Meet The Coach

Lesson 14: Reject-o-mento

Lesson 14: Reject-o-mento

We arrived at the party when it was at its peak. Even though we were next door, it did take up to 2 hours to get ready. Well, Sandy and Hailey. I didn't ask Hailey to straighten my hair or Sandy to do my make up. We left, I remembered to lock the door and hide the key before heading next door and my God, I was already greeted by someone puking their guts out.

Yuck.

We entered the house and I could feel the heavy gaze of many drunk, hormonal teen boys bore their eyes into Sandy, Hailey and I. We entered the lounge, I suppose it wasn't so much of a lounge as the furniture was pushed against the wall and the glass items were removed from the premises.

"C'mon! Let's dance ladies!" Sandy shouted at us. Yet we barely heard as because of the loud music. Hailey and I followed Sandy through the thick crowd, I was careful not to brush past any dancing bodies. Sandy reached a spot in the room which catered for the three of us. We faced each other in a triangular fashion, the CD player paused as the next song came on and we got our groove on.

I knew I was bad at singing, but my dancing skills managed to serve me justice. Just as expected - by Sandy and Hailey - we would gain attention. Of course, we would, we weren't wearing the most modest of outfits and we were dancing.

The song ended and Sandy excused herself momentarily to get us drinks. "Why do I have a feeling she's going to say something about Carter when she gets back?" I mouthed to Hailey.

She smiled and nodded. She mouthed "because she will" back. We continued to dance, our bodies in perfect sync with the music - I just hoped when Sandy comes back she won't tell me to dance with a potentially drunk Carter.

"Hello ladies," Jack greeted loudly. I smiled at him, Hailey bit her lip before her lips tipped up.

"Hi Jack," she mouthed to him. I just wanted to 'awww' at her. It was pretty obvious she was head over heels for him.

Can't he take a hint?

"Why don't you two dance? I'm going to look for Sandy," I suggested. Hailey's eyes widened fractionally, and she started to shake her head slightly.

"Sure," Jack accepted whilst he shrugged.

"You've got this," I mouthed to Hailey and gave a look before I winked. She pursed her lips. I turned away from the pair and started to make my way out of the crowd, I took the same path as Sandy. I entered the kitchen.

Carter was in there talking to his best friend: Jayden. Very much like Carter, he was good looking. He had swept black hair, rich brown eyes, high cheekbones, firm jawline - but with a slightly crooked nose. He was more tanned too.

Suddenly, I got very shy.

Carter looked directly at me. First confused and then disbelieved. "Bree, is that you?" He asked.

"I'm insulted," I informed him, looking him straight in the eye. His eyes were unfocused - slightly scared - he looked at me as if it was a moment of deja vu.

"You hear that Carter. She is insulted. Sorry Milady, I'm just starting to teach Carter the art of chivalry. Hello, I'm Jayden but you can call me Jay," Jayden replied. I gave him a very flat look.

Oh God, please don't say I have another Lucas to deal with.

As Jayden spoke, he made his way over to me - checking me out whilst I was at it. Carter was glaring at he back He reached for my hand, slowly bringing it towards his lips. I pulled it back. He raised an eyebrow.

"Enough with the sweet talk - Carter where's Sandy? I'm sure she came in here... I might've been mistaken." I took a step back from Jayden so I could look at Carter. My eyes uncharacteristically wanting to meet his gaze. From my peripheral vision, I saw Jayden give a look, almost as if he was calculating something.

He smiled and backed away.

"She did. She got some drinks and left two minutes before you came in," Carter answered lowly. I nodded and continued to look at him. Something was off, but what?

"You know - " Jayden started, unfortunately, he couldn't finish because Carter told him to shut up harshly.

He spoke anyway. "She's a keeper."

I arched an eyebrow but decided to leave it. I turned around and left the room. As soon as I left the room I saw Sandy in front of me.

I jumped. "What were you doing in there?" She asked suspiciously.

"I was looking for you. I ditched Hailey with Jack. I hope he gets the hint," I said to her. She smiled and nodded. She passed me a drink and I took a sip.

"Okay. Down to business, I heard Carter and Jayden - wait you know Jayden right?"

"Yeah, he tried to kiss my hand just now. Carter didn't like that. They're best friends."

"Okay. You do know him. Anyways, before I entered the kitchen I heard them talking."

"And?"

"Carter's going to ask you to dance with him! Isn't that just adorable?" Sandy squealed in a hushed tone.

I scrunched my lips up, unsure how to feel. "And you're going to make me dance with him?" I asked her.

