Nets and Lies(13)

But I wasn’t Mary anymore. I was a defiled and perverse version of my former self, the “Old Melanie”. Tentatively, I stood up in the shower. Then in some weird out-of-body experience I started bathing like nothing had happened.

While lathering my head, I felt the large knot forming under my skin. There was also a ragged cut along my hairline, and when I rinsed my hair, there was blood in the water, even though I’d been as gentle as I could. And then I realized it wasn’t from my head.

More blood loss…more loss of innocence…more evidence of what I’d lost on the futon. I shivered despite the scalding water.

Once again, I raised tear stained eyes to the ceiling. “How am I going to do this?” I murmured. Silence reverberated back at me. I don’t know what I expected. Did I expect God to speak to me and tell me how to lie to the world?

When I got out of the shower, I didn’t bother drying my hair. I threw on my Newton Lady Grizzlies Basketball t-shirt and my sweatpants. I opened the door to find Will hard at work. The sight of him bent over the laptop with papers scattered everywhere made my chest burn.

“Hey,” I said softly.

He swiveled around in my rolling chair. “Hey, beautiful!”

For a brief instant, I didn’t see him. All I saw was Coach T spinning around in his chair like he had earlier tonight. Stop it, Melanie!

I bit my lip and played with the drawstring on my pants. “Um, I’m sorry about being a bitch earlier.”

Will shook his head. “Nah, it’s okay. You’ve had a shitty night. And I was being a douchebag about sex.”

A chill went through me, and I shuddered. Will came over to stand beside me. “You shouldn’t be standing here with your hair wet in the middle of winter. Isn’t it enough you got bonked in the head tonight? You don’t need to get sick on top of that.”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t.” I could feel the intensity of his stare on me. Finally, I brought my eyes to his.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

He smiled and pulled me into his arms. My eyes closed as I was overwhelmed by the security of his embrace. No one made me feel like Will. He was like home...like my parents. I didn’t want anything to ever come between us. It was a desperate feeling—one that caused a sob to build in my throat.

Will must have felt the emotions coursing through me because he whispered into my ear, “Babe, I’m here. You’re all right, and I’m all right.”

My eyelids fluttered open, and I smiled at him. “We’re all right.”

Will grinned. “That’s right.” He kissed the top of my head and glanced over at the desk. “But we’re not going to be all right if we don’t get your essay finished.”

Reluctantly, I let my arms fall from him. He sat down and then spun back around in the chair. “Okay, so we’re supposed to be looking for occult symbolism in Macbeth. Now I used…”

His voice trailed off as I eased down on the bed. My head still throbbed, and I didn’t want to think about Macbeth. I just wanted to go to sleep….sleep would be an escape.

I grabbed the throw off the bottom of my bed and wrapped it around me. It wasn’t long before its warmth and the soothing sound of Will’s voice lulled me to sleep.

The next thing I knew I heard his soft laughter in my ear. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty, I finished your essay.”

I drowsily opened my eyes to see Will’s grinning face above me. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

“Yeah, just be glad you dozed off before I realized it. Your mom freaked out thinking you might have a concussion. She was about ready to check your pupils, but I told her you weren’t totally out.”

“How come?”

“Cause you were kinda crazy while you slept.”

My face burned. “I-I was.”

Will nodded. “Yeah, from the noises you were making, it must’ve been some dream.” He smiled down at me. “I sure hope I was in it.”

I gazed up into his eyes so full of love, and I shook my head. “More like a nightmare I guess.”

He kissed me gently. “I’m here for you. No one’s gonna hurt you. I’ll kick some boogey man’s ass.”

“I’m sure you would,” I whispered.

“All right, it’s eleven, and I’m gonna hit the road.” He started for the door, but I pulled on his arm.

“Stay with me.”

“What?”

“Stay with me until I go back to sleep.” When he stared at me in surprise, I forced a smile to my lips. “You know, to kick the boogeyman’s ass and all.”

Will laughed. “Okay.” He kicked off his shoes and lay down beside me. He pulled me into his arms, and I rested my head on his chest.

When I heard the gentle rhythm of his heart, I murmured, “My favorite position.”

At that moment I realized I would do anything in the world to save what Will and I had. I’d promised Coach T I wouldn’t tell anyone, and I decided it would be a vow I’d keep—regardless of what I had to say or do.

Chapter Five: Jordan

I drummed my French-manicured nails across the steering wheel, throwing another impatient glance at the clock. “What’s taking him so long?” I hissed.