chapter 6

A/N: Warning this chapter is rated MATURE!

Jonathan was lying on his side, holding me in his arms and brushing soft kisses all over my face. I was nestled against him, feeling the warmth of his body next to mine as we rested in the aftermath. I felt wonderful, my body warm and relaxed. Never before had I felt so comfortable, so complete as I lay there and listened to his heartbeat slowing to a steady beat. I knew my own heartbeat was slowing to match his.

He leaned down and looked into my eyes, a satisfied expression on his face, "How are you feeling?"

I smiled, "Wonderful," I breathed.

I saw the brief worry flicker in his eyes, "No pain?" he asked.

I shook my head and leaned my face into his neck, "None at all," I whispered against his skin, "you're a gentle lover." I softly chuckled as I saw him smile.

He pulled me closer to him and leaned in, kissing me tenderly. I let my hands roam over his shoulders, down his back, and around his waist. I leaned my hips into his in invitation. He accepted it with a soft moan, rolling us over until I lay over him. Just as before, he was the teacher and I was his eager pupil. He spent the rest of the night showing me ways that we could satisfy each other.

*******************************************

The sun was shining in through the window when I opened my eyes the next morning. I rolled over onto my back and blinked sleepily up at the ceiling. It was beige, not lavender! I sat up with a start, looking around until everything about the night before came flooding back. Smiling, I pulled the sheets over my naked skin as the memories played in my head.

I gasped in pleasure as I felt the flick of his tongue against my folds. The flick soon turned into longer licks, followed by a low growl as he pushed his tongue inside of me. As I bucked my hips into the air, I heard Jonathan moan, "Mmmm... Alex, you taste so sweet." I whimpered as his tongue slid out of me, but soon he was teasing my nub with his tongue making me whimper more.


"Jonathan...please..."


"Please what baby?" he whispered as he blew against my heated skin.


"Please... I need...I need more..."


"Tell me beautiful...tell me what you need." He lifted his head slightly to look up at me.


I whimpered at the loss of his touch, but all he did was give me a soft smile before laying a feather light kiss against the inside of my thigh.


I growled, bucking my hips towards him, "Please, make me come Jonathan. Make me come with your mouth."


He gave me a full smile before lowering his head again, "Your wish is my command," he whispered as he once again took my nub in his mouth.


I hissed in pleasure as he gently sucked on it, then teased it with his tongue and teeth. As he applied more pressure with his tongue, he slid two fingers inside of me and began pumping them in and out of me. I moaned louder as my hands slid into his hair, trying to bring him closer. When he once again sucked my nub into his mouth with a hard thrust of his fingers into me, I cried out his name as I finally felt the explosion I had so desperately wanted.


Jonathan continued to lick and he moaned softly as he felt the fluttering of my folds against his tongue. As I lay still letting the vibrations flow through my body, he slid up the length of me, softly brushing kisses against my skin. He lifted my legs, placing my knees over his shoulders before sliding further up my body. As he leaned over me, he reached out once again for a condom, swiftly slid it on, then thrust into me in one smooth move.

I arched my back and moaned his name as he began to thrust in and out of me. My legs clenched around his shoulders as I felt my body beginning to reach the edge again. He threw his head back as his thrusts became harder and faster. I glanced up through hooded eyes and saw the tenseness in his shoulders and neck.


"God Alex, so tight baby...so tight." He clinched his jaw and growled as his thrusts became frenzied.


The sight of Jonathan all tense, with sweat glistening all over his body, and the look of ecstasy on his face was enough to send me over the edge again.


"Oh, Jonathan!" I screamed as my thighs tensed around his shoulders.


"Yes! Alex!" He shouted a split second after I did.


He continued to pump into me for a few moments before he finally shuddered and lowered my legs gently to the bed. Leaning over me, he gave me a long, passionate kiss before slowly sliding away from me. Quickly, he disposed of the condom, then once again I was enveloped in the warmth of his arms and body.

As I sighed, slowly falling into a contented drowsiness, I felt him lay a kiss against the top of my head and whisper, "Get some sleep, beautiful."


I smiled and nuzzled closer to his chest unable to keep my eyes open any longer.

*******************************

Turning to look at the space next to me, I frowned as I noticed Jonathan wasn't there. I could hear faint noises coming from the kitchen and the smell of food wafted into the room, I knew immediately that he was cooking something. I got up from the bed and gathered up my clothes before going into the bathroom.

As I made my way into the kitchen after freshening up, Jonathan was near the stove separating the scrambled eggs and sausages into two plates. He turned towards me as I approached him. He smiled, "hey," he leaned in and gave my lips a peck, "Sleep well?"

"Um hmm," I murmured as I stepped up to the stove, "need any help?"

"No, it's almost ready," he pointed to the table on the balcony, "just have a seat and I'll serve you."

He carried our plates to the table, where there was orange juice and milk already waiting for us. We ate breakfast in companionable silence, then I helped him wash the dishes before we both got dressed so he could take me home.

"Do you mind dropping me off at my sister-in-law's apartment?" I asked as we climbed into his Ferrari.

He looked at me with a confused look. I grinned, "I want to beg her to cover for me about last night."

He chuckled, "Okay, are you sure?"

I nodded.

****************************************

He pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex Danny and Alishia lived in. After putting the car in park, he gave me a long goodbye kiss. "Are you sure you don't want me to walk you to the door?"

I shook my head, "It's okay. You've done so much for me already."

He smiled, "Okay, I'll call you tomorrow." He gave me one more kiss before I got out of his car and walked into the complex. Just before I walked in, I turned and waved to him. I saw him wave back, then he backed the car out of the lot.

It was Alishia who answered the door. I asked if Danny was in and she told me he was out of town on business and wouldn't be back until midweek. When I breathed a sigh of relief, she asked what was going on, so I told her. I explained that I had spent the night with Jonathan and begged her if she would back me up when I told my father that I had stayed the night at their apartment.

Her eyes were wide, "You spent the night with a guy? Oh what would your father say if he knew!" She laughed at the thought of it.

"You won't tell him will you?" I asked meekly.

"Of course not!" she huffed, "So, tell me, who this guy is. I heard about you and Mark breaking up, so I know you didn't stay with him."

I smiled, "His name is Jonathan. Jonathan Parker. He's kind of tall, dark hair, handsome." I sighed, "Boy is he handsome."

She quirked an eyebrow, "Hmm, that name sounds familiar."

I shrugged, "I've never met him before that night I saw him outside of the club. Oh!" I giggled, "and you know what he has? He's got a motorcycle and a Ferrari! A Ducati and a Testarossa! How cool is that?"

Suddenly Alishia laughed, "Oh! Now I know that name! Jon Parker!" At my puzzled look she continued, "He used to be a bit of a model and was often at the studio I worked at. I even went out with him and a group of people a few times. He is quite good looking, isn't he? He quit modeling a few months before I got married, so I lost track of him then." She shrugged, "He didn't really need the job anyway." She looked directly at me as she said the next words, "The man is loaded. Really, really loaded."

My eyes nearly bugged out of my head, "What!?! But he said he wasn't rich!" I exclaimed.

"Did he?" she chuckled, "He was always telling people that. He didn't want people to like him for just his money or for them to think he was stuck up. His father is the owner of the Parker Estates that we're always hearing about. He is supposed to inherit that from his father since he's the oldest son. I know he's got a younger brother, and no sisters." She shook her head and smiled, "Jon was always a bit of a flirt and famous with the women. They would follow him like bees to honey. We always teased him about which woman would eventually claim him, but he was always very careful. And very, very picky." She turned to me and gave me a knowing smile, "Well, I guess we know who finally claimed him now."

