Unraveling Sarah Cresley by Marisa Maichel (best summer books .txt) 📕

I drank a bottle of blood when I got home. I unbuttoned the top two buttons of my shirt. I went into my bedroom and put on a Creed CD. The first song that came on was "Torn". I shook my head to clear it and grabbed a random book off the shelf. Three lines in I realized it was Romeo & Juliet. I said every curse word there is first in English, then in Gaelic, then in Greek. My father made me go to classes when I was younger, to "stay in touch" with my Greek heritage.

I angrily threw the book against the wall. I buried my face in a pillow and let out a scream. My father came rushing in.

"What happened?!" he cried, looking scared.

"Nothing, I just had a moment of weakness. Sorry." He sat beside me and rubbed my back.

"Reese, you know you can tell me anything," he said. I picked up my battered book.

"This is what's wrong," I said.

"Son, it's a story. I do not despise her or her family. In fact, I like her very much. If you're concerned about their fate, that won't happen. When you were a baby, I promised you that I wouldn't let anything happen to you. I've never forgiven myself for what I did to your mother. I will never forgive myself if anything were to happen to you."

"Where is Grandfather and Uncle Soren?" I asked.

"Don't change the subject. They're on a mission in Virginia. I'm not sure when they'll be back. The point is that I love you, Reese. I love you more than anything. Your Juliet will realize her feelings, and she'll come for you. You belong together." He kissed my hair. He left my room, shutting the door. I took off my clothes and crawled into bed after turning out the light.

School resumed as normal. I still pined for Sarah. I read as much as I could, burned some CDs, saw a new horror movie with my father. Evan avoided me, and so did Sarah. I continued to sit with Mason and his group at lunch. Jody commented on my lack of eating and Amara chided her. While I was working on a new song, Duke leaned over and read it.

"'I feel her silky locks, I can see the dam."'

"I know it's lame," I said.

"No, it's not," he disagreed. "It's really good. Who are you writing it for?"

"My friend's in a band, so sometimes I write music for them." They all looked at me with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Avoiding their gazes, I looked over and saw Sarah. What surprised me most is that she was talking with Mia Alexander, her supposed ex-best friend. They hugged each other for a long moment, then separated. That's when Scarlett made her move.

Her clique distracted Mia while she punched Sarah. My instincts screamed at me to help her, so I got up and pulled Sarah away from her.

"What, now you've got the vampire helping you?" Scarlett teased unmercifully. Wait...vampire? Did she know or was she just making fun of me?

"You just stay away," I warned.

"Make me, gay freak," Scarlett replied haughtily. Mason came up, surprisingly, and put his hands on Scarlett's shoulders.

"Enough," he said firmly. Scarlett brandished her middle finger before stalking off. I turned toward Sarah.

"Are you all right?" I asked worriedly.

"No," she said. "Meet me in the library during free period."

"Right now, I'm taking you to the nurse," I said firmly. I grabbed my bag, jacket, and notebook, and led her away, gripping her shoulder. I was fully aware of the stares and whispers.

"Are they, like, dating?"

"She's too good for him."

"Did you see the way he saved her? He totally likes her."

"Ew!"

I growled under my breath. I put my lips on Sarah's hair, then caught myself.

"He just kissed her!" Why do they care? They know nothing of my love for Sarah. They didn't know our story. Our story? We barely had a story pertaining to our love life. I helped her get help and win her case, that's it. But in that time, I'd gotten to know her a little better. I had confessed my feelings. I smelled salt, and realized Sarah was crying. She stopped suddenly.

"Don't make me go to the nurse," she said.

"Sarah, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I need some time alone." Something was definitely wrong.

"Tell me," I commanded, using a voice used by the dominant half of a mated pair.

"No one can know," she said softly.

"Know what?" She looked around nervously.

"Not here. I'll call you tonight."

"I will come see you," I said.

"Fine. Come to my house at...oh, four thirty. Tell no one, not even your father. I have to go now." And then she scurried away, reminding me of a mouse that has just seen a cat.

"Was that Sarah Cresley?" Ariella asked, coming up to me.

"Yeah. She wants me to come see her later tonight."

"Reese, that's huge!" She hugged me.

"She wants to talk about something private. I don't know what it is, only that it has affected her in a big way."

"That's incredible! Well, I have to get back to class. Text you later!" She bounced away.

There were times when I wondered if my friendship with Ariella was legitimate. It's Ariella, I scolded myself. Don't be paranoid. Although I did just screw up by telling her about Sarah. Ahhhh!

I spent the rest of school with my head in the clouds. I got called on once in European History. I managed not to make a fool of myself and answered the question correctly. I went home feeling like I'd accomplished nothing.

Father wasn't home yet, so I went to take a short nap. I had a lot of homework, but I decided to do it later.

"Reese, wake up." Father shook me. I turned over and glared at him. "Son, it's the day of the sentencing."

"Fuck! I promised Sarah I would meet her yesterday!"

"Well, calm down. You'll have a chance to see her today."

"You don't understand. She was going to tell me something big, something she didn't want anyone else to know."

"Then I recommend buying her flowers. What does she like?"

