The Wannabes (6 page)

CORBIN FELT AS if she had been
having an out of body experience for the past few weeks. No contact with Rob,
her Mom had progressed further into Alzheimer’s, and sexual tension ensued at
the apartment. She kept to herself and spent most of her free time in her room.
Normally she would have been excited for the weekend to come and to see her
favorite band Filthy Wilma, but she couldn’t seem to get out of the funk she
was in. It was Saturday and she opted to do a little overtime. She clocked out
at work grabbed her favorite beer and headed for home.

Ryder had gotten a job at RJP the local grain processing
plant and Stella had been busying herself with the cowboy she met at Rebels.
Alex was working more hours so that left Corbin alone a lot. She did enjoy the
quiet but was really tired of her and her brain working overtime. She opened
the door to the apartment and made her way to the kitchen. She put her beer in
the fridge, grabbed one and popped the top. She gulped down a hefty amount of
the liquor then let out a burp.

“Excuse you,” Ryder said from the bathroom. She jumped, not
expecting anyone to be home. He opened the bathroom door still wet from the
shower, sporting a shorter haircut. He flipped his hair around. “What do you
think?”

“Huh?” She was too busy taking in his body.

“My hair,” he pointed to his head. He gave her a crooked
smile.

“Oh yeah, looks good.” She gulped down some more beer. She
tried to keep her eyes on his hair but they disobeyed her. He walked back into
the bathroom.

“Are you going to Rebels tonight?”

“Maybe.” She picked at the beer label. “Are you?”

“I need a night out. I thought you liked Filthy Wilma?”

“I do.” Corbin thought of Mason Andrews, the lead singer of
Filthy Wilma. He was tall and muscular and had dark hair that was always wildly
messed up. If you looked up the definition of bad boy in the dictionary, his
picture would be there. Well, until now, Ryder just may have beat Mason for
that title. She smiled to herself.

“So then go.” He walked out wearing jeans and no shirt. “I
will buy you a…what was it?”

“A Nerd,” Corbin smirked.

“Yeah.” He snapped his fingers. He opened the fridge and
pulled out a bottle of her beer. “Is it ok if I drink one of these?” He cocked
his head sideways.

“Sure, if you get me another.” Corbin finished off her
bottle. He handed her another then slid up on the counter. They shared a moment
of awkward silence. Corbin considered leaving the room until he spoke up again.
“This stuff is pretty good,” he said after taking a sip. Corbin nodded and then
leaned against the doorway. He slid off the counter and walked to her. Corbin
froze. His scent enveloped her senses.

“You smell like fruit roll ups,” Corbin blurted.

“Do you like?” Ryder wiggled his eyebrows. Corbin laughed
and stared into his green eyes. “I just picked it up today. I figured if all
the hot girls in River Junction like drinking Nerds, and other fruity drinks,
this stuff would make me irresistible.” Corbin felt herself flush. Ryder placed
his free hand against the wall behind her. He set his beer down and ran his
finger down her cheek to her lips. He looked into her eyes then brought his
lips to hers. The kiss was so gentle, Corbin felt as if her knees were going to
buckle. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her closer to him. “I’ve
missed your lips, Corbin,” he groaned. He took Corbin’s beer from her and
pushed her up against the wall the kiss intensified. He grinded against her, a
moan escaped from Corbin’s lips. She twisted her hands in his hair as he kissed
and sucked on her neck.

“I could take you right here,” he said in a low growl.

“Then do it,” Corbin whispered. She felt his hands go up her
shirt and caress her breasts. He playfully teased each nipple. Then his hands
slowly slid to the top of her pants. He undid them and slid his hand inside.
Corbin bit her lip to hold back a moan.

“Oh shit, Corbin,” he groaned. He lifted her up and began
working on his own zipper. The sound of the front door opening made them both
stop. Ryder gave her bottom lip a little bite them moved in to the bathroom.
Corbin tugged her sweatshirt down over her open pants.

“What’s up with you?” Stella asked eyeing Corbin. Corbin
gathered her breath.

