Tear You To Pieces
1/1
There were a lot of things about Wesley Johnson that people knew about.
And there was even more that people didn’t know.
There were the basics, of course. Like how she was a junior in high school like my friends and me, how she had dark auburn hair and bright blue eyes, a pale complexion and a slim figure. She wore a lot of makeup, too. More than any girl her age should have worn, and a lot more than she certainly needed.
Personally, I thought she would have been gorgeous without it.
I was never in any classes with her, but my friend Rian was in her chemistry class, and he said that she never got anything below a 94%. I figured this was the same in all her classes. Rian never asked if she liked chemistry, but he overheard her say to a girl one time that she liked history more. On another occasion, she said that she liked geometry.
People knew other things about her, too. Like how her dad was in the army, and she lived on the army base about forty-five minutes from school. Apparently there was a school on the base, but for some reason or another she went to our school ever since the middle of our sophomore year.
No one really knew where exactly she same from; one girl claimed that Wesley had told her she moved to Maryland from Germany. One boy said she came from California. She didn’t really talk much, so trying to find out anything about her was simply out of the question. Not to mention I had no classes with her, very few lunch periods with her, and none of my friends had any intentions of ever approaching her. Some of my friends even hated her for no reason.
If only they knew how much I wanted to know her.
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“What trash,” muttered Kara one afternoon during lunch in the cafeteria. From the corner of my eye I could see Wesley, sitting alone in the corner as she always did. Her face was lined heavily with eyeliner, lipstick, mascara and foundation, which forced Kara to turn all self-righteous like she always did whenever something didn’t appeal to her. “I mean, seriously, how old are we? Thirty?” She asked to anyone who bothered to listen – meaning Rian.
“I completely agree, babe,” he responded, picking at his sandwich. I turned my head slightly so I could get a better look at her, only to see Wesley engrossed in what looked like a book of puzzles.
Well, I guess liked puzzles; maybe I could talk to her about that?
“Who cares?” Asked my best friend, Jack, after he took a long sip from his can of soda. “She’s probably just going to leave in a few months, anyway.” Kara shrugged, though I could tell she agreed with him anyway.
“Don’t you think it’s kind of sad, though?” I wondered out loud, mostly to myself. “I mean, she was here for nearly two years, and she didn’t make a single friend.”
“Yeah, whatever, Alex,” Kara replied, grabbing her bag and standing up with Rian. “We’re going to go to the library. You two want to come?” Jack shook his head, and I did the same.
“Band practice after school today, then?” Added Rian before the couple wandered off.
“Not today!” I called after them, and Rian flashed me a thumbs-up in acknowledgment. I merely shrugged when Jack sent me a questioning look. “I have to stay after school today and meet with my history teacher.” He nodded, before the conversation paused for a moment.
“How much you wanna bet they’re going behind the bleachers?” Questioned Jack with a chuckle. I forced a laugh, still wondering if Jack said was really true. Was Wesley really moving away?
When I glanced back over to where she was sitting, I was instead given just an empty table.
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“Yeah… I’m on my way home, mom… Alright, bye.” I shut my cell phone and shoved it into my pocket, glancing around the empty school parking lot. My small, blue car was the only one left and as I began walking towards it I noticed a small, huddled mass sitting on the curb.
“C’mon… pick up, pick up,” she mumbled to herself, before dropping her head into her hands. The girl with dark red hair sighed as she closed her phone, and it wasn’t long before she dialed again. “Fuck!” She exclaimed after a few seconds, shutting her phone with a snap. And then I realized just who it was: Wesley.
“Is something wrong?” I asked kindly, obviously catching her off guard.
“Oh, my brother’s just not picking up his cell,” she explained, beginning to dial the number again. “I keep getting that beeping noise, you know, when someone’s already using their phone?”
“Yeah, I know that,” I said, smiling softly. The conversation stalled for a moment, and I tried to think of something that would quickly pick it back up. “I could, uh, give you a ride home if you want?”
“Oh, no, really, it’s fine.” I opened my mouth to respond, but she cut me off. “I live forty-five minutes from here, Alex. You wouldn’t be home for another hour and a half.”
“How’d you know my name?” I asked, tilting my head slightly.
