Whispers After Midnight

CHAPTER ONE: “WILL YOU BE MY SECRET?”

I have a secret, one that if it gets out, my life would come to an end, literally.

“Truth or dare?!”

“Dare.”

You see, I just wanted to fit in so when I was asked to play a game; how could I possibly say no?

“I dare you to make out with Rowan.”

I can still remember the look of surprise in everyone’s faces and how my palms were sweaty. Of course they’ll be surprised, it wasn’t everyday that someone was dared to make out with the school’s heartthrob.

Now that someone was me, how could they dare me to make out with him?!

I sat there waiting for his rejection and a snide remark to come—I didn’t belong there. But never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that he would have walked up to me and stretch out his hands.

“Come, it’s just a game, I won’t hurt you.”

For a moment, I wanted to believe his words so I took his hands and let him lead me to a dark room.

We weren’t going to possibly do it, right?

His gray eyes turned to me once he had locked the door and he walked closer to me, like a predator accessing his prey.

“W-What are we going to do?” I tried not to sound nervous but the sweat on my forehead and my shaky hands gave me away. Was I about to have my first kiss?! But I still had my purity ring on, I had promised that I won’t be involved with anyone until I was married.

“What do you think? We’re supposed to kiss aren’t we?” He smiled slightly, noticing how tense I was. “You’re cute.”

I flushed at the sudden compliment and muttered a thank you.

He looked back at the closed door and said: “We can go back if you want, we’ll just pretend that we did something.”

I stared at the back of his head and his unruly black hair and I wanted to ask him what he thought of everything but I didn’t because I already knew the answer.

Why would he want to do that with me?

“Are you okay?” He asked slightly concerned when I failed to give him a reply.

“Yes I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I don’t know.” He answered honestly. “How long do you think we’re supposed to be here?”

I was startled at the question and hesitated before replying. “How am I supposed to know? I should be asking you.”

“Me, why?”

“Well you obviously have more experience than me, I have never kissed anyone before.” I said the last part shyly turning red as a tomato.

His gray eyes seemed to twinkle at what I said and he took another step closer. “And you think I have?”

“You haven’t?”

“No, not yet. So we’re in the same boat.”

“I guess.” I was relieved, at least I wasn’t the only one in this.

“So should we do it?”

“What?!” This conversation was taking a drastic turn that I did not expect it to. “But you said that—”

“I know what I said.” Cutting me off. “And I didn’t lie about it either. Since it’s both our first why don’t we have it together?” He took another step, closing the space in between us and smiled at me. “Or do you despise the thought of me being your first?”

“N-No but—”

He sighed when he saw my confused face and he backed off. “Fine I’ll stop.”

“Were you joking?” I asked him, surprised at my own boldness.

“No I wasn’t.”

“Why me? You could go outside to pick someone else so why here, why right now?”

“Because I want all my firsts to be with you.”

At that time, I didn’t understand what he was trying to say. My heart fluttered at the thought of someone finally wanting me and the idea of me being his first excited me.

“Let’s do it.”

Without a second thought, Rowan bent down and pressed his lips against mine and by the time we drew back, we were both panting.

“Do you want to stop?” He asked me.

Yes I do, my mind said. “No I don’t.” My heart replied.

So we continued until our hearts raced and our passions skyrocketed.

But who knew that my decision that faithful day two years ago, would lead me to this very point?

“Earth to Rhea.”

I snapped out of my thoughts, remembering that I was in a conversation with one of the members of the planning committee.

“I’m so sorry Kat, I kind of zoned out.”

“It’s okay, I guess I’m boring.”

I smiled apologetically at the brunette girl and continued walking to my locker, books in hand as I had just finished having a class. “You were asking what color of ribbons we should use for the rally?

“Yes!”

I brought out my locker key from the pocket of my shorts and opened the lock. Inside was a red book which matched the color of my hair. It was my idea book as I’d love to call it. I did all my drawings and got inspiration from old things.

“What of blue?” I asked as I stopped at a page where I had drawn the sea. “Something fresh and youthful. What do you think?”

“I never thought of that.”

“It’ll show the youthful and vibrant energy of the school, just like the sea. And then for the after-party, it could be a sea themed party.”

“You’re a genius Rhea, that’s why you’re the assistant.”

I smiled slightly at Kat’s compliment, trying not to seem too happy. But in my mind I was dancing.

Please, it was rare to have a junior as the assistant head of the planning committee in high school. Many had auditioned for that spot but I had been the one to secure it.

I closed my locker and was about to say something when I noticed a dark haired male from a distance. The normally quiet hallway, seemed to burst with energy at his presence and girls began to arrange themselves desperate for him to notice them. But as usual, he didn’t even spare as much as a glance at anyone, walking with his upturned nose in the air, and a sense of superiority. This was the confidence that came with the knowledge that one was beyond beautiful.