I shook my head, stunned with all this information, "I can't believe this! He's going to inherit the Parker Estates! His father is much bigger than mine! But...but he seemed so different! Not like all the other guys I know who are rich!"

Alishia nodded, "He never was like anyone else. Jon took pride in being different. He didn't want to be known only as David Parker's son or just like every other spoiled, rich kid out there. I guess, he wanted to be his own person, to be known for himself."

I frowned, "But why didn't he just tell me who he was? I mean, I wouldn't have been after his money."

She shrugged, "I can't answer that. I guess you'll just have to ask him yourself."

I nodded glumly, "I guess so."

She wrapped an arm around my shoulders, squeezing lightly, "C'mon, I'll take you home and you can tell me how you met him."

I managed to tell Alishia the whole story as she drove me home. It was a good thing too, because as soon as I was out of the car, my father came storming out of the house, "Well, it's about time! Where have you been young lady? And this had better be good!"

I gave him a sheepish grin, "I was at Alishia's. I spent the night there."

Alishia nodded, "Alex came over last night around 9. We talked for hours until I realized how late it was. So I told her to spend the night and I'd explain to you that I didn't want to bring her home that late, especially since Danny is out of town right now." She paused before going on, "I'm sorry, I figured you would understand. It was my fault, not Alex's."

My father shook his head, "No, no it's okay. I was just worried because I didn't know where she was. Since I know she's okay now and that she was with you, then it's alright." He narrowed his eyes at me, "But try to at least call next time and let us know that you're okay."

I nodded, "Okay, I'll do that next time."

I gave Alishia a hug and thanked her for everything. After my father and I saw her off, I went to my room to take a shower. It was while I was showering that I began to think about Jonathan and everything Alishia had told me. As I toweled myself dry, dressed, then sat on my bed I thought of how much I knew about him.

I thought of all the times we'd spent together. I thought about the fact that Alishia knew him personally. But what bothered me the most was finding out that he belonged to one of the richest families in town and I had never even known.

How was it that Jonathan Parker knew all about me, but I, Alex McCain, had never known about him?

chapter 5

A/N: Warning this chapter is rated MATURE!

I wouldn't have a chance to go out with Jonathan again until Friday night. He would come and see me at work during the week. Sometimes he hung around for a while and we talked, getting to know one another more. Sometimes it got too busy, but he understood that I had to work and let me be.

All week long people had been asking about Mark and I. I was also still being asked out on dates, but I always politely refused. Around the middle of the week, Mark had tried to apologize and make up with me, but I adamantly refused. The very next day, he had someone else on his arm, which gave Sarah and I a good laugh.

On Friday, I told Jonathan about Mark and his new girl, as I climbed behind him on his motorcycle. I had asked him to bring his bike because I wanted to get a chance to finally ride one. It wasn't cold that day, even though there was a slight breeze.

We traveled through the city on his bike, racing with the wind. I tossed my head back and yelled as loud as I could. I knew that this was now my life, that I was finally free. I could feel it inside of me and I had never felt so happy. It was like I was finally finding myself. I was dressed in a faded pair of jeans, a black baby tee with 'want a bear hug?' scribbled in green across the front, and my leather jacket over it. Perched on the back of that bike, I felt like I ruled the world, like no one could touch me.

I wrapped my arms tight around Jonathan's waist and rested my head against his back. Holding on to him like that, I felt safe, secure, like no one could hurt me. He tilted his head back to look at me for a moment and smiled. He knew I was enjoying myself. I knew he probably saw the changes in me, just as I could feel them happening.

"Want to drive it?" he asked.

"Yes!" I laughed as he pulled over to let me move in front of him.

He was a gentle teacher, helping me to steer the bike. I placed my feet over his on the pedals and he had his hands over mine on the gears. He kept his mouth close to my ear to help give me encouragement and instructions. I thought it was rather hard to get the hang of it even though he told me I was doing fine. I think I just had a hard time concentrating with his lips so close to my ear.

Eventually he guided me to Harvey's where we spent the rest of the night dancing. Darryl was there as usual and he waved us to join him at the table he was sitting at. Jonathan flagged a waitress and ordered a beer for himself and a 'vanilla coke' for me. We danced a few times and joked with Darryl for a while. They were both really funny together and made me feel like I was just one of the guys. Jonathan and I left a little early so that we could ride his bike for a while before he took me home.

Once we arrived at my house, I hopped off the bike and moved to stand at his side. He looped his arm around my waist and pulled me in for a kiss. As he moved away he asked, "Can I pick you up for work tomorrow?"

I gave him a questioning look.

He smiled, "That way when you get off, I can just pick you up and we can go out afterwards."

I giggled, "Sure," I gave his lips a peck and grinned, "I like the way you think."

He laughed, "Me too." He leaned in for one last kiss before he finally let me go and gunned the bike. "Night, Alex."

"Night, Jonathan."

I watched as he drove off and realized how much I was used to being with him. I felt like I had known him for years, like we'd been friends for a long time. I grinned as I walked into the house thinking that I was even more uninhibited with him than I'd ever been with anyone else.

The next morning Jonathan picked me up and took me to work saying he'd join me during my lunch break. When that time came around, he showed up at the store with a bag full of McDonalds. We took the food and ate it in the back room of the store so that we had some privacy. I knew I could get in trouble for letting him in, but I didn't really care.

After work, he was waiting for me on his motorcycle near the North entrance. "Hi, beautiful." he said as he leaned in for a kiss.

"Hi," I grinned.

As he helped me on the back of his bike, he said, "We're going to my place, okay? I planned something special for us."

"Okay."

When we got to his place and he had just unlocked the door, he turned to me and said, "Close your eyes, beautiful."

As soon as I did that, he took my hand and led me inside saying, "No peeking, Alex."

I giggled, "I won't."

We finally came to a stop, "Okay, open your eyes now."

I did, and I saw the table on the balcony all set with candle light and covered dishes. "Jonathan," I gasped, "this is wonderful! You did this?" At his nod, I gushed, "This is so sweet of you!"

He smiled, "Well, I thought we could really celebrate tonight since we really couldn't on Monday. Plus, this is a great way for you to sample my cooking."

I agreed as he helped me to my chair before he sat down across from me. The food was wonderful. We had lemon chicken with rice and string beans. We washed the dinner down with chilled wine and ended with homemade cheesecake for dessert.

After dinner, I helped him clean up, then we took the rest of the wine to the living room. I noticed that he had already put up some of the paintings that I had picked out from the flea market, on his living room walls. I relaxed on the couch as he turned on his stereo.

"Dinner was wonderful. It was a great way to celebrate." I kissed his cheek as he sat next to me, "Thank you for that."

"You're welcome," he grinned, "but we're not finished yet."

I laughed, he was right, the night was still young.

We sat and alternately listened to the music and talked softly for a while as I leaned against his side with his arm wrapped around my shoulders. I knew without a doubt that he'd be content to spend the night doing nothing else, but I had other things in mind as I lifted my head, tilting it back so that he could kiss me. Our lips met, fusing together and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. He pulled me closer to him even as I leaned into his body. I brought my knees under me on the sofa as his hands began to travel down the length of my spine, sending pleasant shivers through my body. I closed my eyes as his lips traveled over my cheek and down my neck.

I ran my hands through his hair enjoying the thickness of it as I held him close to me. He slowly pulled away from me, looking into my eyes. Both of us were a little breathless and I noticed his eyes were looking at me intently. I smiled at him and ran my fingers over his chest, letting them trail downwards. My eyes followed the path of my fingers until they stopped at his belt. I looked up into his eyes and saw the question in them. I gave him another smile before I leaned in and gave him another kiss that gave him the answer he was waiting for.

