Fresh out of college Marty Gendron knew he wanted to be an inspector but he wasn't very different from any other reckless teenager. He drove too fast and took chances. He experimented with drugs: marijuana and cocaine, nothing else. He also drank at all the big parties his friends would throw.
On this particular night he was on his way to a raging kegger deep in the woods. There was going to be two kegs, a bar, a live band and lots of poor decisions. He thought it may be the biggest party of the summer. There was no way he was going to miss it.
He pulled up and saw some friends by their cars and he went to join them.
"Where's the party, boys?" he called out and tackled Tommy Peterson.
"Marty!" they exclaimed as he and Tommy wrestled on the ground. "It's back in the woods where hopefully nobody will call the cops. Just follow the music."
They started down the narrow wooded path in the direction of the music and talked about some of the girls that might be there tonight. Marty had his eye on one in particular, Emma Madison, and he had heard that she had just broken up with her boyfriend. He asked about her and the guys thought that she might be showing up. Marty was excited. This was going to be a great night.
As he filled his cup from the keg for the third time he saw her. Emma Madison, the prettiest girl in school. He knew he didn't have much of a chance with her. He wasn't the quarterback of the football team but he was going to try anyway. As he stood staring at her he overfilled his cup and some beer ran out over his hands. Dammit! he thought. I can't be clumsy in front of her. I have to be smooth as fuck tonight.
He drew a few gulps from his beer so it wasn't so close to the brim and he could carry it without spilling and began his walk toward her. She was talking to her best friend, Betty Bragdon. They were always together and Marty didn't care for her much. She was a judgmental gossip, a typical cheerleader.
"Hi Emma" he stammered a little.
"Oh, hi Marty. What's up?" she returned.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked with still a trace of nervous energy in his voice despite his internal struggles.
"Sure" she said and allowed him to lead her toward the area in front of the band where some people were dancing.
"I heard that you and Carl aren't going out anymore. Are you okay?" he inquired with thinly veiled motive.
"Carl is such a dick. I hope I never see him again."
He chuckled. "Well, he will probably be here at some point tonight. Everybody is here tonight."
"That doesn't mean that I have to talk to him" she snapped. "I hope he gets VD from that slut he cheated on me with."
"Well," Marty began "I was thinking that maybe, you know, if you wanted, maybe you and I could go out sometime." Then he quickly hedged his vulnerability "I mean, if you want to, no biggie."
As he spoke he was looking at his feet but upon finishing he slowly looked up. Expecting to see outward disgust or annoyed amusement, or both. He looked her in the eyes with hope bubbling up in him uncontrollably. The next words out of her mouth could make him the happiest he had ever been or crush him completely. He swore that he could hear his heart beating and felt it in his fingertips, toes, and temples. He assumed she could hear it, also. Every part of him was trembling as he awaited her reply.
"That's sweet, Marty" she started but paused. He was certain that she was about to tear his heart out and stomp on it. He waited for the "but" that started the next sentence.
"I'd like that." she said smiling coyly at him. "I'll give you my number and you can call me."
His heart leapt. Suddenly all was right in the world. He felt oxytocin and dopamine coarse through his veins and his serotonin levels soared. He couldn't believe she had said yes. He was so excited he barely knew what to say next. He lost the beat and wasn't really dancing anymore(not that he could dance, anyway). Finally he choked out "Awesome. I look forward to it."
And then the song was over. She wrote her phone number on a slip of paper and gave it to him.
"Call me tomorrow. Right now I promised Betty that I wouldn't abandon her tonight so I'm going to go hang out with her. Maybe later you can hang out with us but for now she just wants to hang out with me alone, she said she has something she wants to talk with me about."
"Okay" he said, thankful for the release from the nervousness of talking to her. "I'll see you later."
He was floating, walking on air; barely noticing the faces on his way to go tell his buddies that he had gotten her number and she had said that she would go out with him.
Then he saw Carl standing over by everyone he wanted to talk to and he thought better of flaunting his burgeoning relationship in front of Carl. Then briefly thought it would be magnificent to do just that, dismissing the idea as he thought to its conclusion of Emma being upset that he had unnecessarily started a big fight.
