I never liked her at all. She was a bitch of the highest magnitude, the local princess, daughter of the richest man in town. That wasn't saying that much, we lived in a small rural county, many miles from any town of significance. The county seat held about 25,000, and there were two hamlets of 5.000 and 8,000.
We never went to school together, she went to the big high school in town, I went to the one out in the sticks. I did well in school, top of my class of sixty-seven, and went to junior college while she went to some ivy league university.
I first ran across her the summer after our first year at university, at a party. I had made friends with a few guys, and they invited me over for a party, so I went. We were having a good time until she showed up with her new 'old money' boyfriend, trying to lord it over everyone there, bragging about the wealth of her boyfriend and how she hated 'coming back to the sticks' at the order of her father.
Her boyfriend seemed like a nice enough guy, but was obviously out of his element, and didn't seem too pleased with the remarks and behavior she was exhibiting. He ended up beside me later on, and asked if she had always been like this. I shrugged. "No clue, dude. I didn't go to school with her or run in her circles. I think this is the first time we've crossed paths. From what I've heard, this is her usual attitude."
"She wasn't like that at college, she was kind of shy and quiet. It's what drew me to her."
"Probably the result of going from a big fish in a little pond to swimming with sharks. Best of luck with her."
Just looking into his eyes, I knew their days as a couple were numbered. He left halfway through summer break. I was at the last party before going back to school, when she showed up with a different guy. When she saw me, she stormed up, aiming a slap at me. I just moved my head and the hand went by. Grabbing it, I held on while she struggled. "I don't know what your problem is. You don't even know me. I will tell you this, I let go and you try it again, I'll slap the piss out of you, and you won't be able to do shit about it. Self-defense is self-defense, it doesn't matter what gender you are."
I let go of her and she glared at me. "What did you tell Jeffrey about me?"
"If Jeffrey is the guy from the last time I saw you, I didn't tell him anything. He did ask about you, and I told the truth, we traveled in different circles and I didn't know you. That was it. Whatever happened between you two had nothing to do with me."
Her new man seemed to want to prove status as an alpha male. "You're pretty brave when it comes to a woman. You'd probably piss your pants if you had to face a real man."
I grinned, watching his reaction. "I might. Know any real men? I'd admire to see one, this little town doesn't seem to be well supplied."
People were listening and laughed, which puffed him up even more. "I can kick your ass any day of the week!"
"Well, it's Saturday, is that suitable? I don't want to break anything, so let's go out in the backyard and measure dicks, see who the real man is."
He swelled any harder, he'd bust. The host grinned and intervened. "As entertaining as that might be, save it for another day. My mother is really picky about her flower garden, you tear something up and we'll all get our asses kicked. Cool?"
I smiled. "Sure. Another day."
Alice, seeing the tide turn, pulled him away. She must have kept at him, because as the party broke up, he followed me outside. There was maybe ten people leaving and they were shocked when he came roaring out the door, Alice behind him grinning. "I'm gonna kick..."
I turned around and plowed him right in the ribs. He dropped like a rock, gasping and wheezing. Bob came out and tried not to laugh as he helped get him into her car, cordially inviting him to never come back. We found out later he had two cracked ribs, and almost lost his football scholarship because he had to sit out preseason and the first three regular games while he healed.
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I didn't see her the next year, but ran into her before my senior year, at another party. I'd met a girl at school and we hit it off, and when I told her how rural we were she wanted to come and see, because she was raised in a fifth-floor condo in a major city. We stayed with my parents, and did not share a bed. It didn't matter because I had the run of our property and knew where the best places were to skinny-dip, and roll around on an air mattress. She was every bit as hot as Alice, maybe a little hotter, though she didn't flaunt it. My friends were fascinated with her, and the girls flocked to her because she was so open and friendly. I came home one day to see my mom grinning, with eight young women scattered across the living room. Sasha was conducting tutorials in makeup. Her mother owned three beauty shops and a day spa, so if anyone was qualified, she was.
I immediately retreated out the back door, jumping on an ATV, and yelling back for Mom to call me when it was safe to come home.
Word got around, and it seemed Alice was replaced as Queen Bee for the duration of our stay. That did not sit well. At the next party, Alice showed up, with a different guy, of course, dolled up way too much for a summer party where most were in shorts and tees. She had on a seriously short skirt, four-inch heels, lots of bling, and a skintight shimmery top that showed a lot of boob. I grinned when I watched her try to keep her balance as she walked across the back lawn, her heels sinking at least an inch at every step.
Everybody watched her entrance, then turned back to the conversations that were going on. My girlfriend Sasha just grinned. "That her? Bit overdressed for the occasion, wouldn't you say?"
I'd told her about Alice but I think she thought my description of her personality a little harsh. Most of the girls glanced at her, then turned back to Sasha, laughing at tales of her spa experiences. She was right in the middle of a story about an extremely hairy guy who got a full body wax to please his girlfriend, and how he passed out twice and cried like a baby, but still continued. "He must have really cared for her to go through that pain, but I had no sympathy. The ladies who frequent us and every other spa in the universe go through similar pain almost daily for their men and they have no idea."
Alice walked up, looking her over. "Hi, Mark. Who's your friend?"