Fiendish: A Twisted Fairytale (37 page)

“But still, I would like to know.
 Please.” 

Seth took off his sunglasses and tossed them on the blanket. “I
’m going for a swim. Would you like to join me?”

“No, I want you to answer my question,” I replied, challenging him.

“And I want to go for a swim. I’ll be back.” 

He leaned down and gave me a kiss on top of my head before strolling off towards the water.
 I sat watching as he walked away, leaving me without what I thought would be a simple answer. Frustrated, I took my iPod out of my bag before curling up on the blanket. The music starting flowing into my ears, and I bopped along to the beat, getting lost in my own little world. I was rudely brought out of it when I was pelted with sand. The ball from the volleyball court landed near me. 

“I am so sorry,” said the young guy that ran over to me.
 “It didn’t hit you did it? We yelled look out but…”  He stopped and smiled as I pulled my earbuds out of my ear. “But I guess you didn’t hear us.”

“I guess not,” I replied, smiling.
 “I only got hit with the sand. I was more shocked than anything. No harm done.”

“Well, that
’s a relief. I’m Ray.” He flashed an adorable schoolboy grin at me while extending his hand.

“I
’m Calida. Nice to meet you.”

“You look familiar,” he said, not releasing my hand.
 “Are you in Professor Emerson’s Psych class?” 

I shook my head as I withdrew my hand. “Um, no, I
’m afraid you have me confused.”

“Well that
’s too bad. I would love to have you as a study buddy.” 

His comment made me smile.
 He was a cute guy and one who obviously spent time at the beach. His hair was a golden sun-kissed blonde and his chiseled muscles were well highlighted by his natural tan.

“Hey, come on, dude!”

“You’re holding up the game.” His buddies yelled at him from the court, but he waved them off.

“Calida, Calida, most beautiful Calida.”

“Excuse me?” I asked, feeling myself blushing as usual.

“The meaning of your name,
well the Greek meaning anyway, most beautiful, and I have to say it most definitely fits you.” He flashed me another full watt smile, and all I could do was smile back in return. “Behind this handsome face lies a true geek full of unusual knowledge.” He offered up as an explanation for knowing something I didn’t even know about my name. “Are you sure I haven’t seen you around campus?”

 
“Yep, pretty sure.” 

He was about to say something else when I looked past him to see a very angry looking Seth approaching us.
 Seeing the look on his face, I felt my smile start to fade.

“Don
’t stop on my account. You seem to be enjoying your conversation.” He didn’t even look at Ray; his angry eyes were fixated on me. 

I swallowed hard as I watched Ray stand up, taking a few steps towards Seth.

“Hey man, I just wanted to make sure she was okay.”

“And why wouldn
’t she be?” 

Ray seemed to be the jock type; he was thicker and probably weighed more than Seth. However, the look that he received from him caused Ray to take a step back.
 

“Seth, it was nothing.
 He, um, the ball went wild and almost hit me. Ray was just being polite.” 

He cut his eyes over towards me then back to Ray. “Well
Ray,
are you satisfied that she is uninjured, or would you like to do a more thorough examination?” 

My face burned. I was mortified by his crude innuendo.

“Naw man, I’m good,” Ray replied, shifting uncomfortably. I guess he also picked up on Seth’s meaning. 

Once Ray left, I leaned over to pick up my cover up.
 Wordlessly, I put it on then started packing up to leave. I was humiliated and angry. Seth grabbed my wrist pulling me flush against his wet body. With his arm securely around my waist, I was trapped unless I wanted to make an even bigger scene. 

His lips crushed down on mine. It was a rough, angry kiss meant to prove a point to Ray and any other guy on this beach.
 

“I leave you alone for five minutes, and you take that time to throw yourself at the first dick that passes by,” he whispered angrily in my ear.

I pushed against his chest, wanting to be free. “Let me go!” I hissed through clenched teeth.

“Why, so you can pick up where you left off with Ray?
 Perhaps you should go give him your number. Or would a quickie in the bathroom be better?” 

Seth let me go, and I stumbled back, almost losing my footing.
 

“I almost got hit with the ball.
 He only wanted to know if I was okay. Why are you being such an ass?” I struggled to keep my voice low since we were already getting a few looks. 

Wanting desperately to leave, I turned to pick up my items.
 I gave the briefest of glances towards the volleyball court and saw that Ray and his friends were all looking in our direction. 

Seth noticed as well.
 I felt him lean in close. “Do you think your shining knight and his friends are going to come save you?” he hissed in my ear. 

I turned to glare at him. “Do I need saving?”
 

A wicked grin spread across his face that didn
’t reach his eyes. Seth reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “More than you know.” 

Something in the way he answered me gave me a moment of pause. Picking up my bag, I turned and quickly started walking back towards the condo. A sense of melancholy came over me, such a lovely day ruined in a span of about ten minutes.

***

That guy and his friends watched as Calida walked away. I kept my actions calm, gathering up the remaining items before following behind her. As she walked, I noticed her hand kept going to her cheek, I assumed wiping away tears.
 
You already warned her you don’t share. This was her fault not yours.

Seeing her with that guy pissed me off.
  She was laughing and enjoying the attention instead of letting him know she was taken. She’s mine. That fact should have been made clear, yet she didn’t do that. 