As I pulled away from his lips, I saw the smile he now wore. I had never seen him smile like that before. It was a gentle smile, almost as if he were suddenly shy, but I saw the hint of playfulness and anticipation in his eyes. He stood up, and offered me his hand. I took it and let him lead me into the bedroom. He stopped at the foot of the bed, pulling me into his arms again. His mouth covered mine as his tongue pushed past my lips. He held me tight, as if he'd never let me go.

I had never felt this way before. Tingles were forming everywhere he touched me. He slowly lifted my shirt over my head and let it fall to the floor. A moan escaped my lips as his fingers moved over my bra covered breasts. He gently laid me down on the bed before removing his shirt and jeans to join me. As he laid his body over mine, he looked into my eyes. He softly brushed the hair from my face and whispered, "Are you sure?"

I nodded and whispered back, "I'm sure."

He kissed me again and moved his hands to my jeans. I lifted my hips up to let him slide them down my legs. Once he'd removed them, he went back to kissing me. His hands slowly caressed their way from my waist, up my ribs, and brushed slightly under my breasts. My breath hitched then turned into a moan as his hands closed over my breasts. He gently kneaded them, letting his palms press against my nipples, now straining against the confines of my bra.

I whimpered when his hands moved to my shoulders, but he hooked his fingers under the straps and began to slowly lower them down my arms. As his lips trailed kisses down my neck to my collar bone, he slid his hand behind my back to undo my bra. Moving slightly away from me, he removed it entirely and tossed it to the floor before leaning against me again. We both gasped as our bared chests came into contact with each other.

He took my lips again and I let my hands travel down his back. I ran my fingers over the top of his briefs before moving them to the front. When his lips moved to my neck, I slid my fingers under the band of his briefs. He lifted his hips, allowing me to slide them down. He helped me to remove his briefs, then returned to nibbling on my skin.

I tossed my head back and moaned deep in my throat when his mouth brushed over the top of one breast. I arched my back and offered it to him. He took the invitation and closed his mouth over my aching nipple. As he gently sucked and licked my nipple into a hard bud, he slid my underwear down my hips.

Nudging my legs apart with one knee, he slid a hand between my legs as his mouth moved to my other breast to give it the same attention as the first. I cried out as his fingers slid over my wetness, touching my nub for the first time.

As his fingers, massaged my folds, I shuddered beneath him, arms wrapped loosely around his shoulders. "Oh Jonathan," I breathed.

He moaned against my neck, as he slid a finger into me, "God, Alex, you feel so wet."

I nodded as my hands pressed into his back trying to pull him closer to me. I wanted him so badly, the craving growing with each movement he made.

I wasn't scared this time, yet I didn't know what to expect. “Jonathan...hurry," I panted.

He pulled slightly away from me and leaned over to retrieve a condom from the nightstand. Quickly he slipped it on then guided himself to my opening.

"You okay?" He asked before he went any further.

"Yes, please," I begged, dragging his lips back to mine.

He kissed me again, letting it deepen before he made any other movement. I felt him push into me gently, then stop as he encountered my barrier. He pulled back slightly and deepened the kiss. When he knew I was ready he thrust forward in one long move, breaking through my barrier. I cried out as his lips swallowed my pain.

He waited a moment, letting his tongue caress mine before he began to move inside of me. He helped me find a rhythm and made me feel relaxed. I gave myself to him completely in that moment. I felt no pain, only exquisite pleasure, as I let him guide me over the edge, both of us crying out each other's names.

chapter 4

I awoke to the sound of music blaring in my ears. I sat up with a start and jerked the earphones out of my ears. "Kevin, that isn't funny!" I yelled.

Kevin was standing next to the bed with the walkman in his hands and laughing. "Who did you go out with yesterday? I saw the car! A black Ferrari Testarossa convertible. I know it wasn't Mark."

"None of your business Kevin! Quit spying on me and get out of here before I tear your tongue out." I jumped up and reached for him, but he took off before I got him.

I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. I got dressed for school, choosing an outfit I had gotten yesterday. A green skirt that reached just above my knees and a matching long sleeved shirt that showed off my navel and fit my curves snugly. It was cool enough to wear the black leather jacket I had also gotten. The length reached down to my thighs, had a collar, and was tied in front. I left my hair hanging loose and swept to the side. I put on a pair of copper hoop earrings and a matching wide copper bracelet.

I went downstairs to eat breakfast preparing for a scolding from my father. When he didn't even mention it, I guessed he didn't know that I got in late and counted myself lucky. I decided not to say anything about my tardiness unless someone else brought it up first. After eating some toast and grapefruit, I left for school.

Sarah was waiting for me in the area where I always parked. And as per her usual self, she began talking without taking a breath, "Where were you Saturday night? Mark's mad. He couldn't find you anywhere that night, and he couldn't find you yesterday either. I hope you have some good excuses for him."

"Don't worry, I have some." We walked to the patio where our group always met. I could tell Sarah was nervous, which told me Mark had to be really mad for her to be that way.

He saw me right away and headed straight for me. He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the group. "I want to talk to you," he growled as he pulled me into the gym where it was empty.

Once inside, I pulled my arm free of his grip. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

He narrowed his eyes, "Where were you Saturday night? You were supposed to be at the club remember?"

"Yes, I remember. I had something else to do."

"You could have called and told me!"

I shrugged, "I didn't get the chance to."

"What about yesterday? I couldn't find you anywhere!" He said as he folded his arms across his chest.

I sighed, "It was my day off, so I spent it shopping."

"You should have spent it with me! I'm your boyfriend!" I could tell he was furious because his hands curled into fists at his sides. I knew it was really because I wasn't telling him anything that he wanted to hear.

"I wanted a day to myself. I see you in school everyday and I spend most nights with you. Isn't that enough?" I asked as I crossed my arms.

"You're supposed to tell me where you go!" he yelled.

"Why? So you can follow me?" I asked as I narrowed my eyes. Now I was getting mad. He seemed to think he owned me and I realized that I had never stopped him from thinking that. I whirled away from him, heading for the door.

"I heard you got in at three in the morning," he muttered.

I stopped and turned to look at him. "Who told you that?"

"Kevin."

My hands curled into fists. I should've known the little pest was gonna squeal.

"He says you went out with someone. Who?"

"A friend."

"Who! Do I know this person?" he growled.

"No, a friend from work."

"Oh? And does this friend from work drive a black Ferrari?"

I froze. Kevin told him about that too! I was gonna murder that little rat when I got the chance!

"So, Alexandria," he smirked, "you've been lying. Where did he come from? He doesn't even go to school, does he? Does he even have a decent home? A job? You went out with a hippie and no one even knew! Not even me!" he hissed.

"He's not a hippie!" I protested.

"He's not? Then what is he? A hood? A deadbeat? Kevin says he looks like one with the long black hair he has. He said he looked dangerous and wild. I don't want you to associate with his kind!"

"Oh, really?" I huffed, "Maybe you don't, but I do!"

"I'm the man in this relationship! I make the rules! Stay away from him!" he shouted.

"No, Mark. You stay away from me! I don't like your rules and I don't like you! You don't own me! You never will! It's over between us!" I yanked his school ring off my finger and threw it at him, "I don't even want that crowd of yours! I'll find other friends... friends that won't treat me like some kind of royalty! I hate being popular. I just want to be myself. Good-bye Mark. Good luck winning the Prom King title, you're gonna need it!" I hissed as I stormed out of the gym, passing by the group's table and headed for my first class.

