Playing With Fire (3 page)

Carter looked at Chris, smiled, then looked at me and said, “See you tonight, Maddy”

Shit, just got worse. I could literally feel the anger radiating off Chris. Carter had no idea what he was doing. He thought it was all a game, but he had no idea.

I was used to the drill now. Chris took me to my room and locked the door. I turned so my back was to him and braced myself for what I knew was coming. He came up behind me and started kissing my neck. What was he doing? I heard him undoing his belt. Shit, I hope he didn’t think I was ready to have sex right now! I don’t know if I ever will be. That’s when I felt his belt slap against my side.

“Why the fuck are you going to his house tonight? Do you still want to be one of his whores? I can make you a whore just as easily.”

“We have a project for English, Chris. I swear I didn’t pick him. We were the last two left after everyone had paired off.” I sat waiting for him to hit me with it again, but nothing came. I turned around to see what was going on. He was standing there in front of me with his pants and boxers down and just looking at me.

“If you are going to act like a little whore for anyone it will be for me! Do you understand me!” I nodded my head. What did he want from me?

“I’m the one that puts up with you. Do you really think someone like him is going to want to deal with all your shit? We aren’t going to have sex right now so stop looking at me like that, but don’t think I’m going to wait much longer. However, you are going to suck my dick until I come in that virgin mouth of yours. Then when you are with him tonight, you will remember who you belong to. Got it?”

I nodded my head; this can’t be happening. Chris forced me onto the floor, and then told me to open my mouth. The minute he put it in my mouth, I started to cry. He warned me to stop or he would make it so I couldn't show my face tonight. After what seemed like an eternity, Chris finished in my mouth. I ran to the bathroom down the hall, and threw up until I had nothing left in me.

When I went back, my roommate Nicole was there. She took one look at me and I swear, somehow, she knew. Chris didn’t like me hanging out with her because he said she was too nosy for her own good. I changed and got ready to go to Carter’s house, although I didn’t know how I was going to face him now.

Carter

Knock
knock

Maddy must be here. I started walking to the door and my heart started beating faster. When I opened the door, the look on her face stopped me in my tracks. What the heck had happened to her? She looked presentable on the outside, but I could see the pain in her eyes. I had to ask her tonight what was going on.

“Hey, come in.” She walked into my house, and it felt so good to have her here. “I made dinner because I figured you would be hungry. I hope ravioli are okay. They are the one thing I’m half-decent at making.”

She smiled at me. “That was really nice of you, Carter, thank you.”

I made us plates and we sat down at the table. I tried to make small talk, but all I was getting were one-word answers.

She looked up at me. “So, what do you think we should do the project on?” That was so not what I wanted to talk about right now, but at least she is talking to me. “I was thinking we could do a study on tuition rates and whether students feel that what they are paying was fair. We could ask them about all of the different fees; maybe even see if they are aware of all of them. I also think we should try to find out if they feel they are getting what they pay for.”

“I really like that idea. If you want, I could type up a sample survey and email it to you. You can change anything you need to; then, we will pick a day next week and survey random students.”

“Okay, that sounds good.” She took her plate to the kitchen, washed it off and stuck it in the dishwasher. I saw her going for her coat. She can’t leave yet; she just got here.

“Maddy, please don’t go yet.”

“Why, Carter? We both know that I shouldn’t be here. You know you didn’t need to taunt Chris like that earlier, either.”

Just hearing her say that asshole’s name pissed me off. I knew Chris because he used to come up here to party with some of his friends last year. He had a habit of running his mouth. In fact, he and Jason almost got into a fight. I just don’t get what she sees in him. I’ve seen him with other girls when he would visit campus and he was an asshole to them, too. I wasn’t a saint and admitted to having my share of girls, but I always treated them with respect.

“Listen, I know I was an asshole and I’m sorry. It just drives me crazy that you’re with him, Maddy. I can see that you’re not happy. Where is that girl I met the first day that had that great smile? You never smile when you’re with him and that’s a damn shame because you have a beautiful smile.”

I saw the blush creeping up her face and, before I knew what I was doing, I went over to her and kissed her. Her lips were just as soft as I imagined they would be. She gasped and I took advantage, slipping my tongue into her mouth. I could tell she wasn’t experienced, but it didn’t matter. This was the best kiss I had ever had in my life. She pulled away suddenly, grabbed her jacket, and ran for the door. I caught up to her. ”Maddy, please stay.”

“Carter, I can’t do this. I’m with someone else!”

“I know you are and I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” Yes, I do. I’m falling for her. Fuck, where did that come from? How can I be falling for someone that doesn’t even want me? “Listen, I know he was probably mad about you coming here tonight. But you’re already here so as long as I promise not to kiss you again, will you hang out?”

“Carter, you have to promise me.”

“I do. Now come sit down.”

She seemed so uncomfortable now and I was pissed at myself for making it that way. “Your house is really nice. You mentioned earlier you had off work. What do you do?”

“I’m a bouncer at Rebellion.” By the blank expression on her face, I’m guessing she never heard of it. “It’s a club downtown. I’m guessing you’ve never been there?”

“No, I don’t really go out much.”

If she were my girl, I would take her out all the time. It made me sick that she was with that asshole. We watched TV for about an hour. Some comedy was on and she was laughing at it. I missed hearing that sound; I missed just being around her.

She turned to face me. “So, tell me about your family?”

“Well, I told you my mom passed away. After that, it was just me, my dad, my brother, and sister. Holly is seventeen and Anthony is fifteen. What about your family?”

Her face dropped and she seemed to be looking anywhere but at me. “Listen, Carter, I had fun, but I really need to go. I have to study.”

