Norma Jean

chapter 4



Norma



I laugh while setting my phone down on my bed. Rydstorm slithers over my thigh, sticking his tongue out. “You ready to get back in your house, buddy?” He lifts up his head up and I wrap him around my arm before crossing over to his vivarium and depositing him in.

I lay back down on my bed and look out the window. Not much of a view but that’s a trailer park for you. Sometimes I feel like white trash, since I live in small town Arkansas in a single wide trailer with my single mom. Not that I have to live without anything, it’s just a trailer for crying out loud. I’m not ashamed but it’s like you tell someone your dad is a famous author, then they found out you live in a trailer. It’s whatever.

I wonder what Chance would think if he knew where I lived. It’s hard to say. The boy I know now, isn’t anything like the boy who made my life a living hell. He actually made me feel beautiful, for a second anyway. Though this isn’t about him, it’s about me and my revenge. I can’t let his heated looks, softly spoken words, and adorable smile break me. I feel nothing for him.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that honey.

I hear my mom come out of her room and walk into the kitchen so I decide to go bug her. My favorite pastime. When you don’t have any friends it’s easy to be stuck to your awesome mothers butt. “Good morning.” I say to her when I get to the end of the hall.

Her brown hair is pulled up on top of her head in a very messy bun and there are bags under her eyes. I hate that she has to work graveyard but she refuses to go to days. The woman is stubborn. “Good afternoon, baby. Have a good day at school?”

I stop by the end of the couch and cross my feet. “Sure. I got Chance Duncan to wear one of his mom’s dresses, then he made out with me in the school parking lot. It was epic.”

Nothing fazes my mom. “That’s cool honey. Are y’all dating now?” she asks as she pours hot water into her mug for her tea. So English.

“I guess. He wants to take me out on Friday night. His mom is off, so I don’t have to watch Macy.” I flop down on the couch as she heads to her laptop on her computer desk.

“What are y’all going to be doing?” I hear her place the mug down and lift open the device. Her nails clink against the keys as she types in her password.

“Dinner. A movie. The same thing everyone my age does. Though I think we are going to be more of a show than the movie.” I place my hands over my stomach and interlock my fingers.

“Why is that?” she questions, while typing away at the keys. She might be addicted to Facebook but she is the master of multitasking. It’s the only reason she hasn’t had an intervention.

“Everyone stared at us all day long. I have never been more gawked at in my life. And I’m the girl who fell off the stage in the 2 grade play.” I laugh out loud remembering that. We did some dumb musical our music teacher thought was cool. I can’t dance to save my life so of course I wasn’t watching what I was doing and fell right off the stage. I think I might still be living that one down till I die.

“Why would they gawk at you, baby?” like she doesn’t know. The woman is dumb sometimes.

“I don’t know. Because the preppy jock type made out with the gothic rocker chick freak in the parking lot.” I roll my eyes. I shouldn’t have to explain myself. This is common knowledge.

“Well everyone at your school are sheep. They were the same when I went there. I was the pretty preppy socialite cheerleader and your father was the grungy rocker stoner. We were a strange couple now that I think about it, but that was the 90s.” I can picture her shrugging her shoulders at that. “The only thing that matters is if you like him. Which I know that you do. You’ve been crushing on that boy since you were in diapers. Not that I blame you, he’s pretty hot.”

“Mom! Gross.” I feel my face cringe up in disgust. Cougar. “Yeah I like him. He makes me crazy though.”

“How so?” she asks still typing away on her computer.

“He makes me want to put on a tight shirt, short skirt, and sexy heels. He makes me want to do my hair and makeup. He even makes me want to bat my eyelashes and give him a coy smile. It’s insane.” And he does. I sat there staring at my hair last night and ripped out my extensions. I’m becoming more normal the longer I spend time with him.

“Wow that is crazy.” I hear her rise from her seat and then her face appears above mine. “Honey, you don’t have to change who you are for a man. I sure as hell didn’t. I might be single but I’m not unhappy being someone I’m not.” She winks and sits back down.

“I don’t really know who I am anyway. I just…am.” I say softly. And it’s true. I just exist. I don’t do anything. Literally. I pretty much sit at home, read, and go to school. And watch Macy on the weekends.