Sarah came running after me. "What's wrong Alex?"

"Mark and I just broke up." I huffed.

"Oh, I'm sorry." she said quietly.

"What for? I broke up with him! I've had it. No more popular crowd, no more Mark!" I stopped walking and grinned, "Wow! I feel better already."

Sarah gaped at me, "You broke up with Mark!? Are you out of your mind!? He's the number one guy in this school and you dumped him!?"

I rolled my eyes, "Oh c'mon Sarah! You know how much I hated being with him and being popular. You know that I wanted something different."

Slowly Sarah nodded. She knew what I meant. I was ready to have my own life now. No more 'popular' things to worry about. At least I hoped I could have a life that I could live without feeling like I lived in a fishbowl.

"Well," she sighed, "even if you've given up the popular crowd, I'm still your best friend.” she smiled and gave me a hug before we continued walking to our first class together.

By second period, everyone knew that Mark and I had broken up. The whole school was in shock because I had dumped Mark. He had tried to say that he broke up with me, but unfortunately for him, several people had heard us shouting in the gym and they had repeated what was said. When lunch time came, Sarah and I sat at a different table trying to ignore the talk of the break-up happening around us. I had decided earlier that day to try to not let all that talk bother me anymore.

By the time school had ended, I had been asked out by over a dozen guys. Many of whom just wanted the chance to be seen with one of the in crowd. I turned them all down gently, telling them that I wasn't ready to date just yet. As school as school ended and I had said my goodbyes to Sarah, I went home and did my homework, since I had to be at work at five.

Kevin came rushing into my room just as I sat down to do my math. "Is it true? You broke up with Mark?"

I sighed, "Yes Kevin, I did. Is it really such a shock? You knew I wasn't happy with him."

"I knew you thought of doing it, but I never dreamed you would actually do it!"

"Well, I did."

He shook his head, "Gosh, my sister broke up with the most popular guy in school! Tell me how you could do it!"

I shrugged, "It was easy because the popular guy was a popular jerk. Now, please leave. I have to finish my homework before I go to work."

It turned out that my father was even shocked. When I dropped by the kitchen to get a bite to eat before going to work, he asked me, "Didn't you like him?"

I nodded, "At first I did, but not anymore. It's not the same anymore. I think I just want something different than he does."

"What about your future plans? Weren't you and Mark going to get engaged when you graduated?"

I shook my head, "No, I never said that. He did."

"Well, what now?" he asked.

"I'm single and I have school and my job to worry about." I knew he always liked it when I was serious about my grades.

I was glad when I left for work so that I didn't have to answer anymore questions or deal with Kevin staring at me as if I had grown two heads. I told Terry anyway and she asked if it was because of Jonathan.

"No, actually, I haven't liked Mark much for a while now. He started trying to run my life for me, getting too possessive. And I got tired of hanging around with the popular crowd, you know, the fish bowl thing." I shrugged, "Really, I think it was just time to live for myself and not worry about what everyone else wants."

Terry nodded. I knew she understood because she didn't ask anymore questions. Later, I made the remark that I thought we had more customers than usual for a Monday night. Terry joked and said it was because of the news of the break-up and everyone was coming by to see if I'd survived it. After she said that, I went around with a smile and a lot of enthusiasm just to make sure they knew I was alive and not affected by the break-up at all.

I was hanging some clothes up on a rack when I felt someone's lips on my neck. I whirled around and saw Jonathan standing behind me with his trademark smirk. "Hi, beautiful. I heard that you broke up with your boyfriend, Mark. Want to go out and celebrate?"

"You know? How?" I asked.

"Good news travels fast," he shrugged.

"But how did you even know that I had a boyfriend?"

"I've seen you together at Spotlights."

"Oh."

"So," he leaned in closer, "you want to celebrate?"

"I've got school tomorrow."

He nodded as he brushed my hair behind my ears. Looking into my eyes, he lowered his voice, "We won't celebrate all night."

"O...okay, but I've got to be home by eleven." I said, before biting my lower lip.

He gave me a full smile, "Great! I'll meet you after work at your car." He leaned in for a swift kiss and left. I couldn't stop the giggle that escaped. Who would've thought I'd celebrate breaking up with my boyfriend with a guy like Jonathan.

After work, Jonathan was waiting for me, leaning against my car. He smiled as I walked closer, then pulled me into his arms. Holding my face in his hands, he gave me a long, deep kiss that left me a little breathless. Once he'd let go of me, I knew I was blushing as I gave him the car keys, knowing he would want to drive.

He took them with a chuckle and helped me into the passenger seat before walking around to the driver's side. He drove us to his apartment where we made ourselves comfortable on the couch. While he went to get the sparkling grape juice from the fridge, he told me to turn on the stereo. When he'd poured the juice for us, we toasted to my break-up and continued to celebrate.

We spent the night giggling, dancing, and sharing kisses like two kids whose parents had left them home alone. Before long, eleven o'clock got closer and we both knew it was time for me to leave. As I kissed him goodnight before he helped me into my car, I realized I'd been there for about an hour, but it had only seemed like I'd been there for just a few seconds. I sighed as I drove away, watching him, watching me in the rearview mirror.

chapter 3

The next day I woke up to the alarm that I had set before I went to bed.  I turned it off, then went back to sleep.  A few more minutes of rest and I would be fine.

     Kevin came in, grabbed my foot and pulled hard.  I sat up with a start and saw him standing at the foot of the bed smiling.  “Get up lazy bones!  Dad’s pissed.  Where were you last night?”

     “If dad catches you talking like that you’ll be dead,” I growled while rubbing my foot, “and it’s none of your business where I was!”  I snatched a pillow from my bed and threw it at him, but he ducked and scampered out the door.

     I got out of bed and headed for the bathroom to take my morning shower.  After the shower, I glanced at the clock and realized that it was already eleven.  Jonathan was coming for me at noon and I still had to get ready!

     I groaned and rubbed my head because it felt so groggy.  I had thought taking the shower would clear it, but it only helped it a little.  I found a pair of jeans and my favorite red cotton knit sweater and put them on.  After putting my hair in a loose ponytail, I went downstairs to get a bite to eat and take some aspirins.

     In the kitchen, I made a cheese sandwich and got two aspirins from a nearby cabinet.  Just when I sat down at the kitchen table with my sandwich, my father walked in with his hands on his hips.

    “Where were you last night, young lady?”

     I sighed, I knew what was coming, “I was out dad.”

     “Out where?  Sarah called and said that you weren’t at the club.  So, where were you?”

     “I was at another club.  I didn’t feel like going to the same club again.”

     “Who did you go with since you weren’t with Sarah?”

     “A friend.”  I mumbled as I chewed on my sandwich.

     “Who Alexandria!?!” he snapped.

     “A friend from work.  Her name is Terry.”

     “Right, Terry.” He nodded slowly, “Fine, but I don’t want you staying out until all hours of the morning!  You know that your curfew is one!  Do this again and you will be grounded. Understand?”

     “Yeah, I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.”  I gave him a little smile to reassure him that I was listening.

     He seemed to accept that, but looked me over and noticed I was dressed to go out, “So, are you going somewhere today?”

    I nodded.

    “Where?”

     “To have fun in the city.”  I didn’t say anything else hoping he wouldn’t ask anymore questions.

     Thankfully he just nodded and walked out of the kitchen reminding me once more not to stay out too late because I had school the next day.  I breathed a sigh of relief, glad that he didn’t ask me anything else.

     I looked at the wall clock and noticed that it was now ten ‘til noon.  I went back upstairs to get my jacket and decided to wait for Jonathan on the front porch so that none of my family would see him.  Once outside, I noticed that it wasn’t really cold for February, but I knew my jacket would probably come in handy because it was slightly windy.

