Pretend With Me (Midnight Society #1) (23 page)

Starting from the threshold, bright red rose petals
layered the clean white floors, stretching on throughout
what I could see of the place. But that wasn’t why I was all
choked up. The main reason for my reaction was the small
items sitting on the floor, just beyond the door.
There was a small lota, or vessel as some people called
it that was filled with rice grains. In front of that was a
taria that held a thick red liquid. Instantly I knew what it
was supposed to be, what it signified.
This was meant to be Bou Baran, a Hindu traditional
rite the wife performed when she entered her husband’s
home for the first time. I was supposed to tip the lota so
that the rice spilled onto the floor and the red liquid was a
mixture of milk and lac dye. It symbolized a bride bringing
health, luck, wealth and an abundance of food into her
husband’s home. We were supposed to eat our first meal
here, as husband and wife.
“Crap,” Eric muttered at my side and I turned to him,
still staring in shock. “I thought I was forgetting
something, we don’t have any food,” he explained but I
really didn’t care. I was just happy that he thought to do
this for me, it wasn’t perfect but that didn't matter.
“I’ve got you covered,” Jason said, walking up to us
from inside the house as he gestured to a small table
further inside with two boxes of what looked like take out
on it. “I knew you’d forget the food, you dumb ass,” he
grinned as Eric scowled at him, sighing.
Before I could say anything, Eric held out his hand to
me and I took it at once, still dazed and shocked as he bent
down to my feet, slowly taking off my sneakers, one side at
a time and then my socks. His movements were precise
and gentle, as though he was still waiting for me to tense
up at his touch.
When my feet were completely bare he stood up at my
side and began leading me over the threshold. Carefully I
held onto Eric’s arm as I raised my right foot, gently
nudging the lota with my toe. It fell over, spilling the rice
as my heart pounded in my chest. Then I stepped into the
dye mixture, soaking the soles of my feet in it. It was warm
and thin between my toes and at the feel of it on my skin, I
felt elated. I couldn’t believe that Eric and Jason did this.
I stepped out of the liquid and then Eric and I took a
few footsteps into the house. He still hadn’t let go of my
hand and I stopped, turning back to see the imprints I’d
left on the white floor behind me. I then turned to Eric,
wrapping my arms around him and I burst out in fits of
giggles. I was 100% sure that we weren’t doing this
correctly but I didn’t care. I was ecstatic and so happy right
now.
“So food’s on the table and there’s a bottle of water as
well…” Jason started, running a hand through his hair.
“There were two bottles, but I got thirsty waiting for you
guys… Anyway I’ll be hanging with Avril,” he sighed and
started for the door.
“Jason,” I called out, and he instantly stopped and
turned back to me. “Thanks for this.”
“No worries, Jen, just don’t tell anyone I was involved
here… Don’t want girls to be expecting me to be nice to
them and shit. I’ve got a reputation to keep up,” he winked
at me and then walked off, leaving me alone with Eric.
I turned Eric grinning. “Tour?” he asked and I nodded
instantly as he began leading me throughout the house.
The place was amazing, even without furniture and all that
other stuff I could see the potential it carried, and it was
endless. I saw myself living here with Eric. All the walls
were white and each room was completely bare. In total
there were two bedrooms, two toilet and baths - one in the
master bedroom, a walk in closet, a living room, kitchen,
and laundry room. There was also a huge balcony which
gave an amazing view.
“So…” I sighed more to myself than to him. “This is
our new home… after we get married?” A smile spread
across my lips then.
“This is our home,” I heard him whisper in
confirmation, and I looked up to find him staring at me.
“Do you like it?”
My answer came instantly. “I love it, Eric… thank
you,” I smiled at him and then I found myself doing
something I’d never thought I’d do. I closed the distance
between us and wrapped my arms around him, pressing
my face to his chest. At first he didn’t respond and I knew
that I’d taken him by surprise.
The seconds dragged on and then his hands drifted up
and I felt them wrap around me. At his contact, I didn’t
tense up or stiffen, instead I buried my face even deeper
into his chest, breathing in his gloriously addictive scent.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Eric asked
poking his head through the doorway of the living room. I
kept my eyes trained on the TV, ignoring him as best as I
could. “It’ll be fun,” he said walking into the room and I
could almost picture the smile on his lips.