"Nope, you're not. Lesson 14: reject-o-mento. Unless he kneels on the group, mike in hand and proclaims his everlasting love for you. Then you can dance with him."

"Okay? What about other guys? You know."

"Whatever you fancy," she answered. Before I could comment Lucas slid himself between Sandy and me.

"Well I know what I fancy," he remarked before unashamedly trailing his eyes down my ensemble, excruciatingly slowly. "Don't you look sexy?"

I didn't say anything and hoped Sandy understood my 'save me' plea.

"Lucas, when would you stop looking at a girl's body and start looking at her heart?" Sandy asked him. I gave her a grateful smile.

"What makes you think I ain't looking at her heart?" Luke countered.

"I haven't heard of anyone having a 'sexy' heart," Sandy pointed out.

"It's what makes Bree one of a kind," Luke said easily. "But never mind that you refused to go out with me tonight, can I at least have a dance?"

Again. How do you reject a guy nicely?

Luke stepped closer to me blocking Sandy from my view, I felt his hands hover by my sides.

Does he have to be touchy-feely?

"I'm going to have a drink. Maybe later?" I replied whilst taking a step back so my personal space no longer felt violated.

"Oh c'mon Bree. Just one dance," he encouraged and took another step forward. Why does there have to be a wall so close behind me?

"Okay Lucas, you can back away. Give Bree some space to breathe," Sandy told him. She put her palm on his shoulder and moved him back. Again I gave a reassuringly smile.

"Okay. But I'm coming back for that dance later. See you my lovely." He backed away and gave me a wink as he left.

"Brilliant. Just bloody brilliant," I remarked.

"What's bloody brilliant?" A familiar voice asked.

"Oh none of your business," Sandy proclaimed to Jayden who just stepped out of the kitchen. Carter was just behind him.

"It, of course, is my business. Got to make sure the ladies are safe," he said smoothly.

Should we freak them out? I gave Sandy the look - she smirked.

"I don't think we want to hear it. They might make you puke," Carter said as soon as I pursed my lips and thought of an idea.

"But we were - " I protested.

"I really don't want to know," Carter intervened.

"I do," Jayden said. Sandy continued to smirk.

"I'll tell you in your ear," Sandy informed him. Jayden eagerly leaned towards her and she whispered something into his ear.

His facial expression changed from an easy smile to a face of disgust within seconds.

"I knew there was always something wrong with Sandy. But Bree? I am disappointed," Jayden stated in anguish.

I chuckled. If only they knew. "I never said I was a saint."

"Clearly," Carter said. This time his eyes scanned my body. My body squirmed but I couldn't distinguish if it was in a good way or bad.

He looked back at my face and surprisingly didn't do a double take.

"Pervert." He shrugged at my statement.

I took a sip my long-forgotten drink that was still in my hand.

I noticed that Sandy and Jayden were gone.

"Listen," Carter started.

"I'm listening," I told him. His lips tipped up.

"I was wondering... and this is completely unlike me - but to hell with it - would you like to dance?" He asked. He didn't step forward like Lucas did and he kept his gaze trained on my face.

Maybe he has come a long way. But I have to say no right? But excuse do I use? Oh, your sister said I couldn't?

"Sorry Carter," I said, not having an excuse at all. Something flickered across his eyes momentarily. I frowned, just wanting to give him a dance so he didn't look like that. "Why me though?"

"Because none of them are you," he answered simply. I felt my heart skip a beat.

Damn his words.

"I'm not all that you know."

"It's just a dance Bree." I would if I could but I can't so I shan't. Simple as.

I shrugged. "That doesn't matter."

*

Much to my distaste Luke's later came sooner than I had expected. I was currently in the restroom. I didn't want to dance with him and I couldn't figure out why. I wasn't sure if it was Carter, Sandy, myself or the fact that he was touchy-feely. I just didn't want to dance with him. I brushed my fingers through my hair a couple times and tried to get myself to relax. This is a party after all. I decided that I'll go have a drink or two and ease up.

I left the restroom and made my way back to the lounge I grabbed myself a drink off of the makeshift bartender and gulped it down in three sips in hopes that it would numb my senses slightly.

I walked back into the thick crowd and started to dance in solitude. I didn't care if anyone was watching. Not even Sandy or Carter.

I felt myself relax. Smiling at absolutely nothing, I continued to move my hips to the beat of the music. The base made my ears vibrate so all chatter became a hum. I suppose the alcohol had made its way into my system because my eyes unfocused easily and everything looked like a movie.

