MEGHAN
How was this fair?I was being ganged up by two other girls who looked older and possibly stronger than me. This was such a fucked up situation, I thought. Even if I knew how to fight, which I didn't...I couldn't fight them off both as I was outnumbered.And what are we even fighting about anyway? For a guy I didn't even like?"This is stupid," I said. I shook my head as they were gaining on me."Are you calling me dumb? You slut?" Rita snapped."No, I am not calling you dumb. I am saying this whole thing is dumb. This is a big misunderstanding, that's all. I don't want Luke. I already told you this a thousand times," I said."We don't fucking believe you," Rita's minion barked.Twirling her hair on her finger, Rita stepped even closer to me. So close that I had a hard time breathing as the stench of alcohol in her breath overwhelmed my senses. "I think a lesson needs to be learned. What do you think?" She placed her indexed finger on my chest and then poked it hard, making me wince."Why don't you call Luke here and hear what he has to say about this?" I suggested.Someone opened the door, so all three of us looked. Hope flickered in me. The other people at the party will see this and stop this madness. We were grown adults, for Christ's sake. Fighting is for kids, and no one would tolerate that. Right?Wrong.I looked in shock as I saw a small group of college kids standing around and laughing. No one looked remotely worried about me. Too drunk to care anyway."Just let me go home. I've had enough of this place," I said. Where was Luke? Why didn't he come back already.""No, no, no. You are not getting off easily. I need to make a point because everyone needs to learn what happens when you try to get with MY Luke," Rita's lips curled into a small smile."Kick her ass, Rita!" someone in the crowd screamed.Oh great. Just what I needed. Some drunk asshole to egg her on."Close the door again, Tracy. Things are about to get ugly, and we don't want anyone to interrupt," Rita smirked.Tracy obliged without having a second thought.Rita looked at me with a tight jaw and said, "Apologize to me.""What?""Say I am sorry I tried to steal your man. I am slut, and Luke isn't good enough for me," Rita ordered me. Her mocking tone made my insides twist into knots. I had been trying to stay calm this entire time, but she was making it harder and harder to do so."I am not saying that. No way," I shook my head."Say it. Say, 'I am a no good slut who isn't good enough for Luke and will leave him alone from now on," Rita urged me.I stood up straight with my feet planted firmly on the ground. "Alright, Rita. If that's what you want me to say. I'll go ahead and say it. Rita, YOU are a no good slut who isn't good enough for Luke. Not to mention a raging bitch," I declared."YOU BITCH!" Rita swore and swung her fist at me, and everything went dark.I didn't wake up until I heard someone banging on the door frantically."Meghan! Open the fucking door!"Adrian?I pried my eyes open. Or attempted to but managed to open only one of them. I saw Rita looking down at me, but her eyes were wide with fear.I forced myself to sit up and groan as the back of my head hurt from falling on the floor. I cupped my hand on my right eye, it felt swollen. I am going to have one ugly blackeye later.Great...how am I supposed to explain this to mom and Steve? I just got back in town and already causing trouble."Open the fucking door before I break it down!" Adrian raged on the other side. My heart jumped. He sounded hella angry and I wondered: Will he defend me or congratulate Rita for beating me up? He can't be that cold, can he?Rita opened the door, and Adrian stormed inside. I quickly covered my eye with my hand because, for some reason, I didn't feel like showing it to Adrian. I didn't want him to feel satisfied when he saw I'd been beaten and defeated.His eyes instantly landed on me sitting on the floor, and anger flickered in his pupils. "What the fuck is going on here?""I am teaching your slutty sister what it means to mess with what's mine," Rita said smugly."Did you hurt her?" he asked but immediately looked at me for an answer before she had the chance to reply. "Did she hit you?" he asked me directly this time.I didn't reply. Instead, I just sat there, letting tears stream down my cheeks. Like a fool.Adrian crouched down in front of me. "Let me see.""I'm fine," I said, choking back a sob."Move your hand and let me see," Adrian asked, less demanding this time. His eyes aren't as cold anymore."Move it before I force it to move. I don't have time to fuck around with you, Magpie."My heart jumped. He called me Magpie. He used that stupid nickname when he felt close to me. Hope flickered inside me. Maybe he wasn't mad at me anymore. I moved my hand and let him see my bruised eye."Motherfucker..." Adrian groaned. He walked away from me and then stood in front of Rita.Luke suddenly burst in before Adrian opened his mouth. "What the fuck, Rita? What the hell do you think you are doing to Maggie?" Luke raged."I got this under control." Adrian looked annoyed.Luke ignored him and kept his eyes on Rita, who suddenly had