Chapter 3
Mikhail awoke in a dark alley sitting on a wooden box next to a trash dumpster. How the hell did I get here? she asked herself as she hoisted herself up from the box rubbing her head. She looked around and realized she knew exactly where she was, in the back of Lorenzo's bar. She smirked and pulled her brown leather jacket on tighter before walking into the bar.
"Lorenzo! What's up bud?" She called to the bartender.
He grimaced, "why are you here Mikhail? Every time you show up something gets broken."
"Jeez, I always pay for it." Mikhail sat down at the bar and crossed her legs. "Anybody ever told you that you're too uptight?"
"Anybody ever told you that you're annoying?"
"Oh just get me a drink would you?"
"Not tonight. I'm not in the mood for a fight today so how about you just leave instead of me throwing you out." Lorenzo nodded his head toward the door and she sighed.
"What if I promise I'll be good tonight?" She gave her best innocent smile.
"You're never good, Mikhail. Now I'm not going to ask you again." This time Lorenzo pointed at the door. Mikhail sighed and got up and headed for the door. "Oh and Mikhail," Lorenzo called to her. She turned around and put her hand on her hip. "That guy, Jimmy keeps asking for your number. Would you kick his ass next time so he'll shut up?" She just shook her head and walked out.
"Guess I need to find a new bar to hang at." She mumbled to herself.
"Leslie?" Mikhail turned to see a tall, handsome boy with black spiky hair getting off his motorcycle. Hott, she thought to herself.
"Sorry, do I know you?" She responded as she let her eyes rake over his body. He looked like a bad boy with his leather jacket, skinny jeans, and black combat boots.
"Damn, forgot me already? Fall into a guy's arms and then when you see him again you can't even remember him?" He flashed her a kind smile and she couldn't help but think how kissable his lips were.
"Oh wait I do know you. You're Andre, Alyson little boyfriend."
"Little? Boyfriend? Jeez Leslie, you're killing me here."
"Yeah, I like to go by Mikhail."
"Mikhail? That's a cool name. What's that like your middle name or something?" He put his helmet down on the bike seat and walked to stand in front of her.
"Or something. Anyways, it was nice seeing you again but I gotta go. On a bit of a time limit." She started to walk away from him but he caught her hand. She spun around quickly twisting his arm so that he was forced to turn with her pinning his arm to his back.
"Ouch!" he cried.
"Do not touch me." She said in a low growl.
"Okay, okay!" She let him go and he quickly pulled his arm back rubbing it gently. "Feisty one, aren't you?"
"I don't like being touched." She growled. He stepped closer to her.
"Even by me?"
"Especially by you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to do."
"Wait! I can't just let you walk around by yourself at one o'clock in the morning. You could get hurt." He looked at her softly.
"I think I can take care of myself."
"Come on, at least let me give you a lift to wherever you're going." He pleaded with his eyes. Mikhail considered it, tapping her finger to her chin. This would probably piss off Alyson, she thought to herself.
"Fine lover boy. You know where Andy's is?"
"Isn't Andy's a bar? You're not old enough to get in there."
"Either give me the ride or not lover boy, but quit wasting my time." She snipped.
"Okay fine," he walked over to his bike and grabbed the spare helmet handing it to her. She took it and hopped on behind him placing her legs on either side of his body. They sped off toward the bar, swerving in between cars. Mikhail tightly gripped Andre's waist as they rode, feeling the tightness of his muscles. When they pulled up in front of the bar she hopped off the bike handing Andre his spare helmet.
"Thanks for the lift," she told him turning and walking to the entrance.
"Hey, wait. I can't leave you here alone either."
"I'm starting to think you're stalking me, lover boy." Mikhail smirked at him.
"I just don't think it's safe out here for a hot little blonde like you."
"Or maybe it's not safe for a cocky bad boy like you."
"Then maybe you should protect me..."
Mikhail just shook her head and walked into the bar. "Well come on then."
They stepped inside and Mikhail smiled. The music was pounding and some people danced on the dance floor in the middle of the room. As they walked people started whistling at Mikhail and shouting things at her, but she ignored them. She led them to the bar waving the bartender over to her.