I slowly closed my eyes as my dancing resumed all until I felt a pair of hands hovered over my body. My eyes opened abruptly and I felt violated. Before me what Lucas in all of his glory with a pompous grin on his face.

I started to back away from him but that didn't deter him away. Can't he take a hint?

My blissful mood flew away and I began to feel annoyed. I don't know why people cleared a path for us because I would very much prefer being disturbed and finally a reason to walk away after bumping into someone.

Lucas grabbed my hips, forcefully I took yet another step back but he managed to press me against a wall and let his lips trail the crook of my neck.

I started to panic. I could distinctly smell the alcohol in his breath and I knew he was more than a little intoxicated. I began to struggle but his grip was too tight as he moved his hands up and down my sides. His hot breath felt like it was burning my neck. "Lucas leave me alone," I demanded.

"Quit playing hard to get. I know you want me as much as I want you. I promise to take it as slow as you want," he growled into my ear.

"Take a hint. I don't want you, Lucas. Now leave me alone," I warned him. I pressed my hands against his chest and tried with all my might to push him back.

What is with teenage boys and their strength nowadays?!

Instead of stepping on his foot as I did to Carter, I kneed him in the crotch which caused an immediate reaction. As soon as he cursed and stepped back, I escaped.

Suddenly I felt very stuffy and overwhelmed. I need fresh air. I made a beeline for the garden and tried to forget what had just happened.

I exhaled as soon as the cool air hit me. I smiled as I once again felt light. Surprisingly there wasn't a lot of people outside. Only a couple that had passed out on the grass and Carter who was leaning against the house just a metre away from me.

I didn't dare make conversation with him. I wasn't in the mood. I concentrated on my breathing. In. Out. In. Out. And I suddenly just got the urge to go back home and curl into my bed with an unknown longing. I frowned.

"Are you enjoying the party?" Carter asked catching me off guard.

"I was," I replied honestly. "And yourself?"

"I haven't been a fan of parties for the past couple years."

"Then why did you throw one?" I asked him and turned. I pressed my bare arm against the cold house surface and tried not to shiver. He shrugged.

"Just seemed like a good idea. I thought maybe I could have some fun this time."

"Well if it makes you feel any better. I thought I'd have fun too. I guess we were both wrong."

"What happened to you? You looked like you were enjoying yourself not too long ago."

"I was. Some people can't take a hint."

"Lucas?" He guessed.

"Got it in one."

"He's an asshole."

"You could say that again," I agreed. I felt myself relax as I talked to Carter and I also felt the urge to walk closer to him but I routed myself onto the spot. "So if you don't mind answering, why don't you like parties. I would say you seem like the type to hold one every week but everyone is full of surprises."

"Bad memories that's all." I stared at him not liking the way his back was slouched or his lips frowned or the shadows in his irises.

"You should stop doing that," I told him.

"Doing what?"

"Thinking about the past. You don't live there anymore Carter. Think about the future. Or now if you want."

"Your past shapes your future."

"That's not true. Yes, everything that has happened to you begins to shape who you are but every second is the opportunity to turn your life around. In the words of Gandhi 'accept what you can't change and change what you can't accept'. The past might hurt Carter but it's the past."

Carter didn't say anything. He didn't look at me either. He looked at the ground between us. "When I met you I didn't expect you to stand up to Clara let alone sprout inspirational stuff like that."

"When I met you I didn't expect you to become jealous over a stupid guy let alone be all vulnerable in front of me."

"I'm not vulnerable."

"Yes, yes you are. But to be honest, out of everything, I'm just happy you didn't greet me with 'hey I'm Carter but you could call me Car' or something."

Carter smiled genuinely. "But I did manage to kiss your hand."

"That was the second time we met."

"That doesn't matter."

"Well, I sure hope that isn't in your book of achievements. That'd be very sad." I teased lightheartedly.

"How did you know?" He answered in mock surprise.

I chuckled. A cool breeze hit my body and an involuntary shiver escaped me. "You should go inside. You don't want to catch a cold. We are going to Hawaii after all."

"Oh yeah, that utterly slipped my mind. I can't believe we're going," I mused.

"There was only a $10 difference. If Clara didn't piss you off it would've been a draw."

"Yeah... I can't believe you had $2,138 worth of icky paint sponges thrown at you."

"Hawaii better be worth it. Now go inside before you catch a cold.'

"And you're going to stand here and drown into your sorrows?" Carter didn't answer. I stepped forward and boldly grabbed his larger hand in my two smaller ones.

Screw lesson 14.

"C'mon, let's go and have that dance you wanted."