Eric, Jason and some other guys from their college
were going out, and for the past four hours he had been
begging me to go with him, since all the other Wilsons
were out of the country again. It was one of those all boys
night event, so I figured that my Friday night was better
spent on his parent’s couch watching old Naruto episodes.

Besides Eric and I deserved some time away from each
other, it wasn’t healthy always being together. There was
this blood thing between us that made me crave him like
he was water and I was parched in the desert, and that
scared me a lot. It was too intense and uncontrollable. The
more time I spent with him was the more my body burned
when he wasn’t around, and that needed to stop. I needed
to kick this thing before I got really addicted, because
that’s what it was becoming: an addiction.

A fluid, quick blurry movement flashed before my eyes
and then Eric was suddenly standing above me. He had
been ‘vamping out’ a lot lately, something I still wasn’t
used to. Though if I focused, my new eyes followed his
quick movements but I still outwardly reacted as if he’d
snuck up on me.

Instantly I flew up into a sitting position on the couch,
my hand flying to my chest as my heart pounded in my
ear. “God, Eric! Would you please stop vamping out? It’s
very confusing, one minute you’re there and the next
you’re not,” I ranted, breathing hard. I dropped back on
the couch watching his movements carefully. A second
later however, he was sitting at the end of the couch, my
feet on his lap.

“Vamping out?” he asked raising an eyebrow.
“Well, what else should I call it?” A wide grin plastered
his face and he slowly began to lean towards my face. He
stopped inches over my head, staring down at me and
again my heart went into overdrive, and this time it had
nothing to do with his non-human movements. It was his
blood calling to my own, the inches separating us, his smell
wafting through my nose, his hands touching my bare
skin… It was everything about him. Immediately I
clenched my fingers, keeping my arms rigid at my sides so
I wouldn’t do anything I’d later regret or feel guilty about.
“Please come with me?” he whispered, his eyes boring
into my face. I let out a rough breath, feeling as though I
was floating through the air. “It won’t be fun without
you.” Reluctantly I turned my head back to the TV, hoping
that it would be enough of a distraction. “Jen,” he moaned.
“Don’t ignore me or I’ll start vamping out again,” he
threatened, a deep frown itched into his face that I wanted
to reach out to and smoothen away.
“Sasuke Uchiha is so hot… I mean the guy is amazing
and I would totally do him,” I said. He couldn’t complain
now, I wasn’t ignoring him anymore. “I mean if he weren’t
an anime character,” I added turning my head to face Eric,
hoping that he would give up and just go out with his
friends.
“I can stay home with you, if you want,” he whispered.
“My family is gone again so you’ll be alone except for the
staff… It’s hard leaving you home alone...” he trailed off
and I could see him convincing himself that staying home
was the better idea.
Before he could voice the thought I spoke up. “God,
Eric, would you please just go already. You’re driving me
insane, you can wait for Jason outside,” I grunted and
shoved him off me. I sat up on the couch pointing to the
door. “Now!” I demanded.
He stood up and took my face in his hands like he
always did. I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent as he
leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Bye,” he whispered.
“Bye,” I said back as he straightened himself, my voice
breathy even to my own ears.
“If anything happens call me and I’ll come right back-”
“Eric,” I cut him off. “Would you stop worrying about
me? You’ll only be gone for a couple of hours, what could
happen? Go out, have fun and when you get back, I’ll
probably be right here, on this couch, dreaming about
Sasuke hopefully,” I said, grinning at him.
“Okay,” he nodded and began making his way to the
door. “Bye, Jen,” he whispered and walked out of the
room, leaving me to my own devices.
About an hour later, I had run out of Naruto episodes
to watch. I decided on a shower and then after that, I
turned on my laptop to check my emails.
My inbox was filled with emails from the one person I
didn’t want to talk to, or have anything to do with - Kris. I
closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. I hadn’t even
opened one yet and my heart was already beginning to
pound in my chest. Finally, I opened my eyes and clicked
on the first one she’d sent. It was dated on the day I had
left Trinidad. It read:

Jen, I have been calling and texting you nonstop. I know it’s
hard, but you need to tell me what is going on. Danny said that you
left, tell me it’s not true. This is your home, we’re your family and we
love you. Please come back home or at least let me know that you’re
ok.

