Alive (5 page)

Jessie spent an hour earlier today trying to get me ready for tonight; I let her put my hair in a low side pony tail. She added some loose curls to it and it falls nicely over my left shoulder. I have to admit, I kind of like the way she did my hair. It’s not my usual style, but you can see the purple I just put in my hair perfectly. She tried to do my makeup, but I told her no way in hell would I allow her to make me look like some weird version of a Barbie doll. So I stuck to my usual. Black eyeliner, gray and black smoky eyes, and chapstick on my lips. It’s quick and easy, but it gives me the edgy look I like.

“Abigail, is everything OK? You don’t seem to be acting like your normal self.  Is everything OK at home?” my boss Darrell asks. He has a look of concern on his face.

Darrell somewhat knows about my mother and my situation. She came into work a few months ago with her latest boyfriend. They were both fucking drunk out of their minds. Who gets drunk at 11:00 in the afternoon? Well, my mother of course. I tried to sneak away to the back of the restaurant in hopes that she wouldn’t spot me, but I wasn’t fast enough.

“Abigail, why don’t you whip us up some food? You have worked here for almost 2 years, and you never bring me any food home. I just want to eat. I’m starving!” she slurs. She is making a huge scene with her shouting, and she can barely stand up.

Darrell has approached the table now, and is looking at me with sympathy. It’s obvious this woman is my mother, we look identical. We both have long brown hair, the same big green eyes, and the same olive colored skin. Over the years, the drugs and alcohol have taken its toll on her body, but the resemblance between us is still there.

“Is there a problem here, Abigail?” he quietly asks.

“There is about to be a problem if my sweet Abigail here doesn’t make me something to eat.” You can’t even understand what she is saying. “And who are you?  Abby didn’t tell me she worked with such a hot man. She tends to be a slut, so make sure you watch out for her,” she says in a loud whisper. She turns to me and adds, “Don’t think you have anyone fooled Abigail, we all know how you like to steal other people’s boyfriends,” she says cattily. Honestly, who tries to start shit with their own flesh and blood? My blood is starting to boil, and the tears start to sting my eyes.

She is out of her goddamn mind. If anyone is a slut it’s her, I have never willingly slept with anyone in my life. “Um, no sir. My mother and her boyfriend just were just leaving,” I spit out through clenched teeth. I have told her time and time again to stay the hell away from where I work. She’s embarrassing and I don’t want anyone knowing that I am in any way associated with her.

“I don’t want to leave, I want some fucking food. God, how many times do I have to say that I’m hungry.” She starts stumbling to an empty table. She grabs a handful of someone’s fries on her to the empty table. You have got to be kidding me. I hope Darrell doesn’t judge me by my mother; I don’t want him thinking badly of me because of her.

“I think you need to leave, now,” Darrell says. He has an authoritative tone to his voice, one that says don’t cross me or you will be sorry. “You are causing a scene and you need to leave my restaurant.”

“Suuuuure, I wouldn’t want to cause a scene, now would I?” she says coyly. She stands up and tried to sashay towards the door, but it looks more like a baby giraffe who’s trying to walk for the first time. Not pretty.

I am beyond embarrassed, and tears are threatening to spill over. I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry. I kept repeating that over and over in my head. This woman has caused me more tears in my short life than anyone else, and I refuse to shed any more over her and her hurtful words.

I try to shake off the memory of my mother. “I’m fine Darrell. I actually have a date tonight, it’s my first date ever, and I’m really nervous about it,” I quietly say. “

“And do we get to meet the young man who’s swept you off your feet? I need to make sure he passes my inspection, I don’t want you going off with anyone who doesn’t deserve you,” he says sincerely. Darrell is like a father figure to me and ever since that awful day with my mother, he has taken a protective attitude. It’s nice to have someone looking out for your best interests.

“I wouldn’t say he’s swept me off my feet, but he is picking me up at 8:15, so you will get to meet him, I’m sure. I just met him at school last week, so I don’t know much about him yet. We are going to the local concert show tonight out at The Landing.”