Instead he headed down toward the brook where he saw one of the loners of the school, Cassidy, hanging out by herself, writing in her journal, like always. At least she had a drink.
"Hey Cassidy, what's up?" he called out as he approached her. She was full on goth. Thick-heeled black combat boots laced high up her shins. Black jeans tucked into the boots with a black leather belt adorned with bullets. She wore a long black oilskin coat even though it was summer. Her hair was shaved on one side of her head and brushed over the other side obscuring her left eye.
"Hey Marty. Nothing. Just wondering what I'm doing here. Nobody here wants me around."
"That's not true. I want you here. You're the most interesting person I know. I like having you here. These people are all mostly phony."
Suddenly her eyes lit up with electric excitement.
"Hey, did you meet my new friend, Mirella? She's so cool."
"No, I haven't. Take it easy." He chuckled and then. "Is she here?"
"Yeah, she's right over there." she pointed toward the bonfire.
"Mirella!" she called "come over here and meet Marty!"
Marty looked where she was pointing and saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her long, straight hair so black it obscured even the idea of light, falling across her shoulders like the finest velvet. She wore a black dress that cut off at mid thigh with fishnet stocking showing above her black high heeled boots with over-sized silver buckles.
As she approached he could see her face better. She had high cheek bones and a slightly pointed chin.
Her lips were blood red and appeared tender. Her eye shadow was dark sweeping across her lids. When she came near to them he also saw that there was green in it to match her unfathomably deep green eyes. He was immediately in awe of her beauty and the entire rest of the world ceased to exist.
"What's up, Marty? I'm Mirella." she said in a flinty voice that had him trembling. For a moment he couldn't answer. Fear struck him like a car raging through a puddle and soaking you. What if I'm unable to speak? What if she literally struck me dumb and I can never speak again? Please voice, come back! Say something, anything!
He wanted to tell her that she was the most beautiful woman on the planet and he loved her already but all he could manage was a stuttering hello. Could have been worse, at least you didn't blow it immediately.
She laughed at him being so nervous and put a hand on his shoulder, sweeping lightly down his arm as she chuckled.
Want to take a walk down by the creek, Marty? We can get away from the noise."
"Y -yes, yes absolutely" he stammered. Is it possible that she's interested in me? He thought as they took the first steps toward the creek. As they walked Marty couldn't begin to think of what to say so it was just awkward silence for what seemed like a long minute or two. He leapt up onto a large stone and balanced on one foot, hoping to impress her with his agility.
"Were you in our class? I never saw you around school, I would have remembered." he said shyly.
"No, I'm ... older. I wasn't in your class. I met Cassidy at the club a couple weeks ago and we hit it off. We've been hanging out a lot since. She's so independent. I really admire her attitude towards life."
"Yeah she is really cool. She's one of my favorite people in school. Everyone else seems so fake and proper. Cassidy is Just her. No front, no apology."
Mirella stopped and sat on a stone patting the spot next to her. Marty sat where she patted. Another awkward silence and Marty finally spoke.
"So ... Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked with a, hopefully inaudible, crack in his voice.
Mirella laughed so loud it startled him. He was shocked into silence not knowing how to react. She laughed and laughed for a long time. Marty was uncomfortable watching her. Geez she doesn't have to be a bitch about it, just say what we both know: you're way out of my league. I know, I get it, don't rub it in. He decided he was just going to get up and walk away, dejected when she finally put a hand on his shoulder.
"You don't waste any time, do you Marty? No, I'm not seeing anyone right now. It's hard for me to have relationships."
"Well I'd sure like to take you out sometime. Maybe we can go to the club you like with Cassidy sometime?"
"I don't know, Marty. You sure are cute but I have a condition and it's hard for me to date. I don't like to talk about it."
"What kind of condition? Oh, sorry. You just said you don't want to talk about it. Well, I don't care. I'll date you. That is, if you'd like to date me?" he said with hope in his tone.
Mirella looked at him for a long time with a slightly sad expression on her face. She looks so very lonely. He didn't know if he should speak. A few ways to break the silence crossed his mind but didn't seem appropriate. He sat silently looking into her eyes. She seemed so deep in thought. Finally, after several minutes, which seemed like an hour to Marty, she spoke. She began very carefully.
