"An eye for an eye would only make the whole world blind." -Mahatma Gandhi
They say to never seek revenge. So what do you do to the person who broke your heart? I say let them be, let karma take charge and maybe if you're lucky, the universe will let you watch.
~~~~~~~~~~
After all four of us - Ethan, Mia, Gav and I went to the movies, we went to that pizza place downtown called Sunny Pizza. It's at the corner down the road from USF along University Drive, so Gav, Mia and I used to go here a lot even in high school with our old friends Maria, Kim and, unluckily - our ex-friend Ashley. It does make me reminisce, but the fact that I'm happier now, made me shook off all those thoughts.
We were halfway with our 18" pizza when, wouldn't fate play with us sarcastically, Ashley along with her college friends and Liam were all just upstairs eating in the same pizza parlor as we are. They were probably here first, but no one knew because they were at the second level. Liam looked ridiculously miserable based on his face while Ashley tries to maintain her I'm-still-above-you attitude. I didn't know any of her minions nor do I plan on even saying hi to her. After my eyes skimmed the place and after looking at them for a few seconds, I looked at my plate and try to munch on chips.
After a while, I heard a familiar evil voice I wished to never hear again. I felt chills down my spine - in a bad way.
"Look at we have here! Gavin Mason. I haven't seen you in forever!" Ashley screeched. She's wearing a flashy short dress, they might came from a party of some sort earlier this evening because she usually dress like this only on parties. Heck that I know that.
"Hey Ashley. I would want to stay in chat about how high school ruined you, but I'd rather you be scarce right now or I'll punch the life out of your boyfriend." Gav can be murderous at times. But I hope he won't do anything physically. This could end badly. As in really bad.
Liam looked nervous and also weird for giving Ethan the stink eye. He doesn't even know him. Or does he?
"That's really cute Gavin," she answered haughtily and then turned to me saying, "I see your sister found herself a new boy toy." I want to punch her, maybe I should? After what she did to my trust? She was my friend! Geez I hate her. Calm down Samantha.
I try to ignore her. I wouldn't put myself down to her level by starting or even participating in a cat fight. "If you have nothing else to say, just walk out of here Ashley. Don't make yourself look any more ridiculous than you already are," Mia said as calm as she possibly could.
Ashley derisively snorted, turned her back on us and flipped her long, fake blonde hair. I can't believe it, she just walked away! Without any come back to what she just heard from Mia.
I cooled down as well and looked at Ethan reassuringly. I smiled at him when he put a stray hair away from my face using his left hand. His touch was electrifying. I wanted to kiss him, but I can't, everybody's looking. My brother, Mia and a bunch of other people in this restaurant. I try to stop the urge.
When we finished the whole box of pizza and some other finger food that we ordered, we walked out of Sunny Pizza feeling fuller than ever. I loved how Ethan was touching the small of my back with his palm as if guiding my steps. Good thing Gav is preoccupied with Mia's attempt to stall his attention from us, they were debating something about their Xbox game - I guess.
"I didn't knew you could eat that many," Ethan laughed. I blush.
"Don't be embarrassed love, I think it's cute. You're unlike many girls who eat nothing but salad or water."
Aww... Ethan? "Hmm, thanks I guess. Hey, how about you tell me something I don't know about you yet," I say to him. "What d'you mean?" He asked as we walk past the parking lot entrance. "Like what do you love to do before you got into the military? Except for football - that, I know already." I smiled. He gave me a befuddled look and said, "Let's see. I think I told you everything except that I love taking photos. It's a hobby that I really loved when I was in high school, hence, the long hair that I had from one of my old pictures and that I was working for the school paper for just a year, then my dad pushed me in to playing football until college." I smiled, "That's good to know. I totally see you wearing nerdy specs, boat shoes, pastel colored clothes and long shiny hair with a camera wrapped around your neck," I said laughing as we almost get to the car. He kissed my side temple, shy as I was, I try to feel comfortable because I know Gav is around. He seems fine with us dating anyway - the whole night he's just ignoring or pretending he didn't see Ethan's sweet gestures.
We were just about to get into the truck when Liam came close to us from their car a few parking spaces away from us. It all happened like a blur. Things happened fast after Liam threw a punch at Ethan saying, "Stay away from Sam!" Gav immediately stopped Liam for throwing another punch while Ashley screamed "Liam stop it!" a few times, trying to stay away from them because it might ruin her dress. Gav gave Liam a taste of his fist when he threw a nerve wrecking punch at him. I felt my body froze, I wanted to help, but Mia kept tugging me away from them. I have never seen my brother punch the life out of someone before. Ethan just recovered from Liam's attack when he tried to help my brother after Liam also slammed his tiny arms on Gav's stomach. Ethan threw one last punch on Liam then he fell on his butt. I guess Liam have no idea what these boys do in USMA. Ethan and Gav looked fine except for Ethan's bruise on his right jaw. Liam on the other hand looked hurt, he's caressing his arm while trying to get up as his friends and Ashley help him out - at least they know better than to throw another punch at Gav and Ethan. They might be outnumbered, but these two have a lot of muscle going on while they struggle to carry their own friend due to lack of upper body strength.
"What do you think you're doing?! If my father finds out about this... we're gonna have to break up again!" Ashley screeched at Liam. He ignored her, stood up and said, "This isn't over Carter."