“Well, you’re in my grade, aren’t you? I know the names of most people in our grade.” I didn’t respond, instead just looked at her a bit more. She really was wearing a lot of makeup, and her clothes looked like that had been ripped straight from a fashion magazine. There was something almost… stereotypical about her appearance, but I could tell it was all just covering up something incredibly unique.
“Alright, well, c’mon then.” I said, waving my hand in a motion for her to stand up, which she did. “I’m giving you a ride home, whether you like it or not.”
She didn’t put up a fight, and silently helped herself into the passenger seat of my car. As we rolled out of the school and on to the highway, I finally forced myself to make conversation. “So… I saw you sitting in the cafeteria today –“
“Creepy,” she muttered with a slight smirk. I just ignored it.
“—doing like a puzzle or something.”
“Yeah,” Wesley responded, unzipping her bag and pulling out a small book. “I’m really into sudoku. It’s kind of lame, but…” Her voice trailed off at the end, slightly.
“I don’t think it’s lame,” I refuted. “I wish I could do sudoku and crossword puzzles and stuff like that.”
She shrugged. “It just takes practice.”
The rest of the conversation began to slowly flow from one small topic to another, though I was extremely surprised to hear that Wesley’s birthday was last week.
“Did you do anything to celebrate?” I asked, taking my eyes off the road for a split second to see her shrug.
“I went out for dinner with my parents and my brother,” she answered. “Turn here, by the way.” I did as she instructed, and the conversation stopped. Though the silence wasn’t awkward, I wished I had something to talk to her about. Five minutes later I began to see signs for the army base she lived on, and soon after that we rolled into a small security booth. I was more than willing to go forward, but Wesley unbuckled her seatbelt as an indication I had taken her far enough. The security guard in the booth motioned for me to roll down my window, and I did as I was told.
“Name, please?” He asked flatly, and Wesley leaned forward.
“Hey, Mike,” she said, grabbing her bag.
“Oh, what’s up, Wes?” He asked, the unfriendly demeanor vanishing. I could see him begin to reach for a button – one I assumed would open up the gate for cars – but she stopped him.
“Don’t worry about it, Mike. I’ll walk from here.” She looked over at me and smiled. “Thank you so much for the ride home, Alex. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem. It was my pl –“ I stopped when I felt her lips on my cheek, Mike chuckling in the background.
“See you in school tomorrow.” I nodded stupidly, watching her exit the car and pull open the door that was meant for people walking in and out of the base. As I backed out and back on to the road, I knew that there was one more stop I had to make before I went home.
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“How did your meeting with your teacher go?” Jack asked the next day during our lunch free, and I instantly snapped up from my thoughts.
“Huh? Oh, it went fine.” I replied. My eyes scanned the cafeteria again, waiting for her to show up.
“What’re you looking for?” Teased Jack as he took a bite of his sandwich. “A girl?”
“Maybe,” I muttered, looking the other way. And suddenly, and with perfect timing, Wesley entered the cafeteria. Her eyes were cast down on a sheet of paper, yet she navigated the cafeteria with perfect precision, finding her way with ease to her regular table. I grabbed my bag, leaving Jack alone at our table (I could hear him protesting, but I chose to ignore it) and walk briskly over to her. Wesley looked up when I sat down, a smile finding its way to her face.
“Hey, Alex,” she said, pushing her paper – that I could now see what some kind of English reading – off to the side. “How’re you?”
“I’m good, thanks,” I responded, opening my bag and pulling out what I had been waiting to give her. I placed a gift on the table, wrapped poorly in dark blue paper with a red bow on top.
“What’s that?” She asked, a small grin on her face.
“A birthday present,” I replied, pushing it towards her. “It’s a bit late, but what can you do?” Wesley took it slowly, her hands gently and gracefully taking apart the paper. Her eyes sparkled when she saw what was inside of it: a sudoku book with more than two hundred puzzles.
“Alex, you shouldn’t have!” She exclaimed, eagerly thumbing through the pages. I looked down bashfully, knowing I had turned my infamous charm on; I could only hope she would take the bait. She stood up quickly, I did the same, and she hugged me tightly. “Thank you so much, Alex. Really, it’s so thoughtful of you.”
“You’re welcome,” I said, after she had let go.
“Why don’t you come back home with me after school?” Asked Wesley, a mishevious glint in her eyes that both excited me and scared me. “We can celebrate my late birthday. It’ll be fun.”