    I sat down on the porch and watched the clouds drifting past until I heard the sound of a car horn. I looked up and saw Jonathan pulling up to the curb in a black Ferrari Testorosa convertible. I stood up and gaped. I couldn’t believe that he would own such a car. I walked down the sidewalk to the car as he leaned over to open the door for me.

     I got in and immediately blurted out, “Are you rich?”

     He chuckled as we pulled away from the curb, “Not really, but it’s too cold to ride a motorcycle.”

     “You have a motorcycle too?!” I gasped.

     “Yeah, actually the Ducati is my favorite mode of transportation, but I think it’s still a little too chilly to take you out on it.”  He grinned and looked at me, “So, ready for an adventure?”

     I nodded, “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

     He took me to the far side of the city where I’ve never been before.  Eventually he pulled into a parking lot that was packed with cars.  I looked around and spotted huge tents swarming with people.

     “What is this?” I asked, my curiosity rising.

     “This," he said with a sweep of his arm, "is a flea market."

     “A flea market!” I gasped.  “Why are we here?  Isn’t this a place for poor people to shop?”

     Jonathan gave me a look and suddenly burst out laughing.  I made a face letting him know that I was not amused.  He took a few breaths and replied, “No Alex, it’s not just for poor people.  Anyone can come here.  C’mon,” he held out his hand, “I know you’ll find something you like.  There are plenty of things here that you’ll find interesting.”

    I doubted that, but I followed him anyway.  As we neared the entrance, he put his arm around my shoulders.  I glanced up at him and noticed the smile on his face.  He looked happy to be there.  It made me suddenly realize that I didn’t really know him at all.  In fact, all I really knew was that his name was Jonathan, he owned a Ferrari and a motorcycle, liked going to clubs to dance, and he liked flea markets.  That wasn’t much at all.

     Questions started popping up in my head.  Was he rich? He had to have money to afford a Ferrari!  How old was he?  Did he go to school?  What did he do for a living?  Where was he from?  All these questions and more started rolling around in my head as we walked into the market.

    I didn’t have a chance to ask anything because we had passed the entrance and I was suddenly bombarded with all the sights and sounds of a busy flea market.  There were all kinds of people there, young and old alike.  We started walking along the rows of tables and I saw all the various items being sold there.  There were electronic appliances and equipment, clothes, jewelry, mirrors, paintings, and even large kitchen appliances like refrigerators.

     Jonathan was right.  I did see plenty of things that I liked.  I found some jewelry that was unique and really beautiful.  There were silver bracelets with turquoise or other tiny stones set into the metal in intricate, yet simple designs.  I had never been big on jewelry, but when I saw the silver bracelets and even the rings, I knew I would probably buy something before we left the market.

     When I glanced at Jonathan I saw that he was already looking at several pieces that seemed interesting to him.  When he saw me looking at him, he smiled and said, “Why don’t we look around at everything first, then take a break and decide what we want to go back and purchase.”

     I nodded as we walked to the next tent that contained summer clothes like sundresses and shorts.

     We continued to enjoy ourselves as we walked from tent to tent inspecting all the goods and goofing around some.  Eventually he steered me towards a food court area and we got a couple of hot dogs and cokes before sitting down at one of the nearby benches.

     In between bites of his hot dog, Jonathan asked, “Did you find anything interesting enough to consider buying?”

     I nodded as I swallowed then answered, “Yeah, I saw some silver bracelets and rings that looked interesting.  There were some clothes that looked nice too, but there is this leather jacket that I think I’ll buy.”  I took a swig of my coke before continuing on, “There were some really beautiful paintings, but I can’t think of where I would hang them.”

     He grinned at me as he finished off his hot dog.  I looked around at the place and decided to tell Sarah all about it as soon as I could.  I just knew she would love it and try to buy everything in sight.

     Jonathan stuffed his paper plate into his cup and aimed it for the trash can nearby.  As the cup landed in the can, I looked at him and grinned, “Two points!”

     He laughed and nodded as he said, “Okay, let’s go and buy the things we want now.  Oh, and whatever you want, just let me know and I’ll get it for you.”

     I gaped at him, “What?!  No, that’s okay; I’ve got some money to spend.”

     He chuckled, “It’s my treat, and don’t worry, I don’t intend to run out of money.”

     We got up and returned to walking through the tents to buy the things we wanted.  As we walked we argued about who was going to buy what, but eventually I gave in and let him buy me the things I had wanted.  I was still careful at choosing things because I didn’t want him to spend too much.

     Finally we left loaded down with plenty of bags full of things we had both chosen to buy.  We put the bags into the trunk of the car and climbed into our seats.

     As he started the car, Jonathan turned to me and asked, “You want to go to another one?  It’s actually my favorite one and it’s much bigger than this one.”

     My eyes widened, “There’s another one?  But we already have so much stuff!  Besides, I don’t want you to spend that much money on me.”

     “Don’t worry; I still have plenty of money left.”  He flashed one of his trademark smirks, and then looked at me with a serious look, “I’ll just drop this stuff at my house, then we’ll head to the other market okay?”

     I nodded in agreement and he drove out of the lot.

       He lived in an apartment on the rich side of the city which was actually about a mile from my neighborhood.  I helped him carry all the bags into his apartment on the second floor.  He held open the front door for me and told me to dump the bags anywhere I wanted to.

     I put the bags on the floor near a coffee table and surveyed the room.  I noticed how neat it was, which I found hard to believe since he was a guy who lived alone.  I had expected to see clothes thrown everywhere and empty food containers littering the place just like in my brother’s room.  Instead, there was a small entertainment system against one wall and a couch against another wall.  A small table was near the front door, there was the coffee table in front of the couch, and an end table was on either side of the couch.  Other than that, the room was empty.

     Jonathan set the bags he was carrying down next to the others and asked, “Do you want to see the rest of it?”

      I nodded, curious to find out more about him and his life.  He led me through a door that was directly opposite the front door.  We were now standing in the middle of the kitchen which had an island surrounded by cabinets to the left of us.  To the right of us were the stove, sink, a dishwasher, microwave, fridge, and more cabinets.

     I noticed several pots and pans in the sink, “You like to cook?”

     He smirked, “Yep, I’m a budding chef.”

     I chuckled and continued to look around the place.  Other than the dishes in the sink, the kitchen was still as neat as the living room had been.  I noticed another door on the opposite wall which led to the balcony.

     Jonathan pointed to the table out on the balcony and said, “That’s the dining room,” he grinned at me, “at least that’s what everyone says because there’s no room in the kitchen for a table and I don’t have one in the living area.”

     He led me out onto the balcony which turned out to be larger than I thought.  We walked to the left until we came to a sliding glass door.  He opened this door and we entered his bedroom.

     The bedroom was obviously the largest room in the apartment.  Even with a king sized bed, a nightstand, a chest of drawers, and a huge audio system the room still looked quite empty.  Against the wall that separated the bedroom from the kitchen was a pair of folding doors that concealed a closet.  On the opposite wall from the glass sliding doors was the door to the bathroom.  The wall behind the bed was covered in mirrors, like a dance studio.  Looking around his bedroom I realized that he had to be the neatest person I knew.  Everything was so clean that I wondered if he had a maid.

     I turned to Jonathan and asked, “Are you sure you’re not rich?  This place is immaculate.”

