“Give it your best try Basso.”  Cooper yells back having no intention of letting me out.  “Now, where were we Maddy?”  His lips come upon mine urgently.  Forcing his tongue through my lips and down my throat.  My arms are at my side limp as though all my energy is drained.   His hand grabs my breast and he moans in my mouth while I feel bile rising in my throat.

Wooden splinters hit my face as Gabe breaks through the door.  He stops at the doorframe thinking he has the situation wrong, like I want to be in Cooper’s arms.  Everyone from downstairs huddles around the doorframe speechless.

“I gave you fair warning.”  Gabe tugs my arm bringing me to his side and then behind him.

“What are you going to do?  You think you’re so noble.  Mr. Quarterback, Captain of the football team and Scholar on the dean’s list.  You are just like me, a ladies man.  I see you with all those girls tossing them aside just like I do.  I think the problem here is maybe you want that girl but let me warn you she is just a tease.  Her legs are zippered shut.”  He points towards me.

Before I can see it Gabe hits him square in the jaw.  “That one’s from me.”  He hits him in the stomach “That one’s for her.”  He upper cuts a fist into his chin.  “That’s for her brother, I think you might know him.”  Gabe steps away knowing he has the ace in the hole. “Jack Jennings.”  Gabe divulges.  Cooper’s face goes white while the whole room gasps.  He doesn’t come after Gabe for retaliation.  He is smart enough to know that my brother would be paying him a visit if he sees a mark on Gabe and if Gabe told my story of what happened Cooper Sears would be in the hospital.

Gabe grabs my hand leading me through the crowd toward the stairs when a blond stops him.  “Where are you going Gabe?”  She whines putting her hand on his chest.

“Leaving.”  He pushes past her.

“Don’t come back Gabe.  I will not be here when you drop off that little slut.”  She sneers up the stairs at us.

“Don’t bother, she’s no one.”  Gabe softly speaks wanting me to just leave and not run down the stairs pulling the fake blond strands out of her head.

“Grady, Rich.  I assume you are good.”  He asks them.

“Don’t worry about us, we’ll get home.”  Rich quietly says.

“I told you man, Cooper was going to get her.”  Grady yells loudly.

Gabe doesn’t humor him in a comeback.  He walks us both out of the house past the oblivious co-eds in the lawn into his truck.  My eyes follow him as he moves around the front of the truck into the seat next to me.  Water is forming in my eyelids.  I curse them to stop.  That is the last thing I want to do.  I am sure Gabe is mad he even suggested me to come tonight.  He says nothing as he starts the truck pulling away from the party.  I notice his knuckles are red and swollen and I am thankful he didn’t have a game this week.

“I’m sorry.”  I whisper looking down in my lap.

“It’s not your fault.  Cooper’s an ass.”  He says while I can still hear the anger in his voice.

“I should have listened to you.”  I admit.

“Yeah, you should have but it’s over.”  His voice starts calming a bit.

“Are you going to tell my brother?”  I ask finally having the courage to look up.

“Hell no, your brother would kill him.”  He chuckles like he is thinking about Jack beating up Cooper.  “Just knowing Cooper will be fearing your brother for the next month or so is enough payback.”

“Thank you.”

“No thanks required Madgirl but I have to say.  My brother must have his hands full with you around.”

“Why?”

“You’re a good looking girl and obviously naïve to how attractive you are.  I assume you put yourself in bad situations since you see only the good in everyone.”

“Gabe, your brother has been the only guy to even ask me out.  I don’t know if it’s the fact that I am ‘Little Jennings’ or Trent’s girl but it gets really annoying sometimes.”

“I could see that.”

“So, is Cooper telling the truth?”

He raises an eyebrow at me.

“That you are like him, make out with girls and then toss them aside for someone else the next night.”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.  College is different Maddy.  Everyone is on the same page, everyone just wants to have fun, no strings.”

“Hum” I sigh.

“You will see next year.  Too bad I will be gone by then.”  He looks genuinely upset we would miss each other being unable to attend the same school again.

“I don’t think that whole casual hooking up thing is for me.” I confess.

“You’re probably right.  That’s why my brother always keeps you close.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing, let’s go in.”

I hadn’t realized we were at the house already.

“Tell me Gabe, what?”  I grab his arm stopping him from leaving the car.

“Oh Maddy.  I just wonder if he knows you are the one he wants to settle down with in the future but he wants to enjoy what’s out there before he will commit to you.”

“Maybe we aren’t supposed to be together and that’s why it never works out.  I don’t really think I am his type.”

“Believe me Mad, you are every guy’s type.”

There is something in his eyes at that moment but I can’t spot it.  Shyness and reluctance mixed with some desire.

“Thanks Gabe and I am so sorry for tonight.”

“Don’t mention it, I wish I could have shown you a better time.”  He reaches over removing my hand from his arm but it lingers in his hand while chills spread through my body.  “You better get in there to your boy before he comes out to get you.”  He motions to the front window with his head.

Trent is peering out the window at us.  When he sees me he moves away.

“It was memorable.”  I lean over kissing Gabe on the cheek.

I run into the house before I do something I would regret.  Bryan and Kenna are wrapped in each other’s arms on a blow up air mattress on the floor and Trent is laying on the couch acting like he is sleeping.  I go into the bathroom changing into my pajamas.  When I come back the house is shut and locked and I hear running water upstairs.  I assume Gabe is taking a shower.   I get into the couch cuddling under the blanket that I assume Kenna made up for me.  My mind is going crazy between Cooper, Trent and the stuff Gabe said.  Were Trent and I destined to be together but we had to enjoy our lives single before committing to each other.  Mackenna and Bryan didn’t have a problem like Trent and I did.  I was completely confused when I heard a whisper next to me.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yeah, it was ok.”  I prop myself up on my elbows so I could face him.

“I missed you.”  Trent says staring at the ceiling not looking at me.

“You should be asleep, it’s a big game tomorrow.”  I try to detour the conversation.

“Will you lay with me?”

“Trent, we aren’t a couple.  We shouldn’t.”

“Come on Mad, we are friends.  I won’t touch you anywhere if you don’t want me to.  I just need you next to me right now.”  He confesses.

“Ok,” I get up.

“Come here girl.”  A huge smile spreads across his face while he corners the blanket out for me to get into.    I snuggle with my back to his front and he swings an arm around my waist nuzzling his face in my neck.

After five minutes of quiet silence my eyelids start closing, sleep finally finding me.

“I love you Madeline Jennings.”  Trent whispers in my ear.

I ignore him pretending to be asleep.  That is a line I am unable to cross.  Trent wants me when he can’t have me but he doesn’t want me when he can.  He has the State Championship tomorrow and needs his rest.

Chapter 10 – Present Day

Gabe and I make our way out to the blue machine when Trent comes jogging over to us.

“Maddy, wait up.”  He yells over to me.

“What’s up Trent?”  I turn around Gabe following my lead.

“Can I talk to you for a second?”  He asks.

I look back to Gabe and then back to Trent.  “Sure”