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Mike gave me an easier time today as I pulled into the base, Wesley still chuckling at some joke he made. But I was having trouble paying attention, instead focused completely on my new surroundings. Soldiers were everywhere; running and walking, doing drills and relaxing with their friends. There was almost something intimidating about it, but with the window rolled down Wesley said hi to every soldier who we drive by, addressing them by their first names, and them addressing her by her own.
Soon we had driven through the main area, and the winding road took us to the more suburban part. The houses, although a bit smaller and closer together, were just like the houses in the neighborhood I lived in. “On the left over here,” Wesley said suddenly, and I pulled into the driveway of one of the larger houses.
There were no other cars in the driveway, but when I walked inside behind Wesley I realized we weren’t alone. A boy who looked about fifteen appeared from out of the kitchen, clasping a soda can in his hands, and staring at me with a blank expression.
“Hey, Charlie,” she greeted, and he blinked. “We’ll be upstairs if you need us.”
“Does your brother go to Dulaney?” I asked as we walked up the stairs.
“Nah, he goes to the school on the base,” Wesley answered, opening the first door on the right.
“How come you don’t go there?” I asked, walking into her room and taking it all in. There were pictures cut out from fashion magazines taped to the ceiling, and the walls were covered with photos of what looked like a million different people. I couldn’t find Wesley in a single one, and I instantly got the feeling she took them of people she had met.
“I’m not sure,” she replied, watching me from her bed. “I wanted something different.”
“Different?” I repeated, and Wesley just nodded. I’m not sure what exactly happened, but the next thing I knew, her lips were on mine. I could feel her hands roaming under my shirt, touching all the right spots on my chest and shoulders, and I was powerless to stop her.
Not that I would have tried, anyway.
She pulled me back to her bed, our lips still attached and her fingers twirling in my hair. Wesley allowed me to slip off her shirt, and she was focused intently on undoing the zipper on my jeans. I tried to take control in anyway that I could, but she wouldn’t let me. So finally I just let it all happen, with Wesley leading the way.
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I tried to regain my breath as I rolled off of her, staring up at her covered ceiling. “Whoa,” I muttered, and from the corner of my eye I could see her smirking. I rolled over on my side, letting my fingers dance over her soft skin. Her makeup had become smudged, her hair disheveled, yet I though she had never looked prettier. “So, I know we just met yesterday and… and had sex, and all, but maybe you’d want to go on a date with me next weekend?” I asked quietly, mustering up as much courage as I could.
“Alex,” she began, and her tone had changed drastically. She was no longer the kind, intelligent girl that I had given rides home to. There was something… different, about her now. “I…” she sighed, before turning her head so she could see me better. “Look, I’m going to just be honest, okay? I’m moving next week.”
“You’re – You’re what?” I stuttered, wondering if this was some kind of practical joke.
“I’m moving,” she repeated.
“Alright, fine,” I said, trying to rationalize the situation. “We can keep in touch, and I can come and visit you, and –“
“To Japan,” Wesley interrupted, and I gaped at her. “They’re transferring my dad to a base in Japan.” I didn’t say anything for a moment, my eyes cast downward at her blanket that covered our bodies.
“Why would you sleep with me, then?” I asked quietly. “Why would you get my hopes up like that?” She just shrugged.
“Why are you complaining, is a better question?”
“Because maybe the sex was more important that just a good time,” I countered rapidly, and she rolled her eyes.
Wesley scoffed, “Please. We’re seventeen years old. Good times are the only times.”
Feeling my blood begin to boil, I got out the bed and began to put back on my clothes. “Grow up, Wesley,” I muttered as I pulled on my pants.
“Fuck off,” I heard her mumble, and she turned over on her side that faced the wall.
“No, you fuck off!” I exclaimed suddenly. “Wipe off all the makeup and quit being so dramatic!” I paused before adding, “Who are you? This is not the girl I met yesterday.”
“Who am I?” She questioned with a sarcastic laugh. “Alex, no one knows who they are! Telling someone to ‘be themselves’ is a load of bull shit. No one is original, and only idiots bother to try.”
“That’s not true, and you know it,” I responded, trying to make sure my voice didn’t waver.
“Yeah, whatever,” she responded, staring blankly at me.
“I thought you were a really cool girl, Wesley. I really did. You were smart and funny and nice, but now I don’t know who you are. I hope you have fun in Japan, and if you ever find yourself – the real Wesley Johnson – then call me.” I stormed out of her room in a huff, walking down the stairs and only stopping when I saw Charlie waiting for me by the door.
