FOUR

Rachel raked through her entire wardrobe the evening of the next day. She was so nervous, a nervousness she couldn't understand.

            "I've got the perfect outfit." She burped, pressing a cute little rainbow top and Jean dungarees to herself. 

             Zoey raised her head from the bed. "There's no way you're wearing that." She snapped, pouting.

              "Why not?"

       "Because this is the first time you're going out on a goddamn date in a really long while.. You have to make him see the original definition of 'blow your mind'"

              Rachel rolled her eyes,"This scene never gets old." 

            The other girl pushed past her to the open wardrobe. In a few seconds, she revealed a lovely black gown, a leather belt, a furry huge jacket that looked like it would swallow her whole and some goddamn high heels.

            There was no room for protests. She was staring at herself in the mirror in some minutes, admiring herself blatantly.

           The dress was breathtaking, and when she wore it, her body did justice to the dress and complimented it. 

          Rachel was a 5'6. She wasn't so thick but her curves announced themselves. She was a true epitome of beauty.

            The gown clung to her hips and was so revealing. Short and black, Lacy and seductive... This was the perfect dress.

      "Besides.." came Zoey's voice. "Who are you going out with? You never said."

   Rachel gulped. She'd been afraid of that very question since she had agreed to go out with Karter.

      "Norbert. He asked me to go out with him."

     " I'm sorry! Norbert who?" 

   Rachel slapped her hand to her face. "I knew you were going to be mad but.."

      " But what? Next thing, you're the talk of the entire school. Winchester's bookworm resumes her STALKER role as the Queen Bee is nowhere in sight to fight for her man." She placed her hands on her waist. "I knew you liked him. From the start, you always did. And I know how hurting that can be. But you can't walk into the same mistake twice."

      "I know. I just want to get over everything and keep it behind me. I want to prove to myself that I'm not weak. It will be the first and the last! " Whenever I'm near him, it's like my brain blanks out. She didn't say that one out loud. Zoey would have grilled her for dinner.

After a long sigh, she said, "At least, you look like you're ready for Mr Casanova!"

  Rachel scowled. "I never thought you'd agree to my going out with Norbert."

Zoey smacked her lips and smiled. "I can't stand in your way, until my head tells me to move. You're a grown up. I hold on to the first and last logic, that's why. I know that if YOU agreed to this date, that you know what you're doing. I've got you. 

"Besides, I can't remember the last time you went out on a date since Allison. You've gotta have some fun. I'll be your voice of reason, even if it's with the villian's sidekick. But you be careful."

     Rachel laughed, feeling warmed at Zoey's words. But Zoey's attention was back to the dress.

           "Attagirl!!! You are gonna kill the shit out of it!!" 

            Zoey yelled, not hiding her appreciation..

                         ~

              "Wow!! You look stunning!" Norbert spoke, after a sharp intake of breath. He had called earlier to inform her he was outside her dorm.

           Rachel rewarded him with a leer. "Good evening." She clutched her jacket to herself.. it hid the dress completely. The Norbert Karter.. a.k.a Mr Casanova was in for a surprise.

        Oh! So she was going to stay cool tonight. He could work with that.

           "You ready for our ten minutes date?!"

         "You've got eight minutes left.. and you do look good yourself." Rachel didn't let her eyes linger or else she was going to start drooling. He was dressed simply, cool, bad boy-ly, if a word like that existed. He was hot!!

             Slipping into the front seat after he'd opened the door for her, she took a deep breath already anticipating the night.

                                         ~

         When they got to their destination after a quick and quiet ride, Rachel looked up to a small but luxurious restaurant. The interior was even more eye-catching than the exterior.

            Norbert had secured them a table at a corner, all cozy and far from attention. She appreciated his choice, she didn't want too much of it.

             He pulled the chair for her to sit then took his. "Hmm.. gentleman." She murmured, slowly taking off her jacket In the most seductive and teasing way she knew.

          She wasn't here for a joke. She was here to set her mind free from the ghost of the past. And the only way was to move on. But also set out to prove she was not a coward or nerd.

           It got to him.. his eyes moved with every movement she made, and then he swallowed, looking away.

           A guy she thought was the waiter approached them.

          "Karter my man!" The sandy blonde haired guy lashed at Norbert as they shook hands and laughed at private jokes.

      They knew each other.. they had to. As she stared at both of them, she realized, Boys just never grow up.

          "Hey there pretty lady. You're so beautiful you were all I could see since you walked in."

          Rachel blushed furiously at the compliment. She hadn't seen it coming, but she did see his hands extended for a handshake. 

           "I'm Jake. A friend to this asshole. Norbert's a piece of shit, here's my card- just call me anytime."

           He winked flirtatiously at her, then dropping a shadowed kiss in her hands. Rachel smiled at him and nodded, "I sure will!"

           "Hey!! Get the fuck out of here man.. stop hoeing around my girl. Leave her the fuck alone!" He looked serious, but Jake walked away, laughing. He placed his thumb on his ear, and his pinky to his mouth, gesturing to her to call him.

          "I'll fucking choke you on your balls." Norbert hissed again.

