Juilliard or Else Page 10

  "What is this?" I pointed to my glass.

  He chuckled. "It's a Gin and Tonic. Don't you like it?" he asked, taking another sip of his.

  Other than the lining of my stomach burning off, I guess it was something to get used to. I took another sip because I really needed something to drink.

  "Come sit with me, baby girl." He patted the cement next to him. I hopped up as gracefully as I could in my mini skirt and high heeled shoes, then took another drink. I could feel Tucker's eyes on the side of my face as I turned to look at him and he smiled, which made me grin like an idiot.

  "So, what's your deal?" he asked.

  "My deal? What do you mean?"

  He shrugged. "Give me the basics."

  Thinking about what to tell him, finally I said, "I just moved out of my parents' house and into an apartment with Rachel and Jade. Umm..." I bit my bottom lip, trying to think faster. "I'm starting Juilliard on Monday."

  "What's Juilliard?"

  My head snapped sideways at him. "You're kidding right?" He shook his head at me, "Juilliard is one of the most prestigious schools for music, ballet, some acting, and artistic skills." His brows shot up at my statement.

  "Wow." He really did seem shocked at my best explanation of Juilliard.

  "What do you do?" I dipped my finger in my drink and poked at the sliced lime, then put my finger in my mouth to get rid of the stickiness. When I looked back at Tucker, he was staring at my lips.

  I sucked in my bottom lip. "What?"

  "Ah…nothing." He downed the rest of his drink in one big gulp. "I tattoo a little bit at Jett's tattoo shop, just apprenticing for now."

  "You tattoo?

  He nodded.

  "That's awesome," I said, ecstatic. "I wish I could draw, but I wasn't so blessed in that department."

  "It takes a lot of practice. Anyway, what are you going to Juilliard for?"

  "Ballet."

  "Really?" This time I nodded at him and smirked. "Now, it takes talent to do that… toe thing I've seen those chicks do."

  I tipped my head up and let out a laugh. Boys… they would never understand ballet, not even my dad.

  "I'm serious – that's awesome you can do that."

  Tucker hopped down and tried to balance on the point of his Converse shoes like a ballerina. His knees were bent with his arms straight out as he tried everything to keep his balance up, but couldn't. I laughed some more at his effort. I had to give the man some credit here for trying, and I knew he was trying to impress me, which was so cute.

  I smiled as I watched him until he finally gave up. He looked back over at me with his piercing blue eyes that made my knees quiver and the pit of my stomach get a wave of butterflies. Tucker walked back over to me to rest his hands on the tops of my knees. As a reflex, I sat up higher at his touch, straightening my spine as he stared at me. The electric pull was happening as my heart raced and my hands shook. I didn't even know what to do with my hands, so I just held them together, hoping he wouldn't notice how nervous he was making me.

  He breathed out heavily, "You know how beautiful you are?" as his hands traveled a little more up my bare legs. My breathing picked up as I took in the sensation of this feeling that started to travel throughout my body. My eyes moved down to his lips and then back up. Tucker slowly moved his hand from my leg and tenderly brushed his knuckles across my cheekbone. My eyes drifted shut as I took in the feel of his soft fingers. When I started to open my eyes again, his face was a lot closer to mine and I started to lean in for a kiss. I felt all sorts of giddiness as I readied myself for my first kiss. Tucker leaned in more and I could feel his breath on my lips. Our lips were a fraction apart when the door to the inside of the club opened and Rachel stumbled out laughing with her arm draped around Brad, with Jade and Jett on their heels.

  "Tucker!" Brad exclaimed and came stumbling over to Tucker to pat him on the back.

  I sat up in a rush, almost falling backwards; Tucker grabbed my arms to steady me. "I'm just gonna get down," I smiled as his hands went under my arms while I slid down the front of his hard body. Just from that, I could tell he had a great firm frame, which I wanted to explore with my hands. Just the thought made me blush, I looked down at my toes and his finger tipped my chin back up to his face.

  "Don't look down," he whispered and gently pecked my lips. I barely had any time to react when Rachel started speaking.

  "Gabs, we're heading back to the apartment. Jett and Brad are coming. Are you, Tucker?"