"Marty, I can't tell you my condition right now. Maybe someday I will. Until then we can see each other but I need for you not to push me into telling you. When ... if I'm ready, I'll tell you. Until then you have to promise to just forget about it and not even ask. Is that okay with you? Because if you can't agree to that, we can't see each other."
"Sure." he spat back a little too eager. He was ready to agree to anything to date her.
He has no idea what he is agreeing to she thought. She wanted to tell him to run away, to get as far away from her as possible, and fast, but she liked him. She thought he was cute and funny in a nervous way. I hope that I don't regret this but I think I'm going to find out.
"Hey, are you thirsty? They have beer and other drinks, and food if you're hungry." he asked. He wanted to spend the whole night with her.
"Actually, I am hungry but I have to go. Get my number from Cassidy and call me later. We can set up a night to go out." she said standing up and brushing the dirt off of her ass.
He watched her do that admiring the shape she showed through the dress. He was a little lost in the admiration as he stood and did the same.
"Oh okay" he said letting his disappointment ring through his voice. "I will and I will." he chuckled. "I'll talk with you later then"
"Bye", she called back as she was already climbing the slight slope of earth toward the party and away from him.
She was hungry but the food there wouldn't satisfy her. She needed a real meal and she certainly couldn't let anyone here see that.
He watched her say her good byes to Cassidy and some others and slowly rejoined the party after she had gone. He suddenly wasn't in a partying mood anymore. He just wanted to talk with her, to see her. He was infatuated. Just as he admitted that to himself he was tapped on the shoulder. When he turned he was surprised by nobody other than Emma and the memory of asking her out came flooding back into his mind as she spoke. It was fifteen minutes, and somehow, simultaneously, an entire lifetime ago.
"Hi Marty. Betty is off talking to some jerk so I thought that we could hang out now. Why don't you have a drink in your hand? It's a party!" She grabbed his hand and headed toward the keg. The whole way his mind was spiraling; trying to figure out how to explain that he was interested in her a lifetime ago, which was only fifteen minutes to her.
~ ~ ~
The club was hopping. There was a DJ really turning it out. The drinks were flowing, the bar was crowded, and the dance floor was a large amoeba composed of bodies writhing and flowing in revelry. It was dark and there were different colored strobes in every corner and a large disco ball in the center reflecting it all.
There was an odor in the air that was a potpourri of alcohol, sweat and poor decisions.
Marty walked in and was struck by the sheer number of people. How am I ever going to find them? He thought heading toward the bar to try and squeeze into a space to get a drink. The jock in the matching sweatsuit and gold chains got his drinks and vacated a spot so Marty took it over. Now to get the bartender's attention.
Mirella spotted him right away and watched him head to the bar. She admired the way he carried himself, confident but not arrogant. She saw him wait for the ugly guy in the sweatsuit to move and take his spot. Should I go surprise him or play it cool and see if he finds us? she thought to herself while nudging Cassidy. "Look who's here." she said excitedly.
"Ooooh it's your new boyfriend." Cassidy replied in a sing song voice teasing her friend.
"Oh get over it. Just because I agreed to see him tonight doesn't mean anything. I just think he's cute... and funny." Marty was still patiently waiting on the bartender. Jesus I just want a beer. He finally held up a twenty thinking seeing the money would bring her over. It worked.
"What'll you have?" she asked yelling over the music. "I just want a Bud, no glass."
He got his beer and turned around thinking and now to find - and there she was in front of him.
"I saw you from our booth. Come on."
"Does anyone need a drink while we're ...?" he tried to ask.
"No, we're good. Let's go." Mirella yelled into his ear as she tugged and actually pulled him to the booth where Cassidy was sitting with her signature vodka and cranberry juice.
"Marty!" she yelled and jumped up to give him a hug hello. "I'm so glad you decided to meet us out. Isn't this place great?"
"Yeah it's hopping" he yelled back. "What's that smell?"
"That's the smell of booze and partying, Marty. It's the greatest smell in the world." she laughed and Mirella laughed.
