ON HOLD CHERRY {Chérre}

Glass Houses

“Are you serious?! I’m literally jet lagged. I honestly want to get home, and sleep for an entire week. My whole body hurts.” I pull my suitcase off of the metal carousel. I try to protest going back to school on Monday, more so because I was too ashamed to face Vincent. After I had s*x with Jean, I couldn’t help but feel like I betrayed him somehow.

“You slept fine on the plane. You need these 6 weeks to get the rest of your credits so you can graduate, and finally be a civilized adult.” He takes my face squishing playing it as I stand there embarrassed. “I can be dumb and civilized, but also smart and insane.” I play back as we walk to our cab driver. My phone buzzes, and it’s a text from Jean asking if I made it safe. I couldn’t tell I was smiling ear to ear as I reply.

—

MONDAY.

“I hate this so much.” I sigh under my breath pulling my hair from out my jacket. “5 minutes and you better be downstairs!” Carol shouts, and I can smell her bacon and eggs cooking. I didn’t have an appetite as I thought to my last interactions with Vincent. I don’t know why, but the thought of him being more excited to see me than I was to see him, terrified me. I feel my stomach churn as I leave my room to go downstairs. The front door was already ajar which made me feel worse. I immediately find my seat at the table too scared to even look around at anything or anyone.

“Rough morning?” Carol places my breakfast in front of me and I sink back. “I don’t feel good.” I say holding my still churning stomach. She comes to me pressing lightly looking for pain. I try and pretend to be uncomfortable, but she sharply pokes my inner thigh which was still sore from dancing.

“Seems like your body is fighting for doing all of those plíes. Come on eat and drink your water. Hydration and a full belly soothes your muscles.” She pats my shoulder which means my mission failed.

I finish my plate taking it to the sink. That’s when Vincent’s distinctive car horn went off. I try my best to stop it, my grip on the plate loosens as it smashed to the ground. “Fuck.” I bend down to pick up the pieces, but cut my thumb.

“Are you okay?!” Carol rushes to me taking my bloody hand. My chest tightens and dread fills me coupled with anxiety. She looks at me deeply, “You didn’t do your assignments.” She comes to the conclusion that I was trying to miss out of school because of late work. “He gave me 2 essays, a history report on Wall Street New York, and an entire physics workbook.” I complain playing into her allegation, as I become more relaxed.

“Well, maybe those trips to the pool, gym, and mini golf could have been used for completing them.” She nags me while rinsing my hand under water. “I’m gonna bandage you up, and talk to your father about getting your deadline extended. You’re going to school missy.” She points her dripping finger in my face.

—

I slide into Vincent car. “Hey.” He says directly not wanting to seem overly thrilled. I give a quick glance; not enough to register his face, “Hi.” I sit my bag over my lap and fall back in my seat. He pulls off waving at my dad and Carol. I twiddle my fingers avoiding my injured thumb.

“You didn’t get picked.” He sighs while turning the wheel, “What?” I look to him confused.

“You look, frail and defeated. Either you didn’t get picked or you made a dumb decision. Maybe both.” He reads my like a book, and my phone buzzes. I look down and it’s a selfie of Jean getting ready for bed. I try not to smile as I respond this time.

“I see you’ve made friend.” He attempts to look at the message but I hide it. He quickly pulls over and he places his hand on my seat turning to me suspiciously. “Okay talk.” He orders and I look uncertainly at him.

“About what?” My cheeks puff as he taps on his thigh.

“Any other day you’re talking my ear off until we get to my office. Now that you’re back from NY all of a sudden you’re too cool for me.” He tilts his brows to me then taps on my thigh. I didn’t want to tell him about Jean so I opted for a different story.

“I got accepted.” I finally smile. His eyes whiten, and he genuinely looks happy for me. “Cher? That’s amazing news!” He leans in grabbing my face, but takes note of my worry.

“A-are you gonna do it?” He lowers his hands, “It’s in September. I was given an option to get ahead in the summer, but I’d leave after I get my diploma. My dad and Carol don’t know yet. I snuck in the application like I was a committing a crime.” I explain finally back to my motor mouth self which pleased him. I can tell the thought of me leaving so soon was now affecting him. He pulls off heading to the school and I sink back with dread once again.

—

“I didn’t do my work. I wasn’t responsible and got to wrapped up in practice.” I quickly came clean not wanted an interrogation.