He passed where I stood and his shoulders grazed mine.

“Ouch.” I winced startled at the sudden contact.

He paused and his gray eyes looked into mine. “Sorry.” He said sarcastically and I rolled my eyes.

Cocky bastard!

He continued his walk, disappearing at a corner.

Once he was out of sight, Kat squealed and her doe eyes widened in excitement. “Gosh he’s so handsome, I wish I was the one he bumped into!”

“Why?” I asked as I closed my locker, ignoring the tingling on my shoulder that came with his bump. “He’s just a boy.”

“Just? Rhea that’s the Rowan Black. Every single girl in this school and their mother wants him. Can you believe that even a senior asked him out?”

“What did he say?” I asked, definitely not because I was curious, as if.

“He turned her down. It’s a shame with looks like that, wealth and popularity, he refuses to date anyone.”

“Maybe he’s not interested? Or maybe he’s gay?” I tuned the key of my locker and place it inside my backpack.

Kat looked at me as though I had grown two head. “As if! I think he’s secretly in love with someone.”

I didn’t realize when I started laughing at her comment. It was the most ridiculous thing I had heard all day. “Him, love?” I continued laughing till I clutched my abdomen in pain.

“What’s funny?” She asked, confused at my outburst.

“I’m so sorry Katie but that’s impossible.”

“And how do you know? It’s not like you’re close to him or something.”

Good question, how did I know? But I knew the answer. He was not in love, no he couldn’t be but he had a secret.

I looked at my brown leather watch that screamed of old age, it was already closing time. “Kat, what day is this?”

“Friday, why do you ask?”

Dammit, I had almost forgotten. I smiled at her once more before I waved goodbye. “I have to run Kat, good luck with your planning!”

“Wait, Rhea!” She called out but I was already far gone.

I walked outside of the school building, waving and replying to greetings.

“Are you in your way home?” A guy asked.

“Yes yes, see you next week.” I shouted and ran down the block before anyone could ask if we could go home together.

You see, on Fridays I never went home with people not because I hated company— no I didn’t but rather, I had to be somewhere unfailingly every Friday and no one must know. You see, it was my little big secret.

I kept waking until I took one other turn. My house was to the right and I looked around to be sure no one could recognize me and turned to the left. I pulled my hoodie over my head to conceal my identity and hurried down the road. The further I went, the more the houses seemed to get more exquisite and grand. Gone were the simple houses and little fences instead, mansions were scattered all around protected by towering black gates.

Was the road always this long? Or was I just extra nervous today? I was an hour later than I was supposed to be, would it cause problems?

Gosh I hate this!

I walked down the final path until I got to a house which was a the far end of the street. It was more grand had beautiful than the previous houses as though royalty lived here.

I entered the first gate without knocking and pressed the key code. I knew it by heart. The gates if the mansion opened and I jogged the remaining way to the back door. The house was just too big.

I paused to bring out a key card and I pressed it to the door. The door opened and I stepped the brightly lit room.

No matter how many times I came in here, I never got used to the beauty. I had spent months arranging this room to my taste and although it was only one room, it was big enough that it contained everything in my entire house.

I closed the door and walked forward, the television was on and without looking I knew that he was on the couch, waiting for me.

His curly hair was as unruly as usual and his jacket was beside him. “You’re late.”

His voice did things to me, it was like a beautiful melody to the ears, even when he was angry.

“I’m sorry, I—”

He stood up from the couch and walked towards me. He stopped when he was a few brothers away and his house figure towered over my small physique. “Is that why you acted like you didn’t know me?”

I could see my reflection in his gray eyes and my green eyes contrasted with his. “You know the agreement Rowan.” I reminded him.

He placed his hands on my waist and my backpack dropped on the floor. He pulled me in until I was pressed against his body, feeling every inch of his muscle.

“Rowan.” I said his name breathlessly as his hands traveled down my waist.

“What were you saying?”

“Nothing.”

He smirked and then crashed his lips on mine. He kissed me till my legs shook, he kissed me till I could no longer breathe and panted for air, till my legs gave up. He swooped me up and placed me on his bed. He paused to look at how disheveled he had made me and smiled at how my red lips matched with my hair.

“Beautiful.” He whispered before he turned off the room light, the dark being the only witness to how he ravished me thoroughly.

This is my secret. Since that faithful day we had our first kiss, we had made an agreement for our little affair to continue. Every Friday we met to quench our thirst and extinguish our passions. Every other day, we would act like we didn’t know each other.

But I don’t care because I looked forward to this, an escape from reality.

He is my secret, one that I will cherish and hold dear. He is my secret that I will take to the grave.