Plain Jane

R vs. C

We drive in silence, the city passing us by, until we reach just on the outskirts of Manhattan, a suburban area with long rows of identical two story houses, newly built I assume.

“So you’re rich but you live in a suburb?” I snort.

“This is the house I stay in because I’ve never seen the point in wasting money on a huge house with nobody but myself to share it with. Only more rooms that get dusty.” He explains, his voice weird.

“So you’ve never shared a home with anyone?” I ask.

“That’s not what I said.” He answers, his voice ending the conversation.

I let the silence roll over us and he drives down a long street, stopping in front of a pale white house with a cement driveway. It looks just like a typical family home, one that a husband and a wife and their two kids would live in. He opens his door, swiftly getting out and grabbing the bags from the trunk. I check the time nervously, it was already a quarter till five and I had plans tonight with Darren and Lacy at Blackout.

I follow him through his red front door, and he deposits the shopping bags onto the table, showing me where I would find things to cook with.

“I have some work to do, but I’ll be down to eat at a quarter till six, okay?” He asks, making his way towards the staircase.

“Yeah, whatever.” I roll my eyes at him and turn towards the stove, wrapping an apron from the kitchen closet around my waist. I grab the noodles starting the process of boiling them and then browning the meat for spaghetti.

…..

I untie the apron and set the bowl of spaghetti on the table, laying out a plate for him and grabbing my purse, taking out my phone and dialing Darren.

He picks up on the very last ring, as per usual. “Yes?”

“Could you come get me?” I ask.

“Where are you?” He sighs.

“Ryan James' house.” I bite my lip.

“I’m on my way, text me the address.” He hangs up, without a goodbye, also pretty usual.

I text him the address and wait patiently by the front door for his car to pull up, and when it does I slip out silently, Ryan still not down for dinner.

I secretly appreciate being able to slip out without hearing anything from his extremely attractive mouth. Darren has the biggest smile on his face when I get in the car and he decides that maybe, to make it completely obvious that I’m leaving, to honk the horn. And as if by magic the door pops open and out steps Ryan James, shirtless.

And holding a bottle of my favorite wine.

And shirtless. His eyes turn dark and Darren waves at him before peeling out of his driveway and down the road.

“Why did you do that?” I say, frustration evident in my voice.

“To embarrass you. Now are you going to explain why you were at his house when he was shirtless?” Darren asks, tapping his girlish hands on the steering wheel.

“Basically he said he was going to sue me for assault if I didn’t cook dinner for him tonight, however I didn't know he was expecting me to stay. Oops.” I shrug.

“Oops?” He turns sharply, making me fly into the side door.

“Yeah. I mean he’s an ass so I really could care less.”

“Get out of the car.” Darren pulls over.

“What?” I ask, turning towards him.

“Get out. You’re f*****g crazy.” He says, opening up his door and walking around to mine.

“Are you serious?” I ask, sticking one of my wedges out the door followed by the other.

“Nah, we’re here.” He laughs, pulling me up and leading me towards the line of people I did not see before. He walks us straight to the front, slipping money in the guys hand and a kiss on his cheek. We walk inside and my white dress glows against the darkness, probably why they called it Blackout.

The lights were completely off with blue lights on the bar and seats, and red ones flashing quickly on the dance floor, making it seem like everyone was moving jaggedly because it flashed on and off so fast, making me feel dizzy.

Darren sped off towards the bar and I made my way slowly after him, Lacy arriving at my side somewhere in the midst.

“Hey girl!” Her dark skin was illuminated by glow in the dark body paint, she made it look like she had handprints all over her body and she wore a tight white dress that stopped right below her hips.

“Hey w***e!” I yell back at her.

“Looks who’s talking, Darren told me you were just at a certain guys house.” She teases.

“That big mouth!” I say as we arrive at the bar, and we both order a shot of vodka chaser and talk loudly over the music. A man in jeans and a tight white crew neck appears behind her and says something into her ear, making her giggle and grab his hand, waggling her fingers at me and walking towards the dance floor.

I look around my surroundings sipping my beer and observing all the hot sweaty dancing going on, and spot Darren making out with some random guy in the corner. I smile to myself and set my beer down, leaning against the counter and listening in as best as I could to drunken conversations around me.

“We meet again J.” I hear a voice say and I almost jump out of my shoes.

“Well C, it looks like we do.” I say, after catching my breath.

“What are you doing here all by yourself?” He asks.

“Oh nothing, just waiting for some random guy to scare the s**t out of me.” I tease.

“Well I’m your guy!” He laughs, ordering the same drink I had.

“I see that. What are you doing here on a Saturday night? Trying to be all touristy?” I tease again.

“Looking for a fine woman like yourself actually.” He says huskily. I shiver against his breathe on my ear, but I lean towards him.

“Well I think you found her, come dance.” I flirt, grabbing his hand in the same move Lacy did and puling him towards the flashing red dance floor.

I dance against him, moving my hands up and down my sides and grinding on him. I flip my red hair and tease him, sliding down towards the floor and coming back up to peck his lips. He grabs my face pulling me closer to him and deepening the kiss, making my head spin. My lips don’t leave his, moving perfectly in sync until he pulls away from me roughly.

“Wha-“ I start, opening my eyes but the first thing I see is Cayden on the ground and Ryan punching him repeatedly, Cayden is fighting back and he’s gotten a couple good punches on Ryan, but Ryan is still winning. I put my hand on Ryan’s arm and pull him away. He struggles against me, kicking at Cayden, and I can’t hold him back so I do the first thing that comes to mind. I kiss him.

He doesn’t respond at first but soon his rough hands are caressing my soft face and his lips are moving roughly on mine. The commotion of the club stops and I can hear Cayden’s distant voice yelling my name but I’m too deep in the kiss to care. He finally breaks the kiss and I’m breathing hard, and his chest is heaving. My lips are kiss swollen and the angry glint has left his eyes and for a minute he just stands looking at me. But then someone hits the play button on life again and people are swarming Ryan and I, a club bouncer takes him away and Darren and Lacy are tugging at my arm, practically dragging me towards the door where we meet Cayden. He looks bruised already, and his face is sunken.

“I’m sorry Cayden.” I mutter. He doesn’t respond but Darren and Lacy are pulling me away before I can ask him if he’s okay. They shove me in the back of the car and I cross my arms, leaning against the cool glass window and watching as Cayden stalks down the street, slamming the door to his bright red mustang.

“What the hell was that?” I hear Lacy ask, turning around in her seat to face me.

“He wouldn’t stop beating up Cayden so I kissed him.” I shrug, leaving out the part where I felt we were the only two in the world.

“That’s it? And you aren’t at all involved with Cayden because he looked like a sad puppy dog when you stuck your tongue down Ryan's throat!" She exaggerates.

I shrug, not bothering to respond and she huffs and turns in her seat. Darren turns up a song on the radio and we stop at Lacy’s to drop her off shortly after.

“Just so you know I missed out on hot, steamy, s*x with that guy at the club to get you out of there.” She says, slamming the door. I don’t respond again and Darren and I arrive at our apartment quietly, saying hello to the late night doorman and making our way to the apartment.

“G’night.” I say to Darren and he mutters a response, closing the door to his bedroom.

I go to sleep with the visions of Ryan’s lips on mine.