BEHIND CLOSED DOOR

Punching and and “oww”

No one knew what happened when you were alone with your thoughts. Everyone had fears and things that terrified them, and I couldn’t escape mine, especially when I was asleep.

The doorbell rang at exactly eight o’clock and at first, I thought that Chloe had lost her damn mind because she usually would just walk in and come up to my room. But when I told Maria, our housekeeper, that I would get the door and opened it to Caleb standing there, I smiled, understanding why.

“Hey,” I greeted.

He took a deep breath. “Wow, Aria, you look beautiful.”

“Thanks.” I dressed in a red mini-skirt with a black crop-top, and black

wedge sandals. I curled the ends of my hair and went light on the makeup and jewelry. I grabbed my overnight bag and closed the door behind me.

“Here, let me take that for you.”

“Oh, okay.”

Chloe was sitting in the backseat, smiling like a Cheshire cat, as I opened the passenger side door to get in.

“Wait,” he said, placing his hand over mine to open the door.

“Awe... my brother is such a gentlemen; you should totally suck his dick.”

“Chloe, shut the hell up.”

I laughed and she winked at me. We drove in silence, and at one point, he reached over and grabbed my hand. I remained calm and collected on the outside, but on the inside, I was flipping out.

Chloe wished me a very happy birthday with a huge hug and kiss and then bailed out of the car as soon as we got there, saying something about letting us be alone and that she would catch up with us later.

Caleb grabbed my hand again and we walked side-by-side into the house. There were people everywhere and alcohol was flowing loosely; I was never much of a drinker. I didn’t like how it made people act stupid and foolish and I didn’t want to be out of control from my judgments. I guess it’s my type A personality. Caleb led us to the keg and filled two cups. I took one, not wanting to seem immature.

We socialized with our friends for a few hours, people wishing me happy birthday with hugs and kisses and I would catch people’s stares and whispers every so often. I excused myself to go use the bathroom and I ran into Marie, one of my fellow cheerleaders.

“So you and Caleb? Are you finally official? You know that boy has been in love with you since elementary school,” she stated, following me into the restroom.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m not really sure what’s going on. I mean, he’s leaving for college,” I replied, applying powder on my face in the mirror.

“He’s going to UM, Aria, not South Dakota. He’s getting an apartment with Aaron and Jacob near campus; he won’t be far from you.”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to read anything into it. I guess we’re just hanging out and seeing where it goes.”

“It’s going to go with him putting a ring on your finger. You guys are so meant to be; you know it as much as everyone else does. Stop being so evasive.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

“Have you kissed him?”

“No! We just showed up together and he asked me to hang out this afternoon. We haven’t done anything.”

“Well, girl, you are in for a surprise because word around the school is that he has a huge d**k and actually knows what he’s supposed to be doing with it.”

“Oh my God, shut up!”

“You know he had s*x with Stacy and Amber, and I think he did with Jamie and maybe Celeste.”

I shook my head. “How do you know this?”

She sat on the edge of the sink.

“Because I know everything; plus, I heard Stacy telling Victoria, and also, Amber said something to Ashley.

You know... the normal high school runaround.”

I laughed.

“But I want details, so make sure to take notes.”

I rolled my eyes again. “Have you seen Chloe? I haven’t seen her

since we got here and that was a few hours ago.”

“I saw her with Derrick. You know they have that torrid love affair that

they love to make public. I swear they have seen one too many soap operas with how much they love to fight in public.”

“True story.”

I was about to round the corner to where I left Caleb.

“You going to f**k her?” I heard someone ask and it stopped me dead

in my tracks. I realized it was Aaron, and he must have been talking to Caleb, about me. I stopped to listen to the rest.

“Nah, man, it’s not like that.”

“Of course it’s not. You’ve been puppy-eyed with your d**k between your legs ever since we can remember,” Jacob added to their conversation. “I can’t believe it’s taken you this long to grow some balls and actually ask her out.”

“She’s not like other girls,” Caleb asserted.

“How do you know that?” Aaron questioned.

“I just know,” he nonchalantly rebutted.

“Damn, man, you haven’t even touched her p***y yet and you’re

already whipped,” Jacob remarked with a sloppy laugh. “Her parents are the happiest married people I have ever seen. I know my mom is always f*****g bitching at my dad about why he can’t be more like Aria’s dad.”

I smiled. Maybe I could have that too... with Caleb.

“Her parents are good people, but Aria does things to me; I mean, look at her. She’s like a real-life Barbie doll, and not only that, but she has a heart of gold. She’s been an amazing friend to my crazy-ass sister who would have probably ended up in rehab or pregnant by now if it hadn’t been for Aria. I respect that and you can’t help but fall for her.”

“Awe...” they said in unison, making fun of Caleb. “That was really sweet, man. Did you grow a v****a overnight? Do we need to take you in the back and inspect you to make sure you still have a d**k between your legs?”

I heard a punching sound and then an “ow” before I walked up to them, pretending like I hadn’t heard their conversation.

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