Bad Things To Love (Book One)

Chapter Three

            The rest of the week was quite difficult for me. The video had already been seen by every student on the campus. There were rumors swirling about how I was a lesbian, that I was a virgin, all sort of different things. Rumors are just a ploy used to hurt the victim, but they were just words to me. It did not bother me in the slightest about the things that were said. What bothered me is that my body was posted up for everyone to see on the first week of school. The fact that I was standing there in nothing but my bra and panties was embarrassing enough. I was even called into a meeting with my professors and the Dean of the school. Thankfully, they believed my side of things and I was not punished but I could not say the same for Damien. He was suspended for his actions and the video had been taken down and disposed of. I just had to wait a few weeks and I would be old news. There would be something new that caught the attention of everyone else in the next upcoming weeks. That is how it always is when it comes to schools of all kinds. Whether it be middle school, high school, or college. They all worked the same way.

            Emily had even stayed with me throughout the rest of the week just to make sure I was okay. She threatened to kill Damien, but I thought the suspension was punishment enough. She tried to get me out of the dorm room but the less I was seen out in public the better. I needed to wait until everything died down before I could show my face again outside from going to my classes.

            After the week was over, everything seemed to die down and it was now the weekend. Emily had talked me into going to a bonfire with her that Caleb was hosting. I was not thrilled to be anywhere near her new friends but after countless of hours of listening to her beg me, I finally caved.

            “What are you wearing?” Emily asked while flaunting her new outfit in front of the mirror. She had a body she was not afraid of showing to the world. Her motto was that if you have it, you should flaunt it.

            “Probably just some jeans and a t-shirt. You know me, like to keep it simple.”

            “Wear something of mine. I know you like to wear your baggy clothes or what not, but everyone has already seen what you got. No use in hiding it now.”

            She was right but I felt comfortable in my clothing. I have worn it for so long it just came to second nature to me. “I will stick with my jeans, but I can try one of your shirts.”

            Heading into her closest she brought out a red strapless tube top. It was cute but not for me. Emily talked me into wearing it though it felt extremely uncomfortable on me. I had to keep adjusting it by pulling on the top that was weight down by my heavy-set chest.

            The bonfire was within walking distance. We walked only for a few blocks before we came to a sizeable house on the corner of the street. Walking around the side of the house, we found our way to the back where I could see the fire roaring high in the sky. I took a seat on a log placed directly in front of the fire. Looking at the fire brought me some peace. Emily had already disappeared to find Caleb, once again leaving me all alone. I was happy that she had found someone that she could be herself around and who accepted her for who she was but I still found myself a little jealous that she was spending all her time with him instead of me.

            Levi took a seat next to me on the log, a little too close for my comfort. I scooted closer toward the edge of the log to give some space between us. Other than noticing him seating beside me, I ignored him.

            “Are you upset with me Samantha?”

            “Why would I be? I don’t even know you.”

            “Don’t you? I am Caleb’s friend who is dating your best friend Emily. I can only assume that makes us friends.”

            He was annoying me already. Every word that dripped off his lips were spoken with full confidence. You could clearly tell he thought highly of himself. I hated guys like that. It annoyed me to no end to think someone could be that overconfident in themselves.

            “We do not need to be friends Levi just because our friends are dating. You can leave now.”

            Levi chuckled, taking my words as some kind of challenge. “We can be friends, if you want.”

            I turned to him to make this more understandable. “You seem like one of those guys. The guy that thinks he is up on some pedestal or something. You think your s**t doesn’t stink and I do not associate myself with boys like you. I get it. You have this bad boy persona you need to uphold so it does you no good by talking to someone like me. We are of two vastly different worlds and I am not judging. It is cool if that is who you want to be but that is not me. If it weren’t for Caleb and Emily seeing each other right now you would not even feel obligated to speak with me.”

            “Wow. You speak like you know me so well,” he said with full sarcasm in his voice. “You are right about one thing though. I would have never spoken to you had it not been for our friends getting together. I came over here not because of that though. I felt drawn to you for some reason but clearly I was mistaken.” He stood up cowering over me, lost in rage and frustration. “Samantha there is something about you that I find intriguing but if you find me that repulsing to talk to then I can take the hint.” Levi stomped off clutching his fists.

            The last thing I wanted to do was to sound like such a b***h, but he just simply was not understanding. I did not need to feel like some charity case around here and I was more than okay with spending my time alone. After what happened with Damien, I would much rather avoid boys at any costs.