“Oh that? No sweat.” He brushed it off, “I was just messing with you. I still need that report by Wednesday though. That’ll knock down 1 of the 5 credits you gotta make up.” He lightly chuckled. I still didn’t feel like myself and I could tell he was taking more of it.

“Was everything okay? You sounded like things were going smooth.” We near his office. “It went..it’s just.” I trailed off as my time with Jean flashed through my head. I vowed to myself not tell a single soul what happened that day. “Just what? You didn’t go all black swan did you?” He leaned on placement his hand on my chin but I moved away. “Just jet lag.” I cross my arms resting my head against the window.

As we near our destination, I pull up my bag sifting through my things. I look up and see Vincent missed his turn. “We passed the school.” I point out as he continues to drive. “Did we now?” He looks in the rearview mirror without turning around. “Yeah. What’s going on?” I ask zipping my bag up. “Would you hate if I didn’t tell you and told you to trust me?” I smiles and I just can’t say no to him.

—

About an hour drive we were at a part of town I’ve never seen before. People who were actually young and not old, and sick populate the area. I feel completely alien. I get out looking down at my laid back clothing feeling a little out of place. “Consider it an impromptu decision.” Vincent put his arm around me, and I look up at him unsure of all this. “Trust me, I doubt your dad has time to come to the peer on a Monday.” He rubs my shoulder.

We were sat in a restaurant bar over looking a large body of water. Vincent orders drinks and occasionally shows slight affection towards me. “So what, you brought me all the way here so I could try a Long Island for the first time? My dad has a wine cellar the size of a basement, I’ve drank alcohol before Vincent.” I lean into him and he laughs.

“No, I just know what’ll make all that stress you’re struggling with go away.” He lightly bumps my chin with his knuckle.

Our drinks arrive, and I sip the strong concoction as the breeze from the lake chilled my skin. He gazes back staring over the scenery. “I don’t know. I guess I wanted to do something nice. I haven’t seen you in a week. You’re gonna be a professional dancer by the looks of it. I think a celebration is in order.” He fiddles with a straw wrapper. I sat my drink down, “Well then I’d love to see what you’d do after a month of not seeing me.” I don’t leave him feeling embarrassed as I began to ease into things.

“So tell me about this dance trip, in detail. I can’t tell if that’s a mix of happiness, guilt, or both on your face.” He takes my hand. Part of me really wanted to come clean and tell him about Jean, but knew it wouldn’t mull over well.

“The classes were intense, but not a challenge. I think I did more plías in a week than my entire childhood.” I rub at my still sore thighs.

“Your friend.” He points to my phone sitting face down, “She must be something great.” He acknowledges my eagerness to text now. I shrug,

“She’s cool. The only one I really.. connected.. with there.” I scratch behind my ear. I perk up as I feel his suspicion growing, or maybe my paranoia.

“Can I get another drink?” I wave my hand to the waiter, “You can get whatever you like love.” He grins and I can’t tell if it was genuine or if it’s just his rum and coke talking.

—

After my 5th drink I can no longer feel my body aching, and all my worries faded after the 3rd one. I slowly chew on a mozzarella stick soaked in a vinegary red sauce as Vincent paid the tab.

“Let’s get you going.” He comes to assist me and that’s when the waves hit me. We make it out of the bar and my knees are jello.

“I can’t go home drunk. My dad will murder me.” I fall into his arms not able to keep my balance.

“Don’t worry I have the perfect picker upper.” We walk to his car, “Your dad called me while I was in the bathroom. Apparently he’s giving you the entire day to finish your work, work that doesn’t exist.” He explains through my intoxicated ears.

“What does that mean?” I fall into the passenger seat as soon as he opens it. “Means I have to take care of you all day, and ensure you have the best one ever.” He puts my seatbelt on kissing my cheek. Even f****d up, my heart still flutters. He dives into his side and I already felt my eyes growing heavy.

—

My body naturally wakes up as the long drive stops. I look to see a large structure that looks like something out of ‘MTV Cribs’. “This is your house?!” I jump up gazing out to see the beach style home with a fire pit in the yard.

“Well s**t. This can’t all be from teaching.” I stare with slightly blurry vision as he came around to help me. I was already sobering up from the long ride, but was nowhere near good to go home. I quickly get out stomping down his pavement as he followed.