"Hey Kurt, hook me up with a gin-a-tonic and whatever my boy here wants."
"Oh nothing for me, I'm driving."
"Wuss," Mikhail laughed as the bartender whipped up her drink and slid it down the bar to her. "Thanks Kurt."
"You know how much more dangerous it is to drink while driving a motorcycle?"
"A real bad boy could handle it." She told him before taking down her drink in two big gulps and waving at Kurt to send her another. She took the second one down just as fast and Andre stood watching, amazed.
"Such a little girl..." he mumbled.
"Dance with me," she commanded as she pulled Andre to the dance floor. He followed her watching her ass as she tugged him along. When they got to the center of the dance floor she turned and ground her ass against him. He adjusted quickly, putting his hands on her waist and following her movements with his own body. They danced that way until the DJ pulled the record and made an announcement.
"Think it's time to take it back to a bit," he shouted into the mic. He grabbed another CD and spun it playing "Bump N Grind" by R. Kelly. Mikhail smiled and turned to face Andre.
"I think that's my queue," Andre started to back away and head back to the bar when Mikhail stopped him.
"Oh come on, don't be a bitch. Dance, lover boy." She pulled him close just as the chorus came on in the background. "I don't see nothin' wrong wit a little bump and grind..." She smirked suggestively as she ground frontwards on Andre. She smiled when she felt his dick shift in his pants. She took his hands and placed them on her ass never breaking the dance. He looked confused but he still followed her grinding back against her. They continued to dance like that for a few more songs before Mikhail decided to leave. She pulled Andre back towards the bar when some drunk guy grabbed her hand.
"Hey sweetheart, how about you drop the pretty boy and come dance with a real man?" he breathed into her ear. She went rigid all over and stopped walking. She turned quickly glaring at him.
"I got a better idea." The guy gave her a sly smile infuriating her further. She brought her fist up too quickly for anyone to see and it made a loud crunch when it connected with his face. He jerked back, blood dripping from his nose as he yelped in pain. A woman next to him screamed calling attention to the scene. Chaos broke out as people yelled and some pulled out their phones snapping pictures. Mikhail was unaffected as she took a second swing at him, punching him in his right eye this time and he fell to the ground. The man writhed in pain on the floor, but Mikhail didn't stop. She pulled a switchblade knife from the inside pocket of her jacket and flicking it open.
"Whoa!" Andre jumped.
Mikhail bent down pressing the blade to the guy's neck. "If you ever touch me like that again, I'll gut you like the swine you are and cook it up for breakfast, you understand?" The guy nodded viciously. Just then someone shouted 'knife!' and Andre grabbed Mikhail tugging her out of the panicking crowd towards the exit. She followed hastily dodging all of the running people. She couldn't help but check out his ass as he led her out of the bar. When they got outside he quickly jumped on his bike pulling her with him and sped off. When they were far enough away, Andre pulled over. He cut his bike off and dismounted so that he could look at Mikhail.
"Have you lost your mind? Pulling a knife on the guy! Mikhail you could have gotten us arrested!" He shouted at her.
Mikhail's face when dark and angry, "I never fucking asked you to come with me, first off. Secondly, who the fuck do you think you're talking to?" She swung herself off of his bike and started walking away.
"Wait! Mikhail!" Andre ran up in front of her forcing her to stop and look at him. "Look, I'm sorry, I just wasn't expecting all of that. I mean is this what you do every night? Jump from bar to bar picking fights and getting drunk?" Andre watched her quizzically.
"Not every night, but that's not exactly by choice."
"What?"
"Nothing. I don't understand. You have this badass reputation at school, but really, you're not a badass at all. You're kind of a pussy." Mikhail took the knife out and flicked it open and closed over and over.
"And you're kind of a bitch," Andre muttered angrily.
Mikhail stepped towards him, pressing her chest to him. "You got a lot of balls to say that to a girl with a switchblade and an attitude problem."