As I read the words, silent tears rolled down my face
and I wiped them away at once. Even though I hadn’t
spoken the words out loud, they seemed to hang in the air
loudly, like bombs and grenades just waiting to go off and
destroy me.

I didn’t have the heart to read through all the others. I
didn’t think I could survive that, so instead, I skipped to
the most recent one. It was dated a few days ago, maybe a
week at the very most. It was just two short sentences and
yet it had me trembling. My blood had gone cold in my
veins. It read:

I stopped reading at once and slammed the laptop
closed with more force than I intended to use. Kris knew she knew what really happened that night and she was
coming to find me. There was no doubt in my mind that
she could find me. Whenever she made up her mind about
something, she didn’t quit until she got it. I just didn't
know if that was a good thing or bad.

A loud shrilling ring echoed through the room
suddenly and it sent my heart flying. For a brief moment
my body tensed and then I realized that my phone was
ringing. Zombie-like I got up slowly, and answered it
without looking at the screen.

“Hey,” Charde greeted before I got the chance to say
anything. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing,” I replied slowly as I walked back to the
couch and sat down staring at the laptop sourly.
“Good, because I want to go out.”
“I’m not sure, Charde… I don’t really feel like going
out… not tonight anyway…” I mumbled. I hadn’t taken
my eyes off the laptop. It was as if the words contained in
the emails were holding me hostage, and I couldn’t look
away from the bearer of the letter.
“Oh okay then, another time.” There was a slight pause
and then she said “Jen…” Her voice came out hesitant and
unsure. “Are you okay? You don’t sound like yourself…”
“I’m fine, Charde,” I said, trying to sound cheerful.
“Well okay, but I’m always here, no matter what.” I
could tell she didn’t believe me.
“I know…” I paused, “thanks for inviting me though,
bye.”
“Bye,” she whispered and I hung up the phone.
Slowly I re-opened the laptop and then the email, rereading the last one, trying to find some way to come up
with a different meaning, but no matter how many times I
read it, it always said the same thing. Kris was searching
for me.
Minutes later, something stirred in me. I wasn’t a racer
anymore, I had given up that life completely. This was my
life now. I had friends here and Eric. This was my home
now.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Charde’s number. She
answered on the first ring. “Hey, this is Charde.”
“Hey, Charde, it’s me, do you still want to go out?”
She answered instantly. “Hell yeah.”
“I’m in,” I said slamming the laptop shut again, this
time in defiance.
“I’ll meet you in front your house in an hour.” I heard
a click as the line went dead and I dropped the phone on
the couch and went to get ready.
Hours later Charde, Amelia, Emily, and I were at some
place called ‘The Ranch’ that Charde’s cousin, Dillon,
owned. The Ranch wasn’t actually a ranch, in fact from the
outside it looked just like a normal bar, but when you
stepped inside everything changed and suddenly you
weren't in the city anymore. Instead you found yourself
transported to an older time where everyone wore cowboy
boots with spurs.
“Okay, if I win,” Dillon said looking at me, “you have
to…” he frowned looking around the room. His eyes
rested on Charde and then a sly, amused smile spread
across his lips. Immediately I knew what he was going to
say even before he said it. “Make out with Charde,” he
burst out laughing.
Charde only rolled her eyes at him from the table as the
rest of the girls burst out laughing. Just then one of the
bartenders brought our drinks at our table and Dillon and
I began walking to it, leaving the game of pool we were
playing.
“Charde,” I said and picked up my shot glass staring at
her. Dillon was at my side grinning. “Your cousin wants
us to make out if I lose.” I then turned to Dillon when all
Charde did was smile at me. “What do I get if I win?”
“Free drinks for the entire night,” he smiled.
“Hey, we’re already getting that,” Emily put in, and I
was glad because I was about to agree. Emily was the only
one of us that wasn’t a little drunk. Since she was the
driver for the night, she was sipping on some nonalcoholic drink that smelled like strawberries. The rest of
us were on our fifth shot of either vodka or tequila. I
didn’t know what I was drinking anymore. It had all
blurred together.
“If Jen wins, you have to stand on the pool table and
strip down to your underwear,” Amelia hiccupped, “while
singing ‘I’m too sexy’ by Right Said Fred.”
“You’re on!” Dillon shouted confidently pointing at
Amelia.
I was going to lose. We were both fighting to pocket
the black ball and this was our last chance. Dillon had to
make it or he knew I would. He held out his shot glass in
front of him. “Whether winning or losing, may we always
have great company,” he cheered.
“Hear, hear” Amelia giggled and touched her glass to
his as we gulped down our drinks.
“Miss Jenifer, we have a game to finish,” Dillon smiled
as he took my hand and began to lead me back to the pool
table.
He dropped my hand and leaned over the table,
focusing on making the shot. “Don’t hurt yourself,
Dillon,” Amelia snickered now at my side. Dillon didn’t
react to her, instead he stayed focused, his eyes on the
black ball in front of us.
I swallowed; I was going to lose. In my head, I could
see him gently pulling his hand back, then he would shoot
the black ball directly into the pocket he was aiming for. I
stood at the side waiting to lose with as much dignity as I
could.
“Ah ha!” he shouted as the black ball did exactly what
he wanted. He held the pool cue over his head with both
hands and began dancing in a circle. At his crazy dance, I
was suddenly laughing so hard that I could barely breathe.
“Best ‘cuz, lovely friend of best ‘cuz – do your thing.”
“I need another shot,” I muttered turning to Charde
smiling apologetically.
* * *

