Pierced Love (28 page)

“You look good no matter if you’re a hot sweaty mess or having just come out of the shower,” I say, ducking my head down into his chest.

Shit, just having the nerve to say that to him has me feeling nervous.

“Aww thanks doll, you look pretty good yourself,” he says, pulling my chin for me to look up at him.

He softly brushes his lips against mine and pulls away.

I give him a pout and he smacks me on the butt.

“Ohh!” I shriek.

“Sorry, I just had to do it. Now come on, let‘s roll. I’m starving and you’ve taken way to long getting ready,” he says, putting his arm around me and walking us through the kitchen.

Once out in the garage I reach into my messenger tote and grab my keys.

I look toward Loudon as he stands in the driveway.

“I can only assume we’ll be taking the bug since someone locked their keys in his car,” I say with a smirk.

“Ha-ha, funny girl, toss them over and I’ll drive. I already grabbed the spare set to the Mustang so we’ll grab it on the way back from dinner,” he says with a smile.

I throw the keys in his direction and follow him over to the car.

I’m excited to go out with him tonight and to see a little more of Ames.

I just hope the night continues to go like it’s been up to this point. I’m enjoying his company free of stress, fears and panic attacks.

Loudon drives us through town and pulls in front of the one place I was hoping he’d take us, the pizzeria.

“Are you up for some pizza?” He asks, putting the bug in park and turning off the engine.

I look over at him and smile.

“I was hoping this is where we were headed,” I say.

“Of course, it is. It’s the place I first met my girl. Stay put and I’ll be right there to get you out,” he says, while unbuckling his seatbelt and opening his door.

He gets out of the bug, walks around the front of the car and comes over to open my door.

With his hand held out for me I grab on and step out of the car.

“Such a gentleman this evening,” I say in a fake southern accent.

“But of course, anything for a pretty lady,” he replies with a wink.

I blush at his compliment and step onto the sidewalk.

“Let’s get inside and ask for a booth before it gets crazy busy on the restaurant side,” he says grabbing onto my hand and interlacing our fingers.

We walk hand in hand toward the pizzeria and he opens the door for me to enter first.

The place is already filled with patrons and I can see a few people waving to Loudon. He doesn’t notice them at first, but I do. Once he turns in their direction he nods his head and raises his hand to wave.

The tables in the back corner are filled with kids from his school and a few of them I recognize from his friend, Ande’s, party. I turn my back toward them so I don’t have to look in their direction.

Loudon must sense my discomfort and wraps an arm around me. I ease into his side and his comfort makes me feel less anxious.

“You okay?” He asks.

I nod my head against his chest and wait for the hostess to seat us.

“Loudon,” I hear a voice say.

I know that voice.

I turn in Loudon’s arms and see the girl behind the voice, it’s Jill.

“Hey Jill, you remember Zar, my girlfriend,” Loudon says, pulling me in closer to him.

“No way,” Jill screeches.

“Jill, back off,” Loudon says.

“You’ve got to be kidding me, right? I mean, come on Loudon. She’s the reason you’ve been ignoring me and won’t return my calls?”

“I told you to back off Jill. I think it’s time you took the clue and moved on to your next victim. Obviously, I’m not interested,” Loudon says a bit louder.

“I can’t believe you’re still meddling with this girl. Didn’t she give you enough of a freak show at Ande’s party? She’s cute, yeah I’ll give her that but really L.C. she’s the laughing stock of her senior class. Is she….”

Loudon moves his arm from around me and grabs onto Jill’s arm.

“I’ll be right back Zar,” he says pulling Jill out of the pizzeria and out onto the sidewalk.

I can’t believe this is happening. Everything was going so well until she had to blast right back into the picture and burst my happy little bubble.

Feeling like my body is numb, I move as quickly as I can to follow them outside. As I walk out the door I can hear Jill’s words to Loudon from around the corner.

“She’s crazy L.C., why can’t you see that? Do you even know what’s wrong with her? She’s been like this for years and you think you can swoop in and make her all better?”

“Jill, you don’t even know who or what she’s about. You’re just pissed because I broke up with you and now you want all the attention back on you. We aren’t together, so stay out of my shit.”

“L. C. I know a lot more about your freakish girlfriend that I bet you do. My cousin goes to school with her and told me all about the night she freaked out on everyone.”

“Jill, this conversation is over. I know all that I need to know about Zar and I don’t need you butting in and hurting her. She means a lot to me and you’re just gonna have to deal with it.”

He cares about me, this I know is true.

He’s catching me as I fall, but now…right now I need to stick up for myself.

I shouldn’t need someone else to be there when I’m in need.

It’s my turn to take over and show the haters, in this case Jill, that there’s nothing wrong with me. If I don’t help them see and understand the real me, then who will?