  I barely heard Rachel's words as I continued to feel Tucker's soft lips against mine. My fingertips came up to my lips to touch them – to remember the feel and the zing shock that was left there.

  "Earth to Gabs?" Rachel whined and waved her hand in front of my face. Jade pulled it down back to her side.

  "Leave her alone," Jade snipped.

  Now feeling like a complete idiot, I came out of the funk that I was in. Everyone was staring at me like I was a crazy insane person touching my mouth. I looked at Tucker, who had a smirk on his face. It was stupid I was feeling this way. I bet that didn't even count as a real kiss.

  "Yeah, that's fine," Tucker answered while grabbing my hand to lead us back through the club. We made it out front while Brad held a taxi. Rachel, Jade and Jett climbed in the back.

  "Dude, you're gonna have to get another taxi," Brad told us, obviously seeing there wasn't any more room.

  I piped up before Tucker could say anything, "It's okay, we're gonna walk."

  We watched as Brad climbed in and the taxi took off. We started our walk not saying anything and we didn't hold hands; I kept my hands together and in front of me. I felt silly right now, walking with him when I was just happy that he pecked my lips. I had to say something to break the dreadful silence.

  "Are you from around here?" I questioned, looking up at him.

  "Bushwick."

  "Aah."

  I'd heard of Bushwick…all I knew that it was the worst part of Brooklyn. It was infested with drug dealers and gangs, people were always getting robbed, and there were frequent shootouts. That was why I always loved the main city of Manhattan; I felt safe living in it. Just thinking about going to Brooklyn gave me the chills.

  "What about you?"

  "My parents have a house over on Fifth Avenue."

  "What do your parents do?"

  "My dad is a Criminal Justice lawyer for the city and my mom…I mean Carol, doesn't do anything besides shop," I snorted. That was the best way I could describe Carol in a way that wasn't mean. I looked over at Tucker who was staring at me as we continued on walking.

  "What?"

  "You called her Mom, then Carol. Spill, baby girl," Tucker said as he reached for my hand and interlaced our fingers together.

  Staring down at our hands, I started talking. "Carol is my stepmom."

  "That's not so bad, having a stepparent. I would rather have a step than none at all."

  I glanced up from our hands to the side of Tucker's face. He stared straight out in front of us, his blue eyes lost in his own thoughts.

  "Do you like it there?" I wondered.

  "Where?"

  "Bushwick."

  He let out a huff and laughed, "No, I don't, but it's the best I can do for right now."

  We walked in silence some more, just holding each other's hands. I know I sighed a lot during our walk, reveling in the comfort the little gesture of handholding brought to me. I snuck glances up at Tucker, knowing he knew, but he only gave me a side smile; his deep dimple in his cheek was so cute when I caught a glance of it. I really wanted to keep talking to him; I didn't get how we were so close to each other dancing and getting along just fine while outside the club, but now we had nothing to say to each other as we walked home. Our shoes were now the only noise lingering in the air.

  "Wanna play a game?" he asked, breaking our silence.

  I looked at him with a slight smile. "A game?"

  He nodded.

  "Sure."

  "Truth
or dare."

  I stopped as I took in his words of the game he wanted to play, "Are you serious? We're not in junior high here."

  "Come on, live a little."

  "Okay," I mumbled.

  "So truth or dare, Gabs? I can picture you being a truthful girl." I chewed on my lip some more. If he wanted me to live a little, then I was going to shock him as best as I could.

  "Dare," I said.

  He stopped and glanced at me; our hands separated, but I kept walking with my head held high. I heard his footsteps pounding on the sidewalk as he ran back to my side.

  "Dare?"

  "Uh huh, unless you're the one who's scared," I playfully tossed back at him.

  "Nope, I don't think you'll do it though."

  Ha. I faced him and crossed my arms. "Try me." I tapped my high-heeled toe.

  "I dare you to…" He stopped to think, turning his head to look at the street. I suddenly got scared that he would dare me to streak in the street in front of taxi or something like that.