     He shook his head, “No, I’m not rich.  This apartment was actually not that expensive.  Most of the furniture I found at second hand stores or flea markets and I just tinkered on them a bit.  I think the entertainment system in the living room cost me the most money.  This place was quite a disaster area when I moved in.  Maintenance had to come in to repair the cracks and holes in the walls, then the walls had to be painted and I requested new carpets and fixed the rest of the place up myself.”

     He took my hand and led me back into the living room, “C’mon, let’s finish unloading the bags.”

     We finished unloading and then left for the other flea market. It was bigger just like Jonathan had said, so we spent a longer amount of time looking around. I saw more beautiful paintings and complained to Jonathan more than once about how I wished I could buy some to hang at home, but there just wasn’t any room. I also knew my parents wouldn’t be thrilled about those paintings ruining their magazine perfect house. So, Jonathan told me to make a deal with him, I’d pick some that I liked and he’d hang them on his empty walls. I finally agreed and chose some that he seemed to like also.

     When we finally left, it was nearly seven o’clock in the evening.  We’d spent all afternoon at the flea markets and I agreed that it was indeed an adventure.  I also knew that I would go there again and even bring Sarah along for the adventure.

     We went back to his apartment, dropped off the things we had brought, and decided to go out for pizza.  We sat in a booth at the back of the restaurant and debated over what kind of pizza we wanted.  We finally agreed on half pepperoni and half Hawaiian.

    After ordering, I asked if he wanted to choose some music in the jukebox, so we went to pick out some songs.  I soon discovered we had the same taste in music.  We both preferred rock, but we liked some rap and techno thrown in for good measure.  Over the pizza, we talked about various music groups and artists that we liked or disliked.

     “You know, I don’t understand why people think Justin is so good, while others think Eminem and Usher are terrible.  I think Justin is like them.  He performs the same kind of music, wears an earring, and sometimes wears leather.  What’s the difference?”

     I shrugged, he had a point.  “Maybe he seems safer or something.”

     Jonathan made a face, “With his newest single?  I would have thought parents would be locking their daughters up!”

     I laughed.  It was hard to picture parents doing that since I personally knew some parents who liked his music too, but I understood what he meant because I didn’t like Justin either.

     As we left the restaurant later, Jonathan asked if I wanted to go dancing again.  I said yes, so we stopped by his apartment, separated my things from his, and carried them to the trunk of his car.

     We returned to ‘Harvey’s’ and this time I relaxed right away.  Jonathan got me a couple of drinks, but soon the night came to an end as eleven began to approach.  I dragged myself off the dance floor and told Jonathan that I had to get home by eleven since I had school the next day.

     He drove me home and helped me unpack the bags from the trunk.  I thanked him for taking me to the flea markets and promised to show him around my house someday.  He nodded, leaned in for a kiss good-bye, then returned to his car.

     As I opened the door, he started the car and waved to me before pulling away from the curb.  I walked inside with my bags, thankful that everyone was already asleep.  I didn’t want to have to explain Jonathan or the bags I was carrying.  In my room, I put all the things Jonathan had brought for me away before going to take a shower.  After the shower, I got into bed, but I wasn’t really sleepy, so I put on my earphones and listened to some music.

chapter 2

A/N: There is a bit of underage drinking in this part which I do not condone, but I thought you all should be aware of it.



     The next day at work, I was busy.  Saturdays were usually the most hectic in the store.  Somehow I always managed to squeeze in a lunch break anyway.  I usually ate lunch in the food court of the mall.  On this day, I chose pizza.  I got my two slices and a coke and sat in the very back of the place.  I was watching the people pass by the front windows when I heard a voice above me.  I looked up and nearly screamed.  Instead, I let out a little gasp.

     He stood looking down at me, his mouth curved up in that same half-smile from the night before.  There was also a sparkle in his eyes as he repeated, “Is this seat taken?” and pointed to the chair across from me.

     I shook my head to tell him it was okay to take it.

     He sat down with his plate and drink.  “My name’s Jonathan.”

     “Alexandria,” I replied.

     “Alexandria what?”

     “Alexandria McCain.”

     “That’s a pretty name, but somehow I think Alex fits you better.”

     I had managed to finish my last piece of pizza and stood up to leave.  “Nice meeting you Jonathan, but I have to get back to work.”

     I forced myself not to break into a run.  I felt completely embarrassed because he had spoken to me and I had almost completely fallen apart in front of him.  Popular girls like me weren’t supposed to associate with street guys like him.

     I went back to work letting it take my mind off of him.  I was standing behind the counter writing down the things we had sold so far when a hand covered the paper.  I knew who it was without looking up, but I did anyway.  He was smiling this time, a full smile.

     “How about a date tonight, beautiful?”

     I started to say something, but Terry, my friend and fellow coworker, came up behind me and said, “She gets off at ten.”  Then she took off to help a customer.

     Jonathan chuckled, “I like her, she’s cool, but I like you even better.  So how about it?  Tonight?”

     When I started to say that I couldn’t, he interrupted, “Great, I’ll pick you up at the North entrance.”

     I stood there dumbfounded as he disappeared among the mall’s crowd.  He hadn’t even given me a chance to say anything and now I was supposed to be going out with him.

     When I managed to get Terry alone, I questioned her, “Why did you do that?  Why did you tell him what time I got off?”

     Terry gave me a knowing smile, “I could tell you liked him.  Actions speak louder than words.”

     “But I can’t go out with him!  Mark’ll kill me!  I’m not supposed to associate with his kind!”  I whined.

     Terry just laughed, “Yes you can go out with him.  Mark won’t find out unless you tell him. Who cares about him anyway?  Give this guy a chance.  Besides, I could tell from looking at him that he doesn’t seem bad, I’m sure you’ll like him.  Didn’t you say you wanted something different?  He’s the perfect opportunity.”

     The more I tried to say how wrong this was, the more Terry convinced me that it was okay.  So, by ten, I had resigned myself to going out with Jonathan. I walked to my car in the North entrance parking lot and saw him sitting on the hood of my car, waiting for me as if he owned the car.  I walked up to him and spoke sarcastically, “That’s my car.”

     He nodded, “I know, that’s why I didn’t bring mine.”  He took the keys from my hand and headed for the driver’s side, “I’m driving,” he grinned.

     I figured that it was useless to argue with him, so I got in the passenger side.  After removing the top, he drove my Mustang into the heart of the city, passing up The Sidewalk.  I breathed a sigh of relief when he passed it up.  I was afraid he’d stop there and all of my friends would see us and I would get in trouble with Mark.

     He looked at me for a moment, with that now familiar half-smile, then looked out at the road.  “Don’t worry Alex, we’re not going where any of your friends hang out.”

     “Where are we going then?”  He was driving really fast and I could feel myself slowly sliding down into the seat.

    Jonathan laughed, “What’s the matter Alex, don’t you like having fun?”

    “Yes, but I don’t call this fun.”

     He suddenly pulled into a parking lot.  I saw a place with a sign that said, ‘Harvey’s’ and lots of people in front of it.  Most of them were dressed like Jonathan or worse.  I grimaced and turned to Jonathan with a complaint on my lips.

     Before I could say anything, he said, “Don’t worry, they’re not as bad as they look.  They won’t hurt you.  I promise.”

      I got out of the car and walked close by his side.  I was ready to run as soon as anyone approached me.  At the door, Jonathan placed an arm around my shoulders and smiled down at me, “Relax beautiful, I’m your protection tonight.”

      I tried smiling back, but somehow I didn’t find it very reassuring that he would be my protection.  The guy at the door took one look at Jonathan and let us in with a nod.