The conversation taking place is all because of me, I can’t let Loudon lose friendships because of who his friends and peers think I am.

I quickly walk around the corner to where I see them both standing.

Loudon sees me first and walks over toward me.

“Zar, I’m sorry. Jill and I were just finishing up here. Let’s grab something to go and take it back to my house. We don’t need to deal with this shit tonight,” He says, pulling me to his side.

“No Loudon, it’s okay. I can handle it,” I tell him, walking out of his grasp.

As I walk toward Jill, I hear Loudon say, “Zar.”

I want to let this rest, I really do, but I need to stand tall and stop the lies others want to spread and believe about me that are so untrue.

I stop and stand as tall as I can with my short five foot 3 inch stature. She’s giving the death glare, but there’s no way I’m letting her win this battle.

“Jill, you don’t know me. You’ve only met me twice. Tell me what makes you think that I’m not good enough for Loudon or your other friends. You have no idea what I’ve dealt with in my life or what it’s like to have people judge you based on lies and rumors. Don’t think for a second that just because someone tells you they know what happened, that it will be true. I’m sorry if me being with Loudon isn’t what you want, but it’s what I want. So get used to seeing me with him and being in Ames a lot more often.”

My body is shaking and I’m not sure if it’s from the fear of what Jill will do next or from what I just said to her. I look back at Loudon and his mouth is hanging wide open. I turn and look at Jill and she lets out a huge sigh.

“Zar, you’re right I don’t know you and to be completely honest I don’t care to know you. What I do want is for you to stay away from me and L.C. I can tell that the two of you are wrapped up in a warped bubble that I can’t break, so to hell with you both. L. C. if this is what you want, go, have at it. I don’t need you or her shit.”

I watch as Jill walks right past me and Loudon. He comes over to me and pulls me into his arms.

“I’m so sorry, Zar, she’s just being a bitch. It’s really nothing new for her. She just wants to make my life miserable and right now you are the prime target she wants to attack. There’s nothing I can say about her or to her right now to try and make this go away.”

“Loudon, none of this is your fault. Please don’t feel that way. I’ll agree with you though when you say she’s acting like a bitch, she has some serious issues going on and I think it’s time she lets you go, cause I sure as hell won’t.”

“I’m so glad you said that. I’m proud of you tonight. As much as I wanted to break up your conversation, I can’t believe the way you stuck up for yourself. You need to do that more often. There’s a fighter inside of you and it’s time you let her out. Show people who you really are and don’t let them take you down anymore.”

“Thanks Loudon, that means a lot to me.”

“I’ve told you before; I’m here for you, Zar. If I have to take down an entire senior class, I’d do it for you in a heartbeat.”

“So tell me this, hero. If I screamed for you to come save me, even in your sleep, would you come find me?” I ask, starring up into his bright green eyes.

He looks down at me and blinks a few times. Taking his good time answering my question, I jab him in the rib and he lets out a loud laugh.

“Of course I would,” he says in between a laugh and cough.

“But how, you’d be asleep?” I reply.

“Because whether I’m awake or asleep, you’re my favorite dream.”

“That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“Well it’s the truth Zar. Ever since I saw you in the pizzeria I knew I needed to see you again. It was just pure fate that you were at my house that night. I couldn’t have planned it any better even if I wanted too; it was ridiculous luck that you came into my life. You and I were meant to find each other and now that we have, we’ll need to stick together.”

I smile at him as I look up into his eyes again. They are the most amazing green I’ve ever seen and I could seriously stare at them all day getting lost.

“You are so good to me Loudon, thank you.”

He bends down to kiss my lips and I wrap my arms around his waist.

This guy makes me feel stronger than I ever have before. He gives me the courage to take on things that I’d otherwise walk away from. Loudon has helped me bring back the girl that was lost and I’m so glad to have her back.

“Come on, let’s grab that pizza and take it home,” he says.

“No.”

“No?” He asks with a questioning glance.

“I want to eat here, let’s not let Jill ruin our night out. I still want to eat in the pizzeria with you and get that tour of Ames. Since this will be my home for the next four years. I might as well get the grand tour from one of the locals.”

“Okay doll, if you say so. You continue to amaze me. Every day you do something to show me how much stronger you’ve become. I like this feisty side of you.”

“Well, just don’t piss me off.”

“Never,” he replies.

We walk together around the corner and into the pizzeria. Rather than waiting to sit on the restaurant side we go up to the counter and order a large pizza and two drinks. We take a seat in one of the booths and talk until our food is done.

For the next hour we just spend time together talking about life and what we plan on doing next year as college freshmen.

Both of us will be starting Iowa State early.

Since Loudon is a shoe in to start as a freshman on the basketball team, he needs to get a head start to practice.