  "I dare you to… kiss me on the cheek," he said as he eyed me. That was easy; I could do it. It was only his cheek. I stepped towards him until I felt my toe hit the top of his foot. I cupped his face to turn his head, his skin so soft under my palms. I could feel his stubble beginning to grow, but it was more soft then stiff. Right before my lips collided with his cheek, he turned his head and smashed his lips to mine.

  Sneaky little devil, my conscience told me.

  Tucker's hands locked behind my waist to tug me closer to his hot body. His lips were soft as velvet and his tongue touched the seam of my lips, wanting in. I gladly complied. As soon as our tongues rubbed together for the first time, my knees went weak as my hands gripped onto Tucker's shirt. Passion surged through my body and my knees started to quake. The chills ran from the very top of my head to the very tips of my open toed shoes. One of his hands glided to my butt and I sighed into his mouth; his tongue was softer than his lips. I melted into his body as I enjoyed my very first kiss.

  A cab drove by and honked at us as we slowly pulled apart from our little embracement. I pouted to myself when the kiss came to an end; my heart was racing, pumping my blood throughout my body, making me hot. Our bodies were so close, I could almost feel his heart beating just as fast as mine as we stood there, just holding each other.

  "I'm gonna do that again before the night is over," he half growled at me, while sweeping my hair off my shoulder and tenderly pecking my tingling lips again. I was totally fine with that.

  "Your turn," he murmured so softly, then left me with a quick peck.

  We played the little game of truth and dare as we continued our walk to my apartment. I didn't want any more dares; even though Tucker moped at me. I just blushed and kept walking. Tucker said dare every time it was my turn. I dared him to do stupid things, like ask directions from people and wrap his legs around a light post like a stripper pole. He would drop his head in shame as I kept doing it.

  "Come on; give me something good to do if you're going to dare me. You can dare me to kiss you." I blushed at his comment. I really wanted to kiss him again, too, but couldn't find myself to dare him to do it.

  We rounded the corner to the block my building was on and Michael opened the door for us, nodding his head and saying, "Miss Abigail", and tipped his hat.

  "Thanks, Michael."

  "You have one of those door greeter people. He only didn't greet you, but totally said hey and then tipped his hat." I laughed out loud as I dragged Tucker into the elevator. The elevator ride was quiet while Tucker just held my hand. I couldn't stop thinking about his lips; I desperately wanted them back on mine. That's all I could think about. Why was I even debating that this was fast. Who cared?

  I peeked over at Tucker as he stood in the elevator with me; the pull started to happen as we locked eyes. My chest rose and fell with each of my rapid breaths, trying to help me breathe. Tucker took one step towards me, before capturing my face to kiss me again.

  Oh yes.

  His tongue entered my mouth as soon as I opened up to him. I gripped his elbows as his thumbs stroked my cheeks, holding my face still as he devoured my mouth with his hot tongue. The ding of the elevator pulled us from each other as we made our way to my apartment door.

  Jade and Jett were sitting on the couch. She was under his arm as he played with her long black hair.

  "Hey," I said to them, their eyes not leaving the flat screen where a movie was playing. I jumped when the scary man with a chainsaw came out of nowhere, chasing a half-naked girl.

  "What's this?"

  "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," they both said at the same time. Tucker sat on one of the black chairs; their eyes continued to watch the horror movie.

  "I'll be right back." But I don't think they even heard me over the loud scream from the naked girl getting hacked into pieces with blood spraying everywhere.

  I went to my bedroom to change out of my little clothes and the shoes that were killing my feet. I had to get out of them. Whoever designed shoes like this was crazy. I threw on my black sweats with a pink tank top and made my way into the bathroom to wash off the makeup and brush out my long blonde hair. When I was done, I heard soft moans coming from inside Rachel's room. I listened then caught, "Oh, Brad!" from Rachel's pleasured mouth.

  I gasped and covered my mouth, hoping they didn't hear me. Rachel was having sex with Brad. I rushed out of my bathroom and back down the hall to plop myself in the other chair next to Tucker. I couldn't stop hearing Rachel's moans in my head; I couldn't believe she was already sleeping with him. I thought stuff like that only happened in movies.