"Marty, come dance with me." Mirella didn't wait for an answer and she once again took his hand and dragged him through the labyrinth of people to a spot on the dance floor despite his beginning to object.
"I really can't dance." he tried to dissuade her but she either didn't hear or didn't care. Everyone seemed to part as she approached as if they sensed her coming and moved for her.
Marty wasn't much of a dancer but he made an effort. Mirella couldn't stop laughing as he danced. He looks like a newborn calf trying to walk she thought. He leaned in and shouted in her ear.
"I'm so glad you agreed to see me. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since we met."
"Is that a fact?" she shouted back smirking wryly.
"Yeah, I actually had to break another date to see you."
"Did you?" she blushed a little hearing that. "Was the other girl upset? What did you tell her?"
"I told her that I wasn't feeling very well and I would call her to set up another date, just in case you decide you don't like me." he winked.
"Oh so you have a back up plan if things don't work out tonight?" she accused.
"Not really. I don't plan on calling her. If I can't have you I don't want anyone."
The song finished granting Marty a break from hurting himself trying to dance.
"Let's go sit with Cassidy" Mirella said flatly and headed back to the booth. She wasn't sure what to make of his last statement. They had only just met but he seemed intent on dating her. How could she date him? Would she ever be able to confide in him her dark secret? She needed to take the pressure off and the best way to do that is to get over to the table and talk with Cassidy, no one on one time.
Marty followed her to the booth. I shouldn't have said that. I just weirded her out. She thinks I'm a clingy stalker. This is bad. I have to play it cool and just chill with Cassidy for a while. I have to show her that I'm not all intense.
"Marty you looked like you were having a seizure out there!" Cassidy poked fun at him. She cracked herself up and Mirella laughed, too. Marty laughed it off.
"I tried to tell her that I can't dance but she insisted, I guess. How often do you guys come here?"
"Any chance we get!" they yelled back in unison over the new song playing. Marty sat down next to Cassidy.
"Any guys here that you're interested in?"
"I don't know, Marty, I've been scoping the talent but I'm not sure there's one with whom I want to talk."
As they were talking her eyes scanned the bar and she saw a prospect. He was alone at the bar looking around. Skinny, what the jocks would call a twig-boy, and wearing all leather. He had a studded dog collar on his neck and his hair was shaven on the back and long up front, colored pink, purple and blue. He looked bored and anxious at the same time, like he was being forced to make a speech at any moment about the various types of concrete floors.
She was instantly enthralled. "Marty" she grabbed him by the elbow hard enough for it to smart.
"Look at him, he's amazing ... Go talk to him for me."
He laughed. "Which one?" he asked sipping his beer.
"The one with the different colored hair and the dog collar. Do you see him? At the bar."
He scanned the bar for a moment and saw who she was referring to.
"Really? Him? Out of all of these guys you want to talk to wire man?"
"Yes, he's awesome. Go talk to him for me. I'm too nervous, I'll say something stupid and he'll think that I'm an idiot and never talk to me."
He laughed again. Taking another sip of beer he slid out of his position in the booth as she moved for him and crossed the bar wondering what he would say. This guy was obviously damaged. That's most likely why he was so attractive to Cassidy. She wasn't exactly normal herself.
He sat at the empty stool next to the skinny guy with the weird hair and bumped elbows with him.
"Oh, excuse me." he said and the guy just jutted his chin at him in response and looked around the bar again.
"I'm Marty. Nice to meet you." He stuck out his hand to shake.
"I'm not gay, dude. Move it along." The skinny guy said glaring unmoving at Marty's outstretched hand. Marty laughed out loud but nervously and said
"No, No, neither am I. You see, my friend - my female friend - wanted me to come and talk to you for her. She's a little shy."
"Where's your friend" the skinny guy asked matter of factly now looking at Marty too intently eye to eye.
"Oh she's the one over there in the booth." Marty pointed toward where the girls were seated and the skinny guy followed his finger.
"Which one?" he asked, sounding annoyed, checking out both of the women. Marty was suddenly afraid the man would be interested in Mirella. Quickly he blurted out
"She's the one on the right, with the purple hair."
"She doesn't look like the shy type" the skinny guy replied and returned Cassidy's nervous wave with a smile and nod.
