Conversations With The Moon (Bruno Mars One-Shots)

Lessons pt. 3

1 month later...

I glance up at the clock and count down the seconds to the bell and just before I say 'one' they sound and third period lets out. I head down the hall to my locker, swap my books and then go to close it when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around and a familiar face greets me."Hey!" Raine chimes. "I've been looking for you!"

"Yeah?" I reply. "What's up?" I ask as I close my locker door. She throws her arms around me and gives me a squeeze.

"Thank you for, you know," she pauses and draws away from me. "For being there for me." She adjusts her hair over her shoulders while she looks me in the eyes. "And for teaching me to play the ukulele and everything. I'll give you the last of the money next week." She leans in and the world seems to slow around us. Warmth hits my cheek, intensifies and then her lips are on it just a few inches shy of mine. She run her thumb across my cheek, smiles then turns and walks away.

The new guy, Koa, walks up to her, taps her on the shoulder and she pulls him in for a tight hug. He leans in close to her ear and when she leans away she smiles and giggles then he puts one of her arms around her shoulders and I feel heat rush to my head as my hands tenses. I look down to see that it has formed a fist; the longer I look the tighter it gets. As they turn the corner out of sight, I take a deep breath and shake my head. I go about the rest of my day and walk home with my friends and sisters usual. Jut as I am about to think up ways to spend my Friday night. I hear a knock at my bedroom door. I mumble 'come in' and I sit up and set my guitar aside. Looking over I see Ryan popping his head into the room.

"B, what are the plans? From what I know we have a few options." I wave him over and he takes a seat on my bed beside me. I do my best to hold a neutral expression despite the irritation that still hangs in the center of my chest.

"Whatchu got?"

"We could head over to the lounge and watch a couple performances, do some night surfing or there's this party at the hangout."

"Who's hosting?" I ask. It's usually some senior or some popular somebody but ask the question anyway.

"Some senior," Ryan says running his hand through his hair.

"The party sounds good."

"We doing the usual, 'you're sleeping over at my place'? thing?" I nod. "Perfect, my mom is away, my sister is in charge and she has a date to night to we're good until real late." I grab my pre-packed duffel. He heads out of my room and I follow.

"Perfect."

Ryan and I make a pit-stop at his house to change into some casual party attire and then we take the short walk to the beach and then head toward the hangout. Before we can even see the building we can hear music and voices. We walk right inside to see the party already in full swing. There are two coolers filled with various cheap beers and soda. All the string lights over head are on, the stereo in the corner is play just loud enough to hear over all the talking. There are people everywhere but despite this the small building doesn't feel crowded. A group of five is nestled over to the far end of the large couch talking and drinking. Another is stand over my stereo just nodding to the music. A few couples are scattered about whispering into each other's ears and talking right to each other faces. Others people stand in the center of room dancing to the music playing. I feel someone bump my shoulder. I look over to see Ryan with a Carona at his lips and another in his hand. He offers it to me and I pop the cap on the side of one of the table and take a swig.

"You think Kelani is here?"

"Yeah probably," I muse between sips." He liked her for ages and she likes him but much like the rest friends I'm still wondering why they aren't together. I've given up on asking why he hasn't asked her out yet. There isn't anything for him to be afraid of. "Check outside, I think I say Tela go out there. You know they do everything together."

"Right." I feel a hand over my shoulder and look over to see Ryan. "Thanks man. I'll be around." I nod at time and find a place to sit. As I do the people in the room shift and the music selection changes to something more up beat. I stand and make my way tot he floor where I just sway at first but as the music takes me and let the MJ moves come out and I start to feel the eyes of those around me. A circle forms around me and I hear the excitement in their voices and I just let go. When the song ends, the circle clears out a bit and I go have the rest of my Carona. Some people pass by and compliment me as I try to catch my breath and I get several smiles. Just as I'm about to head back over to one of the coolers for another drink, I feel and on my shoulder. I look over see familiar face.

Raine. She's wearing a little white tube-top and a baggy pair of jeans at least a size too big for her. She has on a black and white bandanna over her signature curls. Her makeup is done up as usual and on her feet are a pair of fresh-out-the box Air Force 1s. She walks around the couch and I watch her as she comes to stand in front of me.

"Come dance with me," Raise says leaning down in from of me. She wraps one of her hands around mine and before I can object, I'm already standing. She points over at the stereo and someone near it swaps out one CD for another. The music picks up and with in second it seems like everyone who was lounging around is now standing and dancing. Raine and I get thrust into the center of tiny packed dance floor and before the song is over we're sweating. A slow jam sweeps across the room like an ocean breeze and I watch as Raine turns from facing me. Her backside collides with my crotch. Other bodies bump into ours and as the music takes over the music, I find my hands on her waist inching down toward her ass. When the song ends she pulls away then the two of us walk over to one of the coolers and grab drinks. She opens her drink easily then has a dainty sip.

" I didn't know you were coming."

"It's open invitation isn't it?" I inquire.

"Yeah but not everyone knew about it. How'd you find out?"

"I have connections," I say out of the corner of my lips. I have a sip of my drink and she laughs a little.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah party crash-er." I gesture to myself.

"Me?" She laughs again an I feel a surge of something light and warm wash through me. Her brown eyes light up and for a moment the dim light gets caught in them. "This place doesn't belong to any one person, so this party is for everyone, right?" Raine and I talk easily for the next fifteen minutes while drinking. There are laughs and I notice every time she touches me wherever her hand lands warms and sends chills down my spine. When she finishes her drink, she gestures toward the door where the garbage can is and walks off toward it. She disappears outside for a moment then as she enters a guy I've never seen before follows. He pokes her in her side and she turns around to face him. She raises her arms and he lifts her into his. She gives him a squeeze and when he sets her down, she pulls her face to his and their lips meet. The warmth that washed through me runs cold and I nearly spill my drink as my hand searches blindly for somewhere to set it down. She wraps her arms around his and he escorts her out the door. I head out around back and navigate around the little nooks and crannies where people often makeout. I quietly make my way around the building and then I see her. The guy she hugged has her plastered up against the side of the building with his lips on hers and his his hand grabbing her ass. I feel my fist clench as I walk back the way I came out. I make a b-line for the door and head out toward the beach. Before I'm out of earshot of the building I hear the flip-flop of quick steps on the uneven sand.

"B, what happened? Where are you going?" Ryan asks.

"I've had enough," I reply trying to control the intensity of the clench of my fists. I continue walking and he follows me without a word.