Wild Flowers Trodding An Empty Path

First Date

Neither of my parents were happy that I had insisted on driving myself to my date, and neither of them were impressed that my date had been so easily swayed as to not pick me up, but the real drama starter was that I didn’t let my mother dress me for the date. Marcus had never seen me wearing anything more than sweaty work out clothes, I didn’t think it would take much to impress him. I settled for ripped jeans, and a top with ruffles that I hated. My mother said I looked nice, and my father said my jeans showed off too much of my legs. I had to remind him that he had bought the jeans himself just days earlier when we had done school shopping. My mother insisted on taking a photo of what I looked like on my first date, and my father called my brother to break the news to him. My brother thought it was just about as comical as I found it.

I arrived at the entrance of the mall a few minutes before I had intended too, I think the nerves were putting me on edge. I had to back out of the space to park my car multiple times to get it straight enough. It felt strange that the idea of the date wasn’t what was disrupting my thoughts, what was bothering me was the idea of running into Lili. I shove the thought out of my mind as I see Marcus waiting for me near the automatic front doors. He looks dashing, his normally messy brown hair is combed neatly, and his clothes aren’t soaked with sweat as they usually were when we spent time together. He smiles up at me brightly, offering me a wave from the distance.

“You made it!” He booms out enthusiastically, “Good thing I got here early!”

“Good to see you, I am glad to finally hang out outside of sparring.” I say, trying my best to match his energy. Marcus catches my arm and loops his around mine, I swallow a nervous lump in my throat, I can’t stop myself from feeling like this is feeling entirely too much like a real date. “So pizza then window shopping?”

“Sounds like a good plan to me! Window shopping adds more time I get to spend with you.” Marcus says, his voice laced with excitement. His excitement is like a splash of cold water on my spine, and I have to stop myself from pulling away from him. “Are we sharing a pizza or are we getting personal pizzas?”

“Uhm, whatever you think is best, I am fine with whichever.” I say, my voice losing some of its veer. I am suddenly very nervous that this is actually a date, and I am in over my head. “I really just eat pepperoni, I am not that adventurous with my pizza.”

“Oh perfect, I am all about pepperoni, we can just share!” Marcus says, his voice hasn’t lost his enthusiasm, and I have a gnawing feeling that I am doing something wrong by being here. “Why don’t you pick a seat, I will order our food and some drinks!”

I don’t have it in me to respond. I suddenly feel sick to my stomach. I slide into the closest booth to me, and take some calming breaths. I don’t want to lead Marcus on, but he is the one who said that this was a date as friends, maybe I am being silly and taking things a way that they aren’t really going. I don’t have many friends and Wyatt isn’t fond of touching, maybe this is how friends are with one another. Maybe this is how Marcus is all the time. Yes, that has to be the answer, I am overthinking things, being silly. Marcus comes to the table quickly, he stands on the same side of the booth as I am sitting gesturing for me to slide in. I do, but the unsettling feeling washes over me again. The closer he moves his body to mine, the more I slide in towards the wall. My leg is pressed against the wall completely, and he still manages to slide his leg until it rests against mine.

“They said pizza will be ready in ten or so minutes.” Marcus tells me, “I am so glad we came out tonight, I thought you weren’t interested in me, but after that sexy sparring this morning I knew you were at least a little bit.”

“What do you mean?” I ask him, I feel my brows crease in confusion. Our spar had gone the same way it usually did, nothing seemed noteworthy to me.

“When you straddled me like that, I could feel you getting excited.” Marcus tells me, his voice dropping low as if he is telling me a secret.

“I just? Pinned you.” I say, trying to keep my voice light, airy. The feeling in my stomach is quickly overtaking the rest of my body.

“Yeah, but you did it so sexy, pressing your s*x to me like that. Naughty girl, anyone could have seen us.” Marcus says, his face is dangerously close to mine. “But I guess I like you because you are a little adventurous.”

“I am actually kind of the opposite.” I say, shifting as far away from him as possible. “Most people would consider me a bit boring.”

“Yeah right, you do that in training in front of everyone, and then you suggest a date somewhere so public. Anyone could see us out together.” Marcus laughs, leaning into me again, “Like I said naughty naughty girl, you don’t care about getting caught.”

“I thought.. I thought we were going out as friends.” I say, the nerves are finally starting to jump into my voice.

“You know I just said that so Margo wouldn’t overhear.” Marcus says, his voice is low, husky, and it makes my unsettling feeling ever worse.

“I didn’t know that. I thought you meant it, I mean, why would someone your age be interested in me.” I say, adding in a nervous laugh. His face is so close I can feel his breath fanning my face.

“Because you reek of virginity, every male in training wants you to be the next female pressed against the wall.” Marcus says, his voice still sickening. “Maybe that will be our next date, you screaming my name against the public shower wall.”

