Learning to Live (The Infinite Love Series Book 1) (5 page)

Topher

I returned home after a few days at Joe’s and surprisingly my father was nowhere in sight. The house was empty and quiet and I wasn’t sure where he had disappeared to. I didn’t want to call him, seeing as I had been avoiding him and I wasn’t sure I was ready for the conversation that would inevitably follow. He didn’t return home at all that night. When I left for school this morning, the house was yet again eerily quiet.

Guilt is beginning to eat away at me every second I go without speaking with him. This is the longest we have ever gone without speaking. After my mother died, we were all each other had. And although he’s been busy over the years and we haven’t spent as much time together as I would have liked, he’s still been the best father he could be for me.

It’s game day today, so I figure I may or may not see him when I make it home from the game. But knowing my friends, there will more than likely be a party afterwards in celebration of our win. I’m cocky, but our team is good. We’ve been undefeated all season and today we play against Central High who is known for their losing streak.

I make it to the locker room a half an hour early and immediately begin changing into my gear. There are a couple of guys from my team already there, and more continue to spill in as the clock ticks by.

“So,” Joe says as he opens his gym locker next to mine and stuffs his bag in. “There is a party tonight at my place—the parental units are out of town. Everyone is invited…you down?”

I look over at him from my seated position on the bench, shrugging. “Yeah, why not.”

He shoots me a quick smile. “Good. Let’s kill it out there and then let’s get wasted!”

I chuckle. “Okay.”

Joe is the quarterback on the team and just as cocky as I am.

“By the way, I saw Sophia out there and she said she was looking for you.” He motions with his head toward the locker room doors which lead out to the field.

I nod. It’s been our routine since we joined our teams. She joined the cheerleading team and I joined the football team and before every home game we meet for a few moments to rub good luck off on one another. More like, we meet for a few moments to get it on so that I can be amped up for the game. It turns out we’re both nicer people once we get off.

Lately though, it’s been difficult to keep it up when we go at it. The excitement I used to feel when we hook up has fizzled out, and sneaking around doesn’t even cut it anymore. Frankly, I’m bored. I need something to shake up the dull routine. I wish I could tell Joe and Sophia I know about their secret, and have him do my dirty work. But, I’m too content with the way things are.

I sigh as I stand up.

“Don’t act so excited or anything,” Joe jokes. “Is everything okay with you and Sophia?” There is a mixture of feelings emanating off his voice. Concern, worry, hope; I hear them all.

Because he is still my best friend, part of me wants to tell him the truth. But the knife he put in my back stops me from doing so. I nod without saying anything else, and make my way outside. There is about fifteen minutes before we will need to be in place for the game.

She is standing against the outside of the building smoking a cigarette. It’s a terrible habit she picked up sometime last year at a party. I’ve been trying to get her to quit for so long, I eventually just stopped trying. I even tried to tell her it’s like kissing an ashtray…but Sophia does what she wants. I grimace as I walk out and right into her puff of smoke. “Hey babe,” she coos as she puts out the cigarette.

“Hey,” I reply bored.

“We don’t have much time.” She grabs my hand and pulls me to our usual spot hidden underneath the bleachers.

I have trouble getting hard at all. Between the disgusting smell that emanates off her clothes, hair, and breath, and the disgusting taste in her mouth, she is the least desirable person in the world to me. Not to mention everything else I dislike about her.

Even with my dick in her mouth…nothing seems to be working. As she continues to attempt to arouse me, I flick my eyes through the bleachers and notice Madalynne Johnson walking through the back gates with a girl I don’t recognize. Madalynne has been a part of our group for years. Absolutely stunning and genuine, but Parker Grant claimed her years ago. And fortunately for Parker, he’s one hell of a guy.

I squint my eyes to get a better look at her unfamiliar friend. She has short blond hair and is wearing a yellow sundress. She is not skinny by any means, but I’m rather enjoying her curves. Sophia barely has a-cups, whereas this stranger seems to be rocking c-cups. My mouth salivates just thinking about it. I can feel the blood rushing to my dick which excites Sophia who speeds up her pace. I’m nearing the edge when the blonds eyes look up, and I swear to God she sees me.

Holy fucking shit.

No fucking way.

It’s Ciera Nelson. The same girl Joe’s been pushing around for years. My dick instantly goes limp.

What in the hell? What is Madalynne doing with her?

I rush to pull my pants up and push Sophia roughly away.

“What the hell?” she cries, rubbing her mouth with the back of her hand.

“I think someone saw us…” My cheeks are heating up at the thought. Poor girl may be traumatized for life…but not as traumatized as I am just knowing I got turned on for the first time in weeks just by her body.