     Inside, the place was packed.  No one seemed to just be sitting around. Of course it was kind of hard to see with all the smoke and what little lighting there was. I thought the place had a lot of shadowed nooks and crannies until I noticed those shadows were moving. To my astonishment, those shadows were actually people doing God knows what in all that darkness! I blushed as my imagination tried to stay away from that topic. As I looked elsewhere, I realized everyone else seemed to be on the dance floor dancing ‘til they probably dropped.

     I was standing with my mouth hanging open, staring at the sea of bodies around me.  I knew it would be very possible to get lost in that sea.

     Jonathan was standing besides me already swaying to the music.  “So, do you want something to drink?” He spoke loudly into my ear.

“A coke,” I yelled back.  He nodded and headed to the bar.  I stood there and watched all the dancers throw their shame to the wind.  Someone tapped my shoulder and I whirled around.

     It wasn’t Jonathan, but someone else.  He was a little taller than Jonathan, but when he smiled, I felt like I could trust him.  “Hi, name’s Darryl, you’re a friend of Jonathan’s?”

     I nodded, “Are you a friend of his too?”

     “Yeah, and besides you, probably the only one he has,” he laughed, “C’mon, let’s go and find a table and wait for him okay?”

     Somehow I felt safe with Darryl.  He had a warm smile and his voice was not threatening or harsh.  We found an empty table and sat down.  Soon I was feeling comfortable listening to Darryl’s cheerful voice.

     He was pointing out some of the people on the dance floor and entertaining me with stories about them when Jonathan returned with our drinks.  He handed me my drink and sat down next to me.  I sniffed my drink then made a face.

     I looked at him and said, “I don’t drink.”

     He raised an eyebrow, “You mean to tell me that you’ve never had a drink after all the parties that you’ve gone to?”

     “No, I don’t like beer.” I retorted.  I knew he was teasing me with that remark, but it still stung.

     “This isn’t beer Alex, try it.  It tastes like vanilla coke.”

     I slowly raised the glass and swallowed some.  I discovered that it wasn’t bad tasting at all.  It definitely reminded me of vanilla coke, but I could taste the alcohol underneath that.  Still, the taste was rather soothing.

     “Do you like it?”  Jonathan was asking me for my approval.

     “Yes, I like it.  It’s exactly what you said it would be.”

     He smiled, “Yeah, it’s one of my favorite mixed drinks when I don’t want a beer.”

     I smiled.  Suddenly he seemed more bearable and I began to feel more at ease in his presence.  I was glad Terry had convinced me to go out with him.

     Jonathan got up and pulled me to my feet.  “C’mon, let’s dance.”  I let him lead me out to the dance floor where we started dancing. After a few moments he leaned in and spoke in my ear, “Alex, you're dancing like a robot. Let yourself relax. Feel the music flow through you.”

     I tried to do as he said, but I felt too self-conscious.  I was used to dancing for show because I was a role model for every girl at my high school.

     “Look around you Alex, no one cares how they look and no one cares how you look.  Let the music guide you.  Relax.  Enjoy yourself.”  He began to smile when he realized that I was finally relaxing and dancing with the music.  It felt good to be free to be myself.  So, this must be it, I thought, to be wild and free with not a care in the world.

     Throughout the night Jonathan kept me supplied with various drinks.  I kept asking for another one anyway.  I was really letting loose.  I kept pulling Jonathan out onto the dance floor for almost every single song.  I knew Jonathan was getting a kick out of watching me laughing and moving all over the dance floor.  I began flirting with every guy that seemed to pay attention to me.  I was having a blast.  I wasn’t quite drunk, but I felt good.  I felt on top of the world.  I never wanted to leave.

     Darryl was smiling when we got back to the table, “Well, looks like she’s getting too hot to handle, don’t you think Jonathan?”

     Jonathan shook his head with a grin, “No way, the fun’s only beginning.”

     “You can say that again!” I exclaimed, while spinning an empty bottle on the table.  This was only the beginning and I just knew that it would get even more exciting.  A familiar sultry dance song began playing and I grabbed Jonathan’s arm, “Ohhh, c’mon, let’s dance!”

     “Again?  Can you give me a break for a sec, my legs are gonna break any minute now!”

     “What’s the matter Jonny, did the alcohol take all your energy away?”

     He raised an eyebrow, then got up and followed me to the floor.  As the song continued, I started to hum along to the words and it helped me to get into the rhythm quickly.  I began flirting with Jonathan, letting my body move to the sultry beat.  He smiled his trademark smirk and tried to match my moves.  I threw my arms around his shoulders, sliding my body closer to his.  He placed his hands on my hips.  I began to match my actions to the words of the song and traced the line of his jaw with my finger as I mouthed to the lyrics.

     We were locked in each others arms and dancing slowly around the floor until I felt the wall against my back.  I looked up into his eyes and noticed how much softer they seemed to look now.  The usual mischievous look was gone.  He slowly lowered his face to mine as I stared into his eyes.  Suddenly I felt his lips on mine, warm and inviting as the kiss deepened.  His hands trailed up my back and pulled me closer to him.  I was lost in the kiss, forgetting for that moment that I shouldn’t be doing that.  I felt his hands roaming down my back and hips, then back up again.  His tongue slipped past my lips and invaded my mouth, making a warm feeling start in the pit of my stomach and spreading throughout my body.  I was feeling lightheaded and slightly dizzy, like I was floating on air.

     When I felt his hands moving up my ribs and chest, I was suddenly jerked back to earth.  I placed my hands on his chest and pushed softly, “No Jonathan, don’t.” I pushed him harder, “I’m not that kind of girl and you know it.”

     “Oh really?”  His face had an angry look as he remarked, “You were certainly enjoying it even if you aren’t that kind of girl.”

     I swallowed hard, “I’m sorry if I made you angry,” I paused, “I didn’t mean to get carried away.”

     He peered at me for a moment, then slowly smiled, “You mean to tell me that you’ve never gone that far?”

     I stared at him with wide eyes, “That’s none of your business!” I snapped. “C’mon Alex, no need to be embarrassed about it.”

     “I’m not embarrassed!”

     “You never went that far,” he stated with certainty.

     “How do you know?” I questioned.

     “Because of the way you are reacting.”

     I lowered my head, suddenly finding the floor very interesting.

     “Look Alex, when you’re with me, don’t be afraid to be truthful.  I promise not to laugh or make fun of you.  Okay?”

     I slowly nodded.

     “So, shall we go home or would you rather stay here a little longer?”  He gave me a reassuring smile which prompted me to say that I wanted to stay a little longer.  We ended up staying until the club closed then Jonathan drove me home.

     “Shouldn’t I drop you off?  You don’t have a car remember?”

     “No, I’ll walk.  I like walking at night, it helps me clear my mind and relax.”  He pulled up into the driveway and waited for me to get out before putting the top back up.  We walked up to the front door and he handed me the car keys.  “Are you working tomorrow?”

     “No, I don’t work on Sundays.”

     “How about spending the day with me then?  I’ll show you a couple of places that I like to go for an adventure.”

     “Okay,” I gave him a smile, “sounds like fun.”

     “I’ll pick you up at noon?” he asked.  When I nodded he leaned down to give me a soft, brief kiss on my lips before slowly turning away and walking down the sidewalk.

     I let myself into the house and walked upstairs to my room.  I looked at the clock on my desk and realized that it was almost three in the morning.  I changed into a nightshirt and climbed into bed.  I could now feel how tired I was, all that dancing and drinking was now catching up with me, but I knew I would do it all over again if given the chance.