“Why did you do it?” He asked.
“Did what?” I responded, not wanting to talk to him at all.
“Sleep with her.”
“Look, kid, I’m sorry you heard us sleeping together, but –“
“I didn’t hear you,” he countered flatly. “I just know you did it.”
“How?” I questioned, tilting my head slightly.
“Because she does this every time we have to move. She finds some unsuspecting guy and sleeps with them.”
“I’m not the first?” I asked softly, not knowing what to make of that information.
“She gets what she wants,” Charlie added. “And she breaks what she gets.”
I didn’t bother to listen to him anymore, instead pushing past him and beginning the drive home.
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One Year Later
“Yeah… Yeah, I completely agree, Lisa,” I said on the phone, laughing as my girlfriend of about a year cracked a joke.
“Alex!” I heard my mom call, and I leaned back in my chair. “Alex, you got a package!”
“Crap, Lisa, I need to go. My mom wants me… Very funny, you know I didn’t mean it like that,” I chuckled before she said her goodbyes. “Sleep tight, baby. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I hung up the phone and made my way downstairs, seeing my mom looking at the mail on the counter. Sure enough, there was a large, tan envelope with my name on it. I glanced at the top corner, looking for a return address, but there wasn’t one written. “Where do you think it’s from?” I asked, turning it over in my hands.
“By the looks of all the stamps, I’d say somewhere far away.” She was right – there were nearly ten different stamps of different monetary values.
I tore open the package, with about a dozen photos falling into my hands. As I looked through each one, I noticed a single recurring person in the groups of happy looking teenagers: Wesley.
My mom looked over my shoulder. “She looks good in those,” she commented, and I smiled to myself, realizing why.
Not only was she dressed in a more casual, approachable way, Wesley Johnson wasn’t wearing a spot of makeup.
“Yeah,” I mumbled, setting the pictures down and picking up the envelope. “She looks good.” I turned it over, and one more thing came spilling out. It was an unsolved sudoku puzzle torn out from the book I bought her. I flipped it over, reading the small, neat handwriting on the back.
I saved the last one for you.
And there was even more that people didn’t know.
There were the basics, of course. Like how she was a junior in high school like my friends and me, how she had dark auburn hair and bright blue eyes, a pale complexion and a slim figure. She wore a lot of makeup, too. More than any girl her age should have worn, and a lot more than she certainly needed.
Personally, I thought she would have been gorgeous without it.
I was never in any classes with her, but my friend Rian was in her chemistry class, and he said that she never got anything below a 94%. I figured this was the same in all her classes. Rian never asked if she liked chemistry, but he overheard her say to a girl one time that she liked history more. On another occasion, she said that she liked geometry.
People knew other things about her, too. Like how her dad was in the army, and she lived on the army base about forty-five minutes from school. Apparently there was a school on the base, but for some reason or another she went to our school ever since the middle of our sophomore year.
No one really knew where exactly she same from; one girl claimed that Wesley had told her she moved to Maryland from Germany. One boy said she came from California. She didn’t really talk much, so trying to find out anything about her was simply out of the question. Not to mention I had no classes with her, very few lunch periods with her, and none of my friends had any intentions of ever approaching her. Some of my friends even hated her for no reason.
If only they knew how much I wanted to know her.
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“What trash,” muttered Kara one afternoon during lunch in the cafeteria. From the corner of my eye I could see Wesley, sitting alone in the corner as she always did. Her face was lined heavily with eyeliner, lipstick, mascara and foundation, which forced Kara to turn all self-righteous like she always did whenever something didn’t appeal to her. “I mean, seriously, how old are we? Thirty?” She asked to anyone who bothered to listen – meaning Rian.
“I completely agree, babe,” he responded, picking at his sandwich. I turned my head slightly so I could get a better look at her, only to see Wesley engrossed in what looked like a book of puzzles.
Well, I guess liked puzzles; maybe I could talk to her about that?
“Who cares?” Asked my best friend, Jack, after he took a long sip from his can of soda. “She’s probably just going to leave in a few months, anyway.” Kara shrugged, though I could tell she agreed with him anyway.
“Don’t you think it’s kind of sad, though?” I wondered out loud, mostly to myself. “I mean, she was here for nearly two years, and she didn’t make a single friend.”
