Brian actually walked up to her to show the light scar that was left on his chest... It still looked like her teeth print. Again, before she could stop herself another smile grew where the first one stared. All she could remember from that day, besides enjoying the pool, was how he'd learned very quickly not to tickle her when she was kissing him. That thought made her blush, but luckily he was already walking back to his things, so he didn't notice.
One thing's for sure, Brian had pumped up since last Summer...
Sarah's eyes widened at her thoughts and she shook her head, turning away to partially harden her heart again. Okay, deal with Brian to learn what she needed, but... but don't fall for him again. That was her goal...or, so she'd thought.
"Why did you move? It would have been nice to just walk you home but now you live blocks away from my house"
"After dad died, mom just wanted to go..." Just then, Brian's phone rang. She continued to finish packing and drying off. She pulled her jeans and a t-shirt over her damp swimsuit and tossed her towel over her shoulder. She'd stopped for a moment wondering why her mother never asked her about moving. She'd just came home from school one day to find her whole house packed up. Sarah never wanted to move...
"I miss the old times we used to have, I wish we still did those things."
"I do too...," she'd whispered, only to cut her eyes towards him hoping she wasn't heard. Sarah grabbed her bag and walked with Brian out the gate towards the parking lot. She was in a fog of confusion still, more than she was before leaving school that day. Before she could argue, Brian had pulled her into a careful hug. She tensed up in a sudden panic, but then... she relaxed into that very familiar embrace - and then he pulled away, leaving her absent.
"Um, I'll see you at school tomorrow."
Sarah cleared her throat and folded her arms around her, "Oh...yea, sure..." She quickly rushed towards her car, throwing her bags in the back and jumping in with a slam of the door. Starting up the engine and tossing the lights on, she zoomed out of the parking lot, not caring to offer Brian a ride. She didn't want him to see her tears, her anger, her mixed emotions... What in the hell was going on with her?
Use him to get the answers you need, but that's it! Nothing else! It was as if she trying to talk herself out of what she felt... She wasn't over him - not in the slightest. Eight months and still she had those feelings for him. Damn, I can't do this...
Soon, she was pulling up to her driveway, only to find Justin's car sitting on the street before it. She walked in to find him being entertained by her parents.
"Ah, there she is!" Her mom stood up and smiled. Sarah just headed upstairs without a word. Her mom looked towards Justin and shook her head, "She looks like she was swimming. After the day she had, that would be her typical response."
"I'll head up there to check on her, Mrs. Helen," Justin placed his cup on a saucer and rushed up the stairs. He didn't knock on her door, so Sarah didn't realize he was stepping into her room. With her swimsuit partially down, she jumped at the sound of the door closing behind him. "Hell, Justin! Who gave you permission to come up here?" She quickly covered her chest and began to pull the Speedo back up, but Justin was behind her before she had a chance.
"Your mom said I could - to check up on you." His arms wrapped around her and his lips were hot on the back of her neck. "So, you skipped classes, didn't text me all day, or call..." he turned her around, tightening his grip around her arms where they were pinned between them. "I hope I don't have to beat the answer out of you in your own room. That wouldn't be your best idea."
Sarah tried to pull away from him, but he continued to posses her neck and keeping her well planted in place.
"I went swimming at Hedgeway," she rushed out, and Justin stopped.
"Not with someone in particular?" The look on his face was harsh and made it difficult for her to keep her poker face.
"No, just me and the water. I just wanted a break."
Justin pulled away, "Well, that's understandable... You've been under so much stress."
He sat on her bed while she returned her Speedo back over her shoulders. She decided to just throw caution to the wind, now feeling far too exhausted to think clearly in the first place, Sarah turned to him and just flat out asked, "Are you sleeping with Jessica Newhart?"
Justin's eyes flared open and a flabbergasted expression turned his face into a bunched up prune before he just billowed out in a mad laughter that seem to scare her far worse than when he's yelling. "That's insane! Where in the world are you getting that?"
"Apparently, from you and her." Sarah stepped forward, feeling more heated than anything for being laughed at. He's such a horrible liar! "Everyone's been quoting both of you from various places. You two are rather popular these days. If they're lucky to have their phone charged, you guys would be on YouTube by now from all the times they say they've caught you two together after swim meets or football games..."
Justin stood up, stepping up to her as if to threaten her. She stepped back a little, but decided to not give in. She was at home...what in the hell could he do to her here. "Look, I'm tired of this popularity game. You don't really care about me; you never did! You just like the attention I get for you, especially now since I'm training for the Olympics. If you're happier with her, then fine. We're done. I don't want to be in your way."
Justin grabbed her arms far too tightly, and began to jerk her back and forth, "You are not going to drop me like I'm some hopeless case. We are a couple - that's the way it is suppose to be. You know - the Captain of the Football team and the Cheerleader Captain. Jessica's just around to give me some ass every now and again, because you refuse."
Sarah was about to be sick. Justin pulled her close, grabbing her chin with his hand to force her to look at him. He had a wild look in his eyes, like he was getting pumped up for a game. "We're going to play this game, whether you like it or not. And if you don't, I'll make sure you regret wanting to leave me." He pressed his lips to hers, smashing them together as she fought to get away. Sarah was able to break free, throwing a hand up to slap him hard across his face. Justin reared back with a punch for her efforts. Sarah fell back slightly against her bed, but was still on her feet. She knew how to take a hit, but she never thought he would go so far... in her own home!
"Get. Out!" She stood up and began to push him out of her room.
Justin just laughed as she did, letting her move him. "Our little secret...unless you want more." He continued laughing out of her room. Calming himself, he headed downstairs, giving her parents a gracious smile before telling them good night and seeing himself out.
Sarah stood in the steaming shower, just letting the water heat up her anger and wash her tears away. She punched the tile in her silent retort, pissed off about everything that was happening to her, at the worst possible time, and coming up with no idea on how to take care of it. She could tell her parents, but that would cause other problems and threaten her dreams for the big O. She left the shower with less ideas and more frustrations that would only linger upon her nightmares and the dawn on the new day. Sarah only knew one thing, she wasn't going to give into Justin's threats - not anymore.
Lying in bed, Sarah pushed Justin out of her thoughts and concentrated on water...on the soft flow of its current passing around her body as she cut through it. And with thoughts of water, her subconscious continued to bring Brian into her dreams, of times well spent with good company - her dad and Brian and her... Those nightmares she thought she would had never touched her that night.