The Love I Lost

Chapter 13: The Salvatore and Ashwern Scandal

"That something did happen with you and Salvatore Saturday night."

"Actually, it was Sunday morning," I corrected, remembering Damon's words.

"Whatever! Same day! What happened, Liz?"

Lily bit her lip nervously, or even anxiously.

I sighed. "We danced---"

"You told us that already!" Lily whined.

"Shh," Greta scolded her. She looked at me to continue. I blew the hair out of my face in frustration. "Then we were kinda talking, being stupid, and...." I closed my eyes tight in a grimace, heat flooding to my cheeks. "We started making out behind the building."

Lily gasped and giggled while Greta did a 'uh-huh.' "I knew something like that had to have happened," she said.

"So why did you ask?" I was almost glaring at her, madder at myself, though.

"Because, Liz, I wanted you to tell me. Not some random girl squealing that Salvatore had a new girlfriend."

My fists clenched. "I'm not his girlfriend."

"Not yet," Lily giggled.

"Ugh! Let's just eat lunch, okay?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The cafeteria was abuzz with the new 'Salvatore and Ashwern Scandal.' I tried my best to ignore them, so did Lily. I was proud of her for not engaging into the new rumour. Only this one was more accurate. Damon knew how to play, even if it was dirty. Kissing me in front of everyone so they would say we were together, therefore it wouldn't be a secret if we were to 'get together.' So, so low. And yet so admiringly crafty.

I glanced at where he stood, leaning against the wall with a sly smirk on his face. He caught me staring at him and smirked wider. I looked away. There were whispers from the girls behind me, who had been watching my every move, along with Damon's.

"She's just being rebellious," I heard one of them saying. "She's only going out with him to piss her dad off. I mean, I would too if my dad were the principle."

Oh, the hell with it. "Hold this?" I asked Lily, handing her my food tray.

"Yeah, sure, but where---"

"Later," I said, walking away. Heads turned to watch me, but I ignored them. I was going to be done with this bologna. Tomorrow's latest scandal would be even better, one I could cope with.

'Salvatore and Ashwern Break It Off.' Now that was music to my ears.

I marched right up to Damon and grabbed his arm. "C'mon."

He followed, still smirking. Once we were in the abandoned hallway, he said, "Really, in a school? Aren't you naughty."

I glared at him. "I just want this over with."

"Can't take the publicity?"

I took a deep breath and opened the door to the gym. "No. Shut up," Without any other words, I grabbed him by the collar of his leather jacket and kissed him. Damon grabbed my waist and lifted my shirt over my head. I removed his jacket with somewhat shaky hands.

Oh, come one, Liz, I thought. It's not like you're doing this with the most hideous guy in the world. He's absolutely gorgeous, and every girl in the state wants him. They'd kill to be in your position.

But that's the thing. Even seeing his muscular bare chest, still, and making out with him, I still wasn't like the other girls.

You used to be, the voice in the back of my head was saying.

Flashback-

Andrew Huygens was the hottest guy in the tenth grade. Every girl wanted him. And I had him. We went to Karen Bailey's party Saturday night and got really drunk. I did, anyway, and that was enough for Andrew.

We were in one of the upstairs bedrooms, making out on the bed.

I giggled like a foolish girl. "Oh my god, Drew, you barely give me any air to breathe."

He chuckled, an animal-like glint in his amber eyes. "I thought you liked that?"

I smiled. "I do." But in my head, I was still only fifteen, even if my birthday was only a few months away, and Andrew was still two and a half years older than me. I wasn't really ready to have sex. And I wanted to tell Andrew that, but I knew he'd probably break up with me and I'd be the laughing stock of the school. We lived in New York at the time, so everyone was very 'big' news.

"Hey, Drew," I said catching my breathe a little.

"What?" he said while kissing my neck.

"Drew, I love you," I wasn't even sure of it until I said so. But now that I had, I knew I did. And if this were really happening, it was important he knew how I felt.

He chuckled. "Sure, kid."

Silent tears fell from the sides of my face. His 'sure kid' sure felt like a 'whatever, just shut up' to me. But did that make me stop him?

No.

Now-

I pushed Damon away. "I can't do this," I said breathlessly. Before he could say anything else, I threw on my shirt and ran out of the gym.