“You might not, but I do.” I sit up to look at her. She looks at the computer the whole time she tells me, “You’re the most independent person I know. You’ve hardly ever asked for my help with anything. You’ve always wanted to do everything on your own. You’re feisty. There may have been a time when you let people walk over you, but now you don’t take crap from anyone. I admire that from you. You’re so incredibly smart. I mean you have seen your grades. I’m not sure about your common sense sometimes, but that’s another matter. You’re bold. You don’t even think sometimes before you jump in head first. Sometimes it gets you in trouble, other times it works out for you. That also makes you brave. You were so scared when I first got you Rydstorm but instead of letting that overcome you, you stuck your hand in his cage and picked him up. Now you’re best friends. But you’re 17 years old. You’re not supposed to know who you are.” She turns to look at me then and winks.

That kind of speech brings you back down to earth. I don’t see any of that in me, but I hope I can be that person she sees.

“Thanks mom.”



*****



It’s like midnight when my phone starts ringing. This scares the shit out of me, so I jump up out of bed and answer it without seeing who it is.

“You were asleep?” comes Chances sexy voice over the line. I shiver and mental smack myself for that.

“Yeah.” I tell him while laying back down on my bed. “I wouldn’t have answered if I wasn’t. You scared the shit out of me. I thought something was wrong with my mom.”

He laughs and I let the sound wash over me. Even that damn laugh is sexy. “Sorry.”

Seeing this through is going to be difficult since the guy barely speaks. “What do you want?”

“A kiss.” Then there is a knock on my front door. Really? Stalk much?

“You’re turning into a stalker Chance. I’m going to answer the door with a shotgun.” I warn even though I don’t own a gun.

“You don’t have a gun. You wouldn’t hurt a fly.” A smile tugs at my lips, but I refuse to let him win.

“How would you know that?” I ask getting out of bed and heading into my bathroom.

“I don’t think you would shoot anyone.” He knocks again, like maybe I didn’t hear him.

My hair is a mess and I have mascara smudged under my eyes. “Hold on.” I say into the phone and set it down on the counter. I quickly pull my hair back into a low ponytail and wipe the smears away. I look down at myself and cringe. I will have to change.

I run back into my bedroom and pull out a pair of plaid sleep pants and pull them on over my black boy shorts. I find my hoodie on the floor and throw it over my plain, thin as hell cotton tank top.

I leave my phone in the bathroom and head to the front door. I look out the long rectangular window and see him wearing a small smile. My heart starts beating faster and I curse under my breath. Get yourself together Davis!

I slowly open the door and step out on to the black iron steps Marley made my mom in shop class last year. “How did you know where I lived?”

I’m standing on the top step and he is three down but we are face to face. His eyes are doing that heated look he seems to get around me a lot. I thought I covered up pretty well, so I don’t know what the hell he could be turned on about.

“Macy wouldn’t sleep. Drove her around and saw your car. Thought I’d get a goodnight kiss.” Okay that was sweet. So I don’t think about it when I lean forward and brush my lips against his. His hands come up to cup my face and I open my lips for his tongue. I love the way he always wants entry into my mouth. I love how he kisses me like he might die if he didn’t.

Wait.

No, no I didn’t like, let alone love any of that.

Damn, I’m in serious trouble.

He breaks away from me all too soon and I blink open my eyes kind of in a daze. “That’s it?” I find myself asking before I could stop.

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.” He steps down the stairs backward and gives me a small wave before walking towards his truck which is parked behind my car. He gets points for being a gentleman. Damn, he was supposed to be an a*shole. Not this sweet guy who doesn’t try to take me to my room and ravish me. I’m starting to think the rumors are true. The rumors that say he is a virgin. Which I don’t know how any 18 year old male could be a virgin.

Though stranger things have happened.

I head back into my house in a fog. I take off the clothes that I put on, throwing them around my room and falling back on my bed. I lift up on my elbows and find Rydstorm watching me with his crazy red eyes. “What?”

Great now I’m talking to my snake. I have lost my mind, officially. I’m finding redeeming qualities in the boy who ruined my life. Which is scary as all get out because that means I could really fall for him. I don’t want that, I just want him to hurt. I have to remember that, always. Make him suffer like he made me suffer.



You’re the ugliest girl on the face of the planet.

Your pimples need their own zip code, they are so huge.

What are you looking at zitface? Want some of this? Too bad, I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole.