“I don’t think that is something I would be interested in.” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper, I feel his breath hit my face as he laughs heartily at me.

“You will after I show you what I can do tonight.” Marcus says, his voice dripping with confidence. “Don’t worry, you aren’t my first virgin, I know how to be gentle. At first.”

I am going to be sick, the words feel like a slap against my cheek. Anger surges through me, I realize that Marcus has never been my friend, he is just a predator. All our comradery feels very forced now. My eyes dart around the mall plaza wildly, searching for any escape from this situation. I feel Marcus slide his hand across my knee, and I jump away from his touch.

“Don’t be nervous, I won’t embarrass you by making your first time so public.” Marcus says, he is laughing again.

“Listen, I think you have the wrong idea. I don’t want to do this.” I say, hoping that being direct will work for me. He doesn’t waiver, his hand still stroking itself across my leg, finger slipping into one of the rips of my pants. “Marcus please stop.”

“You have been such a little tease for months, walking around in nothing but short shorts and a tank top, only pairing with me in spars, you can’t take it back now.” Marcus says, another laugh leaves his lips, “Plus you are going to change your mind once we get started.”

“No, I am not going to change my mind. I am sorry if you got the wrong idea, but I have no interest in you.” I say, my voice finding a little more confidence this time. “I actually think I would like to leave now. Please move.”

“You think you can just walk away now? Look what you've done!” Marcus says in a harsh whisper. He grabs ahold of my hand and shoves it against his crotch. I feel the bulge in my hand and try to rip it away, but he keeps hold of me. He uses both of our hands to stroke himself through his pants, “Mm see, you are already a natural.”

“You need to stop.” My voice comes out loud, forceful. Marcus shushes me, and I open my mouth to actually scream this time. My mouth opens, but before the scream can come out his mouth smashes into mine, his tongue shoving into my mouth. I am disgusted and caught off guard, but I quickly try closing my mouth. His mouth is forceful, keeping itself glued to mine, his tongue prodding places I never want anyone's mouth to be. His hand that isn’t forcing mine against him comes up and harshly grips at my breasts through my shirt. I try again to pull away, but it is no use. My teeth slam down onto his tongue so hard that I can taste his blood in my mouth. I hold my teeth closed until he makes a strangled crying noise. I let go of his mangled tongue and he rips himself away from me.

“You little b***h!” Marcus screams at me. His body is still blocking me in, I can’t move away from him. His hands are coming towards me again, my eyes are scanning the room for help. Several people are looking, but no one is acting. My eyes land on Liliana from across the room. I know my eyes hold a pleading look, and I am trying to beg her with my mind for help, she is the only face I recognize. Marcus’ hand grips mine to his crotch tighter, “I like them feisty, you’ll be a lot of fun chained to my bed.”

“Wisteria! Oh my gosh, so good to see you!” Liliana says, her voice a little too bright. She plops down in the seat across from me. Marcus caught off guard, released my hand and I quickly ripped it away from him. “I looked for you all day at school, we haven’t had a good catch up all summer! You don’t mind if I join you right? My dad will be here to pick me up soon.”

“Not at all, I am so glad to see you.” I say in a rush, Marcus has paled visibly, Liliana is a recognizable person, the mention of her father is enough to make Marcus slide a bit away from me. “How are the birthday plans coming?”

“Not great, I was going to ask if you wanted to come? It would mean a lot to me to have you there.” Lili says, her voice is strange, it almost seems like she means it rather than just bailing me out of the situation. “Oh shoot, I forgot my keys over at my table, Marcus will you be a doll and grab them for me?”

Lili looks up at Marcus through her eyelashes, and he melts like a chocolate in her warm palm. He nods eagerly, quickly sliding his body away from me. As soon as he is gone I breathe a sigh of relief. I very quickly scramble out of the booth, Lili following my lead. My heart pounds in my chest as I watch Marcus come back towards us. His face is a mixture of confusion, and anger that he doesn’t have me trapped anymore. “Where are you ladies going?”

“Powder room! Be right back.” Lili says, she loops her arm around mine. Plucking the keys from Marcus’ hand, “Thank you!”

We only take three steps before the sob forms in my throat, I swallow it back trying not to be obvious. Tears flow freely down my cheeks, with every step we take the more my body begins to shake. Surprisingly Lili does lead me into the bathroom, she pushes into the family bathroom, the only bathroom that locks from the inside. The door slams closed and she clicks the lock into place. The sob in my throat takes over, and I break down. Sobs rack through my body, a jagged noise coming from my throat, fat hot tears running down my face. Liliana looks at me with pity for a moment, before approaching me, she pulls me in for a hug, my head tucks into the crack of her neck and my tears ruin her white top. We stand like this for several moments, sobs shaking through my entire body.