"But I think that she's the most interesting looking person in this place. These people are normies."
"Yeah, I think you and her will get along just fine." Marty chuckled, relieved. "Let's get you another drink and you can come and say hi" he turned around to order a drink and the skinny guy was off his stool and headed toward Cassidy.
"Or not" Marty said aloud to himself and turned back toward the table himself. With a couple of quick steps he reached the table at the same time as the skinny guy and started the introduction.
"Cassidy this is ...." he trailed off waiting for the guy to fill in his name. After a too long pause,
"Douglas" he said smiling at her.
"Douglas." Marty repeated. "Douglas, this is Cassidy. And that is Mirella. Mirella, say hi to Douglas."
"Hi Douglas." Mirella said happily but Douglas didn't take his eyes off of Cassidy.
"Hey" he said and reached out a hand to Cassidy. "Want to dance with me?"
Cassidy turned red in the face but got up and followed him to the dance floor. Marty took her spot in the booth and looked over at Mirella. They were alone and for a very painful moment there was awkward silence. To Marty it seemed like several minutes but it was only a moment and Mirella didn't even notice as she suddenly sprang from her spot in the booth and grabbed Marty by the hand.
"Come on!" she said pulling him "Now that Cassidy is otherwise occupied ..." she trailed off letting Marty fill in the rest of the sentence once he realized where she was dragging him. They were headed for the side door just off of the dance floor.
Once outside Mirella slammed the door behind them and looked at Marty. He was still in shock and had no idea what to say but it didn't matter. Before he could utter a nervous word Mirella landed a hard kiss and pushed him against the wall. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close to him. She leaned in pressing his back against the wall and her crotch against his, kissing feverishly. She was barely breathing between kisses and he felt suffocated but would never tell her to stop. He grabbed a handful of her ass and pressed her tighter against him while rolling his tongue around hers. He bit her lower lip lightly and she moaned and pushed even closer. Their hands were all over each other, up and down. Marty squeezed her ass and she felt his muscular chest against her breasts. She began kissing his neck and he could finally breathe. Then she bit him.
"Ow!" he yelped and pulled back. "Did you just bite me?" he asked incredulously. "I think you drew blood."
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She exclaimed "I got carried away. Are you okay?" she reached for his neck to see in the dim light of the alley they were in. She could see a trickle of blood, looking black in the low light against his white skin.
"Oh it's just a little bite." she said smiling coyly. Don't tell me you're that sensitive." The sentence transitioning to a flinty, flirtatious tone by its end. She leaned in and licked the blood off of his neck.
"I thought that you were a big strong man, Marty. Don't tell me a little bite hurt you that much."
"No, I guess it's okay. You just surprised me, that's all." he said trying to sound macho but really sounding nervous.
She started lightly biting her lower lip and had an air of mischief in her voice asking, really declaring.
"How about we get out of here?" Grabbing him by the lapels of his jacket and pulling him in close for another kiss.
"What .. about .. Cassidy?" he asked in reply between kisses.
"She'll be fine. She drove here. Where's your car? Let's go to your place."
~ ~ ~
When Marty awoke in his bed the next morning she was gone. He was covered in scratches and bite marks and was wholly uncertain what, exactly, had taken place once they were back at his place last night but he was certain of two things; Mirella was like no other woman he had ever been with and he was completely lost in love with her.
Images flashed in his head, foggy and out of order, of what had happened as they made passionate love the night before. It had been amazing. He had no idea what time they had fallen asleep or when she had left. He drew up the blinds being punched in the face with full sunlight. He had slept late.
He winced when the hot water of the shower ran through the deepest of the scratches on his back and even more when the soap got in there. Still, all he could think of was her. He could see her face contorted in the pleasure of their sex. He could see her perfect breasts bouncing up and down over him as she rode him.
When he was getting dressed he sat on the bed and realized he could still smell her in the pillow she used. He took a deep breath of her. Yes: He was lost in love, alright. How am I going to get anything done today? he asked himself reaching for his keys. Headed out the door he couldn't shake the image of her smiling down on him with her hair draped down over him and he couldn't stop smiling himself.