She’s frumpy and definitely not desirable. I don’t even know what to think.

“What!” Sophia shrieks standing up, her eyes darting around wildly. “I don’t see anyone.”

I flick my eyes back to where I had previously seen Madalynne with Ciera and they are not there anymore. “Huh,” I mumble. “I have to get ready for the game.” I begin walking away from Sophia when I feel her grab my arm.

“You’re coming to the party tonight, right?” Her eyes are pleading with mine.

“Yeah.” I nod. “I’ll be there.”

“Good.” She smiles brightly. “Then we can pick this up where we left off.”

Oh joy.
I nod without another word. Hopefully I’m plastered by then…

* * *

It’s the end of the second quarter when I peek up into the stands, attempting to catch a glance of Madalynne with Ciera. I have to know if she saw us. I’m still curious as to what the two are even doing together. My eyes are still raking the stands when they stop abruptly.

What the…

I notice my father in the stands, something I haven’t seen since I started playing. Work has always taken the majority of his time, but then I notice another familiar face to the right of him. Clarke. The same guy he introduced me to the other night. My stomach drops. I can’t believe he brought him here…in front of everyone. Now they are all going to know I have a fag for a father.

I’m still fuming when the football hits me directly in the skull, knocking me down. I’m still conscious, but my head is pounding like hell from the impact. I hear the sound of a whistle and shouting about a time-out, and then notice all my teammate’s cleats surrounding me.

“What the hell, man?” Joe exclaims. “Are you alright?”

I grab his hand and allow him to help me up, but I am still shaky on my feet.

Coach Robertson comes running up. “That looked bad, Carlson, I think you should sit out the rest of the quarter.”

I try to object, but before I know it, I am being carried off the field.

I sneak one more glance up into the bleachers, and notice my father sharing a pained expression with Clarke.

I break my eyes away from them, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks again.

Today just keeps getting fucker better and better.

Chapter Six

Ciera

I got off work early tonight, a rare occurrence for me. Turns out we were deader than they had expected they would be, so I took advantage of my free time to call up the number for the hair stylist Madalynne suggested. I don’t have a cellphone. We’ve never been able to afford one, so I’ve always been thankful my job allows me to use the phone whenever I need.

Carly was at work and apparently free and suggested I drop by, so I walked there, happy her salon was coincidentally on the same side of town as my job. I’m out of breath when I walk in. There isn’t anyone in the salon, except for a couple of hairdressers, none of whom I know to be Carly, and then I notice Madalynne is also there.

“Hey,” I greet her timidly as I enter the salon.

“Hey,” she replies warmly. “Carly let me know you took her up on that favor, so I figured I’d drop by to make sure she doesn’t mess up your hair or anything.”

My eyes grow wide and Madalynne starts giggling.

“I’m only joking. Carly is fabulous. One of the best, for sure. I just figured you might like some moral support.”

I smile back at her. I still have no idea why she is being so nice to me.

A fire-engine redhead with tattoos and piercings walks up to us. “You must be Ciera.” She sticks out her hand for me to shake. Her green eyes are sparkling and she has a captivating smile. She has cheek piercings which create dimples and I rather like it on her.

I take her hand and shake it.

“So, Madalynne told me what those bitches did to you at school today.” Her face crinkles up with concern.

“Yeah,” I respond, looking down at my shoes.

“Well, don’t worry, you’re in luck. We’re going to have you looking fabulous in no time!”

I can’t help but smile. Between Carly and Madalynne, I’ve never been treated so well in my life.

“Come on.” Carly motions for me to follow her. Madalynne and I walk behind her to her station. Once I’m seated and she has draped a cover over my body she twirls my chair so I am facing the mirror.

I hate looking in the mirror. Besides the whirlpool of blue in my eyes, I don’t really have much going for me. I’m rather a plain Jane. I don’t even wear makeup. One, I don’t know how to apply the stuff and two, I can’t afford it. I’ve always wondered what I would look like with a little mascara or lipstick.

Carly grabs my hair and pulls it past my chin. “So, unfortunately, we are going to have to go short. But, I can do lots of layers and maybe we can even throw in some darker shades of blond. What do you think?”

I’ve never dyed my hair in my life. I can’t even imagine what it would look like. “I appreciate the offer, but as I already told Madalynne…I don’t have any money to spare right now.”

Carly giggles as she begins to grab her utensils out of a drawer. “Oh, don’t you worry. Just leave everything up to me!”

An hour and a half later and I feel like a new person altogether. Between the haircut, style, and color, it really brings attention to my eyes. I’ve never felt beautiful before, but for the first time ever, I feel worthy of someone’s attention.