Here comes zitface. Look at all that pus leaking out of those things. She is so disgusting.

Don’t stand too close to her, you might catch that stuff!

Zitface you really need to clean your face. You’re so hideous. If you took care of that, then maybe you would have friends.



I’ll remember for the rest of my life, every single thing he said. I’ll remember that pain and the embarrassment. Mostly I’ll remember what it feels like to have revenge.



Chance



I pull up outside of Norma’s house for our date Friday night. I’m nervous as all get out. I have never taken a girl out that I really liked. And I mean really liked. Ever since we kissed I can’t get it out of my head. The feel of her under me, the taste of her lips, the sound of her moans. I really need to get a grip on myself.

Monday night I couldn’t get Macy to sleep so I loaded her up in my truck and drove her around for an hour until she fell asleep. I don’t know how I ended up right outside her house but when I saw the cobalt I pulled over. I could tell she was asleep since all the lights were off in the house. But I wanted that kiss. I wanted to see what she would look like just waking up.

I was happy to find out she was just as moody as any other time. Since summer is right around the corner I could tell the pj pants and hoodie were thrown on. She looked cute and rumpled and it did strange things to my insides. I wanted to go in and do more, but I want her to actually feel something for me, other than lust, before I take it that far. If it takes me a hundred years to get there, then I will. She’s worth it.

Mom has this picture of Norma and Macy sitting on the refrigerator and the day she put it up there, I knew I had this thing for Norma. She looked so incredibly happy. That smile was killer and I wanted her looking at me like that. I guess that’s how I got here today.

I knock on the front door and step back. I hear her unlocking the door and opening it. I suck in a breath when she comes into view. I think I just died from pure lust.

I don’t know what she did with the Norma Jean I’m used to seeing but this one…wow. Her long black hair is styled in loose curls and hang around her face in a seductive way. Her makeup is subtle and not the usual. A light blush on her cheeks, pale lip gloss and smoky eyes. She has on a pretty violet blouse that makes her eyes even more eerie and beautiful. The little black skirt is a surprise as are the black heels. Suddenly I’m picturing her with nothing but those on…and sitting in my lap.

I clear my throat before speaking. “You look so beautiful Norma.” I want to say more, but I don’t know how. My feelings and my words don’t go together. Or I’m just an idiot and don’t know how to express how I feel.

Her cheeks get a little pinker and I hold in my smile. “Thanks.” She smiles a little as I reach my hand for hers. I lace my fingers in hers and she tenses a bit. I squeeze my palm around her hand making sure she won’t get away.

I open the passenger side door for her and pretend not to look at her ass as she gets in. Very nice. I shut the door and walk around to the drivers side and climb in. “So where are we going?”

“Anywhere you want.” I state as I start the truck and back out of her driveway.

I catch her face and the look is pure mischief. “Can we eat at Sonic?” she bites her lip, like I would say no. I gave her full rein.

I nod in answer and head into town. Duke is a small place, like only 1,000 people. And we all know each other. Sonic happens to be the place a lot of the kids in our school hang out on Friday nights. Mostly before one of Creed’s parties. Almost every space is filled up but one next to Creed’s mustang. Great.

I park it and shut off the engine when Norma says something. “There are a lot of people here.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and I feel jealous of her finger, since it got to touch that wonderful softness.

“Wanna leave?” I question turning all the way toward her.

She swishes her lips around like she is thinking hard, but shakes her head no. I wouldn’t mind leaving, these people get on my nerves for the most part. I also give Creed one more minute before he is knocking on my window.

“Know what you want?” I ask turning back around to look at the menu. I always get a bacon cheeseburger, French fries, and a chocolate milkshake.

“A New York dog, chilli cheese fries with jalapeños, and an ocean water.” she says beside me before I hear her dig around in her purse. I hear tapping on her phone before she speaks. “Quit looking at me like that. I’m fine, no need to kill him with your eyes. I want to be here so get over it, okay?” I automatically look at her but since she is on the phone I look across the store to see Marley with his beat up s10 sitting directly in front of us. Just great.

She hangs up and rolls her eyes as she places the phone back in her purse. “Don’t worry about him. He thinks he’s my father or something.”

That gets me thinking so I blurt out “Where is your dad?” I cringe because I could have delivered that a lot nicer, or not at all.