            I walked around trying to find Emily to let her know I was going to go back to the dorm. Finally, I spot her sitting on Caleb’s lap in a heated make-out session.

I clear my throat as I approach. “Emily, I am going to head back to the dorm. Just thought I should let you know before you go worrying about where I disappeared to.”

“Sam, we just got here, and you want to leave already?”

“Don’t go Sam. You can chill with Robbie here. His date bailed out him anyways.” Caleb laughed and punched his friend in the shoulder.

Before I could attest, Robbie grabbed my arm pulling me down beside him. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. Gross. I tried drinking once, but it was not my thing. Again, not judging someone else for doing it but it was not really my scene. He tried handing me a beer, but I quickly declined.

Jaz eyed me suspiciously. “Let us all spice things up and play a little game. It is getting boring sitting around just drinking.”

“What do you have in mind Jaz?” Mila asked.

“Seven minutes in heaven.”

“No Jaz. We know what your seven minutes in heaven means.” Caleb was already shaking his head before he even spoke.

Emily propped up from Caleb’s lap. “Sure, I’m down. I will go get the bottle.” She hopped up and returned with an empty beer bottle. “You playing Sam?”

“I don’t know Emily. It seems kind of lame.”

“If your scared, you don’t have to play.” Jaz stared at me blankly.

I knew I should have said no and walked away but the way she was looking at me was almost like a challenge. She had something against me that I wasn’t sure what and I wanted to prove her wrong even though I probably should have said no. “I’m in.”

Jaz smiled wickedly before placing the beer bottle on the table in front of us. Just as we were about to start Jaz pulled Levi over to join us. She said it was because we were at odd numbers and she needed to even them up for the game. Levi glared at me the whole time, taking in account how closely Robbie was to me.

As the game went on, I managed to not get landed on and I was dancing a victory dance in my head. Then it was my turn to spin and that only meant that my good luck would soon change to bad. I spun it as hard as I could. I watched it turn around and around until it landed on Robbie. I was okay with that as long as it was not Levi.

Robbie grabbed my hand and took me inside to the closest they designated as the closet for the game. He was already buzzed; I could tell by the redness in his eyes.

He cupped my face. “We can wait it out if you want. I know this is not really your thing. I just want you to know that I respect you and would never do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable.”

Strangely, I felt like he was being honest with me. I usually was a good judge of character and nothing about Robbie screamed jerk. “Thank you, Robbie. That means a lot that you would say that.”

“Everyone here thinks I am some bad ass but in reality, I am just a big teddy bear. I should not care about reputations, but I do. Those guys out there can be ruthless when they sense any kind of sensitivity in guys like me.”

“Then why be their friend?”

“We have all been friends since the beginning of freshman year. We have all had tattered past and we all just found ourselves resembling one another. They understood me when no one else did. I can hide my sensitive side from them no problem.”

It was nice to know that a guy around here could be real with me for a change even though he was not real with the people he called his friends. Emily accepted me no matter what and that is what friends were supposed to do.

“I would like to kiss you if you would let me but if not, I understand.”

Why the hell not? I shook my head giving him the okay. He slowly brought his face closer to mine giving me enough time to prepare. That is when the door swung wide open. Levi grabbed Robbie and shoved him to the ground before he grabbed me around my wrists and drug me upstairs to a large room. He shut and locked the door behind him.

“Levi? What is your problem?”

“Samantha do not be that girl. You are different from all the other girls here and you do not need to play seven minutes in heaven to try and prove some point.”

Jealous. He was jealous. It was the only thing that made sense to me. “Levi, what I do with my life is none of your concern. If I want to make out with Robbie, then I will. You should worry about yourself.”

“Robbie is a selfish jerk that will do and say anything to make you bend to his way. I am only trying to look after you.”

“Well don’t!” This whole act of his was really starting to get on my nerves which was hard to do. “Why do you feel some need to protect me? This is my life and the only person who is going to tell me how to live it is myself! You got it?” I started poking my finger into his chest just to emphasize my point.

Instead of saying anything, he grabbed my finger and stuck it to his lips. He moved it around his lips in a slow antagonizing way that sent a shock throughout my body causing me to squirm under his touch. He pressed my body close to his while he wrapped my long ponytail around his hand and began to gently squeeze. In that moment, everything felt right. He was the last person I thought I would want to be in a room with but now he is the only one I wanted to be with.

“See how easy it is? You are too good for anyone in this group.” He let go of my finger and my hair before pushing me off him. He went back to the door and opened it for me signaling for me to leave. “Do not come back around here again. This will be your first and last warning Samantha.”