        "Come off it cockblock!" His voice was faint as he walked away. "I'll send you food."

         Rachel was giggling, still clutching the card Jake had given her.

        "Your friend seems like so much fun. I like him.. he's so cool."

         Norbert eyed her, "Shut up redhead! Give me that paper." He groped for it but she pulled it away.

           "Hey!! Are you jealous?!"

     Before he could reply, the waitress was in front of them. She was so busty Norbert almost suffocated.

          "Good evening. I was sent to take your orders. What may I help you with?!"

          She was staring seductively at him, so shamelessly Rachel felt like clawing her eyes out with her pinky fingers. Or a well placed bitch slap on her larynx.

          "I'll have a chicken sharwama, sandwich, fries and a milkshake." Rachel spoke up first, which was the only time she got the girl's attention.

          "I'll have the same as hers. Bills on me.."  Norbert added, his eyes still on her. She knew that he knew the waitress was literally gawking at him, but he didn't even glance once at her.

         She kinda liked that..

         Norbert stared on. He couldn't help but watch her. And when she flung her head back, then tucked a few behind her right ear, he was a goner. 

         He loved that habit of hers. The tucking of her hair behind her ear and her constant worrying of her bottom lip.

           She looked like a goddess under the chandelier.. so beautiful, so resplendent. God! Rachel, you're so beautiful.

         "Thank you." She said with a shy smile, dragging him out of his cave of thoughts. Their order had arrived, and she was already trying to arrange it.

       "What?? Did I say that out loud?"

          She grinned this time, "I bet you did."

         "I bet I meant it." Comebacks were the best.

         After some seconds, she put her chin In the centre of her palm. 

         "How do you always feel saying the same things over and over to a thousand different girls?!"

          He looked amused and was soon laughing. A deep sound that cut through her skin.

         "Playboys are not that bad. Forget the movies and books you read. They're just normal guys trying to make ends meet. It's called a hustle sweetheart." His smile was sly, and ended up In a smirk.

           "So that's why you prey on the opposite specie?"

           He exhaled heavily, nibbling on his lower lip. There was no answer for that.

           She dabbed at her lips with a napkin, then returned her gaze to him. "Here, let me make this simpler. How many girls have you brought here to brainwash with your bad boy charms?"

          A rush of warmth filled his head.

                "Just you. You're the only one I've ever brought here."

            She didn't say anything else, just returned back to nibbling on her sandwich.

              He was the next to break the awkward silence. 

          "Look how everyone's staring at you." He leaned in closer, staring deep into her green eyes.

            "Not me, you. They think you're cute." 

         They laughed at her inane statement, the sound a lovely symphony. Her eyes were glimmering at him when she looked up.

          "You're beautiful. When last did I tell you that?"

          "A few minutes ago." She cooed sarcastically.

              "God!! I want to kiss the hell out of you right now. I want to make you cry out, a sound of immense pleasure from your lungs..."

           Her cheeks were madly reddened as she hit him softly with clenched fists. 

        "You're crazy! I gotta go.. ten minutes are up Karter!"

         He smiled cheekily at her, "Do you always have to call me by my last name? You don't have to. You can use the first especially when talking to me, I know my last name."

           "Doesn't matter Karter. Take me home!!"

                          ~

          It was a bit late when he dropped her back at the dorm. When his car came to a stop, her hands were already on the knob. And before he could blink, she was out of the door. Norbert hurried out of the car to her, who was standing by the trunk of his Mach 1. 

                  “We’ve come-“

                 “-Rachel, I know…”

     They began at the same time. Rachel hated the pantomime.

Norbert gestured to her to go first. 

            “The first and the last.. This does not have to continue. I don’t want to be around you, so people don’t get the wrong idea. They probably getting the wrong idea already.”

      Rachel didn’t want people thinking that she was with Norbert, especially now Allison was not there anymore. Allison had already sold her off a home wrecker. She couldn’t stand it again, it hurt too much to be accused of what you’re not. 

        “Is that what you want for yourself? You shouldn’t care of what others think…”

    “Oh cut the crap Karter.” Rachel cut in. “You were here when Allison did all of those things to me, just because of you. You did nothing. You don’t expect me to just act the fool. I don’t even want anything to do with you. I have my education to face and I hope you..”

       His mouth was on hers hotly, urgently, and demanding before she could complete the statement. God knows she didn’t want this, but why the hell was her brain loosing touch? And her body responding freely to his?

     She let his tongue slide into her mouth, exploring the insides of it and savouring the sweetness. His lips were lush and addictive it took the grace of God to pull back from him. 

        Norbert wasn’t having any of it. He held her firmly, his hands encircling her slender waist. 

     “I won’t give up just yet. I’ll keep pressing on till you won’t say no to me. It’s a promise.” 

        The look in his eyes was what scared her the most. It held promises and determination that frightened her to her marrow. Norbert planted a much softer kiss on her swollen lips.

      “Good night Rachel. See you tomorrow.” He whispered in to her ear, smiling as she shivered to his touch. He was still smiling as he drove out of the female dorm parking lot, leaving Rachel with her hair dancing to the tunes of the cool air of the night.