  The roaring chainsaw made me jump out of my thoughts about Rachel's moans. I heard Tucker chuckle, and when I looked over at him, he patted his knee. He was obviously hinting I should sit on his lap, but my body froze and a horrid thought entered my mind: was Tucker here to get laid, too? Was he gonna use me? My eyes went to Jade who was staring right at me; she apparently understood the look I was giving because she stood right up and walked over to pull me out of the chair and outside to our balcony.

  Jade shut the door and quickly sat down in one of the chairs, lit up a cigarette and then tossed me the box. I pulled one out and lit up, then sat next to Jade, tossing the box of cigarettes on the little table between us. She was quiet, which didn't bother me at all. I felt like I needed to clear my head a little bit. We both finished, and then flicked our butts over the railing.

  "You ready to talk yet?" Jade asked me.

  I turned my head lazily at her, "About what?"

  "What freaked you out? I saw it in your eyes when Tucker wanted you to sit with him."

  Just knowing that Tucker was still inside my apartment, sitting there all hot and by himself, made me feel bad that I freaked. "Rachel is with Brad," I whispered.

  "So? What's the problem?"

  I huffed, "I don't know, I guess I just wasn't expecting to hear it when I went into the bathroom. Then having Tucker here…"

  "You think Tucker wants a one nighter?"

  "Yeah, I guess I just freaked out," I explained, waving my hands all in the air.

  "Pretty normal for a virgin."

  I was stunned; I didn't even know how to process that.

  "Jade, I know I'm different and new to all of this and…."

  "Just let go, Gabs. Everything that you were taught by that step monster of yours – let it go. Let loose. So what if he's here to have a one nighter with you? At least it's something you can scratch off your list or something."

  I shook my head vigorously. "I'm not that type of person, Jade. I like him. I want to get to know him and I don't want him to use me."

  "And I won't."

  Jade and I both turned to see Tucker hanging halfway out the door, listening to our conversation. Why did it feel like I just got caught with my hand in the cookie jar? We watched as Tucker stepped out of the doorframe and stood right in front of me. The night wind picked up, whisking his hair from one side of his head t
o the other as it drifted across his blue eyes. I really wanted to move the pieces away from his cute face.

  "I'm going back inside to finish the movie," Jade told us as she stood up, patted the top of my head, then left us. Tucker reached for the cigarettes on the table and took one; he held the box out to me, but I shook my head. I watched him put the cigarette between his lips and it seemed like everything was in slow motion as the little light of the flame flicked on and he tipped his head back to blow the smoke out above him, the wind sweeping it away into the night air. Watching Tucker smoke was the hottest thing I'd ever seen. I think I had drool dripping from my mouth.

  His head dropped back down and he met my eyes. "Do you really think I'm going to use you for sex?"

  The first thing I did was shrug like a girl in high school would. "I don't know you, maybe."

  "Well, let's get to know me." He folded his arms again.

  The first question I thought of was a main one I knew every girl wanted to ask a guy. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

  "No, next."

  "Married?"

  "Nope," he said, taking a pull from the cigarette.

  "How old are you?"

  "Twenty-five, next."

  My mouth dropped open; I had no idea he was twenty freaking five, he didn't look like he was that old. If I had to guess, I would say twenty-three at the most.

  "You don't look twenty-five."

  "I'm very immature," he joked.

  I giggled and he smiled. "When's your birthday?"

  "August twenty-third." He lifted his hand to take another drag and blow out the smoke high above him.

  "Do you go to school?"

  He shook his head. "No."

  "Where do you live?"

  "I already told you – Bushwick, Brooklyn."

  "I asked where you were from before, not where you lived."

  He let out a big breath. "You got me there. I live with my mom and her loser ass boyfriend."

  From his tone of voice, I could tell it was a soft spot. Tucker eventually finished his smoke, and then sat down next to me.

  "Have you ever been to jail?"

  Tucker grabbed my hand, rubbing small circles on the top; he let out a breath and shook his head. I continued on asking Tucker ridiculous questions, and he repeated the process to me. I relaxed more and more with his enjoyment; he smiled and then his little dimple would show. Tucker stood up and smoked another cigarette as we laughed at the sight of Brad coming out to the balcony looking, well, satisfied with his short brown buzz cut and rumpled clothes. Brad sat outside with us as he smoked another one of Jade's cigarettes.