The Love Curse

 (Check out the sweet trailer a fan made me [it's under the old book name Cupidity, and my old author name R.Lynn]-------->)

WHEN LOVE LOSES ITS WILL

Friend or enemy? Rachel sank deeper into the taxi’s back seat as it pulled up to the curb. She didn’t dare look out the window for fear of catching the angered glare of the tall blonde pacing back and forth on the street corner. She knew that walk-- shoulders back, arms crossed, quick determined steps. It seemed that today was…Frenemy.

Rachel sighed in defeat and pushed herself up, flashing a strained smile to the cab driver watching her curiously through his rearview mirror. Depending on the day, or more precisely the moment, the tall blonde-- Marissa Bale-- could be the best or, most maddening friend Rachel had.

“Sorry. The traffic…” Rachel rushed to explain as she handed the driver her fare and attempted to exit the taxi at the same time. The corner of her blazer caught on the door handle yanking her backwards and sending her stumbling, rear first, to the ground.

“Classy,” Marissa huffed, her deep brown eyes studying Rachel as she struggled to unhook herself from the door. Marissa adjusted the gold, blinged-out Hermes purse on her shoulder and casually inspected her manicured nails as she waited for Rachel.

In an awkward motion of bending in ways a body was not created to do, Rachel finally managed to slip free. The fight of blazer-verses-taxi left pieces of her muddy brown hair flopping wildly about. She brushed the unruly locks from her face, and shoved them back into her ponytail.  Somehow along the way, her skirt managed to slide up and expose the athletic shorts she smuggled underneath. Upon seeing the shorts, Marissa eyes widened in disgust-- she wouldn’t be caught dead wearing anything of the sort.

“Seriously, Rach?” She shook her head and turned away giving Rachel the opportunity to take her in. The blonde stood a good foot taller than Rachel and her height only added to the fact that she looked like a model in her school uniform.  The white dress shirt clung to her perfect curves, covered by a blue blazer that was meticulously pressed and fastened with gold buttons; her matching skirt accentuated her long legs. She managed to pull off the uniform, make it look like an outfit she chose to wear. Unlike Rachel, whose uniform was oversized, un-tucked, unbuttoned and now ripped.

Rachel hurried to dust off her backside and straighten out her skirt. The cab driver tapped impatiently on the steering wheel as she collected her things.

Marissa’s eyes widened and she turned around. “Is he tapping?”

“Listen Rissa, it’s--“

“I hate that!” She started in a determined march to the driver’s door but was stopped by Rachel.

“Please, let this one go.”

“Let it go?” Marissa complained, “Nobody gets away with treating you like that.”

“Oh really?” Rachel pursed her lips trying not to laugh.

“Really.” Marissa winked at Rachel and leaned into the window. Turning back to add, “nobody but me.”

 Rachel shook her head as she watched Marissa readying for an attack.

“Listen buddy,” the blonde said. “Did my friend tip you?”

The cab driver, having heard the entire conversation, adjusted in his seat. “Well, uh.”

“Well uh, what? Did she or didn’t she?” Marissa continued.

“Well, yeah--“

“She paid you and you’re rushing her. Thanks to you she’s gone and got her coat stuck in your door.”

“I uh--“

“You uh, I uh. You really got to be a little more patient.”

Rachel tried to cover her laugh with a cough, which earned her another defiant stare from Marissa. She ignored the look and grabbed the last of her things. The cab driver, noticing Rachel had nothing left in his cab, left squealing out of the parking spot before the door was fully closed.

“Jerk!” Marissa hollered, grabbing a book out of Rachel’s hand and throwing it after the cab.

“Hey! That was my--“ Rachel was cut off by Marissa’s icy glare.

“It was necessary.” She squinted, taking in Rachel’s frustrated expression. “Fine!” she sighed. “I’ll buy you a new one.”

“Thank you,” Rachel said with a grin.

Marissa shrugged her shoulders and pawed at the torn fabric, that flopped about on Rachel’s pocket, her eyes trailing up to Rachel’s bird’s nest hair.