"I'm not scared of you, Mikhail. Regardless of how tonight went," He stepped into her making her jump back. "I will still gut someone for saying half the shit you say to me. You're just lucky you're a girl. Just because I wasn't the life of the party tonight, that doesn't mean my reputation is false. Someone had to keep you from getting yourself killed. If you really want to use that knife on me, fine, but you won't get very far." He turned to grab his helmet and as soon as he lifted it to put it on, Mikhail charged him from behind, her switchblade in hand. He shook his head and spun, knocking the blade out of her hand with his helmet and grabbing her arm. He then spun her so that her arm was across her neck and her back pressed to his front. Mikhail's breath was heavy as Andre bent down to whisper in her ear. "You shouldn't underestimate someone you barely know."
"Get off me," Mikhail grumbled and he released her. She pulled her brown leather jacket tighter on her shoulders, grabbed her switchblade and started to walk away.
"Guess you don't want a ride now, huh?"
"Fuck off," she called back to him flipping him the middle finger as she stalked off. He kicked off his back and sped off leaving her alone.
I woke up in the morning with a bruise on my hand and I had no idea how it got there. I was still so tired and I didn't know why. I'd slept soundly through the night dreaming about Mikhail again. Andre being in my dream was a new addition, but I wasn't complaining. I couldn't have him in my life so I guess in my dreams would just have to do. I turned in the bed to see Marco was gone which surprised me. He never got up before me. I got up and brushed my teeth. I had a terrible taste in my mouth of smoke and beer. It must have been from kissing Marco last night. I should have brushed my teeth before bed. I decided to go for a shower feeling dirty. The warm water running down my body felt amazing. Water was pure and clean. It reminded me of myself before I'd met Marco.
When I was done and dressed I grabbed a pop tart from the kitchen and sat on the couch to eat it. I had a few spare minutes to kill since I didn't have to tiptoe around this morning. Ivan was up watching some reality TV show on MTV. I plopped down in the recliner and started munching on my pop tart.
"You're home. Marco was wondering where you'd gone." He told me, his eyes not leaving the TV.
"What are you talking about? I was in bed with him."
"That's not what he said when he woke up at 4 am. He said you weren't in the room so he was going to find you and bring you home. He was convinced you'd left him. I was a little relieved."
I scratched my head, confused. "Maybe I just got up to go to the bathroom and don't remember?" I muttered, not really sure what was going on.
Ivan shrugged. "Maybe. All I know is that Marco was seriously pissed so if you're going to school, you'd better go before he gets back. I'll tell him you were here."
I decided that was a good idea and jumped up from the couch darting out to school. As I walked I prayed that Marco didn't show up at the school to find me. This wasn't the first time he'd thought I'd left him and went looking for me. The last time was a few weeks ago. He was gone in the morning again but Ivan didn't know where he was so I'd gone to school. Marco had showed up and dragged me out of my class to take me home and beat me. It had taken over an hour to convince him I was in the bathroom that time. After that I couldn't go to school for almost two weeks while my body healed. He had felt bad for beating me so bad and nursed me back to health. Unfortunately he still wanted to have sex, which didn't help my aching body at all. He was always too rough when we had sex, often leaving bruises and calling them love bites.
I shook away the thoughts as I walked into the school and to first period. I saw Christie and Alyson in the back and decided they might be a nice distraction from Marco. Once I get Christie talking, she'd go on the whole period. I didn't really want to sit by Alyson, but lately being around Christie meant Alyson was a given since I'd been AWOL. Marco was getting more and more possessive and didn't let me over her house as much anymore so she'd gotten a little closer to Alyson. I always secretly worried that if they got too close Alyson would make a move and Christie would be responsive but it hadn't happened yet and for that I was grateful.
"Les!" Christie called from the back of the classroom as I walked in. Alyson looked upset seeing as she had been talking and now Christie wasn't paying her any mind.
"Hey Chris, Aly," I said as I pulled up a stool next to them. Alyson just grunted and propped her face up in her hand looking upset.
"You look terrible," Christie blurted out.
"Thanks, I guess." I said sarcastically.