"Crap! I don't know that!" I was in deep shit.

Judge Sawchuk spoke up. "I sentence you to three weeks in maximum security prison. You will take your school courses online for the rest of the year. You've changed several lives forever, so your life will change. In addition you will take sensitivity classes. In the month of June, you will spend the first three weeks in a camp specifically for teenagers like you."

That was it? It wasn't nearly enough. I frowned in confusion. Mike gave me a dirty look and my stomach tightened. Why was I afraid? We both knew that I could beat him in a fight. Was I afraid for Sarah? Stupid question. Of course I was. I was scared to death for her.

"Sarah," I said when we got outside, "I'm sorry I didn't stop by yesterday. I fell asleep."

"Okay," she replied. "I forgive you. Can you come by around five tonight?"

"It's a date," I said.

"Is that your boyfriend?" asked a skinny blond fourteen year old girl.

"Shut up, Sabine," Sarah said. That's her sister. Sabine took a long look at me, then joined her sister and mother. I joined my father in the Rolls Royce.

"Son, you might like this song," Father said, turning up the volume. It was "Strange And Beautiful" by Aqualung.

"It's all right," I said.

CHAPTER FOUR - MOMENT OF TRUTH

I read books until it was time for me to meet Sarah. I put extra care into my appearance. I even sprayed on a little bit of light vanilla cologne. I knocked on Sarah's front door lightly. Sabine answered, along with a yellow labrador and a brown Chihuahua.

"Spunk, Coffee, leave him alone," said Sarah's mother, Alicia. She set down the knife she'd been using to chop vegetables. "Reese, right?" She shook my hand. "Thank you for speaking on my daughter's behalf. She talks about you often."

"It's nice to see you again. Of course, I'd do anything for her." I heard her coming down the stairs. When I saw her, my dead heart started pounding. She was gorgeous. Of course, she was always beautiful to me, and she was breathtaking right now.

She was wearing a pale blue formal dress that went past her ankles and hugged her curves perfectly. It showed enough of her chest, hugging it just right. This dress was in no way tasteless or gawdy.

"What are you all dressed up for?" Alicia asked.

"I'm thinking about wearing this to the winter formal. I wanted to run it by all of you."

"It's pretty," Sabine said.

"It's nice," Alicia said. Excuse me? It was more than nice, it was enchanting.

"Reese likes it, too," Sabine continued. I closed my dropped jaw and shook my head.

"H-hello, Sarah," I said.

Sarah's room was painted dark purple and grey, with royal blue and gold accents here and there. She had several bookcases which housed books, movies, CDs, and art books. It one corner was a TV with a VCR and DVD player. Next to that was a radio which played CDs and cassette tapes. Her desk was in another corner, a couple of feet away from her full-sized bed. She sat on the bed. I sat beside her. Butterflies invaded my stomach. And then her lips were on mine.

She tasted like spearmint, although she smelled like gardenias and Spanish amber. I pulled her closer. She wrapped her legs around my waist.

"I love everything about you," she said, breaking apart. "I love your hair. I hope you never cut it. I love your eyes; they're beautiful and unique. I love your high cheekbones. I love your ears. Most importantly, I love your ass." I was smiling now. Sarah continued. "I love your smile. You should do it more often. I love your nose. I love your skin. It's fair and smooth."

"I love everything about you, too," I said. "I love your eyes. I love the color and the shape. I love the way you do your makeup. It's perfect, and it accentuates your beauty. I love your hair. It's soft and pretty and curly. I love your cheeks, they're rosy and full. I love your dimples. You dazzle me when you smile. I love your lips. They're naturally red and full. I love your curves. You are so beautiful, Sarah. I don't think you know how beautiful you are. I love you, Sarah. I've been in love with you for a long time now."

She smiled, showing her straight white teeth.

"I'm falling in love with you, Reese," she said, blushing. I kissed her briefly.

"Want to make it official?" I asked hopefully.

"Yes," she said. I couldn't believe it. She wanted to be my girlfriend. I had a girlfriend. Me, the Lone Goth. And her name is Sarah Harper Cresley.

"I'm going to change," she said.

"That dress looks beautiful on you," I said admiringly.

"Thanks. I found it at a thrift store," she said. "I can't help but imagine how much happiness this dress must have given someone else." I stole another kiss from her. She went into her large walk-in closet and closed the door. A minute later, she emerged wearing a purple shirt and black athletic shorts. My eyes trailed down to her curvy legs. They were smooth and muscular.

"I see you like my legs," she teased. I blushed and showed her my abdomen.

"Nice six-pack," she said. She put her hand on my stomach. She playfully flicked my belly button, causing me to giggle. Her hand moved up to my chest. "You also have a nice chest. In fact, it's the best I've ever seen." She blushed as her words came out.

"That's a huge freaking compliment," I said. She went over to her bookshelf and pretended to look through it, wiggling her butt as she bent over.

"You also have a cute butt," I said. She flashed me a flirtatious grin.

"Do you prefer classics or chick lit?" she teased.

"I prefer classics, fantasy, horror, thrillers, and mysteries," I