Chapter 1

It wasn’t like I was in a dream or anything.  It seemed perfectly natural.  I got in the car after work and just kept driving.  Where I was headed wasn’t important.  I just wanted to get away from the city and my troublesome family life.  So many things were swirling inside my head.  It wasn’t that I was mad, I was just bored, well depressed is more like it.  I don’t know how to explain it.  It’s that feeling you get when you don’t know which thing to do because you like them both so much.

     I finally drove up onto a bluff overlooking the city.  It was my favorite place to go if I wanted to be alone to think. I got out of the car and went to the edge and sat down.  Someone had smoothed out the rough stones and built a wooden platform making it look like a balcony of some sort.  Whoever did it must be long gone because no one else ever comes up here.  At least I never saw anyone else in all the times I’ve been up here.

     I sat there looking out over the city.  It was a beautiful night.  The sky was clear.  I took a deep breath, breathing in the cool night air.  Sitting there, feeling the breeze against my skin and in my hair, made me feel all right.

     I had left the city because I wanted to do something that was out of the ordinary.  Something that was more exciting in my life.  I mean, I come from a perfect little family.

     My father was the owner of the most popular restaurant in town, Horizons.  It wasn’t a really expensive place, but it wasn’t a teenage hangout either.  People ate there during lunch hours, at least some of the higher paid job workers did.  It was the best place to dine out or have get-togethers or business parties.  It sounds stuffy, but the food, service, and atmosphere are actually wonderful.

    My mother had been working with the telephone company, but she quit to raise a family.  Dad was making more that enough money anyway.  He made enough money to buy a house in the suburbs.  Actually, to be more specific, it is Country Club suburbia.  He had enough money to let mom have anything she wanted and he had enough money to buy a black Mercedes for him, a white BMW for mom, and a blue Suburban for the family!

     I have two brothers, one older and one younger, and I have one sister, who’s the youngest of us four.  Daniel, the oldest is twenty-two and a future lawyer.  The light brown BMW he drives was, in fact, given to him by my father as a graduation present.  He lives in an apartment not far from our neighborhood with his wife, Alishia.

     Alishia is beautiful.  How my brother got her, I will never know.  She could have been a successful model, but she got married and quit because Danny didn’t like her to model and he didn’t trust anyone in that business.  Alishia is the one I go to if I really need advice.  She seems to understand me a lot.  I love talking to her because she lets me be myself.

     Kevin is sixteen and a pest.  He’s spoiled rotten too.  He hangs around with the popular ‘in’ crowd at school and drives around in his red Viper that dad got for him, of course.  He dresses in the latest stylish fashions and can always be found in either of these five places; the mall, the bowling alley, the movie theater, in his room, or at a friends house watching MTV or any popular movie.  He’s a pest because he never stops bugging me.  He can’t understand why I’m different, but then no one can.

     My sister, Samantha, is the quiet one.  I mean really quiet.  She hardly ever talks, but when she does, no one seems to get what she’s saying.  She’s eleven and spends her time reading.  She reads everything from the Wall Street Journal to comic books.  If you gave her an encyclopedia, she’s read it too!  That’s why no one gets her, for an eleven year old, she’s very smart.  She seems older than my father at times.  She dresses in ‘I-don’t-care’ clothes.  You know, the shaggy hair, scruffy jeans, and worn shirts kind.  Almost like a slacker, but not quite.  She’s absolutely cool though, so don’t let the appearance fool you.  I guess you could say I’m closest to her.  We’re both outcasts in a way, but she makes it much more obvious than I do.

     As for me, my name’s Alexandria.  Yep, the perfect name for the perfect girl, but that’s not the way I really feel.  I’m eighteen and a senior in high school.  I hang around with the most popular kids because I’m one of them.  I never asked for it, but I was voted the prettiest and most popular girl all through high school.  I used to spend a lot of time in front of a mirror trying to figure out what makes me so pretty.  I never thought I was pretty.  Sarah Johnson, my best friend, is very pretty.  In fact, she’s beautiful like Alishia is.  No one would believe me when I used to say that, so I don’t voice my opinion anymore.

     I even have a boyfriend, Mark, he’s on the football team and he’s class president.  He’s the handsomest and most popular guy in our senior class, so it’s only natural that we’re a couple.  I could have been a cheerleader like all the other popular girls, including Sarah, but I didn’t find it fun.  I gave up on after school activities and club organizations after my sophomore year.  All I did now was work after school and weekends at the Body Shop, an alternative styled clothes store for people who are different, like me.  That’s my kind of store.  Most of the outfits I own now are from there.  Oh, yes, and I have a car too; a black Mustang convertible because it’s the only thing dad and I could agree on.  I wanted a simple car, like a Toyota or a Honda, but dad wanted me to get a car like Danny’s or Kevin’s.  I finally got him to settle for the Mustang.

     Anyway, I was sitting there looking up at the sky wishing for something exciting to happen.  I wanted to live in a different way.  I wanted to do things that were new, fun, and a little wild.  I wanted to forget about all the problems I had, to be free of all the cares of the world.

     I got up and walked back to the car.  I looked at my watch, it was eleven-fifteen.  I had been here an hour and I had to meet Sarah at The Sidewalk by eleven-thirty.

     The Sidewalk is exactly what its name implies.  It is one big sidewalk with stores and clubs on either side.  You could see all kinds of people there from all walks of life.  There were the preps, the bikers, nerds, punks, alt rockers, and almost anyone else you can think of.  I knew Kevin would be with the preps.  If I was going out, so was he; that was the rule in our house.  He hung out at a different club that I did.  His was Planet Pop and I went to Spotlights.  Anyone who was in the spotlight, meaning popular, hung out there.

     I got there just a few minutes late, but Sarah was waiting for me.  We went inside to join our crowd where Mark was saving a seat for me.  I sat down next to him and he gave me a kiss.  Smiling, he said, “So, how was work today?  Make any sales?”

I nodded, “Yes, we sold stuff like we always do.”

Mark hated my job.  I think he hated everything I did because it wasn’t the ‘in’ thing to do.  He tried to get me to work at The Gap or Abercrombie and Fitch, but I had refused.

     Things were pretty normal that night as usual, so I got bored quickly.  It was always the same thing, but I stayed until almost one anyway then said my good-byes.  I did have to get up for work anyway.  After I said good-bye to Mark, Sarah and I headed for my car.  She was spending the night with me.

     That’s when I saw him.  He had just walked out of the club across the sidewalk and stood for a moment, lighting a cigarette and looking at the passing mass of people.  He had shoulder length black hair and hazel eyes that could lure a girl into a swoon.  His lips were sultry, his bottom lip a little fuller than the top one.  He had a strong jaw line and a long, straight nose that gave his face a chiseled look.

     He was wearing comfortable worn out jeans, torn at the knees.  He had a tight, black shirt with a black leather jacket over that.  His left ear was pierced and a decorated silver hoop dangled there.

    Our eyes met for a moment and I saw a half-smile form on his lips.  I looked away and started walking to the car.  His smile had disarmed me and made me nervous.  Sarah was asking me what was wrong and I said I just wanted to go home.

     Sarah didn’t bother me at all when we got home.  We got ready for bed because both of us had to work in the morning.  She did indeed work at The Gap.  When the lights were finally out, I tried sleeping, but I kept thinking of the guy I saw that night.  There had been something about him.  Something in his eyes, something different, but I couldn’t figure it out.

Disclaimer and notes

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.  The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise.  No copyright infringement is intended.

Note: This is the first original story I wrote back in Middle School/Junior High during the years of 1981 to 1984, but never finished. Then in 2006 I plugged in the Roswell TV show characters and that inspired me to finish it, plus make it into a more "mature" lemony-filled fic. Now here it is, in its original form the way I'd originally meant it to be.....immature writing and all ;-D