“Your boyfriend is a real asshole.” Lili says, breaking the silence. A mixture of a sob and a laugh leave my body, but I can’t speak yet. I stand in Lili’s embrace, holding onto her like she is a lifeline. “Seriously? You are dating that guy?”

“No, I lied. Marcus asked me out this morning for the first time.” I manage to speak between sobs. I feel Liliana’s body tense under my touch, “He said just as friends, but..”

I am cut off by my own sobs, I feel a hand gently pat my back. “I didn’t lead him on, I promise. I was just training.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me Wisteria, I believe you. That guy is a f*****g creep.” Liliana says to me, her voice somehow is reassuring to me. “I am going to call my father for real.”

“No! Don’t! He will tell my father that I lied.” I beg her, pulling myself away from her embrace. “I have never even kissed anyone, my father would die if he knew what just happened.”

“You’ve never kissed anyone?” Lili asks me, genuinely seeming caught off guard. “Like ever?”

“No, and I’ve never been on a date, my parents will never let me leave the house again if they find out I went out with someone who has already shifted.” My words are coming out through blubbering. “Please Lili, I know you hate me, but please let this one slide.”

“I don’t have a choice, but I think I can make it so your father doesn’t find out.” Lili tells me, her words offer a little reassurance. She pulls the phone from her pocket and puts it to her ear.

“Dad, I need you to come to the mall. It is urgent.” Lili says, then pauses for a moment, “In the food court, I saw a male of probably twenty forcing himself on a girl my age.”

I am in horror at this statement, but I don’t react, trying to remain silent. “Yes, I heard her say to stop multiple times, and when he kissed her she bit down on his lip and tried to push him away, no dad, I asked what was going on and he let her go, she ran away. No I don’t know who it was, but she was crying when she left. Yes, I think he is still here, I actually went to the bathroom. He was very scary, dad.. No, it wasn’t me I promise. Okay I will wait for you near the food court.”

“My dad will be here soon. You need to clean yourself up, then leave through a different entrance so my father doesn’t see you.” Liliana says, her voice firm. “And tell your parents you were stood up, cried on the way home, that’s why your eyes look that way.”

“Thank you Lili, really. I don’t know how to repay you.” I say, wiping my hands over my eyes, trying to clear them slightly.

“Come to my birthday party, and we are even.” Lili says, her words confuse me, but she slips out of the bathroom and leaves before I can ask or react.

I turn to the mirror and my reflection isn’t great, Lili was right I do need to clean myself up. My hair is a mess, and my clothes are askew. I adjust myself in the mirror, then splash some cool water over my face, letting the cool water take away some of the redness around my eyes. My eyes keep glancing at my lips, and though they haven’t changed at all I feel dirty, disgusting. A light knock on the door startles me. I open the door a crack, half expecting to see Marcus outside, but instead it is Lili, back. She pushes the door the rest of the way open and enters again.

“I don’t hate you Wisteria, I don’t know what I feel for you, but it isn’t hatred. And I am sorry I made you feel as if I did.” Lili says, her voice barely audible to my ears. “Here.”

She holds her hand out, and in it is a small makeup bag, “What is this for?”

“To fix your face, so you don’t have to tell your parents anything unless you want to.” Lili says, as if it is very obvious. I set the bag on the counter and pull a brush out of the bag, my hands are shaking so hard that I nearly drop it, “Ah for f***s sake, give me that.”

She takes the bag from my hand and spreads some products out on the counter near the sink. I close my eyes and let her stroke the brush over my eyelids, it is feather light, and I can feel her minty breath fanning over my cheeks at the proximity. Her hands move quickly fixing the imperfections in my makeup. I open my eyes and find she is still extremely close, admiring her work on my face. Our eyes meet for a moment, before hers flit away.

“That’s better, maybe too much better, you may want to smudge it up again.” Lili says, I laugh lightly at her arrogance.

“Thank you, I mean it Liliana, I don’t know what would have happened to me if you didn’t step in when you did.” I gush out at her, tears threatening to brim from my eyes again.

“Don’t ever mention it again, I don’t want anyone thinking we are friends or something.” Lili says, her voice turning back into the cold tone I am used to.

She leaves again, and after a few moments I leave the bathroom myself. My legs are slightly unstable, but I manage to make my way towards the east exit of the building, careful to avoid the front where Marcus might still be. It isn’t until I reach my car that I realize how on edge I am. My hands click the lock button on the door and I feel my entire body relax against the seat. I take steadying breaths, trying not to let myself get upset again. I don’t want to have to explain anything to my parents and crying again will definitely make it so I have to. I will cry once I am alone in my room, but not a moment before.

I don’t know what to think about tonight's events, one thing that keeps replaying itself over and over again in my mind is, maybe I don’t hate Liliana Bridge.