a change of demeanor. "Baby, it's not what it looks like," she cooed.Oh would you look at that, Ms. dragon lady suddenly became Ms. Sunshine. Someone give her an Oscar for the best actress award."Did you do that to Maggie?" Luke barked, then ran to my side. He grabbed my arm and pulled me up to my feet.I wiped my tears. "Guys, I am fine. It's just a small misunderstanding. I don't want any more problems so just take me home.""Why did you beat Maggie, Rita. Answer me, right now!" Luke held my hand tightly while glaring at Rita."Because she is a slut. She is trying to play tricks on you, so you would be cheating on me!" Rita screeched.Luke shook his head. "Are you for real? We aren't even dating."Adrian walked to my side again. Taking my other hand in his, he said: "Enough with this drama. I am driving her home."Luke didn't let go of my hand. "I can take her home. It was my fault, it seems, so I feel responsible."Adrian's jaw tightened. I could tell he wasn't happy about Luke's offer judging from the way he was eyeballing Luke's hand on mine. "She is my sister and I am taking her home.""It's okay, Luke. None of this is your fault. Let Adrian take me home," I said meekly.Luke sighed. "Alright. Whatever you want."Adrian looked at Rita, who hadn't moved from her spot. "You...I will deal with you later."My heart skipped a beat as I saw the anger in his eyes. I couldn't imagine what he meant by that. Adrian can be scary sometimes."I am not done with you either, Rita. You better get ready to explain this shit to me," Luke turned to Rita and snarled.I didn't get to stand and watch Luke's wrath as Adrian pulled me out of the bathroom.Pushing through the crowd, he didn't slow down as he kept dragging me away."Ouch!" I yelped as I couldn't keep up with him and tripped on my shoes. I fell to my knees. My wrist throbbed as he held it too tight. Now I will wake up with a bruised eye AND a wrist."For fuck's sake, Maggie. Stop dragging your feet," Adrian barked. I guess him being nice to me back there was temporary."I am not dragging my feet. I just tripped. I hurt my head when I fell, but I guess you don't care about that, do you?" I said meekly. The last thing I wanted was to get yelled at by him some more." I am sick of taking care of the princess, just hold on to me and shut up" Adrian sighed.
I did just that and forced back my tears.
ADRIANFucking Luke.Maggie looked rough from the smackdown she'd evidently gotten herself into in the bathroom. Her eye was swollen, turning dark already, and even her cheek looked puffy on that side. I knew it would be an ugly shiner by morning; I had zero idea what our parents would have to say about it.They'd probably blame me.As if it was my fault my best friend was a manwhore who attracted crazy chicks the way moths swarmed a flame. I couldn't wait get to college. I wasn't ever coming home to these people again.I had to carry her all the way to the bathroom. Luckily, our parents were dead asleep and didn't hear the door. I couldn't wait to get my own place so I didn't have to worry about things like this."Natasha is going to have my head for this, you know that right? You better tell her you took yourself to the party. I'm not getting my ass handed to me because you don't know to stay away from where you aren't wanted.""I was invited!" Maggie protested sharply.I was angry
MEGHAN I rolled to my side and groaned as the entire side of my face hurt. I tried to open my eyes, but it was too painful to open my right eye, so I closed them again. Why does it hurt so much? I touched my aching face and the memories from last night came flooding back. Then, thinking about the party, I laughed bitterly to myself. Oh right. How could I forget the beatdown from Luke's number one fan already? Damn Rita and her temper. Maybe I better stay away from him for a while. I had enough problems of my own already. I needed to figure out how to fix things with Adrian. He was still too angry at me, and I wanted him to stop hating me. "Maggie! Are you up?" I jolted up into a sitting position as I heard my mother's voice. Shit...I wasn't ready for her to see my battered face. I knew she would be disappointed once she saw how her daughter was getting into trouble already. I didn't want her to regret inviting me here to live with her again. "Y...yes, mom," I replied. "It's a
ADRIANI didn't mean to eavesdrop on Maggie's phone call, but I heard everything through the walls. I mean, the walls were pretty thin. I remember she used to yell at me to turn my T.V. down when she was trying to study.My blood boiled when I realized she was talking to another guy. At first, Luke's name came to mind. Had they exchanged numbers already? I didn't think they would move that fast. But then, I heard the name Chase. So she had a boyfriend this whole time, huh?I wanted to confront her, so I waited until Natasha left. I was right when I assumed I would be blamed for everything. Fucking Maggie couldn't stop making me miserable."Chase, huh? So much for Luke's chances---or are you into group activities? You think Luke and Chase would be willing to go for you together?" I sneered at her when I finally got to see her. She had finally hung up on her 'boyfriend' and was lying in bed when I barged in on her."Please, Adrian. Not now. I am not in the mood for your verbal abuse. I'v