"Go home Bentley and stay away from my sister. There's nothing else for you here, you had your chance," my brother growled at him.
The story starts when it was hot and it was summer
And, I had it all; I had him right there where I wanted him
She came along, got him alone, and let's hear the applause
She took him faster than you could say sabotage
I never saw it coming, nor would I have suspected it
I underestimated just who I was dealing with
She had to know the pain was beating on me like a drum
She underestimated just who she was stealing from
She looks at life like it's a party and she's on the list
She looks at me like I'm a trend and she's so over it
I think her ever present frown is a little troubling
And, she thinks I'm psycho
'Cause I like to rhyme her name with things, but
Sophistication isn't what you wear, or who you know
Or pushing people down to get you where you wanna go
Oh they didn't teach you that in prep school
So it's up to me
But no amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity
She's not a saint and she's not what you think
She's an actress, whoa
She's better known for the things that she does
On the mattress, whoa
Soon she's gonna find
Stealing other people's toys on the playground
Won't make you many friends
She should keep in mind,
She should keep in mind
There is nothing I do better than revenge*
~~~~~~~~~~
"Aw!" Ethan screeched under my hands as I was cleaning up his tiny little scratch. "Seriously?" I ask smiling. He must be moaning on purpose, this tiny wound can't possibly hurt him, after all the trainings he had. "It hurts so much babe. The idiot had a huge ring on."
I was sitting beside him on my tiny couch near my balcony and him half lying down so I could reach his face.
"Aww what can I do to make you feel better then?" I teasingly ask.
He flashed his drop-dead-gorgeous-only-for-Sam smile at me. He knows my weakness. It's a good thing Mia and Gav are both downstairs playing Xbox and they left us alone in my room. Mom's sleeping already so I hope no one would see what I intend to do.
I pecked his jaw with my lips and trailed soft kisses around his tiny wound.
"That feels so much better. Thanks babe," he said and immediately after I stopped, he lift me effortlessly so I sit astride him. "But I still feel a little pain here," he said pouting and pointing on the other side of his jaw.
"It looks perfectly fine to me!" I said giggling. Oh playful Ethan, how can I be able to survive months without him?
I kiss the right side of his jaw where his fingers were. When I stopped, he reciprocate by kissing my jaws as well. Then my neck and after that he trailed kisses on my collar bone back to my jaws.
"I love you Samantha Mason," he said.
"And I love you Ethan Carter." He smiled sadly. Does he not believe that I do love him and that he is very easy to love? "It's true Ethan, I love you" I said, feeling a little bit hurt.
"Hey babe don't be sad, I know you do. It's just that I used to see you across the hall, few yards away from me at the football field or even from the corner of a classroom," he said as if remembering a bad dream. "And now you're here... with me," he continued while brushing his thumbs on top of my knees, smiling like a child.
After a short pause, we kissed. Our lips find each other moving in perfect sync. We kiss passionately for the second time and it felt so familiar and at the same time like it was the first time again. We kissed for who knows how long. I gasp for air while he continue to kiss my neck again. I hope he's not hearing my heavy staccato breaths.
He's touching only the nape of my neck or my waist and for a few times, my back. I used to feel uncomfortable doing this, but with Ethan I know it's special and intimate. I never thought that I would want more. I love this man and I can give him all of me if that's what it takes for him to erase all the "what if's" in his mind. His timing was perfect. This is perfect. I just know it.
After what it felt like eternity, we stopped and rest our foreheads together. "Can I ask you something?" he said while catching his breath.
"Anything," I answer.
"Would you like to spend tomorrow with me and the day after that?"
I gave him a confused look. What does he mean?
He brushed his hands on both of my arms to warm me from the cool summer evening breeze. "The thing is, I already asked your mom and she said okay - with excitement as I recall clearly and I also asked Gav - which is the trickiest part of my plan," he said.
"About what?" Come on Ethan get to the point.
"Well I used to go to Clearwater Beach before, and I asked your family if I could take you there with me tomorrow until the next day and that we'll be back just in time for the dinner at my house before Gav and I leave for New York."
I got excited when he said he will take me to the beach, but that feeling faded away quickly when I heard him say leave.
"Oh yeah, I got that invite from your mom about a dinner before you guys fly back," I answer with a straight face.
"Are you okay? If you don't want to go it's okay babe just tell me."
"No, I'd love to Ethan. It's just that you're leaving so soon."
"I know babe, it pains me even more that I won't be able to protect you from miles away," he said as he lift my chin up.
"Wait a minute, you just told me your plan! Finally, a date without surprises. At least I know what to wear this time," I said as if I won a lottery.
Ethan just hid his smiled at me and shook his head sideways. "You got me huh?" he smiled and continued, "So is that a yes? You'll go with me tomorrow?"
"I'll go anywhere with you in a heartbeat."
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*Better than Revenge - Taylor Swift
I also used the title of the song for the chapter title ;)
Hey guys! As promised, here is the next chapter. I'm reading your suggestions/ comments, so I tried really hard to make them more romantic with each other just as some of you guys requested :) And it was almost impossible for me to finish writing all those sweet gooey stuff! It's just so... cute :)
Also my Tumblr posts are mostly about this story! Follow/visit www.alexamerrick.tumblr.com to see the cast of ML <3
Comment/message me your thoughts!
-Alex