SOFT MELLOW

CHAPTER ONE

“Why do you keep doing this?” I feel the metallic taste of blood on my lips as I speak, wrapping my hands around my head and letting it fall between my thigh.

Then I hear his feet scuffling towards me on the rough ground, and my heart racing. He isn't saying anything. As his red sneakers come into sight, I shut my eyes and grip my ears tighter.

“Please stop…please,” I cry. I hear his friends snickering, and a playful laugh breaking out from him.

“What did I ever do to you?” My eyes meet the dark shade of his eyes, and the little gleam the darkness can spare. Nothing about his eyes says sorry or being remorseful, but rather a desire to do more.

Does he enjoy violence so much? Does he enjoy hurting me…and other people? Does it make him happy?

“Maybe you did nothing to me, Soft Mellow…” His shoe's tip lingers against my leg slowly, sending unpleasant shivers down my spine.

“Maybe I've got no reason, or maybe I'm doing it because…it's fun,” he whispers, and his lips spread into a smile.

Then I realize I've fallen for a sadist.

×××××××××××××××××××××××××

Cathy turns to me, her eyes sparkling with excitement,“ I think Rhoades is cute and funny. Do you think he may be into me?” Cathy stares at her finger polished nails, her brow furrowing.

I follow her gaze to the boys in her yard,Rhoades stares back. His blue eyes that are barely liberated by his blond hair, narrowing in our direction. My stomach squeezes and my face grows hot. He couldn't be staring at me, he's probably looking at Cathy. At least she's the only one worth staring at.

Cathy’s voice brings me back, “ What do you think? Do you think he's interested?”

“I think…he is,” I swallow the lump in my throat, locking eyes with Rhoades again. Focusing on his jawline, pointed nose and sensual nose.

Cathy's rough squeeze on my shoulder snaps my attention back on her. Her eyes are as wide as baseballs.

“Say.. what?” I rub the aching spot.

She rolls her eyes, “ You just said yes…yes that you think Rhoades likes me,”

My eyes snaps back at Rhoades and he's join a large circle of the other kids, leaning forward to spin a bottle in the middle.

“I don't know, maybe he's just being friendly,” I suck in my lower lips.

Cathy's grip loosen on my shoulder,her palms cup her face and she relaxes onto the chair.

“ Oh God, this is good news!” Cathy's face turns bright pink under her palms.

“ Yeah.” I don't think some part of me agrees.

Her hands fly off her face and cups my face, “ Imagine, Lana…Me and Rhoades Angelino at homecoming dance..” Her eyes sparkles and lips squeezes. “ King and Queen, hand in hand with lights glimmering on us, huh?”

I hate the picture her words paint in my head, “ He's a sophomore boy, Cathy. Do you think he'll choose you over someone like Oakley Seth?”

Her smile drops and her arms fold across her chest, “ Are you jealous, Lana Roosevelt?”

“ No.. Jealous, No…you're mistaken, I'm not jealous of anyone.” I pray my eyes isn't twitching right now, because I'll be damned if it is. Cathy is one hell of an expression reader.

“ Yeah, cause Oakley Seth had a plastic nose and uses Madison reeds for her hair…she was never an actual blond, meanwhile, I've always stayed the way I was born so you thinking I have no chance against her is so…low.”

“ I never said that.”

“ Of course you didn't,” Her head dances on her shoulder and her eyes does a slow annoying roll. I hate it when she does that.

I throw my gaze away and start fiddling with my piggy tail.

“ Hey!” Someone calls behind me. . The husky voice and the way Cathy's eyes widen and mouth drops hints at the identity.

My hair got in my mouth as I make an abrupt turn to him.I know I've seen him a lot around, but never have I been this close. His blond hair and symmetrical face hangs above me and his scent fills my lungs, sending a light feeling to my chest. His face won't be so far if I'm not literally on my butt right now.

“ Do you mind joining me up here?” He asks. A playful glint in his eyes and his hand stretching before me.

He's talking to me. It is me that Rhoades Angelino is talking to. Not Cathy Zhen.

“ Yes?” His brow furrow.

“ No, not at all,” I whisper. My voice has never been audible around a boy.

I link my hand with his hastily, wondering if I haven't just given him a dirty hand. That would murder me in my sleep.

His palm is hard and warm and as he pulls me up, the rub of our palms feels like running a hand over a leather, and his lips thins as I'm fully on my feet. I realize now how far my face still is from his. It isn't like I've always fantasize standing with him, and he'll surely crane his neck if he is to lean over and kiss me right now…. What am i thinking?

“ Ted rolled the bottle…the dare is on you, pigtails,” God, that accent.

“ I ..I don't understand , what bottle?” I rub my cheek, with a spare hand, and my eyes falls to his red tee shirt and faded blue denim jacket. I couldn't look at his eyes anymore. I think I'm going to throw up.

“Look at me, Sheila.” His index finger props my face at him. His expression is blank as a blank canvas. I couldn't tell what he's thinking even if I guess.

How many nicknames have I gotten from him?

“It's Lana,” I manage to say without blowing it up with heavy breathing.

For a second his face relaxes and a smile plays on it, but then his palm scratches the back of my neck and his face drops to my height and that's all I see. My eye lids fall. And I feel the light warm touch of a soft skin against my lip, wrapping my head off reality and into the world of my own fantasy.

His hand traces a path on my skin and it feels nothing like I've ever experienced.