back with such a force that he landed on the grassy front lawn.

Gabby and Eric's faces contorted in near identical horror at my sudden outburst but the fury that fuelled told me not to care about that. Josh had insulted me and used dad to do it. He barely knew dad! He wasn't allowed to use dad that way. I wouldn't let him. Eric came to my side, one hand covering my fist and the other sliding over my cheek.

"Come on, baby, you gotta calm down."

Tears welled in my eyes and I turned away from Josh to face my mother. She was sitting in silence on the step, head hung. She's ashamed of me.

"Let me through."

"No." She whispered hoarsely.

"I'm leaving. Get out of my way."

"I won't let you."

"What?"

My mother looked up with red rimmed eyes.

"I won't let you leave me."