“Well, I know I’m just your boss, but please be careful tonight, and make sure he gets you home safely. You have my number if you need anything.” He’s giving me that dad look, the look I’m sure his three teenage daughters get all the time. I bet it's one they hate, but right at this moment, I’m grateful for his concern. I smile a little on the inside.

“Thank you, Darrell. Jessie is taking me home tonight; I am not ready for him to see where I live, or for us to unexpectedly run into my mother. I’m not ready to scare him off just yet,” I add with a small laugh.

“Any guy who scares off that easily isn’t worthy of your time anyways. Find someone who accepts you, all of you.” He adds. I give him a slight smile and get back to my duties at work, and before I know it my shift is almost over.

Adam arrives just on time. He’s wearing black jeans, a black shirt, a leather jacket, and the most amazing pair of combat boots I have ever seen. I can’t help but stare at him when I see him walk through the door. His hair is messy, like it’s been windblown. Maybe he rode over with the windows down. He is trying to fix it into place while he scans the restaurant. When his eyes find mine, he gives me a slow grin and starts to walk my way. Even his walk is perfect. He walks like he has a purpose, it's sexy, slow, and the look he’s giving me causes my face to heat up and heat to pool in my belly. Inappropriate thoughts are running through my mind, but I just can’t help it. Come on, Abigail, get a grip. It’s just a guy, a normal, good looking guy.

“Do you like what you see, Peaches?” he says with a cocky smile. Shit, I forgot I was staring at him, more like drooling over him. My face starts to heat up and turn red. But hot damn, do I like what I see.

“I don’t know, I’ve seen better.” But my voice is shaky and it isn’t convincing. It comes out all breathy. Yeah right, I don’t think there is a person on this earth who looks better than Adam. “My shift is almost over, but I saved you a table and put in an order of appetizers for us to eat before we head to the concert. We are already going to be a little late, so I figured we could eat first,” I say while walking him towards his table.

“What great service you have provided me. I’ll be sure to leave you a big tip,” he says with a wink. “Why does this restaurant insist on letting their customers throw peanut shells on the floor, I hate it that they get stuck in my boots,” he adds while looking down at his boots.

I stop and stare up at him, and I can’t help my smile because I wonder this same thought every time I come into work. “I have always thought the same thing, I don’t understand why people can’t just throw them into a napkin, or put them on the side of their plates. I hate sweeping up those damn shells. It’s a deal breaker if I see you throw one peanut shell on the floor,” I say jokingly.

He throws his head back and laughs. It’s a glorious laugh too. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

As we are finishing up our appetizers, my boss Darrell walks over and introduces himself to Adam.

“I hear you are taking my Abigail out on a date tonight?” He tries to act intimating, it’s not working on me, but I see Adam swallow hard, and a flash of nervousness cross over his face. I wonder if he thinks Darrell is my dad. His face has turned slightly pale, so I’m guessing that’s what he thinks. I am trying to hide my smile.

“Yes, sir, we are going to a concert. My band is playing, along with about 5 other bands. I promise I will take care of her and get her home safely. I won’t let anything happen to her.” He gives me a quick glance before speaking again. “What time should I have her home, sir?” He adds nervously.

Darrell gives me a sympathetic smile, and turns to Adam. “I am not her father, so I cannot tell her what to do or when to be home. Just know that if you allow anything to happen to her, you’ll have me to answer to. I will personally see to that.” He gives Adam a too hard pat on the back. “Now you two kids go have fun, and Abigail I’ll see you Monday night for your shift,” he adds while walking away.

Adam looks like he breathes a sigh of relief when Darrell walks away. “Oh my god Abigail, I thought I was meeting your father there for a minute. One needs to prepare before meeting a girl’s father. I am taking you to the concert on my motorcycle for god’s sake, if your dad knew he would kill me,” he says, exasperated.

Now it’s my turn for my face to pale. A motorcycle, he’s taking me on a motorcycle? How typical that the hot boy who plays in a band rides a motorcycle. Those death traps scare the hell out of me. Well, Lorelei Gilmore said it best. If you want to throw your life away make sure the guy at least has a motorcycle.