“Just another shitty day.” She picked up her beer and took a
huge drink. Corbin giggled; she felt giddy, almost happy. Ryder opened up the
bathroom door. His hair was wet again; he looked at Corbin and gave her a wink.

“Are you going out tonight, or are staying home to grovel?”
Stella asked her.

“Yeah, I think I will go out tonight,” Corbin nodded.

“Good, I am sick of your negative energy bringing the whole
apartment down.” Stella grabbed a beer then pulled some weed out of her bra.
“Anyone care to partake?”

“I’ll take some of that, I need to mellow out.” Ryder looked
directly at her and licked his lips. Corbin felt herself blush.

“Nah, I will pass this time,” She found herself giggling
again.

“Are you sure you aren’t stoned now?”

“She could be a little light headed we did share some stuff
a little bit ago,” Ryder said straight faced. Corbin put her hand over her
mouth.

“Oooh Corbin, can I have some?” Stella asked. Corbin and
Ryder burst into laughter.

“You will have to ask Ryder if he wants to share.”

“Well…” Stella put her hands on her hips.

“All out for now, but maybe I will get some more, later.” Ryder
gave her a sly smile. Corbin glanced his way then to the floor. Was she really
going to go through with it? Would she find the courage again to let him take
her? She wanted him to do all kinds of naughty things to her. She wanted to
hear his moans in her ear. His heavy breathing as he thrust into her. Her
breath caught in her throat.

“Guess what!” Stella shouted. She clapped her hands together
and jumped up and down.

“Hmmm?” Corbin swallowed hard, willing herself to maintain
control. She was ready to mount Ryder as he sat on the counter.

“I talked to my parents today and they said we could use the
cabin over the 4
^th
of July weekend.”

“Cabin?” Ryder slid off the counter and took the pipe from
Stella.

“Yep, at Rock Lake.”

“Sounds fun.” He took a long hit from it.

“We went last year and had a blast,” Stella replied.

“When is the 4
^th
this year?”

“It’s on a Thursday, which sucks balls. But I figured we
could leave like right after everyone gets off work on Friday, like around six
or something.”

“What about Alex? She usually works every weekend.”

“She comes and goes,” Stella shrugged.

“Corbin, are you going?” Ryder gave her a little nudge.

“Maybe.” The thought of being at the cabin with Ryder set
more fantasies in motion.

“With Rob out of the picture you can actually have fun this
year. “

“Who says he’s out of the picture?” Corbin cocked her head at
Stella.

“Oh come on. It has been two weeks since he has talked to
you. Give it up girl.” Stella rolled her eyes.

“So, he just needs time to...” Corbin began but Stella cut
her off.

“Go screw around with other chicks? You need to pull your
head out of your ass.” Stella yanked the pipe away from Ryder and stormed off
to her bedroom. Corbin stood stunned.

“You ok?” Ryder asked. He put his hand on her back.

“Don’t.” Corbin moved away from him.

“I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but all the
signs are in front of your face.”

“What signs?”Corbin crossed her arms over her chest.

“Everyone around you sees the real Rob. I guess you need to
open your eyes a little more often.”

“This coming from a guy who has never had a relationship in
his life, that’s priceless,” Corbin huffed.

“Your right, I have no room to talk. You are a good person,
Corbin. You shouldn’t allow people to step all over you.” Ryder ran a hand
through his hair. Corbin stared at him unable to speak. She felt a tear slip
down her cheek. He was right, for so many years she had tried to be the person
everyone around her expected her to be. She was tired of that life, so very
tired.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Ryder walked to
her. He reached out and wiped the tear away.

“It is time for a change,” she said in a low whisper. She
wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. She felt his arms
go around her.

“What in the hell is going on?” Rob’s voice rang out. Ryder
yanked away from her, his hands in the air.

“We were just talking, dude.” He moved to the furthest side
of the kitchen. Rob followed him. Corbin stepped in front of Rob.

“Who the hell gave you the right to just walk into my
apartment?” She crossed her arms. Rob glared at Ryder, then met Corbin’s gaze.