I found myself walking down the long corridor towards
the bedrooms. As I walked, I tried to make as little noise as
possible, but that wasn’t going too well. I had no balance
and my feet felt weird under me. I kept swaying, and every
now and then I knocked into something.

When I got to my bedroom door, I paused for just a
fraction of a second. Then without thinking I decided on a
whim, opening the opposite door and walked into Eric’s
room. Everything around me was spinning but I was in
bliss so I didn’t care. Somehow I managed to make it to
the bed without hurting anything in the room and I
dropped down on it. I stayed there for a minute, glaring at
the boring ceiling.

After a while I propped myself up to face Eric. Leaning
onto him I whispered, “Eric,” into what I thought was his
ear. “Wake up.” He wasn’t getting up. “Eric!” I screamed
poking him somewhere and finally he turned to me. I
giggled “Hello.”

“Did you just get home?” he asked sleepily, rubbing his
eyes.
“Yes,” I nodded staring at him. “Are you mad?” I
dropped down on the bed still staring at him. I couldn’t
pull my eyes away.
“Why would I be mad?” He got up off the bed and
opened the curtains, letting the moonlight brighten the
room. He was shirtless and the light touched him
everywhere, making him look like a silver God. I wanted
to touch him everywhere too, I was jealous of the
moonlight.
“I went out and left you a note. People hate when I do
that.” I felt him sit at the edge of the bed and then he
began to unzip my boots, pulling them off one after the
other.
“You mean the post-it that said ‘Out with Charde.’”
Instead of answering him, I let out a breath and my eyes
closed. Seconds later I felt Eric next to me and I opened
my eyes to find him staring at my face. “No, I’m not mad.”
Somehow our legs were tangled together, but I liked it so I
didn’t pull away from him. I wanted to be closer to him. “I
checked in on you a few times through Emily. I knew you
were safe,” he told me and I frowned at that, knowing I
should feel something about it. I didn't though, all I felt
was blissful.
“Is it an Eric thing, or a pureblood thing?” I asked and
his facial expression morphed into one of confusion. “I
mean you’re just so hot.” Eric only laughed at me and I
frowned at him. “I’m serious, Eric. Do you know what I
think...? I’ll tell you what I think anyway…” I said before
he could answer.
“I think… I think that God, He took his time creating
you… and not just your body, everything else too. He
sculpted you out perfectly and carefully, making sure He
made no mistakes.”
“Why do you think that?” he whispered. I realized that
I had closed my eyes again so I opened them. I wanted to
see him.
“Oh you know,” I giggled, “you’ve got this God-like
perfection thing going on for you. Your smile is like the
sun. You hardly ever get mad at me and even I know I can
be a bitch most of the time. You would do anything for
Christy. I’m sorry for the ass that ever hurts her… oh and
your body can melt a girl’s heart.”
“Really,” he chuckled.