“Hurry, I gotta pee.” I anxiously hop up and down. He unlocks the door, “Two doors down that way.” He points, and I practically run to it.

I sit my bag on the counter and splash water on my face before sitting on the toilet. ‘What are you doing Cher?’ A sense clarity waves over me as I was hours away from home with my f*****g teacher. I get up gathering myself and drying my face. I walk out to see Vincent pouring a cup of coffee for me. “This‘ll help..” he comes to me placing it in my hands.

“I think I should..” I try to make a reason to leave short notice, but he holds his hand on my cheek.

“What is all this? Really?” I stare in his eyes as the hot coffee tingles my fingers.

“I don’t know..” he responds with a softened voice, “Kinda wanted to make you happy..you looked so sad getting into my car.” I took a sip not knowing what to say to that. The hot liquid pours down my throat as I finally relax more. We walk to his couch and I sit it down.

“You don’t wanna take that off?” He points to my lightweight jacket, then pulls out a remote which starts the fireplace. I remove it and lie back on the couch as he comes next to me. My hair falls into my face which he moves out of the way. I took another sip of coffee as he became more and more touchy. I don’t know why I felt like a deer in headlights, but I also didn’t want him to stop.

His body weight encapsulates me as his knee hooks under mine spreading my legs apart. The kisses on my neck felt like electricity with each peck. His hand glides under my shirt and my eyes flutter open. As he cups my breast firmly, I look down to see something red peaking from the bottom of the couch. My curiosity got the best of me and Vincent was already inching towards my pants.

“What is that?” I break the tension reaching for the colored fabric. Before he could stop me, or explain it away, I was face to face with a pair of panties that looked almost brand new. Vincent let out a sigh sitting up.

“Cher she was just some waitress I took home. I was drunk it was barely even 5 minutes.” He explains it plainly, but I couldn’t take it. I push him off, “Yeah a waitress that wears bright red panties on her 5 o’clock shift. Sure.” I fix my clothes and hair.

“Come on..” he gets up, “You take me to a nice place, bring me here, and act like you want things to be serious when it’s very obviously not.” I grab my stuff stumbling through the hallway. I was a hypocrite to be upset at him being with someone when I’ve done the same. When you’re drunk everyone’s wrong expect for you.

“I feel like an idiot.” I stop briefly to catch my bearings as I start to feel dizzy. Vincent comes to me trying to plead. “Cher when you’re in ‘need’ like I was, you’ll understand that a hook up can mean absolutely nothing.” He looks regretful and so did I; just not for the same reason.

“You think I’m a virgin? What, cause we haven’t done anything but kiss? You think I’m that much of a prude that you had to go and f**k someone else the second I leave?” I spit back putting my bag over my shoulder. He looks surprised, but realizes that’s where all my stress was coming from. I felt my stomach cramp and immediately ran back to the bathroom. Chunks of day old pasta, mozzarella sticks, and a grayish-tan substance pooled into the toilet. I felt gross and disgusting, and achy while I upchucked even more. Eventually Vincent came into to help, handing me a bottle of water.

“What was his name?” He quietly inquires trying not to sound offended. “Why?” I wipe my mouth and face with tissue, flushing the toilet. I pull my phone out of my bag to see 3 missing phone calls from Carol.

“Fuck..” I tossed it back already regretting the entire day. “We can think of something to say. I’ll forge a doctors note, and say you got sick at lunch.” He quickly came up with a solution.

“Do you hear yourself? Why? Why am I something that needs to be kept away and lied about.” I spoke irrationally knowing he was just as much as a secret as I was. He let me drill into him seeing as I had more of an upper hand between us.

“If you wanna f**k waitresses go ahead. But don’t butter me up just to make me feel like a dumb kid.” I sloppily walk to the door.

—

This was the first car ride where we didn’t speak to each other. I slumped in the corner of the back seat not even wanting to sit by him. He would occasionally stare at my through the rear view and I would act like I didn’t notice. Once we made it to my home I exited as soon as he stopped. I try my best to walk normally, but I already see my dad watching through the curtain before rushing away. Vincent speeds off and I don’t even give him the satisfaction of me looking back.

I make it in trying to hold it together as my dad stood feebly. “Please, I just wanna sleep.” I walk past him too broken to take whatever scolding he had for me. “Got an A today.” I lie to settle his mind. “T-that’s great..do you..” he tries talking back but I’m already to my room. I slightly slam the door dropping my things. I flip onto my bed bursting into tears as my body ached and sobered. He knocks begging me to let him in, but I continue to cry until I pass out.