What did I say? Why is she all of a sudden telling me she needs to study? I knew she didn’t, but I didn’t want to push her. I wonder why me asking about her family upset her so much? I wanted to ask her, but I don’t think she was ready to tell me anything tonight. “Okay, let me give you a ride home.”

“No, it’s okay. I will ---“

“Come on, I’m taking you home.” She reluctantly went outside and got in my car. I pulled up to her dorm and got out.

“You don’t need to walk me in. I’ll be fine.”

“It’s okay, I want to.”

She just nodded her head. When we got to her door, she was about to unlock it when her roommate opened it. I recognized her. She was in one of my afternoon classes.

I gave Maddy a hug; it felt so good to have her pressed against me that I didn’t want to let go. She pulled away first, but the look in her eyes let me know I wasn’t the only one with feelings like that.

“Thank you for tonight, Carter. I’ll see you in class.”

Madison

When Carter kissed me tonight, I did something that I have said I would never do again--I gave him a part of my heart. I didn’t want to and it scares me, but it was inevitable. I wish everything happened differently. I wish Chris didn’t want me and that I could be free to be with Carter.

Chris had been getting especially paranoid lately, telling me that I could never leave him. If I did, he would find me and he would make sure me and whoever I left him for would pay. I couldn’t bring Carter into this.

I walked down to the bathroom to get ready for bed. When I came back and climbed into my bed, Nicole was watching me.

“So, Carter James, huh? I’m glad you finally came to your senses and told that abusive asshole to take a hike.”

What did she just say? How did she know? No one knew. This can’t be happening. “What are you talking about? Carter and I are just friends.”

“Listen, girl, I went to high school with Carter. He isn’t “just friends“ with girls. And he sure as hell never walked a girl to her door, unless he was going in. Even then, he would leave once they were done. Don’t fool yourself. That boy likes you and if I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

She doesn’t know what she is talking about. Sure, Carter kissed me, but I’m sure he is with a lot of girls. He probably assumed by me coming over to his house that he was going to get some. Chris is right. He just sees me as one of his whores. I felt a tear roll down my face. Why the hell was I crying when Carter and I weren’t even together?

“As for Chris, you need to get out while you can. I know you think you hide it well and you do, but I live here and I see everything. I don’t know why you are with him when he does that to you and treats you the way he does. You may not think you deserve better, but you do. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”

She laid down and started reading her book again. How would she know I deserved better? I’ve barely ever talked to her. As much as I hate to admit it to myself, I’m looking forward to spending time with Carter on this project.

“Hey, Mads?”

Mads? There goes another nickname and, truthfully, I don’t mind that one either. “Yeah?”

“Just so you know, if you’re not ready to make a decision yet, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Chris, what he doesn’t know won’t piss him off. So do what you want.”

Nicole may have just given me the best, and the worst, advice ever.

. . . .

When I walked into class Friday morning, there was an open seat next to Carter so I went over and sat down next to him. He looked at me like he was confused; shit, did he not want me to sit here? I was contemplating moving seats when he gave me one of those smiles and I knew I made the right choice.

If I was going to do this, I had to do it before I chickened out. I ripped a piece of notebook paper out and scribbled a note down on it.

...
Remember how you said you worked as a spy? I enjoyed our night together the other night and I like being around you. I’d like to do it more often
,
if you can keep it a secret.

I passed it to Carter the way I used to watch all the girls do it in high school.

He opened it cautiously then smiled. He wrote something back and passed it to me. I opened it up and exhaled a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

...
Are you suggesting that we sneak around? Cause if you are
,
I’m in.

When I read his reply, I smiled so hard that my face hurt. When I turned to look at Carter, I could tell that he had been watching me and I felt that blush he always caused creep up.

When class was over, he waited for me and we walked to our next one together. “So, why the sudden change of heart?”

“I don’t know. I like talking to you and I had fun the other night. However, Chris doesn't want me hanging out with you, and I thought that what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Or me, I thought “But only if that’s okay with you, and I understand if it isn’t.”

“Hey, listen, I’ll take what I can get here.”

Carter

The fact that Maddy wanted to spend time with me, even if it was in secret, made me so happy. I loved just being able to be around her and I had a feeling she felt the same. I don’t understand why, if she wasn’t happy, she just doesn’t leave him. I still have a feeling that he is doing something shady. Maybe if we get close enough, she will tell me.

We talked and joked around all morning, but split up at lunchtime because she was meeting Chris. When I walked into my next class, I saw her roommate; I think her name was Nicole. Actually, I think she went to high school with me, but was a year behind me.

I hope she wasn’t telling Maddy about my high school days. I’m not exactly proud of them. She looked up, saw me, and waved me over to the empty seat next to her.

“So listen, I just wanted to ---“

Just then the professor decided to start class which cut off whatever she was trying to tell me.

She passed me a note and her cell phone with it. What was it with these girls and passing notes today? I looked at her phone. It was open to the contacts and there was my name...with the number slot blank. She was trying to get my number? I thought she called me over to talk about Maddy. I started handing her back the stuff and she shook her head and mouthed, “Read the note.”

I need to talk to you about Mads
.
Put
your number in.

I put my number in her phone and gave it back to her. Not even a minute later, my phone started buzzing.

First, conceited much? I don’t have any interest in you. Second, don’t give up on her. She will come around ;-)

What do you mean?

Mads
,
whether she wants to admit it or not, she
is starting to fall for you
.
I can tell.

But what about Chris?

Don’t get me started on that asshole.

What’s going on? I know something isn’t right.

Sorry
,
not my story to tell
.
Now,
let me learn something!