“Yep…” I giggled again feeling myself nod. “And your
laugh makes me smile… I have trouble being around you
and not ripping your clothes off, especially now, that the
blood thing is stronger… I don’t tell you these things
because I don’t like you very much… But God do I like
you,” I snickered.
Eric laughed a small, warm laugh. “You’re drunk, Jen,
go to sleep or you’ll say something you’ll regret,” he
smiled.
“Do you want to know a secret, Eric? I’m going to tell
you a secret. I… Fuck, I can’t remember,” I frowned.
“Sorry.”
“That’s fine, Jen.”
“I’ll tell you another secret,” I smiled. I scooted closer
to him. “I made out with Charde tonight,” I whispered
laughing.
“You made out with Charde?” he shouted. “I don't
know if I feel really jealous that you made out with her, or
that I wasn't there to see it... How much did you drink?”
“I don’t know, I’m drunk,” I snorted. “I lost track…
but that’s not the secret. The secret is that I’ve never gone
on a date, which is stupid because I’m getting hitched,” I
hiccupped.
“Really? Daren never took you on a date?”
“Nope,” I answered popping the P. “We went out, but
never a date. He was my best friend… we always did stuff
together.”
“Tomorrow I’ll take you on a date. How does that
sound?”
“Nope,” I yawned.
“Why?”
I opened my eyes to face him. “Why can’t marriage be
enough?” I groaned and yawned again. “You want to date
me too, Eric? Oh why don’t you just screw me and done,”
I laughed. That sounded like fun. “Oh wait… that’s not a
bad idea…” I was serious now.
“Having sex or dating me?”
“Sex, of course,” I forced my eyes open for a brief
moment and saw him looking at my face.
“I don’t think so, Jen, I’m not going to sleep with you
until you decide you want more.”
Technically no one would be sleeping. I laughed at that
thought. “You are such a chick. Have you never had
meaningless sex?” I murmured into his chest.
“Have you?”
“No,” I shook my head and I felt him let out a breath.
“But I hear it can be fun…”
“Well I have, and it’s not that much fun… I don’t want
our first time together to be meaningless. I don’t want just
sex from you, Jenifer.”
“Oh, I remember now... that secret,” I whispered. “I
don’t hate you, Eric,” I yawned, snuggling closer to him.
Sleep was coming now. “I was only angry, but I’m not
anymore. I could never hate you, you make me laugh, you
know me, you have seen me for who I am… and you
accept me…” I sighed. I was beginning to slur my words
now, and my voice was barely audible, but I had to tell him
now. In this drunken bliss, I wasn’t afraid anymore. I was
invincible
“You’ve been there for me… I was shutting everyone
out, but you never left me… Eric I-” I was cut off by
another yawn. Sleep was heavy on me now. I could hardly
move my lips. “Eric… I think… that… I’m falling…”
“Jen?” I heard him say, but I couldn’t answer him.
“Fuck, Jen, don't you fall asleep now,” he demanded,
poking my ribcage. I moaned, batting his hand away yet
snuggling closer to him. “Say it, you’re falling in love with
me, right? That’s your secret, you’re falling for me..?”