—

TUESDAY.

The ride to school was also quick and quiet, only this time I sit in he front versus the back. Vincent seemed usually upbeat and eager, meanwhile I could still taste the pasta and mozzarella even after brushing twice.

We get settled, and I find my desk sitting down promptly. “I’m sorry..” He apologizes before I can.

“I shouldn’t have tried to take you out like that.” He grabs a bunch of files stacking them. My pride made me feel like shouldn’t apologize.

“I think I’ll stick to two drinks next time.” I still feel a fog pounding in my head, and try to shake it off. He looks surprised that I even mentioned a second time after last night. He comes to me with the stack of files placing them on my desk. “You’re gonna punish me by giving me a bunch of work, aren’t you?” I look at the intimidating stack. “Open it.” He simply says with a slight smirk. I turn the top folder,

‘ PHYSICS

Final Grade- 95’

I look back at him and he urges me to keep going.

‘ AP LITERATURE

Final Grade- 91’

‘PRE CALCULUS

Final Grade- 98’

‘ECONOMICS

Final Grade- 95’

‘AMERICAN HISTORY

Final Grade- 93’

“These are my credits.” I start sifting trough the work only to not recognize my writing on some pages.

“You passed me?” I can’t believe what I’m looking at. “Sent copies to the school board this morning. They’re pleased to see you finished earlier than expected, but I’ve held off on telling your dad or submitting for your diploma.” He takes them back. I get up, “Why? That’s like his whole thing with all of this. Is it not?” I exclaim not getting too excited just yet.

“Well to him you still have 5 1/2 weeks of nonstop learning. That’s 5 days a week. And I’m the chauffeur.” He tiptoes around his point before pulling out two strips of paper. He comes behind me, and I flip them to my utter shock. “Vivaldi?” I read the papers and see that they are two tickets to a high end ballet show.

“This is me being serious..” he whispers in my ear lightly kissing it before following to my neck. “And I promise I’ll spend everyday making the next better than the last.”

At the same time my phone buzzes, but nothing could have pulled me away from him or the tickets. At this point my eagerness boiled to the surface as I spun around hugging him.

“It’s the morning showing. So no worries about your dad. Unless he too wants to see Vivaldi at the same time we do.” He jokes still holding me. I back away as he expects a kiss, but doesn’t lean in. I look back down at the tickets to his dismay.

“What do I wear?” I look down at my skirt and beaded tank top feeling underdressed, “I’m so glad you said that.” He quickly goes behind his desk pulling out a gift wrapped box.

“Good thing you wore heels. You can leave your stuff here.” He urges me to open it and I take it ripping it swiftly. I hold up a long and soft sage green slip dress with a matching cardigan. My eyes light up at the high quality of the fabric.

“Please don’t tell me this cost a lot.” Part of me felt like I was in debt to him with how much money he’s spent on me already. “I can return it, buy you something from a thrift store.” He chuckles coming to my side. I shake my nerves and accept the gift with a thoughtful kiss.

“I need to change.” I say looking for a private area, but he stops me. “I can help with that.” His fingers roll over to the button of my skirt as his other hand reaches over my shirt hem. In a swift motion, my skirt fell over my kitten heels as I step out of it. I’m still holding the dress as he tease his finger tips over the band of my underwear. I toss the dress carefully onto his desk we were facing. He began working his way up, pulling my tank top. I lift my arms, and my vision is slightly obscured for a moment. I also feel my bra snap apart which sinks my stomach. He then throws the rest of my clothes to the floor. I reach to put on the dress, but he takes it himself. I turn around to step into it, then he comes down taking my leg. He lifts it, and I can feel his breath creeping through the fabric of my panties as he looks up at me.

“I want to touch you so bad..” he stares directly at my hidden v****a, “..but I won’t..not yet.” He puts my leg into the dress, and he carefully does the same with the other one. The ac makes my n*****s hard which he takes a mental note of. The dress consumes my body fitting almost perfectly with a snug space for my breasts to rest comfortably. His hands running down my shoulders sends more shivers than the air. There was a moment of stillness as I’m zipped up. “Ready?” He reassures me and I nod.

~~~~~~~~~~~