“You, remember?” He jangled his keys in front of her face. Corbin
yanked the keys from him, found the apartment key and removed it. She shoved it
in her pocket.

“That problem is fixed. You can leave now.”

“So are you fucking him now?” Rob pointed to Ryder.

“That’s none of your business, ass.” Corbin’s heart hammered
in her chest. Rob pushed past her. At that moment everything went into slow
motion. Rob shoved Ryder in the wall, Ryder shoved him back. The sounds of them
screaming at each other filled the apartment. Then she watched as Rob drew back
and punched Ryder in the eye. Ryder put his hand up to his eye and uttered an
evil laugh.

“Game on, motherfucker.” With one sweep of Ryder’s leg, Rob
landed hard on his back. In an instant Ryder pinned to the floor. He gave Rob a
couple of hard hits in the ribs then twisted around. Rob’s arm bent in a very
unnatural way. Rob’s face was beet red and he was sweating profusely. “Say
uncle,” Ryder said between gritted teeth.

“Ryder, stop!” Alex shouted. Ryder released his hold and
then after he stood, gave Rob a solid kick in the stomach. She kneeled down
next to Rob, who was curled up in the fetal position.

“Oh snap,” Stella mumbled beside her. Corbin looked from Rob
to Ryder, unsure how to handle what just went down.

“Can someone please fill me in on this?” Alex asked. Rob
slowly stood, holding his ribs. He glanced Corbin’s way, then to Ryder. Corbin
looked to the floor then went to her room; she pulled the promise ring from her
jewelry box then went back into the kitchen.

“We are over, Rob. Get out,” Corbin’s voice cracked as she
spoke. She handed him the ring.

Keep the piece of shit,” he huffed. Corbin eyed him and
nodded, on a whim she opened the garbage can and dropped the ring inside. She
gathered up more courage and pointed to the door.

“Go.” Tears welled up in her eyes. This was it, she was the
one who was in control this time.

Rob looked around at everyone and with a smirk left the
apartment.

“You did the right thing.” Stella patted her arm. Corbin
wiped her eyes.

“Then why does it feel like my heart is being ripped from my
chest?” Corbin sobbed.

“Because you loved him, but he couldn’t love you back,”
Stella replied with a shrug.

Leave it to Stella to put things into such a simple
perspective
.

“Ryder, are you ok?” Corbin asked between sobs.

“I think so, but I am sure I will have a pretty black eye
soon.” Alex pressed a washrag onto Ryder’s eye making him wince.

“Ok, so start from the beginning. Who the hell started this
stupid shit? And Ryder, if I wouldn’t have stopped you, you could have broken
Rob’s arm,” Alex lectured.

“It isn’t Ryder’s fault. Rob jumped him. He was just
defending himself.” Corbin grabbed some paper towels then sat down at the
table.

“Next question, why did Rob jump you?” Alex was a master in
interrogation skills. She always made Corbin feel like she was sitting in the
principal’s office. Ryder seemed less intimated.

“Same shit. He thinks we’re fucking,” he shrugged.

“I don’t get it. I can’t figure out why he would think
that.”

“When Rob barged in he caught Ryder giving me a hug.”

“Why were you hugging?” Alex slapped Ryder’s arm.

“Probably because of the stuff I said to her,” Stella chimed
in. Corbin looked at her, Stella gave her a wink.

“Stella said some pretty mean things to Corbin, so she
hugged me. That’s it.” Ryder refolded the washrag and placed it back on his
eye. Corbin looked to Alex who eyed her expectantly.

“Yea, that’s it.” Corbin blew her nose.

Please stop asking questions

“Hmm…” Alex began tapping her foot.

“Come on, Sis, from what I’ve heard Rob has always been a
hothead. It was just a hug, nothing else. Geesh.” Ryder stood and took Alex’s
hand.

“Ok… ugh…” Alex looked up at the ceiling; Ryder gave her a
sideways hug.

“Seeing Rob getting his ass handed to him made my day.”
Stella had a huge grin on her face.