"Jeez Les, have you been sleeping at all? You've got enough luggage under those eyes to go to Cancun for three weeks."
"I'm fine and I'm sleeping good but I do feel a little tired. Anyways, I heard you and Jake are at it again." I took out my notebook and started jotting down notes as I listened to Christie go on about her boy toy, Jake. Christie and Jake were on and off so much you'd think they were both bipolar. She went on about how he keeps playing games and how it wants to be her first and all that-Jake didn't know Christie wasn't a virgin. She had him totally whipped, even if he would never admit it. The only reason he ever broke with her was because she wouldn't sleep with him when he was drunk. He'd always give her flowers the next day and beg her to take him back. It was pretty entertaining actually. Chris, on the other hand broke up with Jake every other week. She had some weird idea that if she dumped him all the time it would keep him in line because it reminds him he could lose her at any time. Christie's brain worked in mysterious ways.
"Nah, we're fine. Just the routine break up. You know how it goes. He of course is all heartbroken. He left me flowers in my locker again. Roses today." Christie smiled and pulled a red rose out of her book bag.
"Why do you keep playing with that boy Chris?"
"I'm not playing with him, it's insurance. You should try it on Marco."
"Why on Earth would I do that? If I ever break up with him it'll be forreal."
"That mean you're considering it?" She looked at me hopefully.
"No." Considering it? I thought about it every hour. There was nothing I wanted more than to leave Marco, but I knew if I did that there would be consequences.
"You should. Leslie he-"
"Don't start, Christie. I know what you're gonna say okay? I'm not in a lecturing mood."
"Fine."
"You guys mind? Some of us are trying to learn." Alyson snipped at us.
"Oh shut up Aly, you know you suck at bio and you're not paying attention." Christie retorted.
She sank a little in her chair, "Don't have to be so mean, Chris."
"Oh please, Aly, you know I love you." She threw her arms around her in a goofy hug. Aly melted into the hug with a big stupid smile on her face. When she realized I could still see her she snapped herself out of it and pushed Christie.
"Jerk," Aly whispered. Christie just giggled and Alyson smiled at her. Poor, clueless Christie.
I walked through the hallways with my iPod on as usual. I didn't feel like talking to anybody. I kept my head down not really looking at anyone. Suddenly somebody tapped me on my shoulder. It snapped me out of my little trance and I turned to see Alyson in front of me.
"Hey Aly," I started.
"Don't. Look, I know you saw that in Bio. You promised you wouldn't tell." She looked angry but her eyes were pleading.
"I won't, relax. I've kept your secret all these years haven't I? No matter how bitchy you can be sometimes."
"Good. If Christie ever found out it'd wreck our friendship. Then I'd really make your life a living hell." Too late for that.
"Yeah, yeah Aly. Look I promised I wouldn't tell her so I won't. You have Andre anyway."
"Yeah I do. And speaking of Andre, I heard you were all over him yesterday after school. You better stay away from him."
"You guys aren't even official. You don't really have any claims to him."
"Yeah well I doubt your boyfriend would like to hear you've been hanging all over another guy. Stay away from him or I'm telling the whole football team that you're a slut and that you suck dick for money."
"That won't be necessary Aly. I don't want Andre so try not to shit your pants."
"Fuck you." She stalked off and I just shook my head. I never really understood why Alyson didn't like me, but I just didn't have it in me to care anymore. It was times like this I wished I was Mikhail Stone. She would have kicked her ass for that comment. But me? I just slung my long blonde hair in front of my face and turned my music back up. "Misery Business" by Paramore came up in my shuffle and I couldn't help but laugh at the irony. As soon as I turned the corner to my locker I saw Andre leaning against it. I smiled and walked up to him. Wow, I'd just told Alyson I didn't want him, but when I saw him leaning against my locker with his spiky black hair and tight leather jacket looking all sexy, I couldn't help but eye-rape him.
"Hey Andre," I said in a high perky voice.
"I just needed to make sure you were alive." He told me, pushing off of my locker and walking quickly past me. What the hell? Weird ass day.