Love and Truth (25 page)

I waited to see if she would give me a chance to speak, but it never came. “Well, you coming or what? She smiled brightly, as if beams of sunshine were shining from her joyful expression. This chick was way too smiley for me.

“Um, no. I’m not going to any parties this weekend. I have plans this weekend, so it’s cool.” She stuck out her bottom lip.

“That’s no fun. You should come party with us for real. Cancel your plans.”

I began to reply when she interrupts me. “Okay, listen you breathe a word of what I’m about to tell you and I’ll totally get my ass handed to me. But I’m supposed to bring you with me. Chandler made me promise.”

He what?
I felt like I was back in high school for a moment.

“Stacy, I’m sorry you agreed to something that’s not going to happen. Chandler and I are just friends. Nothing more. He should’ve never asked you to bring me in the first place.”

Her Lucky Charms smiled faded and she grew huffy, like a little kid about to throw a tantrum.

“You’re being a stick in the mud, okay? You don’t want to come? Fine, your loss. If you want to make friends around here you might want to consider being a little more sociable.”

She walked away toward the glass doors and I watched her bouncy head turn toward me once again. “If you, like, change your mind or something, you can totally still come with me, so think on it, okay?”

I rolled my eyes. She was exhausting to be around. I didn’t know who could be that happy all of the time.

I turned and saw Jonathan’s parked car, rays of sun gleaming from its hood. I smiled inwardly and butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I walked through the doors and darted my eyes in search of him. Students milled around the hallways.

“Hey, princess.” I turned and saw Chandler smiling. “How’s it going?” He draped his long arm over my shoulders. I turned toward him and shrugged to get away. I saw that he was holding an apple in his other hand. He took a big bite and grinned. “Wait, what’s wrong? You crabby this morning? Need Chandler to cheer you up?”

I had never heard anyone refer to themselves in the third person. It was an obnoxious habit.

“No, Chandler doesn’t need to cheer me up. I’m just tired and a little annoyed with you.” Just then I saw Jonathan approaching from down the hall. He looked unhappy when he saw me with Chandler.

“Why on earth would you be annoyed with me, princess?” He stepped in front of me as I attempted to step around him, and he started walking backwards. “Wait, tell me why you’re annoyed with me.”

I stopped walking and felt awash in anxiety as Jonathan got closer. Chandler reached out and put his hands on my shoulders. He leaned in, getting way too close to my face.

“Chandler, you’re all up in my personal space right now. Please get out of my bubble and I might be able to explain.” In a flash Jonathan was upon us. I secretly prayed that he would hold it together, because I knew if he jumped Chandler in the hallway I was going to die.

“Is there a problem here, Mr. Edwards?” He looked back and forth between us. Chandler straightened and removed his hands from my shoulders.

“There’s no problem, Mr. H. Princess here is just explaining to me why she’s crabby this morning. And I’m trying to cheer her up.” He winked at me and I knew there was going to be trouble.

“Princess?” Jonathan asked.

“Yeah, she says she hates it when I call her that, but I think she secretly likes it. It fits her, don’t you think, Mr. H?”

“Actually, no, Chandler I don’t,” I said. “I don’t enjoy it. I have to get to the locker room and get ready now.” Jonathan glared at me and I started to walk away. But Chandler grabbed my arm suddenly.

“Excuse me. I said I’m–”

In the blink of an eye, Jonathan grabbed Chandler’s hand and twisted it slightly

“Get your damn hand off of her, twinkle toes, before I break it in half. Got me?” He stared him down like a dog and Chandler whimpered.

“Hey, you better let go of me or I’ll sue you and this school for everything you’ve got. My mom works at JAG and your ass’ll go down if you break one bone in my hand, you self-righteous prick.”

I couldn’t believe he could be so nasty. I didn’t know how earnest his threats were, but I didn’t want any harm to come to Jonathan.

“Hey, Chandler. Calm down.” I looked up at Jonathan with pleading eyes. “Mr. Hayes, please. It’s okay, really. I can handle this on my own. I appreciate you looking out for me. I know you have to look out for the students, but I assure you that I’ve got this under control.”

Jonathan scowled and let go of Chandler’s hand.

Chandler shook his hand out. “Fuck. You’re mental, dude. Get a grip. That shit hurt.” Jonathan leaned inches away from Chandler’s face.

“You’re lucky that I’m a civilized man, and that we’re in a place of business. Otherwise this situation would’ve gone much differently. Keep your hands off of Ms. Harrison, do you understand me? And don’t call her princess anymore. Matter of fact, stay away from her altogether.”

Please, she likes me,” he said, smirking. “Plus I think it’s up to her whether I stay away or not.”

I wanted to knock the hell out of him. “Actually, I think that’s best for now. I have to focus on classes and what I was going to say to you earlier was that I don’t appreciate you scheming to get Stacey to bring me to your party. Seems a little high schoolish, if you ask me. Plus I’m spending the weekend with my
boyfriend
.”

I smiled curtly and glanced at Jonathan. His expression relaxed and my heart rate slowed.

“Your boyfriend? You didn’t tell me you had a boyfriend!”