When I reached the house, she was shaking the door handle, trying to get it open, but it was locked. I pulled the keys out of the pocket on my swim trunks. She stepped away as I approached.

“Calida, I told you last week I don’t share.” 
Yes put her in her place. Make her understand. 

With tears still streaming she turned to look at me. “Between the two of us, you are the far more…experienced…person, yet you talk to me…you treat me like…” Her voice was shaky. She stopped to take a breath before continuing, “I
’ve done nothing to deserve to be made to feel like this, Seth.” 

Nothing!
 Nothing? She was practically throwing herself at that guy.
Unlocking the door, I threw it open so hard it bounced off the wall. Grabbing her arm, I pulled her inside, slamming the door closed behind me.

“Now,”
 I said, taking a deep breath. “You seem to think my attitude at the beach was unwarranted.”

Calida stalked over to the couch, taking a seat, refusing to acknowledge me.
 Her head hung down, causing her hair to become a curtain, blocking her face from my view.

“You were flaunting yourself in front of that boy, openly flirting with him while I was just a few feet away.
 That puts a huge dent in my level of trust for you and your behavior when I’m not around.”  Still she said nothing, but her knee began to bounce as she tightened her arms around her body. “You were there with
me
! You should have made that fact very clear to that boy and sent him on his way. But you didn’t. Do you have any idea how that makes me look?” 

A spot on her dress grew in dampness as she freely let the tears fall.
 Still she said nothing and refused to look at me. 
This is an act of defiance that can’t be tolerated! 

“Damn it, Calida! Are you a fucking mute now?
 Look at me!” 

Nothing.
 Finally with my frustration at its boiling point, I grabbed her shoulders, pulling her to feet. 

“Don
’t you have anything to say for yourself?” 

Taking a deep shaky breath, she lifted her gaze to meet mine finally. “I
’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry you have such a low opinion of me. Since I am apparently too promiscuous for you, maybe you should save yourself the fucking trouble and cut your losses now.” 

She pushed me hard against my chest. I stumbled back a step more from the shock of her outburst.
 

“
I
wasn’t flaunting anything! 
You
took off my cover up! I was talking to
you
, but
you
decided you’d rather go for a swim than answer my question! He talked to me. He was polite to me, and I was polite back. Why do you see it as me fucking him there on the beach?” 

It was my turn to be silent.
 Her outburst stunned me because I didn’t think she had it in her to have this much fire. However, I should have been open to anything given her other behavior this weekend. I liked the fire, but I needed to keep this a controlled burn instead of allowing it to become a wildfire. 

“Were you there with me?” I questioned.
 

She narrowed her eyes, but didn
’t answer. 

“Don
’t go quiet now. You had so much to say a few minutes ago so answer the damn question.”

“Yes, but…”

“No buts, you were there with me which means you should have acted like it.” 

Angrily, she wiped at the tears on her face trying to stand her ground as I advanced towards her.
 

“Why didn’t you?”
 My voice was low as we stood face to face.

She dropped her head, breaking from my gaze.
 Her hair once again became a curtain as she tried to block me out. Each second that ticked by increased my frustration level which was already at a dangerous level. 
She continues to defy you. Show her who you really are!
My hands balled into fists at my side. I fought to not touch her. I was too angry, and rough sex wouldn’t be enough. I wanted to hurt her, and I knew I would hurt her if I touched her now. I took a step back, needing distance between us.

“How can you not know by now what kind of person I am?”
 Her voice was so low that had I not been standing close, I wouldn’t have heard her. “It surprises me when people compliment me because I’m not used to it, but it takes more than that for me to ever be the woman you keep implying I am!” She chewed her lower lip and lifted her gaze to me. “I’ve given you no reason not to trust me, Seth. Yet you don’t, and that hurts.”

She paused, taking another shaky breath.
 “People are going to talk to me, Seth. 
Men
are going to talk to me, and they may even flirt. So, unless you plan on keeping me under lock and key in your basement, you’re going to have to not do this every time.” Her voice remained low mimicking a whisper, but I heard her loud and clear.

I smiled at the irony of her statement. Slowly reaching a hand towards her head, I brushed her hair back from her face.

“Lock and key, that idea is very, very appealing.”

I rubbed my thumb over her cheeks clearing, the tears from her perfect skin.
 She closed her eyes and let out a small sigh.

“May I go take a shower now?”

“You don’t have to ask permission, Calida.” 

She opened her eyes, showing a small spark of that anger again. “Don
’t I?” she replied before walking past me. 

Hearing the water running and knowing she was naked just a few feet away was temptation I didn
’t need. I was still angry; she still didn’t see what she did. 
Well, make her see.
 

I couldn
’t. If I went in there, I didn’t trust myself not to really hurt her. I needed to hit something, but I didn’t have that option. Knowing I needed to cool down before I spoke to her again, I headed out for a run.

Each stride brought me more frustration.
 I needed her to fully understand her actions, but she didn’t. I needed her to know her place and how she was expected to behave, but she didn’t. 
You haven’t made her. You have gone easy on her and look what it’s gotten you.
She’s not the same.
Why not? What makes her special?

I ran harder, I felt the burning in my legs as I pushed myself. It wasn
’t supposed to be like this. This was not what I had planned. 
She messes up your plans because you allow her to. You can’t control her. She’s challenging you and winning.
I stopped running, placing my hands on my thighs to catch my breath.