“Did you say a motorcycle? No way am I riding on one of those things. I prefer my vehicles to have doors, with a roof, and seatbelts. Seatbelts are important. Does your motorcycle come with seatbelts?” I ask, genuinely curious. “And don’t worry about my parents; I don’t really have a curfew,” I add quietly.

He’s laughing freely at me now. “Abigail, motorcycles don’t come with seatbelts. As long as you hold on tight to my waist, I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise,” he says, and the look on his face makes me believe him. A small thrill runs through me at the thought of hugging his waist. We head outside and I come face to face with the small chunk of metal that is his motorcycle. He takes a helmet off the back of the bike and hands it to me.  I’m looking at it like I’m not quite sure what to do with it. So this tiny thing is supposed to keep me safe and save my life if we crash? Yeah, right.

“Here, let me help you with that,” he says softly. He takes the helmet from my hands, slowly brushes my hair out of my face and tucks a stray piece behind my ear, then lets his hand fall down to my neck. The touch of his hand on my neck sends a tiny shiver through me. I never expected to feel anything other than fear from a man’s touch, but Adam’s touch lights something inside me I didn’t even know existed.

Once he secures the latches, he climbs onto his bike and holds his hand out for me to join him. I wrap my arms around his waist and I can’t help but feel safe and secure on the back of his bike. I inhale his clean yet masculine scent, and a calmness sweeps over my body. I feel like I could keep my arms wrapped around him forever and never let go. His bike roars to life, and we take off into the night.

Chapter 6

I climb off his motorcycle as fast as I can and for a brief second I miss the feel of his back pressed up against his chest, but it quickly fades away to my anger. “Adam, could you have gone any fucking faster? I thought I was going to fly off the back of that thing at any second! You were speeding, taking turns fast, and God knows how many other laws you just broke!” I shout at him. Damn, was he trying to kill me? I actually thought the guy liked me a little bit. And to think I felt safe on the back of that death trap.

He is grinning at me and listening to me rant about his driving. “Why are you just sitting there smiling at me? Nothing about that ride was funny! I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”

“Calm down, Peaches! You aren’t going to die. I was driving the speed limit; it just feels faster on a motorcycle. And if I’m being honest, I purposely took those turns a little faster than normal. I can’t help but love the way it felt when they were squeezing my hips.” He says with a devilish smirk. “God, you’re cute when you’re angry. But I’m sorry if I scared you, that wasn’t my intention,” he adds.

My anger slowly starts to fade away once he apologizes. He’s really is hard to stay mad at. Damn him and his cute face.

“Come on, let’s get inside. There should be three more bands playing before us, and then we are up. You have no idea how excited I am that you decided to come with me. I’ve never been nervous before for someone to watch me sing,” he says shyly. I like that he isn’t always cocky and full of himself. It’s a nice side to see.

“So far, I’m really glad I decided to come too.” I say quietly. “I can do without that motorcycle ride again though.” I give him a slight push in his arm and start walking towards the entrance.

“Hey, my motorcycle and I come as a packaged deal. You can’t have one without the other,” he jokingly says.

“Well, in that case I’ll see you around. I hope you and your motorcycle can keep each other warm at night,” I say with a smile. I start to walk away and he grabs my hand and turns me around. He pulls me into his chest and holds me in place with his arms. I shudder at his touch, and those damn butterflies are back in my stomach.

“You aren’t getting rid of me that easily, Peaches. I also have a car, so we can take it next time if you really hate the bike that much.” He kisses my forehead, and then tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear. He slowly pulls back and stares at me intently, and I realize that in this moment, I have never wanted to be kissed so badly. I lick my lips and I watch as his eyes darken. There is an undeniable amount of lust in his eyes. My breathing starts to quicken, and I tighten the grip I have on his jacket. He slowly leans down and plants a soft, sweet kiss on my lips. The moment his lips connect with mine, I stop breathing and my world starts spinning. All too soon he pulls away, and he leaves me wanting more. I so badly want to taste him; I’m not ready for this moment to end.