“My personal life is just that. Personal. Why do you think I told you yesterday that we could only be friends?”

His shoulders drooped and the wind was clearly taken out of him. He shook his head and looked at me. “Well, princess, whenever you’re done with him, Chandler will be here to step in. I’m a patient man, so have a good weekend with your boyfriend.”

I couldn’t believe his nerve. Jonathan tensed and he clenched his fists. I knew I had to act fast. I grabbed Jonathan’s hand quickly.

“Mr. Hayes, can you show me where the meditation room is?” I asked. I tugged him away from where he stood, planted and glared at Chandler. He finally broke eye contact with Chandler and snapped out of his cloud of rage.

“Sure, it’s this way,” he mumbled, looking back in Chandler’s direction one last time.

“You need to calm down,” I whispered as we walked away. “That was nearly an epic disaster.”

“If you had any clue how fucking bad I wanted to kill that motherfucker just now you would applaud my self-control.” Here he was again, aggressive and foul-mouthed.

We turned a corner and the hallway was empty. He stopped and looked at me, fury swimming in his eyes.

“Promise me if he ever lays another hand on you that you’ll tell me immediately. I need you to promise, okay?”

“Okay, I promise,” I relented and his shoulders relaxed. A rush of air left his chest. He ran his fingers through his hair. “I have to go, and you’re almost late for meditation. I gave my notice and they accepted it, but they need me to work the rest of the day.”
Great, more opportunity for Chandler to act like an ass and push Jonathan to the brink of World War III
, I thought. I needed to steer clear for the rest of the day.

“Okay.” I looked around apprehensively to make sure no one can see us. I reached out and placed my hand on his cheek. “I’m
your
girl, remember? Forget about him and think about our date tonight and all of the other future nights and weekends we have to look forward to.”

“Okay,” he said.

I rose on my tip toes and kissed the top of his nose. “Now don’t let this ruin your day. The whole time I dance today, I’ll be dancing for you.” He smiled widely and the look in his eyes that I loved so much returned. Now I knew I’ve got him.
Score
!

“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll enjoy every second of it. Watching you dance is like watching a flame dance on water.” My heart quivered and I wished I could kiss him right there. I was putty in his hands when he talked like that. I smiled and bit my lower lip.

“Okay, I’ll see you tonight.” I walked away, even though it felt as if a resistance band was stretching between us, pulling me toward him. I fought the urge and kept walking.

Chapter Eighteen

The second day of class turned out to be just as draining. The tension ping-ponged between Jonathan and Chandler throughout the day and the hostility was palpable. When Jonathan wasn’t glaring at Chandler, he was watching my reflection in the mirrored studio walls. I danced well and felt good about my classes. I was already lined up to attend another school this fall here on the island, but I hoped to get picked up by a company. The only thing wrong with that scenario now was Jonathan. I wondered what would happen to us if I left to join a company. And what about when it was time for me to leave for the States? Fortunately, there was plenty of time to worry about all of that, but it bothered me to not have a plan. I liked having everything mapped out. Relinquishing control was really hard, but with Jonathan I was finding it to be a little easier each day.

I rode the bus home because there were lots of students near the bus stop and we didn’t want to take a chance him giving me a ride. I could tell he hated it, but I was glad he didn’t risk it. I made it safely to the Nakamuras and it was nice to relax in my room. I rummaged through my clothes trying to figure out what to wear on my first day, when I heard a light knock at my door. I opened the door and smiled.

“Emiko! I was hoping it was you.” I gave her a big American bear hug and she came in.

“Nicole, I’m glad you’re finally home. I’m guessing you and Jonathan are doing well since you stayed over.”

”Oh my God, Emiko. We’re better than good. I feel like a little kid in a candy store or something. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s so wonderful, like I’m floating.”

She giggled with me. I guessed I was going through the high school phase that I never experienced. At least that’s what it felt like, because I had seen this a million times in high school. Girls would always
gah gah
over boys, swooning with their friends and telling stories about their guys. I would listen and it would always make me nauseated. Now I was sitting here doing the same thing.

“So what’s this about him working at your school? That’s crazy.”

”I know, trust me. I about lost it when I saw him pull up in the parking lot. At first I thought he was following me, until I saw the look on his face when he saw me. He was just as shocked as I was. We had a huge fight, and he made me get in his car after class and he took me to his beach house. From there…well you can guess what happened, seeing as how we’re together now.”

She looked at me with a quizzical expression and I shook my head.

“We didn’t have sex, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I didn’t say a word,” she said, laughing.

“You didn’t have to. It was all over your face.

“Okay, maybe I was thinking it. But if you say you didn’t, then okay.”

“Do you think I’m lying? Because it’s the truth. I’m still very much a virgin!”

”No, it’s just hard to believe that he spent the night with you and didn’t
sleep
with you.”

I thought she had changed her opinion of him, but realized maybe she hadn’t.

“Emiko, he’s not like that with me. To be honest, I’m the one who tried to move in that direction last night and he stopped me. I haven’t even seen him completely naked yet, for goodness sake. He refused to take his boxers off. We showered together and he left them on the entire time.”