ADRIAN"What the hell, Maggie? I told you I was going to sneak in," I cried. Is this girl dumb or what? I specifically told her my plan, but here she was, getting me in even more trouble."S...sorry. It was a reflex. I didn't mean---" Meghan started, but the door burst open, interrupting her mid-sentence.Natasha and my dad both burst into the room -Dad was holding a golf club- while I was holding my hands out to show I wasn't a threat to Maggie."Woah, woah, woah! It's just me!" I cried out."Adrian!" Dad yelled at me, "Why didn't you use the doorbell? I have told you: I will not tolerate you sneaking around the house. While you live under my roof, you'll come in and out through the doors like a civilized person.""The doors were locked," I pointed out, rolling my eyes at his overreaction. Getting yelled at by dad like I was still in high school wasn't exactly on the agenda today.Why did it matter if I used the window instead of the door? I was going to the same place. I lived here,
MEGHANI couldn't make him stay. He wouldn't listen.Was Adrian always this stubborn? He was so full of anger, hatred dripped down his eyes when he looked at me. I was sick of dealing with it as I didn't know how to fix things between us.And I still had Chase to think about.After I watched Adrian storming out of the house, I called Chase back in panic. I wanted to make sure he wasn't serious about coming down here. What will it solve anyway? To my knowledge, all it would do is piss Adrian off even more.The phone went straight to voicemail when I called Chase. He was ignoring me on purpose, most likely because he knew I would tell him not to come.Good thing I didn't tell him my address, but I didn't know if that mattered since he figured out my phone number anyway. What if he somehow found out my address too. Which was kind of stalkerish to be honest. I didn't think Chase was the type.In the morning, my mom dropped me off at campus. I still didn't have a car and Adrian was M.I.A.
ADRIAN"I miss you too, Maggie," I admitted against every instinct in me screaming to keep my big, fat mouth shut. Turning my hand over, I threaded my fingers together with hers; I couldn't help remembering the night we had spent together before she'd left for Boston. My heart beat too fast in my chest and my dick twitched in my pants and I guess I lost my mind."Maggie," I breathed, leaning down---and she didn't stop me.Our lips met softly with a breath being shared between us as I breathed out and Maggie gasped, breathing in. Even if it was only the air I breathed, I loved the idea of any part of me being inside her. Maggie didn't push me away after a full minute of gentle kissing so I lightly traced the seam of her lips with my tongue. She opened her mouth at my request -a door being opened after someone knocked- and her tongue came out to play with mine. We both strained in a way. I wanted to kiss her deeper, harder, more. I thrust my tongue in and out of her mouth as if I we
MEGHANI ran away to the library without even thinking. I just needed to be somewhere away from Adrian. I couldn't believe what happened back there in that empty classroom.I couldn't believe what I'd let happen.I promised myself I'd never think of Adrian like that after I moved back from Boston, but here I was, kissing him back. And the worst thing of it all is that he had been treating me like shit, and yet I still let him kiss me. All the memories came flooding back when our lips touched. I felt tingles from my head to toe and my body reacted to him against my better judgment. Sane thing happened to me when he touched me a year ago. It was as if I felt helpless in his arms. My body craved him.What the hell was wrong with me?Get it together, Maggie. It's's not too late to fix all this, I told myself.If he kissed me, it meant he didn't completely hate me, right? That meant I could still reason with him. Maybe we can come to an understanding together. We could try not to be cruel
ADRIANBetrayal cut through me as sharp as a knife; I actually wished Maggie had used a knife. Physical injuries could heal up before your eyes. They might leave behind scars, but they wouldn't linger open without healing forever. Inside my head, I felt as if I was already cut open, left to bleed out by the one girl I'd ever really loved. Now she was hanging with my best friend behind my back? Turning him against me too? Wasn't it enough our parents were on her side already? Why did she have to cut me off from everyone?"Back up," Luke snapped, fire in his eyes as he held a hand up to me, "Like Maggie said, man, you've got the wrong idea. We weren't anywhere near ready to start taking off clothes. A guy can be alone with a girl without trying to screw her." "A guy can, sure, but can you?" I bit back, knowing Luke would hate me taking a cheap shot at his player reputation, "Last time I asked you about casual sex, you said 'Why not? Everybody does it.' Do you think little Maggie ther