“Yeah, whatever, Alex,” Kara replied, grabbing her bag and standing up with Rian. “We’re going to go to the library. You two want to come?” Jack shook his head, and I did the same.
“Band practice after school today, then?” Added Rian before the couple wandered off.
“Not today!” I called after them, and Rian flashed me a thumbs-up in acknowledgment. I merely shrugged when Jack sent me a questioning look. “I have to stay after school today and meet with my history teacher.” He nodded, before the conversation paused for a moment.
“How much you wanna bet they’re going behind the bleachers?” Questioned Jack with a chuckle. I forced a laugh, still wondering if Jack said was really true. Was Wesley really moving away?
When I glanced back over to where she was sitting, I was instead given just an empty table.
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“Yeah… I’m on my way home, mom… Alright, bye.” I shut my cell phone and shoved it into my pocket, glancing around the empty school parking lot. My small, blue car was the only one left and as I began walking towards it I noticed a small, huddled mass sitting on the curb.
“C’mon… pick up, pick up,” she mumbled to herself, before dropping her head into her hands. The girl with dark red hair sighed as she closed her phone, and it wasn’t long before she dialed again. “Fuck!” She exclaimed after a few seconds, shutting her phone with a snap. And then I realized just who it was: Wesley.
“Is something wrong?” I asked kindly, obviously catching her off guard.
“Oh, my brother’s just not picking up his cell,” she explained, beginning to dial the number again. “I keep getting that beeping noise, you know, when someone’s already using their phone?”
“Yeah, I know that,” I said, smiling softly. The conversation stalled for a moment, and I tried to think of something that would quickly pick it back up. “I could, uh, give you a ride home if you want?”
“Oh, no, really, it’s fine.” I opened my mouth to respond, but she cut me off. “I live forty-five minutes from here, Alex. You wouldn’t be home for another hour and a half.”
“How’d you know my name?” I asked, tilting my head slightly.
“Well, you’re in my grade, aren’t you? I know the names of most people in our grade.” I didn’t respond, instead just looked at her a bit more. She really was wearing a lot of makeup, and her clothes looked like that had been ripped straight from a fashion magazine. There was something almost… stereotypical about her appearance, but I could tell it was all just covering up something incredibly unique.
“Alright, well, c’mon then.” I said, waving my hand in a motion for her to stand up, which she did. “I’m giving you a ride home, whether you like it or not.”
She didn’t put up a fight, and silently helped herself into the passenger seat of my car. As we rolled out of the school and on to the highway, I finally forced myself to make conversation. “So… I saw you sitting in the cafeteria today –“
“Creepy,” she muttered with a slight smirk. I just ignored it.
“—doing like a puzzle or something.”
“Yeah,” Wesley responded, unzipping her bag and pulling out a small book. “I’m really into sudoku. It’s kind of lame, but…” Her voice trailed off at the end, slightly.
“I don’t think it’s lame,” I refuted. “I wish I could do sudoku and crossword puzzles and stuff like that.”
She shrugged. “It just takes practice.”
The rest of the conversation began to slowly flow from one small topic to another, though I was extremely surprised to hear that Wesley’s birthday was last week.
“Did you do anything to celebrate?” I asked, taking my eyes off the road for a split second to see her shrug.
“I went out for dinner with my parents and my brother,” she answered. “Turn here, by the way.” I did as she instructed, and the conversation stopped. Though the silence wasn’t awkward, I wished I had something to talk to her about. Five minutes later I began to see signs for the army base she lived on, and soon after that we rolled into a small security booth. I was more than willing to go forward, but Wesley unbuckled her seatbelt as an indication I had taken her far enough. The security guard in the booth motioned for me to roll down my window, and I did as I was told.
“Name, please?” He asked flatly, and Wesley leaned forward.
“Hey, Mike,” she said, grabbing her bag.
“Oh, what’s up, Wes?” He asked, the unfriendly demeanor vanishing. I could see him begin to reach for a button – one I assumed would open up the gate for cars – but she stopped him.
“Don’t worry about it, Mike. I’ll walk from here.” She looked over at me and smiled. “Thank you so much for the ride home, Alex. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem. It was my pl –“ I stopped when I felt her lips on my cheek, Mike chuckling in the background.
