Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Marley

I vent so hard to Danni when I reach her. I’m sure by the time I’m ready to leave she is going to be glad to see me go. Tannen just drives me so crazy.

“He spanked me like…like…like I was a naughty five-year-old.”

“I’m pretty sure he’s not thinking of you as a five-year-old, Mar. Most of the men who pull up a woman’s clothing and spank her don’t have anything kiddie on their minds. Come on, you know that. You read the same books I do.”

Not helping, Danni. Not at all. “Uh, no! It’s definitely not like in the books, Danni. It’s…he is not like that to me!” She gives me a look that tells me she isn’t buying the bullshit I’m trying to sell her. “It’s…he might, you know what? He’s not even the same person I used to know. He’s got like this beard and he…he…I don’t think he even likes me anymore and you know what? That sucks! It sucks so hard because we used to be so close. He used to hang out with me all the time, protect me, and treat me like I was special. I think we grew apart sometime during high school. Maybe I was too young for him to hang out with then or maybe his girlfriends…”

I stop myself and huff out the rest of the frustration.

“Whatever it was…it’s over now.”

Danni rubs my back when I flop myself over onto her lap. Even though it’s a fact, it doesn’t make it hurt any less.

“But it’s not over for our moms. They keep trying to push us together for some ungodly reason.”

“Maybe they want you guys to be friends since they have been best friends for so long. Maybe they want that for the two of you as well. Maybe if you guys just tried to be friendly they might…I don’t know, ease up a little and not try so hard.”

I really think about what she just said and about how much sense it makes before saying anything else but when I do it’s to agree with Danni.

“Mm, maybe.”

Can we really pretend to be friends and make our moms chill out? Would that be something Tannen even wants to try to do? Can I still do that when he decides to bring his girlfriend to meet his mom?

“Danni?”

“Yeah, Mar.”

“I’m really not going to be alright at the end of this.” The words seem to lay heavy in the room, at least to me they feel like weights on my chest pressing me down so low. I just wanted to let someone know.

“I know, hon, but I’ll be here for you and we’ll figure it out together. Somehow. Right?”

I got really lucky finding Danni. She’s the best friend everyone should have. Then the world would be a better place.

“Right.”

I didn’t bring a bag with me so I couldn’t spend the night at Danni’s no matter how much I wanted to. All I was thinking was how to get out of there without hearing about his almost fiancée. Or worse, hearing all about how he had to leave so he could hook up with the plethora of cheerleaders he’s already been with in town.

So, I go home and try hiding from all the memories and thoughts that seeing Tannen digs up and pray to make it through Christmas. I sleep like shit, tossing and turning and reliving that spanking all night long. Hot dreams haunt me centered on what would have happened if our mothers hadn’t come home as soon as they did.

Because of the lack of sleep, I don’t really crawl out of bed until sometime around noon. Big, dark clouds have gathered in on side of the sky by the time I get ready, and Danni has her mom drop her off at my house so we can drive over to the Lounge together. We’re seeing friends from school tonight and I’m looking forward to having a Tannen-free night.

I turn and look at myself in the mirror. I look cute and festive in my Christmas sweater with the sparkly tree and my shiny black leggings. Maybe I’ll get lucky and someone from school will flirt with me all night and take Tannen right out of my head.

“Be careful, dear. It’s supposed to start snowing later tonight.”

“I will Mom.” I take her in and whistle, “You look nice.”

“So do you.” She gives me a wink and we turn and both whistle at Danni who is sitting on the couch giggling at us.

Just as we are about to walk out the door, Danni forgets her phone lying on the couch and goes back for it. I make my way to the car and playfully yell for her.

“Come on Danni! Let’s go!” I would laugh if I wasn’t trying to keep my balance on the driveway in the heels I chose to wear. “Hurry up! We’re going to be late!”

This time I do giggle as she pops out the door and does the same. I have to go back to help her. Neither one of us have the best balance and now we’ve screwed ourselves by choosing the sexy shoes on the damp pavement.

By the time I make it to the car and slam my door, Tannen is at my window. I met the look Danni gives me and finally roll down the window.

“Whose your friend, Marley?”

I roll my eyes at him. He thinks he is so smooth and charming…and sexy in that soft, blue sweater that matches the color of his eyes perfectly.

“This is Danni. Don’t even think of hitting on her! She’s not a cheerleader or snobby enough for you. And besides that, she’s my friend.”

Better to cut him off right out of the gate so he doesn’t even try. Not that I think Danni will flirt back or anything. “What makes you assume I’m going to try to fuck every vagina I'm around?”

Wow! Whoa! My head snaps toward him and I try to come to terms with the fact Tannen said fuck and vagina in the same sentence. Danni doesn’t even try to hide her snicker.

“I…,” I try to answer as truthfully as I can but how exactly would you say what I want to say to him, “she’s pretty and you like pretty girls.”

“Aww, thank you, Bestie. But I think out of the two of us, you are the pretty one.”

I blush and turn my entire focus on Danni and ignore Tannen, “You’re blind but I love you.”