'Relive'

Chapter 7 - Part 1

"What’s wrong love?" Tom asked as i poured him a cup of coffee with no sugars, doctors orders. He’s really kind and friendly. Always asking me how I am, and if i need any help not to bother to ask him. He was kind, "something sure seems to be bothering you. My wife used to have that same look on her face when she's angry or worried." he said as he blew on his coffee and took a sip.

He is always comparing me to his wife and whenever he speaks of her, it’s always in the past, like she doesn’t anymore. Maybe she left him, or maybe she died.  "Oh nothing just a little misunderstanding, nothing major" I wish it wasn’t major. If I my hands on Desiree right now I swear, I might kill her, slap that double face of hers. It’s one thing saying a word behind my back, but this, this is beyond jealousy. Desiree has always been a bitch but man she's capable of getting what she wants, Jonah.

***

Me and Desiree go way back. I first saw her at Cher's 15th birthday party. They knew each other from drama club. Boy she sure knows how to put on a mask. Long story short, Desiree had a crush on Jonah that time, but i never knew and come to think of it i never really cared. Then we became friends, me, Cher and Desiree. The three musketeers. And even though we got closer, she never opened up to us about her crush, so we only had suspicions.

One day, we were at this school party, it was more of a gathering than a party. We were sitting on the gym floor in a circle playing drinking games with no alcohol. We were playing the famous truth or dare, and this guy asked Desiree to kiss Jonah. It was just a simple peck and she refused to. I remember her saying, "Ew no! I don’t like him, Lena does’’. She turned everything on me and I never said anything about liking him because I never did. I never did at that time; he was an asshole with a capital A.  So Ryan, (the guy that dared Desiree) dared me to take her dare.

 So  Ryan (the guy that dared Desiree), dared me to kiss Jonah. And i did. I remember how I felt. At first I was like, let it be fast and quick, just whip the bandage off and get over with it. I remember it all clear till this day. He got up and walked towards me. He gave me his hand and helped me get up on my feet. Jonah stood in front of me, giving his back to the rest of the circle, placed his hand on my back and slowly pulled me close to him. He ran his hand through my hair and brought it to rest behind my neck. He got closer and closer until our lips met. He released his hand from the back of my neck and trailed it down to my back. He deepened the kiss and breathed heavenly and as he did , he pulled me up, feet separated from the ground. That moment, I felt, i felt different. About two seconds ago i couldn’t care less about him. And then, I wanted him to tell me everything. His story, his fears, everything. And then, Jonah ended the kiss and headed back to his seat, without a word exchanged. He left me there standing, muted. I couldn’t speak, i was speechless! The rest of the night was really awkward, we kept catching each other looking at each other and then shyly looking away and smiling. That's how Jonah and I met. Something i should add is the Jonah was my first proper 'first kiss'. My first was when i was younger, and to be honest it was nothing compared to this. Also, Jonah knew what he was doing, he was two years older than me making him more experienced I suppose. Over the years, we were never boyfriend-and-girlfriend, we were like friends that hook up from time to time, we had benefits. At first I was ok with it, but as the days went by, I started to develop feelings for him, strong feelings. I never told Cher and Desiree of our little arrangement, so at a certain point i don’t blame Desiree for lusting over him.

It all came down on Christmas eve. At my home town, there was this small pub for teens, and everyone my age would secretively steal their parents’ bottle of wine or spirits and spike each other’s drinks.  We were all having fun, dancing and drinking ‘punch’. As the clock ticked midnight, I felt a hand grabbing my waist and pulling me towards, ‘’I need to give your Christmas present’’ he said as he kissed my check. It was Jonah, I remember his voice and the feeling he left on me every time his lips touched my flesh. Cher looked at me confused as I repeatedly told her for a millionth time that we are just close friends while Desiree had the look of a jealous bitch. I remember him grabbing me and pulling me to a corner and kissed me forehead. I didn’t want to do this anymore, I was his object and I wasn’t going to stand by it. So I had made a promise to myself to stop all of this as at the end, I’m the one that’s going to get hurt so I said to him, ‘’Jonah I can’t do this anymore,’’