“My dad lives off this manmade lake in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. He writes all day every day. Ten out of his fifteen books are on the New York Times bestseller list. I don’t talk to him except for my birthday and Christmas. I haven’t seen him in a couple of years.” She shrugs her shoulders before meeting my eyes.

“That sucks.” I say quietly. And it does suck. I wish my dad was off somewhere, no where near my life.

“Yours is pretty f*cked up too.” she whispers. I don’t know if she knows how right she is.

“Yeah. I walked in on him with his new wife.” I don’t know why I paused, maybe because this is what has made me the person I am today. “While he was still married to my mom. He tried to pay me off to not say anything, but I have always been more loyal to mom than him.” I take a deep breath and go on. “He was kind of abusive to my sister and me. It wasn’t bad all the time though. Mostly verbal, though he hit me once for bringing mud in the house.” Then I smile. “He’s a different person around Macy. That little girl changed him for the better. He still rides my ass but I don’t ever have to worry about him mistreating her.”

She is staring at me funny like she forgot something she really wanted to remember before she speaks. “That’s good to know. I’m super close to Macy. If someone was hurting her I think I might kill them.”

“You and me both.” The truck gets silent before I can’t take it anymore. “Want me to order now?”

She nods and looks out the passenger window. I hit the red button on the menu and tell the girl our order. I have to admit what she is getting is strange. Seems like heartburn central.

Creed stops by like I figured he would and we talk for a minute before I tell him with my eyes to get lost. He chuckles and goes back to his own date. Norma and I talk some while eating. I found out she loves snakes and spiders equally. Her mom doesn’t like spiders at all so her grandma lets her keep her hairy black tarantula at her house. She named it Daisy.

I tell her I won’t be anywhere near that thing but she informs me if I really want her then I have to pass her Daisy test. This turns out to be something I didn’t know. “Her bite hurts but she can’t kill you. She is really sweet and likes to walk around in the palm of your hand. She hates Marley and bites him. So that is my test, if she bites you then I can’t see you anymore.” She winks and I hope she is kidding. I may be a dude but I am scared to death of spiders…and snakes.

I tell her about basketball and how I don’t have to feel anything while playing. I just concentrate on getting the ball from one side to the other and into the net. I don’t care about the points or being any good at it. It’s the same with any sport, where most guys with any talent want to be a big superstar, I just play for what it gives me. A little bit of peace.

There is a tiny movie theater in the middle of town that shows two movies at any given time. They are about 5 years behind, so there is never anything new here. Norma picks an old zombie flick I’m sure I have seen before. After the movie starts, I place my arm on the back of her chair and about half way through she lays her head on my shoulder. So feeling bold I curl my arm around her small body and I feel her shiver. Which makes me smile and feel ten feet tall.

The movie ends way too soon for me, but at least I get to kiss her goodnight. I feel sad when we reach her house, but I let it go. I tell myself I’ll get to see her again, I’ll get to hear her voice when she laughs, I’ll get to feel this skin under my hands, and I’ll get to make her smile some more.

After parking I get out and race to open her door for her. She laughs at me when I get there but I only grin. I pull her out of the truck and shut the door. Before she can move towards her house, I gently push her against the side. I feel the cold metal on the palm of my hands as I cage her in. I nuzzle my nose against her neck and she gasps. “Will you let me take you out again tomorrow?” I say very softly.

I place tiny kisses against her pomegranate scented skin. God I love that smell. She shivers when I get to her ear and she lets out a “Yes.” I reward her with a flick of my tongue against it and she moans.

I make my way over to her lips and capture them. Her hands are moving around my waist and under my shirt. Her fingers are like fire against my skin and I can’t help but to jerk at the touch. I force her lips open so I can tangle my tongue with hers. I move my hands off of the truck and down to her bottom lifting her up against me. I groan when I feel her heat against my groin and I think my eyes roll into the back of my head.

She wraps her legs around me and I move my hands up her body to her hair. I can’t go home tonight without sifting my fingers through the gorgeous locks. Her arms are around my neck now, her nails are digging into my skin.

Figuring that is enough for tonight, I set her down and step away. I don’t know what it is about her but I always end up losing my mind. “Goodnight smalls.” I whisper against her forehead.

“Goodnight big foot.”

I watch her go into her house as I start my truck and back out of the driveway.

Best date ever.