Chapter 2

MARINA

The club was crowded with people my age and the music was loud. Eddie took my hand and pulled me inside.

"Want something to drink?" he shouted through the music so I could hear him talk.

"I can't! I'm not twenty-one yet," I said. God, I sound so lame. I wish I was twenty-one already.

Eddie grinned, then leaned down. "Neither am I, but I've got a fake ID," he whispered in my ears so only I could hear him.

I was surprised. Eddie didn't seem like the type, but I guess I was wrong.

"They won't know if I go get you one. Are you sure you don't want any?" Eddie smirked.

Maybe I shouldn't keep saying no, I thought. I didn't want to seem like a total loser.

"Okay, maybe just one," I said.

Eddie smiled. "I know just what to get you."

He walked away, leaving me alone with the crowd.

I stood there awkwardly as he disappeared. I looked around and observed the strange faces in the crowd. Most of the women wore super tight and sexy outfits compared to mine. I felt a little out of place.

I stopped in my tracks as I saw a familiar face. He was about six foot three with messy black hair and cool grey eyes.

What was Logan Hill doing here?

Logan had been my next-door neighbor ever since I was little. We practically grew up together and used to be best friends all throughout middle school. But for some reason, we grew apart after we started high school. He had joined the photography club and made some new friends. But, things were not the same between us anymore.

Logan was standing towards the back of the club. All alone. He had his camera hanging off his neck as always. I never saw him walking around without his camera. A lot of people thought he was weird, but I just thought he was obsessed with photography.

I contemplated going over to him and saying hi but stopped myself. I was on a date with a cute boy from class, so maybe I shouldn’t waste my time talking to the neighborhood kid.

I relaxed a bit as I saw Eddie coming back with cups in both hands. One of them must be for me.

“Hey, I didn’t leave you alone for too long, did I?” Eddie asked. He handed me one of the cups.

I shook my head and looked inside the cup. It had a pinkish-red liquid in it. It didn’t look as scary, so maybe I’d be okay. “What is this?” I asked.

“A mixed drink I came up with just for you. It’s sweet and girly,” he said and flashed me a lopsided grin.

I hesitated before taking a sip. My friend Sarah Mae always warned me about accepting drinks from strangers. Especially when the drink was in an open container, but Eddie didn’t qualify as a stranger, did he?

Eddie was staring at me expectantly, so I took a long sip. He was right. It didn’t taste terrible.

“How about we dance now?” he asked after I finished my drink.

I was nervous again. I wasn’t a very good dancer, and I didn’t feel like making a fool of myself tonight.

“I don’t know about that…” I said and giggled.

“Oh, come on, Marina. We are already here, so let’s have a good time,” he said.

I didn’t argue with him anymore. He was right, we were at the club so what else would we do other than dancing? I took his hand and let him lead me to the dance floor.

I have gone to a few school dances here and there but never invested my time learning how to dance. All I could do was go with the motion and move with the music. Maybe Eddie wouldn’t notice, and we’d end up having fun anyway.

We danced for a few minutes, and then the music suddenly slowed down. My heart started pounding as he pulled me closer.  

He wrapped his arms around my waist and moved with me. I was starting to feel a little tipsy, so I leaned against him some more.

“You are so fucking beautiful, Marina. I’m so glad we are in the same class,” he whispered in my ears.

“Me too,” I said, but I doubt he heard me over the music.

I gasped as I felt his hand sliding inside my shirt and stroking the small of my back.

“Um…Eddie?” I spoke.

“Sorry, I can’t hear you over the music!” Eddie exclaimed. He was moving his hand up and down on my back. They felt warm and rough.

I shifted uncomfortably. I knew I should protest, but I was trying my hardest to make this work. Maybe I should go with the flow, I thought. I was in college now and we were both adults, so I didn’t want to seem like a prude.

Eddie suddenly leaned down and pressed his lips on mine.

I was startled at his sudden move at first, but then I closed my eyes and kissed him back.

Eddie broke the kiss first then pulled me away from the dance floor.

“Where are we going?” I cried.

Eddie didn’t answer and kept going. He took me inside a dark hall then pushed me against the wall.

This is going too fast. I thought as he started to kiss my neck.

“Wait…Eddie…” I gasped in protest, but his hands were all over me. He shoved his hands inside my shirt then cupped one of my breasts over my bra. That’s when I decided it was time to make him stop. This was only our first date.

“Eddie, stop!” I yelled and pushed him off.

Eddie was taken aback, but he recovered quickly. “What?”

“I think you are going too fast. I’m not sure I want to do this with you,” I said.

“What are you talking about? I think you are hot, so I asked you out on a date. So why are you being like this?” Eddie winced.

“Yes, I am okay with us hanging out, but you’re going too far,” I said. I just wanted to go home at this point.

I tried to move aside and walk away, but Eddie grabbed my shoulder. “Don’t be like this, Marina. Don’t be a goddamn tease,” he growled. His blue eyes were dark and full of lust.

He leaned forward to kiss me again, but this time, I had no desire to let him. I reacted quickly and kicked him on the shin, then ran off.

“Ugh! You bitch!”

I heard him yell behind me, but I kept running. I didn’t know how I would make it home since Eddie was my ride. Gosh, my mother is going to kill me when she finds out.

I couldn’t go too far as I bumped into something hard and nearly fell on the ground. Someone grabbed me then held me up. I looked up and found myself looking into a pair of piercing grey eyes that belonged to none other than Logan Hill.

“Marina? What are you doing here? Why are you running?” he asked. He looked at my distraught face. His eyes narrowed.

“Um…well…I’m on a date,” I stammered.

“Is that right?” he asked and stared at me intently. “So, where is your date?”

“The date didn’t go well, so I’m going home,” I said. I straightened my shirt. Maybe I should ask Logan for a ride. “Could you give me a ride home?” I asked.

Logan cleared his throat. “Did he do something to you? Who were you out with anyway?”

“You probably don’t know him. He is in my class at the university. His name is Eddie Wilson,” I said. I didn’t know why I was telling Logan all this. We hardly ever talk.

“I see…if he did something to you, I could go talk to him about it,” Logan offered.

What? Why would he do that? I wondered.

“No thanks. Can you take me home or not?” I asked, desperately needing him to say yes.

Logan nodded. “My truck is outside. Let’s go,” he said and I followed him to his truck.

I arrived home safe and sounded no thanks to Eddie. I couldn’t believe he treated me like I was some kind of a piece of meat! Thankfully, my mother was still asleep, so I didn’t have to hear her nagging right before bed.

The next day, I went to class as usual. I looked at the table next to me and sighed. It’s going to be awkward seeing Eddie after what happened last night, I thought. I wondered if he would apologize for his behavior.

Class started as scheduled, but Eddie never showed up. I was relieved since I was still angry at him.

Good riddance, I thought.