“See you in school tomorrow.” I nodded stupidly, watching her exit the car and pull open the door that was meant for people walking in and out of the base. As I backed out and back on to the road, I knew that there was one more stop I had to make before I went home.
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“How did your meeting with your teacher go?” Jack asked the next day during our lunch free, and I instantly snapped up from my thoughts.
“Huh? Oh, it went fine.” I replied. My eyes scanned the cafeteria again, waiting for her to show up.
“What’re you looking for?” Teased Jack as he took a bite of his sandwich. “A girl?”
“Maybe,” I muttered, looking the other way. And suddenly, and with perfect timing, Wesley entered the cafeteria. Her eyes were cast down on a sheet of paper, yet she navigated the cafeteria with perfect precision, finding her way with ease to her regular table. I grabbed my bag, leaving Jack alone at our table (I could hear him protesting, but I chose to ignore it) and walk briskly over to her. Wesley looked up when I sat down, a smile finding its way to her face.
“Hey, Alex,” she said, pushing her paper – that I could now see what some kind of English reading – off to the side. “How’re you?”
“I’m good, thanks,” I responded, opening my bag and pulling out what I had been waiting to give her. I placed a gift on the table, wrapped poorly in dark blue paper with a red bow on top.
“What’s that?” She asked, a small grin on her face.
“A birthday present,” I replied, pushing it towards her. “It’s a bit late, but what can you do?” Wesley took it slowly, her hands gently and gracefully taking apart the paper. Her eyes sparkled when she saw what was inside of it: a sudoku book with more than two hundred puzzles.
“Alex, you shouldn’t have!” She exclaimed, eagerly thumbing through the pages. I looked down bashfully, knowing I had turned my infamous charm on; I could only hope she would take the bait. She stood up quickly, I did the same, and she hugged me tightly. “Thank you so much, Alex. Really, it’s so thoughtful of you.”
“You’re welcome,” I said, after she had let go.
“Why don’t you come back home with me after school?” Asked Wesley, a mishevious glint in her eyes that both excited me and scared me. “We can celebrate my late birthday. It’ll be fun.”
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Mike gave me an easier time today as I pulled into the base, Wesley still chuckling at some joke he made. But I was having trouble paying attention, instead focused completely on my new surroundings. Soldiers were everywhere; running and walking, doing drills and relaxing with their friends. There was almost something intimidating about it, but with the window rolled down Wesley said hi to every soldier who we drive by, addressing them by their first names, and them addressing her by her own.
Soon we had driven through the main area, and the winding road took us to the more suburban part. The houses, although a bit smaller and closer together, were just like the houses in the neighborhood I lived in. “On the left over here,” Wesley said suddenly, and I pulled into the driveway of one of the larger houses.
There were no other cars in the driveway, but when I walked inside behind Wesley I realized we weren’t alone. A boy who looked about fifteen appeared from out of the kitchen, clasping a soda can in his hands, and staring at me with a blank expression.
“Hey, Charlie,” she greeted, and he blinked. “We’ll be upstairs if you need us.”
“Does your brother go to Dulaney?” I asked as we walked up the stairs.
“Nah, he goes to the school on the base,” Wesley answered, opening the first door on the right.
“How come you don’t go there?” I asked, walking into her room and taking it all in. There were pictures cut out from fashion magazines taped to the ceiling, and the walls were covered with photos of what looked like a million different people. I couldn’t find Wesley in a single one, and I instantly got the feeling she took them of people she had met.
“I’m not sure,” she replied, watching me from her bed. “I wanted something different.”
“Different?” I repeated, and Wesley just nodded. I’m not sure what exactly happened, but the next thing I knew, her lips were on mine. I could feel her hands roaming under my shirt, touching all the right spots on my chest and shoulders, and I was powerless to stop her.
Not that I would have tried, anyway.
She pulled me back to her bed, our lips still attached and her fingers twirling in my hair. Wesley allowed me to slip off her shirt, and she was focused intently on undoing the zipper on my jeans. I tried to take control in anyway that I could, but she wouldn’t let me. So finally I just let it all happen, with Wesley leading the way.
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I tried to regain my breath as I rolled off of her, staring up at her covered ceiling. “Whoa,” I muttered, and from the corner of my eye I could see her smirking. I rolled over on my side, letting my fingers dance over her soft skin. Her makeup had become smudged, her hair disheveled, yet I though she had never looked prettier. “So, I know we just met yesterday and… and had sex, and all, but maybe you’d want to go on a date with me next weekend?” I asked quietly, mustering up as much courage as I could.
“Alex,” she began, and her tone had changed drastically. She was no longer the kind, intelligent girl that I had given rides home to. There was something… different, about her now. “I…” she sighed, before turning her head so she could see me better. “Look, I’m going to just be honest, okay? I’m moving next week.”
“You’re – You’re what?” I stuttered, wondering if this was some kind of practical joke.
“I’m moving,” she repeated.
“Alright, fine,” I said, trying to rationalize the situation. “We can keep in touch, and I can come and visit you, and –“
“To Japan,” Wesley interrupted, and I gaped at her. “They’re transferring my dad to a base in Japan.” I didn’t say anything for a moment, my eyes cast downward at her blanket that covered our bodies.
“Why would you sleep with me, then?” I asked quietly. “Why would you get my hopes up like that?” She just shrugged.
“Why are you complaining, is a better question?”
“Because maybe the sex was more important that just a good time,” I countered rapidly, and she rolled her eyes.
Wesley scoffed, “Please. We’re seventeen years old. Good times are the only times.”
Feeling my blood begin to boil, I got out the bed and began to put back on my clothes. “Grow up, Wesley,” I muttered as I pulled on my pants.
“Fuck off,” I heard her mumble, and she turned over on her side that faced the wall.
“No, you fuck off!” I exclaimed suddenly. “Wipe off all the makeup and quit being so dramatic!” I paused before adding, “Who are you? This is not the girl I met yesterday.”
“Who am I?” She questioned with a sarcastic laugh. “Alex, no one knows who they are! Telling someone to ‘be themselves’ is a load of bull shit. No one is original, and only idiots bother to try.”
“That’s not true, and you know it,” I responded, trying to make sure my voice didn’t waver.
“Yeah, whatever,” she responded, staring blankly at me.
“I thought you were a really cool girl, Wesley. I really did. You were smart and funny and nice, but now I don’t know who you are. I hope you have fun in Japan, and if you ever find yourself – the real Wesley Johnson – then call me.” I stormed out of her room in a huff, walking down the stairs and only stopping when I saw Charlie waiting for me by the door.
“Why did you do it?” He asked.
“Did what?” I responded, not wanting to talk to him at all.
“Sleep with her.”
“Look, kid, I’m sorry you heard us sleeping together, but –“
“I didn’t hear you,” he countered flatly. “I just know you did it.”
“How?” I questioned, tilting my head slightly.
“Because she does this every time we have to move. She finds some unsuspecting guy and sleeps with them.”
“I’m not the first?” I asked softly, not knowing what to make of that information.
“She gets what she wants,” Charlie added. “And she breaks what she gets.”
I didn’t bother to listen to him anymore, instead pushing past him and beginning the drive home.
------------
One Year Later
“Yeah… Yeah, I completely agree, Lisa,” I said on the phone, laughing as my girlfriend of about a year cracked a joke.
“Alex!” I heard my mom call, and I leaned back in my chair. “Alex, you got a package!”
“Crap, Lisa, I need to go. My mom wants me… Very funny, you know I didn’t mean it like that,” I chuckled before she said her goodbyes. “Sleep tight, baby. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I hung up the phone and made my way downstairs, seeing my mom looking at the mail on the counter. Sure enough, there was a large, tan envelope with my name on it. I glanced at the top corner, looking for a return address, but there wasn’t one written. “Where do you think it’s from?” I asked, turning it over in my hands.
“By the looks of all the stamps, I’d say somewhere far away.” She was right – there were nearly ten different stamps of different monetary values.
I tore open the package, with about a dozen photos falling into my hands. As I looked through each one, I noticed a single recurring person in the groups of happy looking teenagers: Wesley.
My mom looked over my shoulder. “She looks good in those,” she commented, and I smiled to myself, realizing why.
Not only was she dressed in a more casual, approachable way, Wesley Johnson wasn’t wearing a spot of makeup.
“Yeah,” I mumbled, setting the pictures down and picking up the envelope. “She looks good.” I turned it over, and one more thing came spilling out. It was an unsolved sudoku puzzle torn out from the book I bought her. I flipped it over, reading the small, neat handwriting on the back.
I saved the last one for you.
♠ ♠ ♠
I hope you like it!